THE COPPER HOUSE
A Detective Story
BY
JULIUS REGIS
AUTHOR OF “NO 13 TORONI”
1
‘‘A whole regiment would
lot be able to prevent my get
ting away by sea.”
‘‘As long as you did not fall
in with two or three torpedo
boats outside the headland!”
“Ah,” murmured Ortiz, “is
that why you sent off your
friends!”
“Yes, they will give the
filarm to the coast guards, if
they have not already been
warned. I had not counted on
a stolen submarine when I
came here, but now L know
whore I have yon.... ”
As they tallied, both men
were on the alert for sounds
from outside; people were ap
proaching, and ns though at a
given signal, those inside the
room regrouped themselves.
Ortiz and Faycrling took a
few fpiick steps towards the
door, and the sentries sounded
their rifles; Wallion, Iiaebel
and Lona Ivanovna drew back
towards the window, and stood
in front of the pretended An
drei Rernin, in his armchair.
The two groups kept a watch
ful eye on one another across
the room.
“Discussion is useless,” said
Ortiz, presently; “your friends
have failed- look !”
A confused mass of shadows
became visible through the
doorWH y, and rifle-butts
clanged on the hall floor. Two
weary and dejected figures
Were pushed forward into the
circle of light in the middle of
the room: they were Leo and
Sonia, and Wallion could not
repress an exclamation of dis
appointment.
“You have failed?” he said,
going up close to Leo; “have
n’t you telephoned or done any
thing?”
The young man shook his
head wearily:
“Wc did our best, but they
were too clover for us: it was a
trap.”
Jn a few words ho told his
story. Sonia had taken refuge
in her aunt’s arms.
The journalist perceived that
he could no longer expect help
from any quarter, and thut
he must rely entirely upon his
own skill and resourceful
ness; it was like the final
moves in a game of chess, when
the board had been swept clean
of all hut a few pieces, and the
antagonists are two evenly
matehed and quick-witted play
ers. Leo (Jrath and the others
were pale witli mortification:
they had lost heart, and were
powerless to make any further
Attempt to save themselves,
though Max Raebel, who stood
;ust behind the journalist, said
in a low tone:
“We are out of our depth,
Mr. Wallion, things look bad
for us. But if you give the
word, I am at your orders: at
least, we an still use our fists!”
The journalist did not reply,
but turned to Ortiz, who was
listening to Rastakov \s and
.Tassler’s obsequious report.
“Gabriel Ortiz,” lie said
quietly, “[ warn you for the i
last time: we are under the j
protection of the law of
Sweden.”
The adventurer turned
round, ami inspected him from
head to foot.
“I presume I am to con
eider that as a formal pro
test t”
“Yes. It is addressed to
your friends as well as to your
self.”
“My friends!” echoed Or
tiz, in an indescribably con
temptuous tone; “if 1 and ray
plans were dependent on my
friends, I should he weaker
than you. Do you suppose I
take either friends or enemies
into account Your protest is
futile, sir, and if you haven’t
perceived it already, I shall
convince you of it.”
He gave an order in Rus
sian. The two marines stepped
forward, and took possession
of Lona Ivanovna’s revolver,
the butt of which was protrud
ing from her work-bag. The
old Russian lady was taken off
her guard, but she quickly re
alized that she was disarmed,
and rapped out an indignant
oath. Sonia caressed her
soothingly:
“Never mind, Auntie,” she
whispered. “Keep still; don’t
make Sergius uneasy; he is
looking this way, and I think
he wants to say something to
you.”
“Yes, of course, child,”
murmured the old lady, irrita
bly, “he wants to fight, and so
do I; it is only natural. . .”
She leaned across to the white
haired figure in the armchair,
and a few brief sentences were
exchanged lietween mother and
son. The journalist watched
her closely, for lie feared that
the hotheaded old Russian was
contemplating some rash step,
and suddenly he guessed that
Sergius was still armed. Lona
Ivanovna must he trying to
persuade him to give her his re
volver. Was she determined to
make a fight, for the docu
ment.? To his relief, Sergius
simply shook his head, and
Lona Ivanovna drew hack in
high drudgeon. As she looked
at Wallion, he said softly:
“Let sleeping dogs lie!
Leave your son’s revolver, we
may need it later on.”
The other marine now pro
ceeded to search Wallion’s
clothes, turning over his papers
and rummaging in his pockets.
