Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / Jan. 20, 1928, edition 1 / Page 3
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XJFYi . ..IT CHARLES SCRIBNERS SONS - RELEASED THRU PUBLISHERS AUTOCASTER. SERVICE INTRODUCTION Archibald Bennett, wealthy bachelor, travels con stantly in the interest of his health. He meets Isa bel Perry, who recommends a life of crime, adven ture, romance and excitement as a cure for his nerves. Archie goes to Bailey Harbor to investigate a summer house for his sister. A heavy storm for ces him to spend the night there. During the night he is awakened by footsteps and in an encounter W’ith the intruder, who sees Archie's figure reflect ed in the mirror and shoots. Archie fires in return, wounding the intruder, who makes his escape. Archie plans flights to evade publicity. He starts cross-country afoot in the night. At dawn he is stopped on a lonely country road by “The Gover nor”, master-mind criminal who mistakes him for a fellow criminal. Archie, fleeing, is afraid to tell the truth—falls in with “The Governor,” is whisk ed across country in a stolen car. Sees story in newspapers of killing at Bailey Harbor and, fright ened. he decides to say nothing but stick with his strange friend and await developments. At Corn ford, N. H. Archie comes upon Isobel Perry at; the hotel desk but she refuses to recognize him. The Governor, by a clever plan, switches stolen money for good money. Archie used as decoy—making love to niece of agent sent to meet eccentric Cong don here next day. Now read on: CHAPTER VI. When they reached the dining-room at ten the next morning they found Seebrook and Walter just finishing breakfast. Miss Seebrook was having coffee in her room, her father explained in response to Archie’s po lite inquiries. “We’re hoping to get away this after noon,” he continued. “It will take only a few minutes to transact our business when the man I’m waiting for appears; but he’s an uncertain quantity, and there’s no telling when he’ll show up. But we’re having a good time and I shan’t mind another day or two. If only you gentlemen would bear us * company!” “Ah, you are very kind!” said the Gover nor ; but we must resume our ramble toward the Pacific. We are more or less dated up for little entertainments on the way.” Seebrook and Walters lingered in the of fice as Archie and the Governor paid their account. As they waited for their car to be sent round from the garage a machine drew up and discharged a short, wiry, elderly man in a motor coat that was much too large for him. He was accompanied by an enor mous amount of luggage and from the steps of the inn gave orders in a high piping voice as to the manner of its disposal. As the various pieces were hustled into the office he enumerated them in an audible tone as though inviting the cooperation of all the loungers in making an inventory of his ef fects. When this had been concluded See brook stepped up and accosted the newcomer “Mr. Congdon, I am very glad to see you. I hope you are not worn out by your drive.” “Worn out!” snapped the little man. “Do you imagine a run of a hundred miles would fatigue a man of my constitution ? I assure you that you are greatly mistaken if you think I am feeling my age. Seventy! And 1 don’t feel a day over fifty, not a day, sir. But I shall rest for a few hours as a precaution.1 a mere precautionary measure and be able to meet you for our little business at two thirty sharp.” “That will suit me perfectly,” replied See brook. Archie hung about impatiently waiting! for the Governor to make his farewells to the old lady and her granddaughters on whom he had expended his social talents at the dance. Mr. Congdon was quarreling with the clerk over the location of the room he had reserved. Having frightened the clerk into readjusting the entire registration to accommodate him, he demanded to know j whether his son, Mr. Putney Congdon, wasj stopping in the house. Assuved that Mr. Putney Congdon was * ■ not in the inn and hadn’t been there within the recollection of the office staff, the sen-j ior Congdon exploded violently upon See brook and Walters. “Things have come to a pretty pass in this topsy turvy world when'1,a man can’t find his own son! For three days I’ve been wiring his clubs and all other places he could possible lie yithout result. And I have learned that his wife has left Bailey Harbor and the house there is closed. Closed! How dare they close that house when I was about to pay them a visit? Seebrook and Waiters exepj>esse'd their sympathy in mild tones that roused the old gentleman to greater fury. “Can a whole family be obliterated and no trace left behind? Is it possible that they’ve been murdered in their beds, serv ants and all, and the police not yet aware of it?” At the menton of murder Archie began stealthily feeling his way along the cigar counter to a water cooler. There seemed to be no escaping from the Congdons and here was the father of Putney boldly publish ing to the whole state of New Hampshire his fear that his son