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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1911)
T?. IK nun CHARLES KLEIN V ARTnURDHORNBLOW ILLUSTRATIONS BYRAYMALTHtf CumicxT. ie. er c.w. dilliucmah concur CHAPTER XH. The American dearly loves a sen nation, and the bigger and more blood- j urdllng It Is the better. Nothing is ' more gratifying on arising in the ! morning and sitting down to partake of a daintily served breakfast than to glance hurriedly over the front page if one's favorite newspaper and see it covered with startling headlines. It Matters little what has happened dur ing the night to shock the community, so long aa it satisfies one's appetite (or sensational news. It can be a fatal conflagration, a fearful railroad wreck, a gigantic bank robbery, a hor rible murder, or even a scaudalous divorce case. All one asks la that it be. something big, with column after column of harrowing details. , The newspapers are fully alive to what Is expected of thorn, but it is not always easy to supply the demand. There are times when the metropolis lan guishes for news of any description. There are no disastrous fires, trains run without mishap, burglars go on a vacation, society leaders act with de corum in a word the city is deadly dull. Further consideration of the tariff remains the most thrilling topic the newspapers can find to write about. The murder at the aristocratic As truria, therefore, was hailed by the editors as an unmixed journalistic blessing, and they proceeded to play it up for all it was worth. All the features of a first-class sensation wers present. The victim, Robert Under wood, was well known in society and a prominent art connoisseur. The place where the crime was committed was one of the most fashionable ot New York's hostelries. The presumed assassin was a college man and the on ot one of the most wealthy and Influential of New York's citizens. True, this Howard Jeffries, the son, -was a black sheep. He had been mixed up in all kinds of scandals be fore. His own father had turned him out ot doors, and he was married to a woman whose father died in prison. Could a better combination ot cir cumstances for a newspaper be con ceived? The crime was discovered too late for the morning papers to make mention of It, but the afternoon papers fired a broadside that shook the town. All the evening papers had Wg scare heads stretching across the ctlre front Daee. with olctures of the principals involved and long inter views with the coroner and Capt. Clinton. There Beemed to be no doubt that the nollce had arrested the right man, and tn all quarter's of theHCTTj there was universal sympathy for Mr, Howard Jeffries, Sr. It was terrible to think that this splendid, upright man, whose whole career was without a, single stain, who had served his oountry gallantly through the civil war, should have such dlsgracs brought upon him in his old age. 'Everything pointed to a speedy trial and quick conviction. Publie Indigna tion was aroused almost to a frenzy, and a . loud .clamor went up against the law's delay. Too many crimes of this nature, screamed the yellow press, had been allowed to sully ths good name of the city. A fearful ex ample must be made, no matter what the standing and Influence of the pris oner's family. ' Thus goaded on, the courts acted with promptness. Taken before a magistrate, Howard was at Mice committed to the Tombs to await trial, and the district attorney set to work impaneling a jury. Justice, ha promised, would be swiftly done. One newspaper stated positively that the family would not interfere, hut would abandon the scapegrace son to his richly deserved fate. Judge Brewster, the famous lawyer; It was said, had al ready been approached by the prison had declined to take w's wife, but the case. Banker Jeffries also was quoted as saying that the man undei arrest was no longer a son of his. . ' As one paper pointed out, It seemed a farce and a waste of money to have fi n ex, The Jeffries Mansion Wat Lesieqod by Callers. any trial at all The atisaxr.ln lmd not orHy been caught red-handed, but had actually confessed. Why wuste tlmo over a trial? True, one paper timidly migrated that It nilnht have been a oase of suicide. Kohert Underwood's financial affairs, it weitf on to say. 0' A ItMOTOE CDF wmimmMvm mm DEGREE were in a critical conuinon, ana d.v theory of suicide was borne out to Eonin extent by an Interview with Dr. Iternsteln, professor of psychology at one of the universities, who stated that he was by no means convinced of the prisoner's guilt, and hinted that the alleged confession might have been forced from him by the police, while In a hypnotic state. This the ory, belittling as it did their pet sen sation, did not suit the policy of the yellow press, so the learned profea sor at once became the target for edi torial attack. The sensation grew In importar a as the day for the trial approached. All New York was agog with excite ment The handsome Jeffries man sion on Riverside drive was besieged by callers. The guides on the sight seeing coaches shouted through thelf megaphones: "That's