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About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909 | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1908)
BLINDFOLDED A Mystery Story of San Francisco BY EARLE ASHLEY WALCOTT (Copyright loot, tlio I)obb Merrill Co.) SYNOPSIS. alios Dudley arrived in San Francisco to Join hla friend and distant rclativo Henry Wilton, whom ho was to assist in an Important and mysterious task, and who accompanied Dudloy on the ferry boat trip into the city. The re mnrkablo tcscnihlanco of the two men is noted and commented on by passen Kers on the ferry. They boo a man with snnko eyes, which sends a thrill through Dudley. Wilton postpones an explanation of the strange errand Dudley is to per form, but occurrences causo him to know It Is one of no ordinary meaning. Wilton leaves Giles In their room, with Instruction to await his return and shoot any ono who tries to enter. Outsldo there is heard shouts and curses and the noise of a (itiarrol, Henry rushes In and at his request the roommates quickly ex change clothes, and ho hurries out again. Hardly lias ho gone than Giles is startled by a cry of "Holp," and ho runs out to find somo ono being assaulted by a half dozen men. He summons a police man but they are unable to find any traco of a crime. Giles returns to his room and hunts for somo ovldenco that might explain his strange mission. lie llnds a map which ho endeavors to de cipher. Dudley Is summoned to the morgue and there llnds tho dead body of his friend, Henry Wilton. And thus Wilt on dies without ever explaining to Dud loy the puzzling work he was to perform In San Francisco. In order to discover the secret mission his friend had entrust ed to him, Dudley continues his disguise and pormits himself to be known as Henry Wilton. Dudloy, mistaken for Wilton, is employed by Knnpp to assist in a stock brokerage deal. CHAPTER VI. Continued. "We'll have to break down the door, I guess," said Dicky. "Some thing must have happened." And a resounding kick shook the panel. "Hold on!" I cried. "What's wanted?" "Oh," said Dicky sarcastically. "You've come to lite again, have you?" "Well, I'm not dead yet." "Then strike a light and let us In. And take a look at that reminder you'll find wrapped around the rock I heaved through tho transom. I thought It was open." And Dicky went off into another series of chuckles in appreciation of his mis take. "All right," I said. I was not en tirely trustful, and after I had lighted tho gas-jet I picked up the stone that lay among the fragments of glass, and unwrapped the paper. The sheet bore only the words: "At Borton's, at midnight. Richmond." This was tho name of the agent of tho Unknown, who had sent the other note. Dicky and his companion must then bo protectors instead of enemies. I hastened to unlock the door, and In walked my two visitors. Tho first was a young man, tall, well-made, with a shrewd, good-humored countenance, and a ready, con fident air about him. I had no trou ble In picking him out as the amused Dicky. Tho other was a black-bearded glunt, who followed stolidly in the wake of the younger man. "You've led me a pretty chase," said Dicky. "If it hadn't been for Pork Chops here, I shouldn't have found you till tho cows come homo." "Well, what's up now?" I asked. "Why, you ought to know," said Dicky with evident surprise. "But you'd better be hurrying down to Borton's. Tho gang must be there by now." I could only wonder who Borton might be, and where his place was, and what connection ho might have with the mystery, as Dicky took mo by the arm and hurried mo out into tho darkness. The chill night air served to nerve Instead of depress my spirits, as tho garrulous Dicky uncon sciously guided mo to the meeting place, Joyously narrating some amus ing adventure of tho day, while the heavy retainer stalked In silence be hind. Down near tho foot of Jackson street, where tho smell of bilge-water and the wash of tho sowers grow stronger, and tho masts of vessels could just be seon In the darkness outlined against tho sky, Dicky sud denly stopped and drew me into a doorway. Our retalnor disappeared at the same instant, and the street was apparently deaerted. Then out of tho night the