June 20, 2022
Nick Carter and The Crime of the French Cafe, Pt 4
In this episode, we continue the mystery of The Crime of The French Cafe - and we finally get a few answers.
Or do we?
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Transcript
WEBVTT
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Hey everyone.
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Welcome back to another episode of forward into the past.
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I'm JC Rede, your host and narrator.
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And today we're heading back into the world of fictional New York city in 1893, as seen through the eyes of Nick Carter, master detective.
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But before we set that way back machine, a little clarification and a little more history.
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I need to state for clarification purposes that I am in no way, affiliated with project Gutenberg.
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I am not receiving any sort of compensation nor sponsorship.
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I am merely doing this podcast because a I'm a voice actor and narrator B.
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I love a good story and C.
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Project Gutenberg provides stories that are free of any copyright.
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So I am able to read them aloud to you in this way, without having to pay any entity or having the entity pay me.
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Now that that's clear, let's get on with a little history before we hit back into the story.
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The story that we're enjoying the crime of the French cafe, was written way back in 1893, and it appeared in the New York weekly, a publication of the print house Street and Smith.
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When it was originally published in the New York weekly, it was a serialized story, meaning that each week you, the reader would read another chapter in whatever the story arc it was that you were following.
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And this is the essence of a story paper.
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Story papers by and large were exactly what they sounded like.
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Newspapers.
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If you separate the two words where papers they give you the news and story papers.
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Likewise, give you stories.
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Each week a story paper would give readers in the mid to late 18 hundreds, several stories to read and follow.
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It might be a weekly serial, like the Nick Carter stories.
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Many times it was a short story or perhaps a long form poem.
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There were romances for the ladies or adventure story set in the frontier or the ocean for boys and men.
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And so on.
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Story papers where sometimes the same size as newspapers.
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Some were magazine sized, but they were all approximately eight pages and all had at least one to two characters that could or did build up a following.
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Eventually those serialized weekly stories were collected and reprinted into dime novels, which were cheaper to make due to their size.
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The print houses were very savvy when it came to collecting these stories.
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Time's being what they were.
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They knew that although the story papers were printed weekly.
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Not everyone would be able to afford to buy a weekly paper.
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Although, yes, that was the plan.
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So they would reuse almost every single one of their stories, many times over in several different options, usually following a pattern.
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The story would appear in the story paper first.
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Then perhaps again, in a different edition of a story paper.
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From there, it would be reused in several dime novels, which unlike story papers were a little bit less disposable.
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Nick Carter who was street and Smith's most popular weekly character.
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Had his stories repurposed in several ways.
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From the New York weekly, his stories jumped into his own weekly magazine.
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Nick Carter weekly.
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Around the same time, many of his older stories from the New York weekly.
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We're bundled together in paperback form under street and Smith's magnet library around 1900.
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And the new magnet library around 1910.
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For perspective, the story that we're currently enjoying the crime of the French cafe was written for the New York weekly first back in 1893 in a weekly serial format.
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In 1894, the story was again, serialized in the Nick Carter, weekly magazine.
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In 1900, the entire serialized story was gathered and printed in street.
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And Smith's magnet library, paperback under the title of the crime of the French cafe and other stories.
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It was reprinted under this same title in 1919.
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Under street and Smith's new magnet library.
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Now it's the 1900 version that exists in the project Gutenberg library that I am humbled to be sharing with you now.
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And speaking about that.
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We're moving on, going forward into the past shadowing, the case files of Nick Carter, master detective.
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When we left the story last time.
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Mr.
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Hammond began to tell his story in order to clear John Jones of any wrongdoing.
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Then Mrs.
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John Jones arrived to provide an alibi for her husband.
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Nick's young assistant Patsy told Nick of his own misgivings on the case, questioning Gaspard's rather quick identifications.
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After having the Jones is followed.
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Nick is convinced that Jones is not as innocent as he appears.
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And finally, while trying to prove his hunch by climbing a rope, tied to the roof, down to peer through a window.
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Nick finds himself suddenly plummeting down the side of a building.
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Oh, exciting stuff happening now in the next installment of the crime of the French cafe by Nicholas Carter.
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Chapter seven, the wardrobe of Gaspard's friend.
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Nick Carter is hard to kill.
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A good many crooks have tried to put him out of the world and a fair percentage of them have lost their own lives in the attempt.
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Without inflicting any injury upon Nick.
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He is a man of resources and that's what saves him.
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When one thing fails him, he finds something else to take its place.
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And so when that rope gave way, he took the next best thing.
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That happened to be the sill of the window of Mr.
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Jones's bathroom.
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Nick seized it with a grip of iron as he shot downward.
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The strain on his arms was something awful, but he held on.
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His fingers gripped the wood till they dented it.
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In two seconds.
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He had scrambled through the window into Jones's flat.
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It was done so noiselessly that the colored servant in the room directly opposite across the narrow shaft was not disturbed in her reading.
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From the bathroom Nick made his way to the hall and thence to the parlor.
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Where Mr.
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Jones to judge by the light in the window observed by Musgrave had decided to spend the evening.
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Mr.
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Jones was not visible when Nick looked into the room.
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The bedroom adjoining was also empty.
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Nick ran through the flat, but saw nobody.
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He returned to the parlor and there stood Mr.
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Jones under the chandelier.
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Well upon my word, exclaimed Jones.
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How did you get here?
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I might ask you the same, Said Nick.
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But it isn't worthwhile.
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I've been here all the time.
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Except when you were on the roof.
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Nonsense, what should I be doing on the roof?
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It wasn't what you were doing.
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It's what you were undoing that bothered me.
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You were undoing the knot with which I fastened my rope before I descended your air shaft to get a peep at your servant.
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Nonsense again, Mr.
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Carter.
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How could I get to the roof?
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I'll show you just how it was done.
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Now, the first place you saw me coming back to the house and you guessed what I was going to do.
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You went into this room.
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And Nick dragged Jones into a sort of closet adjoining the parlor.
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And you got out of that window onto the fire escape.
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That led you to the roof.
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And the rest was simple.
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You saw me go down and you tried to make me go down farther and a good deal faster, but you failed.
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And the game's up.
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Now, come to headquarters again.
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What for.
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For trying to kill me.
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That's the charge against you.
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And I haven't got through with you on that other matter.
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But for heaven's sake, pity my wife.
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What's the matter with her.
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She will be crazy when she gets back and finds me gone.
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One of my men will tell her where you are.
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Why did you lie to me about her going out?
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I've a great mind to place her too under arrest.
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You can't do it.
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It's no crime to dodge a detective.
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I admit that she did it, but for a very innocent purpose.
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She has gone to see our lawyer.
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Hmm.
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Very well.
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I will attend to that later.
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Now, come with me.
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Nick took Jones to the street.
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Musgrave got a policeman and Jones was put in his care.
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Musgrave remained on the watch for Mrs.
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Jones.
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While Nick went to get a report from Patsy who was shadowing Gaspard.
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Jones's last words to Nick were these.
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I am a victim of circumstances.
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I had nothing to do with the murder in the restaurant, nor with any attempt upon your life.
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You are doing me a grave injustice.
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If you were not as blind as a bat, you would see who the real criminals are.
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These words were pronounced in a calm and steady tone.
