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About The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911 | View Entire Issue (July 8, 1908)
"-" V f " " - 11 A mMOTniEiD aruuw'V'MftvjuvvxjjvJ SYNOPSIS. Giles Dudley arrived In San Francisco to join liis friend and distant relative Henry Wilton, whom lie va.s to assist in an important and mysterious task. ;tnd who accompanied Dudley on the ferry boat trip into the city. The re markable resemblance of the two men Is noted and. commented on by pasaen Kers on the frry. They see a man with snako eyes, which sends a thrill through Dudley. Wilton postpones an explanation f the strange errand Dudley is to per form, but occurrences cause him to know It is one of no ordinary meaninp. Wilton leaves Giles in their room, with instruction to await his return and shoot any one who tries to enter. Outside there is heard shouts and curses and the noise of a rjuurrel. Henry rushes in and at Ills request the roommates quickly cx 'liansc clothes, and he hurries out ajjain. Hardly has he tjone than Giles is startled by a cry or "Help." and he runs ut to find some one being assaulted by a half dozen men. He summons a police man but they are unable to tind any trace of a crime. Giles returns to his room and hunts for some evidence that might explain his strange mission. He finds a map which he endeavors to de cipher. Dudley Is 'summoned to the morgue and tln-re finds the dead body of Ins friend. Henry Wilton. And thus Wilt on dies without ever explaining to Dud i"v 'be r "77linc work lie was to perform In Ban Francisco. In order to discover the secret mission his friend had entrust ed to him, Dudley continues his disguise and permits himself to be known as Heniy Wilton. Dudley, mistaken for Wilton, is juplox -i by Kunpp to assist in a stock brokerage deal. "Dicky" takes the supjc.sol Wilton to Mother Borton's. ilollur Ilnrtoi discovers that lie is not Wilton. The lights are turned out and a Tree for all fight follows. Giles Dudley finds himself tlofeted in a room with Mother liorlon who makos a onftditrit of him. He can learn nothing about the mysterious boy further than that it is Tim Terriil and Darby Meeker who are after him. He is told that "Dicky" Xahl Is a traitor, playing both hands in the game. Giles finds himself locked in a room. He es apes through a window. The supposed Wilton carries out his dead friend's work with Doddridge Knapp. He has his first experience as a capitalist in the Hoard Itoom of the Stock Kxchange. Dudley receives a fictitious note purport ing to be from Knapp, the forgery of which he readily detects. Dudley gets his llr.st Knowledge of Decker, who is Knapp's enemy on the Board. CHAPTER XI. Continued. The call closed amid animation; but 1 he excitement was nothing com pared to the scene that had followed the fall in the morning. Omega stood ut eighty asked, and seventy-eight bid, and the shin of the stock gamblers was again sailing on an even keel. The session was over at last, and Wallbridge and Eppner handed me their memoranda of purchases. "You couldn't pick Omega off the bushes this afternoon, Mr. Wilton," aid Wallbridge, wiping his bald head vigorously. "There's fools at all times, and some of 'em were here and ready lo drop what they had; but not many. J gathered in six hundred for you, but I had to ftht for it." I thanked the merry broker, and gave him a check for his balance. Eppner had done better with a wider margin, but all told I bad added but three thousand one hundred shares to my list. I wondered how much of this had been sold to me by jny employer. Plainly, if Doddridge Knapp was needing Omega stock he would have to pay for 1L There was no one to be seen as I reached Room 15. The connecting door was closed and locked, and no sound came from behind it. I turned to ar range the books, to keep from a bad habit of thinking over the inexplicable. An hour passed and no Doddridge Knapp. H was long past office hours. Just as I was considering whether my duty to my employer constrained me wait longer, I caught sight of an en velope that had been slipped under the door. It was in cipher, but it yielded to the key with which Dodd ridge Knapp had provided me. I made it out to be this: "Come to my house to-night. Bring your contracts with you. Knapp." 