shape of a man approached with silent stops. "Five sixteen," croaked Dicky. The man gave a visible start. "Sixteen five," ho croaked In re turn. "Any signs?" whispered Dicky. "Six men went upstairs acrosi tho street. Every ono of them did tho sailor-drunk act." "Sure they weren't Bailors?" "Well, when six coves goes up tho same stairs trying tho samo dodge, all lnsido of ten minutes, I has a right to my suspicions. And Darby Meeker ain't been to sea yet that I knows on." "Darby Meeker!" exclaimed Dicky In a whisper. And ho drew a whistle under his brenth. "What do you think of that, Wilton? I had no Idea he was back from that wild-goose chase you sent him on." "It looks bad," I admitted cautious ly. "I daro say he isn't in good temper." "You'll have to settle with him for that piece of business,' said Dicky with a chuckle. I failed to see the amusing Bide of the prospect. I wished I knew whnt Mr. Meeker looked like. The guard had melted away Into the darkness without another word, and wo hurried forward with due cau tion. Just pnBt the next corner was a lighted room, and the sound of voices broke tho quiet. We puBhed open tho door and walk ed In. The room was largo and dingy, the celling low. Tables were scattered about tho sanded Moor. A bar took tip the side of the room ne:;t the en trance and a general air of disreputa blllty filled the place. About tho room, some at the tables, some at tho bar, were numbers of stout, rough-looking men, with a few Greek fishermen and two or threo sailors. Behind tho bar sat a women whoso appearance in that place almost start led me. She might have been near Ing seventy, and a hard and evil life had loft Its marks on her bent frame and her gaunt face. Her leathery cheeks were lined deep, and a hawk like nose emphasized tho unpleasant suggestions conveyed by hor face and figure. But the most remarkable fea ture about her was ner eyes. There was no traco of ago In them. Bright and keen as the eyes of a rat, they gave me an unpleasant thrill as I felt her gaze fixed upon me when I entered tho door, arm In arm with Dicky. It was as though they had pierced me through, and had laid bare something I would have con cealed. It was a relief to pass beyond her into a recessed part of the room where her gaze might waste Itself on tho back of my head. "Mother Borton's up late to-night," said Dicky thoughtfully, as he ordered wine. "You can't blame her for thinking that this crowd needs watching," I suggested with as much of airiness ns I could throw into my manner. Dicky shook his head for a second, and then resumed his light-hearted, bantering way. Yet I could see that ho was preplexed and anxious about something that had come to his at tention on our arrival. ' "You'll not want to attend to busi ness till all tho boys are hero?" asked Dicky. "Not unless there's somothing to be done," I responded dryly. Dicky gave mo a quick glance. "Of course," he said with a laugh that was not quite easy, "not unless there's something to be done. But I thought there was somothing." "You've got a fine mind for thinking, Dicky," I replied. "You'd better culti vate it." "Well, they say there's nothing like society for that sort of cultivation," said Dicky, with another laugh. "Thoy don't say what kind, but I've got a pretty good stock to choose from." Ho was at his ease in banter again, but It struck unpleasantly on mo that there was something behind. "Oh, hero's a queer friend," ho said suddenly, looking at tho Uoor. "I'd better speak to him on the matter of countersigns." "By all means," I said, turning In my chair to survey the new-comer. I saw the face for an Instant. The man wore a sou'wester, and ho had drawn his thick, rough coat up as tho collur. Cheek and chin I could soo wore covered by a thick blonde beard. His movements wore apparent ly clumsy, but his figure was lithe and sinuous. And his eyes! Once seen thoy never could bo forgotten. At though ho would hldo his head under their glance, oeard and sou'wester dropped away before my fancy, and I saw In my Inner vision tho man of tho serpent glance who had chilled my spirit when I had first put foot In tho city. It flashed on mo In an Instant that this man was tho same man dis guised, who has ventured Into tho