r THE MYSTERY GIRL
By CABOI.1N WtLU._(Copyright, l»tt>
’ (Caatiaaed From Aaturriiy >
Clearly, ahe «ai rejoiced at her de
nunciation of the girl before her, and
pleased at the Irrefutable theory she
had promulgated.
"And how did Miss Austin or the
Jap, either, leave the room locked
on the Inside?" propounded Cray, his
cwn optnlona already swayed by the
arrangement.
“That,” said Miss Ba scorn, with an
air pf finality, *T can’t explain defi
nitely, but I am sure It was an ex
ample of Japanese jugglery. When
ybu remember the tales of how the
Japanese can do seemingly Impossible
tricks, can swallow swords and get
out of locked handcuffs, it is quite
within the realm of possibility that
one could look a door behind him,
and give it the appearance of having
been locked from the Inside.”
Now, Cray had already concluded
that the door had been cleverly
locked by someone, but he hadn’t be
fore thought of the cleverness of the
Japanese.
He rose almost abruptly, and said,
"I must look into some of these mat
ters. Miss Austin, you need not at
tempt to leave town, for you will not
be able to do so.”
“I most certainly shall not attempt
to leave—as you express it—if I am
'V, asked not to. But, I may say, that
■* when I am entirely at liberty to do
‘ so, I propose to go away from Cor
SSi Inth.”
Her dignity gave no effect or a
person afraid or alarmed for her own
safety, merely a courteous recogni
. , tion of Cray's attitude and a franlf
■ - statement of her own intentions.
Miss Bascom sniffed and said:
"Don't worry, Mr. Cray. I'll see to
* It that this young woman does not
succeed in evading justice, If she tries
to do so.”
At which Miss Mystery gave her a
p|A$rnile that was so patronizing, even
r~ T amused, that the spinster was more
*- Irate than ever .
"And now, Miss Austin,” the attor
ney said, "I'll take your fingerprints,
please, us they may be useful in prov
ing what you did not do.”
He smiled a little as the girl readily
enough gave her consent to the pro
cedure.
"And,” he went on, more gravely,
”1 will ask you for one of your shoes
one that you wore on Sunday.”
Surprised Into a glance of dismay,
Miss Mystery rose without a word
and went upstairs for the shoe.
She returned with the dainty, pretty
thing, and merely observed, “I'd like
to have it back when you're through
with it.”
Hutting the shoe in his overcoat
pocket. Cray went away.
■‘Miss Bascom," Anita said, turning
to her enemy, “may you never want a
friend as much as I do now.”
"The nerve of. her!" Liza Bascom
muttered to herself, as Hiss Mystery
went upstairs to her own room.
"There's a very deep mystery
here!" Cray soliloquized, as he re
turned to the Waring house. “But
I’m getting light, on It."
Cray was far from lacking in in
genuity, and he proceeded at once to
compare the fingerprints lie had of
Anita Austin with the prints on the
small black-framed chair that had
been found drawn up to the desk 01
John Waring.
They were identical and Cray
mused over the fact.
"That girl was here Unit night,” he |
_____ i
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asking for “F. B. 1194.”
decided; “there'* no gainsaying that.
He called the butler to him.
“Ito," he began, “did you let In
anyone late Sunday night—after you
came home?"
"No, sir,” the Imperturbable Jap
declared, thinking the question fool
ish, as all the Inquirers knew the de
tails of his Sunday movement*.
"Do you remember seeing this chair
Monday morning?"
"Distinctly. I saw Mr. Lockw&dfi
smoothing Its back."
"Smoothing its back! What do you
mean?”
"I looked through from the dining
room window to see if Mr. Lockwood
was coming to breakfast, and I per
ceived him carefully smoothing the
plush of the little chair, sir.”
Cray meditated. Here was a point
of evidence. Lockwood was not the
; sort to absent-mindedly paw over a
!. hairback. He was doing it on pur
pose. For what reason? What reason
could be, save to erase some evidence?
