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About The news-herald. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1909-1911 | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1909)
f. r Soul of the Blue One of Carlton Clarke's Telepatho-Deductive Solutions A ARLTOX CLARK K and I were in Xew York I knew not why at tho time Col. James Watson Drexlau, an Immensely wealthy Xew Yorker, was found stabbed to death in his heme. His daughter and Ranlelgh llarcanip were the first upon the scene of the murder. We became connected with the caae through my acquaintance with Col lins, friend of my youth and one of the best reporters in Manhattan. Clarke and I were discussing tho strange mystery which had grown out of the case. A knock on the door put an end to our conversation. It was Collins, to whom 1 had given a quiet tip to stay with uh through the case. Another knock followed almost Im mediately, and I admitted Ranlelgh llarcanip, whose face showed tho first smile I had seen him give when he related the ease with which he had eluded Clancy's shadows. "Now, Mr. Harcamp," began Clarke. "I want you to tell us exactly what happened last night." "I cannot," said Harcamp, between set teeth. "Then I will have to tell yon. Sit down. Mr. Harcamp." "When you and Miss Drexlau re turned from the theater," continued Clarke, "Mr. Drexlau met you and a violent scene occurred. Is that right?" "Yes; I suppose Fogarty has told you." "Miss Drexlau, at her father's orders, finally went to her room In tears." "I see by the papers Fogarty was eavesdropping," commented Harcamp. "Then you and Mr. Drexlau cooled down. He suggested that you go Into the billiard room and amuse yourself while he smoked a cigar, and maybe you would both see things In a dif ferent light. You beenme Interested In practicing some difficult masse shot and stayed for some time," "How in the name of heaven do you know all that?" "Very simple. Halls carefully placed in line along the side vail, tip of cue badly damaged, your fingers covered with chalk. You were just about to attempt the shot after repeat ed failures wheu you heard Mr. Drex lau fall. You rushed into the hall and saw fleeing up the stairs" Harcamp rose with clenched lists and while face. "Stop; you lie! Xo man on God's earth knows whom I saw." "Ha, I thought I was right. You saw Miss Drexlau." llarcanip groaned and buried his faco in his hands. "She didn't do it. She didn't do it. O! why didn't I confess to it and save her?" Clarke went over and laid a band on his shoulder. "Now, brace up, Harcamp." he said. "It may not be as bad as you think. There Is one thing that may save, her." "Tell me, for God's sake!" moaned Harcamp. "Tho blue llokhara," answered Clarke. Just then a messenger arrived with a telegram. It was for Clarke and he tore It. open feverishly. As he read his face broke into a smile of triumph. "At last I can act," he cried. "Quick. Mr. Collins, call a cab. You know the nearest stands. Mr. Harcamp, we will save her." Collins was soon at the door with a carriage. Clarke gave the driver his directions, and we all got In. "Where are we bound for?" I asked. "We are In pursuit ot the blue llok hara," was all that Clarke would vouch safe. We drew up before n large store In Hroadway devoted exclusively to orien tal rugs, and hurried In. "Did you ever see a Blue Rokhara?" asked Clarke of the proprietor. "Yes," he replied, "but we haven't one. In fact I never saw but one I believed wns genuine, and that didn't bring very good luck to the man that bought it, for 1 hear he's just been murdered." "Yes. yes, that's the one!" said Clarke, exultantly. "Did he get It here?" "Xo, he didnt. He picked It up from a small dealer, but there was considerable talk about. It among rug men, nnd I went around to see It. I've seen many so-called blue Jtokharas, but never one like this. It was the softest shade of blue and of the finest wool mixed with silk. The sheen was perfect." "Yes, yes," Interrupted Clarke; "but can you tell me the name of the shop that sold It?" "Certainly: it was Agnossl's, on lower Washington street; but, he hasn't anything like it. Let me show you some particularly fine liokharas I have just imported." Hut we were gone on our way to Agnossl's before he recovered from his surprise, 1 suspect. AgnossI was a dark-eyed Armenian riio kept a small stock. He was proud of having cold the most wonder ful rug In Xew York, proud of having known the murdered man and anxious to tell all about both. "Hut while it '4 In your bunds did By FRANK LOVELL NELSON L you repair it?" asked Clarke, inter rupting his flow of description. "Oh, no, gentlemen, it was perfect, perfect. 