The Edmond Enterprise (Edmond, Okla.), Vol. 8, No. 45, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 16, 1908 Page: 4 of 10
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SMALL THING
BLINDFOLDED
A Mystery Story
of San Francisco
BY
EARLE ASHLEY WALCOTT
I2C
(Copyright llWfl, the ttobbe Merrill Co.)
SYNOPSIS.
Giles Dudley arrived In San Francisco
/<> join hi* frlinil ami distant relative
Henry Wilton, whom he was to a**l*t
In an Important and myHtrrloiiH taflk.
and who accompanied Dudley on tin-
ferry boat trip Into the city. The re
markable rem-mblaner of the two men
is noted and commented on hy piiHHeti-
Kers on the ferry. Tliey see u man with
snake eyes, which sends a thrill through
lindley. Wilton postpones an explanation
of tile 8tranffe errand Dudley Is to per-
form. lint oeeurreni en rause him to
know It I* one of no ordinary meaning
Wilton leaves Giles in their room, with
Instruction to await his return Hardly
has In KOiie than Giles Is startled by a
cry of "Help." Dudley is summoned to
the morttue anil there finds the dead
body of Ids friend, Henry Wilton. And
thus Wilton dies without ever explaining
to Dudley the puzzlInK work he was to
perform in San Francisco. In order to
discover tlie secret mission his friend had
entrusted to him. Dudley continues his
disguise and permits himself to lie known
as llenry Wilton. Dudley, mistaken for
Wilton, is employed by Knapp to assist
In a stock brokerage deal. Giles Dudley
finds himself closeted in a room with
Mother Hinton who makes a confidant
of him. lie can learn nothing about the
mysterious boy further than that It is
Tim Tcrrlll and Darby Meeker who are
after him. He Is told that "Dicky" Nalil
is a traitor, playing both hands In the
game Dudley gets Ids first knowledge of
Decker, who Is Knapp's enemy on the
Hoard. Dudley visits the home of Knapp
aftd Is stricken by the beauty of l.uella.
his daughter. lie learns the note was
forgery. II# Is provided with four guards.
Hrown, Harkhouse. Fitzhugh and Porter
He learns there is to be no trouble about
money as all • xpenses will be paid, the
litre of the guards being paid by one
"Richmond." The body of Henry Wilton
Is committed to the vault. Dudley re-
sponds to a note and visits Mother Bur-
ton in company with Policeman Corson.
Giles Dudley again visits the Knapp
home. He is fascinated by l.uella and
bored by Mrs Bowser. Slumming tour
through Chinatown is planned. The Irlp
to Chinatown. Giles Dudley learns that
the party Is being shadowed by Terrlll.
l.uella is dumbfounded when she and
Dudley see her father coming from an
opium den. l.uella and Dudley are cut off
from tile lest of the party anil Imprison-
ed In a hallway behind an iron-bound
door. Three Chinese ruffians approach the
Imprisoned couple. A battle ensues. One
Is knocked down. Giles begins tiring.
CHAPTER XVIII—Continued.
"There's one fellow there," I said.
"But it's the one I knocked down."
"Can't you see the others?" inquired
Luella.
"No more in sight," said I, after a
bolder survey. "They've run away.'
"Oh, I'm glad," said Luella. "1
should have seen them always if you
had killed them. Why did they at-
tack us?"
Before I could reply to Luella's ques
tion, a tattoo was beaten upon thf
door and a muffled shout came from
the other side. 1 stepped down from
the stair to listen.
"Are you hurt?" shouted Corson
"What's the matter?"
"No damage," I returned. "I drove
them oft."
Corson shouted some further words
but they were lost In a sudden rnur
mur of voices and a scuffle of feet that
arose behind.
"Look out!" cried Luella peremptor
lly. "Come back here!"
1 have Bald that the passage opened
Into a little court, and at the end a
lamp gave light to the court and the
passage.