1 was thrown into some perplexity by this order. For a little I suspected a trap, but on second thought this seemed unlikely. The office furnished as convienient a place for homicidal diversions as he could wish, if these were in his intention, and possibly a visit to Doddridge Knapp in his own house would give me a better clue to his habits and purposes, and a better chance of bringing home to him his awful crime, than a month together on the Street. The clocks were pointing past eight when 1 mounted the steps that led to Doddridge Knapp's door. I had some thing of trepidation, after all, as I rang tho bell, for I was far from being sure that Doddridge Knapp was above car rying out his desperate purposes in his own house, and 1 wondered wheth er I should ever come out again, once 1 was behind those massive door. I had taken the precaution to find a smaller revolver, "suitable for an ev ening call," as 1 assured myself, but it did not look to be much of a protec tion in case the house held a dozen ruffians of the Terriil brand. "How ever, I must risk it. I gave my name to the servant who opened the door. "This way." he said quietly, and In a moment I was ushered into a small, plainly-furnished room; and at a desk covered with papers sat Doddridge Knapp, the picture of the Wolf in his den. "Sit down, Wilton," said he with grim affability, giving his hand. "You won't mind if an old man doesn't get up." I made some conventional reply. "Sorry to disappoint you this after noon, and take up your evening," he said, "but 1 found some business that needed more immediate attention. There was a little matter that had to be looked after in person." And the Wolf's fangs showed in a cruel smile, which assured me that the "little mat ter" had terminated unhappily for the other man. I airily professed myself happy to be at his service at any time. "Yes, yes," he said; "but let's see your memoranda. Did you do well this afternoon?" "Xo-o," I returned apologetically. "Not so well as I wished." He took the papers and looked over them carefully. "Thirty-one hundred," he said re?- flectively. "Those sales were all right Well, I was afraid you couldn't get above three thousand. I didn't get more than two thousand in the other Boards.and on the Street." "That was the best I could do," I said modestly. "They averaged at sixty-five. Omega got away from us this afternoon like a runaway horse." "Yes. yes," said the King of the Street, studying his papers with drawn brows. "That's all right. I'll have to wait a bit before going further." I bowed as became one who had no idea of the plans ahead. "And now," said Doddridge Knapp, turning on me a keen and lowering gaze, "I'd like to know what call you have to be spying on me?" I opened my eyes wide in wonder. "Spying? I don't understand." "Xo?" said he, with something be tween a growl and a snarl. "Well, maybe you don't understand that, eith er!" And he tossed me a bit of paper. I felt sure that I did not. My ignorance grew into amazement as I read. The slip bore the words: "I have bought Crown Diamond. What's the limit? Wilton." "I certainly don't understand," I said. "What does it mean?" "The man who wrote it ought to know," growled Doddridge Knapp, St MT IT i &&7-m '- T55T V" & jM with his eyes flashing and the yellow gray mustache standing out like bris tles. The fangs of the Wolf were in sight. "Well, you'll have to look some where else for him," I said firmly. "I never saw the note, and never bought a share of Crown Diamond." Doddridge Knapp bent forward and looked for an instant as though he would leap upon me. His eye was the eye of a wild beast in anger. If I had written that note I should have gone through the window without stopping for explanations. As I had not written it I sat there coolly and looked him in the face with an easy conscience. "Well, well." he said at last, relax ing his gaze, "I almost believe you." "There's- no use going any further, Mr. Knapp, unless you believe me al together." "I see you understand what I was going to say," he said quietly. "But if yoit didn't send that, who did?" "Well, if I were to make a guess, I should say it was the man who wrote this." I tossed him in turn the note I had received in the afternoon, bidding me sell everything. The King of the Street looked at it carefully, and his brows drew lower and lower as its import dawned on him. The look of angry perplexity deepened on his face. "Where did you get this?" I detailed the circumstances. The anger that flashed in his eyes was more eloquent than the outbreak of curses I expected to hear. "Um!" he said at last with a grim smile. "It's lucky, after all, that you had something besides cotton in that skull of yours, Wilton." "A fool might have been caught by it." I said