Nebraska Newspapers

    THE COPPER HOUSE
A Detective Story
av
JULIUS REOIS
AUT>:on nr -no ti TOflONi
>
“Is your plan so difficult to
fathom! You forget that I
have rend Tarrasehin's mem
orandum, that I know what
has become of your millions,
•lid that ! am well aware of
the snare of specious promises
in which you have entangled |
your dupe*. You are not so !
strong as you imagine; you
have worked to overthrow one
party, and lo support the oth
er, so that you might use tin*
gratitude of the successful one
as ft stcpiMiigslooe to power.
But the Russian revolution in
March was none of your doing,
you made a start in tlie oppo
site direction, find threw in
your lot wifll Ihe reactionaries,
whose prosper! s seemed the
more ffivoraMe. You made a
mistake there: Kerensky still
cits firmly in the saddle, and
Prince Tarrnsfhin \s promises
wiil never be fulfilled, for how
ever strong your followers
may he, they will never restore
the tsar to power.”
lie spoke slowly and impres
sively, and hift woods .were now
addressed to the silent group
by the-door, eathec than to
their leader. He noticed a
strange expression in Rasta
kov’s black eves.
Perhaps Ortiz saw it too, foi
he ex laimed furiously:
“Silence! You lie!”
“Shall I give you a sum
mary of Tanasebin’s written
promises!” returned Wallion,
calmly, and, as Ortiz did not
answer, he continued:
“To he called ‘Kmperor of
the Amazons' was, after oil, a
barren hoyor; hut as governor
general of Siberia, von would
rule over one of the largest
countries in the world. Can
you deny (hat Prince 'Parni
sehia promised that post to
you, on behalf of his party .”’
A murmur went round the
room, and Kasiakov’s face
wore a threatening look, as lie
took in the full meaning of
"Wallion'a information. Ortiz
fathomed his enemy’s inten
tion, and grew’ pale: it almost
seemed that his iron will was
shaken, hut he controlled him
self with a tremendous effort,
and said:
You have read it yourself,
and hold the proof of it in your
hand. I have never hesitated,
and 1 do not hesitate now;
but if you imagine that my
fate depends ou h paper, you
deceive yourself. I have many
strings to my bow. Governor
general of Siberia f—let that
pass, as you have said if, hut it
would only he a beginning; the
whirlpool is deep, I ean sub
due it.” He raised bis voice,
and turned to the silent audi
ence round the door.
’’Have 1 not proved to you
that 1 keep my promises? Has
your future ever looked so
bright as it does now? I tell
you, I ean give you all that
your wildest dreams can pic
ture. Power or riches, you
have only to choose; I have
them both nt, my command.”
He chose his words cleverly,
on the spur of the moment, and
"VVallion realized that it was not
only It is millions that had at
tracted scores of adherents to
his cause. His personal strength
fascinated them, and his con
vincing arguments overruled
their judgment. Rut the jour
nalist had no intention of al
lowing him time to vindicate
liimself. He gathered that
Max Itachcl had by this time
succeeded in conveying some
sort of brief, hut evidently re
inspiring intimation to Leon
ard Grath, Sonia and Lona
Ivanovna in turn, for their
faces.bad brightened with an
expr'syuou of eager anticipa
tion. A moment later, seeing
tliai Ortiz attention was tem
porarily diverted, the Austrian
looked significantly from Wal
lion to the two lamps. The
journalist und e r s t o n d his i
South Africa Still Has
J V Vast Mineral Resources
vohannesbur*, South Africa -
South Africa has hardly touched it - i
own deposits, eactept gild and dia
monds; the time has coma tor it to -
cpnsi.ter more actively the steps to
be tsten to Insure its future devel
opment declared Dr. Ham Piiow in
the cni-rse of h:s presidential ad
dress to the Chemical. Metallurgies!
and M rung society in Johannesburg
“In the face of past and present
ich’ti -inenU in the mineral in
dustry, ' ha said, ‘it is often aveitey.
I
meaning, ami nodded: it was
nearly time!
