QRYIP
BLINDFOLDED
A Mystery Story
of San Francisco
BY
EARLE ASHLEY WALCOTT
(Copyright 1900, the Hobbe-Merrlll Co.)
SYNOPSIS.
Giles Dudley nrrlvcil In Snn Frnnclaco
to Join his friend and distant relative
Henry Wilton, whom ho was to assist
In an Important and mysterious task,
and who accompanied Dudley on tho
ferry boat trip Into the city. Tho re
markable resemblance of tho two men
is noted and commented on by paasen
Kors on tho ferry. They sco a man with
-snuko eyes, which sends a thrill through
Dudley. Wilton postpones an explanation
of tho straiiKe 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. Hardly
has ho Bono than Giles Is startled by a
cry of "Help." Dudley is summoned in
tho morgue and there finds tho dead
liody of his friend, Henry Wilton. And
thus Wilton dies without over explaining
to Dudley the puzzling work he was to
perform in San Kranclsco. In order to
discover tho secret mission his friend had
entrusted to him, Dudley continues his
llsgulso and permits himself to be known
as Henry Wilton. Dudley, mistaken for
WlUon, Is employed by Knapp to assist
In n stock brokerage deal. Giles Dudley
llnds himself closeted In a room with
Mother Borton who makes a confidant
of him. He can learn nothing about the
mysterious boy further than that It is
Tim Terrlll and Darby Meeker who aro
after him. Ho Is told that "Dicky" Nahl
Is a traitor, playing both hands In tho
game. Giles finds himself locked In a
room. Dudley gets his first knowledge of
Decker, who Is Knapp's enemy on tho
Hoard. Dudley visits tho home of Knapp
and Is stricken by tho beauty of Luclln,
his daughter. Ho learns the note was a
forgery. He Is provided with four guards,
Brown, Barkhouse, FItzhugh ami Porter.
Ho learns there Is to bo no trouble about
money as all expenses will bo paid, tho
hire of tho guards being paid by ono
ltlchmond."
CHAPTER XIV. Continued.
"Yes, I suppose so," said I dryly.
"But the woman has done me service
saved my life, I may say and I'm
willing to forget tho bad in her."
"That's not for me to say, sor; but
there's quare things happens, no
doubt."
"This note," I continued, "is writ
ten over her name. I don't know
whether 'it came from her or not; but
if she sent it I must see her. It may
be a case of life or death for me."
"An' If it didn't come from her?"
asked the policeman shrewdly.
"Then," said I grimly, "It's likely to
be a caso of death if I venture alone."
"I'll tell you what, Mr. Wilton," said
Corson after a pause. "If you'll wait
a bit, I'll go with you that is, if
there isn't somebody else you'd like
better to have by your side to-night.
You don't look to havo any of your
friends about."
"Just tho thing," I said heartily.
"There's no one I'd rather have. We'll
go down as soon as wo can get a bite
to eat."
"I'll havo to wait a bit, sor, till my
relief comes. He'll be along soon. As
for getting a bite, you can't do better
than wait till you get to Mother Bor
ton's. It's a rough place, but it's got a
name for good cooking."
I was bewildered.
"I guess there's not much to be got
in the way of eating in tho house.
There was nothing left in it yester
day morning but the rats." I spoke
with considerable emphasis.
"That's quare, now," he said, look
ing to see if there- was a Jest behind
the words. "But 'twas all there when
McPherson and I put a club to a drunk
as was raising tho Ould Nick in tho
place and smashing tho bottles, not
six hour3 ago. When wo took him
away in tho ixpress wagon tho ould
woman was rowling out those long
black curses in a way that would
warm tho heart of 'tho foul ilend him
self." Thero was some fresh mystery
about this. I hold my tonyuo with tho
rellcction that I had better lot it
straighten Itself out than risk a stum
ble by asking about tilings I ought to
know.
Corson's relief soon appeared. "It's
a nasty night," ho said, buttoning up
his overcoat closely, as Corson gave
hi in a brief report of the situation on
tho boat.
"it's good for them as likes it dark,"
said Corson.
"It's just such a night as wo had
when Donaldson was murdered. Do
you mind it?"