midst of his enomles to seo what ho might learn of their plans. As I watched Dicky advanco and greet tho new-comer with npparent In quiry, a low, harsh voice behind gnvo me a start of surprise. "This is your wine, I think" and a lean, wrinkled arm passed over my shoulder, and a wrinkled fnco came near my own. I turned quickly. It was Mother Borton, leering at me with no nppar ent interest but In her errand. "What arc you doing hero?" asked tho crono In a volco still lower. "You'ro not tho ono they tako you to be, but you'ro nono the less In danger. What aro you doing with his looks, and In this place? Look out for that man you'ro with, and tho other. Yos, sir," hor volco rose. "A small bottle of tho white; In a minute, sir." I understood her as Dicky and tho now-comcr camo to tho tablo and took seats opposite. I commanded my faco to glvo no sign of suspicion, but tho warning put me on the alert. I had come on tho supposition that I was to meet tho band to which Henry Wil ton belonged. Instead of being among friends, howevor, It seemed now that I was among enemies. "It's all right," said Dicky careless ly. "Ho's been sent." "That's lucky," said I with equal unconcern. "Wo may need an extra hand before morning." Tho now-comor could not repress a triumphant Hash In tho serpent oyes. "I'm the ono for your job," ho said hoarsely, his face as Impassive ns a stone wall. "What do you know about tho job?" I asked suspiciously. "Only what I've been told," ho an swered. "And that Is " "That It's a Job for silence, secrecy, and " "Spondulicks," said Dicky with a laugh, as the other hesitated for tho word. "Just so," said tho man. "And what else?" I continued, press ing him firmly. "Well, ho admitted hoarsely, "I learned as how there was to be a change of placo to-night, and I might be needed." I lookod at him inquiringly. Per haps I was on tho threshold of knowl edge of this cursed business from the mouth of tho enemy. "I heard as how tho boy was to be put In a safer place," he said, wagging his head with affected gravity. Some imp put it into my brain to try him with an unexpected bit of news. "Oh," I said coolly, "that's all at tended to. The change was made yes terday." The effect of this announcement was extraordinary. Tho man started with an oath. "The hell you say!" he exclaimed in a low, smooth voice, far different from the harsh tone ho had used thus far. Then ho leaped to his feet, with uncontrollable rage. "Tricked by God!" he shouted im pulsively, and smote tho table with his fist. His outburst threw the room Into confusion. Men sprang from tholr chairs. Glasses and bottles fell with clinking crash. Oaths and shouts arose from tho crowd. "Damn you, I'll have It out of you!" said tho man with suppressed fury, his voice onco again smooth and low. "Where Is tho boy?" Ho sinoto tho table again; and with that stroke tho false beard fell from his chin and cheek, and exposed tho malignant face, distorted with rage. A feeling of horrible repulsion camo over me, and I should have struck at that serpent's head but for a startling occurrence. As ho spoke, a wild scream rose upon the air, and as It echoed through tho room tho lights wont out. Tho scream was repeated, and after an Instant's silence there rose a chorus of shouts and oaths, mingled with tho crash of tables and tho clink of breaking glass and crockery, as tho men In the room fought their way to the door. "Oh, my God, I'm cut!" camo in a shriek out of tho darkness and clamor; and there followed the flash of a pistol and a report that boomed llko a can non In that confined plnco. My eyes had not been Idie after the warning of Mother Borton, and in an instant I had decided what to do. I had figured out what I conceived to be tho plan of tho house, and thought I know a way of escape. Thero wero two doors at tho rear of tho room, facing me. One led, as I know, to tho kitchen; tho other opened, I reasoned, on a stair to the lodging-room above. Beforo the scream that accom panied the extinction of tho lights had died away, I had mado a dive benonth tho table, and, lifting with all my might, had sent it crashing over with my enemy under It. With ono loap cleared tho remaining table that lay between me and tho door. And with tho cJamor