Cray examined the chair. It had a
frame of shiny black wood, while seat
and back were covered with a dark
plush of a fine, soft quality.
Cray drew his fingers across the
back. They left a distinct trail of
furrows in the fahrlc.
Ito watching, nodded his head,
gravely.
“Not fingerprints,” Cray said to
himself—"but, maybe, fingermarks.
Whose?"
"You surely saw this, Ito?"
"Yes, sir; and Miss Peyton also
saw. She was then In the doorway,
asking Mr. Lockwood to come to
breakfast.”
Cray went In search of Helen and
put the question to her suddenly.
"What was Cordon I,ockwood do
ing, when you went to call him to
breakfast, Monday morning?"
"He was—I don’t remember.”
“Speak the truth—or It may mean
trouble for you and him ,too."
"Ho was—he seemed to be dusting
off a chair.”
"With a duster?"
"No; just passing over it with Ills
hand,"
“That isn't dusting it.”
"Well. I don’t know what you call
fit! Perhaps he was merely pushing
the chair into place."
"It isn't his custom to push the ;
study furniture into place. lie was
erasing Indicative marks on that ,
plush chatrback—that's what he was 1
doing.”
"Absurd!" Helen cried, "what marks
could there be?"
"I don't know. Come and let us
8€€.'*
Cray took Helen to the study, and
asked her to sit in the chair.
“Lean back." he directed. Now,
get up."
The girl obeyed, and there was ,
plainly seen on the plush the faint j
but unmistakable Imprint of the
beaded design that adorned the back j
of the frock she wore.
"1 told you so!" Cray said, in tri j
umph. "That plush registers every |
impress, and when Lockwood rubbed
It smooth it was to erase a damaging
bit of testimony.”
"lather farfetched," Mr. Cray."
said Gordon Lockwood himself, who
had come in and had heard and seen
the latter part of the detective’s in
vestigation.
“Not so very, Mr. Lockwood, when
you learn that the fingerprints on fhe
chair frame are your own and those
of a certain young person who is al
ready under suspicion.”
Gordon Ixjckwood. as always under
a sudden stress, became even more
Impassive, and his eyes glittered as
he faced the attorney.
"Don't be too absurd, 'Mr. Cray,"
he advised, coldly. “I suppose you
mean Miss Austin—I prefer to have
no veiled allusions. But the finding
of her fingerprints on a chair in this
room, and mine also, does not seem
to me to be in any way evidence of
crime.”
“No?" Cray gave him scorn for
scorn. "Perhaps then, you can ex
plain Miss Austin's presence here that
night.”
"I don’t know that she was here—
and I most certainly could not ex
plain any of her movements. But I
do deny your right to assume her
guilty from her presence.”
“Ah. you tacitly admit her presence,
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then. Indeed, cme can scarcely doubt
it, when It is shown that this little
shoe of hers. ' he took It from his
pocket, "exactly fits the prints that j
cross the field of snow between here
and the Adams house."
“To measure footprint#—after all 1
this time!” and Lockwood's lip
curled.
"The prints are exactly as they j
were made, Mr. Lockwood. The un
changing cold weather has kept them
intact. 1 tried this shoe, and the
prints are unmistakable. Moreover,
the short stride is just the measure
of the natural steps of Miss Austin.
The footprints lead from the Adams
house over here and back again The
returning prints occasionally overlap
the onee that came this way. showing
that the trip away from this house
was made latest. Miss Austin was
seen to cpnie over in this direction
well, none but a half-wit would he
blind to the inevitable conclusions!"
"None hut a half-wit would read
into this evidence what you pretend
to see.” retorted Lockwood, almost
losing his calm.
"That's my business,” Cray said,
sharply; "now, Mr. Lockwood, why
did you smooth off that chair back.
Careful, now, two witnesses saw you
do it."
“I’m not denying It"-Lockwood
smiled In a bored, superior way. "but
if I did it, I was—and am uncon
scious of tt. One often touches a piece
of furniture in passing with no
thought of doing so."
"That won't go down. Both the
butler and Miss Peyton saw you defl
nitely and deliberately rub over the
hack of that chair. Why did you
do It?”
