Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909 | View Entire Issue (July 17, 1908)
STORV 9 f 3 ?D cc cc vc A Mystery Story of San Francisco BY EARLE ASHLEY WALCOTT (CopyrtKlit IWfl, the lloblis-Merrlll Co.) SYNOPSIS. Olios Dudley arrived In San Francisco 10 Join his friend and distant relative Henry Wilton, whom ho was to assist In an Important and mysterious tnsk. and who accompanied Dudley on tho ferry boat trip into tho city. The re markable resemblanco of tho two men Is noted and commented on by passcn Kcrfl on tho ferry. They see a man with snake eyes, which sends a thrill through Dudley. Wilton postpones nn explanation of tho strange errand Dudley Is to per form, but occurrences cause 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 one who tries to enter. Outside thcro Is heard shouts nnd curses and tho nolso of a quarrel. Henry rushes in and at his request tho roommates quickly ex change clothes, and ho hurries out again. Hardly has ho gone than Giles Is startled by a cry of "Help," and ho runs out to find some one being assaulted by a half dozen men. He summons a police man but they are unablo to find any trace of a crime. Giles roturns to his room and hunts for somo evidence tnut might explain his strange mission. Ho finds a map which he endeavors to de cipher. Dudley Is summoned to tno morgue and there finds tho dead body or his friend. Henry Wilton. And thus Wilt on dies without over explaining to uuu ley the puzzling work he was to perform In San Francisco. In ordorN to discover the secret mission his friend had entrust ed to him. Dudley continues his dlsgulso nnd permits himself to bo known as Henry Wilton. Dudley, mistaken for Wilton, Is employed by Knnpp to assist In a stock brokerage deal. "Dicky" Jakes tho supposed Wilton to Mother Uorton a. Mother Itorton discovers that he Is not Wilton. The lights are turned out and ir free for all fight follows. Giles Dudley tlnds himself closeted In a room with Mother Borton who makes a confidant of him. Ho can learn nothing about the mysterious boy further than that it is Tim Terrlll and Darby Meeker who are after him. Ho is told that "Dicky" Nahl is a traitor, playing both hands In the game. Giles llnds himself locked In a room. Ho escapes through a window. The supposed Wilton carries out his dead friend's work with Doddridge Knapp. Ho has his llrst experience as a capitalist in the Board Hootn of tho Stock Exchange. Dudley receives a llctitious noto purport ing to bo from Knapp, the forgery of which he readily detects. Dudley gets his first knowledge of Decker, who is Knapp's enemy on the Board. Tho forg ed note mystifies Knapp. Dudley visits the homo of Knapp and is stricken by the beauty of Luella, his daughter. Mora mystery about "tho boy." L,uella pri vately informs Dudley that she has dis covered his deception and knows ho Is not Wilton. CHAPTER XIII. Continued. The sight that met my eyes was as tonishing. Clothes, books, papers, were scattered over tho floor and bed and chairs. The carpet had been partly ripped up, tho mattress torn apart, the closet cleared out, and every corner of the room had been ransacked. It was clear to my eye that this was no ordinary case of robbery. Tho search, it was evident, was not for money and jewelry alone, and bulkier property had been despised. Tho men who had torn the place to pieces must, I surmised, have been after papers of some kind. I came at once to tho conclusion that I had been favored by a visit from my friends, tho enemy. As they had failed to find mo in, they had looked for some written memoranda of tho object of their search. I knew well that they had found nothing among tho clothing or papers .that Henry had left behind. I had searched through these myself, and the solo document that could bear on the mystery was at that moment fast in my inside pocket. I was Inclined to scout the idea that Henry Wilton had hidden anything under tho carpet or In the mattress, or in any secret place. The threads of tho mystery were car ried in his head, and tho correspond ence, if Uiero had been any, was de stroyed. As I was engaged in putting