1 have been dealing lu rugs all my life and" "Hut haven't you even u thread of It; even a strand of wool?" "Why. no. You ask funny questions. More funny than young man who come here every day I got the rug nnd ask the price and cry when I tell him I sold it to Mr. Drexlau. And to think of Mr. Drexlau so soon killed! I like to have the pick of his rugs. It make nie rich." "From whom did you get tho rug?" broke In Clarke. The Armenian's eyes kindled with suspicion. "What for you want to know that?" he said. "Xow," said Clarke, "tell me where you got the rug or I'll put the spell on you nnd leave you that way." "Oh. I'll tell, 111 tell." said the frightened Oriental. "I had it of Is rael Fanghone In Pell street." "A well-known fence," said Collins. "If we find you've been lying I'll come back and look into your head and see everything you've ever done," warned Clarke. "Oh. gentlemen, 1 tell the truth; and listen. I did repair It. Fanghone, he cut a little piece out of it, such a little piece. I weave it in nnd Mr. Drexlau never see it at all. 1 think Fanghone try to match the wool and get some fake ones made." "A scheme that you doubtless sug gested," said Clarke. "Xow, haven't you that piece?" "Oh, no, gentlemen. I glf you my word of honor. Fanghone ho have It." "Then to Pell street," commanded Clarke. "I'm afraid you'll find Fanghone a tougher proposition than the Arme nian," said Collins when w e were once more In the cab. "If he is a strong character his weak point is the more vulnerable," replied Clarke. "When I see him I will know where to uttack." Faugbone in truth was a veritable Fagln. lie treated ns with twisting, truculent hands, which seemed to Itch, and his Inky-black beard to bristle at the gain that might bo derived from such a presentable set of rounders as he took us to be. "Soinodings I can show you. shout le- mens? Some moneys you want, mav be? I haf It." Clarke made a careful survey of his antagonist. "Yes, Fanghone, It's money. Twenty dollars on this," and Clarke took a diamond ring from his finger and laid It in the moist, out stretched palm. Fangbone examined it critically, but with greedy eyes. "You haf como hy It honestly?" he asked. "Of course. You'll be safe enough anyway. It s easily worth two hun dred and I may never redeem it." "Xot reteem id?" said Fangbone in surprise. 'Xo, I wouldnt wear It again. It's kisheff. I had it of this nmn Drexlau who was killed Inst night, and I just. heard he had a blue llokhara rug that was klsheff and it killed him." ion say me nine itoKiiara is a klsheff? Who doll you dat?" "Thalda told me." A look of fear stole over Fangbone's forbidding countenance and his eyes wanuereu involuntarily toward a drawer back of the counter In front of which we were standing. 'IHero, dake id. dake 1L qviek!" he said, thrusting the ring at Clarke. "I will haf nodding to do vld id. Thaida she know. She Is wise In do black magic as in de white. Tank Oott I vlnd id oudt in time." As soon as wo were beyond the line of vision from the interior Clarke stopped nnd nccosted a typlcnl Pell Blreet hobo. "Here, my nmn," he said, "want to make a half a dollar? Well, wander Into Fangbone's, take what ever he gives you, bring It to me and you get your money." The hobo htir rled off and Clarke's scheme began to dawn upon me. In a few minutes ho was back. "Hero's wat de sheeny give me. Xow, whore's de niaziiina? Clarke handed him the money and in return the man placed in Clarke's hand a square inch of the blue Hok hara! "Superstition, his ruling passion, and a powerful nnine in the Ghetto," quiet ly remarked Clarke. "Xow the solu tion Is In our grasp." We stopped before one of those old fashioned Xew York houses, once the home of fashion and yet to be found In the lower East