had been murdered. The concentration of the hotel staff upon the transfer of Mr. Congdon’s luggage to his room left the Governor and Archie to manage the removal of their own effects to the waiting car. Seebrook and Walters ob ligingly assisted, laughing at Congdon’s ec centricities. Seebrook seized the Governor’s kit bag containing the sixty thousand dollars and carried it out to the car. The sight of it in Seebrook’s hand gave Archie sensations of nausea that were not relieved by the grin he detected on the Governor’s face. With in an hour or two at most the substitution and robbery would be discovered and the country would ring with the demand for their detention. But the Governor was car rying off the departure with his usual gaie ty. It was clear that he had made the most favorable impression upon Seebrook and Walters; and the cordial handshaking and expressions of hope for future meetings Archie joined with the best spirit he could muster. A cherry good-by caused him to look up. Miss Seebrook with a red rose in hand waved to him from»her window. As he lifted his cap she dropped the pose with a graceful sweep of the arm. “Like the old stage coach days!” cried the Governor, applauding Archie’s catch. He jumped into the machine and Archie scrambled after him. Archie’s last impres sion of the inn was the blur of a waving handkerchief in Miss Seebrook’s window. “We are a success, my boy! You bore youpself marvelously well,” said the Gover nor, testing the gears. Ah that little touch of the rose was worth all our perils; noth ing in my experience was ever prettier than that! A lovely girl; you might do worse if you were not already plighted. If she had come down to say good-by it would have been less significant. But the rose, the red, red rose! It wouldn’t Jje a bad idea to stick it in an envelope and mail it to the girl you were telling me about*—the one who sent you forth to shatter kingdoms. I guess that would jostle her a little, particularly if you were to enclose a line telling her that it had fallen to your hand from a curtained lat tice.” “I don’t know her address,” mumbled Archie. He suggested the dangers of their situa tion, thinking that here at last was some thing that would sober the Governor. But the Governor merely laughed as he swung the car round a sharp corner. “Don’t you believe that I hadn’t a care for our safe flight! You must learn to use youp eyes, son. There was one of the broth erhood of the road right there in the office when we left. I gave him instructions last night. He’s a sneak thief of considerable in telligence who gave me the sign as I was preten'ding to leave for that call on my oh friend. 1 smuggled him upstairs to keep watch for me and he proved himself a fel low of decided merit. He’ll be hanging round Cornford today and as the absurd po lice will be obliged to make an arrest to save their reputations he will put himself in theii way and encourage the idea by subtle mean; that he might have been the malefactor who robbed Seebrook’s trunk and left Leary’s bills behind. They will be unable to make a case against him but he’ll prcbabiy get thirty days for loitering. Then he’ll walk out and draw a thousand dollars from one of our little private banks further along the road for so chiv alrously throwing himself into the breach! I can find you men who will do a year’s time to save the i men higher up. This satisfies the | public as to the zeal of its paid [protectors and makes it possible for men of genius like you and me to walk in high places unmolest ed. A damnable system, Archie, but we learned it from the greedy trust magnates. You take the wheel; it just occurs to me that you said you were a fair driver.” CHAPTER VII With all his outward candor the Governor had* Archie found, re serves that were quite unaccount able. He let fall allusions to his past in the most natural fashion, with an incidental air that added to their plausibility, without ever tearing aside the veil that con cealed his origin or the manner of his fall, if, indeed, a man who so jubilantly boasted of his crimes and seemed to find an infinite sat isfaction and delight in his turpi tude, could be said to have fallen. Having mentioned Brattleboro as the point at which they were to foregather with Red Leary, the Governor did not refer to the mat ter again, but chose routes and made detours without explanation. | It was on the second afternoon {out of Cornford that the Governor suddenly bade Archie, whom he encouraged to drive much of the time, pause at a gate. “We linger, here son. May I suggest that you take your cue from me? Bill Walker is an hon est dairyman to all intents and purposes, but really an old crook who got tired of dodging sheriffs and bloodhounds and bought this j farm. A sober, industrious family ! man, you will find him, with a wife i and one daughter. This is one of j the best stations of the under1- ! ground railroad; safe as a moth er’s arms, and you will never be lieve you're not the favored guest of a week end party. Walker’s an old chum of