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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1923)
THE MYSTERY GIRL r By CAROLYN WELHI.__(Copyright. SYXOP818. John Baring, gentleman nml ucholar, hn* jus! won the hotly contested election to the presidency of Corinth college. » venerable ,\ew England seat of learning. Before his inauguration he plans to nuirry Emily Bates, a charming and cultured widow. With bis life’s ambition achieved and a rosy future assured, there is yet an instant's hesitation before he answers in the affirmative her question. “Are you entirely happy?'* Into this quiet college town comes ‘“Miss Mystery." Through her uncanny ability to compel other* to do her bidding, she succeeds In estahlUhing herself at Corinth’s most exclusive boardinghouse, kept by Mrs. Adams and her husband. “Old bait." further than giving her name as Anita Austin, the “Mystery Girl" refuses to divulge any Information regarding her self or her business in Corinth. This Piquet the curiosity of the other hoarders. After hearing Or. Waring deliver a lecture, the “Mystery Girl" meet* Ids fiancee, who invites her to his home for tea. Upon meeting Mis* Austin the doc tor appears greatly disturbed and after dropping a cup of tea . to the Moor he awkwardly excuses himself from the room. Before he returns the “Mystery Girl" de part*. That night Or. Baring In left alone in Id* study to prepare a speech which is to he delivered the following night. In the morning Ito. the hntle.r, upon arising, discover* that the doctor's bed I* undisturbed and goes to hi* study where lie finds all of the doors and windows locked from the Inside. Be coming mispiciotis, Ito informs the house keeper. who in turn summons Gordon I nek wood. Dr. Waring’* private secretary. | The latter forces an entrance to the study and finds the doctor dead from a stab wound. Nign. Jap servant, has! mysteriously disappeared A large ruby searfpln and *500 in currency also are listed among the missing. The scurf pin nml roll of bills later are found In Miss \nstin’s room and this to- ; gether with other circumstantial evidence lead to the unmistakable belief that she either kJlled l»r. Baring or hired some I one else to commit the crime. During the : next several days she is subjected to a1 sex ere grilling l*y the police authorities, j The one person in the village who ne liexes Iter Innocent of any crime and who |M ever willing to rush to her aid is F Itordon l.ockvvood. Maurice Trask, distant relative and only heir to l>r. Baring’s fortune, arrives on the scene and takes charge of the in vestigation. \ftcr hearing the evhumce gatiieicd by the authorities, lie. too. thinks Miss \ustin guilty of the crime, but «t firs! sight of her falls in loxe with her. Me proposes to her. telling her that if she consents to marry him. lie will clear her. but that If she refuses, he will send bet lo prison. In the meantime Uoek no..'I nml "Min M>-t«T.v" .ll.rovor that thrx arc deeply In loxe with each other. Tra.lt repeat. til. threat. Ml* aslii. for a n-h1. 11 UK" to ronalder hi* proposition. Hr rollornt*. tint warm. lur that the ilrla> may prove detrimental to tier. (Continued from Ye»teriluy.) “Kibsv, you’re a fool.” j "Wo Kir. I don't admit it. Sen ; Kp,-p sir. if they’re so fra id s'ptcion i will inrn to that girl, there's reason for it. Yet. an you ean sucks, if she , didn't do it. they want her skirts en tirely cleared.” “Pretty good deduction so far. Mil : we ean'i judge rationally until we | know the facts.” The facts were told them, when, some hours later, they sat. alone with Maurice Trask in the room where John Waring breathed ms last. “I'm a plain man," Trask said, for he didn't care to pose unduly before i ail astute detective. “I’ve come into j tills estate of my cousin’s—tny second cousin, he was, and I started out with a •firm determination to lind the villain who killed him. But. there is some i ause for suspicion