Cray was Inexorable.
But the impassive secretary merely |
sVirugged his shoulders.
“X can’t answer you. Mr. Cray. T !
can only repeat it must have been an
unconscious act on my part, and it
has no sinister significance. I may
have l>een merely pushing the chair
out of my way. you know.”
“Look here. Mr. Lockwood, you are
a man of honor. Do you, upon oath,
declare that you did not purposely
smooth that chairhack, for the reason
that it showed some incriminating
impress?”
"I am not under oath. I have
stated that I did not know what you
I
STATEMENT OF
Nebraska Savings and
Loan Association
Thirty-eighth Year ------ E$t. 1885
At Opening of Business January 1, 1923
RESOURCES
Real Estate Loans. $2,007,600.00
Loans on Association stock. 18,221.98
Real Estate Sold on Contract. 2,368.10
Real Estate. None
Loans in Foreclosure . 1,586.97
Accrued Interest on Bonds and Warrants.... 5,666.30
Interest due from borrowers. 369.83 «
U. S. Liberty Bonds.$ 43,084.40
Municipal Bonds and Warrants 111,280.22
Cash on hand and in bank. 103,493.62— 257,858.24
$2,293,571.42
LIABILITIES
Dues paid and dividends added.$2,166,421.53
Reserve Fund. 50,000.00
Undivided Profits . 16,810.49
Incomplete Loafts . 60,339.40
$2,293,571.42
The Association's statement shows a substantial gain in asaets
and new business, a gratifying increrse in membership, and earnings
ample for the regular annual dividend of six per cent.
Steady Saving insures Protection, Progress and Family Inde
pendence. It means Home Ownership for the Borrower, a Competence,
Reasonable Profits and Safety for Installment and Investing Members.
Members solicited. One Dollar will do it.
OFFICERS
THOS. A. FRY. President
ROBERT S. WILCOX.Vice President
JOHN R. BRANDT .Secretary
C. F. BRINKMAN .Treasurer
EDGAR M. MORSMAN, Jr.Attorney
DIRECTORS
THOS. A. FRY
President Fry Shoe Co., 16th and Douglas
MAJOR R. S. WILCOX
Browning King A Co., 15th and Douglas
C. P. BRINKMAN
^'Assistant Cashier U. S. National Bank, 16th and Farnam
O. D. KIPLINGER
Clgara and Tobacco, 1308 Farnam
BARTHOLOMEW JULIEN
General Foreman Car Department, U. P. Railroad
WILLIAM G. URE
Omaha Fixtura A Supply Co., 1101 Douglas St.
THOS. F. GODFREY
IViss. Agent M. P. Railroad, First Nat'l Bank Bldg.
BYRON R. HASTINGS
Hastings A Heyden, Realtors, 1614 Harney
THOMAS J. FITZM0RR1S "
Sec.-Treat. Nab. League Savings and Loan Assns.
^ A State with
Considerable Dimension
“We dined last evening in Nebraska,” said
a prominent Japanese banker on his way to
Washington, “and we breakfast this morning
in Nebraska, yet we have traveled rapidly and
continuously all the night. This territory you
call Nebraska must have a considerable dimen
sion in at least one direction.”
So it has—east and west—also north and
south. And a considerable dimension perpen
dicularly—as one will realize who checks up
on Nebraska’s production of farm cijops.
All who come to Nebraska are impressed
with its extent, its wealth, its evidence of con
tinuous and permanent prosperity. It is a
privilege to be the leading agricultural pub
lication of such a great agricultural state as
Nebraska.
THE NEBRASKA FARMER
Tha Only Weakly Farm Paper Published in Nebraska
LINCOLN
<
as we help farmers
mere profitably im Nebraska,
111 tea eaa klip merchants
I salt mere profitably ia Nebraska.
- USE BEE WANT ADS—THEY BRING RESULTS i
at opening of business January 1,1923
RESOURCES. .