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And it cannot be denied that they produced a great effect upon Nick.
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If it should prove that I have wronged you, he said, I will repay you for the injury to the limit of your demand.
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And the detective did a lot of hard thinking while he was walking toward Gaspard's lodgings, where he expected to meet Patsy.
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Certainly if Jones ever succeeded in establishing his innocence, he would have won a friend in Nick Carter, whose Goodwill is worth a fortune to any man.
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Nick found Patsy outside the house where Gaspard lodged.
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I'm dead onto this fellow, said the youth.
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He's just about ready to flit.
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He's bought lots of stuff today and is flushed with money.
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A man just went in there with a suit of clothes.
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Two delivery wagons from dry goods stores have been here.
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I suppose that the stuff they brought belongs to the woman who is going with Gaspard.
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Have you seen her?
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No, she has kept mighty dark.
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Hello, what's this?
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Nick drew Patsy more closely into the shadow of the steps by which they were standing.
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A carriage rumbled over the pavement and stopped before the door of Gaspard's, lodging house.
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Upon my word said, Nick, it's my old friend Harrigan on the box.
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The way people keep bobbing up in this case is something wonderful.
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Perhaps the woman's in the cab, whispered Patsy.
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On the contrary, the cab was empty.
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Harrigan got off the box and rang the bell.
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Nick heard him ask for Gaspard Lebeaux.
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Gaspard was summoned.
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I've two trunks for you, said Harrigan.
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For me?
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asked Gaspard.
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Yes.
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A young woman hired me to bring them and she said it would be all right.
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You'd pay the price.
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What sort of a woman.
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A very gallus French siren with a big white hat and a black plume.
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As long as the tail of me horse.
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Alright, said Gaspard promptly.
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Bring in the trunks.
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They were carried up the stairs to Gaspard's room.
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Harrigan mounted the box and drove away.
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Follow him, said Nick.
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Bring him back here in about half an hour.
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Patsy darted away in pursuit of the cab.
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Nick walked up to the door of Gaspard's house and rang the bell.
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He was directed to the Frenchmans room.
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Gaspard was examining the two trunks.
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He looked very much embarrassed at the site of Nick.
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What's all this Gaspard?
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Asked the detective.
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I hear you're going back to France.
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I?
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Oh no.
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New York suits me much better.
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But what are these trunks doing here?
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Gaspard look particularly foolish.
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They are the property of a friend, a lady.
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To tell the truth.
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I hope to marry her.
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A charming girl, monsieur and innocent as a dove.
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Why does she send her trunks here?
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Ah, that I do not know.
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It was not agreed upon.
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Have you any idea what is in them?
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Her wardrobe.
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Ah, she is extravagant.
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She buys many dresses, but then what would you have when one is young and beautiful?
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Gaspard finished his sentence with a sweep of the arms.
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Oh, they are heavy said Nick lifting one of the trunks and setting it crosswise on a lounge.
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He took a bunch of keys from his pocket.
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Gaspard seemed aghast.
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You would not open it.
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He cried.
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Perhaps it won't be necessary said Nick.
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This may answer.
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He drew a knife from his pocket and opened one of the blades, which was sharpened like a very large nut-pick.
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With a sudden movement.
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He struck this into the bottom of the trunk and then withdrew it.
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A dark red stream followed the blade when it was withdrawn.
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The end of the trunk projected over the side of the couch and the red fluid dripped upon the carpet.
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My God exclaimed Gaspard.
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It is blood! So it would seem said Nick quietly.
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He set the trunk upon the floor and snapped back the lock with a skeleton key.
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Then he threw open the lid and revealed a mass of Excelsior and scraps of newspaper.
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This being torn away, disclosed a dead and ghastly face.
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The face of unfortunate Corbut, the waiter.
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Chapter eight.
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Tracing the trunks.
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Corbut's body had been cut in two.
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Only half was in the trunk, which Nick had opened.
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The other half was not however far away.
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It was in the other trunk.
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Both trunks contained considerable blood.
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But they had been neatly lined with rubber cloth, apparently taken from a rubber blanket and a man's heavy waterproof coat.
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It was so fitted that the trunks when closed were water tight.
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The neatest job I ever saw said Nick.
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Come, Gaspard.
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Tell the story.
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I swear to you, cried Gaspard, that I know nothing of it.
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At this moment, Patsy rapped on the door.
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He had brought back Harrigan.
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Come in said Nick and they both entered.
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Oh, holy mother! Shrieked Harrigan when he saw the open trunks.
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So help me, gentlemen, I don't know nothing about this business.
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I ain't in it I'm telling you straight.
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You's don't believe I had anything to do with this.
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Do ya?
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You brought the trunks here, said Nick.
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Let me tell you's all about it, cried Harrigan who was so anxious to tell that he couldn't talk fast enough.
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The French lady struck me on the old place.
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You know where I was the other night.
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She talked kinda Dago, but I tumbled to what she was, a given me.
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This was about half past seven.
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O'clock.
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Meet me.
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She says in an hour and she gives me street and number.
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It was west 57th street, but there ain't no such number.
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There's nothing there, but a high board fence, but that didn't make no difference because when I got there, her giblets was a standing on the sidewalk waiting for me.
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Drive over to the corner, says she and turn round and come back.
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I did it.
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And when I got there, she showed me these two trunks.
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I hadn't seen him before.
00:14:59.596 --> 00:15:02.495
And she gives me this mugs address and two bones for me fare.
00:15:02.895 --> 00:15:04.966
And told me to come down here, which I did.
00:15:05.326 --> 00:15:07.556
And I wished to heaven I hadn't, see?
00:15:08.035 --> 00:15:10.436
That's a pretty good story Harrigan, said Nick.
00:15:10.895 --> 00:15:13.485
Patsy, get a policemen to stay with gaspard.
00:15:13.905 --> 00:15:15.975
Patsy brought the blue coat in a few minutes.
00:15:16.605 --> 00:15:19.515
Now we'll go up to 57th street said Nick.
00:15:20.076 --> 00:15:26.166
Half an hour later, they had found the place where as Harrigan claimed The French lady had delivered the trunks to him.
00:15:26.735 --> 00:15:33.035
I thought, of course, that she'd been fired out of some boarding house said Harrigan, there's a hash mill there on the right.
00:15:33.546 --> 00:15:35.495
I had an idea she'd been drawn out of there.
00:15:35.975 --> 00:15:36.306
Nick.
00:15:36.336 --> 00:15:39.546
Meanwhile had been examining the sidewalk with the aid of his dark lantern.
00:15:39.975 --> 00:15:41.145
Clever work.
00:15:41.355 --> 00:15:41.956
He said.
00:15:42.525 --> 00:15:44.326
There are no marks on the sidewalk.
00:15:44.926 --> 00:15:46.365
The trunks would not dragged.
00:15:46.865 --> 00:15:49.056
That woman must be pretty strong.
00:15:49.485 --> 00:15:52.245
You say you didn't see the trunks when you first drove up.
00:15:53.176 --> 00:15:53.686
Now.
00:15:54.676 --> 00:15:56.025
then they couldn't have been here.
00:15:56.686 --> 00:15:57.735
Where were they?
00:15:58.426 --> 00:15:59.956
Not in any of these houses?
