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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 1910)
IIAfpx: MAN IjPWFRT A HART CHAPTER I. I Go to Pittsburg. McKnlght is gradually taking over the criminal end of tho business. I uover liked It, and slnco tho strnngo case of tho man In lower ten, I havo been a bit squeamish. Given a caso llko thnt, where you can build up a network of clews that absolutely In criminate three entirely different peo ple, only ono of whom can bo guilty, ind your faith In circumstantial evl denso dies" of overcrowding. 1 never see a shivering, whlto-fnced wretch In tho prisoners dock thnt I do not hnrk back with shuddering horror to tho strange events on tho Pullman car Ontario, between Washington and Pittsburg, on the night of September 9. Inst. McKnlght could tell the story n .srent deal better than 1, although he cannot spell three consecutive words correctly. But, whllo ho hns Imagi nation and humor, he. Is lazy. "It didn't happen to me, anyhow," lie protested, when I put It up to him. "And nobody cares for second-hand thrills. Besides, you want tho un varnished nnd ungnrnlshcd truth, and I'm no hand for that. I'm n lnwycr." So am I, although there have been times when my assumption In that particular has been disputed. I am iiimarried, nnd Just old enough to dance with tho grown-up little sisters of the girls I used to know. I nm fond of outdoors, prefer horses to the afore said grown-up little sisters, and with out sentiment ("nm" crossed out and "was" substituted. Ed.) and com pletely ruled and frequently routed by tny housekeeper, an elderly widow. In fact, of all tho men of my ac quaintance, I was probably the most prosaic, the least adventurous, tho ono man In a hundred who would bo likely to go without a deviation from the normal through tho orderly pro cession of tho seasons, summer suits to winter flannels, golf to bridge. So It was a queer freak of the de mons of chance to perch on my un susceptible 30-year-old chest, tie mo up with a crime, ticket mo with a love affair, and start mo on that sen sational and not nlways respectable Journey that ended so surprisingly less than three weeks later in the firm's private office. It had been tho most remarkable period of my life. I would nolther give it up nor live it again under any inducement, and yet ail that I lost was some 20 yards off my drive! It was really McKnlght's turn to make tho next Journoy. I had a tournament at Chevy Chase for Satur day, nnd a short yncht cruise planned for Sundny; nnd when a man has been grinding nt staUito law for a week, ho needs relaxation. But McKnlght begged off. It was not tho first tlmo he had shirked that summer in order to run down to Richmond, nnd I was surly about It. But this tlmo ho had i new excuse. , "I wouldn't be able to look after the business If I did go," he said, lie has a sort of wide-eyed frankness that makes one ashamed to doubt him. "I'm always car sick crossing tho mountains. It's a fnct, Lolllo. See snwlng over tho penks does it. Why, crossing the Alleghany mountains hns the gulf stream to Bermuda beaten to a frnzzle." So 1 gnve, him up flnnlly and went home to pack. Ho enmo later In the evening with his machlno, tho Can nonbnll, to tako mo to the station, and ho brought the forged notes In tho Branson case, "Guard them with your llfo," ho warned me. "They are more precious iiian honor. Sew them in your chest protector, or wherever people keep valuables. I never keep nny. I'll not be happy until I see Gentleman Andy doing tho lockstcp." Ho snt down on my cloan collars, found my cigarettes and struck a match on the mnhognny bed post with one movement. "Where's the Plrnte?" ho demanded. The Plrnte Is my housekeeper, Mrs. Klopton, a very worthy woman, so lubeled and libeled becauso of a fe rocious pair of eyes nnd what Mc Knlght called n bucaneerlng nose. I