STORV
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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.