00:16:00.525 --> 00:16:02.326
She couldn't have got them out quick enough.
00:16:03.015 --> 00:16:06.706
Then they must have been behind that fence.
00:16:07.546 --> 00:16:10.576
There was a little gate in the fence, which Nick opened as he spoke.
00:16:11.086 --> 00:16:13.125
Ah, here we have tracks.
00:16:13.485 --> 00:16:13.966
He said.
00:16:14.625 --> 00:16:15.916
It's all cleared enough now.
00:16:16.395 --> 00:16:20.926
The trunks were brought across to this vacant lot from one of the houses facing the other street.
00:16:21.346 --> 00:16:24.735
The lot is the width of three flat houses, which stand behind it.
00:16:25.306 --> 00:16:28.725
There are no gates in the fence between the yards of the houses in the lot.
00:16:29.145 --> 00:16:33.556
But Nick found a wide board that could be pulled off and replaced without much trouble.
00:16:34.365 --> 00:16:37.066
Passing through the opening made by taking away this board.
00:16:37.365 --> 00:16:40.035
He found himself in the yard of the middle house.
00:16:40.436 --> 00:16:42.865
The trunks came from here he said.
00:16:43.525 --> 00:16:45.885
They were lowered down in the dumbwaiter to the cellar.
00:16:46.255 --> 00:16:49.076
And then carried through the lot two 57th street.
00:16:49.885 --> 00:16:51.775
I'll leave the rest of this job to you, Patsy.
00:16:52.285 --> 00:17:00.115
Find out all you can and have as many witnesses as you can get together at the superintendent's office tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock.
00:17:00.505 --> 00:17:03.926
We're going to have a special examination into this case.
00:17:04.465 --> 00:17:07.945
The special examination began promptly at the hour named by Nick.
00:17:08.665 --> 00:17:11.546
All the person's hitherto mentioned in connection with the case.
00:17:11.905 --> 00:17:14.486
Except of course the two victims were present.
00:17:15.236 --> 00:17:18.056
There were also several witnesses whom Patsy had secured.
00:17:18.685 --> 00:17:22.465
The case, which I have made out, said Nick, is perfectly clear.
00:17:23.096 --> 00:17:26.905
It begins with Gaspard's identification of the prisoner, Jones.
00:17:27.385 --> 00:17:30.506
We know that he was at the restaurant when the crime was committed.
00:17:30.925 --> 00:17:32.516
His name is on the books.
00:17:33.086 --> 00:17:40.316
In some way, which I am not now prepared to fully explain, the waiter Corbut, obtained the knowledge of the crime.
00:17:40.915 --> 00:17:43.945
It was necessary for the criminal to get Corbut out of the way.
00:17:44.846 --> 00:17:47.875
I saw Corbut get into a cab at the door of the restaurant.
00:17:48.266 --> 00:17:54.326
The driver, Harrigan testified to taking him and another man to a point on west 57th street.
00:17:54.895 --> 00:17:59.726
He was not sure of the exact spot, but he fixed the locality in a general way.
00:18:00.385 --> 00:18:03.685
From that point, all trace of Corbut was lost for a time.
00:18:04.465 --> 00:18:06.145
At last, his body was found.
00:18:06.625 --> 00:18:11.935
I succeeded in tracing the body back to a place near the spot where Harrigan last saw Corbut alive.
00:18:12.566 --> 00:18:17.306
I discovered that the body had been removed from a flat house on west 58th street.
00:18:18.145 --> 00:18:21.145
My assistant Patsy questioned the people in that house.
00:18:21.566 --> 00:18:27.145
He learned that the third flat had been occupied by a couple who lived very quietly.
00:18:27.955 --> 00:18:29.425
The man was often away.
00:18:30.056 --> 00:18:36.955
I now desire to ask the witness Eliza Harris who lives in that house when she last saw the man in question.
00:18:37.316 --> 00:18:39.655
The man who rented that third flat.
00:18:40.125 --> 00:18:44.145
A bright eyed, little woman arose at this and said, I see him now.
00:18:44.506 --> 00:18:45.286
There he is.
00:18:45.945 --> 00:18:48.286
She pointed to John Jones.
00:18:48.915 --> 00:18:50.266
He wore a false beard.
00:18:50.596 --> 00:18:52.516
She continued, but I know him.
00:18:52.996 --> 00:18:54.226
And there's the woman.
00:18:54.855 --> 00:18:56.925
She stretched out her hand towards Mrs.
00:18:56.925 --> 00:18:57.465
Jones.
00:18:58.455 --> 00:19:00.175
To their flat, nick continued.
00:19:00.476 --> 00:19:02.246
As I have every reason to believe.
00:19:02.576 --> 00:19:08.796
Corbett was taken by Jones on that night and there he was murdered and his body cut in two.
00:19:09.090 --> 00:19:10.830
It was placed in the trunks.
00:19:11.371 --> 00:19:15.931
Joan's intended probably to remove it the next day, but his arrest prevented.
00:19:16.651 --> 00:19:20.161
Of course, it was necessary to get the body out of the way very soon.
00:19:20.550 --> 00:19:25.530
But Jones was too closely watched that work had to be done by the woman.
00:19:25.800 --> 00:19:27.810
And she did it exceedingly well.
00:19:28.891 --> 00:19:31.050
Nick told how Musgrave had been duped.
00:19:31.830 --> 00:19:33.211
Now he continued.
00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:40.441
Nothing remains, but to clear up the details of the crime in the restaurant, I shall proceed to state exactly how it was done.
00:19:40.830 --> 00:19:47.701
At this moment, Jones who had previously remained perfectly calm, uttered a horrible groan and half arose to his feet.
00:19:48.090 --> 00:19:49.740
He sank back fainting.
00:19:50.141 --> 00:19:56.351
And then came a surprising incident for which even the shrewd superintendent of police had been wholly unprepared.
00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:03.401
A pale faced man, who had been sitting beside Nick arose and cried in a voice that trembled with emotion.
00:20:04.151 --> 00:20:05.800
Stop stop.
00:20:06.161 --> 00:20:07.780
I can bear this no longer.
00:20:09.040 --> 00:20:09.851
It was Hammond.
00:20:10.151 --> 00:20:12.550
The man who begged Nick to save Jones.
00:20:13.361 --> 00:20:14.621
While Nick had been speaking.
00:20:14.961 --> 00:20:17.500
Hammond's eyes had been fixed upon Jones's face.
00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:23.030
He had watched the agony of fear growing upon the wretched man and gradually overcoming him.
00:20:23.300 --> 00:20:29.570
And when the burden became too great for the accused to bear Hammond also reached the limit of his endurance.
00:20:30.260 --> 00:20:31.580
I can't stand it.
00:20:31.760 --> 00:20:32.330
He cried.
00:20:32.601 --> 00:20:35.631
You shall not torture this innocent man any longer.
00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.810
What do you mean?
00:20:37.260 --> 00:20:38.340
Ask the superintendent.
00:20:39.090 --> 00:20:40.230
This is what I mean.
00:20:40.621 --> 00:20:43.530
The fear of disgrace has kept me silent too long.
00:20:43.830 --> 00:20:46.050
Now I will confess everything.
