Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1910)
The Skeleton iii the Closet A TRUE STORY OF THE SECRET SERVICE B y C F srtnar O L . Chief II U s W il I Secret T L E Y Service (HAD MET tho Judgo fre quently and foil qulto woll acquainted with him. Ho was n politi cian of noto and a mom bor ot tho prcsldont'o cabinet. Bccauso of his prominence and his ono tlmo Important connec tion with tho govern- mcnt, I Bhall forbear tho mention of his namo. It would ho fa miliar to every reader. Ono day I rocolvcd a mcssngo from him requesting mo to nll at his ofllco nt my earliest convenience. Present ing tnysolf I was given a private In terview. After n llttlo preliminary conversation tho judgo said that ho wnutod to talk to mo In rogard to a personal matter, Ho needed rny assist ance In an affair of much concern to hlmsolf and wife. Ho then related at romo length tho history of his family troubles. Thoro was a skeleton In his closet. Ho had sont for mo hollovlng that I might bo ablo to dovlso soma niennuro of rollcf. "My wlfo," ho said, "Is very mucu worrlod and' qulto prostrated with grief. 8ho Is In cuch a nervous stato of mind I fear she will break down altogether." His eyes filled with tears nil ho explained tho cause of' tholr great trouble "Bho wob a widow with an only son when I married hor. This son, notwithstanding his moral train ing and tendor care, has turned out to bo an unmitigated villain and a con stant monaco to our pcaco ot mind. Ho scorns to bo honrtloBa and devoid ot doconcy and rospoct tor our posi tion. Besides, ho is a thief. Only n short tlmo ago ho was arrested In Chi cago, taken to Daltlmoro and chnrgod with committing a robbory In a houso ot 111 roputo. I was compelled to sot tlo tho casq or suffor tho dlsgraco ot an exposure. Wlno and womon nro his hobbles. Ho Is rocklcsa In tho uso ot money and will resort to any moans to obtain IL Even now I am furnish ing tho money whorowlth to grntlfy liiu vicious nppotlto, Clod knowH what ho will do noxtl Wo arc living In con stant fear that ho will do something to publicly dlsgraco us. Now, it thoro is any way that ho can bo got out ot tho country without publicity, If you can dovlso any plan to get rid of him without killing him or sending him to tho ponltontlary, it will moot with my approval. I think it is n caso whoro severe moasurcs would bo entirely justifiable Just think of Itl Tho scapogrnco has gono so far In his de pravity as to escort n woman of known bad character to his mother's recep tions." My sympathies onco nrousod and a promleo mado, I folt bound to tako Bomo action. It appeared a dlfllcult undertaking. Tho follow was to ho got rid of, but just how was tho question that puzzled my brain. I had road of many strango dlsnppoarances of poraons who wdro novor aftorwarda hoard or, but tho manner ot tholr dls appoaranco wbb not always cloar. It may havo boon a voluntary net, mental aborratlon or tho result of a crlmo. I prldod myself upon my oklll In do vlulug ways and means to accomplish nn ond, hut tho casof In hand, nftor somo dollboration, nppoared somowhat llko perpotrntlng n wrong doed for tho purpose ot nccompll8hlng a good result. f If the Btory told by tho Judgo wns Iruo, thoro would bo but Httlo difficul ty In landing tho rascal in tho nont- ttentlary for tho crimes ho was com- nil.. i muting nimoui aniiy: out a measuro of thh kind would moan oxposuro and fdjBgrnco. To put him away by foul too bub was qut or tho question. Ho may havo deserved a phnrp niodlolno, and the world may havo boon bettor 111 A 1. . . . -uh wiuioui mm, uui moro was no houglt or doing htm bodily harm. ,Tho Idea was to dtsposo ot him and clldo him out or tho country tondorly. rTiio judgo wanted to get rid or him "but could suggest no way. It waa a tlollcato caao to handlo. I know that tho Judge was a conscientious and hu uruo man and that ho meant no fwrong, and It was dlfllcult for mo to jundorstaud tho courso I could safely pursue. T As I turned to lenvo tho Judgo's ofllco hlB