tho room to rights tho door swung back, and I jumped to my feet to face a man who stood on tho threshold. "Hello!" ho cried. "House-cleaning aiinin?" It was Dicky Nahl, and he paused with a smile on his face. "Ah, Dicky!" I said with an effort to keep out of my faco and volco the suspicions I had gained from the In cidents of the visit to tho Itorton place. "Entirely unpremeditated, I as suro you." "Well, you're making a thorough job of It," ho said with a laugh. "Fact is," said I ruefully, "I've been entertaining angelsof tho black kind unawares. I was from homo last night, and I find that somebody has made himself freo with my property whllo 1 was away." "Whew!" whistled Dicky. "Guess they were after you." 1 gave Dicky a sidelong glanco In a valu effort to catch more nt his mean P S r& iv. rc (fc v. I BL1 iMJED ing than was convoyed by his words. "Shouldn't be surprised," I replied dryly, picking up an armful of books. "I'd expect them to bo looking for mo In tho book-shelf or inside the mattress-cover, or under tho carpot." Dickly laughed joyously. "Well, they did rather turn things upside down," he chuckled. "Did they get anything?" And ho fell to helping mo zealously. "Not that I can find out," I replied. "Nothing of value, anyhow." "Not any paper, or anything of that sort?" asked Dicky anxiously. "Dicky, my boy," said I; "there aro two kinds of fools. Tho other is tho man who writes his business on a sheet of paper and forgets to burn It." Dicky grinned merrily. "Gad, you're getting a turn for epi gram ! You'll be writing for tho Argo naut flr.:L 'vc ' . "Well, you'll allow me a shade of common sense, won't you?" "I don't know," said Dicky, consid ering the proposition doubtfully. "It might have been awkward if you had left anything lying about. Hut If you had real good sense you'd have had the guards here. What aro you pay ing them for, anyhow?" 1 saw difficulties in tho way of ex plaining to Dicky why I had not or dered the guards on duty. "Oh, by tho way," said Dicky sud denly, before a suitable reply had come to me; "how about the scads spondulicks you know? Yesterday was pay-day, but you didn't show up." I don't know whether my jaw dropped or not. My spirits certainly did. "By Jove, Dicky!" I exclaimed, catching my breath. "It slipped my mind, clear. I haven't got at our ahem banker, cither." I saV now what that mysterious money was for or a part of it, at all events. What I did not see was how I was to get it, and how to pay it to my men. "That's rough," said Dicky sympa thetically. "I'm dead broke." It would appear then that Dicky looked to me for pay, whether or not ho felt bound to me in service. "There's one thing I'd like explained before a settlement," said I grimly, as I straightened out tho carpet; "and that is the little performance for my benefit the other night." Dicky cocked his head on one side, and gave me an uneasy glance. "Explanation?" he said in affected surprise. "Yes," said 1 sternly. "It looked like a plant. I was within one of get ting a knife in me." "What became of you?" inquired Dicky. "We looked around for you for an hour, and were afraid you had been carried off." "That's all right, Dicky," I said. "I know how I got out. What I want to know Is how I got in taken in." "I don't know," said Dicky anxious ly. "I was regularly fooled, myself. I thought they were fishermen, all right enough, and I never thought that Ter rill had tho nerve to come In there. 1 was fooled by his disguise, and he gavo the word, and I thought suro that Richmond had sent him." Dicky had dropped all banter and was speaking with tho tone of sincerity. "Well, It's all right now, but I don't -want any more slips of that sort. Who was hurt?" "Trent got a bad cut In tho side. Ono of tho Terrlll gang was shot. I heard it was only through tho arm or leg, I forgot which." I was consumed with tho desire to ask what had becomo of Borton's, but I suspected that I was supposed to know, and prudently kept tho question to myself. "Well, come along," said I. "The room will do well enough now. Oh, hero's a ten, and I'll let you know as soon as I get tho