00:20:46.641 --> 00:20:54.570
Do you think I will sit here and let an innocent man be condemned and his wife put the torture to save me from the, just punishment of my fault.
00:20:55.020 --> 00:20:55.560
Never.
00:20:56.131 --> 00:21:01.441
Listen to me, it was I who took that unhappy woman to the place where she met her death.
00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:04.530
It was I who wrote that name in the register.
00:21:04.891 --> 00:21:09.391
I! I and not that innocent man was her companion.
00:21:09.780 --> 00:21:12.300
The waiter Gaspard is mistaken.
00:21:12.961 --> 00:21:16.230
I am the man who was in room B.
00:21:17.520 --> 00:21:19.621
Did Hammond really commit the crime.
00:21:20.161 --> 00:21:22.111
Is John Jones truly innocent.
00:21:22.590 --> 00:21:25.891
Does Nick really know who the real murder is?
00:21:26.280 --> 00:21:34.471
The answer to these and other questions will be answered in the exciting conclusion to Nick Carter on the crime of the French cafe.
00:21:35.961 --> 00:21:37.971
Well, I didn't see that coming.
00:21:37.971 --> 00:21:41.300
Did you, the story has gotten more and more exciting.
00:21:41.330 --> 00:21:43.371
I can't wait to see how this ends.
00:21:43.921 --> 00:21:50.580
Thanks once again for listening folks, as a reminder, please feel free to visit gutenberg.org org.
00:21:50.760 --> 00:21:55.621
For other stories like Nick Carter or other fascinating tales of wonder from the past.
00:21:56.250 --> 00:22:06.510
If you spot one that you think would be a great fit for this podcast send me a note through the podcast website while you're there, you can send me a tip or subscribe to be a supporter.
00:22:06.840 --> 00:22:13.951
Purchase a birthday audio or video for a loved one, or read the latest blog entry to see what the next story will be.
00:22:14.490 --> 00:22:18.810
Until next time, folks keep sharing the stories and be a good human.
00:22:19.530 --> 00:22:20.490
Bye for now.
00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:01.219
Hey everyone.
00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:04.759
Welcome back to another episode of forward into the past.
00:00:05.179 --> 00:00:07.400
I'm JC Rede, your host and narrator.
00:00:07.730 --> 00:00:17.300
And today we're heading back into the world of fictional New York city in 1893, as seen through the eyes of Nick Carter, master detective.
00:00:17.809 --> 00:00:23.629
But before we set that way back machine, a little clarification and a little more history.
00:00:24.620 --> 00:00:30.679
I need to state for clarification purposes that I am in no way, affiliated with project Gutenberg.
00:00:31.100 --> 00:00:34.609
I am not receiving any sort of compensation nor sponsorship.
00:00:35.149 --> 00:00:41.060
I am merely doing this podcast because a I'm a voice actor and narrator B.
00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:43.880
I love a good story and C.
00:00:44.179 --> 00:00:47.539
Project Gutenberg provides stories that are free of any copyright.
00:00:47.659 --> 00:00:55.159
So I am able to read them aloud to you in this way, without having to pay any entity or having the entity pay me.
00:00:55.789 --> 00:01:00.409
Now that that's clear, let's get on with a little history before we hit back into the story.
00:01:01.310 --> 00:01:13.310
The story that we're enjoying the crime of the French cafe, was written way back in 1893, and it appeared in the New York weekly, a publication of the print house Street and Smith.
00:01:14.150 --> 00:01:26.959
When it was originally published in the New York weekly, it was a serialized story, meaning that each week you, the reader would read another chapter in whatever the story arc it was that you were following.
00:01:27.500 --> 00:01:30.079
And this is the essence of a story paper.
00:01:30.829 --> 00:01:34.280
Story papers by and large were exactly what they sounded like.
00:01:34.819 --> 00:01:35.840
Newspapers.
00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:41.659
If you separate the two words where papers they give you the news and story papers.
00:01:41.659 --> 00:01:44.480
Likewise, give you stories.
00:01:44.989 --> 00:01:51.379
Each week a story paper would give readers in the mid to late 18 hundreds, several stories to read and follow.
00:01:51.980 --> 00:01:54.950
It might be a weekly serial, like the Nick Carter stories.
00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:58.969
Many times it was a short story or perhaps a long form poem.
00:01:59.540 --> 00:02:05.209
There were romances for the ladies or adventure story set in the frontier or the ocean for boys and men.
00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:06.319
And so on.
00:02:07.129 --> 00:02:10.250
Story papers where sometimes the same size as newspapers.
00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:19.969
Some were magazine sized, but they were all approximately eight pages and all had at least one to two characters that could or did build up a following.
00:02:20.750 --> 00:02:29.000
Eventually those serialized weekly stories were collected and reprinted into dime novels, which were cheaper to make due to their size.
00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:32.900
The print houses were very savvy when it came to collecting these stories.
00:02:33.409 --> 00:02:34.639
Time's being what they were.
00:02:34.909 --> 00:02:38.120
They knew that although the story papers were printed weekly.
00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:41.990
Not everyone would be able to afford to buy a weekly paper.
00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:44.300
Although, yes, that was the plan.
00:02:45.020 --> 00:02:52.539
So they would reuse almost every single one of their stories, many times over in several different options, usually following a pattern.
00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:55.719
The story would appear in the story paper first.
00:02:56.020 --> 00:02:58.840
Then perhaps again, in a different edition of a story paper.
00:02:59.349 --> 00:03:06.250
From there, it would be reused in several dime novels, which unlike story papers were a little bit less disposable.
00:03:06.710 --> 00:03:10.639
Nick Carter who was street and Smith's most popular weekly character.
00:03:10.969 --> 00:03:13.759
Had his stories repurposed in several ways.
00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:18.289
From the New York weekly, his stories jumped into his own weekly magazine.
00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:19.699
Nick Carter weekly.
00:03:20.360 --> 00:03:23.710
Around the same time, many of his older stories from the New York weekly.
00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:29.710
We're bundled together in paperback form under street and Smith's magnet library around 1900.
00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:33.699
And the new magnet library around 1910.
00:03:34.539 --> 00:03:45.939
For perspective, the story that we're currently enjoying the crime of the French cafe was written for the New York weekly first back in 1893 in a weekly serial format.
00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:51.909
In 1894, the story was again, serialized in the Nick Carter, weekly magazine.
00:03:52.689 --> 00:03:57.789
In 1900, the entire serialized story was gathered and printed in street.
00:03:57.789 --> 00:04:05.289
And Smith's magnet library, paperback under the title of the crime of the French cafe and other stories.
00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:09.879
It was reprinted under this same title in 1919.
00:04:10.210 --> 00:04:12.909
Under street and Smith's new magnet library.
00:04:13.659 --> 00:04:20.410
Now it's the 1900 version that exists in the project Gutenberg library that I am humbled to be sharing with you now.
00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:23.410
And speaking about that.
00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:30.550
We're moving on, going forward into the past shadowing, the case files of Nick Carter, master detective.
00:04:31.420 --> 00:04:33.009
When we left the story last time.
00:04:33.310 --> 00:04:33.670
Mr.
00:04:33.670 --> 00:04:37.689
Hammond began to tell his story in order to clear John Jones of any wrongdoing.