"Do 1 mind it? Am I likely to forglt
it? Woll, a pleasant timo to you, mo
boy. Como along, sor. We'd bettor
bo moving. You won't mind stepping
up to tho hall with mo, will ye, while
1 roport?"
"Certainly not," I said with a shiver,
half at tho grim suggestion of mur
der niul half at tho chill of tho fog
and the cutting wind that blow je
cold vi i "ir through to tho aklu.
"You've no overcoat," said Corson.
"We'll stop and got one. I'll have mlno
from tho station."
The silence of the house of mystery
was no less threatening now than on
the night when Henry Wilton was
walking through tho halls on tho way
to his death. But tho stout-hearted
policeman by my side gavo mo pon
fldonoc, and no sign showed the pres
ence of an enemy as 1 secured Henry's
heavy overcoat and the largo revolver
he had given me, and wo took our
way down tho stairs.
A short visit to the grimy, foul
smelling basement of the City Hall, a
brisk walk with tho cutting wind at
our backs and I felt rather than saw
that we wero in the neighborhood of
the scene of my adventures of a night
that had come so near costing me my
life, and then I saw tho lantern sign
give forth Its promise of tho varied en
tertainment that could bo had at Bor
ton's. "Hero we are," said Corson.
Wo pushed open tho door and en
tered. Tho place had tho samo np
pearnnce as the one to which I had
been taken by Dicky Nahl.
"A fine night, Mother Borton," said
Corson cheerily, ns he was the first to
enter, and then added under his
breath, "for tho dlvil's business."
Mother Borton stared at him with
a black look and muttered a curse.
"Good evening," I hastened to say.
"I took the liberty to bring a friend;
he doesn't como as an ofllccr to
night." The effect on the hag's features was
marvelous. Tho black scowl lighten
ed, tho tight-drawn Hp3 relaxed, and
thero was a sign of pleasure in the
bright eyes that had Hashed hatred
at the policeman.
"Ah, it's you, is it?" she said sharp
ly, .but with a tone of kindness in her
greeting. "I didn't see ye. Now sit
down and find a table, and I'll bo with
ye after a bit."
"We want a dinner, and a good one.
I'm half-starved."
"Aro ye, honey?" said the woman
with delight. "Then it's tho best din
ner in town ye shall havo. Here, Jim!
Put these gentlemen over there at tho
corner table."
"It's not tho aristocracy of stoilo ye
got here," said Corson, lighting his
pipe after the coffee, "but It's prime
eating."
I nodded in lazy contenment, and
then started up in remembrance of
the occasion of our being in this place
as the shadow of Mother Borton fell
across the table.
"If you will go upstairs," she said
sourly. "You know the way. I guess
your friend can spare you."
"Is thero anything that can't be told
beforo him?" I asked. ? t
"You'll be safer in my care than in
his," she said, with warning In her
tone.
"Yes, yes, I know I am safe here,
but how is it with my friend if I leave
him hero? We came together and
we'll go together."
Tho crone nodded with a laugh that
ended in a snarl.
"If the gang knew he was here thero
would bo more fun than you saw tho
other night."
"Don't worry about me, Mr. Wilton,"
said Corson with a grin. "1'vo stood
her crowd off beforo, and I can do it
again if tho need conies. But I'd rath
er smoke a poipe In peace."
"You can smoke in peace, but it's
not yourself you can thank for it,"
said Mother Borton sharply. "There'll
bo no trouble hero to-night. Como
along." And tho old woman started
for tho door.
"Aro you sure you're all right?"
asked Corson In a low volco. "There's
men gono up those stairs that came
down with a sheet over them."
"It's all right that is, unless
there's danger to you In leaving you
here."
"No. Go ahead. I'll wait for ye. I'd
as lief sit hero as anywheres."
I hastened after Mother Borton, who
was glowering at mo from the door
way, and followed her footsteps in si
lence to tho lloor above.
Mother Borton walked tho passago
cautiously and in silence, and I fol
lowed her example until sho pushed
open a door and was swallowed up In
the blackness. Then I paused on the
threshold while she lighted a candle;
and as I entered, she swiftly closed
and locked tho door behind me.
"Sit down," sho said in a harsh
volco, motioning mo to a chair by tho
stand that hold tho candle. Then this
strange creature seated herself In
front of mo, and looked steadily and
sternly In my faco for a full minute.
