North Carolina Newspapers

Hedgerow House. THE elder traced the history of the Blairs In and out of con centric circles of scandal—! financial, political, social—and mostly untrue. Those in which the greatest portion of truth inhered dealt with the escapades of Wilfrid Blair, | the only son and heir of the household, who had burned up all the paternal money he could lay hands on. writing his nnnffe in red fire across the night life of London, Paris and New York I Tiring of this, he hud come home an.\ married a girl of nineteen, beautiful and Innocent, whose parents, the elder j piously opined, had sold her to the devil per Mr. Blair, agent. The girl, whose maiden name was Marjorie Dor- j ranee—Kent's fingers went to his ear at this—had left Blair after a year of marringe, though there was no legal process, and he had returned to his j bannts of the gutter until retribution overtook him in the form of tubercu losis. Ills father had brought him to their place on Sundaytnan's creek, and there he was kept In semi-seclusion, visited from time to time by his young wife, who helped to care for him. “That's the story they tell,” com mented the elder, “hut some folks has got suspicions. My own suspicions Is that the young feller hasn't got no more consumption that you have, al though he's got a man nurse. I think old Blair has got him here to keep him out of the papers." "Publicity is not to Mr. malt s tint**, then?’* "I don’t believe the old man would hardly stop short of murder to keep his name out of print. He's kind o’ loony on the subject. Sailor Milt Smith is the feller that can toll you about the family and the place. Here he comes up the street." He thrust tils head out of tin* door and called. Sailor Smith, sturdy and white, entered and greeted Kent eour teousl.v. "Mr. Dennett was saying." remark «*d Kent, “that you know something of the history of Hedgerow house, as 1 believe they call It." "They call it!" repeated the old sni'or “Who calls It? If yon mean the Blair place, that’s Hogg's haven, that is! You can’t wipe out that name while there's a man living as knew the place at Its worst. Old Captain nogg built it and lived In it and died In It. The 1 devil Is fryin* bacon out of old Hogg 1 today for the things he done in that ! house." “Ilow long since did he die?" "Oh, twenty year back." "And the house was sold soon after?" "‘Stood vacant for ten years. Then this feller Blair bought it. I don’t know him, but he bought a weerily 1 biscuit there. A bad house, it is- rot- ' ten bad!” “What's wrong with it?” “Men’s bones in the brick and wom en’s blood in the mortar.” “Was the old boy a cannibal?” asked Kent, amused by the sea veteran’s heroics • “Just as bad—slave trader." “Have you ever been in the house?” | "Many’s the time when It was Hogg's • haven. Only once since. They do tell ! that tlie curse lias come down with the 1 house and is heavy on the new owner’s 1 son." I "So I’ve heard." '.The old white head wagged bodingiy. ! “Tlie curse of the blood,” he said. "It’s on all that race.” “Hogg’s oldest sister was the grand mother of tills young feller's mother, wasn't she?" put lu Elder Denuett. “Ulkats right. Wilfrid Blair's great grandmother.” “And a bad ’un, too, 1 guess,” con tinued tlie elder relishingly, “Don't you say it!" cried the old sea man. “The curse of the blood was on her. Strange she was and beautiful, so my mother used to tell me, but not bad. She came in at Lonesome Cove too.” 1 "Drowned at sea?” asked Kent. "They never knew. One day she 'was gone. The next night her body ■came in. They said in the country wide that siie had the gift of second sight and foretold tier own death.” “Hum-m,” mused Kent. “And now the Blairs have changed the name of tthe place. No wonder.” I ■“There’s one thing they haven’t •dkanged, the private buryin’ plot.” "Family T I "Jlogg’s there, all right, an’ never a }iajv.>n in the countryside dared to speai to God about his soul, when they laid him there. His nephew, too, that was as black hearted as himself. Hut tiie rest of the graves has got no ih end stones." "Slaves Y” ■"Them as he kept for his own serv ice an' killed in his tantrums. Nobody knows how many. You can see the bend of the creek where they lie, from the road, and the old willows hat lean over 'em.’’ ■“Cheerful sort of person the late Mr. 3Ht*gg seems to have been. Any relicu ■of his trade in the bouse?’