of the young lady I expect to marry. And here's the sit nation, if you can solve the mystery of Dr. Waring's death, and free that girl from any taint of blame, go ahead. But if your investigation leads to her—stop it. I want to marry her just the same, whether she killed anybody or not. But if she <lidn t tin it. I want to know it." “Can't you learn the truth from ®^ihe young lady herself—if she is your fiancee?” asked Stone. “oil. she says she didn't do it. of course. But there's such an over whelming mass of evidence—or, ap parent evidence against her, that it s the deepest sort of a mystery." “.Main facts first. Where was the body found?" “ill that desk chair, seated at Ilia desk. 11s ho often was evenings. Read ing in a Batin book, so you see, he wasn't looking for trouble. “Found dead in the morning? Been dead all night?1' “Yes to both those questions And locked in his room. Had to break in." "And no weapon about?" “Not a sign of any-" “Then that cuts out all suicide idea.” “It does and it doesn't. You may as well say the locked room cuts out all idea of a murder." ■ "F.ut it must lie one or the. other. And is’nt it more plausible to look for some way that the murderer could have gone away and left the room locked, than to think up a way that the suicide could have disposed of this weapon?” “Yes. that's so, but I want you to investigate both possibilities. Ion sec, if*you could prove a suicide, that would free Miss Austin at once. . “And—if things go against iter—I want you to—oh. hang it, it s hard to Jput into words—" "I'll do that.’ said Frisby. “if things go against Miss Austin, you want Mr. Stone to frame up suicide, and de clare it the truth.” “Exactly that." and Trask looked relieved at the thought all his cards were on the table. "I don't want Miss Austin suspected, but T do want to know- if she's innocent." “Any ofhor suspect**. asKPti , "Not definite ones. There's the Jap anese who absconded that same night, and of course, there's the secretary, tiordon Lockwood. I’d like to suspect £ him. all right, and he has a round sil ver penholder that just fits the wound that killed Waring. But it doesn't look like he did it; he never would have left the penholder in evidence, and he would have arranged matters to look more like a suicide. Then, too. how could he lock the door behind him?” I "That question must he answered first of all,” said Stone. "I'll examine tlie room, of course, but after the local police and detectives have done that, 1 doubt if I find anything enlightening. So far as I can see. this whole affair is unique, and I think we will find some surprising evidence and soon. Tell me more of this Miss Austin. Who is she?” , "Nobody knows. In fact, they call her Miss Mystery, because so little is known of her. She appeared here in Corinth from nowhere. She knew no one, and as she began to make ac quaintances somebody brought her over here. She met Dr. Waring, and inside of twenty-four hours had so be witched him that it would seem he had her visiting him in his study late at night. She said at first, she wusn t help, and as she left the impress of her dress trimmings on that chair back, and as she has a ruby pin and a lot of money that were in the Doc tor's possession, it looks, one might say. a bit queer.” "Weren’t the valuable planted on her?” put in Flbsy. "That’s what she says—or rather. that'$. one of the things she said. The girl contradicts herself continually She says one thing one day and an other the next." ’ Is she pretty?” This from Fibsy. "Pretty as the devil! And that's not so bad as a description. She has great big dark eyes, with straight black brows that almost meet. "She has a jauunty little face, that can be rougish or scornful or merry or pathetic as the little rascal chooses. She has completely bowled me over, , and I’ be glad to have her on any terms and whatever her past history. But. there It la. If ehe has a clean slate in this