wlfo ontorcd tho room. I was introduced, and cast my eyoa upon her ace. It did not appear qulto now to me. Could I bo mistaken? Had I mot hor hoforo? As tho poanlblo rec ognition did not appear mutual I was unablo ' to' placa 'hor. ' ' Tho Judgo turned away to convorso with his disbursing clork. Tho wlfo. .Who had evidently boon Informed In regard tq tho purpose of my Interview wittt the Judgo, requested mo to bo seated. Placing hor hand upon m; arm sho amlled pleasantly, whllo as surlng me ot hor faith in my ability to do something to help thorn out or tho doop trouble they woro In. She spoko bitterly or nor son una or tho many In ulgnltloa ho had heapod upon hor. Bho wanted to bo freed from him Tho manner in which ho wns to bo dlsposod of did not scorn to glvo hor much concern, Sho wished him ban ished in Bomo far-away country; If ho woro dead, she would fool rolloved. While rotating her troubloa Bho chanced to montlon the namo of hor first husband, On tho Instant I recog alied her as an old Acquaintance, J had known her when sho wns a rosy ctnokod young woman somo twenty flvo years before, She was then living with hor husband in a llttlo town in northcastorn Ohio. This was beforo sho bocamo tho wlfo or tho Judgo. Hor first marriage waa said to bo a runa way match. Sho was n remnrkably boautlful woman tbon, but thoro wis a cloud hanging over hor llfo. I can not say what it might havo been that caused gossiping womon to shako tholr heads and whlBpor as alio passed by. Shortly after Bho gavo birth to a son sho left tho village I do not know Just whoro sho went, hut It wns short ly artorwards rumored that sho had boon granted a dtvorco. Sho was now cutting a largo figure In socioty and often spoken or as tho handsomest woman In tho capltol city. Hor husband, tho Judgo, war up to this tlmo qulto successful In political llfo. Possosocd of considerable brain forco and much amiability ot charac ter, ha might havo rison Btlll higher had not tho intrigues sot on foot hy his ambitious wlfo contributed to pua him down. Sho planned schomos to exalt him and to ncqulro woalth. In making theso efforts sho aroused tho Joaloustes ot othors and made tho Judgo qulto unpopular with tho leading politicians, Her mlsdlrodted zeal not only crushed tho political prospocts ot her husband, but finally resulted In ex pelling hor from Washington socioty. I was furnlBhod a photograph of hor profllgato stepson. Ha was a flno looking young mnn, with wavy hnlr, koon blue oyos and rosy cheeks; In fact, much llko his mothor In her rnako big hauls." Tho judgo's stopson took to a suggestion of this kind llko a duck to water and was highly elated on account of tho proposed trip. Ho no doubt Imagined a broader field for tho oxorcisa ot his own peculiar talent On tholr arrival at New York they registered under assumed namos at tho Merchants' hotel on Courtland street. For sovcral days following thoy strolled about tho city, taking In tho sights and waiting for something to turn up. While walking along Broad way,! near tho old Astor hotel, thoy chanbod to pass a middle-aged man who was gazing about in an uncertain sort lot way. His dress and mannot gavo him tho appcaranco of a green ono from tho rural districts, pre sumably from somo placo out west. "Hero," said need In an undertone, "Is tho vory follow wo are looking for. Lot us try a hand on him. I will mako him think I havo met him beforo," Heed now stopped up and accosted tho greon ono with an air of assumed fa miliarity. Seizing him by tho hand ho snld; "How do you do, Mr. Gllck? I am so glad to boo you." Tho verdant man responded: "You nro mistaken, sir; my namo is Jones, and I llvo at Fort Wnyno, Indiana." "Novor mind tho namo," said need, "I got tho nampB mixed, but I remember now whero I mot you. You UBed to run a livery stablo at Kokomo." "Yes, I did." "Thon of courso you romomber me. I am tho man thnt sold pumps and kept my team at your stable. You lAiMii. Drntisrm i.trt rrin S jV ml f.c fAjrr y tnnrn rnAiA I Uv7 iff