He seemed greatly surprised at
finding nothing, and called out
something inquiringly. Ortiz
waved his hand, and the man
returned to the door. Wal
lion had allowed himself to be
searched without saying a
word, though he thought the
more. The man had over
hauled him thoroughly and
rapidly, and had probably been
a policeman in former times;
which would account for his
dexterity. Ortiz had chosen
his men carefully; supposing
one of them had the inspira
tion to—no! The journalist
resolutely bar:shed that
thought from his mind.
Rut some obscure association
of ideas made him open his
cigarette case, and light a
cigarette at the tiny blue flame
of the cigar-lighter which he
always carried in his waistcoat
pocket. A barely perceptible
smile flitted across his face.
Perhaps Ortiz noticed the
smile, for he said in a harsh
voice:
“You are unarmed ; you have
no possible means of communi
cating with the outer world ;
my will is paramount here;
need I put things more plainly?
My will! In those two words
you have the only law that
carries weight here tonight."
“And before what court of
law will you enforce it?" in
quired the journalist politely.
“Do you insist upon a set
trial?"
Dh, don't put yourself out
on my account!"
“Take care! I am not ac
customed to be spoken to in
such a tone. 1 suppose you are
trying to gain time? What can
you hope for now? I assure
you we could blow the Copper
* House into atoms tonight, with
out a single person being near
enough to see even the re
flection in the sky. Don't you
hear that?"
Hear? Wallion felt, with
every nerve in his body, the
long-drawn out reverberations
of the thunder storm which
raged anew over their heads,
whilst the dark window-panes
were continually lit up by the
glare of lightning. He knew
perfectly well that the adven
Women Handicapped,
French Artist Says
WASHINGTON- - Tile wo
man who would succeed in art
must break down the barrier of her
sex.
Pnom her own experience. Mile
Fanny Bunand-Scvastos, 23-year-old
artist and feminist from Paris, is
Inclined to that belief. ,
*Tt is difficult,” she says, “to
make people realize that a canvas
has no sex and that Its value does
not increase or decrease according
to whether a man or a woman.
painted it.
"Although for men art Is a career,
girls are only supposed to play with
paint and sorro day to leave all
that ‘nonsense’ and get marrted All
that greatly handicaps the woman
painter in making contacts with
galleries or dealers. The dealer con
siders her an economic risk. Women
have been in the arts for years, but
Rosa Bonheur had to wear trousers
and smoke a pi^e to be recognized."
Mile. Savastos*'0pmes from a well
known French family. Her mother
ts Mme. Anthlppe Couched-Sevas
too. editor at the Revue ru» u
Femme. Her step-father, Dr. Paul
Louis Couchod. was physician to
Anatole France.
She liges the United States.
"Abroad,” she says, "only shop
girls and working people have fun
at a carnival. Here, everyone joins
in and has a good time It is better.
I like it.”
Woman Makes Good
At Conducting Opera
AUGSBURG, GERMANY -
—Gertrud Hrdlicka, the only worn
an opera conductor in Germany,
has made her debut in Max Herre's
fairy opera, “Dornroeschen.”
Since her appointment to the
municipal opera of Augsburg last
fall, she has had to content hersell
with helping prepare performances
The prejudices against having a
woman conduct an opera were still
too strong. Only at the end of the
season was she enabled to make
her debut.
According to both Augsburg anc
Munich critics, Fraulein Hrdlck
made good
! turer was not exaggerating.
“A court of law,” Ortiz re
peated. ‘‘Barou Fayerling,
these people seem to expect us
to perform a scene from comic
opera! . . .Very good, if they
are such sticklers for form, I
appoint you as general prose
cutor, baron, but be brief.”
The baron said slowly:
‘‘I accuse Maurice Yvallion
of having used force to hinder
me in carrying out an ap
pointed task, of having at
tacked ray assistant Kastakov,
and of having helped the thief,
Bernard Jenin, to get away
with Terraschin's memoran
dum.”
“A comprehensive indict
ment!” remarked Wallion.
“Do you deny it?”
“What would be the good?”
After a minute’s silence, the
baron proceeded:
“I accuse Lona Ivanovna,
Andrei Ivanoviteh, and Sonia
Andreievna, of having received
and hidden the thief, whose
real name is Sergius Tassler.”
“And whose father stands
there!” interrupted Lona
Ivonovna in a threatening
voice, pointing at the merchant,
who started back; “of what
can you accuse your own son,
and your former wife? Why
are you silent? Are you be
ginning to feel what an utter
worm you are, little Marcus?
Speak man! Out with it, or I
am afraid you will choke. .”