Real Estate Inwis ««•«$ 9,278,9ot>.o9
Stock Loans ....... 41,905.07
Office Building »....»«..«...«.,«.. 248,000.00
Heal Estate..«.... 20,674.44
Real Estate Sold on Contract.....- ... 40,656.21
Accrued Interest on Real Estate Loans. 60,658.65 I
Accrued Interest on Securities .,... 8,758.72
Loans In Foreclosure ... 122,994.44
State and Municipal Securities ....... 40,633.70 j
U. S. Treasury and Liberty Bonds... 297,850.00
Cash on Hand and in Banks...... 283,190.56 !
\ - I
$10,444,277.38
LIABILITIES.
Capital Stock.-.$ 9,943.651.04
Incomplete Loans. 72,451.25
Reserve Fund . 428,050.00
Undivided Profits. 125.09
$10,444,277.38
increase In Assets for Year Ending December 31, 1922-- . 41,065,613.44 ]
This Association began doing business
about 31 years ago in a small way and
now has over $10,400,000 assets.
The Association is under the direct
•supervision of the State Banking de
partment, with funds invested In first
mortgages on improved real estate
and U. S. Liberty Bonds.
The Association has set aside a Con
tingent l-ioss Fund as Undivided
Profits amounting to over 1425,000.00, I
which assures ample guarantee for
principal and dividends.
At this time we solicit accounts,
from *1.00 to *5,000.00.
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
John F. Flack, Preafdant
R. A. MeEachron, Vico Praaldant.
George C. Flack, Traaaurar,
Telephone AT lantic 4668.
E. N. Bovell, Secretary
John T. Brownlee, Aait. Secreeary
Robert Dempeter
Office 322 South 18th Street.
Dividends Payable Quarterly
accuse tne of, and I have nothing fur
ther to say on the subject."
Lockwood drew himself up and
1 Allied with folded arms against the
mantelpiece.
Cray dropped the suhjeet, hut his
snapping eyes and compressed lips
seemed to show he had not finally
dismissed It.
"At what time," he said, abruptly,
"did Dr. Waring lock liis study
door?"
“About 10 o'clock," the secretary
replied.
"And you heard nothing from the
room after that? No sound of voices?
Nobody coining in at the French win
dow?"
"No,” replied Lockwood.
“Then we are forced to the conclu
sion that whoever entered did so very
quietly, that It was with the knowl
edge and permission of Dr. Waring
himself, that the visitor was the per
son whose footprints lend straight to
the door, and whoso fingerprints are
on the chair that stood near the doc
tor's own chair. We are borne out in
this view by the fact that the same
person now possesses the money and
the ruby pin which wo know Dr.
. Waring had In his room with him,
and »e know that the person is here
in Corinth for unexplained reason*,
and is, in fact, so peculiar that she is
known as—Miss Mystery. Just why,
Mr. Lockwood, are you arguing
against these obvious inferences, and
why do you undertake to free from
suspicion one against whom every
thing la so definitely black?"
"Because," Lockwood spoke very
quietly, hut his Jaw was set In *
stubborn way,' "the lady you call
Mis* Mystery Is a young and defense
less girl, without, so far as I know,
a friend in town. It is unfair to ac
cuse her on the strength of this fan
tastic story and it is unfair to con
demn her unheard.”
"Not unheard,” said the attorney,
“hut what she says only incriminates
her more deeply.'?’
The funeral services of John War
ing were solemn and Impressive. No
reference was made to the manner of
his taking off. save to call It mysteri
mis, and the encomiums heaped upon
him by the clergy and the college
faculty were as sincere as they were
well-deserved. ___
There were two member* <*f the
greet audience who were looked at
with curioaity hy many.
One of these was Mias Mystery, the
girl who, it wan vaguely rumored,
was in some way connected with the
tragedy. _
(To Be Continued TemwiOT.)_
MR. BUSINESS MAN
Do you want a young lire
wire in your organization? |
One w-ho has studied business
law and banking, also knows
real estate from selling to
abstracting. At present with
large Colorado corporation,
but for best of reasons wants
to move family to Nebraska.