“Do not promise more than
you can perform, Orti*!” lie
exclaimed. “Wliat about those
earlier promises of yours? Did
you not assure Rastakov and
his people lint (lie bolshevists
are your friends? You. the
organizer of the reartionary
party in Russia .’ for shame,
what duplicity! Wliat about
these last boUhevist uprisings
in pptmgrad? Were they
your work?”
The vehemence of Wall ion's
attack struck Ortiz dumb.
* * I. ... I am not obliged to
answer,” be said alVra pause;
“you are not my .judge!”
“Hut you would like to be
mine, wouldn't you? Perhaps
you would rather 1 burned the
document T”
The paper hovered nearer
the litlle blue flame, and Ortiz
exclaimed:
“Name your own price!”
It was a sign of weakening,
he was ready to buy wliat he
could not take by force.
Wallion laughed, feigning
surprise:
“Is this little flame so vain
able? You would see it ex
tinguished at any price?”
“I will give you $10,000,000
if you will blow it nut,” said
the adventurer. “And your
liberty...”
“A fantastic offer!” said
Wallion, his eves glittering.
“Does the future governor of
Siberia propose it?”
“Yes.”
“Well. I decline it. You .ire
a beaten man, Ortiz. Keren
skv’s government has sup
pressed the bolabevist rising,',
in I’etrograd, and remains in
power till further notice. A re
actionary rising would be even
icss successful.. ”
Hardly had the journal^
completed his sei truce, when
a dramatic interruption oc
curred.
Rastakov sprang forward
All the savagery in his primi
tive nature had risen to the
surface, his face was convuDoi
»'id his voice like the snarl op
some wild beast:
“Is it true that the bolshe
vists are beaten?” he cried.
“Yes; did you unr know
it?” answered Wallion.
“No! I thought- .Ortiz, you
have played us false* Remem*
bet wliat you promis'd!"
Ortiz atiuck hint iiill in the
lace.
“How dare you, Rastnkov!”
l*o exclaimed harshly. “I
have not paid you to insult
me. ”
The blow left a red mark on
Raslakov’s white face. He
staggered back, his hands
clutching the air; his eyes
looked like those of a blind
man.
“Traitor!” he yelled.
Slipping his right hand into
his pocket, he raised it high
over his head, grasping a
round, black object, which he
was about to fling at Ortiz,
when the baron, throwing his
whole weight upon him,
wrenched the deadly thing
away, and dashed it through
the nearest window, far out in
to the park.
The whole house was shaken
by a terrific explosion, a col
umn ot earth and flame rose
high into the air, for a minute,
and the atmospheric pressure
drove in the windowpanes
with a clatter of breaking
glass.
Before the last splinters had
fallen on the enrpet, Ortiz
drew a revolver from his pock
et, and. apparently without
even taking aim, shot Rastn
kov through the head. The un
fortunate Russian fell where
he stood, and did not move
again.
Rastakov was balked of his
prey, and had paid for his mis
take with his life.
that our mineral resources are wan
iug assets. Theoretically that is true
but there are numerous examples lr
the history of miring to show that
mineral deposits originally consid
ered of small magnitude have been
worked for many centuries.
“As to our resources in diamonds
coal, platinum, asbestos, chrome and
manganese, to mention but a few, a
mi’ar experience can confidently b*
•x nested.
“There Is little reason to doubt
hat another f 1.000 000.000 worth of
told will be won from our present
jold deposit*.
“Regarding our diamond deposits
The sudden tragedy para
lyzed them all. Ortiz stared
down at the dead body.
“One more!" lie muttered;
“one morel"
At that minute the journal
ist made sn alarming discov
ery; the draught from the
broken window had blown out
the little flame in the cigar
lighter. There was not an in
stant to lose!
“Now, Raebel!" lie cried,
and crouched clown ns quick as
lightning. The Austrian thrust
his hand among the rugs on
Sergius Tassler’s armchair,
and pulled out a bright steel
“Browning,’’ which he aimed
at the lamps. Two shots rang
out, and the lamps fell crash
ing to the floor.
