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