Leary’s. They used to cut up in the most reprehensi ble fashion out WTest in old times. You’ve probably wondered what be comes of old crooks. Wlalker is of course an unusual specimen, for he knew when the quitting was good, and having salted away a nice little fortune accumulated, in express holdups, he dwells here in peace and passes the hat at the meeting house every Sunday. You may be dead sure that only the ! aristocracy of our profession have the entree at Walker’s. A gray-bearded man with a pro nounced stoop, clad in faded blue overalls, was waiting for them at the barn. “Just run the machine right in,” he called. The car disposed of, the Gover nor introduced Archie as one of his dearest friends, and the hand Archie clasped was undeniably roughened by toil. Walker mum bled a “glad to see ye,” and lazily looked him over. There was nothing in his speech ! or manner to suggest that he had ; been a road agent. He assisted ! them in carrying their traps to the house, talking farmer fashion of the weather, crops and, the state j of the roads. The house was con- j nected with the barn in the usual i New England style. In the kitchen ! a girl sang cheerily and hearing ! her the Governor paused and struck j an attitude. The girl appeared at a window, rested her barf arms on the sill and smilingly saluted them with a cheery “Hello there!” “Look upon that picture!” ex claimed the Governor, .seizing Ar chie’s arm. “In old times upon Olympus she was cufp-bearer to the gods, but here she is, Sally Walker, and never so charming as when she sits enthroned upon the milking stool. Miss Walker, my old friend, Mr. Comly, or Achilles, a? you will!” A very pretty picture Miss Wal ker made in the kitchen window, a vivid portrait that immediately en hanced Archie’s pleasurable sensa tions in finding a haven that promised rest and security. Her black hair was swept back smooth ly from her forehead and there was the glow of perfect health in her rounded cheeks. Archie noted her dimples and the white- even teeth, that made something note worthy and memorable of her smile. “Well, Mr. Saulsbury, I’ve read all those books you sent me, and the candy was the finest I ever tasted.” “She remembers! Amid all her domestic cares, she remembers! My dear lad, the girl is one in a million!” “You’d think Mr. Saulsbury was crazy about me!” she laughed. “But He makes the santo speeches to ev ery girl he sees, doesn't he, Mr Comly?” “Indeed not,” protested Archie* rallying bravely to the Governor’s support. He’s been raving about you for days and my only surprise is that he so completely failed to give me the faintest idea—idea—” “Of your charm, your ineffable beauty!” the Governor supplied. “You’d better chase yourselves into the house now or pop’ll be peeved at having to wait for you.” On the veranda a tall elderly man rose from a hammock in which he had been reading a news paper and stretched himself. His tanned face was deeply lined but he gave the impression of health and vigor. “Leary,” whispered the Gover nor and immediately introduced him. “The road has been smooth and the sky is high,” said the Gover nor in response to a quick anxious questioning of Leary’s small rest less eyes. “Did you find peace in the churches by the way?” asked Leary. “In one of the temples we found Governor as though reciting from peace and plenty,” answered the a ritual. Leary nodded and gave a hitch to his trousers. “You found the waters of Cham plain tranquil, and no hawks fol lowed the landward passages?” “The robin and the bluebird sang over all the road,” he answer ed; then with a glance at Archie: “You gave no warning of the sec ond pilgrim.” “The brother is young an inno cent, but I find him an apt pupil,” the Governor explained. “The brother will learn first the wisdom of silence, remarked Leary, and then as though by an after thought he shook Archie warmly by the hand. They went into the house where Mrs. Walker, a stout middle-aged woman, greeted them effusively. “We’ve got to put you both in one room, if you don’t mind,” she explained, “but there’s two beds in it. I guess you can make out.’* The second floor room to which Walker led them was plainly but neatly furnished and the windows looked out upon rolling pastures. The Governor abandoned his high flown talk and asked blunt ques tions as to recent visitors, appar ently referring to criminals, who had lodged at the farm. They talk ed quite openly while Archie un packed his bag. The restless activ ity of the folk of the underworld^ their methods of communication' and points of rendezvous seenVec); part of a vast system and he was 1 ashamed of his enormous interest in all he saw and heard. The Gov ernor’s cool fashion of talking of the world of crime and tis denizens almost legitimatized it, made it ap pear a recognized part of the ac cepted scheme of things. Walker aroused the Governor’s deepest in-’ terest by telling of the visit of Pete Barney, a diamond thief, who1 had lately made a big haul at Chi* cago, and had been passed along from one point of refuge to a