! “Belies? You may say so! His old pistols and compasses, guns, nautical instruments and the leaded whalebone whip that they used to say lie slept with. They’ve got 'em hung on the walls now for ornyments. Ornymeats! If they’d seen ’em as I’ve seen ’em, they’d sink the dummed things in a hundred fathom o’ clean sea." "Sailor Smith was cabin boy on one of the old Hogg fleet one voyage," ex plained Elder Dennett. “God forgive me for it!" said the old man. “There they hang, and with ’em the chains and”— “Isn’t that lamp finished yet?” de manded Kent, turning sharply upon Elder Dennett. Having paid for it, with something extra for his curtness. he led the sea man out of the place. “You were going to say ‘and hand cuffs.’ weren't you?" he Inquired. “Why. yes. What of that?’’ asked ♦ lie veteran, puzzled. Suddenly he brought liis hand down with a slap on his thigh. “Where was my wits?” he cried. “Them irons on the dead wom an’s wrist! 1 knew I'd seen their like before! Slave manacles! They must 'a' come from Hogg's haven!” “Very likely. But that suspicion had better be kept quiet at present." “Aye. aye, sir." agreed the other. "More devilment from the old haven? A bad house a rotten bad house!” “Yet I’ve a pressing desire to take a look at it." said Chester Kent musing ly. “Going back to Annalaka, Mr. Smith? I'll walk with you as far as the road to Mr. Sedgwick's." Freed of the veteran’s company at the turn of the road. Kent sat down and took his ear in hand to think. “Miss Dorrance.-’ lie mused. “Marjo rie Dorrance. What simpler twist for a nickname than to transform that Into Marjorie Daw? Poor Sedgwick!" At the Nook he found the object of Ids commiseration mournfully striving to piece together. as In u mosaic, the shattered remnants of his work. Sedg wick brightened at ills friend’s ap proach. “For heaven’s sake, come out and do me a couple of sets of tennis!” he be sought. ‘Tin no sport for you, I know, particularly ms my nerves are jumpy, but I need the work." “Sorry, my boy,’’ said Kent, “but I’ve got to make a more or less polite call. People named Blair. Ever know 'em ?" “Used to know a Wilfrid Blair In Paris." said the artist indifferently. “What kind of a person was he?" “An agreeable enough little beast, but n rounder of the worst sort. Is he the man you're going to see?” "No such luck." said Chester Kent. “I never expect to see Wilfrid Blair. Probably I shan't even be invited to his funeral." “Oh! Is he dead?” "His death is officially expected any lay." With which words Kent stepped out and Into his waiting car. After departing from the Nook Kent's car rolled along beside Hundav nian’s creek sedately enough until it approached the wide bend, where it indulged In a bit of pathtinding across the country, and eventually crept into the shade of a clump of bushes and hid. Its occupant emerged and went forward afoot until he came in view of Hedgerow house. At the turn of the stream he leaped ft fence and made his way to a group of willows beneath which the earth was ridged with little mounds. Professor Chester Kent was trespassing. He was invading the ter ritory of the dead. From the seclusion of the graveyard amid the willows a fair view was af forded of Hedgerow house. Grim as was the repute given it, it presented to the intruder an aspect of homely hospitable sweetness and quaintness Tall hollyhocks lifted their flowers to smile In at. the old fashioned windows. Here and there ou the well kept lawn peonies glowed, crimson and white. A great, clambering rose tree bad thrown Us arms around the square porch, softening the uncompromising angles into curves of leafage and bloom. Along the paths pansies laughed at the sun, and mignonette scattered Its scented summons to bee and butter fly. The place was a loved place; so much Kent felt with sureness of in stinct. No home blooms except by love. But the bouse was dead. Its eyes were closed. Silence held it. The gar den bussed and flickered with vivid multicolored life, but there was no stir from the habitation of man. Had its occupants deserted it? From the far side of the mansion came the sound of a door opening and closing again. Moving quickly along the sumac fringed course of the creek. Kent made a detour which gave him view of n side entrance and had bare ly time to efface himself in the shrub bery when a light wagon, with a spir ited horse between the shafts, turned briskly out Into the road. Kent, well sheltered, caught one brief sufficient glimpse of the occupant. It was Dr. Breed. The medical officer looked, as always, nerve beset, but there was a greedy smile on Ins lips. Kent’s mouth puckered. He took :i deep breath of musical inspiration and 1 exhaled it in painful noiselessness, flattening himself amid the greenery as he saw a man emerge from the rear of