side, Clarke sent up his card and we were admitted to a drawing room furnished in a quiet magnificence Hint contrasted strangely with the squalor nnd degradation all about. The silken portieres parted and there stood before us the most beaut! woman I had ever aeon. Clarke started up and took u step toward her. Their eyea met. "Thalda!" "Carlton!" "You bad my wires?" "Xot until I got home this morning. I've been away. And you mine?" "It has brought me and my fi lends. Lot them be your friends. Thaida!'' Bokhai Concentrating his mind, Carlton Clarke gazed steadily Into her eyes for a few moments. Her muscles be came louse, her faco pallid and her eyes glassy, and then tboy closed in what appeared to be the sleep of na ture. Clarke tool; the-square of blue llokhara from his pocket nnd pressed it against her forehead. "Do you see, Thalda?" "I see," came the rich, subdued voice. "What see you?" "I see a richly appointed drawing room. Oriental rugs cover the floor. Over the fireplace Is a picture of Washington. A white pilastered arch way leads into a library nnd that opens Into a conservatory. Three persons are there. One Is an old man, one ;i young man nnd one a woman, young, slender nnd black of hair. They seem to he disputing and the old man Is greatly excited. At last lie points to the door nnd his daughter yes It Is Ills daughter goes out in tears, with one last supplicating look at. the men. There they part, not all In anger, ns the father seems to weaken at the sight of his daughter's tears. The young man goes out through the li brary and the aged nian-llghls a cigar and walks the drawing room with bowed head, his bunds behind bis back. "He halts In his walk and listens, lie slips across the room on tlpioe, tears open the portiere at the hall door i-.nd drags out a little old man. He Is a servant. The master of the house upbraids the cringing menial nnd then points to the dour. The little old man goes out. The tall man re sumes his restless walk, blowing rings of smoke and now ami then glancing at his watch nnd from that to the door, He expects some one. At last he stops. He listens. He hears a step. He goes out into the hall to the front door nnd flings It upon. A daik muffled form enters." "Mark well this man, Thalda. What Is he like?" "He is dark, very dark. lie Is etunclatod. His race is drawn with suffering. Ills clothes aro In rngs, et his beating I.: proud nnd noble. Tln-y pass in o the druwliu; loom. The dark man is pleading with la - ti l bunds. Tho old man laughs scornfully. Tie dark figure olT"ih him smai-tMir.;. i is iiMiiov The old man again lopulso Mini .isiil i pints toward I ho door. The lwK i-::t!i s-t !! pVad. with iii.mx p;is sicr.iif i;.s' tiros toward a blue rug of .uiri .1.: ;iu; beauty on tho floor. At la.-1. tin- old man advances ami iaises his ! : :t it 1 .is if to strike. There is a quick hlow and a Hash of stool. The old unm reels mid falls, clutching at his h:va:4. Tho dark mail seizes 1 lit rug and is pone into tho night." "Ni w tho rti!;. Thaida. tho rug. Fol low it. Tiaco it hack to tho making. What si'o on?" "J soi- a little hut in llokhara bosldo tho San:n:kand unto. 1 know tho spot woll. Within tho door a loom Is placed and there, day by day, a maiden weaves upon a rug. She Is beautiful as tho night, and as she weaves u youth watches her and strokes tho Inky braids of her hair while their eyes speak the tale of love that Is old as this old world, yet. ever new. "Day by day the maiden weaves, and as she weaves her fair body wastes by degrees so small that, her lover sees not the change. At last the final knot is tied and the weft thrown through the warp for the last time, and with a sigh and a look of love the weaver falls into his outstretched arms. "She litis woven her soul Into the blue Bokhara. "The youth wanders, the rug always with him, for it Is his bride. He comes to this city. He is In want ; be Is starving. When near to death he pawns the rug that ho may live. Then the change conies. He finds work, ho makes money. He tries to redeem the rug, but the man to whom ho. pawned it is a villain. He has learned the value of the rug and will hot glvo It up but for a great, price. The youth struggles and saves and denies him self everything until at last he has the sum. At lust he Is abb? to buy tho rug, only to find I hat It. is sold lo ves, It is to the man who was alula. The youth seeks hlni out ami, by tho ruse that he has smuggled rugs for sale, gains entrance at midnight." "Where is ho now? Iiok well, Thalda." "He Is near." "The sini't; can you read It?" "It Is Washington street, In the Ar menian quarter." "'I he number?" ' Two hundred and sixty-eight." 