rest. Whoro can I Had you?" "At tho old place," said Dicky; "three twonty-lx." '"Clay?" I asked in desperation. Dicky gavo mo a wondering look as though he suspected my mind was go ing. "No Geary. What's tho matter with you?" 0r "Oh, to bo sure. Geary street, of course. Well, lot mo know if any thing turns up. Keep a closo watch on things." Dicky looked at mo in somo appar ent perplexity as I walked up the stair to my Clay street office, but gavo only some laughing answer as ho turned back. Hut. I was In far from a. laughing humor myself. Tho problem of pay ing tho men raised fresh prospects of trouble, and I reflected grimly that If the money was. not found I might bo in more danger from my unpaid mer cenaries than from the enemy. Ten o'clock pnssed, and eleven, with no sign from Doddridge Knapp, and I wondered If tho news 1 had car ried him of tho activities of Terrlll and of Decker had disarranged his plans. I trie! t'.c door Into Room 10. It was locked, and no sound cajno to my ears from behind It. "I should really like to know," I thought to myself, "whether Mr. Dodd ridge Knapp has left any papers In his desk that might bear on the Wilton mystery. I tried my keys, but none of them fitted the lock. I gavo up tho attempt Indeed, my mind shrnnk from the Idea of going through my employer's papers but tho desire of getting a key that would open tho door wns planted In my brain. Twelve o'clock came. No Doddridge Knapp had appeared, and I sauntered down to tho Exchange to pick up any items of news. It behooved mo to bo looking out for Doddridge Knapp's movements. If ho had got another agent to carry out his schemes, I should have to prepare my lines for attack from another direction. Wallbrldge was just coming rapidly out of tho Exchange. "No," said the little man, mopping the perspiration from his shining head, "quiet as lambs to-day. Their own mothors wouldn't have known tho Board from a Sunday school." I inquired about Omega. "Flat as a pancake," said the little man. "Nothing doing." "What! Is It down?" I exclaimed with some astonishment. "Lord bless you, no!" said Wall- bridge, sin-prised in his turn. "Strong and steady at eighty, but wo didn't sell a hundred shares to-day. Well, I'm In a rush., Good-by, If you don't want to buy or sell." And he hurried off without waiting for a reply. So I was now assured that Dodd rldgo Knapp had not displaced mo In tho Omega deal. It was a recess to proparo another surprise for tho Street, and I had time to attend to a neglected duty Tho undertaker's shop that held the morgue looked hardly less gloomy In the afternoon sun than in tho light of breaking day In which I had left It when I parted from Detective Coogan. The ofllco was decorated mournfully to accord with tho grief of friends who orderod tho coffins, or the feelings of tho surviving relatives on settling the bills. "I am Honry Wilton," I explained to the man in charge. "There was a body left hero by Detective Coogan to my order, I believe." "Oh, yes," he said. "What do you want done with It?" I explained that I wished to arrange to have It deposited In a vault for a time, as I might carry it east. "That's easy done," ho said; and he explained tho details. "Would you liko to see the body?" ho concluded. "Wo embalmed It on the strength of Coog an's order." I shrank from another look at tho battered form. The awfulness of tho tragedy came upon me with hardly loss force than In tho moment when I had first faced tho mangled and bleeding body on the slab In tho dead room. The undertaker was talking, but I knew not what ho said. I was shaking with the horror and grief of the situa tion, nnd In that moment I renewed my vow to have blood for blood and life for life, if law and justlco were to bo had. "We'll take it out any time," said the undertaker, with a decorous re llectlon of my grief upon his face. "Would you like to accompany tho re mains?" I decided that I would. "Well, there's nothing doing now. Wo can start as soon ns we have sealed tho caskot." "As soon as you can. There's noth ing to wait for." Tho rido to tho cemetery took mo through a part of San