The merchant tried to reply,
but his trembling lips could
only arithmetic an indistinct
murmur.
Silence!” said Ortiz sharp
ly. . .“You are to answer
and not to ask questions, Lona
Ivanovna. Where have you
hidden Sergius Tassler?” Ilis
dark, steadfast gaze seemed to
read her inmost thoughts. . .
“You refuse to answer?”
lie put his hands behind his
back, and came up to her,
thrusting out his hand, and
compelling her to meet his
eyes.
“You are obstinate? Do you
think I need your answer? I
tell you, 1 saw through the
whole of your miserable little
secret as soon as I got into the
room—but it amused me to
play with you—look here!”
Before anyone guessed his in
tention, he had snatched the
wig from the fugitive’s head;
the blue spectacles fell on the
floor, and were broken. Sergius
sprang up with a cry, and
stood unmasked, pale and agi
tated before Ortiz, who con
tinued with appalling com
posure:
“The game is up. No, my
lad, your plan was really too
audacious I You didn’t calcu
late that I should be aware of
the important fact that Andrei
Rernin was dead; and besides,
the man who wears a flowing
beard on a young face, should
be careful to keep in the dark.
f I
This revelation produced an
overwhelming impression. The
baron and Rastakov, realizing
how they had been tricked,
stood mute, glaring malignant
ly at the man who had foiled
them; Lona Ivanovna tried to
spring forward, but one of
Rastakov’s men pushed her
back and raised his gun
threateningly, whilst, as though
in obedience to some precon
certed signal, four more armed
men came in from the hall.
“Let him alone!” cried Lona
Ivanovna. “I forbid you to
touch him!”
Ortiz did not seem to hear
her; without changing his po
sition, he stood and studied
Sergius Tassler’s face, as
though he were bent on solving
a problem. Wallion, who in
his turn, watched Ortiz nar
rowly and quietly, guessed
what, the problem was.
“So it was you who brought
Tarraschin’s memorandum out
of Russia?” said the adventur
er at length, thoughtfully.
“What have you done with
it?”
“I shall not tell you,” re
plied Sergius vehemently;
“what have you to do with us*
We have a right. .
“I want no unnecessary ex
planations. I know all about
f you. AY ill you give me toe pa
per of your own free will!”
“Never 1”
“Then I shall take it.”
“Don’t be so sure that yon
can find it!”
“I have no need to search,”
replied Ortiz, raising his hand.
“I don’t think much of your
intelligence; you are not want
ing in brains, but you rely too
much on yourself, and you lack
imagination. You have hidden
the paper somewhere about you
—not in your clothes—they are
liable to be searched, aren’t
they?—what else have you? Ah,
give me your stick!”
A strange expression passed
over Wallion’s face, as Sergius
mechanically held out his
stick, and he could not restrain
an audible “bravo,” at the in
genuity of Ortiz’s reasoning.
Ortiz turned round, with the
stick in his hand:
“I appreciate your compli
ment, but the thing was per
fectly simple. One could see
from here that the handle of
the stick unscrews. Meantime,
your ‘bravo’ betrays that the
secret was known to you, which
makes it less likely that the pa
per is still in its hiding-place;
indeed, it is hardly worth while
looking inside.”
He tossed the stick to the
baron, who with nervous haste
unscrewed the handle, and
peeped into the cavity.
“Manifestly empty 1” re
marked Ortiz, coolly; “that
was to be expected; it was a
poor hiding-place, and no
doubt you discovered it at
once, Mr. Wallion?”
“Of course.”
“You have it then?”
Wallion hesitated for the
fractional part of a second.
“I can give you my word of
honor that I have not removed
the paper from the stick,” he
said then. “Are you so sure
that it is not there after all?”
Leonard, who could not un
derstand the journalist’s inten
tion, bit his lips; he was begin
ning to think that Wallion was
altogether too complaisant, but
Raebel gave him a dig in the
ribs, and whispered with a
smile:
“Have you ever seen an
acrobat on the top of a pole?
He’s nothing to Wallion; just
keep your eye on him. He’s
not the sort of a man who
comes to grief at the first
round!”
Although the Austrian spoke
lightly, the perspiration stood
on his forehead; experience
told him that the situation waa
critical, and he could see that
Ortiz was getting to an end of
his patience. He did not
trouble further about the
stick.
“Sergius Tassler,” lie said
sharply, “if you wish to live
you must answer me. Did you
have Tarrasehin’s memoran
dum in your stick?”
Sergius started baek a little,
but made no reply; his dark
resigned face did not change,
and he looked calmly at his
tormentor.