00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:39.399
Then Mrs.
00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:42.279
John Jones arrived to provide an alibi for her husband.
00:04:42.970 --> 00:04:50.110
Nick's young assistant Patsy told Nick of his own misgivings on the case, questioning Gaspard's rather quick identifications.
00:04:50.709 --> 00:04:52.269
After having the Jones is followed.
00:04:52.509 --> 00:04:56.350
Nick is convinced that Jones is not as innocent as he appears.
00:04:56.709 --> 00:05:02.410
And finally, while trying to prove his hunch by climbing a rope, tied to the roof, down to peer through a window.
00:05:02.649 --> 00:05:06.310
Nick finds himself suddenly plummeting down the side of a building.
00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:13.750
Oh, exciting stuff happening now in the next installment of the crime of the French cafe by Nicholas Carter.
00:05:19.738 --> 00:05:23.608
Chapter seven, the wardrobe of Gaspard's friend.
00:05:25.528 --> 00:05:27.119
Nick Carter is hard to kill.
00:05:27.689 --> 00:05:33.718
A good many crooks have tried to put him out of the world and a fair percentage of them have lost their own lives in the attempt.
00:05:33.988 --> 00:05:36.658
Without inflicting any injury upon Nick.
00:05:37.348 --> 00:05:40.019
He is a man of resources and that's what saves him.
00:05:40.678 --> 00:05:44.428
When one thing fails him, he finds something else to take its place.
00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:49.499
And so when that rope gave way, he took the next best thing.
00:05:50.548 --> 00:05:53.309
That happened to be the sill of the window of Mr.
00:05:53.309 --> 00:05:54.418
Jones's bathroom.
00:05:54.988 --> 00:05:58.019
Nick seized it with a grip of iron as he shot downward.
00:05:58.559 --> 00:06:02.459
The strain on his arms was something awful, but he held on.
00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:05.309
His fingers gripped the wood till they dented it.
00:06:05.728 --> 00:06:06.629
In two seconds.
00:06:06.718 --> 00:06:09.509
He had scrambled through the window into Jones's flat.
00:06:10.129 --> 00:06:18.709
It was done so noiselessly that the colored servant in the room directly opposite across the narrow shaft was not disturbed in her reading.
00:06:19.238 --> 00:06:23.588
From the bathroom Nick made his way to the hall and thence to the parlor.
00:06:23.918 --> 00:06:24.428
Where Mr.
00:06:24.428 --> 00:06:30.189
Jones to judge by the light in the window observed by Musgrave had decided to spend the evening.
00:06:30.728 --> 00:06:31.088
Mr.
00:06:31.088 --> 00:06:33.939
Jones was not visible when Nick looked into the room.
00:06:34.369 --> 00:06:36.588
The bedroom adjoining was also empty.
00:06:37.369 --> 00:06:40.069
Nick ran through the flat, but saw nobody.
00:06:40.848 --> 00:06:43.699
He returned to the parlor and there stood Mr.
00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:45.829
Jones under the chandelier.
00:06:46.408 --> 00:06:49.319
Well upon my word, exclaimed Jones.
00:06:49.468 --> 00:06:50.759
How did you get here?
00:06:51.043 --> 00:06:52.983
I might ask you the same, Said Nick.
00:06:53.353 --> 00:06:55.064
But it isn't worthwhile.
00:06:55.543 --> 00:06:57.194
I've been here all the time.
00:06:57.564 --> 00:06:59.184
Except when you were on the roof.
00:06:59.454 --> 00:07:02.093
Nonsense, what should I be doing on the roof?
00:07:02.704 --> 00:07:04.233
It wasn't what you were doing.
00:07:04.713 --> 00:07:06.723
It's what you were undoing that bothered me.
00:07:07.144 --> 00:07:13.463
You were undoing the knot with which I fastened my rope before I descended your air shaft to get a peep at your servant.
00:07:14.374 --> 00:07:15.634
Nonsense again, Mr.
00:07:15.634 --> 00:07:16.004
Carter.
00:07:16.204 --> 00:07:17.733
How could I get to the roof?
00:07:18.783 --> 00:07:20.374
I'll show you just how it was done.
00:07:20.973 --> 00:07:26.163
Now, the first place you saw me coming back to the house and you guessed what I was going to do.
00:07:26.444 --> 00:07:27.853
You went into this room.
00:07:28.084 --> 00:07:31.324
And Nick dragged Jones into a sort of closet adjoining the parlor.
00:07:31.713 --> 00:07:34.713
And you got out of that window onto the fire escape.
00:07:35.343 --> 00:07:36.814
That led you to the roof.
00:07:37.053 --> 00:07:38.403
And the rest was simple.
00:07:38.824 --> 00:07:45.064
You saw me go down and you tried to make me go down farther and a good deal faster, but you failed.
00:07:45.363 --> 00:07:46.264
And the game's up.
00:07:46.564 --> 00:07:48.694
Now, come to headquarters again.
00:07:49.084 --> 00:07:49.894
What for.
00:07:50.204 --> 00:07:51.103
For trying to kill me.
00:07:51.524 --> 00:07:52.783
That's the charge against you.
00:07:53.353 --> 00:07:55.603
And I haven't got through with you on that other matter.
00:07:56.153 --> 00:07:58.194
But for heaven's sake, pity my wife.
00:07:58.533 --> 00:07:59.434
What's the matter with her.
00:07:59.853 --> 00:08:02.613
She will be crazy when she gets back and finds me gone.
00:08:02.853 --> 00:08:04.704
One of my men will tell her where you are.
00:08:05.024 --> 00:08:06.853
Why did you lie to me about her going out?
00:08:07.423 --> 00:08:09.764
I've a great mind to place her too under arrest.
00:08:10.204 --> 00:08:11.043
You can't do it.
00:08:11.254 --> 00:08:13.173
It's no crime to dodge a detective.
00:08:13.543 --> 00:08:17.233
I admit that she did it, but for a very innocent purpose.
00:08:17.684 --> 00:08:19.093
She has gone to see our lawyer.
00:08:19.774 --> 00:08:20.043
Hmm.
00:08:20.343 --> 00:08:20.913
Very well.
00:08:21.483 --> 00:08:22.624
I will attend to that later.
00:08:22.923 --> 00:08:24.454
Now, come with me.
00:08:24.954 --> 00:08:26.454
Nick took Jones to the street.
00:08:27.084 --> 00:08:30.053
Musgrave got a policeman and Jones was put in his care.
00:08:30.564 --> 00:08:32.333
Musgrave remained on the watch for Mrs.
00:08:32.333 --> 00:08:32.783
Jones.
00:08:33.024 --> 00:08:36.984
While Nick went to get a report from Patsy who was shadowing Gaspard.
00:08:37.394 --> 00:08:39.703
Jones's last words to Nick were these.
00:08:40.114 --> 00:08:41.943
I am a victim of circumstances.
00:08:42.303 --> 00:08:46.714
I had nothing to do with the murder in the restaurant, nor with any attempt upon your life.
00:08:47.283 --> 00:08:49.323
You are doing me a grave injustice.
00:08:49.894 --> 00:08:53.854
If you were not as blind as a bat, you would see who the real criminals are.