T! a room was plunged in
darkness.
f'HAPTKR XX
Tn Which Wallion Shows That
a (ireat Deal ('an Be Done
iu Ten Minutes
It seemed as though a black
velvet pall had been dropped
over them. The sudden tran
sition from brilliant light to
impenetrable darkness, was al
most physically painful, and
10 or 15 seconds passed before
anyone attempted to stir;
each man was listening with
hated breath for his enemy’s
movements. A flash pierced
the darkness: Ortiz had fired
at the journalist, or rather, at
! the spot where he had last seen
him standing. An infernal
hubbub broke out: someone
turned on an electric torch,
which was immediately shat
tered by a shot; a dozen rifles
rang out simultaneously, fur
niture fell to the ground, and
panes of glass jingled.
“Get lights!” cried Ortiz;
“let no one escape: stand by
the windows and doors!”
The journalist had carefully
placed Tarraschin’s memoran
dum in his pocketbook, and
was now ready to avail himself
of the opportunity; be moved
noiselessly forward, and sud
denly threw himself into the
tumult round the door. Strik
ing out to right and left, bis
broad shoulders soon cleared
him a passage. A last shot
was fired almost under bis
his chin, and he found himself
out in the ball—free!
There was no time to lose.
The hall was dark, but the
tramp of feel warned him that
at least half a score of men
were making their way
through the half-open door:
that exit was blocked too; to
reach the upper floor by the
staircase was his only chance.
He hastened in that direction,
1 blessing the thick carpet, which
deadened his footsteps, and
took the 24 stairs in four
bounds. As lie gained flip top
most stair, he dropped down
on the landing like a cat, and
held his breath: he had heard
someone breathing close by.
Hut in a moment be uttered a
sigh of relief, as a familiar
voice said softly:
••It is I. Max Raebel. I
know your step again, Wal
!ion; this way!”
He discerned a shadowy
form, and a band grasped Ins.
‘‘I think we may congratu
late ourselves that we have
won the first round,” added
the Austrian.
“What about the others’”
“Oh, I told Sergius Tassler
and (J rath to see to the ladies,
I advised them to offer no re
sistance, but if possible to
take refuge in the gardener’s
cottage, Ortiz will eoneentrate
his attention on us.”
“It looks like it,” Wallion
agreed.
The hall beneath them was
filled with light. Fresh lamps
had been brought in and light
ed, but a strange condition of
uncertainty seenie,. prevail,
and two or throe voices were
clamoring for llastakov. Baron
Fayerling hurried forward,
and the six marines marched
across the hall towards the
stars, with Ortiz behind ihem.
At sight of him, the threaten
ing murmurs died away, and
with a few decided orders the
baron quelled the disturbance.
“The harmony seems slight
ly defective!” whispered the
we are assured of sufficient resource,
to maintain the present output foi
very many years to come, while as tc
the future of coal minin'? there are
even more optimistic estimates.
“Whether the production of fuel
oil from coal proves to be a commer
cial success or not, we may. with
j confidence, look to a cons dcrabt
expansion in the coal mining in
dustry
“During the last 50 years,” h*
added, “scarcely a dec3de has passed
without some new and valuable dis
coveries being made, and there is no
reason t« believe that further dis
Austrian, “but it wilt soon b r
too hot for us here; which way
shall we go?”
‘•To the winding staircase
on tlie hack landing,” replied
Wallion promptly. They
crossed I lie passage, and he
opened the door leading to the
backstairs, but immediately re
treated. and boiled it hastily:
he had almost run into the
arms of three of the forest
guards, who Were evidently on
the lookout for him, and now
began to hatter on the door.
“The deuce!” he murmured
“this is what one may call
qii'*k work! Back again!”
They ran back to the main
staircase, which w'as now their
only chance, if they were not
to he caught on that floor.
“Are you armed?” asked
Rachel.
“No, are you?”
“Yes, I have Sergius Tass
ler’s revolver, but only four
cartridges left.”
Ortiz’ bodyguard had nearly
reached the top, when the two
detectives appeared on the
landing. A shout greeted
them, hut before anyone cousd
shoot, tin* fugitives had gained
llm second floor, where Raebel
turned and fired a shot down
the stairs.