murder business I want to know it." "And if she hasn't?" “Then I don't want anybody else to know it. If you find, Mr. Stone, real evidence that ^nita Austin killed John Waring, or if she confesses to the deed, then you whip around and prove a suicide, and I'll double your charge. You needn't do anything wrong, you know'. Just sum up that all Indica tions point to a suicide, and let it go at that. Nobody will arrest Mtss Austin if you say that." “You must be crazy, Mr. Trask,” returned atone, coldly. “I don’t con duct my business on any such prin ciples as those. I can't perjure my self to save your lady love from a just condemnation.” "You haven’t seen her yet.” Trask nodded his sagacious head. “Wait till you do.” “Give me all the points against her.” the detective suggested. “I will. I'd rather you knew them from me. Not that I'll color them— they’re facts that speak for them selves. but other people might exng gerate them. Well, to begin with, this girl, a day or so after she ar rived here was seen kissing the pic ture of Dr. Waring which she had cut from a newspaper. T tell you this, ’cause you'll hear it anyway, and the gossips think It-shows a previous ac quaintance between the two. But I hol'd that as girls have matinee idols and movie heroes, • this girl ndght easily have adored the scholarly man, I though she had never seen him.” “It is possible,” Stone agreed, "but not very probable. She denies they were acquainted?” "Yes. Vows she never saw him until one night she went to his lee j ture, soon after her arrival here.” "What is she in Corinth for?" "To sketch—she's an artist." "Ho on. "Well, as T said, slie must have come here that Sunday night, for one of the hoarders at the house she lives in saw her cross the snowy field. Also, the footprints just lifted her shoes. Also, tho tracks led right up on the side porch here to that long French window. And led right hack again to the Adams house.” “Whew!” Fibsy exploded, “aren't you rubbing it in?" “Well, that's what they tell me—” j Trask asserted, doggedly, "and I want you to know it all, Mr. Stone, before the other people tell you a garbled version.” “Ho on.” "Then, they say, llie girl left marks | of her dress trimming on that chair, j and Lockwood, the secretary, rubbed them off next morning, as soon as the body was discovered. Wo have the word of two witnesses for this epi sode." "Who are the witnesses?” ‘‘Jto. the Japanese butler, and Miss Peyton, who lives in this house." "Oo on.” “Well. then, ever since the tragedy, Miss Austin has acted queer. Queer in all sorts of ways. She is sad and desolate one minute, and saucy and Independent the next. I can't make her out at all. And she is more than half in love with this Lockwood. I have to cut him out, you see. And I figure, if you prove the case against Miss Austin, and if 1 agree to marry her and hush up the whole matter, and make it seem suicide-” "Vou figure that she’ll throw over tlnv secretary for you,” cried Fibsy, his eyes aghast at the man's plan. "Exactly that. You see, Mr. Stone, 1 don’t try to deceive you. While 1 have a natural sorrow at my cousin’s death, yet remember that 1 never knew him in life, and that, while I want to avenge his death in any case hut one, I do not want to if it Impli cates Anita Austin." "I understand.” said Stone, seem ingly not so shocked at the conver sation as his assistant was. "There's another queer thing,” said Trask. "They tell me that when the body was found there was the impress of a ring on the forehead." “A seal ring?" "Oh, no. Not a finger ring, but g circle, about two inches across, a red mark, as if it had been made as a sign or symbol of some sort." “It remained on the flesh?" "L'ntil the embalming process took place. That removed it. I didn't see it, but I'm told it was a clearly de fined circle, quite evidently impressed with some intent." “Sounds like a sign of a secret so ciety," Flbsy suggested, but Stone paid no heed. “'Let's reconstruct the case,” he said: “Waring sat at his desk, his secretary outside in that hall?” “Yes; the Japanese, the other one, the one that disappeared, brought in water, and then Dr. Waring closed the door and locked it." “Immediately?" “I don't know that, but anyway, no one that we know of saw him again alive. Nogi is under no suspicion, for after he came out of the room, the doctor rose a^d locked the door. Igx-k wood t-an't be suspected. 