00:08:54.293 --> 00:08:57.024
These words were pronounced in a calm and steady tone.
00:08:57.384 --> 00:09:00.624
And it cannot be denied that they produced a great effect upon Nick.
00:09:01.144 --> 00:09:07.234
If it should prove that I have wronged you, he said, I will repay you for the injury to the limit of your demand.
00:09:07.673 --> 00:09:15.144
And the detective did a lot of hard thinking while he was walking toward Gaspard's lodgings, where he expected to meet Patsy.
00:09:16.134 --> 00:09:24.594
Certainly if Jones ever succeeded in establishing his innocence, he would have won a friend in Nick Carter, whose Goodwill is worth a fortune to any man.
00:09:25.153 --> 00:09:28.634
Nick found Patsy outside the house where Gaspard lodged.
00:09:29.083 --> 00:09:31.244
I'm dead onto this fellow, said the youth.
00:09:31.573 --> 00:09:32.953
He's just about ready to flit.
00:09:33.283 --> 00:09:35.744
He's bought lots of stuff today and is flushed with money.
00:09:36.083 --> 00:09:38.073
A man just went in there with a suit of clothes.
00:09:38.583 --> 00:09:41.193
Two delivery wagons from dry goods stores have been here.
00:09:41.384 --> 00:09:45.073
I suppose that the stuff they brought belongs to the woman who is going with Gaspard.
00:09:45.474 --> 00:09:46.163
Have you seen her?
00:09:46.504 --> 00:09:48.573
No, she has kept mighty dark.
00:09:48.964 --> 00:09:50.433
Hello, what's this?
00:09:50.783 --> 00:09:54.714
Nick drew Patsy more closely into the shadow of the steps by which they were standing.
00:09:55.173 --> 00:09:59.354
A carriage rumbled over the pavement and stopped before the door of Gaspard's, lodging house.
00:10:00.943 --> 00:10:05.173
Upon my word said, Nick, it's my old friend Harrigan on the box.
00:10:05.803 --> 00:10:09.163
The way people keep bobbing up in this case is something wonderful.
00:10:10.813 --> 00:10:13.403
Perhaps the woman's in the cab, whispered Patsy.
00:10:13.833 --> 00:10:15.844
On the contrary, the cab was empty.
00:10:16.313 --> 00:10:18.384
Harrigan got off the box and rang the bell.
00:10:18.823 --> 00:10:20.744
Nick heard him ask for Gaspard Lebeaux.
00:10:21.254 --> 00:10:22.453
Gaspard was summoned.
00:10:22.884 --> 00:10:24.874
I've two trunks for you, said Harrigan.
00:10:25.323 --> 00:10:25.984
For me?
00:10:26.234 --> 00:10:27.104
asked Gaspard.
00:10:27.453 --> 00:10:27.994
00:10:28.474 --> 00:10:31.744
00:10:32.193 --> 00:10:33.394
00:10:33.813 --> 00:10:34.923
00:10:35.224 --> 00:10:39.764
A very gallus French siren with a big white hat and a black plume.
00:10:39.974 --> 00:10:42.524
As long as the tail of me horse.
00:10:42.813 --> 00:10:44.913
Alright, said Gaspard promptly.
00:10:45.453 --> 00:10:46.443
Bring in the trunks.
00:10:46.754 --> 00:10:49.333
They were carried up the stairs to Gaspard's room.
00:10:49.783 --> 00:10:52.063
Harrigan mounted the box and drove away.
00:10:52.403 --> 00:10:53.774
Follow him, said Nick.
00:10:54.354 --> 00:10:56.124
Bring him back here in about half an hour.
00:10:56.514 --> 00:10:58.823
Patsy darted away in pursuit of the cab.
00:10:59.394 --> 00:11:02.813
Nick walked up to the door of Gaspard's house and rang the bell.
00:11:03.354 --> 00:11:05.303
He was directed to the Frenchmans room.
00:11:05.724 --> 00:11:07.884
Gaspard was examining the two trunks.
00:11:08.364 --> 00:11:10.854
He looked very much embarrassed at the site of Nick.
00:11:11.264 --> 00:11:12.494
What's all this Gaspard?
00:11:12.923 --> 00:11:13.903
Asked the detective.
00:11:14.714 --> 00:11:16.453
I hear you're going back to France.
00:11:17.293 --> 00:11:17.803
I?
00:11:18.533 --> 00:11:19.053
Oh no.
00:11:19.453 --> 00:11:21.254
New York suits me much better.
00:11:21.653 --> 00:11:23.484
But what are these trunks doing here?
00:11:23.974 --> 00:11:26.193
Gaspard look particularly foolish.
00:11:26.553 --> 00:11:29.913
They are the property of a friend, a lady.
00:11:30.364 --> 00:11:31.474
To tell the truth.
00:11:31.683 --> 00:11:33.033
I hope to marry her.
00:11:33.543 --> 00:11:37.203
A charming girl, monsieur and innocent as a dove.
00:11:37.673 --> 00:11:39.264
Why does she send her trunks here?
00:11:39.614 --> 00:11:41.624
Ah, that I do not know.
00:11:41.984 --> 00:11:43.333
It was not agreed upon.
00:11:43.754 --> 00:11:45.433
Have you any idea what is in them?
00:11:46.394 --> 00:11:47.264
Her wardrobe.
00:11:47.894 --> 00:11:49.634
Ah, she is extravagant.
00:11:49.994 --> 00:11:56.053
She buys many dresses, but then what would you have when one is young and beautiful?
00:11:57.073 --> 00:11:59.803
Gaspard finished his sentence with a sweep of the arms.
00:12:01.735 --> 00:12:07.155
Oh, they are heavy said Nick lifting one of the trunks and setting it crosswise on a lounge.
00:12:07.645 --> 00:12:09.355
He took a bunch of keys from his pocket.
00:12:09.946 --> 00:12:11.316
Gaspard seemed aghast.
00:12:11.995 --> 00:12:13.466
You would not open it.
00:12:13.826 --> 00:12:14.395
He cried.
00:12:15.385 --> 00:12:17.596
Perhaps it won't be necessary said Nick.
00:12:18.115 --> 00:12:18.956
This may answer.
00:12:19.916 --> 00:12:25.556
He drew a knife from his pocket and opened one of the blades, which was sharpened like a very large nut-pick.
00:12:25.956 --> 00:12:26.916
With a sudden movement.
00:12:27.066 --> 00:12:30.336
He struck this into the bottom of the trunk and then withdrew it.
00:12:30.966 --> 00:12:34.086
A dark red stream followed the blade when it was withdrawn.
00:12:34.566 --> 00:12:39.515
The end of the trunk projected over the side of the couch and the red fluid dripped upon the carpet.
00:12:40.115 --> 00:12:42.275
My God exclaimed Gaspard.
00:12:42.666 --> 00:12:46.895
It is blood! So it would seem said Nick quietly.
00:12:47.556 --> 00:12:51.785
He set the trunk upon the floor and snapped back the lock with a skeleton key.
00:12:52.235 --> 00:12:57.576
Then he threw open the lid and revealed a mass of Excelsior and scraps of newspaper.
00:12:58.505 --> 00:13:02.765
This being torn away, disclosed a dead and ghastly face.