"What havo you done that I should
help you?" sho broko forth In a harsh
voice, bor eyes still fixed on my fnco.
"I really couldn't say," I replied po
litely. "You have done me ono or two
services already. That's tho best rea
son 1 know why you should do mo an
other." Tho hard linos on the faco beforo
me rolaxed at tho sound of my volco,
and tho old woman nodded approv
ingly "Ay, reason enough, I guoss. Thorn
as wants bettor can find It thomsolvos.
But why did you snonk out of tho
house tho other night like a cop In
plain clothes? Didn't I go ball you
wore safe? Do you want any hotter
word than mine?" sho had begun al
most soUly, but the voice grew high
er and harsher as she wont on.
"Why," I snid, bewildered again,
"tho houso sneaked away from mo
or, at least you left me alone In It."
"How was that?" sho asked grimly.
And I described graphically my ex
perience in tho deserted building.
As I proceeded with my talc an
amused look replaced the harsh lines
of suspicion on Mother Borton's face.
"Oh, my lud!" sho cried with a
chuckle. "Oh, my lud! how very green
you are, my boy. Oh ho! ho ho!" And
then sho laughed an Inward, self-consuming
laugh that called up anything
but the feeling of sympathetic mirth.
"I'm glad It amuses you," I said
with Injured dignity.
"Oh, my liver! Don't you see it
yet? Don't you see that you climbed
Into tho next houso back and went
through on to the other street?" And
sho relapsed into her state of silent
merriment.
I felt foolish enough as tho truth
Hashed over me. I had lost my sense
of direction in tho strange house, and
had been deceived by the resemblnnco
of tho ground plan of tho two build
ings. "But what about tho plot?" I asked.
"I got your note. It's very Interesting.
What about It?"
"What plot?"
"Why, I don't know. The ono you
wrote mo nbout."
Mother Borton bent forward and
searched my faco with her keen
glance.
"Oh," sho said at last, "tho ono 1
wrote you about. I'd forgotten It."
This was disheartening. How could
I depend on one whose memory was
thus capricious?
"Yes," said I gloomily; "I supposed
you might know something about It."
"Show me the note," she said sharp
ly. I fumbled through my pockets until
I found It. Mother Borton clutched it,
held It up to the candle, and studied
it for two or three minutes.
"Where did you get it?"
I described tho circumstances In
which It had como Into my possession,
and repeated tho essentials of Cor-
son's story. Mother Borton's eharp,
evil face was impassive during my re
cital. When it Wfis done sho mut
tered :
"Gimme a fool for luck." Then sho
appeared to consider for a minute or
more.
"Well?" said I Inquiringly.
"Woll, honey, you're having a run
of tho cards," sho said at last. "Be
tween having tho message trusted to
a fool boy, and having a cop for your
friend, an' maybe gltllng this noto be
fore you're expected to, you're setting
hero genteel-like having agreeable
conversation along with me, Instead
of being In company you mightn't llko
so well or maybe Heating out toward
Fort Point."
"So you didn't write?" I said coolly.
"I had an Idea of the kind. That's
why my friend Corson Is smoking his
plpo down stairs."
Mother Borton gavo mo a pleased
look and nodded. I hoped I had mado
her regrot tho cruel Insinuation in her
application of tho proverb to mo as
tho favorlto of fortune.
"I seo," I said. "I was to bo way
laid on tho road hero and killed."
"Carried off, more likely. I don't
say as It wouldn't end in klllln' ye.
But, you seo, you'd bo of mighty small
uso in tellln' tr.-los if you was dead;
but you might bo got to talk If thoy
had yo In a quiet place."
"Good reasoning. But Iionry Wil
ton was killed."
Yos," admitted Mother Borton;
"tlfoy thought ho carried papers, and
maybo they ain't got over tho Idea ylt.
It's jest as well you'ro hero Instld of
having a llttlo passoar with Tom Tor
rill and Darby Meeker and their pnls."
"Woll," said I, as cheerfully as I
could under tho depressing circum
stances, "IT they want to kill mo, 1
don't seo how I can hoop them from
getting a ehauco soonor or lator,"
Mother Borton looked nnxlous at
this, and shook hor hoad.