AfAt rJJJOD rA YVJ? rAAD I & W I MS AMMfiom youth. His faco was indicative of criminal tendencies. I was told that ho was a dlfllcult man to approach, that ho did not caro tor tho compan ionship ot mon. This holug tho caso I was at n loss to dotormlno how tq roach him. It was nocessary to Intror duco a etrauger in order to carry out tho plot I had in view. Mtor pondering over thq matter for somo days I hit upon an expedient that I bollevod would dlsposo ot tho young man without public oxposuro or resorting to crlmo. Thoro wns In my .employ at this tlmo n man whom I shall call Reed, It over thoro. was n. born confidence man ho was tho ono: An Actor that could assume a part, llvo it and play It through with a face as solemn na tho jvnvcyord; novor vl clous, but over apparently in earnost while practicing a deception for mis loading only those who ought to bo mtslod. I had found him on nil occa Blons to bo a valuablo assistant in furthering tho ends ot Justice many drinks to- and I havo takon gothor." "Oh, yoB," drawled Mr. Jones: "what on earth nro you doing in Now York?" "Just looking around and having a good tlmo. Lot's go and tako some thing." 1,01110 nioug, j ones. L,ot us go around to our hotel," said Rood. Tho trio went to tho Merchants. Jones nc coptod nn Invitation to go to tho room ot his friends. "What Is your favorite drink?" asked Reed. "Plain brandy," said Jones "I wilt go aown and bring up a bob tlo." As Rood movod away ho winked slyly to tho Judgo's Btopson. Attor an -1. a 1 . 1 nusoncu 01 Bomo miriy minutos or moro Rood roturnod with tho brandy Ho pulled tho cork. While Jonea wns looking out ot the window ho slipped n Biunw vmi out or ms pocket and, ky- nor an bpporluuity to soc less enough, but somehow lacked taa nerve to perform. Step by step Jonos beoame drowsy..- The stepson atrove to rally him to his senses. Jones closed his oyes. What might havo boon n phantom o' over heated Imagination now became a fearful reality. The stepson was now almost paralyzed with fear as Jones slipped from his chair to tho floor. Was ho dead or olive? Ho uttered a low and suppressed moan as his lank and livid body was laid upon the bod and stripped ot all its valuables. The stepson, thoroughly fn earnest, wanted to tako Jones' overcoat, but Reed said it would bo dangerous, as It might lead to detection. I now leave" the horrors of this occa sion to tho imagination of tho reader. Tho two survivors suddenly left the hotel and crossed ovor to Jersey City and took lodging at Taylor's hotel, whero they registered under assumed names, as they had dono previously at tho Merchants. It was late in tho ovenlng when they went to bed. Thoy had loft tho Merchants' hotel lato in tho afternoon. Jonos, tho sup posed drugged countryman, was not qulto as dead as tho Judgo's stepson thought him to bo. He, too, was a skilled pretonder. Soon after his entortalnero had ta ken their departuro he, possum-like, camo to life, got up and took a drink from tho brnndy bottle that was left upon tho table and made his way at onco to tho government secret service ofllco, whero ho told tho story of his adventure and received further in structions. This so-called Jones was a detoctlvo of marked ability. He could assumo almost any character and de ceive tho boat educated criminal, yet withal an honest, faithful servant to tho government. At an early hour on tho following morning at Taylor's hotel Reed pre tended to bo taken suddonly sick with a cramp In his stomach. Ho loft his roommate and wont below. A Bhort tlmo afterwards ho rushed back Into tho bedroom and Informed the Judgo's stopson with a trembling volco that thoy must get out of tho place in a hurry or thoy would bo arrested. Reed Bald that whllo downstairs ho had torn n slip from a newspaper. Ho handed it to tho judgo's stopson, who, on glancing at It hastily, at unco sprang out of bed. It was a sensational nrtlclo and boro tho appcaranco ot having boon clipped from a newspaper. Ab n matter of fnct, however, It had