Answer him, for Heaven’s
sake,” sobbed Sonia; “answer,
Sergius, I won’t have you die!”
His face softened at her pas
sionate appeal, and he said
curtly:
“I ditl hide the paper in my
stick; I do not know who took
it out; I have nothing further
to say.”
There was no mistaking his
sincerity, and Ortiz showed
no sign of doubting his word.
“Tou have said enough,” h*.
remarked, his eyes beginning
to sparkle; “you have said
more than enough, but you are
even more imprudent than I
thought; now I understand!”
His eyes rested for an in
stant on the young girl, with a
thoughtful and not altogether
unfriendly expression; then,
with a shrug of the shoulders,
he dismissed her from his
mind, and for the first time
turned his whole attention to
Iiona Ivanovna,
(TO B* CONTINUED)
EXCLUSIVE EDWARD
From Montreal Star
“I thought sure Ed would marry
one of the twins.”
“No; he said if he couldn’t have
an exclusive model he wouldn’t have
any.”
► i
► LAX LAWS PERIL <
► TO MARRIED LIFE i
► MILWAUKEE—Present la::- -
► ity of marriage laws, accord- -
ring to Dr. John A. Lapp of Mar- i
► qustte university, is a serious -
► threat to mod am family life. <
► “The foundation of the fam- ■<
► ily—the marriage contract—has *
► come to be a mere scrap of pa- *
► per to hundreds cf thousands,” <
► he says. <
- Different state marriage laws <
► are conflicting with one an- •
► other, he explains. One state *
► marries a couple. Another •
► divorces them. Another state <
► makes divorce easier; another -
► makes marriage easier. In brief, -
► according to Dr. Lapp, mar- •
► riage lar/s should be uniform. <
► “Our marriage laws are in •
► chaos,” he says. “The only •
► reliance in law today is to seek <
► a uniform statute in every -
► state fixing a minimum re- -
► quirement of a certain number •
► of days after a license is grant- -
► ed before a ceremony can be -
► performed; prohibiting mar- -
► riage of parties outside the <
► state without a licence from -
► their home county; and re- ■
► quiring that licenses must bo -
► secured in the heme county of •
► one of the parties.”
►
TO BEN AND LILLIAN
Who’s never known parental thrill,
And knows that now he never will,
Has moments when he wonders why
Capricious Fate has passed him
by.
To send a son unto his friends,
The while she never e'en pretends
No matter how he hath besought
her—
She’ll bring to him or son or
i daughter.
And such a son she’s sent these
friends!
To their advancing years he
lends—
This learning avid, eager boy
The halo of a holy joy.
Wherever they may chance to be.
Their live3 he crowns thus
I worthily.
And blends their hearts to His
above
This fruit of their enduring love.
Yet other thoughts may be descried
By him who thus hath been de
nied.
Who’s never known parental thrill
And knows that now he never
will—
Has moments, too, of wondering
If child of his, while blundering
From babe to man, or womanh x>d,
He ever could have understood.
Could he have looked within such
heart.
Become of it a guiding part
To lead the little feet along.
Till they became full fleet and
strong
To bear the burden of the day,
When far from home they’d
tramped away?
He cannot know! Perhaps he’s
bloated
That Cod hath kept him from the
test.
But this ha knows! Unto these
friends
Acclaim and praise he gladly
sends;
For they have done that greatest
thing.
A son to college day3 to bring.
Ana kept hmi fresh—and strong—
and clean!
A life whereon their own to lean
Along the way they yet must
tread,
And so shall rsap their scattered
bread.
—Sam Page.
■ »■ -»»■■ — . —
Suspicious of World Bank.
From Kansas City Star.
Word from Washington would in
dicate that the administration has
not alter&d its original attitude with
respect to the Bank for International
Settlements. The secretary of state
has recently reiterated his declar
ation that the American govern
ment will have nothin^ to do with
that institution and it has become
known tnat negotiations have been
proceeding with Germany now for
some time, looking to a separate
debt agreement.
The money which Germany owes
this country, largely on account of
the military occupation costs, repre
sents a relatively small share of the
total reparations. Nevertheless, If
the government does not permit the
Federal Reserve bank to participate
in the international bank, the ma
chinery for effecting payment set
up by the Young plan would scarcely
be acceptable to the united States.
For the maJiageraent of the bank
would be accorded such wide powers,
that without official representation
theoretically, at least, the govern
ment wojild not be Justified in per
mitting the institution to handle our
private transaction with Germany.