modestly. "There looks to be trouble ahead," he said. "There's a rascally gang in the market these days." And the King of the Street sighed over the dis honesty that had corrupted the stock gamblers' trade. I smiled inwardly, but signified my agreement with my employer. "Well, who wrote them?" he askea almost fiercely. "They seem to come from the same hand." "Maybe you'd better ask that fellow who had his eye at your keyhole when I left the office this noon." "Who was that?" The Wolf gave a startled look. "Why didn't you tell me?" "He was a well-made, quick, lithe fellow, with an eye that reminded me swr of a snake. I gave chase to him, but couldn't overhaul him. He squirmed away in the crowd, I guess." "Why didn't you tell me?" he said in a steady voice. "I didn't suppose it was worth coming back for, after I got into the street. And, besides, you were busy." "Yes, yes, you were right: you are not to come of course, of course." The King of the' Street looked at me curiously, and then said smoothly: "But this isn't business." And he plunged into the papers once more. "There were over nine thousand shares sold this afternoon, and I got only five thousand of them." "I suppose Decker picked the others up," I said. The King of the Street did me the honor to look at me in amazement. "Decker!" he roared. "How did you " Then he paused and his voice dropped to its ordinary tone- "I reck on you're right What gave you the idea?" I frankly detailed my conversation with Wallbridge. As I went on, I fancied that the bushy brows drew down and a little anxiety showed be neath them. I had hardly finished my account when there was a knock at the door, and the servant appeared. "Mrs. Knapp's compliments, and she would like to see Mr. Wilton when you are done," he said. I could with difficulty repress an ex clamation, and my heart climbed into my throat I was ready to face the Wolf in his den, but here was a differ ent matter. I recalled that Mrs. Knapp was a more intimate acquaintance of Henry Wilton's than Doddridge Knapp had been, and I saw Niagara ahead of my skiff. "Yes, yes; quite likely," said my em ployer, referring to my story of Wall bridge. "I heard something of the kind from my men. I'll know to-morrow for certain, I expect. I forgot to tell you that the ladies would want to irVa?J--3sf s--1- 9i JteS3 see you. They have missed you late ly." And the Wolf motioned me to the door where the servant waited. Here was a predicament. I was missed and wanted and by the ladies. My heart dropped back from my throat, and I felt it throbbing in the lowest recesses of my boot-heels as 1 rose and followed my guide. CHAPTER XII. Luella Knapp. Two women rose to greet me as I entered the room. "Good evening," said the elder wom an, holding out her hand. "You have neglected us for a long time." There was something of reproach as well as civility in the voice. "Yes," I replied, adjusting my man er nicely to her, "I have been very busy." "Busy? How provoking of you to say so! You should never be too busy to take the commands of the ladies." "That is why I am here," I inter rupted with my best bow. But she continued without noting it: Romance of M. Jean Note, the famous barytone of the Paris opera house, and who has sung more often on the stage of the Paris opera than any other living singer, left Paris the other day to be present at the fetes which were held recently, in his native town of Tour nay, in Belgium, in honor of the great artist's jubilee. M. Jean Note's career has been a singularly romantic one. He was born at Tournay, and began life there as a weaver in a cloth factory. He was noted for his fine voice among his fel low workmen. He left the factor to become a railway porter at the Tour nay station, and soon became a signal man. At the age of 21 he became a con script in tha Belgian army, and it was while undergoing his military service that his officers took an interest in him, and subscribed a purse to send him to the Conservatoire of Music at Ghent Here he worked hard, and succeed ed in obtaining the first prize for singing. He made his debut in "Lucie de Lammermoor," at the Lille thea ter in 1SS5. He was then engaged for -JP "Luella wagered with me that you would 'make that excuse. I expected something more original." "I am very sorry," I said, with a reflection of the bantering air she had , assumed. "Oh, indeed!" exclaimed the young er woman, to whom my eyes had turned as Mrs. Knapp spoke her name. "How very unkind of you to say bo, when I have just won a pair of gloves by