quietly closed the door into tho hall. "Keep your volco down, Rlchey," I snld. "She Ib looking for tho evening paper to sco if it is going to rain. Sho has my raincoat and an umbrella wait ing in the hall." The collars being damaged beyond repair, he left them and went to tho window. He stood thero for some time, staring at tho blackness that represented tho wall ?f the house next door. "It's ruining now," he said over his Bhoulder, and closed the window and the shutters. Something in his voice mude me glance up, but he was watch ing me, his hands Idly In his pockets. "Who lives next door?" ho Inquired in a perfunctory tono, after a pause, I was packing my razor. "House Is empty," I returned absent ly, "If tho landlord would put It In some sort of shape " "Did you put thoso notes in your pocket?" he broko In. "Yes." I was impatlert. "Along vitU my certificates o rutratlon, COPYH.I6HT tor OODIV? tER.FlI LL. COMPANY A--SZ "Guard This with Your Life." baptism and vaccination. Whoever wants them will havo to steal my coat to get them." "Well, I would move them, If I were you. Somebody In the next house was confoundedly anxious to see whero you put them. Somebody right at that window opposite." I scoffed nt the ldon, but neverthe less I moved tho papers, putting them In my traveling bag, well down at the bottom. McKnlght watched mo un easily. "I havo a hunch that you are going to have trouble," ho said, ns I locked tho alligator bag. "Darned If I like starting anything Important on Fri day." "You havo a congenital dislike to start anything on any old day," J re torted, still soro from my lost Sat urday. "And if you know tho owner of that houso as I do you would know that if there was any ono at that window ho Is paying rent for tho privilege." Mrs. Klopton rapped nt tho door nnd spoko discreetly from tho hall, "Did Mr. McKnlght bring tho even ing paper?" sho Inquired. "Sorry, but I didn't, Mr. Klopton," McKnlght called. "Tho subs won, three to nothing." Ho llstenod, grin ning, ns sho moved away with little Irritated rustles of hor black silk gown. I finished my packing, changed my collar nnd wns ready to go. Then very cautiously wo put out tho light and opened tho shutters. The win dow ncross was merely a dooper black in tho darkness. It was closed and dirty. And yet, probably owing to Rlchey's suggestion, I had an un easy sensation of eyes Btnrlng across nt me. Tho next momont wo wore at the door, poised for flight. "We'll have to run for It," I said In a whlspor. "Sho's down thero with a pnekago of some sort, sandwiches probably. And she's threatened mo with overshoes for a month. Ready now ! " I had a kaleidoscopic view of Mrs. Klopton In tho lower hall, holding out nn armful of such traveling Impedi menta ns sho deemed essential, whllo beside her, Euphemla, tho colored housemaid, grinned over a u' hi to wrapped box. "Awfully sorry no tlmo back Sun day," I panted over my shoulder. Then the door closed and the car was mov ing away. McKnlght bont forward and stared at tho facade of the empty houso noxt door us wo passed. It was black, staring, mysterious, as empty build ings aro apt to be. "I'd like to hold a post-mortem on that corpso of a house," lie said thoughfully. "By George, I've a no tion to got out and tako a look." "Somebody after tho brass pipes," I scoffed. "Houso has been empty for a year." With ono hand on the steering wheel McKnlght held out tho other for my clgaretto case. "Perhaps," ho said; "but I don't see what she would want with brass plpo." "A woman!" I laughed outright. "You have been looking too hard at the picture In tho back of your watch, that's all. Tbero's an experiment llko thnt. If you Btnre long enough " But McKnlght was growing sulky; ho sat lookine rigidly ahead, and he, ' I m 1 did not spoak again rntil ho brought tho Cannonball to a stop at tho sta tion. Even thon it was