been printed at tho New York Tribune Job ofllco. It was a nlco piece of deception and read as follows: A Brutal Murder and Robbery. Another of those outragepus nnd dastardly murders which havo so rocontly startled tho community occurred In this city yestorday at ttji'iiouii, tho particulars of which nro as follows: It appears that shortly after dark last evening a well dressed mnn, apparently thlrty-flvo years of ago, was found by tho pollco lying near tho foot of Courtland street in an lnsensl bio condition. Ho was taken to tho pollco station, whero restoratives woro administered, nnd when ho had revived sufficiently ho stated that his namo waa P. R. Jones and that ho was from Fort Wayne, Ind. Mr. Jones waB romoved to tho city hospital last ovonlng, whoro ho bo camo delirious and died about nlno o'clock. Tho pollco aro on tho track ot tho murdorors, who nro supposed to bo from Daltlmoro or Washington, as tho clerk at tho hotel Btntos that thoy camo in just after tho arrival ot tho Washing ton train. Tho clork Is posltlvo ho can identify them. A frightful ghost had rlaon and was standing In ita moat horrlblo form be foro tho now half-crazed stopson. Tho ropo or tho hangman was looming up beforo his oyos. Ho did not oven tako tlmo to wash 1iIb race, so great was his anxiety to leavo Now York be hind him. Even tho very nlr ho breathed scorned tainted with tho foul odor of his crlmo, It was thougnt to bo dangerous to travel, by rail at first, and they started away on foot, and finally concluded: to mauo tnoir wny to Now Orloans. Reca was, of course, tho ruling spirit and wns carrying out tho plan thoy had ngrood upon. Thoy doubled back and forth with tbo object ot put ting imaginary pursuers oft tho track, need was pcoirtng delay for tho pur noso af galnlug time. When tho pair arrived at Now Orloans about tho first thing that mot their eyes was a hand bill posted In tho dopot describing tho fugitives and offering a reward for tholr arrcBt and conviction. Staring nt tho bill with hoadH of perspiration starting upon his brow tho judgo'a Btepson nearly collapsed. Ho was caroworn, downhcartod and ready to apood away aa swift bb steam .could carry hlra. In tho courso of tlmo tho fugitives arrlvod at Brownsville, Tox Rood hailed from tho south, had just nrrlved In tho city and was in quest ot n private lodging placo. Tho Judgo'a Btepson was now occupying nn ologant suite ot rooms In a tashlonablo location. Ho wiib bo omplotoly capti vated by Rood's assumed maunors and apparent woalth that ho was delighted at tho opportunity afforded to socuro a roommate Tho detoctlvo nccoptod tho offer mado by his now frlond nnd soon round himself In qulto n novol and dangerous situation. Ho was tho companion ot n thof whoso exploit woro llahlo to involvo both in trouble Ho had led his roommnto to believe that ho was himself engagod in quos tlouablo transactions and that Now York was tho placo to oporato In "Thoro," said ho, "nro chances to BALANCING FEAT WITH FORKS How Several Common Table Articles May Be Placed to Perform Rath er Odd Tricks. Several common tablo forks can bo mado to balanco on a pin hood In this way; Procuro nn ompty bottlo and in sert a cork In tho neck. Stick a pin in tho center of this cork bo that tho end will bo about ono and one-half inch abovo tho top. Obtain a second cork about ono inch in dlametor by ono and thrco-fourth Inches long. Tho forks aro then stuck into tho latter cork at equal distances apart, each having tho samo anglo from tho cork. A long nccdlo, with a good, sharp A Balancing Feat. point, is run through tho cork with tho forks, and one-half Inch of tho necdlo ond allowed to project through tho lower end. Tho point or tho needle should thon bo placed on tho pin head. Tho forks will balanco, and If given a slight push thoy -will appear to dance. Different angles of tho forks will pro duce various feats of balancing. MANY TERMS OF ENDEARMENT PAY 1 ucay v rince Pie,but" oh! lm .Sore you will 1W it blr ' fAince Pie doe no e me