it. Good evening to you!" And she held out her hand. It was with a strong effort that I kept my self-possession, as for the first time I clasped the hand of Luella Knapp. Was it the thrill of her touch, the glance of her eye, or the magnetism of her presence, that set my pulses beating to a new measure, and gave my spirit a breath from a new world? What ever the case, as I looked into the clear-cut face and the frank gray eyes of the woman before me, I was swept by a flood of emotion that was near overpowering my self-control. I mastered the emotion in a mo ment and took the seat to which she had waved me. I was puzzled a little at the tone in which she addressed me. There was a suggestion of resentment in her man ner that grew on me as we talked. Can I describe her? Of what use to try? She was not beautiful, and "pret ty" was too petty a word to apply to Luella Knapp. "Fine looking." if said with the proper emphasis, might give some idea of appearance, for she was tall in figure, with features that were impressive in their attractiveness. Through all the conversation the idea that Miss Knapp was regarding mo with a hidden disapproval was growing on me. I decided that Henry had made some uncommon blunder on his last visit and that I was suf fering the penalty for it. The admira tion I felt for the young woman deep ened with every sentence she spoke, and I was ready to do anything to re store the good opinion that Henry might have endangered, and in lieu of apology exerted myself to the ut most to be agreeable. I was unconscious of the flight of time until Mrs. Knapp turned from some other guests and walked toward us. "Come, Henry," she said pointedly, "Luella is not to monopolize you all the time. Besides, there's Mr. Inman dying to speak to her." I promptly hated Mr. Inman with all my heart and felt not the slightest objection to his demise; but at her gesture of command I rose and accom panied Mrs. Knapp, as a young man with eye-glasses and a smirk came to take my place. I left Luella Knapp, congratulating myself over my clever ness in escaping the pitfalls that lined my way. "Now I've a chance to speak to you at last," said Mrs. Knapp. "At your service," I bowed. "I owe you something." "Indeed?" Mrs. Knapp raised her eyebrows in surprise. "For your kind recommendation to Mr. Knapp." "My recommendation? You have a little the advantage of me." I was stricken With painful doubts, and the cold sweat started upon me. Perhaps this was not Mrs. Knapp after all. "Oh, perhaps you didn't mean It," I said. "Indeed I did. if it recom mendation. I'm afraid uncon scious, though. Mr. Kn. s not consult me about his busic I was in doubt no longd. It was the injured pride of the wife that spoke in the tone. "I'm none the less obliged," I said carelessly. "He assured me that he acted on your words." "What on earth are you doing for Mr. Knapp?" she asked earnestly, dropping her half-bantering tone There was a trace of apprehenson In her eyes. "I'm afraid Mr. Knapp wouldn't think your recommendations were quite justified if 1 should tell you. Just get him in a corner and ask him." "I suppose it is that dreadful stock market." "Oh, madam, let me say the chicken market. There is a wonderful oppor tunity just now for corner in fowls." "There are a good many to be plucked in the market that Mr. Knapp will look after." she said with a smile. But there was something of a worried look behind it. "Oh, you know, Henry, that I can't bear the market 1 have seen too much of the misery that has come from it." She shuddered as she looked about her. as though in fancy she saw her self turned from the palace into the I street. "Mr. Knapp is not a man to lose," I said. "Mr. Knapp Is a strong man," she said with a proud straigtening of her figure. "But the whirlpool can suck down the strongest swimmer." (TO BE CONTINUED.) Great Singer. two years at the Antwerp theater, and for three years at Lyons, after which he went straight to the Paris opera, which he has never left since. While an opera singer in Paris M. Note greatly distinguished himself by an act of daring and cool'headedness which saved an express train from total wreck. On September 27, 1897, M. Note was standing on the platform of the Paris suburban station of Colombes, when it was seen to the horror of the numerous passengers waiting in the station that a train of IS vans loaded with dynamite had shunted out on the main line on which the Cherbourg Express was due at that moment The stationmaster and porters lost their heads. Note, recollecting