The Peculiar Advertisements

The Doctrine of Chance—A Night at the Girard House, Philadelphia— An Inoffensive Gentleman, My Room-Mate—I Disturb His Sleep—A Queer Tale—Nellie Wilson And Her Uncle—William Wilson, Nellie’s Dissolute Cousin—Fearful Love-Making —A Rescue—A Call to Duty—A Dead Man’s Will Missing—Studying Up the Case with the Great Criminal Lawyer, Judge S.—Fate Interposes—A Mysterious and Peculiar Advertisement—At the Continental Hotel, Waiting and Watching—An “Appearance”—William Wilson Again—An Upper Room, And The Villains Therein—A Private Conference Not All Secret—A Flash of Victory Before Utter Defeat—Notes and Documents Exchanged—Base Rejoicings —A Fatal Neglect—The Surprise—Complete Discomfiture— The End Accomplished—“Coals Of Fire,’’ But They Do No Good— A Violent Death— Happy Consequences—The Peculiar Advertisements Unravelled

by George McWatters

Coincidences in life and its various pursuits are perhaps governed by some mysterious law, and are not always resolvable by the doctrine of chance. The detective is not only brought into contact with all sorts of people without the profession, but frequently finds himself in the company of his mysterious fellow-craftsmen, to some purpose. An advertisement among the “Personals” in the New York Herald had directed me to Philadelphia, in the spring of 1857; or, rather, following the thread of one by which I thought I might possibly unravel a mystery of great importance to a client of mine, I had gone to Philadelphia: and putting up at the Girard House, was compelled, on account of the crowded state of the hotel, to take room for the night with a quiet, inoffensive looking gentleman, whose appearance at times, however, betokened to me that something was pressing upon… Read More