CHILDREN LEARNING TO ACT Italian Linguist Searching for Wooing Language of All Races China man Says "No Ugl Nl." A noted Italian linguist, Professor D'Ozza of Genoa, has started a highly original work, which is tho subject of consldorablo comment by tho comic weeklies of Europe and Is expected to bo rend with Interest by linguists. It is to bo a volumo containing all tho people of tho world, Bavago nnd civil ized. Tho Parisian Lo RIro romarkB: "How poetically tho old expression "Jo almlo vous" I lovo you sounds in tho languago of tho young Green lander, according to tho professor's dictionary of love Tako a full broath and thon whlspor Unlfgraeorndlalna lorflronajunguarrlgujak." Tho Chinnman simply Bays "No ugl nl." Ono tribo of Indians express tholr feelings with "Main sym kaplsar karln" A tribo in Africa 1b sparing of words, tho lover sticking his tongue out and remarking "Aha." Tho Arab doclnres himself with ono word "Nohnbbock," whllo tho Turk whis pers, "Sldl sovolorum." Tho Armon Inn plainly Bays, "So slrem es hez." In South Amorlca 1b n tribo of In dians that do not wasto words on their beloved. Having mado his cholco the swain grabs tho object of his af fection by tho noso and pulls hor along with him. Educational Playhouse In New York for Benefit of Untrained Work ing Qlrlo and Boys. Down doop on tho East side, Now York, thoro Is a llttlo theater that Isn't a theater at all. It Is an educa tional playhouse whoro shlno theatri cal stars just ns bright ns the ones along Broadway tho dream of all play people, says tho Now Idea Wom an's Magazlno. Theso stars during tho daytime go to school or work behind typewriting machines, or add up long columns of figures, or watch mangling machines In tho laundries all tho day long. Only at night do thoy como out and twin klo merrily to lighten wonry hearts. ' Until tho educational theater was organized, six years ago, tho only nmusement nccesslblo to tho poorest of tho East sido woro tho nickelode ons, tho ponny arcades, 'tho tenth class moving picture shows of the Bowery, Houston nnd Grand streets. How to got tho boys and youths, tho girls and young working women to sidestep tho insidious Bowery show; to havo Instead an ovonlng or puro, clean enjoyment that was tho' ques tion. Artcr many weighty considerations it was at last decided to prcsont a real play by wholly' untrained work ing boys and girls. Then the educa tional theator was organlzod. When a cast Is to bo selected tho dramatic director lots It bo known nnd applicants flock in. Sometimes ns many as COO apply for a placo In a play that requires 30 mombcrs. Tho admission to tho performanco is ten cents. This does not begin to dofrny tho expenses, but that's not tho Idea It's educational, and not commercial. That's tho reason It's a playhouse, and not a theater. Tho boy. or much moro. tho girl. who reaches that well-known period In liros journey finds himself or ho.r:.. solf dehor in experience, and yet, to all intents and purposes, absolutely Ignorant of tho real seductiveness, tho roal dangers and pitfalls of tho com mercial stage 1 GAME WITH GOOD EXERCISE "Do as I Do" Calls for Working Both Arms and Legs Head Counts for Fifth. of ing ms parmor an opportunity to loo It, ho turned tho contents Into tho bottle of brandy. Ho gave tho bottio n shake and set it down on tho table. Tho Judgo's stepson's face Hushed and thoro was a tremor in his voice. Ho Boomed to comprehend tho noxious powor ot tho venomous Ingredient thnt had been poured Into tho bottlo. Rood apponrod Bolf-posscssod and proflclont In tho art ot docolvlng and hold nnd bad enough to commit any crlmo, whllo tho young mnn waa evidently greatly frlghtoncd not because of anv compunctions ot conscience, but for tho reason that ho was, as was nftor wards shown, n natural born coward. Ho posBOBsod nono ot tho elomontB and ruggod forco ot an assassin. Ho Boomod to navo a norvous nnnrohan slon thnt ho was wading in wntor too uoep and dangorous. Ho was heart- From this point received a