only a per functory remark. Ho went through the gate with mo, and with five min utes to spare, we lounged and smoked in the train shed. My mind had slid away from my surroundings and had wandered to a polo pony that I couldn't afford and Intended to buy anyhow. Then McKnlght shook off his taciturnity. "For heaven's Bake, don't look so martyred," ho burst out; "I know you'vo dono all tho traveling this sum mer. I know you'ro missing a gamo to-morrow. But don't bo a patlont mother; confound It, I havo to go to Richmond on "Sunday. I I want to see a girl." "Oh, don't mind mo," I observed politely. "Personally, I wouldn't chango placeB with you. What's her name North? South?" "West," ho snapped. "Don't try to be funny. And all I havo to say, Blakoley, Is that if you evor fall in love I hope you mako an egregious ass of yourself." In view of what followed, this came rather close to prophecy. Tho trip west wns without Incident I played bridge with a furnlturo deni er from Grand RnpIdB, n Bales agont for a Pittsburg Iron firm nnd a young professor from nn eastern college. I won three rubbers out of four, finished what clgarottes McKnlght had loft me and went to bed nbout ono o'clock. It was growing cooler, and tho rnln hnd censed. Onco, toward morning, I wnkonod with a start, for no npparont reason, nnd snt bolt upright. I hnd nn unensy feeling thnt some one hnd been looking nt me, tho samo sensa tion I had experienced earlier In tho evening at tho window. But I could fool tho bag with tho notes, betweon mo and tho window, and with my arm thrown over It for security, I lapsed again Into slumber. Later, whon I tried to piece together tho fragmonts of that Journoy, I remembered that my coat, which had beon folded nnd placed boyond my restless tossing, hnd been rescued In tho morning from c hotorogenoous Jumblo of blnnkets, evening papers and cravat, had been shaken out with profanity and donnod with wrath. At the time, nothing oc curred to mo but tho necessity of writing to tho Pullman Company nnd asking them If thoy ever traveled In their own cars. I oven formulated Bomo of tho lotter. I waa more cheorful after I had had a cup of coffea in tho Union station. It was too early to attend to business, and I lounged In tho restaurant nnd hid behind tho morning pnpers. As I hnd expected, thoy hnd got hold of my visit and Its object. On tho first page was a staring announcomont that the forged papers In tho Bronson case hnd boon brought to Pittsburg. Un dernenth, a telegram from Washing ton stated that Lawrence Blnkelcy of Blnkoley & McKnlght hnd loft for PIttaburg tho night before, nnd that, owing to tho approaching trlnl of tho Bronson ense and tho Illness of John Gllmoro, tho Pittsburg millionaire, who was tho chief witness for tho prosecution, it wnB aupposea that tho visit was intimately concerned with tho trial. , I looked around apprehenslvoly. Thero were no reporter! yet la sight, and thankful to havo escaped notlco I paid for my breakfast and left. At tho cabstand I choso tho least dilapi dated hanBom I could find, nnd giving tho driver tho address of tho Gllmore residence. In tho East end, I got In. I was Just In tlmo, As tho cab turned nnd rolled off, n slim young man in n straw hat separated himself from a llttlo group of mon nnd hur ried toward us. "Hoy! Walt a minuto thero!" ho called, breaking into a trot. But the cabby did not hear, or per haps did not care to. Wo Jogged com fortably nlong, to my relief, leaving the young mnn far behind. 