behind me, I turned the knob ond bottnded up tho stairs, three steps nt a time. CHAPTER VII. Mother Borton. Tho nolso of tho strugglo below con tinued. Yolls and curses roso from tho maddened mon. Threo shots wero fired In quick succession, and a cry of "Oh, my Lord!" ponetrated through tho closed door with the sound of one sorely hurt. I lingered for n little, llstonlng to tho tumult. I was In a strango and dangerous position. Enemies wore bo hind mo. Thoro wero frlondB, too, but I know no way to toll ono from tho other, and my Ignorance had near ly brought me to my doath. I heal tatcd to move, but I could not remain In tho open hall; and as tho sounds of disturbance from below subsided. I felt my way along tho wall and moved cnutlously forward. I had progressed perhaps twenty steps when a door, against which my hand pressed, yioldod at tho touoh and swung slowly opon. I atrovo.to atop It, for tho first oponlng showed a dim light within. But tho panel gavo no hold for my fingors, and my offorts to closo the door only eyung It opon tho faster. I drew back a little into tho shadow, for I hesitated to dash past tho sight of any who might oc cupy the room. "Como In!" called i harsh volco. ' I hesitated. Behind, the road led to tho oatlng-room with Its known dangers. A dash along tho hall for tho front door meant tho raising of nn alarm, and probably a bullot as a dlscouragor of burglary. Should I os capo this, I could bo certain of a warm recoption from tho onomles on watch outsldo. Prudonco lay in facing tho one rather than risking tho many. I accoptcd tho invitation and walked into tho room. "I was expecting you," said tho harsh volqo composedly. "Good even ing." "Good ovenlng," I returned gravely, swallowing my amazement as best I could. By tho tablo beforo mo Bat Mothor Borton, contemplating mo as calmly as though this meeting were tho most commonplaco thing In the world. A candle furnished a dim, flickering light that gavo to hor hard wicked countenance a diabolic leer that struck a chill to my blood. "Excuse mo," I said, "I havo lost my way, I fear." "Not at all," said Mothor Borton. "You aro In the right placo." "I was afraid I had intruded," I said apologetically. "I expected you," she repeated. "Shut tho door." I glancod about tho room. Thoro was no sign of another person to be seen, and no other door. I obeyed her. "You might as well Bit down," sho said with some potulanco. "There's nothing up horo to hurt you." Thoro was bo much meaning in her tono of the things that would hurt me on the floor bolow that I hastened to show my confidence In hor, and drew up a chair to tho table. "At your service," I said, leaning before her with as much an appear ance of jaunty self-possession as I could muster. "Who are you, amd what aro you doing hero?" she asked grimly. What should I answer? Could I tell hor the truth? "Who aro you?" sho repeated Im patiently, gazing on me. "You aro not Wilton. Tell me, Who are you?" Tho face, hard as It was, seamed with tho record of a rough and evil life, as It appeared, had yet a kindly look as It was turned on me. (TO HE CONTINUED.) TERRORS OF BALLOONING. Not to the Aeronaut, but to the Man on Earth Below Him. It must be more than two years ago that I called attention In this column to tho danger and nuisanco that would bo likely to ensuo if ballooning be came popular, but It is only recently that the public havo awakened to tho fact that tho possibilities mentioned aro likely to become stern realities. Already we read of people quietly lounging in their gardens being woll nigh blinded by showers of sand, of conservatories boing smashed, of houses unroofed and chimneys demol ished, of trees uprooted, of fonces damagod and of cattlo Injured by tho action of tho grnpnol. Of course, ns ballooning becomes more goneral such accidents will be moro frequent and moro serious. An inconsiderate aeronaut Is far moro dif ficult to catch and control thnn a road hog, because ho may porpotuato his annoyances from an Inaccessible dis tance. It Is really high tlmo beforo this latest nuisanco becomes so vast as to bo uncontrollable that strin gent measures should bo tnkon for its suppression. But, I supposo till tho prima minis ter has been hooked by a grapllng