Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / Feb. 10, 1911, edition 1 / Page 7
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—p——— j- // m f l I A * • n*££FM*aNf*rj*. ff./Cfmt/C 1 \ I BYNOPSIS. . Lawrence Blakeley, lawyer, goes to Pittsburg with the forged notes in Ike Bronson case to get the deposition of John OUmore, millionaire tn the latter's home he la attracted by a picture of a young girl whom the millionaire explains Is his granddaughter. A lady requests Blakeley to buy her a Pullman ticket. He gives her lowef' eleven and retains lower ten. He a drunken mau In lower ten and retires In lower nine. He awakens in * ltfwer seven and finds his clothes and bag • missing. 'The man In lower ten Is found murdered. Circumstantial evidence places both Blakeley and the unknown man who had exchanged clothes with htm. under suspicion of murder. Blakeley becomes interested in a girl in blue. The trsfln Is wrecked. Blakeley is rescued from the burning car by the girl In blue. His arm Is broken. They go to the Carter place for breakfast. The girl prove* to be All son West, hia partner's sweetheart. Her peculiar actions mystify the lawyer. Bhe "*diu|'» her-geW-bag and -Blakeley puts lt- In hts pocket. Blakeley returns home. He finds that he Is under surveillance. CHAPTER XIV. The Trap Door. By Sunday evening, a week after the wreck, my forced inaction had goaded me to frenzy. The very sight of Johnson across the street or lurk ing, always within sight of the house, kept me constantly exasperated. It was on that day that things began to come Co a focus, a burning-glass of events that seemed to center on me. I dined alone that evening in no cheerful frame of mind. There had been a polo game the day before and I had lent a pony, which Is always a bad thing to do. And she had'wrench * ed her shoulder, besides helping to lose the game. There was no one in town; the temperature was 90 and {Hmbing, and my left Band perslstent y cramped under its bandage. Mrs. Klopton herself saw me served, my bread buttered and cut in tidbits, my meat ready for my fprk. She hov ered around me maternally, obviously trying to cheer me. "The paper says still warmer," she ventured* "The thermometer is 92 now." "And this coffee la 250," I said, put ting down my cup. "Where Is Eu phemia? I haven't seen her around, or. heard a dish smash all day." "Euphemia Is In bed," Mrs. Klopton said gravely. "Is your meat cut small enough, Mr. Lawrence?" Mrs. Klop ton can throw more mystery into an ordinary sentence than any one I know. She can say, "Are your sheets damp, sir?" And I caa tall from her tone that the house across the Kreet " has been robbed, or that my left hand neighbor has appendicitis. So now I looked up and asked the question she was waiting fir. "What's the matter with Euphe mia?" I Inquired idly. "Frightened Into her bed." Mrs. Klopton said in a stage whisper. "She's had three liot water bottles and she hasn't done a thing all day but moan." "Sho oughtn't to take hot water bottles," I said in my severest tone. "One would make me moan. You need not wait, I'll ring if 1 need anything." Mrs. Klopton sailed to the door, wtere she stopped and wheeled Indig nantly. "I pnly hope you won't laugh on the wrong side of your face some morning, Mr. Lawrence," she declared, with Christian fortitude. "But 1 warn you. tam going to have the police watch that house next door." •I was half inclined to tell her that' both it and we wore under police sur veillance at that moment. But I like Mi's. Klopton, in spite of the fact that I make her life a torment for her, so I refrained. "Last night, when the paper said it was going to storm, I sent Euphemia to the roof to bring the rug 3 in. Eliza had slipped" out, although it was her evening in. Euphemia went up to the roof —It was 11 o'clock —and soon I heard her running downstairs crying. When, she got to my room she just folded up on the floor. She said there was a black figure Bitting on the para pet of the house next door —the empty house—and that when she appeared it rose and waved long black arms at her and spit like a cat." I had finished my dinner and was lighting a cigarette. "It there Was any one up there, which I doubt, they probably sneezed," I auggeafed. "But if you feel uneasy, I'll take * look around the roof to-night before I turn In. Aa far as Euphemia goes, I wouldn't be uneasy about her —doesn't she always have an attack of some sort when Eliza rings in an extra evening on her?" So 1 made