Hedgerow house. The man was Uansett Jim. He carried a pick and a spade and walked slowly. Presently he disappeared in the willow shaded place of mounds. The sound of his toil came, muffled, to the ears of the hid den man. Cautiously Kent worked his way. now in the stream, now through the heavy growth on the banks, until he gained the roadway. Once there he went forward to the front gate of Hedgerow house. Kent paused for the merest moment. His gaze rested on the heavy black door. Heavier and blacker against the woodwork a pen dant waved languidly. To the normal human being the gris ly insiguium of death over a portal if provocative of anything railgyr mirth. But Chester Kent, viewing tin crape on Hedgerow house, laughed a he turned to the open road. Meditation furrowed the brow o Lawyer Adam Bain. “Nobody versui Sedgwick," grumbled he. "Publ;c opin ion versus Sedgwick,” he amended “How's a self respecting lawyer goinj to earn a fee out of that? And Lei Schlager standing over the grave o the corpus delicti with a warran against searching, so to speak, in hi; hand! For that matter, this Professo: Kent worries me more than the sher iff.” A sharp humming rose in the air am brought the idle counselor to his win dow, whence he beheld the prime au thor of his bewilderment descendinj from a car. A minute later the tw< men were sitting with their feet on om desk, a fairly good sign of mutual re spect and confidence. “Blair?” said Lawyer Bain. “No. 1 don't know him, not even to see. Tooi llogg’s haven, didn’t he?" “Then he doesn’t use this postoffice?’ “No. Might use any one of half f dozen. See here." He drew a count} map from a shelf. "Here’s the place Seven railroad stations on three dif ferent roads within ten miles of it Annalaka would be way out of his reach.” “Yet Gansett Jim seems to be knowr here." “Oh. is it Blair that the Indian work.1' for? I never knew. Closer’n a deal mute with lockjaw, he is. Well. I ex pect the reason he comes here ocea sionally is that it’s the nearest licenst town. “Lo, the poor Injun when he wants £ drink Will walk ten miles as easy as you’c wink." "Do you know most of the postoffices around here?" | "There isn’t but one postmaster with in twenty miles that I don’t call by his I first name, and she’s a postmistress." | “Then you could probably find out by telephone where the Blair family get their mail.” “Easy!” “And perhaps what newspapers they take.” “H’m! Yes. I guess so." “Try it as soon as you get back." "Back from where?" “Back from the medical officer’s place. I think he must have returned i by this time.” “You want to see Tim Breed?" “No; just his records. Burial per mits. 1 suppose, are a matter of public record." I “Yes. All you’ve got to do is to g^, and ask for ’em. You won’t need me." j “Regrettable as his bad taste is.” i said Kent with a solemn face, "I fear I that Dr. Breed doesn’t regard me with that confidence and esteem which one reads pf In illuminated resolutions.” “And you want me as an accelerator, eh?” smiled the lawyer. “All right, i It’s the Jane Doe permit you’re after, I suppose.” "Which ?" “Jane Doe. They buried the corpse from Lonesome Cove under that name. 1 Unidentified dead, you know." CHAPTER XII. Loose End*. TOGETHER they went to the medical officer's quarters. Dr. Breed had come in fifteen min utes before. Without prelimi i nary Lawyer Bain said: I "I want to see that Jane Doe certifi | cate again." ‘‘Aren’t you afraid of wearin’ out the l Ink on it, Adam?" retorted the other, with a furtive grin. I “And I,” said Chester Kent in his l suavest manner, “venture to trouble you to show me the certificate in the case of Wilfrid Blair.” Something like a spasm shook the lineaments of Dr. Breed's meager face. "Blair;” he repeated. "How did you know”-' lie stopped short. “How did I know that Wilfrid Blair is dead?” Kent finished for him. “Why, there has been time enough, hasn’t there?” The physician's hands clawed nerv ously at his straggling hair. “Time enough?” he murmured. "Time enough? I’m only just back from the Blair place myself.” “Ah,” commented Kent negligently. “Then he died within two hours or so?” “This morning," retorted the other. : “It's all in the certificate." “All?" inquired Kent, so significantly that Lawyer Bain gave him a quick look. “All that's your business or any body else’s,” said Breed, recovering himself a bit. “Doubtless. And I'm to be permit ted to see this document?" Breed pushed a paper across the ta ble. “There it is. I just finished mak ing it out.” "I see.” said Kent, giving the paper a scant survey, “that the cause of death is set down as ‘cardiac failure.’ ” I “Well, what’s the matter with that?" “Just a trifle noncommittal, isn’t it? You see, we all die of cardiac failure, except those of us who fall from air ships.” “That record’s good enough for the law,” declared the medical officer dog gedly. "Who was the attending physician?” “I was.” “Indeed! And to what undertaker was the permit issued?” “It was issued to the family. They can turn it over to* what undertaker they please.” “Where is the interment to be?” “Say, looky here, Mr. Man!" cried the physician, breaking into the sud den whining fury of hard pressed ti midity. “Are you trying to learn me my business? You can go to the devil! That’s what you can do!” “With your signature on my certifi cate?” inquired the scientist, unmov ed. “I won’t trouble you so far. Dr. » > Breed, r tmnk you." f Outside in the street, Lawyer Baiu turned to his client. "You didn't look • at the Jane Doe paper at all.” , “No. I'm not so interested in that as fu the other.” "Something queer about this Blair ; death? Not another murder?” i One side of Chester Kent's face ’ smiled. "No,” said be positively, i "certainly not that." i "There has been a lot of scandal ■ about young Blair. I'm told. Perhaps • they’re burying him as quietly as pos sible just to keep out of the papers.” I "I shouldn't consider his method of ' burial likely to prove particularly quiet." returned Kent. "Of course l - may be wrong, but I think not. The i most private way to get buried is in , public." "Well, if a death was crooked I'd want no better man than Breed to help cover it. By the way. the sheriff has been away since yesterday afternoon on some business that he kept to him self." "That also may mean something." remarked Kent thoughtfully. "Now. if you'll find out about that newspaper matter i'll go on over to Sedgwick's. You can get me there by telephone." In tlie studio Kent found Sedgwick walking up and down with his hands behind his hack and his head for ward. “Wliv the caged lion effect?’’ inquir ed the scientist. "Some one has been having a little fun with me." growled Sedgwick. "Apparently it was one sided. What’s this on the easel?" "What would you take if to be?” “Let's have a closer look." Walking across the room Kent plant <3 “That record’s good enough for the law." ed himself in front of the drawing board, upon which had been fixed, by means of thumb tacks, a square of rather soft white paper, exhibiting evidence of having been crumpled up and subsequently smoothed out. On j the paper was a three-quarter draw ing of a woman's head, the delicate | face beneatli waves of short curly hair, turned a little from the left shoulder, which was barely indicated. I Setting his useful monocle in his eye. Kent examined the work carefully. “I should take it," he pronounced at length, "to be a sort of a second hand attempt at a portrait." “You recognize it. though?" “It bears a resemblance to the face of the corpse at Lonesome Cove. Where | did that precious work of art come from ?” “Heaven knows! Ching Lung found the sketch lying on the doorstep with a cobblestone holding it down." “It isn't a sketch." “What would you call it, then?" "A copy. If you had used your eyes on it instead of your temper, you | might have seen at once that it is a 1 tracing. Look for yourself, now." Taking the magnifying monocle that Kent held out, the artist scrutinized the lines of the picture. “By Jove! You’re light," said he. “it's been transferred through tracing paper and touched up afterward. Rather roughly too. You can see where the copyist has borne down too hard on the lead." I "What's your opinion of the likeness —if it is the likeness which you sup 1 pose?” inquired Kent. “Why. as 1 remember the woman this picture is a good deal idealized. The hair and the eyes are much the same. But the lines of the face iu the picture are finer. The chin and mouth are more delicate, and the whole ef fect softer and of a higher type.” “Do you see anything strange about the neck on the left side?” “Badly drawn; that’s all.” “Just below the ear there is a sort of blankness, isn’t there?’’ “Why, yes. It seems curiously un finished just there.” “If you were touching it up how would you correct that?” ' “With a slight shading just there where the neck muscle should be thrown up a bit by the turn of the head.” “Or by introducing a large pendant I earring which the copier has left out?” “Kent, you're a wonder! That would do it exactly. But why in the name of all that^s marvelous should the trac (Continueri on page tnree) A LOT OF CHOICE BOOKS FOR i boys, approved by the National i Council Boy Scouts of America, for I sale at HERALD Office, at 50 cents } each. By mail 60 cents each. A BIRD CENSUS THIS SUMMER Arc Existing Laws Increasing or Diminishing Numbers? IT WILL ANSWER QUESTION Department of Agriculture, Asking Co operation of Bird Lovers Throughout the United States, Makes Announce ment of Information Desired and How to Obtain It. A census of all the birds of the United States is suggested for this summer, and the department of agri culture is inviting bird lovers through out the country to co-operate in tak ing it. The object is to determine how many pairs of birds of each species breed within definite areas. By com paring these figures with those of sub sequent censuses it will be possible to ascertain whether the present state and federal laws are effective and game and insectivorous birds increas ing or diminishing in numbers. Vol untary observers are relied upon to furnish most of the desired data to !he department. As a beginning the department has asked about 250 correspondents throughout the country, who have pre viously rendered valuable service, to follow a general outline in supplying information. The correspondents have been advis ed that the census of the birds should be taken over some area that fairly represents the average character of the country in the immediate neigh borhood. The area selected should represent average farm conditions, but without woodland: should be not less than forty acres (a quarter of a mile squnret and not more than eighty acres and should include the farm buildings, shade trees, orchards, fields of plowed land and pasture. It is de sired to take a census of the pairs of birds actually nesting within the se lected area. How to Take Bird Census. It is practically impossible to make rhis census on tile scale of 40-80 acres in a single day. A plan which has con used with advantage for several ■ cars is to begin at daylight some morning the last of May or the first week in June and zigzag back and forth across the area, counting the male birds of each species. Early In the morning at that season every male liird should be in full song and easily counted. After the migration is over and the birds are settled in their sum mer quarters it is safe to consider that each male represents a breeding pair. The final results of the census should be sent to the biological survey depart ment of agriculture. Washington, about Tune 30. accompanied by a statement of the boundaries of the selected area, defined so explicitly that it will be pos sible twenty-five years hence to have the census repeated. The name of the present owner of the land should be given, together with a careful descrip tion of its character, including a state ment whether the area is dry upland or moist bottom land, tile number of acres in each of the principal crops or in permanent meadow, pasture, or chard, swamp, roads, etc.; the kind of fencing used and whether there Is much or little brush along any fences, roads or streams or in the permanent pasture. Second and Third Censuses. A second census desired is one of some isolated piece of woodland com prising from ten to twenty acres In giving the results of this census the number and kinds of trees in the wood bind should be stated as well as whether there is much or little under growth. Still a third census to be taken is that of some definite area—forty acres, lor instance—forming part of a much larger tract of timber, either deciduous or evergreen. While the number of birds on such a piece of land will lie far less than on an equal area of mix ed farm land, their correct enumera tion will require considerably mon care and time. The department also will be glad to have information concerning any changes noted in the bird life of any locality, especially if the observations extend over any considerable number of years. in the past, under mixed game regu lations of various states, bird life has been decreasing Now that tbe birds have been placed in charge of the de partment of agriculture definite and uniform measures are being taken to preserve them and increase their num ber. The new bird census and the censuses to follow will materially aid the department in its effort to preserve a valuable national resource, and the voluntary efforts of bird lovers in aid i>f this movement will be appreciated. Charts of Canal and Its Approaches. The coast and geodetic survey of fice has issued a series of charts of the canal and its approaches. The gen eral chart of the Panama canal and Its approaches is on a scale of one one hundred