As 1 turned I saw a confusion of
men pouring into the open space and
heading for the passage. They wer
evident ly Chinese, but in the gleam
of the lamp I was sure I saw the evil
face and snake-eyes of Tom Terrlll
He was wrapped in the Chinese
blouse, but 1 could not be mistaken
Then with a chorus of yells there was
the crack of a pistol, and a bullet
struck the door close to my ear.
It was all done in an instant. Be-
fore the sound of the shot 1 dropped
and then made a leap for the stair.
"Oh!" cried Luella anxiously; "were
you hit?"
"No, I'm all right," I said, "but it
was a close shave. The gang means
mischief."
"Well, tell me something I can do,
she said.
1 gave her my small revolver.
"Hand that to me when I want it,
1 said. "If I'm killed, get up the stairs
and defend yourself with it. Don't fire
unless you have to. We are short of
ammunition." I had but three shots
in the large six-shooter.
"Are they coming?" asked Luella,
as the wild tumult of shouts stilled for
a moment and a single voice could-be
heard.
I peered cautiously around the cor-
ner.
"There's a gentleman in a billycock
hat who's rather anxious to have them
lead the way," I said; "but they seem
to prefer listening to fighting."
The Kentleman whose voice was for
war I discovered to be my snake-eyed
friend. He seemed to be having dif-
ficulty with the language, and was
king out his Pidgin-English with pan-
tomime.
'There!" cried Lu;lla with a start;
what's that?"
A heavy blow shook the walls of the
building and sounded through the
passage.
"Good!" I said. "If our friends yon-
er are going to make trouble they
must do It at once. Corson's got an
and the door will be down flrst
they know."
"Than Heaven!" whispered Luella.
And then she began to tremble.
The blows followed fast upon each
other, but suddenly they were
irowned in a chorus of yells, and a
volley of revolver shots sent the bul-
lets spatting against the door.
Look out, Miss Knapp," I said.
They're coming. Stand close behind
me, and crouch down if they get this
far."
The band was advancing with a
frightful din, but was making more
noise than speed. Evidently it had lit-
tle heart for its job.
I looked into the yelling mob for the
nake-eyed agent of Doddridge Knapp,
but could not single him out.
1 dared wait no longer. Aiming at
he foremost I fired twice at the ad-
vancing assailants. There were
houts and screams of pain in answer,
nd the line hesitated. I gave them
the remaining cartridge, and, seizing
he smaller weapon from Luella. fired
as rapidly as I coultl pull the trigger.
The effect was Instantaneous. With
;i succession of howls and curses the
band broke and ran—all save one
man, who leaped swiftly forward with
x long knife in his hand.
It would have gone hard with me
If he had ever reached me, for he was
i large and powerful fellow, and my
last shot was gone. Hut in the dark
and smoky passage ho stumbled over
he prostrate body of the first des-
perado whom I had been fortunate
notigh to knock down, and fell sprawl-
ing at full length almost at my feet.
With one leap I was on his back,
ind with a blow from the revolver I
had quieted him, wrenched the knife
from his hand and had the point rest-
ng on his neck.
Luella gave a scream.
"Oh!" she cried, "are you hurt?"
"No," I said lightly, "but I don't
hink this gentleman Is feeling very
well. He's likely to have a sore head
for a day or two."
"Come back here," said Lue'lla in a
peremptory tone. "Those men may
come again and shoot you."
'I don't think so," said I. "The
ioor is coming down. But, anyhow, I
can't leave our friend here. Lie still!"
I growled, giving the captive a gentle
prod in the neck with the point of his
knife to emphasize my desire to have
peace and quiet between us.
1 heard him swear under his breath.
The words were foreign, but there
was no mistaking the sentiment be-
hind them.
"You aren't killing him, are you?"
inquired Luella anxiously.
"I think it might be a service to the
country," I confessed, "but I'll save
him for the hangman."