“That’ll just give them
something to think about,” he
explained; “I am generous, as
long as 1 have anything to give
away,”
Ih*r leaves you wilh only
three shots, doesn’t it?” said
Wallion. “Walt, that is not
enough; I must get hold of
something for myself also.”
They heard someone running
up, and the journalist stood a
little to one side. One of the
marines, more quick-footed
than the rest, appeared at the
to;> of the stairs. Wallion
sprang silently upon him
seized him by the back of the
neck, swung him round,
wrested the carbine from the
hands of the surprised and be
wildered man. and. with a vio
lent push, sent him reeling
backwards down the stairs. The
living projectile evidently
landed in the very midst of his
advancing comrades, and a
chorus of shouts and execra
tions followed. Wallion ex
amined the carbine, which was
loaded with five rounds of am
munition.
"Come along,” said he, “we
can’t stop here.”
They mounted the third
flight, which was narrowed,
and led straight to the attics,
and they looked round them in
the darkness. Every eornei
was filled with dusty boxes,
wornout furniture, and a med
ley on nondescript objects; on
the far side, they made out a
ladder, set up against the ceil
iug, beneath a bolted trapdoor
Wallion struck a match and
looked at liis watch: it wa?
half past niue. Their pursuer?
came on noisily, though rathei
out of breath. Raebel seized
an old high-backed oak arm
chair, swung it up over hi?
head, a ndlmrled it with a crash
down the attic stairs. A shot
answered the challenge, and .•>
bullet whistled past the Austri
an’s right ear, as he stepped
| back swearing softly:
“There’s no stopping them,’
he grumbled; “ a machine gur
i is what we want!’
The journalist was alream
at the top of the ladder, am1
pushing up the creaking trap
door. The Austrian followed
him, and they both crawled
out upon the sloping eoppei
roof. The night air blew cool
and refreshing on their heated
faces, and Wall ion let the
hea^y trapdoor fall back inti
ifs place.
“Shall we stop here?” asked
Rachel eagerly. “We could
give them a warm reception
from this position.”
Wallion considered.
“No,” he said; “we hav
too little ammunition, and be
sides, there are several attii
windows from which the;
might fire on ns.”
“But where in the world ea>
, we go?” exclaimed the flabber
gasted Rachel. “It seems t
me, we have come as far as w
'•an without flying.”
(TO rt• CONTINL' KD)
coveries of ore deposits will cea;
abruptly, the more so as the unio
• npears to be on the ni al an er
of scientific prospecting ”
New Orleans. La—An auto drtvei
by Paul Gauthier. 27 years old
plunged over an pmbankment dowi
20 feet into a drainage canal at Nev
Orleaas. As the car was slowl
sinking into the mire at the botton
of the canal bed Gauthier manag*
to open the door and climb to safe
ly, only to be arrested for recktes
driving when he had regained th
street
iVOVI.D MAKE FAIR
FREE TO VHE PUBLIr
Grand Liland— (UP> — Provider
hat the caunty and business met
.ppropriate about $4,000, the far
pjnso'.ed by the central Nebrask
.gricultural association may be fret
aext year, it was decided by th
joard ot directors Wednesday.
The gat* receipts this year totski
58,708 This source of revenue woul.
je lost if the fair is made free, al
though admissions to grand stand:
and concessions will remain The di
rectors voted to make admission tt
.he fair grounds free if the count}
board appropriates $2,000 for pre
miums, $2.CO0 for permanent im
provementa and business men sub
scribe $4,000
RUSS AVIATORS
WELL TREATED
iNorth Platts Chamber of
Commerce Denies Storie
of Any Discourtesy
North Platte, Neb.—(UP)—Fred W
Sfanders, president junior division
North Platte Chamber of Commerce
has issued a statement denying edi
torial comment of the Houston
(Tex.) Chronicle and other news
papers tb the effect that Russian
aviators flying around the world in
the airplane "Land of the So
viets,” had been treated in an ill
mannered or spiteful way by North
Platte citizens.
Yanders quoted cablegrams from
President Ukhanov, of the Moscow
Soviet; S. A. Shestakov, chief pilot
on the airship; L. G. Gershevich,
interpreter for the party, and oth
ers to show that the Russians felt
highly gratified at the warm recep
tion they received here.