the house where the mur derer of Robert Underwood lived." The Immediate vicinity of the house the day that the crime was made pub lic was thronged with carious peo ple. The blinds of the house were drawn down as if to shield the In mates from observation, but there were several cabs In front of the main entrance and passers by stopped on the sidewalk, pointing at the house. A number of newspaper men stood in a group, gathering fresh material for the next edition. A reporter ap proached rapidly from Broadway and joined his colleagues. "Well, boys," he said cheerily. "Any thing doing? Say, my paper is going to have a bully story to-morrow! Com plete account by Underwood's valet. He tells how he caught the murderer just as he was escaping from the apartment. We'll have pictures and everything. It's fine. Anything do ing here?" be demanded. "Naw," grunted the others in dis gruntled tones. "We saw the butler," said one re porter, "and tried to get a story from him, but he flatly refused to talk. All he would say was that Howard Jef fries was nothing to the family, that his father didn't care a straw what became of him." 'That's pretty tough!" exclaimed another reporter. "He's his son, aft er all." "Oh, you don't know old Jeffries." chimed in a third. "When once, he makes ud his mind you might as well try to move a uuuou. The afternoon was getting on; If their papers were to print anything more that day they must hasten down town. "Let's make one more attempt to get a talk out of the old man," sug gested one enterprising scribe. "All right," cried , the others In chorus. "You go ahead. We'll fol low In a tody and back you up." PiHFlng through the front gtte, they rang the bell, and after a brief par ley were admitted to- the house. They had hardly disappeared when a cib drove hurriedly up and stopped at the curb. A young woman, heavily vel'cd, descended, paid the driver, and walked quickly through the gates toward the house. Annie tried to feel brave, but her heart misgave her when she saw this splendid home with all iU evidence c' wealth, culture and refinement. It was the first time she had ever, entered Its gates, although. In a measure, she was entitled to look upon It as her own home. Perhaps never so much as now she realized what a deep gulf lay between her husband's family and herself. This was a world she had never known a ; world of opulence and luxury. She did not know how she had summoned up courage enough to come. Yet there was no time to be lost. Immediate action was neces sary. Howard must have the best lawyers that money could procure. ! Judge Brewster had been deaf to her entreaties. He had declined to take the case. She had no money. How ard's father must come to his assist ance. She would plead with him and Insist that It was his duty to stand by his son. She wondered how he would receive her, If he would put her out or be rude to her. He might tell the servants to shut the door In her face. Timidly she rang the bell. The butler opened the door, and sum moning up all her courage, she asked: "Is Mr. Jeffries in?" To her utter amazement the butler offered no objection to her entering. Mistaking her for a woman reporter, several of whom had already called that morning, he said: "Go right In the library, madam; the other newspaper folk are there." She paRsed through, the splendid re ception hall, marveling Inwardly at the beautiful statunry and pictures, no little intimidated at finding her pelf amid such splendid surroundings. On the left there was a door draped with handsome tapestry. "Right In there, miss," said the butler. She went in, and found herself In a room of nohlo proportions, the walls of which were lined with bookshelves filled with tomes In rich bindings. The light that entered through the stained glass windows cast a subdued half light, warm and rich In color, on the crimson plush furnishing. Near the h'iivy flat, desk In the center of th- room a tall, distinguished man was standing listening drprecatirg'.y to the half dozen reporters who were hoitibarding him with questions. As Annie entered the room she caught the words of his reply: "'ihe young man who has Inherited my n:;iip has chosen h!s ow n path in life. I am grieved to say that his con d".ot at colltge. his mart'lapc, has c-mipletely separated hhu from his lan-lly. and 1 have quite made up my n h;d that in no way or manner can his family become Ulcntitlcd wiih any sieps he may take to escape the pen alty of his mad act. I am his father, and 1 suppose, under the circum stances, I ought to say something. Hut I have decided not to. I don't wish to give the American public any ex cuse to think that I am palliating or condoning his crime. Gentlemen, I wish you good-day." Annie, who had been listening in tently, at once saw her opportunity. Mr. Jeffries had taken no notice of her presence, believing her to be a newspaper writer like the others. As the reporters took their departure and filed out of the room, she re mained behind. As the last one disap peared she turned to the banker and said: "May I speak to you a moment?" He turned quickly and looked at hr In