'The name?" ' I cannot tell. Wait, lie writes. He signs. 'Knreton Hoyajlan.' lie faint:'. Yon must hasten If you see him." "The floor?" "It Is the garret. 1 am weary. Carl ton; make haste," "Knoiinh, Thalda. Wake." The eyes opened nnd smiled. "Have I helped?" she asked. "Vou have inaile all clear. Hul we must :;ct now. To-morrow I will re turn and tell you all. And, oh, Thaida, i hiit I may then peisuade you to give mi this sordid life, this preying upon th- iyiiora'ii e and fear ot liic Ghetto." "You soo the results luxury, wealth, all that wo lunged for In the old das I tit t nitui to-Biorrow." Tho final act or the drama was brief. Wo communicated with the In spector and ho mot us on I h way to tho Washington street number In Clarke's iHissossiou. This proved to ho a rickety tenement. Vndcr the guidance of tho inspector, we entered boldly and mounted five dingy flights to the parrot. A knock at the one door brought no response and we pushed In an it was unlocked. There, on n miserable, tied of straw, his wasted body wrapped In tho blue llokhara, lay a young Turkoman. Hy tho sickly light of one guttering can die it was plain that we were none too soon, as the finger ot death already was upon his forehead. Clarke stepped to him and, gently raising his bead, poured brandy down his throat. His eyes roved until they lighted upon the uniform and star ot the Inspector. "You have come for me," he said weakly. "You are too late. I am going to join my love." The last words ended In a gurgle and he was dead in Clarko's arms. Starvation and want had done their work. "And if any further evidence is needed. Inspector, here It is," said Col llns.'ns he picked from tbe straw a blood stained stiletto. The blue llokhara Is on our floor now and Clarko thinks that time and use will restore Its wonderful luster. We saw Miss Drexlau once more be fore leaving Xew , York, when she came with Ranlelgh Harcamp to ex press her thanks to Clarke. She was In deep mourning, but even under her burden of grief radiant with her new found love. "Had I only been a moment sooner I might hnve saved him." she told us. "I wns ready for bed when I thought of a box of candy I had left In the ball. 1 throw on a loose house gown and started down after It. On the wny down I heard pupa fall, but I thought It, was a noise in the street. Then I heard Mr. Harcump coming from the billiard room and 1 flew back. Do you know, Ranlelgh, I thought but only for a moment" Clarke went alone that afternoon to make his promised call on Thalda. When be returned be -aas humming a little tune, a frivolous little tune for Clarke. "Do you know, old chap," he said, "I begin to think this trip to Xew York will not prove altogether a fail ure." . "Then it was Thnida that brought us to Xew York?" "Yes, Sexton, It wns Thalda," and a pang of Jealousy, Jealousy of them both, shot through me. (C"pyilht, linifl, by W. ti. Clmpiiiiui.) (. '! riKli L la lii'ffU DrlUiln.) THE NEWS IN BRIEF. First Lieut. Edward I Rain. Twen tieth infantry, haa been dropped from the roll of the army for desertion. Snowden 1 1. Fa I rail died at Iowa 'Hy, la., aged 73. He was for many 'ears a member of the Iowa house and senate. He was a college mate of James G. Illnliii'. Tho Isolation from the outside world of which llaltimoro has been a complete victim practically since early Thursday morning has been broken and the city begins to see the end of the difficulty. Matthew Aslor Wilks, descendant of the late John Jacob Astor, and his bride, who was Miss Sylvia Green, daughter of Hetty Green, the richest woman In the world, are hnck in New York from their honeymoon trip In tho south. The funeral of the late J. W. Hlythe, general counsel of the Chicago, Bur lington & Qulncy railroad, at Hurling