00:13:03.336 --> 00:13:06.605
The face of unfortunate Corbut, the waiter.
00:13:09.596 --> 00:13:10.316
Chapter eight.
00:13:10.796 --> 00:13:11.846
Tracing the trunks.
00:13:13.206 --> 00:13:15.035
Corbut's body had been cut in two.
00:13:15.505 --> 00:13:17.995
Only half was in the trunk, which Nick had opened.
00:13:18.365 --> 00:13:20.916
The other half was not however far away.
00:13:21.426 --> 00:13:23.556
It was in the other trunk.
00:13:24.306 --> 00:13:26.676
Both trunks contained considerable blood.
00:13:26.916 --> 00:13:34.235
But they had been neatly lined with rubber cloth, apparently taken from a rubber blanket and a man's heavy waterproof coat.
00:13:34.865 --> 00:13:38.586
It was so fitted that the trunks when closed were water tight.
00:13:39.166 --> 00:13:41.875
The neatest job I ever saw said Nick.
00:13:42.875 --> 00:13:43.615
Come, Gaspard.
00:13:43.846 --> 00:13:44.625
Tell the story.
00:13:45.525 --> 00:13:49.426
I swear to you, cried Gaspard, that I know nothing of it.
00:13:49.765 --> 00:13:51.985
At this moment, Patsy rapped on the door.
00:13:52.466 --> 00:13:53.905
He had brought back Harrigan.
00:13:54.326 --> 00:13:56.725
Come in said Nick and they both entered.
00:13:57.745 --> 00:14:01.436
Oh, holy mother! Shrieked Harrigan when he saw the open trunks.
00:14:01.975 --> 00:14:05.635
So help me, gentlemen, I don't know nothing about this business.
00:14:05.926 --> 00:14:08.275
I ain't in it I'm telling you straight.
00:14:08.716 --> 00:14:10.735
You's don't believe I had anything to do with this.
00:14:10.735 --> 00:14:11.155
Do ya?
00:14:11.596 --> 00:14:13.645
You brought the trunks here, said Nick.
00:14:14.655 --> 00:14:20.405
Let me tell you's all about it, cried Harrigan who was so anxious to tell that he couldn't talk fast enough.
00:14:20.985 --> 00:14:23.355
The French lady struck me on the old place.
00:14:23.446 --> 00:14:25.265
You know where I was the other night.
00:14:25.966 --> 00:14:29.416
She talked kinda Dago, but I tumbled to what she was, a given me.
00:14:29.926 --> 00:14:31.456
This was about half past seven.
00:14:31.456 --> 00:14:31.936
O'clock.
00:14:32.255 --> 00:14:32.826
Meet me.
00:14:32.855 --> 00:14:36.605
She says in an hour and she gives me street and number.
00:14:37.265 --> 00:14:40.416
It was west 57th street, but there ain't no such number.
00:14:40.836 --> 00:14:49.056
There's nothing there, but a high board fence, but that didn't make no difference because when I got there, her giblets was a standing on the sidewalk waiting for me.
00:14:49.296 --> 00:14:53.525
Drive over to the corner, says she and turn round and come back.
00:14:54.245 --> 00:14:54.905
I did it.
00:14:55.176 --> 00:14:57.755
And when I got there, she showed me these two trunks.
00:14:58.115 --> 00:14:59.346
I hadn't seen him before.
00:14:59.596 --> 00:15:02.495
And she gives me this mugs address and two bones for me fare.
00:15:02.895 --> 00:15:04.966
And told me to come down here, which I did.
00:15:05.326 --> 00:15:07.556
And I wished to heaven I hadn't, see?
00:15:08.035 --> 00:15:10.436
That's a pretty good story Harrigan, said Nick.
00:15:10.895 --> 00:15:13.485
Patsy, get a policemen to stay with gaspard.
00:15:13.905 --> 00:15:15.975
Patsy brought the blue coat in a few minutes.
00:15:16.605 --> 00:15:19.515
Now we'll go up to 57th street said Nick.
00:15:20.076 --> 00:15:26.166
Half an hour later, they had found the place where as Harrigan claimed The French lady had delivered the trunks to him.
00:15:26.735 --> 00:15:33.035
I thought, of course, that she'd been fired out of some boarding house said Harrigan, there's a hash mill there on the right.
00:15:33.546 --> 00:15:35.495
I had an idea she'd been drawn out of there.
00:15:35.975 --> 00:15:36.306
Nick.
00:15:36.336 --> 00:15:39.546
Meanwhile had been examining the sidewalk with the aid of his dark lantern.
00:15:39.975 --> 00:15:41.145
Clever work.
00:15:41.355 --> 00:15:41.956
He said.
00:15:42.525 --> 00:15:44.326
There are no marks on the sidewalk.
00:15:44.926 --> 00:15:46.365
The trunks would not dragged.
00:15:46.865 --> 00:15:49.056
That woman must be pretty strong.
00:15:49.485 --> 00:15:52.245
You say you didn't see the trunks when you first drove up.
00:15:53.176 --> 00:15:53.686
Now.
00:15:54.676 --> 00:15:56.025
then they couldn't have been here.
00:15:56.686 --> 00:15:57.735
Where were they?
00:15:58.426 --> 00:15:59.956
Not in any of these houses?
00:16:00.525 --> 00:16:02.326
She couldn't have got them out quick enough.
00:16:03.015 --> 00:16:06.706
Then they must have been behind that fence.
00:16:07.546 --> 00:16:10.576
There was a little gate in the fence, which Nick opened as he spoke.
00:16:11.086 --> 00:16:13.125
Ah, here we have tracks.
00:16:13.485 --> 00:16:13.966
He said.
00:16:14.625 --> 00:16:15.916
It's all cleared enough now.
00:16:16.395 --> 00:16:20.926
The trunks were brought across to this vacant lot from one of the houses facing the other street.
00:16:21.346 --> 00:16:24.735
The lot is the width of three flat houses, which stand behind it.
00:16:25.306 --> 00:16:28.725
There are no gates in the fence between the yards of the houses in the lot.
00:16:29.145 --> 00:16:33.556
But Nick found a wide board that could be pulled off and replaced without much trouble.
00:16:34.365 --> 00:16:37.066
Passing through the opening made by taking away this board.
00:16:37.365 --> 00:16:40.035
He found himself in the yard of the middle house.
00:16:40.436 --> 00:16:42.865
The trunks came from here he said.
00:16:43.525 --> 00:16:45.885
They were lowered down in the dumbwaiter to the cellar.
00:16:46.255 --> 00:16:49.076
And then carried through the lot two 57th street.
00:16:49.885 --> 00:16:51.775
I'll leave the rest of this job to you, Patsy.
00:16:52.285 --> 00:17:00.115
Find out all you can and have as many witnesses as you can get together at the superintendent's office tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock.
00:17:00.505 --> 00:17:03.926
We're going to have a special examination into this case.
00:17:04.465 --> 00:17:07.945
The special examination began promptly at the hour named by Nick.
00:17:08.665 --> 00:17:11.546
All the person's hitherto mentioned in connection with the case.
00:17:11.905 --> 00:17:14.486
Except of course the two victims were present.
00:17:15.236 --> 00:17:18.056
There were also several witnesses whom Patsy had secured.