"You must cut? oi) your men," she
said decidedly. "You must havo
guarda,"
"Bi the wny," I said, "that reminds
mo. Tho men haven't been paid, and
they're looking to mo for money."
"Who'o looking to you for money?"
"Dicky Nahl and tho others, I sup
pose." "Dicky Nahl?"
"Why, yes. Ho asked mo for It."
"And you gavo it to him?" sho asked
sharply,
"Noo that Is, I gavo him ten dol
lars and told him he'd have to wait
Tor tho rest, I haven't got the monoy
from tho ono that's doing tho hiring
yet, so I couldn't pay him."
Mother Borton gavo an ovll grin,
and absorbed another Inward laugh.
"I reckon tho money'll come all
right," snid Mother Borton, recovering
from her mirth. "Thoro's ono moro
anxious than you to havo 'em paid,
and if you ain't found out you'll havo.
It right away. Now for guards, tako
Trent no, ho's hurt. Take Brown
and Portor and Barkhouse and FItz
hugh. They're wideawake, and don't
talk much. Tako 'em two and two,
and never go without 'em, night or
day. You stop horo to-night, and I'll
git 'em for you to-morrow."
I declined tho proffered hospitality
with thanks, and as a compromise
agreed to call for my bodyguard in tho
early morning. Rejoining Corson, I
oxplnlnod Mother Borton's theory of
tho plot that had brought mo thither.
"She's llko to bo right," said the po
liceman. "Sho knows tho gang. Now,
if you'll tako my advice, you'll lot tho
rats havo your room for this night,
and como along up to uuino folno ho
tel." Tho advlco appeared good, and fif
teen minutes lator Corson wns drink
ing my health at tho Lick Houso bar,
and calling on tho powers of light and
darkness to watch over my safety as
I slept.
Whother duo to his prayors or not,
my sleep was undisturbed, oven by
dreams of Doddridge Knapp and his
charming but scornful daughtor; and
with the full tide of UTo ami buslnoss
(lowing through tho street In tho
morning hours I found mysolf onco
more In Mother Borton's dingy eating
room, ordering a breakfast.
Mother Borton Ignored my entrance,
and, perched on a high stool behind
tho bar and cash-drawer, reminded mo
of tho vulture guarding its prey. But
at last sho fluttered over to my tablo
and took a seat opposite.
"Your men are here," sho said short
ly. And then, as I expressed my
thanks, sho warmed up and gnvo me
a description by which I should know
each and led me to tho room whore,
as sho said, thoy wero "corralled."
"By tho way," I said, halting out
side tho door, "thoy'U want somo
money, I suppose. Do you know how
much?"
"They're paid," sho said, and pushed
open tho door beforo I could express
surprise or ask further quostlons. I
surmised that sho had paid them her
self to save mo from nnnoyanco or
possible danger, and my gratltudo to
Ibis strange creature rose still higher,
(TO 1510 CONTINUED.)
WORLD CENSUS OF JEWS.
Only Two Countries Havo Greater
Number Than America.
In tho American Jewish Year Book,
just Issued by tho Jewish Publication
society of Philadelphia, the Jowlsh
population of the .United States Is giv
en as 1 ,777,185. Only two countries
have a greater Jewish population,
Russia, with n,2ir.,80.r, and Austria
Hungary, with 2,076,:!87. Tho Immi
gration through tho ports of New
York, Philadelphia and Balllmoro for
tho year ended Juno 30, 1907, was
Kl l,li:i. Tho Jewish population of tho
United States Is larger by G1U than tho
combined Jowlsh population of tho
British empire, Germany, France,
Italy, Morocco, Turkey, Spain, China,
Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Peru
and Creto. Tho British omplro has
only :5Gl,C;i9 Jews, of whom 17,-103 are
In Australia, 18,228 In India, 48,820 In
South Africa and 10,000 In Canada and
British Columbia. Thero aro 4G3.C86
Jews in Turkey, 30,578 in Egypt nnd
10, HOO in Persia. In theso threo
countries thero aro about 100,000
fowor than there aro In Now York
city. Tho Jewish population of tho
world Is given as 11,585,202.. Amerh
can Jowlsh Year Book.