a superficial examination of the window lock* that night, visit ing parts of the house that I had not seen eince I bought it. Then I went to the roof. Evidently it had not been intended for any purpose save to cover the house, for unlike the houses around, there was no staircase. A ladder and a trap-door led to it, and It required some. nice balancing on my part to get up with my useless arm. I made It, however, and found this unexplored part of my domain rather attractive. It was cooler than downstairs, and I sat on the brick • parapet and smoked my final cigarette. The roof of the empty house adjoined mine aioog the back wing, but Inves tigation showed that the trap-door serosa the low dividing way was boued underneath. There was nothing out of the or dinary anywhere, and so 4- assured Mrs. Klopton. Needless to say, I did not tell her that I had left the trap door open to see If It would Improve the temperature of the house. 1 went to bed at midnight, merely because there was nothing else to do. 1 turned on the night lamp at the bead of my bed, and picked up a volume of Shaw at random (it was "Arms and the Map." and I remember thinking grim ly that 1 was a good bit of a chocolate cream soldier myself), and prepared to go to sleep. Shaw always puts roe to sleep. I have no apologies to make for what occurred that night, and not even an explanation that I am sure of. I did a foolish thtng under,impulse, and I have not been sorry. It was something after two when the door-bell rang. It rang quickly, twice. 1 got up drowsily, for the maids and Mrs. Klopton always lock themselves beyond reach of the bell at night, and put on a dressing gown. The bell rang again ou my way down stairs. I lit the hall light and opened the door: I was wide awake now, and I saw that It was Johnson. His bald head shone In the light—his crooked mouth was twisted in a smile. "Good heavens, man," I said ir ritably. "Don't you ever go home and go to bed?" He closed the vestibule door behind I I The Wrl«t Wa* Olendsr. him and cavalierly turned out the light. Our dialusue was sharp, stacca to. "Have you a k»'y to the empty house next door?". Ire •demanded. "Some body's in there, and the latch if caught." "The houses are alike. The key to this door may lit. IJid you see them ( go in?" "No. There's a Usht movir.c up j from room to room. 1 saw something like It last night, and I hare been watching The patrolman reported queer doings there a week or so-ttgo." *"A light!" I exclaimed. "lio you m n an that you—" "Very likely," he said grimly. "Have you a revolver?" "All kinds in the gun rack," I re plied, and going Into the den, I came back with a Smith and Wesson. "I'm not much use," I explained, "with this arm, but I'll do what I can, There may be somebody there. The serv ants here have been uneasy." Johnson planned the campaign. He suggested on account of my familiari ty with the roof, that I go there and cut off escape in that direction. "1 have Roblson out there now—the patrolman on the beat," be said. "He'll watch below and you above, while I search the house! Be as quiet as pos sible." I was rather amused. I put on some clothes and felt my way carefully up the stairs, the revolver swinging free In my pocket, my hand on the rail. At the foot of the ladder I stopped and looked up. Above me there was a gray rectangle of sky dotted with stars. It occurred to me that with my one serviceable hand holding the ladder, I was hardly In a position to defend myself, that I was about to hoist a body that I am rather careful of into a danger I couldn't Bee and wasn't particularly keen about any how. I don't mind saying that the seconds it took me to scramble up the ladder were among the most unpleas ant that I recall. I got to the top, howerer, without Incident I couldfairly well after the darkness of the house beneath, but there was nothing suspicious in sight The roofs, separated by two feet of brick wall, stretched around me, unbroken save by an occasional cbimney. I wsat vsry softly over to the other trap, the one belonging to the suspected house. It was closed, but I Imagined I could hear John son's footsteps ascending heavily. Then even that was gone. A near-by clock struck three as I stood waiting. I examined my revolver then, for the first tlme ; and found it was empty! . I had been rather skeptical until now. I had had the usual tolerant at titude of the man who la summoned from his bed to search for burglars, combined with the arti!iclal courage ot~ firearms. With the discovery of my empty gun, I felt like a man on the top of a volcano in lively eruption. Suddenly I found myself staring in credulously at the trap-door at my feet. I had examined it early in the evening and found it bolted. Did I imagine it, or had it raised about an inch? Wasn't it moving slowly as I looked? No, I am not a hero; I was startled almost into a panic. I had one arm, and whoever was raising that trap-door had two. Myjtneeshad a queer inclination to bend the wrong way. Johnson's footsteps were distinct enough, but he was evidently far be low. The trap, raised perhaps two inches now, remained stationary. There was no sound from beneath it; once 1 thought I heard two or three gasping respirations; I am not sure they were not my own. I wanted des perately to stand on one Igg at a time and hold the other up out of focus of A possible revolver. 1 did not Bee the hand appear. There was nothing there, and then it was there, clutching the frame of the trap. I did the only thing I could think of; I put my foot on It! i There was not a sound from be neath. The next moment 1 was kneel ing and had clutched tho wrist just above the hand. After a second's struggle, the arm was still. With something real to faco, I was myself again. "Don't move, or I'll stand on the I trap and break your arm," 1 panted. ' What else could I threaten? 1 couldn't shoot, I Couldn't even fight. "John 1 ron!" I called. "And then I realized the tiling that sUyoo with me for a month, the thing I cannot think of even now without a shudder. The hand lay ice cold, strangely quiescent. Under my tin gers, an artery was beating feebly. The wrist, wns as slender as—l held the hand to the light. Then 1 let it drep. "Good Lord," 1 muttered, and re mained on my knees, staring at the I spot where the hand had been. It 1 was gone now; there was a faint rus tle In the darkness below, and then silence. I held up my own hand In the star light and stared at a long scratch in the palm. "A woman!" I said to my self stupidly. "By all that's rldicu lous, a woman!" Johnson was striking matches bf>- low and swearing softly *to hlriiself "How the devil do you get to the roof?" he called. "I think I've broken my nose!" *He found the ladder after a short search and stood at the bottom, look Ing up at me. "Well, I suppose you haven't seen him?" he inquired. "There are enough darned cubbyholes in this bouse to hide a patrol wagon load of thieves." He llgtited a fresh match, "Hello, here's anotH»?r door!" By the sound of .his diminishing footsteps I supposed It was a rear staircase. He came up again In ten minutes or bo, this time with the po liceman. "He's gone, all rfgbt," he said rue fully. "If you'd been attending to your business, Roblson, you'd have watched the fcack door." "I'm not twins." Robi*on was surly. "Well," 1 broke In. as cheerfully as I could. "If you are through with this jolly little affair, and can get down my ladder without having my house keeper rlr.g th» burglar alarm. I have some good Monor.gahela whisky—eh?" They came without a second invita tion across the roof, and with them safely away from the house I breath ed more freely. Down In the den I fmfi!led my promise, which Johnson • rank to the toaat, "Coming through the rye." He examined my gun rack with the eye of a connoisseur, and oven when he was about to go he cast a loving eye back at the weapons. "Ever been in the army?" in quired. V "No," I said with a bitterness that he noticed but failed to comprehend. "I'm a chocolate cream soldier—you don't read Shitw, I suppose, Johnson?" « "Never heard of. him," the detective said indifferently. "Well, good night, Mr. Blakeley. Much obliged." At the door he he;ltated and coughed.. "1 suppose 70'* understand, Mr. Blakeley," he salo awkwardly, "that this—or—surveillance is all in the day's work. I don't like it, but it's duty. Every man to his duty, sir." "Sometime when you are in an open mood, Johnson," I returned, "you can explain why- 1 am being watched at aIL" CHAPTER XV. The Cinematograph. On Monday I went out for the first time. 1 did not go to the offlco. I wanted to walk. I thought fresh air and exercise would drive away the blue devils that had me by the throat. McKnight Insisted on a long day in his car, but 1 refused. "1 don't fcnow why not," he said sulkily. "1 can't "walk. I haven't walked consecutive blocks In three years. Automobiles have made legs mere ornaments —and .some not even that. We could have Johnson out there