00:17:18.685 --> 00:17:22.465
The case, which I have made out, said Nick, is perfectly clear.
00:17:23.096 --> 00:17:26.905
It begins with Gaspard's identification of the prisoner, Jones.
00:17:27.385 --> 00:17:30.506
We know that he was at the restaurant when the crime was committed.
00:17:30.925 --> 00:17:32.516
His name is on the books.
00:17:33.086 --> 00:17:40.316
In some way, which I am not now prepared to fully explain, the waiter Corbut, obtained the knowledge of the crime.
00:17:40.915 --> 00:17:43.945
It was necessary for the criminal to get Corbut out of the way.
00:17:44.846 --> 00:17:47.875
I saw Corbut get into a cab at the door of the restaurant.
00:17:48.266 --> 00:17:54.326
The driver, Harrigan testified to taking him and another man to a point on west 57th street.
00:17:54.895 --> 00:17:59.726
He was not sure of the exact spot, but he fixed the locality in a general way.
00:18:00.385 --> 00:18:03.685
From that point, all trace of Corbut was lost for a time.
00:18:04.465 --> 00:18:06.145
At last, his body was found.
00:18:06.625 --> 00:18:11.935
I succeeded in tracing the body back to a place near the spot where Harrigan last saw Corbut alive.
00:18:12.566 --> 00:18:17.306
I discovered that the body had been removed from a flat house on west 58th street.
00:18:18.145 --> 00:18:21.145
My assistant Patsy questioned the people in that house.
00:18:21.566 --> 00:18:27.145
He learned that the third flat had been occupied by a couple who lived very quietly.
00:18:27.955 --> 00:18:29.425
The man was often away.
00:18:30.056 --> 00:18:36.955
I now desire to ask the witness Eliza Harris who lives in that house when she last saw the man in question.
00:18:37.316 --> 00:18:39.655
The man who rented that third flat.
00:18:40.125 --> 00:18:44.145
A bright eyed, little woman arose at this and said, I see him now.
00:18:44.506 --> 00:18:45.286
There he is.
00:18:45.945 --> 00:18:48.286
She pointed to John Jones.
00:18:48.915 --> 00:18:50.266
He wore a false beard.
00:18:50.596 --> 00:18:52.516
She continued, but I know him.
00:18:52.996 --> 00:18:54.226
And there's the woman.
00:18:54.855 --> 00:18:56.925
She stretched out her hand towards Mrs.
00:18:56.925 --> 00:18:57.465
Jones.
00:18:58.455 --> 00:19:00.175
To their flat, nick continued.
00:19:00.476 --> 00:19:02.246
As I have every reason to believe.
00:19:02.576 --> 00:19:08.796
Corbett was taken by Jones on that night and there he was murdered and his body cut in two.
00:19:09.090 --> 00:19:10.830
It was placed in the trunks.
00:19:11.371 --> 00:19:15.931
Joan's intended probably to remove it the next day, but his arrest prevented.
00:19:16.651 --> 00:19:20.161
Of course, it was necessary to get the body out of the way very soon.
00:19:20.550 --> 00:19:25.530
But Jones was too closely watched that work had to be done by the woman.
00:19:25.800 --> 00:19:27.810
And she did it exceedingly well.
00:19:28.891 --> 00:19:31.050
Nick told how Musgrave had been duped.
00:19:31.830 --> 00:19:33.211
Now he continued.
00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:40.441
Nothing remains, but to clear up the details of the crime in the restaurant, I shall proceed to state exactly how it was done.
00:19:40.830 --> 00:19:47.701
At this moment, Jones who had previously remained perfectly calm, uttered a horrible groan and half arose to his feet.
00:19:48.090 --> 00:19:49.740
He sank back fainting.
00:19:50.141 --> 00:19:56.351
And then came a surprising incident for which even the shrewd superintendent of police had been wholly unprepared.
00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:03.401
A pale faced man, who had been sitting beside Nick arose and cried in a voice that trembled with emotion.
00:20:04.151 --> 00:20:05.800
Stop stop.
00:20:06.161 --> 00:20:07.780
I can bear this no longer.
00:20:09.040 --> 00:20:09.851
It was Hammond.
00:20:10.151 --> 00:20:12.550
The man who begged Nick to save Jones.
00:20:13.361 --> 00:20:14.621
While Nick had been speaking.
00:20:14.961 --> 00:20:17.500
Hammond's eyes had been fixed upon Jones's face.
00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:23.030
He had watched the agony of fear growing upon the wretched man and gradually overcoming him.
00:20:23.300 --> 00:20:29.570
And when the burden became too great for the accused to bear Hammond also reached the limit of his endurance.
00:20:30.260 --> 00:20:31.580
I can't stand it.
00:20:31.760 --> 00:20:32.330
He cried.
00:20:32.601 --> 00:20:35.631
You shall not torture this innocent man any longer.
00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.810
What do you mean?
00:20:37.260 --> 00:20:38.340
Ask the superintendent.
00:20:39.090 --> 00:20:40.230
This is what I mean.
00:20:40.621 --> 00:20:43.530
The fear of disgrace has kept me silent too long.
00:20:43.830 --> 00:20:46.050
Now I will confess everything.
00:20:46.641 --> 00:20:54.570
Do you think I will sit here and let an innocent man be condemned and his wife put the torture to save me from the, just punishment of my fault.
00:20:55.020 --> 00:20:55.560
Never.
00:20:56.131 --> 00:21:01.441
Listen to me, it was I who took that unhappy woman to the place where she met her death.
00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:04.530
It was I who wrote that name in the register.
00:21:04.891 --> 00:21:09.391
I! I and not that innocent man was her companion.
00:21:09.780 --> 00:21:12.300
The waiter Gaspard is mistaken.
00:21:12.961 --> 00:21:16.230
I am the man who was in room B.
00:21:17.520 --> 00:21:19.621
Did Hammond really commit the crime.
00:21:20.161 --> 00:21:22.111
Is John Jones truly innocent.
00:21:22.590 --> 00:21:25.891
Does Nick really know who the real murder is?
00:21:26.280 --> 00:21:34.471
The answer to these and other questions will be answered in the exciting conclusion to Nick Carter on the crime of the French cafe.
00:21:35.961 --> 00:21:37.971
Well, I didn't see that coming.
00:21:37.971 --> 00:21:41.300
Did you, the story has gotten more and more exciting.
00:21:41.330 --> 00:21:43.371
I can't wait to see how this ends.
00:21:43.921 --> 00:21:50.580
Thanks once again for listening folks, as a reminder, please feel free to visit gutenberg.org org.
00:21:50.760 --> 00:21:55.621
For other stories like Nick Carter or other fascinating tales of wonder from the past.
00:21:56.250 --> 00:22:06.510
If you spot one that you think would be a great fit for this podcast send me a note through the podcast website while you're there, you can send me a tip or subscribe to be a supporter.
00:22:06.840 --> 00:22:13.951
Purchase a birthday audio or video for a loved one, or read the latest blog entry to see what the next story will be.
00:22:14.490 --> 00:22:18.810
Until next time, folks keep sharing the stories and be a good human.
00:22:19.530 --> 00:22:20.490
Bye for now.
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