“For the benefit of our misin
formed editors throughout the
country,” Yanders said, “when the
plane landed here it was a complete
surprise to North Platte citizens
who had no inkling that they would
be forced to descend on our field.
Commander Shestakov had planned
to spend the night in Omaha.
“We hastily gathered some of our
leading citizens and hurried to the
field. Our party furnished a police
escort to guard the plane during
the night and furnished transpor
tation to the entire crew to the lo
cal hotel. Here they were met by
the president of the Chamber of
Commerce and other prominent
citizens
“After a special dinner the fliers
asked that they be allowed to re
tire, since they were tired and con
templated arising early to resume
tbeir flight.
“All expenses including meals,
hotel and transportation charges
was paid for by the Chamber of
Commerce.”
In the cablegrams the Russians
warmly thank North Platte citizens
for their courtesy and hospitality
during their stay here.
FIFTEEN STUDENTS AFTER
RHODES SCHOLARSHIP
Lincoln, Neb. — (UP) — Paul F.
Good, secretary of the Nebraska
committee on the Rhodes scholar
ship states that 15 instead of nine
candidates will appear before the
examining committee for hearing,
several of the number having ap
plied from institutions outside the
state. Rules governing the contest
permit the students name to be en
tered through an institution within
the state in which he lives and is
attending school, or through an in
stitution in another state where he
has attended for the last two years.
The candidates not previously
listed publicly are: Philip H. Mer
gler of Hastings college; George R.
West of Kearney State Teachers
college; William M. Cord of Uni
versity of Wisconsin; Harley G.
Moorhead, Jr., Omaha, Oberlin col
lege, Ohio; Herbert D. Dichsen, of
Midland college and Irwin R.
Schimmelpfenning, Humphrey, Un
ited States Military academy, West
Point. Card is an alumnus of the
University of Nebraska and is do
ing graduate work at Wisconsin and
Dichsen is student secretary for the
United Lutheran church at the Ne
braska institution.
G. A. R. GIVEN ROOMS
IN NEW CAPITOL
Lincoln. Neb.—(UP)—The Nebras
ka Grand Army of the Republic has
been given the two top rooms in
the capitol tower for use as office
and club room and also for a trophy
room, it was announced Thursday
by State Commander Smith.
The trophy room, which will
house the souvenirs of all the wars
in which Nebraska men have par
ticipated, is underneath the dome
of the tower and will be octagonal
In shape. It will be on the 14th
floor, and the entire floor below
will be devoted to a club room for
the veterans with office space also
being provided. Pour elevators,
which are now being installed, will
provide service to the new head
quarters.
FINER FOR NOT KEEPING
CHILDREN IN SCHOOL
Ponca, Neb—Oscar Aaberg was
bi ought before County Judge P. D.
Pales on a charge of falling to keep
his three children in school as re
quired by the Nebraska compulsory
education law This la the first
prosecution in Dixon county brought
under this nrovlsion. The defendant
was fined $22.
DISTRIBUTE FUNDS FROM
STATE GASOLINE TAX
Lincoln, Neb.—(UP) — Nebraska
counties will receive $195,259,03 as
their share of the gasoline tax col
lected during November, it was an
nounced Thursday by State Treas
urer W. M. Stebbins
The total collections were $781.
038.11 and the counties receive one
fourth of this amount.
She Should Be.
Prom Answers.
“Whatever happened to that gin
you didn’t marry?”
"OK. she a just aa happy as ever.'
SAYS NEBRASKA
ON CASH BASIS
State Treaurer Reports
Cash in Various Funds
and No Bonds Out
Lincoln, Neb.—(UP)—The sum oi
$4,683,471.44, ample to pay every
outstanding claim against any fund
in the state, was in the state trea
sury at the close of business No
vember 30, State Treasurer W. M
Stebbins reported Wednesday.
In the general fund was a bal
ance of $775,567.43, the receipts dur
ing November being $285,686.62 anti
the payments. $638,703.03. The oapi
tol building fund had a balance oi
$305,738.13.