11s he hoard the door locked, and couldn't get in. He is more or loss suspected because of his penholder, hut much as I should like to think him the criminal, 1 know he Isn't. “You're very honest. Mr. Trask.” “Yes, because I want the truth. Can you get it?" “I think so.” "You still eliminate suicide?" “I can't see how I can think it. with no weapon. You say that death was instantaneous-?” “Yes: the doctors agree that it was. Positively he had no chance to hide or dispose of the instrument of death." "Ami why should lie? Suicides never make their death seem a mur der. though often ft murderer tries to simulate a suicide." "Vet that wasn't done in this case, or tlie murderer would have left the weapon.” "That mav lie the very point be neglected. Now. bow did the mur derer get out'.' (let busy. Fibs." For nearly half an hour, the three men searched the room. Had there been any secret exit, or any concealed passage, it must have been found. Fleming Stone's knowledge of archi tecture would not let him overlook anything of the sort, and Fibsy's alert eves and quick wits would have found anvthing out of the ordinary. "No way out," Stone concluded, finally: "and no way of locking a door or a window after departure from the room. I.ooks as if (lie murder theory was as untenable as the other. No chance of a natural death?!' "With a round hole in his jugular vein? No, sir. The doctors here won't stand for that. Try again.” "1 shall. I don't know when I’ve had such a battling. Intriguing case as this appears to ho at first sight. It may resolve itself into a simple prob lem. hut I*can't think so now. Even if it were the work of your Miss Aus tin—how did she get In or out?” “Oh. she got in. all right. Waring Ft tier in. al the French window. Probably that’s when he locked his door. Rut—say she killed him—how did she get out and lock the room*be hind her?" "She couldn't. The window locks are holts, and could not be shot from outside. For the moment I see no explanation. It is blank, utter mys tery. • When can I see Miss Austin?” * "Too late tonight, tomorrow morn ing will have to do. But she won’t run away. The police won’t let her.” "Yet, they can't hold her.” "They are doing so. They claim she was the last one to see the victim alive-” "Does she admit that?" "Not she! She admits nothing. You’ll get nothing out of that little Sphinx!” “All right, then, Mr. Trask, if you’ve finished your tale, suppose you leave me here to ruminate over this thing, and I'll go up to my room when I wish.” (To Be Continued Tomorrow.) Wheat Production of World Placed Above Last Year Estimate Gives Entire Crop as 3,049,372,000 Bushels— Bumper Yield hi Unit ed States. _ Washington. Jan. 8.—World wheat ) production for the present Season is placed at 3.409,372.000 bushels, com pared with 3.040.918.000 for last sea son, by the Department of Agricul ture in its revised estimates just is sued. The northern hemisphere 1922 crops, grown in 36 countries, totals 2.721.667.000 bushels, compared with 2.719.306.000 in the 1921 crop, and the southern hemisphere 1922-23 crop, pro duced in three countries, totals 327, 706.000 bushels, compared with 321, 612.000 in the 1921-22 crop. Canada, the United States and Mex- ! ico all had larger crops than the pre- | vious years. Four countries in North- | ern Africa showed a reduction of 31,- I 000,000 bushels, w hlle Asiatic coun- I tries had an increase of 120,000,000 bushels. The new crops in the southern hem isphere are about 6.000,000 bushels larger than the previous year. Ar gentina, with the largest crop ever grown there, has about 35,000.000 bushels more than a year- ago. Aus tralia about 28.000.000 bushels less and the Union of South Africa about 1,300,000,000 bushels less. Germany's wheat production, ac cording to the final estimate, is 71. 