Francisco that I had not yet seen. But I paid little attention to tho streets through which we passed. My mind was on the friend whoso name I hnd taken, whoso work I was to do. I was back with him In our boyhood days, and lived again for tho lleetlng minutes the life wo had lived In common; nnd tho resolvo grow stronger on mo that his fato should bo avenged. Arriving at tho cemotery it was noon over. Tho body of Henry Wilton was committed to tho vault with tho single mourner looking on, and wo drove rapidly back in tho falling light. I had given my address at tho under taker's shop, and the hack stopped In front of my house of mystery before I know whoro we were. Darkness had como upon tho place, and tho street lamps woro alight and tho gas was blazing In tho store-windows along tho thoroughfares. As I stopped out of the carrlngo and gazed about me, I recognized tho gloomy doorway and its neighborhood that hail greeted mo on my llrst night In San Francisco. As X wns paying tho faro a stout ilguro stopped up to mo. "Ah, Mr. Wilton, It's you ugnln. I turned In surprise. It was tho policeman I had met on my first night In San Francisco. "Oh, Corson, how are you?" 1 said heartily, recognizing him at last. ,1 felt a senso of relief In tho Bight of him. Tho plnco was not ono to qulot my nerves after tho errand from which I had just como. "All's well, boi but I'vo a bit of paper for ye." And after some hunt ing ho brought It forth. "1 was asked to hand this to yo." 1 took it in wonder. Was thoro something more from Detectlvo Coog an? I tore open the envolopo and read on its Inclosuro: "Kum tonlto to tho house. Shuro If youro llfo Is wurth savoln. "Muther Borlon." CHAPTER XIV. Mother Borton's Advice. I studlod the noto carefully, and thon fctrned to Policoman Corson. "When did she glvo you this and where?" "A lady?" said Corson with a grin. "Ah, Mr. Wilton, it's too sly sho Is to glvo it to mo. 'Twas a boy askin' for ye. 'Do you know him?' says ho. 'I do that,' says I. 'Where Is ho?' says he. 'I don't know,' says I. 'Has 'o a room?' says he. 'Ho has,' says I. 'Whoro is it? says he. 'What's that to you?' says I " "Yos, yes," I interrupted. "But where did ho got tho noto?" "I wns just tellln yo, sor," said tho policeman amiably. "Ho shoves tho noto at mo ag'ln, nn' says he, 'It's im portant,' says he. 'Go up there,' says I. 'Last room, top lloor, right-hand side.' Before I comes to tho corner up here, he's after mo ng'ln. 'He's gone,' says ho. 'Like enough,' says I. 'When'll he bo back?' says ho. 'When the cows como homo, sonny,' says I. 'Then there'll bo tho dlvll to pay,' says he. I pricks up my ears at this. 'Why?" says I. 'Oh, he'll bo killed,' says he, 'and I'll git tho dorndeat lickln',' says he. 'What's up?' says I, makln' a grab for him. But ho ducks an' blubbors. 'Gimme that lottor,' says I, 'and you just klto back to tho folks that sent you, and tell thorn what's tho matter. I'll glvo your noto to your man if ho comes while I'm on tho beat,' says I. 1 knows too much to try to git anything more out of him. I says to mesolf that Mr. Wilton ain't In tho safest place In tho world, and this kid's folks maybe means him well, and might know somo other placo to look for him. Tho kid Jaws a bit, an' then does as I tells him, an' cuts away. That's half an hour ago, an hero you aro, an' hero's your let ter." I hesitated for a little before saying anything. It was with quick suspicion that I wondered why Mother Itorton had secured again that gloomy and do sorted house for tho interview sho was planning. "That was very kind of you. You didn't know what was In tho lottor then?" "No, sor," replied Corson with a touch of wounded pride. "It's not mo as would open another man's lottor unless In tho way of mo duty." "Do you know Mother Itorton?" I continued. "Know her? know hor?" returned Corson In a tono scornful of doubt on such a point. "Do I know tho slickest crook In San Francisco? Ah, it's many a story I could toll you, Mr. Wil ton, of tho way that ould she-dlvil has slipped through our lingers when wo thought our hands woro on her throat. And It's many of her brood wo