noto rrom need baying that thoy Intended to crOBS, WO lvlO UrUUUU liuu num "vn way to Iho cfty or Moxlco. To tho minds ot tho detectives who played tholr part In this caso the wholo nnair appeareu n mrcu. Attor a tlmo Rood returned from Mexico. Ho had glvon nis companion tho slip and was qulto posltlvo in his opinion that tho Judgo'a stopson would novor flare snow nis raco m iuu um mi Htatos. Ho doclarod tho man was about the greatest coward ho had over mot with. Reed was correct In his opinion, as tho fugitlvo, bo far "an I know, has nnvnr boon hoard of. Ho certainly did not appear in Washington to further annoy tho Judgo and bis wife Ho may atlll be runulng from a nomonia mm will never ovoriuKo mm. (Copyright, 1910, by W. Q. Chapman.) For nil thoso children who nro fond of a llttlo exorcise no bettor game than this can bo chosen. Whon tho choirs aro placed In ordor round tho room, tho first player commences by nnvtnc" "Mv master bids vou do as I do," at tho samo tlmo working away with tho right hand aa if hammoring at' his knees. The second playor then nsks: "What does ho bid mo do?" Tho flocond playor, working in the samo manner, must turn to his left- handed neighbor and carry on tho Bamo conversation, and so on until ovory ono is working away with tho right hand. Tho second tlmo or going round tho ordor is to work with two, thon bot.h hnndB must work; then with three, when both hands and ono leg must work; then with four, whon both hnnds and both legs must work; last ly, with flvo, when both logs, both arms nnd tho head must bo kept go ing. Should any of the playors fall In kooplng In constant motion a forfeit mny bo claimed. Story for Children. Whon you think you nro consigning jl bore, or any ono who-Jrrltates you beyond endurance, to a hot spot by tolllnc him to go to blazes," It ap ncars that you nro mistaken, and that, Instead ot bolng rudoly abusive, you urn In fact inorcly blandly polite Tho nxnlnnntlon la that onco, in somo far away tlmo. thoro waa a good bishop named Blalzo, who was nlwayB ready to dlsponso wise and Bound advice to all applicants. Honco it grow custom nry to say. "Go to Blalzo'B." The Difference. "Jack tho Giant Killer was a vory different man from Jack tho Boan Stalk." "How dlfforent?" "Ono ralsod beans, but tho other ruisod thunder." DEVICE TO TEACH SWIMMING Framework Support Provided With Front and Rear Pulleys, Al lowing Proper Movements. A mechanical dovlco for teaching persons to swim la shown in tho Illus tration. It Is a framework support provided with front nnd rear pulloys, elastic cables, and means for regulat ing tho strokes or both arms and legs. Tho cnblo drawn out from tho frame Device to Teach Swimming. by tho outward stroko of tho loft arm draws tho right leg through tho prop er swimming movement, and tho movement of tho right arm apples tho samo action to the left leg, Tho elas tic cablo undornenth the framo re stores tho limbs of tho pupil to their initial position after each movement. Moans are provided to prevent a down ward stroko of tho arms and to limit tho downward stroke of tho legs. Writing Tricks. Can you write your namo with yout left hand? It Is a good thing to know how, In caso you over hurt your right hand. Can you wrlto a looking-glass lot tcr? That always amuses children, so It you havo a friend who Is 111 sond her a looking-glass letter to cheer her up. Practlco by writing on a piece of paper held In front of a mirror, and soon you will find it Is qulto easy to do looklng-glnBs writing. Looking glass writing Is dono backwards, so thnt It looks all right when it Is held to tho mirror. Also seo If you enn wrlto your nnmo backwards that Is, begin at tho last stroko and go back to tho first and ns a last trick try to wrlto your namo upsldo down. That Is not at nil easy, but copy your alg naturo upsldo down and you will bo ablo to do It qulto well after a llttlo practice After you can do all theso things lonrn to wrlto a good clear hand in the proper wny, llko a sonslblo person.