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