1 avoid reporters on principle, having learned long ngo thnt I am an ensy mark for a clover Interviewer. It wns perhnp nine o'clock when I loft tho station, Our wny was along tho boulevard which hugged tho sldo of ono of tho city's great hills. Far bolow, to the left, lny tho railroad tracks and tho Boventy times sovon looming stacks of tho mills. Tho white mist of tho river, the grays and blacks of tho Bmoko blended into a hnlf-ro-vcnllng haze, dotted hero and thero with flro. It was unlovely, tromen dous. Whistler might havo painted It with Its pathos, Its majesty, but ho woulfl have missed what made It In finitely suggeHtlvo tho rattlo and roar of iron on Iron, tho rumble of whoels, tho throbbing beat, against tho cars, of fire and heat and brawn welding prosperity. Something of this I voiced to tho grim old millionaire who waa respon sible for at least part of it. Ho was propped up in bed in his East end home, listening to tho market reports read by a nurse, and ho smiled a llttlo at my enthusiasm. "I can't seo much beauty in It my self," ho aald. "But it's our badgo of prosperity. Tho full dinner pall hero means a nose that looks llko a flue. Pittsburg without smoko wouldn't bo Pittsburg, nny moro than New York prohibition would be Now York. Sit down for a few minutes, Mr. Blakeloy. Now, Mlsi Gardner, Westlnghouso Electric." The nurso resumed her reading in a monotonous voice. Sho rend liter ally and without understanding, using initial and abbreviations as they'camo. But tho shrewd old man followed her easily. As the nurse droned along, I found myself looking curiously nt a photo graph In a silver frame on tho bed sldo table. It was the plcturo of a girl In white, with her hands clasped loosoly before her. Against tho dnrk bnckground hor figure stood out slim nnd young. PerhnpB It was the rather grim environment, possibly It wns my mood, but nlthough ns a gencrnl thing photographs of young girls make no nppoal to mo, this bno did. I found my eyes straying back to It. By a llttlo finesse I even mndo out tho nnmo written across tho corner, "All son." Mr. Gllmoro lny bnck among his pillows nnd listened to tho nurse's listless volco. But ho wns watching mo from under his henvy oyebrows, for when tho rending wns over, nnd wo wero nlono, ho Indicated tho pic ture with a gesture "I keep It thoro to remind myself that I am an old mnn." ho said. "That Ib my granddaughter, Alison WcBt." I expressed tho customary pollto surprlso, at which, finding mo respon sive, ho told mo his ago with a chuc klo of pride. More surprise, this time gonulno. From thnt wo went to what he ato for breakfast nnd did not ent for luncheon, nnd then to his resorvo power, which at G5 became a matter for thought. And so, In a wldo circle, back1 to whero wo started, tho plcturo. "Father was a rascal," John Gll moro said, picking up tho frame. "Tho happiest day of my llfo was when I know ho was safely dead In bed nnd not hnnged. If tho child had looked llko him, I well, sho doesn't Sho's n Gllmore, every Inch. Supposed to look llko mo." "Very noticeably," I agreed soberly. I had produced tho notes by that tlmo, nnd replacing tho plcturo Mr. Gllmoro gathered his spectacles from beside It. He wont over tho four notes methodically, examining each care fully nnd putting It down before ho picked up tho next. Thon ho leaned bank nnd took off his glnsses. "Thoy'ro not bo bad," ho snld thoughtfully. "Not so bud. But 1 nevor snw them before That's my unofficial signature, I am inclined to think" ho was speaking partly to himself "to think that ho has got hold of a lottor of mine, probably to Alison, Bronson was n friend of her rapscallion of a father." I took Mr. Gllmore's doposltlon and put It Into my traveling bog with tho forged notes. When I saw them again, almost threo weeks later, thoy woro unrecognizable, a mass of charred pa per on a copper ash tray. In tho In terval other nnd bigger things hnd hnppenod: Tho Bronson forgery caso had shrunk besldo tho gronter and more Imminent mystery of tho man In lower ten. And Alison West hnd corao Into the story nnd Into my life. (TO BE CONTJUIX Dives from Brooklyn Bridge for $250 NEW YORK. A shnrp-foaturod, un derslzcd youth in ragged swim ming trunks, with a skimpy coat