havo put safe in San Quontin." (TO UK CONTINUED.) Invitation to Franklin. Several amusing Incidents In tho llfo of Benjamin Franklin havo been handed down to us, many of which exhibit his rare wit and somo fow ludlcato tho humor of his contempo raries. During tho courso of an extended journey Franklin was obliged to wnit an unusually long tlmo for his stage. Tho day was very warm and sultry and not a little dusty, but all this did not rulllo the philosophical temper. Tho stage at last arrived, and as the door opened Franklin was much pleased to sco an old friend, whom ho cordially greeted, expressing Ills satisfaction at having secured a trav eling companion. His frlond, however, whoso Irritation was not decroased by tho closely crowded stage and tho Intolerable weather, together with Franklin's hesitation on noting tho al ready overburdonod coach, perhaps unconsciously exclaimed: "Come Ben-Jam-in Wo aro late now." Judge's Library. Japs Learning .English. English Is compulsory in all Jap unose schools. tlixirSeraia Cleanses the System Effect ually.Dispels Colds nndHead amies duo to Constipation; Acts naturally, acts truly as a .Laxative. Best jWMenWimion nnd Cnild rcp -younfi emel Old. lo $et its JLieneficia I Effects Always buy the Genuine which lias ihe full name of the L ic Lorn- pnny CALIFORNIA JiGr Strup Co. oyvdiom it i. manufactured, printed" or nn Tim front of ivi;rv nackiute. SOLD BY ALL LEADING DRUGGISTS. one aizo only, regular price 50r.-boUlo. The Grammar Clas. Tho head mistress of a certain pro vincial school was ono day oxamining a fow of hor solect pupils In grammar. "Stand up, Juan, and mako mo a Bontcnco containing tho word 'sol dom,' " sho said, pointing to a smnll urchin. Juan paused as if In thought; thon, with a Hush of triumph on his faco, replied: "Last weok father had flvo horses, but yestorday ho soldom!"- TWO CURES OF ECZEMA Baby Had Severe Attack Grandfather Suffered Torments with It Owe Recovery to Cuticura. "In 1884 my grandson, n babo, had an attack of eczema, nnd after trying tho doctors to tho extent of heavy bills nnd an Increase of tho disease and suf fering, I recommended Cuticura and In a few weeks tho child was woll. Ho is to-day a strong man and nbsolutoly freo from tho disease. A fow years ago I contracted eczema, and became an Intense sufferer. A whole winter passed without onco having on shoes, nearly from tho knees to tho toes be ing covered with virulent sores. I tried many doctors to no purpose Then I procured tho Cuticura Ueinedlcs and found immediate Improvement and final euro. M. W.Laltuo, 815 Soventh St., Louisville, Ky., Apr. 2!1 and May 11, '07." Sony) men doclino to look upon tho Wlno when It Is red because they pre fer another color. Try Murine Eye Remedy For Red, Weak, Weary, Watery Eyea. Murine Doesn't Smart fcsootlicH Eye Pain. All DniKpxtH Sell Murine at McIh. The 48 1'ago Rook in each l'lcg. in worth Dollars in every home. AhIc your Druj,'f?iHt. Murine Hyo Remedy Co., Chicago. It's all right for a man to bo a dreamer of dreams providing ho wakes up occasionally and gets busy. Lewis' Single Binder Ciar lias n rich tawtc. Your dealer or Lewia' Factory, l'eoria, 111. Tako care of tho minutes, for tho hours will take care of themselves. Lord Chesterfield. Mrs. Wlnslow'it HiMithliiK Hyrtip. For children tecttiliiK. noftonn (ho kiiihh, roiluccn In UttiniuHlIoii, olluy ialu, uurcM wind cullu. SBo a buttle Tho prettiest flowers are not neces sarily tho most fragrant. lino Allon'rt ''Mll-KllK Ciirohtlrc(l,ni:lilMK. nwi'itllriK tent. 2io. Trial packao I run. A. S. Olnihtud, I.o Hoy, N. V. Music Isn't necessarily fragmentary becauso it comes in pieces. SICK HEADACHE Positively cured hy these Little Tills. They also rellovo IDIh treiin from DyHpepMa, In dlpeHt Ion and Too Hearty Kutln;,-. A perfect rem edy for DIzzlneHH, Nau sea, Di'owhIiil'hh, Hud Tantc In the Mouth, Coat ed Tongue, rain In thu Hide, TO II PI D MVKK. They regulate tho Howcl.s. Purely Vegetable. SMALL PILL, SMALL DOSE. SMALL PRICE. Genuine Must Bear Fac-Simile Signature CARTERS Birrn.E WlVER H PIULS. CARTERS WlTTLE WlVER REFUSE SUBSTITUTES.