Conclusion of a separate pact with
Germany, providing for direct pay
ment of our share, would be tire
natural corollary cf the position
which we have assumed But that
does not dispose of all the problems
which the world bank raises. The
Youilg plan would allow the other
directors, in the Federal Re
serve bank is precluded from par
ticipation, to appoint “any bank or
banking house of widely recognized
standing and of the same national
ity” as a substitute, provided only
that such action b “not inconsistent
with the laws of the country in
question.” In view of the fact that
such an American bank might be
accorded extensive rediscount facil
ities by the international bank, it
would be well to consider how that
development would react upon the
federal reserve system and the
present banking structure of the
country.
Proved Her Worth.
From Answers, London.
Alice had just given her mistress
notice.
“I’m going to Mrs. White in the
next street, ma'am,” she added.
Her mistress frowned.
“But does Mrs. White know that
you’ve only been with me for six
weeks?" she inquired suspiciously.
Alice nodded.
“Yes. n m She said that if I’d
: • d w . h you that long,
v as ■ ru'e for
hex.*'
Makeslife
Sweeter
Children’s stomachs sour, and need
an anti-add. Keep their systems
sweet with Phillips Milk of Magnesia I
When tongue or breath tells of acid
condition—correct it with a spoonful
of Phillips. Most men and women have
been comforted by this universal
sweetener—more mothers should In
voke its aid for their children. It is a
pleasant thing to take, yet neutralizes
more acid than the harsher things too
often employed for the purpose. No
household should be without it.
Phillips Is the genuine, prescrip
tions! product physicians endorse for
general use; the name is important.
“Milk of Magnesia*’ has been the U. S.
registered trade mark of the Charles
H. Phillips Chemical Co. and its pre
decessor Charles H. Phillips since 1873
Phillips
I, Milk
of Magnesia
piso’s
gives quick, 11 if ||| kl
effective relief.
Pleasant, sooth
ing and healing. Excellent foe
- children—contains no
opiates. Successfully
used for 65 years. 35c
_ and 60c sizes.
Hotel Perfection
The Viscountess Astor, when about
to sail for her London home, said to a
New York reporter:
“New York is very modern, up to
date and down to the minute. This is
delightful, but it’s hard on the nerves.
“A man from the Middle West
walked into a 40-story New York
hotel and said to the clerk cautiously:
‘“Is this hotel down to the minute,
be?’
“Down to the minute? You het
she’s down to the minute,’ said the
clerk. ‘We furnish sleeping powders
with every bedroom.’ ”—Detroit Free
Press.
To Cool a Burn
Use HANFORD’S
Balsam of Myrrh
All Joskrs srs in Aarirad to refold ywr mm*y hr tZ»
first bottls if lot nitod.
South Africa Fights Jackal
South African farmers are mobiliz
ing for a big battle against the wily
and destructive jackal, the agricultur
ists' greatest pest, says the Washing
ton Star. The object is to drive the
jackals Into the Mapuasst mountains
and to let thousands of dogs have the
time of their lives. Commandos are
being organized as at the time of the
Anglo-Boer war and a force of 12.1X10
farmers will he under the charge of an
Vnglo-Boer war veteran, Commandant
Torn Bourman.
Minute Calculations
A Seattle chemist who recently pur
rhased an up-to-date and very deli
cate set of scales has worked out
some interesting problems with his
latest plaything. A strand of human
hair, he states, long enough to en
circle the world at the equator, would
weigh 739 pounds.
Covering the Ground
Son (home from agricultural col
lege)—I've brought some books on
farming for you to dig into. Dad.
Farmer—And I’ve bought another
SO acres for you to dig into.—Mont
real Star.
Those who have no dignity are per
petually making fun of dignity. Dig
nity is a fine thing.
mriPMm
Take (fi NATDUIUMm j
—tonight. Yooreliminative 5
organ3 will bo functioning prop- f
erly by morning and your con- IE
stipation will end with a bowel
action as free and eajy an na
ture at her beet—positively no ^
pr.in, no griping. Try it flfc
Mild, safe, purely vegetable—
at ilnitjiiu-onb 2 Sc
FEEL LIKE A MILLION. TABS_
Health living
AH Winter Long
Marvelous Oiir.atr — Good Hotel*—Tourist
f'.amps—Splendid Hoads—Gorgeous2£ountain
Views* The tccnderfuldesert resortvithe ff'emt
P Write Creo A Chaffy
Him Sprlais|%
CALIFORNIA ^