surprise. For the first time he was conscious of her presence. Bow ing courteously, he shook his head: "I am afraid I can do nothing for you madam as I've just explained to your confreres of the press." Annie looked up at him, and said boldly: "I am not a reporter, Mr. Jeffries. I am your son's wife." The banker started back In amaze ment. This woman, whom he had taken, for a newspaper reporter, was an Interloper, an lmposter, the very last woman In the world whom he would have permitted to be admitted to his house. He considered that she, as much as anybody else, had con tributed to his son's ruin. Yet what could he do? She was there, and he was too much of a gentleman to have her turned out bodily. Wondering at his silence, she repeated Boftly: "I'm your son's wife, Mr. Jeffries." The banker looked at her a mo ment, as if taking her In from head to foot. Then he said coldly: "Madam, I have no son." He hesi tated, and added: "I don't recognize " She looked at him pleadingly. "But I want to speak to you, sir." Mr. Jeffries shook his head, and moved toward the door. "I repeat, I have nothing to say." Annie planted herself directly In his path. He could not reach the door unless he removed her forcibly. "Mr. Jeffries," she said earnestly, "please don't refuse to hear me please" He halted, looking as if he would like to escape, but there was no way of egress. This determined-looking young woman had him at a dlsad- vauiH&e. "I do not think," he said Icily, "that there Is any subject which can be of mutual Interest " "Oh, yes, there Is," she replied eag erly. She was quick to take advan tage of this entering wedge into the man's mantle of co d reserve. "Flesh and blood," she went on earnestly, "is of mutual Interest. Your ton is yours whether you cast him off or not. You've got to hear me. 1 am not asking anything for myself. It's for him, your son. He's in trouble. Don't desert him at a moment like this. Whatever he may have done to deserve your anger don't don't deal him such a blow. You cannot realize what It means In such a critical situa tion. Even if you only pretend to be friendly with him you don't need to really be friends with him. But don't ou e what, the effect will tv? if you. his futher, publicly withdraw from bis support?. Everybody will say he's no good, that he can't be any good or bis father wouldn't go back on him. You know what the world is. People will condemn him-because you condemn him. They won't even give him a hearing. For God's sake, don't go back on him now!" Mr. Jeffries turned and walked to ward the window, and stood there ga zing on the trees on the lawn. She did not see his face, but by the ner vous twitching of his bands behind his back, she saw that her words had not been without effect. She waited in silence for htm to say something Presently he turned around, and she saw that his face had changed. The look of haughty pride had gone. She had touched the chords of the fa ther's heart. Gravely he said: "Of course you realize that you, above all others, are responsible for his present position." She was about to demur, but she checked herself. What did she care what they thought of her? She was fighting to save her husband, not to make the Jeffries family think better of her. Quickly she answered: "Well, all right I'm responsibl but don't punish him because of me." Mr. Jeffries looked at her. Who was this young woman who championed so warmly his own son? She was his wife, of course. But wives of a certain kind are quick to desert tlulr husbands when they are In trou ble. I Here must be some good in the girl, after all, he thought. Hesitatiug ly, he said: "I could have forgiven him every thing, everything but" 'But me, she said nrnmntlr. "1 know It. Don't you suppose I feel It, too, and don't you suppose It hurts?" Mr. Jeffries stiffened up. This wom an was evidently trying to excite his sympathies. The hard, proud expres sion came back luto his face, as he an swered curtly: "Forgive me for speaking plululy, biit m& sou's mar t late w ith such a woman as you has made It Impossible to even consider the question of recon ciliation." - With all her efforvs at se!f control, Annie would have been more thau human had she not resented the Insin uation in this cruel speech. For a mo-- meut she forgot the importance of preserving amicable relations, and she retorttd: "Such a woman as me? That's pret ty plain. But you'll have to speak even more plainly. What do you mean when you say such a woman as me? What have 1 done?" Mr. Jeffries looked out of the win dow w ithout answering, wid she went on: "I worked In a factory when 1 was nine years old, and I've earned my living ever since. There's no disgrace in that, is there? There's nothing against me personally nothing dis graceful, I mean. I know I'm not edu cated. I'm not a lady in your sense of the word, but I've led a decent life. There isn't a breath of scandal against me not a breath. But what's the good of talking about me? Never mind me. I'm not asking for anything. WVat are you going to do for him? He must have the best lawyer that money can procure none of those barroom , orators. Judge Brewster, your lawyer, is the man. We want Judge Brewster." , Mr. Jeffries shrugged his shoulders. "I repeat--tny son's marriage with the daughter ot a man who died In prison" She Interrupted him. "That was hard luck nothing but hard luck. You're not going to make me responsible for that, .are you? Why, I was only eight years old when that happened. Could I have pre vented it?" Recklessly she went on: "Well, blame It on me if you want to, but don't hold it up against Howard. He didn't know It when he married me. He never would have known It but for the detectives employed by you to dig up my family history, and the newspapers did the rest. God! what they didn't say! I never real ized I was of so much Importance. They printed It In scare-head lines. It made a fine sensation for the public, but It destroyed my peace of mind." "A convict's daughter!" said Mr. Jeffries contemptuously. "He was a good man at that!" she answered hotly. "He kept the squarest poolroom In Manhattan, but he re fused to pay police blackmail, and he was ratlronded to prison." Indig nantly she went on: "If my father's shingle had been up In Wall street, and he'd made 50 dishonest millions, you'd forget It next morning, and you'd welcome me with open arms. But he was unfortunate. Why, Billy Delmore was the best man In the world. He'd give away the last dollar he had to a friend. I wish to God he was alive now! He'd help to snve your son. I wouldn't have to come here to ask you." Mr. Jeffries shifted uneasily on his feet and looked awsv "You don't seem to understand," he said impatiently. "I've completely cut him off from the family. It's as if he were dead." She approached nearer and laid her hand gently on the banker's arm "Don't say that, Mr. Jeffries. It's wicked to say that about your own son. He's a good boy at heart, and he's been so good to me. Ah, If you only knew how hard he's tried to get work I'm sure you'd change your opln Ion of him. Irately he's been drinking a little because he was disappointed In not getting anything to do. But he tried so hard. He walked the streets night and day. Once he even took a position as guard on tho ele vated road. Just think of It, Mr. Jeff ries, your son to such t straits were we reduced but he caught cold and had to give It up. I wanted to go to work and helD him out. I always earned my living- before 1 married him, but he wouldn't let me. You don't know what a good heart he's got. He's been weak and foolish, but you know he's only a boy." She watched his face to see if her words were having any effect, but Mr. Jeffries showed no sign of relenting. Sarcastically, be said: "And you took advantage ot the fact and married him?" For a moment she made no reply. She felt the reproach was not unmer ited, but why should they blame her for seeking happiness? Was she not entitled to It as much as any other woman? She had not married How ard for his social position or bis money.. In fact, she had been worse off since her marriage than she was before. She married him because she loved him, and because she thought she. could redeem him, and she was ready to go through any amount ot suffering to prove her disinterested devotion. Quietly, she said: "Yes, I know I did wrong. But I I love him, Mr. Jeffries. Believe me or not I love him. It's my only ex cuse. I thought I could take care of him. He needed some one to look aft er him, he's too easily Influenced. You know his character Is not so strong as It might be. He told me that his fellow students at college, used to hyp notize li I in and make him do all kinds of things to amuse the other boys, lie says that somehow he's never bet n the same since. I I Just loved him 1 ause 1 was strong and he was weak. I thought I could protect him. But now this terrible thing has hap pened, and I And I am powerless. It's too much for me. I can't fight this battle alone. Won't you help me, Mr. Jeffries?" she added pleadingly. "Won't you help me?" The banker wns thoughtful a min ute, then suddenly he turned on her. "Will you consent to a divorce If I agree to help hlni?" She looked at him with dismay. There was trade tenseness 111 this 1 dramatic situation a father fighting tor nis son, a woman nghttng tor her husband. i "A divorce?" she stammered. "Why, i I never thought of such a thing as that." "It's the only way to save him," said the banker coldly. "The only way?" she faltered. "The only way," said Mr. Jeffries firmly. "Do you consent?" he asked. Annie threw ud her head. Her uala Ltava America Return" Ntver to face was full of determination, tea she replied resignedly, catching her breath as she spoke: . "Yes, if it must be. 1 will consent to a divorce to save him!" "You will leave the country and go abroad to live?" continued the banker coldly. She listened a in a dream. That she would be confronted by such an alternative as this had never entered her mind. She wondered why the world was so cruel and heartless. Yet If the sacrifice must be made to save Howard she was ready to make it "You will leave America and never return is that understood?" repeated the banker. "Yes, sir," she replied