and nn old pair of trousers thrown ovor thorn, dived successfully from tho cen ter Bpnn of Brooklyn brldgo to tho East river, 135 feet below, for $260 In cash, two now suits of clothes and whntevor renown tho world may hold In store for a brldgo Jumpor. The Into Stevo Brodlo ncqulrcd fame ns n brldgo Jumper nnd long ran a Howcry saloon on tho strength of It. hut many any It was nover really proved that Stovo really Jumped. Sev eral would-bo suicides have boon fished out of tho rlvor unhurt after lumping, but Otto Eppers s tho first to Jump with unquestioned wltncBsos as part of a prearranged plan. Tho boy's first words whon ho was fished out of tho rlvor by tho crow of a passing tug woro: "Geo! But I hit hard I" Ills noxt woro: "Say, whoso got tho makln's of a clgnrotto?" Uppers Is Boventcon yoars old nnd tho son of a lithographer. Ho weighs nbout 110 pounds nnd hns boon unoin clal swimming champion of tho East river ovor slnco bo got Into tho big Elusive Tooth Puzzle in Chicago Court J COULDHTi BUTTFR WITH THOU CHICAGO. "Tho mystory of tho Missing Tooth," n novel exposition of how aovon nnd threo (sometimes) moko cloven, was staged for n largo nnd appreciative, not to say quizzical, audlonco recently In Municipal Judgo TorrlBon's court. Plot thomo: "Can n dentist rccovor damages for a swallowed tooth?" Loading characters: Dr. James L, Blount, Oak Park, praying u monetary rovonge, nnd Mrs. AUco Andrews, heroine In tho tragedy of "Tho MIbb lng Molar.' Dr. Blount demanded his feo for 11 teoth, fnlso If you please, whllo tho hcrolno pleaded but ten soven In hand nnd threo hidden by rosy lips. "Tho teoth not only woro fnlso In mntorlal, but they woro falso to their trust and foil out," snld Mrs. An drews. "Ono at n tlmo thoy began falling out Tho first ono wont on n round steak which cost 25 cents n pound. I thought It moroly a coincidence. But when No. 2 fell Into tho soup ono noon, I knew there was something wrong. Zoo Bear Trades NKW YORK. Old Ben, tho big Alas kan bear at tho Now York zoologi cal pary In tho Bronx, understands hu man naturo well Indeed, nnd ho makes his knowledge pay him. Tho other day a woman from Mlddletown, who had hnppenod to seo tho animals, paused boforo the don of Old Bon nnd tossed in a bhelled peanut. Instant ly there was a Btampedo on tho pnrt of Llttlo Ben, Brown Bess, Old Ben's wife, nnd Karnnk, his nephew. Old Ben walked back to tho roar of tho cago whllo tho othorH fought for tho peanut ami then crowded to tho bars for moro, Tho visitor wub about to toss In nn othor whon alio wns astonished to seo old Bon standing on his hind legs, making motions to her to throw It high over tho others' hoads to him. Help! 45,000,000 CHICAGO. Faithful hens of Illinois Indiana, Michigan nnd Ohio havo slnco April laid 45,000,000 eggs for tho cold storngo mun, nccordlng to farmers who hnvo sold their product to representatives of Chicago cold storago houses, Tho eggs will remain In tho ware houses until tho high prices of last winter aro duplicated. Housewives feel that' tho usual cor ner In eggs will tako placo noxt year. South Water street commission mer chants admitted that warehousemen hnvo canvassed tho four states for the Inst threo months, buying up fresh i?gs 1 1 oiii the farmers iuid egg com HOW " C ( DUM01V,N Is Jjr boy class. Recently ho heard that n Brooklyn merchant wns willing to pay $250 out of his advertising appropria tion to tho first man who would Jump from any ono of tho brldgus over tha East rlvor. Otto was tho boy for tho Job. H had Jumped 104 foot from a brldgo onco boforo and tho addition of a few moro feet novor caused him so much ns n thought "Sure, I'll do It" he said, and ho did. Otto meant to dlvo from tlo now Mnnhnttan brldgo, becauso ho thought It wns hlghoi1. Tho holght In renllty Is tho sumo for nil the East river bridges. Tho police, however, woro too watchful. Ho