907.000 bushels, compared with 107,, 798.000 the previous year and 148,556, 000 produced in the same territory in 1913. Milk Driver Hurl. F.# C. Farrell. -715 North Twenty fifth street, escaped with a sprained ankle and minor leg injuries yester day when a street car struck his Xioberts dairy wagon, throwing him out and toppling the wagon over on top of him. • Qrapefruit and the ! Medical Authorities The doctors say that a very 1 valuable specific in rheu i matic conditions is found in the abundant, wholesome juice of f Ip ■■ p W, ■ | j N n| IJ IB ■ m To enjoy the luxury of it, buy it by the box— it will keep for weeks, but be sure to look for the Atwood wrapper. Wholesale Distributors Trimble Brothers The Standard of Comparison For Cold Weather Motoring Confidence The Buick Seven Passenger Touring—*1435 The Famous Buick Clutch A finger’s pressure disen gages the Buick clutch, yet the clutch is always positive in its action. The clutch in all models has s drop forged hub with a ground bearing surface. The Buick Line for 1923 Comprises Fourteen Models: On winter roads, the aoundant power and smooth riding of the Buick seven passenger touring car gives a new confidence to cold weather motoring. Close fitting storm curtains, provided with the special Buick weather strip to seal the joints, and that open with the doors, afford a snug comfort against storm and cold. The long wheel base and the semi-elliptic springs with a new suspension, insure .easy riding, made luxuriously comfortable by the wide deeply uphol stered seats. Every convenience for effortless driv ing is at the driver’s hand. Standard appointments include such refinements as sun visor, windshield wiper and rear vision mirror. The seven passenger touring car maintains, in every particular, the traditional Buick excellence. Aak ebrmt the G. Mi. A. C. Purchase Pten. which providea for Deferred Pepmeets Fours 23-34, - - $865 33-35, - • • $885 33-36. - • $1175 33-37, - - $1395 33-38, - - $1325 Sixes M-44, - - $1175 23-45, - - 1195 23-4 L, - - 1935 23-47. • • $1985 23-48, - - 1895 23-49, • - 1435 23-50, - - $2195 23-54, - - 1625 23-55. - - 1675 D-J4-21-NP Nebraska Buick Auto Company Lincoln - Omaha - Sioux City H. E. Sidles, Pres. Lee Huff, Vice Pres. Chas. Stuart, Sec.-Treas. When better automobiles are bnilt, Buick will build them Burgess-Nash Company "everybody’s store” Art Embroidery Needlework in January Sales All new stock at prices ridiculously low. Dreiser Scarfs—20 styles, stamped, at .45* Vanity Three-Piece Sets—-12 styles, stamped — -25* Five-Piece Luncheon Sets— Stamped, at .65* Centerpieces—36-inch size, 20 styles, stamped. .45* Five-Piece Luncheon Sets— Stamped, at .45* Aprons in Assorted Colors— Stamped, at .25* Children’s Stamped Hats— 2 to 6 years, at... . 45* ! Children’s Stamped Aprons 2 to 6 years. . ...45* 1 Infant** Stamped Dre»»e»— 2 to 4 years... .95* Black Sateen Scarf*— Stamped.$1.25 Black Sateen Pillow*— Stamped . $1.25 Colored Pillow*—In 12 styles, stamped ....45* Stamped Bed Spreads— At . $2.95 Stamped Bed Spread*— At ............ $3.45 Children’s Crib Spread*— Stamped . 75* Children’s Crib Pillow*— Stamped . 25* Children’* Nur»erjr Scarfs— Stamped . 25* Children’* Stamped Romp ers—2 to 6 years.. 