ton, la., was attended by nearly fifty prominent railroad officials and many men high in business nnd political cir cles of Iowa. Premier StoJypin, M. Khomyakoff, president of the duma, and other prom inent Russian officials, have signed an address to Anson Phelps Stokes of New York In appreciation of his aid In founding the Russian Young Men's Christian association. John W. Fisher, formerly prominent as a lawyer and politician of Buffalo, X. Y was sentenced to Auburn prison on his plea of guilty to grand larceny In the first degree. Tho Indictment charged the theft of $2,500 from the town of Cheektowaga. Gov. Charles X. Haskell and others, Indicted for Muskogee town lot frauds by the federal grand Jury In February, were granted until March 15 to plead, by agreement of counsel. Their plea will be entered at Vlnlta during the term of the federal court there. That the tide of Immigration Is. again on the flood was apparently In-' dlcnted when 1,500 immigrants arrived In lloston on the steamer Romanic from Mediterranean ports, This is tho largest number landing from any steamer at lloston for 16 months. Comptroller of the Currency Murray has appointed J. M. Logan, one of the national bank examiners In Texas, as a bank exnmlner at largo. Tho comp troller has decided to appoint four such examiners, Edwin F. Rarebeck of Ohio having been heretofore desig nated. William H. Illshop, well known In theatrical circles as manager and own er of such old time stage successes as "The Illack Crook." "What Happened to Jones," and "Tho County Fair," died In New York front Injuries sus tained when he was struck by an auto mobile. Kmil Jordan, who Is said to be wanted In Xew York on several charges, Including the murder of a po liceman, Jull-breaklng on Ellis Island, forgery and bringing young women from Franco in violation of the Immi gration laws, was captured in San Francisco. In Januury last there was a falling off or about $50,000,000 In tbe total value of the country's exports as com pared' with those of Januury, 1908; while for tho seven months ending with January last, the total exports amounted to $1,031,719,944, against $1,189,090,551 In the corresponding seven months lu question. Suicide Not Illinois Girl. Magazine, Ark., Mar. 8. The woman who committed suicide at Nashville, Tenn., Saturday afternoon, and who registered at the Maxwell hotel as "Luclle Hates, Illinois," was Miss Dot Thomas of Hoonevllle, Ark. She was a daughter of K. W. Thomas, a physi cian of Hoonevllle, who committed sulcldo at tho Grand View hotel here three years ago. Marshal Arrested for Murder. Harrisburg, III.,. Mar. 9. Marshal John Smith of Ledford was arrested here yesterday charged with the mur der of Joe McCluskle and placed under $2,000 bond. Smith, in attempting to quell a riot among foreigners, shot Mc Cluskle. THE MARKETS. New York, Mar. 9. LIVR 8TOCK-8tcer ! 25 7 IS MiiK 7 15 li 8hfi-p 4 3d flf fl i". 1'I.Ol'H-Wtntor HtrulKhtH.. S ftr S tiii WHICAT-May 1 Wi 1 . July 1 UWte 1 U COUN-.luly 7.1 i'p 74 KYI-:- No. 2 W.-Hti-rn M g) H Ht'TTKU-Cmimury Wt K!( !8 IS it 2ft CIIKKSK 1 1 t' J6Vi CHICAGO. CATTI.IO-I-unoy Steers .... V 9 7 2f. Mi-dlum to (iixxl Htecrs.. SI l 2i ('own, 1'lHln to l-'uni-y,,.. It 40 (ft 5 00 Cllnlci! l-'eedi rs :! 75 iff S 50 Ciilvcn :t m ror s 75 IIU'JS-lli-HW Fiu-kern H ,Vi y 6 K7'-4 H.-iu y llutchi-m 65 fi 72S 1'lKd 4 .VI (& ( 40 ItCTTKK-Cri'aiiK-ry i'.' W Imlrv W t& a J.IVK 1'Ol'LTItY tf 17 Ki!H IS i 214 l"( 1TATOKH i-r tm.l )' 88 l-i,lri-8prlim Win-lit, Hii 6 ISO ) 6 40 WHKAT-Muy 1 t."Vn' t 16i July 1 1 NNi Corn, May 7'V utn, May ftr-M? M Itye, Muy 76 79 MII.WAl'KEE. OIlAIN-Wh'-at, No. 1 Nor'n $1 U1t t M May t M 110 Coin. May M'ifi 67i Oatx, Standard 55 (l &"', It ye 7!i'4tl M KANSAS CITY. (iltAIN-Wiiint, No. 2 Hnrdfl ifl to I to No. 2 U'-d i : i :tt Corn, No. " MWi'd H;tVji 8.1', llutu. No. '1 White 54 65 ST. LOC18. CATT1.K- Native Steers .... $4 Oil if, 7 35 Texan Sti-i-rs 3 50 (11 6 5(1 llOUS-riu ki-m 6 10 n'c 6 60 ltiilclii-rx 6 45 51 6 m NllKKl'-Nutlvt-H 3 75 U 6 65 OMAHA. CATTI.K- Nutlvi' Sti-i-!K ... $4 4ii j ti ,1a 8ti'ki-r and l-Vi-di-m.... ;t ti fi 3 :tti row mid Ili'ltVt T"i !)i .", im Hi tS- IIpuvv 1, 411 Di tin SSUEKI'-WethetK 4 $') 'J 6 40