meant to shed hla cont nnd trousers, but ho didn't havo tlmo. Ho meant to tako off his heavy boots, but tho river did that for him. Ho nennt to dlvo In ono long swoop ing nrc, "hut somehow,' ho told aft terward, "I started to twist, and then I couldn't Btop." Pn88ongora on tho forrybonts who saw him Bald ho turnod llko a plnwhcol. "I wasn't scared n bit until 1 Jumped,' ho continued, "but I don't ro member anything nftor 1 hit until I enmo up again." Ho was found float ing on his bnck, hnlf stunned nnd paddling feobly. "I could hnvo swum to shore," ho honstod, nnd In tho noxt breath ho admitted, "but I wasn't fool ing vory spry." A rubdown nnd two hours of rest In n hopsltal found Eppers fit to ap pear In pollcq court, whoro ho was promptly discharged for lack of ovl denco that ho had attempted sulcldo. "Nos. 3, 4 nnd G enmo out in unlnrin nnd Nos. 0 and 7 whon n boy sot off o firocrnckor undor my foot tho last Fourth of July. It waa becoming bc common then, I lost track of th causo nnd scnrcoly noticed tho effect I couldn't ovon chow butter. "I rofuBcd to pay tho dontlst'n blli unless he did tho work all ovor u'galn, and ho wouldn't Ho said I must have boon trying to chow rocks. Then he sued mo." As proof of tho deciduous haturo ol tho tooth, Mrs. Andrews began count ing them out on Judgo Torrison'i desk, whllo court bailiffs looked oo ngnpo. Thon an aho reached "Bovon," Mrs, Androws said: "Throo I havo in my mouth. Ho put In 11 for mo In Fobrunry, 1009. Most of thorn camo out and I had throo put back." ( "But whoro is tho othor tooth 1 Threo you still uso, sovon you have shown tho Judge, now whoro is tho othor ono?" was tho Insistent querj put to Mra. Androws. "Whoro Is tho othor tooth?" Thi womnn fnlterod. "I don't know whora It can bo; I thought I had It, but I muBt havo swallowed It whllo asleep." "Glvo tho others to tho bailiff; let thorn ho preserved as evidence," said Judgo Torrhon. Tho bnlllff kopt tho tooth; tho Jur) found Its verdict for tho woman. Laughs for Peanuta At loast that wns what it lonknil nw Ho wub Btundlng up on his huunchoa waving his right front paw ovor hit head as a boy does when ho menni you to throw n ball high. Tho lady throw tho peanut high and Old Boo got it caught it In his mouth, nt s distnnco of 20 foot, whllo tho other hours In tho cngo raged ovor missing it. Tho womnn threw moro, nnd kopt throwing tho ponnuta till thoy wor all gono, nnd ovory ono sho throw over tho bonds of tho othor benrs, Just tc soo Old Bon stand on his hind legi nnd motion for moro, Ben learned this trick years ago, th keepers say, whon ho was n dnnclng bear. When ho finally was put In tho zoo ho nstontBhed tho keepers by making signs to thorn to throw the best food ovor tho bonds of the othor greedy nnlmnls to him. Ho always takoa u? his position In tho back ground, motioning tho keopors and lot ting tho other bearB fight at tho Iron bars. Tho result Is that ho gets the biggest part of tho dinner becauso It is so tunny to watch Mb secret sig nals to tho feeders. Eggs Are Imprisoned missioners. "Chlcngo cold storngo houses nn filled with fresh eggs." declnred a merchnnt today, "and I hnvo been told that 45,000,000 eggs are now storec awny In warehouses, to romnln thort until noxt winter when tho men whe form tho egg pool enn demand high prices for tho product" Tho millions of eggs bought up bj tho cold storngo representatives will not bo put on tho Chicago markoti for sale until thero la n scarcity. The eggs woro purchased from tin farmers nt nn avorngo prlco of 23Vi to 24 cents a dozen. Two cents v dozon is added to cover Insurance, storage costs, etc., which brings tht votal cost up to about 20 cents a dozon If tho eggs can bo retailed In Chi cngo (.next winter at 45 cents a dozen, nt which thoy woro sold last winter thoro will bo a profit of 19 cents t uozon or a total of something ovei $700,000.