chnsingiis over the country at $5 an hour!" "He can chase us just ns well at five miles an hour," L~-sald. "But what get* me, A why 1 am un der surveillance sit all. How do the police know 1 was accused of that thing?" "The young lady who sent the flow ers—she isn't likely to talk, la she?" "No. That Is, I didn't say It was a lady." I groaned as I tried to get my splintered arm Into a coat. "Anyhow, she didn't tell," 1 finished with con viction, and McKnight laughed. It had rained in the early morning, and Mrs. Klopton predicted more showers. In fact, so firm was her be lief and so determined her eye that I took the umbrella she proffered me. "Never mind," I said. "We can leave It next door! I have a stoiy to tell you, Rlchey, and It requires proper setting."- - McKnight was puzzled, but he fol lowed me obediently around to the kitchen entrance of the empty house. It waa unlocked, as I had expected. While we climbed to tho upper floor 1 retailed tho events of tho previous night. "It's the finest thing I over heard of," McKnight said, staring up at the ladder and the trap. "What a vaude ville skit it would make! Only you ought not to have put your foot on her hand. They don't do it in tho best circles." I wheeled on him Impatiently. "You don't understand tho situation at all, Riehcy!" I exclaimed. "What would you say If I toll you it was tho hand of a ludy? It was covered with rings." "A lndy!" he repeated. "Why, I'd say It was a darned compromising slt utatlon, and that tho less you say of it the better. Look here, I'fiwrenee, I think you dreamed it. You've been In tho house too much. I take it mil back; you do need exercise." "She escaped through this door, I suppose," I said as patiently as I could. "Evidently down the back stair case. We might as well go down that way." "According to the best precedents In these affairs, we should find a glove about here," he said as we started ' down. Hut he was more impressed than he cared to own. Ho examined tho dusty steps carefully, and once, when a bit of loose plaster fell Just behind him, he started like a nervous woman. "What I don't understand Is why you let her go," he said, stopping once, puzzled. "You're not usually quixotic." "When we get out into the country, Rlchey," I replied grnvely. "I am go ing to tell you another story, and if you don't tell mo I'm a I'ool and a craven, on the strength of it, you are no friend of mine." We stumbled- through the twilight of staircase into tho blackness of the shuttered kitchen. The house had the moldy smell of closed buildings; even on that warm September morn ing It was damp and chilly. As we stepped Into the sunshino McKnight gave a shiver. "Now that we nre out." he said, "I don't mind telling you that I have been there before. Do you remember the night you left, and the face the window?" "When you speak of It—yes." "Weli, I was curious about that thing," he went on, as we started up the street, "and I went back. Tho street door was unlocked, and I ex amined every room. I was Mrs. Klop ton's ghost that carried a light,' and clumb." "Did you find anything?" "Only a clean place rubbed on the window opposite your dressing room. | Splendid view of an untidy Interior. I If that house la eve» occupied, you'd i better put stained glass In that win ' dow of yours." (TO Bp CONTINUED.) Mistake Somewhere. "Miss Fang'o is a homeopathist, isn't she?" asked the hostess. f'Weally, I—aw1 —aw don't think so," re plied young Featherby. "At least she is—aw—nevah at home when I call, doncher know." .' * *" _ * •' In and Out. Wigg—There seems to be quite a difference between a Job and a situ ation. Wagg—Oh, yes. For Instance, when a fellow loses bis job he often finds himself In an embarrassing situation. I NORTH CAROLINA, cxxx&xmxKXSSfcKaKK nmnm V ■ I" in in SOUTHERN ASSEMBLY. Completion of Chatau qua Grounds at Waynesville. The early completion of the South' ern assembly—the chatauqua grounds of the Southern Methodist church at Waynesville—is now an assured fact. The announcement a few days ago that Rev. James Cannon, former prin cipal of Blackstone Female College in Virginia, had taken active charge Chautauqua grounds and devel opment as superintendent and man-j ager means that this big enterprise is to be pushed to an early comple tion. Mr. Cannon, Rev. George Stewart, the well known evangel Jet, itnd J. R. Pepper, a well known, banker of Memphis, have made a trip over the assembly grounds and deter mined to have active operatlouß be gin as early in the spring as practi-| cable.