Can take responsibility, yet
not egotistical. Write Box
82, San Luis, Colorado.
BKB WANT ADS BRING RESULTS
——1
“THIRTY-ONE YEARS Of SERVICE”
The Conservative Savings and
Loan Association of Omaha
(UNDER SUPERVISION OF STATE BANKING BOARD)
Financial Statement, January 1, 1923
t
Loans on improved city real estate.$13,062,100.00
Loans on improved farms. 4,264,050.00
Lcr.ns in foreclosure. 54,091.47
Real Estate—Sales on contract.. 63,908.38
Loans on pass book security.164,944.23
Accrued interest. 37,862.69
Office building and lot. 81,000.00
N. W. corner 18th and Famam (132x132) Future
Home of Association. 240,000.00
Bonds and Warrants.$329,593.03
United States Bonds. 715,446.00
Cash oh hand and in banks. 521,173.80— 1,566,212.83
TOTAL. .$19,534,169.60
Payments and dividends added.... $18,479,217.06
Balance to be disbursed on loans.- 285,332.87
Undivided profits.$ 19,619.67
Reserve fund. 750,000.00 769,619.67
TOTAL. $19,534,169.60
We invite you to avail yourself of the service and
security of our Association for the accumulating
of your savings and the making of investments.
*
»
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS *
Paul W. Kuhn*, Preaident
Edgar A. Baird, Vice President
Jamei A. Lyons, Secretary
J, Herbert McMillan, Treasurer
Leater R. Slonecker, Attorney
William Baird, Counael
Randall K. Brown
Charlea C. George
J. A. Sunderland
E. A. Benton
Robert Demptter
Byron R. Hatting*
H. A. Thompson
C. M. Wilhelm
A. W. Bowmen
J. C. Robinson
A. P. Tukoy
John F. Flack ,
OFFICE, 1614 HARNEY STREET OMAHA, NEBRASKA
South Side Office, KRATKY BROTHERS, 4805 South 24th Street
Financial Statement of the
Omaha Loan and Building Association
December 31,1922 f
ASSETS
' Loans on First Mortgages.$22,826,313.06
Loans on Association Shares of Stock. 469,010.95
Interest Due from Members.... 9,836.33
Real Estate acquired through foreclosure. 1,275.39
Foreclosures pending.. T. 7,500.87
Furniture and Fixtures. 10,000.00
Association Building. 450,000.00
Sundry Persons and Accounts.16,259.04
Cash on hand and in banks. 676,422.85
Bonds and Warrants. 86,833.11
Liberty Bonds. 36,350.00
Total Assets >.. $24,589,801.60
LIABILITIES
Running Stock and Dividends. .$22,424,726.95
. Paid-up Stock and Dividends. 1,132,656.36
Due Sundry Persons on account incomplete loans. 437,066.26
Reserve Fund and Undivided Earnings..... 595,352.03
Total Liabilities . $24,589,801.60
Dividends earned for members during the year... .$1,049,117.56
Dividends earned for members since organization, $6,956,140.79
* i
The members of this Association own it, control it, and share in its profits.
The objects of this Association are to encourage habits of thrift among its members, to
provide a safe depository for their savings, to secure the largest earnings compatible with
safety, and to assist its members in securing their own homes.
You can become a member and share in its benefits by opening an account.
Savings accounts can be opened at any time.
This Association pays 6% compounded semi-annually.
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
W. R. ADAIR. President
G. W. LOOMIS, Chairman of the Board
J. T. HELGREN, Vice President
CHARLES E. BLACK
JOHN H. BUTLER
R. J. DINNING
SIDNEY W. SMITH
W. S. WRIGHT, Vie* President
A. A. ALLWINE, Secretary Tr*atur*r
JOSEPH BARKER
E. A. PARMLEE
M. M. ROBERTSON
C. O. TALMAGE
i
Office: Association Building, Northwest Corner Dodge and ISth Streets.
South Side Office: 4733 South 24th Street. 3. H. Kopiets, Agent.