95* Children’s Stamped Dresses —2 to 6 years.95* Bur(e»*-Na*h—Second Floor Second Day ot Our Great Mid-Win ter Remnant Sale I/3 to V2 Less Than Regular Prices At 69c Striped shirtings, fig ured kimono and lining silks, plain silk poplins and light colored striped taffetas. At 95c Printed georgette crepe, plain and striped satins', striped taffetas, black and white moire, plain colored crepe de chine, black satin messnline, colored taffeta, radium pongee. At $1.25 Checked taffeta, black peau dc soie, black satin, colored crepe de chine, taffeta, ki mono silk, navy satin, black poplin, plain colored georgette crepe. Three Other Groups at Special Prices $1.45 - $1.95 - $2.45 Wool Goods—95c, $1.45, $1.95 This lot includes French serge, storm serge, Poiret twill, tricdtine, stiiped and plaicl skirtings, broadcloth, velour, plain and novelty coatings. Burgeti'Nash Silk Shop—Second Floor Semi-Annual Clearance of ■ Entire Stock of Shoes FoLMdChuJZen V4 to l/2 Off Regular Prices Entire Stock of Women's Shoes $2.95 to $9.85 Formerly $7.00, $9.00, $12.00, $16.00 to $19.00. Our entire stock of fine Quality shoes for street and dress \\ear, also all re* maining mules, Pullman slippers, comfort slippers, gym oxfords, tennis shoes, party slippers included at these amazing reductions. , All of Our Men’s Shoes in Four Lots. Our Entire Stock of Children’* Shoes at 20% Discount. Burgees-Na»h Shoe Shop—Main Floor A Semi-Annual Opportunity of Interest to Omaha Women Discontinued Model Corsets Will Be Placed on Sale Monday at Just 1/2 Former Price Franco Corsets . . . .$2.50 to $15.00 Gossard Corsets . . . $1.76 to $15.00 R. Sc G. Corsets. . . .$2.00 to $ 5.00 H. and W. Corsets. $1.00 to $ 3.00 Treco Corsets .$2.00 to $ 6.50 Lily of France Cora., $3.50 to $12.50 Mme. Minner Coraeta, $3.75 to $15.00 Mme. Irene Coraeta.. $1.50 to $10.00 Bien Jolie Coraeta. . .$2.50 to $15.00 Francette Coraeta ... $2.00 to $12.50 A complete range of sizes, but not a complete range in each model. Burgess-Nash Corset Shop—Second Floor I argaMs in the DowTOtiiiro Store The Entire Stock of Cloth Coats $12.50 - $17.50 - $22.50 Every coat included, regardless of its former pricing. Tailored and dress wraps, many oT them lavishly fur-trimmed, embroidered and braided. All sizes for women and misses. Plush Coats Made of Saltz, Peco, and Lapenex lined and trimmed with fashion-plushes, fully lined and trimmed with fashionable furs. Sizes 16 to 51. Ms Price Burgess-Nash Downstairs Store Important Millinery \ Feature Fashionable Feathered Hats Attractive Styles for Young and Older Women Fashioned of Lustrous Visca Cloth and Soft Feathers A wonderful assortment of bril liant colors and subdued shades in : delightfully different styles. Be Z cause the price is so low, do not t underestimate the splendid quality, of these hats, for the values are' amazing. Burgess*Nath—Dow nstairs Store White Goods Sale Specials 36-Inch White Dimity in chocked and striped patterns, the qual ity most used for lin- Oyf gerie. Special, yard. . « Hevay Quality Long Cloth of close weave and soft finish. Specially priced at •% 1 36-inch width—yard Fine Pajama .Cloth, in 36-inc.h width, white and pink in vari ous sized checks. Most ex ceptional at, 1 /» 1 „ yard. lOgfC 16-Inch. Bleached Crash Toweling —woven with plain center and striped border, an absorbent quality. Yard. 40 - Inch White Lawns, with satin finish, in 2 to 5-yard lengths. Is very spe- 1 Q eial at this price. Yd. X2/C 36-Inch Fine Nainsook, a quality that gives excellent service and satisfaction for II gl underwer. At, yd.. 1W2C Whit* Mercerized Poplin of 36 inclj width, in 2 to 10-yard lengths. Specially OP priced, yard.... ..“3C Mercerized Table Damask of 72 width with satin finish. A va riety of patterns, at, 7Q_ yard . »a/C Unbleached Sheeting of heavy weight. Regular w idth for 44 - size bed or full oo 63-in. width .OOC 36-Inch Bleached Muslin, “Lans dale,” “Happy Days,” “Good as Gold,” Fairy- 1 land qualities, yd.. AOzC 36-Inch Unbleached Muslin of well-known brands. Specially priced (Wring Janu- < O 1 uary sale, yard.... 36-Inch Marquisette and Scrim, in ivory and ecru. Excellent quality; priced spe- < O 1 cially at, yard.awJC 42x36-lnch Pillow Cases of fine quality muslin, made with 3 inch hem. Special Qyj ^ at, each. Burgess-Nsth—Downstairs Stars