^ The officers of the chautauc.ua have era ployed J. W. Seaves, Jr., of Waynesville, a well-known, engineer in that section, to take charge of the engineering department as chief en gineer ana to pu«h tee work. TTre development 1b to go forward at once. Among the immediate things contem plated is the grading and improve pment of the road leading around the proposed lake and the dividing of the property adjacent to the lake Into lotß. Work on the lake will also be begun within a short while. A little later the hotel and the auditorium will be erected. The contract with the engineer provides for the com pletion of everything by the spring of 1913, so that a chautaqua may be held that year. The personnel of the men at tho head of the company Insures success.-' One of the prime movers Is Bishop James Atkins, of Waynesville. The stock of the company is being sold at •a rapid rate and it is believed that it will all soon be placed. The comple- I tlon of the grounds and the opening of the chautauqua will mean much to j Waynesville; In fact, an expenditure I of approxiinattely $1,100,000, while iit will bring to Waynesville one of the most desirable classes of people to be found in the whole country. ! NEVADA JOINS RHODE ISLAND. —— i Legislature Repeals "Bond Gift Act" North Carolina Grateful. Despite the efforts of th# carpet | bag bond looters and the lobby main- I tained by them at Carson "City the I IJouso of Representatives of Nevada haß, by a unanimous vote, repealed the sneak "bond gift act," requiring the governor to accept donations of bonds that might be given the State. The Senate already having passed the act, it went at orice to Governor Oddle, who signed the repealing act. In both Houses of tho Nevada Gen eral Assembly only one vote was cast against the repeal of the act. Almost at the very moment the law was repealed tho Norh Carolina carpet bag bonds of tho face value of $400,000, which the looters have vainly endeavored to force on the State, were carried to the office of Governor Oddle by the Wells Fargo Express Company for delivery. The governor politely refused to receive the bonds and when asked if he de sired to make any provisions in his refusal said that he did not. The bonds were returned to the office of tho express company at Car son City, to be shipped eaßt. to the ! looters, who have failed in their ef forts to force them on tho State. - Free Bulletins for Farmers. For a number of years experiments ! have been in progress on tho several test farms of the Department of Agri culture, located on type soils in dif ferent parts of the State, and on smaller areas of other type soils in a number of counties of the State, to I determine the plant food or fertilizer ' ne-eds of different crops, when grown i on these different soils. These results are being published in bulletins giving the results of ! these tests with corn on the red clay soils of the State, and also a circular in which the results have been con ; densed in a popular way for tho use of the farmer. The farmers can havg the publica tions, if they do not already get them, by writing for them. Patent Plow For Farmers. Mr. R. E. Haynes, of Spencer, has perfected a model of a motor plow for w'.iich he has made application for a patent. The plow is built on a rotary plan and carries eighteen small shovels, which operate on the principle of a circular saw. It ia claimed that the machine, which is propelled by a, gasoline motor .will work as well in dry hard ground as in any other and will thua afford the farmer Immunity from drought In breaking ground. Mystery Cleared Up. The mystery surrounding the death of Sidney Barrier, a prominent farmer of Lenoir county who was shot and killed near Concord, waß partially cleared, when it was learned" that Barrier had a quarrel with a neighbor and Invited the latter to a fight. This 'challenge was declined and Barrier left alone. A moment later a shot was heard and this was the bullet, it is alleged, that caused his death. It is not known who fired the ■hot. THOUGHT SHE'D 1 NEVER GET UP I v " vV-' I But Lady in Chriesman, Who Weak to B«d With This Idea, Has , Changed Her Mind. Chriesman, Tex.