and forty-sis thousandths, or one-half inch to the nautical mile, and is In colors. The canal is colored dark blue and the ocean waters a light blue, while the region of the canal zone is colored a light pink tint and the ter ritory of Panama Is given a pale buff Uni How a North Carolina Moonahiner Won His Case. Representative E. W. Pou, of North Carolina, tells a good one on himself He says: “In my home county was a man by the name of Reaves, who was indicted for a violation of the revenue laws, and retained me to de fend him. As he was regarder as a weak-minded man, the judges were disposed to be lenient, though the evi dence was conclusive as to his guilt. “I told Reaves that he must act as foolish as he .ould in order to help his case. So on the day the case was tried Reaves appeared in court_it was a roasting summer day—wearing a heavy overcoat buttoned up to his throat. “When the court was opened by the marshal Reaves jumped up and made a spectacle of himself by calling out foolish statements. As the judge would have to take action, I rose and told the judge that he could see for himself that my client was not a re sponsible person; so the case was nolle prossed and Reaves told to go and sin no more. “Several years later, when I was the prosecuting attorney, I found that Reaves had been up to his tricks and was in court for trial on another vio lation of the revenue laws. When he took the stand I asked him the fol lowing questions: “ ‘You have frequently been indict ed for this offense?’ \ * ‘You ought to know,’ replied Reaves. ‘You were my lawyer.’ “ ‘Yes,’ I returned, ‘but did you not go in court and play the fool to get out of trouble?’ “ ‘No, sir,’ said Reaves, quickly. ‘As for playing the fool, it was you, sir, did that!”—Washington Chat. Dropped His Flag and Sword. San Francisco, Cal., May 15.— That Provisional President Huerta had issued specific orders to General Maas, commanding the Mexican forc es at Vera Cruz, to offer no opposi tion to the landing of the Americans there and that those orders were dis obeyed by General Maas on his own responsibility is a statement vouched for today by E. DeMorelos, a Mexi can architect, on his arrival here from Vera Cruz via New Orleans. “I talked with Maas on the even ing of April 20,” DeMorelos said, “and he told me he had received such orders. ‘But,’ he said, “I am going to resist notwithstanding.” “On receiving news of the landing of Admiral Fletcher’s marines, how ever. Maas precipitatedly fled, leav ing his sword, flag, decorations and personal affects in his residence. “His daughter went to the French consul and begged him to recover her father’s sword, flag and decorations. This the consul did.” Two Aviators Killed in Military Flight. North Allerton, Eng., May 15.— Two more British army aviators were killed near here today during a flight by a squadron of military ae roplanes from Scotland to Salisbury Plain. The victims were Lieutenant J. Empson, of the Royal Fusiliers, and Sergeant Dudmore, acting as me chanic. The accident occurred while the aviators were trying to land in a dense fog. Important to Spend the Money Right. The Progressive Farmer has long contended that while it is well to spend money for good roads, it is doubly important to see that these roads, once built, are properly main tained. Large sums have been spent for good roads that later have been j allowed to become impassible from neglectd. On this subject the Taze well, Va., News says: “To spend large sums of money to build roads and then leave them to be cut up, washed away, is the height of business folly. And that is just what is being done in a number of instances in this county right now. There was quite a lot of money spent ; a few years ago on Tazewell Ave : nue and the streets leading out of town east and the one around by the Baptist church. The streets were left to go to pieces. Now there are holes and gullies washed in each of these streets which will cost money to repair. Maintenance of the roads is more important than the building in the first place. If the road authorities are good business men they will see to it that the new roads are not allowed togo to rack.” —Progressive Farmer. The Barefoot Boy. The barefoot lad with cheeks of tan has put in his appearance. It’s swim mig hole and baseball time with them, and there is not a happier mortal on the face of the globe. What does he care fot an occasional stone bruise or a tied-up toe or a sunburned back as long as he can chase the horsehide ov er the corner lots and splash and throw mud in the swimming hole? —Jackson Sun.