to other. Leary appeared a moment lat’eV and Archie was about to leave the room, but the Governor insisted stoutly that he remain. “I’m anxious for you and Red to. know that I trust both of you fully.” “What’s the young brother,—a con?” asked Leary with a glance at Archie. To be referred to as a confidence man by a gentleman of Leary’s, professional eminence gave Archie, a thrill. The Governor answered by drawing up his sleeves and going through the motions of washing his hands. The brushing of the hands to’-/( gether Archie interpreted as a code sign signifying murder aqa the subsequent interchange of words he took to be inquiry and answer as to the danger of appre hension. He felt that Leary’s at titude toward him became friend lier from that moment. There was something ghastly in the thought that as the slayer of a human be ing he attained a certain dignity in the eyes of men like Leary. But he became interested in th trans action that was now taking place betwene the thief and the GoVer-: nor. The Governor extracted the sixty one-thousand-dollar bills from his bag, and laid them out on the bed. He rapidly explained just how Leary’s hidden booty had been recovered, and the manner, in which the smaller denominations; had been converted into bills that could be passed without arousing suspicion. Leary philosophically stowed the bills in his clothing. “You’re done, are you?” asked j the Governor; “out of the game?” “I sure have quit the road.” Leary answered. “The old girl has, got a few thousand tucked away and I’m going to pick her up ana buy a motion picture joint or a , candy and soda shop somewhere, ji),| the big lakes—one of those places th^t freeze up aH \vmter/''so I can have a chance to rest. The olJ girl has a plade in mind. “On the whole it doesn't sound exciting,” the Governor commenc ed, inspecting a clean shirt. “Did your "admirable wife to get rid of those pearls she pinched last win ter? They were a handsome string, as I remember, too handsome to market readily. Mrs. Leary has a passion for precious baubles, Ar chie,” the Governor explained. “A brilliant career in picking up such trifles; a star performer, Red, if ybu don’t mind my bragging of your wife.” 1 ,Y iv « Leary seemed not at all disturb ed by this revelation of his wife's larcenous affection for pearls. *That a train robber’s wife should be a thief seemed perfectly natur al; indeed it seemed quite fitting that thieves should mate with thieves. Archie further gathered that Mrs. Leary operated in Chi cago under the guise of a confec tionery shop, one of the stations of the underground railroad, and assisted the brotherhood in dis posing of their ill-gotten wares. A recent reform wave in Chicago had caused a shake-up in the po lice department, most disturbing to the preying powers. “They’re clean off me, I reck on,” said Leary a little patheti cally, the reference being presum ably to the pestiferous police. “That was a good idea of yours for me to go up into Canada and W'ork at a real job for awhile. Must a worked hard enough to change my finger prints. Some bloke died in Kansan awhile back and got all the credit for being the old original Red Leary.” This ei'ror of the press in re cording Leary's death tickled the Governor mightily, and . Leary laughed until he was obliged to wipe the tears from, his eyes. “I’m going to pull my freight after supper,” he said. “Walker’3 going to take me into town and I’ll slip out to Detroit where the old girl’s waitin’ for me.” Walker called them to supper and they went down to a meal that met all the expectations arous ed by the Governor’s boast of the Walker cruisine. (To be continued next week) NOTICE The undersigned having quali fied as administratrix on the es tate of J. G. Pittman deceased, hpreby notifies all persons having claims against said estate to pre sent the same to me duly verified on or before the 20 day of Jan uary, 1929 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery; and all persons indebted to said estate Will make immediate pay ment. This 19 day of January, 1928. DELPHIA PITTMAN, Administratrix. MR. CHAS. DAVIS leaves to night for Northern mark ets where he will purchase the latest in spring goods for men and women. ANNOUNCEMENT— ^ Sunny Hill Dairy P. B. STEVENS, Prop WISHES TO ANNOUNCE TO ITS CUSTOMERS THAT THEY NOW HAVE THEIR 'PHONE INSTALLED •READY FOR SERVICE AND IF YOU WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH JHEM CALL 'PHONE'i i " NO. 2803 INSTEAD OF CALLING PEE DT N & * PETERSON AS IIERTOFORE. Phone Your Orders—We Will Be Glad to Serve you HAVE you been to our stables to see the car load of mules that we have just unloaded? They are extra nice and medium weight Come and select your before they are all sold. We also carry a complete line of Hackney and Wilson Wagons W. M. Sanders & Sons Smithfield, N. C. -> "-r General Merchants
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
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Jan. 20, 1928, edition 1
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