—ln a letter from this place, Lillie Gibson Bays: "Abouti three years ago, I was Just entering; * womanhood and was sick In bed for, nearly nine months. I took medicines] from four doctors, but it didn't help' me. Sometimes. I would ache all over, and 1 would bare such a bead ache. 1 had to go to beL ' "I "was in a bad fix, and that is all thero is to it. I thought * would trjr ; Cardui. Now I am cured of all myi troubles, and I shall praise Cardui' as long as S live. My sister aald I never would get well, but now I am' perfectly well, and I am thankful fori what the medicine did for me." Cardui Is made from strictly vege table ingredients. It acts gently on' the womanly organs, stimulating them' to do thefr proper work, relieving pain' and restoring health. Are you weak, tired, worn out? Doj you Buffer from any of the pains pe-j culiar to weak women? Cardui has a record of more than fifty years in' relieving Just such troubles. Will you try it? W. B.—Write toi I.adieu' Advisory Orpt., Chattanooga Medicine Co., Chat-' lanongn, Tenn., for Special Instructions nn«l 04-pnge book, "Home Treatment for Women," sent In plain wrapper, tukl ftquest. Lucidly Expressed. An old Pennsylvania German living In the mountains had a hard thre# hours' dusty walk to accomplish onw morning and he rose very early to mako his start. He had gone but ai little way wheh~he was overtaken byi an automobile, which was probably, the first that had passed along thati way. The driver picked up the oldi man and they were at his destination' in about 20 minutes. "Danks so much awfully mlt da ride. If I had known myself to bo here already two hours In front of de clock yet I vud be at home fast asleep already to start unless I knewj you vud not have picked me up since." H Very Tortuous Indeed. The late Hugh J. Grant of New* York once talked, at a political ban quet, about a noted corporation law yer. | "Oh, yes, he's a grand mind," he said. "A grand legal mind. He's gotj the most tortuous mind In America." Mr. Grant shook his head. '• "A tortuous mind indeed," be re peated. , "Why, If he swallowed a nail, ho'd bring up a screw." .' j Free Blood Cure, Tf you have pimples, offensive eruptions, old sores, cancer, itching, scratching eczema, suppurating swellings, bone pains, hot skin, or if your blood is thin or im pure, then Botanic Blood Balm (li.B.B.)l will heal every sore, stop all itching and make the blood pure and rich. Cures after all else fails. SI.OO per large bottle at drug stores. Sample free by writing Blood Bului Co., Atlanta, Ga., Department B. ir A "Friendly Match." rspeak of a "friendly match," not at ail forgetting that diction of the old Scot to whom his opponent, breaking some trivial rule, said: "I suppose you. won't clulm that in a friendly match?" "Friendly match!" was the reply. "There's no such thing at golf!"—• London Telegraph. • - > Stiff neck! Doesn't amount to much, but mighty disagreeable. You will be sur prised to see how quickly Ilamlins Wizard Oil will drive that stiffness out. One night, that's all. Naturally. "Does your husband go In for golf?" asks the caller. "No," she answers. "He goes out for It." £ For COLOR and GRIP nicks' ( API DINK Is the best remedy—re lieve* the aching and feverlsliness—cure# the Cold and restores normal conditions. It's liquid— effects Immediately. 10c., 25c., and We. At drug Htores. And people who do as they pleas® seein to get along just about as well as those who are always trying to please others. __ ! I Taylor's Cherokee Remedy of Sweet Gum and Mullen is Nature's great remedy- Cures Coughs, Colds, Croup and Whooping Cough anil all throat and lung troubles. At druggists, 25c, 50c and SI.OO per bottle. When the millennium comes there will be schools to which Janitors and railway jwrters will bo sent to learn something about ventilation. i Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets cure consti pation. Constipation is the cause of many diseases. Cure the cause and you cur® the disease. Easy to take. —————_____ ' What a deal of grief, and care, and other harmful excitement does a healthy dullness and cheerful insensi bility avoid.—Thackeray. i TO CUKE A COLD IN OlfE DAT Take LAXATIVH BROMO Oulnlno Tablet*. I)ruMl*t«refund money It It falls to cure. M. W. ÜBOVK'S signature Is on each box. tic. A woman's idea of a great financier is a man who can straighten out her expense account. Mrs. Wlnslow's Soothing Syrup tor Children teething, softens the (una, reduces Inflamma tion, allays pain, cures .wind colic, SSfe a bottle. Men are known by the good they do rather than the goods the/ j
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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Feb. 10, 1911, edition 1
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