Iron and dragged by tho heels across a plowed fiold and through a couplo of quick-sot hedges, nothing will be done. London Graphic. The Contrary Child. Mrs. Poploy Llttlo Georgo won't tako milk at all now. Ho used to take It hut Mr. Poploy (crossly) No, and It's nil on account of your lmprudonce. "My Imprudence?" Mr. Popley Yes, you allowed him to hear you say It was good for him. There li mora Catarrh In tbti section of tha eotratrf than Ml other diseases put together, and until tho taet few year wna auppotcd to bo Incurable. For a uroat many year doc torn pronounced It local disease and prescribed local remtdlei, and by constantly falling to cure with local treatment, pronounced It Incurable. Bclence hua proren Cntarrh to be a constitutional die ate. and therefore rcqutreaconttltutlonal treatment, llall'a Catarrh Cure, manufactured by F.J. Cheney A Co., Toledo, Ohio, It the only Conitltuttonat euro on tha market. It la taken Internally In dotea from 10 drops to teatpoonfu). It acta directly on the blood and mucoua eurfacee of the tyttem. They offer one hundied dollars for any case It fall! to eure. Bead for circulars and testimonials. Addreett T. J. OHKNEV A CO., Toledo, Ohio. Boldby I)ruBBlttt.75o. Take flaira Family fills for constipation. Self-Dental. Mnrglo li alx years old and hor fam family nro Prosbytorlnns. Somo of Marglo's llttlo friends aro Episco palians, and Margie was much Im pressed with tholr Lenten sacrifices. On Ash WodnoBdny sho announced that sho would oat no candy for 40 Jays. A fow hours lator saw Margie with a Inrge peppermint stick. "Why, Mnrglo," said her friend, "I thought you had glvon up candy for Lent." "I did mean to," admitted Margie, "but I've changod my mind. I'm giv ing up profano language" Montreal Herald. In the Same Boat. "Wo get somo sad cases," said tho attendant at tho Lumpton lunatic asylum to tho Interested visitor, and opened tho door of tho first cell. Insldo was a man Bitting on a three legged stool, gazing vacantly at tho wall. "His Is an unhappy story," said tho attendant. "Ho was In lovo with a girl, but she married nnothor man, and ho lost his reason from grlof." Thoy stolo out Bortly, closing tho door behind them, and proceeded to tho next inmnte. This coll was thickly paddod, and the man within was stark, staring mad. "Who Is this?" Inquired tho visitor. "This?" repeated tho attendant. "This Is the other man!" Tatler. 18 IT POS8IBLET "And who were tho people who first thought of muBlc, auntie?" "Why, child, thoy aro considered to bo prehistoric." "Oh, auntie, how woll you do re member!" THE FIRST T7BTE Learned to Drink Coffee When a Baby. If parents' realized tho fact that cof fee contains a drug caffeine which 1b especially harmful to children, thoy would doubtless hosltato beforo giv ing tho babies coffeo to drink. "Whon I was a child In my mother's arms and first begun to nibble things at tho tablo, mother usod to glvo mo sips of coffeo. As my parents used coffeo exclusively at meals I never know thero was anything to drink but coffeo and water. "And so I contracted tho coffeo habit early. I remember when quite young, tho continual uso of coffeo so affected my parents that thoy tried roasting wheat and barley, then ground It in tho coffee-mill, ns a substitute for coffeo. "But it did not taste right and thoy wont back to coffeo again. That waa lonjg beforo Postum was over heard of. I continued to uso coffeo until I was 27, and when I got Into ofllco work, I be gan to havo nervous spoils. Especially after breakfast I was bo nervous I could scarcoly attend to my corre spondence. "At night, after having coffeo for supper, I could hnrdly Bleep, and on rising In tho morning would feol weak aud nervous. "A friend persuaded mo to try Post um. My wife and I did not llko It at first, but lator when boiled good and strong It was fine. Now wo would not glvo up Postum for tho best coffeo wo over tasted. "I can now get good sloop, am freo from norvousncss and headaches. I recommend Postum to all coffeo drink era. "There's a Reason." Namo given by Postum Co., Battle Crook, Mich. Read "Tho Road to Woll vlllo," In pkgs. Ever read the above letter? A new one appears from time to time. They are genuine, true, and full of human Interest,