falterlngly. Mr. Jeffries paced nervously up and down the room. For the first time he seemed to take an Interest In the Interview. Patronizingly he said: "You will receive a yearly allow ance through my lawyer." Annie tossed up- her chin defiantly. She would show the aristocrat that she could be as proud as he was. "Thanks," she exclaimed. "I don't accept charity. I'm used to earning my own living." "Oh, very well," replied the banker quickly. "That's as you please. But I have your promise you will not at tempt to see hlra again?" "What! Not see him once more? To say good by?" she exclaimed. A broken sob bait checked her utterance. "Surely you can't mean that, Mr. Jeff ries." The banker shrugged his shouldem "I don't want the newspapers filled with sensational articles about the heartrending farewell Interview be tween Howard Jeffries, Jr., and his wife with your picture on the front page." She was not listening to his Bar casm. "Not even to say good by?" she sobbed. "No," replied Mr. Jeffries firmly "Not even to say goodby." "But what will he say? What will he think?" she cried. . "He will see it Is for the best," an swered the banker. "He himself will thank you for your action." Thare was a long silence, broken only by the sound of the girl's sob bing. Finally she said: "Very well, sir. I'll do as you say." She looked up. Her eyes were dry, the lines about her mouth set and de termined. "Now," she said, "what are you going to do for hlra?" (Continued Next Issue.) FROM FULFURRAS COUNTRY THEY REPRESENT IN TEXAS W. E. Rosencrans A Son Receive Consignment of Vegetables Freah From Sunny South. V. E. Ilosencrans & Son, tho enterprising real estate firm dealing in Texas lands, received a consignment of early garden vegetables this morning from Kngleside, Texas, near r'alfurras hero were peas, beans and potatoes, all looking green am fresh, right from the garden It certainly wheiied a mans ap petite to look at the shipment. They were shipped in at this time to lie placed on exhibition at the real estate ofllce to let the prospective land buyers see wha the season and soil of that conn try will do in Ihe way of produc ing vegetables. If it will produce vegetables it will grow othe crops as well. It will pay one I drop around and take a look n the display at Ihe llnscnerau olllce. Has Turn at Fainting. From WcrincHdny's Dally. Miss liuldwin, a U-year-old young lady, attending the Onlrul srlmnl, fainted in Miss Hell's room this morning. She was sei.ed with nausea ami became unconscious. Superintendent Ab bott called ii cab, and, accom panied by Mrs. Mae Morgan, took the young lady to her home near the bridge, al Ihe north end of the shops yard. Silt on . I? ? "You Will Yours for uni formity. Your for great est leavening power. Yours for never failing results. Yours for purity. Youn for economy. Tour lor every thing that goes to make up a strictly high grade, ever dependable baking powder. That is Calumet. Try it once and note the im provement in your bak ing. Sua how much more economical over the tiih priced trust brands, how much better than the cheap and big-can kinds. Calumet is highest in quality moderate in cost. Received Higheit Award World'i Pure Food Expoaition. THINKS HORSE IS . STOLEN FROM CHI Animal Shipped From Beatrice; and Was a Very Fine Horse, Costing $500. ! Krom Wednesday's Dally. Sam Shoemaker recently pur- chased a valuable driver of breed ers at. Heatrice, paying for ths animal the stun of $500, and di rected that il be shipped to him at I'laltsmoulh. lie received ths bill of lading yesterday, and last night received a message from (lie shipper that he had been notified by Ihe railway company (hat the horse had disappeared ia transit. II is supposed that ths horse was stolen from the car af ter shipment at Heatrice and be fore the animal reached Lincoln. Mr. Shoemaker departed for Heatrice this morning to inquire into the mailer and learn if anjt trace of the missing horse can bs found. This is the first incident of the kind Mr. Shoemaker ever had happen in his long ex perience in shipping horses. In County Court. From Wednesday's Dally. In the county court today Judge Heeson listened to the final set tlement of the Wilhclmina Kazc mareck estate. Mr. J. M. I.eyda, as guardain ad litem, represented Ihe heirs, four in number, rang ing from five to fifteen years. Ths estate consisted of personal prop erty, namely money, to ths amount of about $3,000, which, the court decreed to the children of the deceased. Mr. Henry ttv Swart, of Eltnwood was the ad ministrator of the estate, and ap peared personally in the case. Never Out of VYortt, The biiRlest little things evr mads are Dr. King's New Life PIIIb. Every pill Is a sugar-coated globule of health, that changes weakness Into strength, languor Into energy, brain fag Into mental power; curing Con stipation, Headache, Chills, Dyspep sia, Malaria. Only 2T.c at Gerlng & Co. Do you want an AUCTIONEER? If you do, get one whohas Experience, Ability, Judgement. Telegraph or write ROBERT WIKINSON, Dunbar, Neb. Dates mide at this olllce or the Murray State Hank. Good Service Reasonable Rates .