During the month, $1,013,865.25
was paid out from the gasoline tax
fund. 8789.647.05 was collected, and
Deoeinber l, there was a balance
or $1,395,908 75.
• “In 1875 there was outstanding
against Nebraska about $500,000 in
bonds. The last of these were paid
and cancelled in 1900.“ Stebbins
said. “For 30 years there has not
been a bond against our state. Ws
are strictly on a cash basis, paying
cash as go."
BATTLESWITH
SCARLET FEVER
Hartington, Neb., School
Children Innoculated to
Halt Disease Spread
Hartington. Neb. — (Special* -
Owing to the presence caf a numbei
of scarlet fever oases 1b this city
and surrounding comtiWBtty the
school board of the Hartington
public schools has discusssd m.as
ures to combat the disease.
Acting upon the suggestion of
physicians the board issued an ed
ict requiring all children in school
to be inoculated, at least one in
jection of serum being given at the
expense of the school district. The
physicians claimed that the one in
oculation would make the child im
mune for six months. If the par
ents cared to make the child im
mune to the disease for life they
could have the two remaining in
jections administered.
This week Dr. J. M. Johnson gave
the first injection of serum to all
pupils and teachers in both the
public and parochial schools.
OMAHA RACE BETTING
PLACES ORDERED CLOSED
Omaha. Neb.— — Chief of
Police J. J. Pszanowski late today
issued an ultimatum to local horse
race betting emooriums to close up
or suffer the indignity of having
uniformed policemen stationed at
their doors to prevent gambling.
“I am going to have all race track
gambling stopped,” said Pszanow
ski, ‘‘even if I have to place a uni
formed policeman in each place
suspected of operating against the
law.”
His edict followed a raid by po
lice morals officers of two places
where bets were laid for foreign
race tracks. His resolution to have
all emporiums closed is in line with
the order of Attorney General Sor
enson’s edict to that effect more
than a month ago.
CHILDREN'S CRUSADE IN
ALL EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
Omaha, Neb.— — Plans for
the conduct of a children’s crusade
in every Episcopal church through
out the northwest, embracing eight
states, were perfected here at the
annual meeting of the provincial
executive council.
The crusade, to be held simul
taneously in every Episcopal church
In the northwest province, will be
staged in Montana, Wyoming, Col
orado, North Dakota, South Da
kota, Minnesota, Nebraska and
Iowa. Definite dates for the event
have not been set. Dr. Phillips Os
good of Minneapolis is in charge of
plans.
GRAIN SHIPPING BODY
ORGANIZED AT NACORA
Homer, Neb. —(Special)—A grain
shipping association has been or
ganized at Nacora. The following
officers were elected: William Hee
ney, president; L. J. Martin, vice
president; Hugo Zastrow, secretary
treasurer; Victor Blume, manager.
The board of directors consisted ot
the officers and Ray Graves. Wil
liam Wingett, of Thurston county,
explained a similar organization op
erating at Walthill, Neb.
KNOX COUNTY PIONEER
WOMAN AT REST
Bloomfield. Neb.—(Special)—The
funeral of Mrs. Dorothy C. Smyth
was held, Wednesday, from the
East S de Lutheran church Mrs
Smyth, who wa3 74 yoars old, was
one of the pioneers of this com
munity. She is survived by seven
children.
COLERIDGE NEB. CTUPLE
MARRIED 50 YEARS
Coleridge, Neb.—(Special) — Mr
ind Mrs. Peter Adamson celebrated
heir golden wedding anniversary
it their home Thanksgiving day.
They have resided In the Coleridge
vicinity for the last 27 years. Both
are 75 years old.
NEED COLD WEATHER TO
PRESERVE BEET CROP
McCook, Neb. — <UP) — If frost
ihould leave the ground within the
next few weeks, approximately 80
per cent of the beet crop in this
section of Nebraska and Colorado
will be lost, the McCook division ol
he Burlington railroad estimates.
Beet harvesters have twice been
Iriven out of the fields by incle
ment weather. They are now plow
tig the frosted beets out of the
{round and. unless froet leaves
them before they can be shipped to
refineries, the greater portion of
hs crop wIT be saved.