that he had been a signalman, lost not a moment He ran to the levers, pulled them back, and sent the dynamite wagons on to a siding just as the ex press came hustling past For this, M. Note received high distinction from the French government Lon- don Mail. Save the Babies. IHFAOT MOETAUTT is something ftightfiiL We can hardly realize that of all the children born in civilized countries, twentytwo per cent, or nearly one-quarter, die before they reach one year; thirty-seven per cent, or more than one-third, before they are five, and one-half before they are fifteen! We do not hesitate to say that a timely use of Castoria would save a ma- j jority of these precious lives. Neither do we hesitate to say that many of these infantile deaths are occasioned by the use of narcotic preparations. Drops, tinctures and soothing syrups sold for children's complaints contain more or less opium, or morphine. They are, in considerable quantities, deadly poisons. In any quantity they stupefy, retard circulation and lead to congestions, sickness, death. Castoria operates exactly the reverse, but you. must see that it bears the signature of Chas. H. Fletcher. Castoria causesthe blood .to circulate properly, opens the pores of the skin and allays fever. ALCOHOL 3 PER ncKi Ageftqwiwnfir tuigUtcSiotiddBandBowJsof RorootesDitionlTwflU ncssandResr.ContainsnHttff Opium-Morphine mrMtoeraL MOT NARCOTIC. JiVSJUfw tfflrtWJ S Aperfect Remedy for Cmift non , aour 3wnaai.uiann Worms jCoroiikHmsIevm ncssandLossorSLEEP. FKSinfeSi$iaeaf NEWYOHK. Guaranteed under 1 Exact Copy of Wrapper. JUMPING AT A CONCLUSION. Marriage Did Not Follow the Nineteen Year's Courtship. In the amiable way of villagers, they were discussing the matrimonial af fairs of a couple who, though recently wed, had begun to find the yoke of Hymen a burden. " 'Tis all along o' these hasty mar riages," opined one caustic old gentle man, who had been much to the fore in the discussion. "They did not un derstand each other; they'd nobbut knowed each other for a matter o seven year." "Well, that seems long enough," said an interested lady listener. "Long eno'! Bah, ye' re wrong! When a body's coortin' he canna be too careful. Why, my coortship lasted a matter o 19 year!" "You certainly were careful," agreed the lady listener. 'And did you find your plan successful when you mar ried?" "Ye jump to conclusions!" said the old man, impatiently. "I understood her then, so I didna' marry her!" Tit-Bits. VERY GOOD REASON. Father I told you not to go with that boy. Bobby I had to, father, 'cause he had hold of my hair! Case of Shocking Neglect. Friend What has become of Celes tlne, your maid? Mrs. Snoblotts I had to discharge her. She had no consideration for Fido. Friend Why, I always thought she took the most tender care of the pet. Mrs. Snoblotts So did I till I found she was using her own comb on him without first sterlizing it. Smokers have to call for Lewis' Single Binder cigar to get it. Your dealer or Lewis' Factor-, Peoria, 111. Being bitten by a toothless must be a soft snap. dog Sirs. Window's Soothing Sjrrap. For children teetblnjr, softens the suras, reduces h fiamnibllon, allays pain, cures wind colic 2JC a bottle. We live and learn until we are 40, then we live and unlearn. IZS-Gt-ri?! Letters from Prominent Physicians addressed to Chas. H. Fletcher. Up. A. P. Peeler, of St Louis, Mo., says: ul have prescribed your Castoria In many cases and have always found it an efficient and speedy remedy. Dr. E. Down, of Philadelphia, Pa, says: "I have prescribed your Cas toria la my practice for many years with great satisfaction to myself and (benefit to my patients." Dr. Edward Parrish, of Brooklyn, N. Y., says: "I hare used your Cas toria In my own household with good results, and have advised several patients to use it for its mild laxative effect and freedom from harm." Dr. J. B. Elliott, of New York City, says: "Having during tho past six years prescribed 'your Castoria for infantile stomach disorders, I most heartily commend Its use. The formula contains nothing deleterious to the most delicate of children." Dr. C. G. Spracue, of Omaha, Neb., says: "Your Castoria Is an ideal medicine for children, and I frequently prescribe it While I do not advo cate the indiscriminate use of proprietary medicines, yet Castoria is an. exception for conditions which arise in the care of children." Dr. J. A. 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MORRIS, irJb.M9lO.MS WatUn:on. C. O. W. N. U., OMAHA, NO. 28, 1908. ' ,- X