A Hurdy-Gurdy Romance.
Tho day was sunny and warm. Tho
shado of an oak tree overhanging a
board fence offered gratoful sheltor to
tho old woman who wheeled a hurdy
gurdy slowly down tho street. Leav
ing tho organ at the curbstono, tho
woman seated herself on tho ground
close to tho fence, untied a red ban
danna, from which alio produced a
luncheon not over dainty or nppotlz
Ing In appcaraneo, spread out a news
paper, and sot forth tho moal, ovldont
ly expecting somo ono else.
Tho old hurdy-gurdy mini soon Join
ed hor, bringing with him tho pall'
of boor for which ho had stopped on
tho avoniu'. Ho was brown and wrink
led and grimy llko herself; hut ho
foro beginning tho meal ho hunt down
and kissed the old woman, as If ob
tiurvlng u sacraniunt.
And llfo seemed suddenly puror and
Hwooter to tho pas- rby, N. Y. Preaa.
Knickor Edison says fotlr hours'
sloop Is enough for ovorybody.
Docker It would bo If you could
tnko It after It is tlmo to got up.
New York Sun.
Domestic Pleasantries,
"I hear Mrs. Straitlaco is opposed
to all sorts of society functions nnd
entertaining."
"Sho is. Sho Ib so narrow-minded
that sho wouldn't oven entertain an
idea." Baltinioro American.
Laughing Gas.
"I seo," observed tho delegnto with
the rotrcntlng hair, "that Toxas has
sent Taft a present of n pair of wool
trousora."
"Yes," commented tho dologato with
tho Ingrfiwlng chin, "nil wool and n
yard wide." Chicago Tribune.
IN THE LITERARY WORLD.
Ono of tho really Important events
of tho Htorary world this season was
tho appearance of Winston Churchill's
now novol "Mr. Crowo's Caroor."
In this work Mr. Churchill has moro
than sustained his provlous well
earned reputation. It is dodlcated
"To tho men who In ovory stnto of
the union aro ongagod In tho struggle
for purer politics." From this It la
scon that the story doals with an in
tensely Interesting topic, and it Is n
vigorous, dramatic, enlortnlnlng ro
cltal of a subject in which overy per
son Is concerned. Tho localo of tho
story makes it a natural aequol to
"Conlston," although tho timo Is tho
present.
That Thomas MoKoan, tho young
Pliilndolphla author, has mado much
progress In tho world of lottors in his
second novel, "Tho Master Influonco,"
published this spring by tho Llppln
cotts, Is cvldoncod by tho many aori
oub and appreciative rovlowis ac
corded the book. Its steady and In
creasing sales show that tho writer
has already won a largo following.
Mr McKcan Is spending the summer
abroad, engaged upon another novel.
Ho says ho has not gono to Europo
entirely for material, howovor, as his
own country Is a rich onough flold to
furnish any number of intorostlng
plots.
A thrilling escapo from Now Or
leans, of a party of threo, followed
by a aeries of singular experiences'
among a trlbo of Indians, mako up tho
core of Randall Parrlsh's now ro
mance, "Prisoners of Chanco," Just
published by A. C. McCIurg & Co.
Around this nro woven tho mystery
of the queen of tho nborlgmoB, a
woman with sunlit hair who bends tho
savages to her slightest whim, tho
plottlngs and counterplottings In tho
Fronch-Spanlsh city iff tho mouth of
tho Mississippi, tho (lungers and fight-1
Ing of tho long Journey up tho river
with an eager enemy closo boliind,
the self-sacrlfico and martyrdom of a
missionary, and tho common senso;
and presence of mind of an American
pioneer of tho most robust typo. Thol
result is a story filled with thrills;
and excitements, In Mr. Parr:jh's
most Inventive vein.
Impoliteness.
A 'normous dog came in ono day,
And he and I commenced to play;
And wo had fun, and nice fun, too,
Long as he 'haved as a dog should do,
But when ho got so awful rough
I hollered that I'd had onough,
But 'stead of stopping as ho should,
As nnybody'd think ho would,
IIo knocked mo down and tried to 80S'
If 'no could sit on all of me.
(From Our Baby Book, by Fanny Y.
Cory.)
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