"You needn't speak so regretfully,"
laughed Luella, with a little return of
her former spirit. "But here our peo-
ple come."
The ax had been plied steadily, but
the door came down with difficulty
\t last it was shaking and yielding
and almost as Luella spoke it swayed
bent apart, and broke with a crash
and with a babel of shouts Corson
Porter, Barkhouse and Wainwright
with two more policemen, poured
through the opening.
"Praise the powers, you're safe!'
cried Corson, wringing my hand, while
the policemen took the prostrate Chin
ese in charge. ^"Aud is the young lady
hurt?"
"No harm done," said Luella. "Mr
Wilton is quite a general."
1 called my men aside and spoke
sharply.
"You haven't obeyed orders," I said
"You, Porter, and you, Barkhouse
were to keep close by me to-night
Yon didn't do it, and it's only by good
luck that the young lady and I were
not killed. You, Wainwright, were to
follow Tom Terrill. I saw Terrill just
now in a gang of Chinese, and you
turn up on the other side of a barred
door."
Porter and Barkhouse looked sheep
ish enough, but Wainwright protested
"I was following Terrill when he
gets into a gang of highbinders, and
goes into one of these rooms over
here a ways. I waits a while for him
and then starts to look around a bit
and first I knows I runs up against
Porter here hunting for an ax, and
crazy as a loon, saying as how you
was murdered and they had got to
save you."
"Well, just keep close to me for the
rest of the night and we'll say no more
about it. There's no great damage
done—nothing but a sore knuckle."
was feeling now the return effects of
my blow on the coolie's chin.
"I don't understand this, Mr. WI1
ton," said Corson in confidential per-
plexity. "I don't see why the haythen
were after yez."
"I saw—I saw Tom Terrill," said I,
stumbling over the name of Dodd-
ridge Knapp. I determined to keep
the Incident of hiB appearance to my-
self.
"I don't see how he worked It, said
Corson with a shake of the head.
"They don't like to stand against a
white man. It's a quare tale he must
have told 'em, and a big sack he must
have promised "em to bring 'em down
on ye. Was It for killin' ye they was
tryin'. or was they for catchin' yez
alive?"
"They were trying to take us alive
at flrst, I think, but the bullets
whistled rather close for comfort."
"I was a little shaky myself, when
they plunked against the door," said
Corson with a smile.
While Corson was attempting to ex-
plain to Mrs. Bowser the nature of the
blackmailing bands of the Chinese
criminal element, Luella said:
"Please get us out of this. I can t
stand It."
1 had marveled at her calm amid the
excited talk of those about her, but
I saw now that it was forced by an
effort of her will. She was sadly
shaken.
"Take my arm," I said. "Mr. Cor-
son will lead the way." I signed to
Porter to go ahead and to Barkhouse
and Wainwright to follow me. "It's
very close here."
"It's very ridiculous of me," said
Luella, with an hysterical laugh, "but
I'm a little upset."
"I dare say you're not used to if," I
suggested dryly.
Luella gave me a quick glance.
"No, are you? It's not customary
In our family," she said with an at-
tempt at gaiety.
I thought of the wolf-figure who had
come out of the opium den and the
face framed in the lantern flash of the
alley, and was silent. Perhaps the
i
yrf JKJ- CT3MW3 1 ZtD. L4,
thought of the scene of the passage
had come to her, too, for she shudder
ed and quickened her step as though
to escape.
'Do you want to go through the
theater?" asked Corson.
"No—no," whispered Luella, "get
me home at once."
We have seen enough sights for the
evening, I believe," said I.
Mrs. Bowser was volubly regretful
but declined Corson's offer to chap
eron her through a night of it.
On the way home Luella spoke not
word, but Mrs. Bowser filled the
time with a detailed account of her
emotions and sensations while Corson
and his men were searching for us and
beating down the door.
At the door Luella held out her hand
impulsively.
"I wish I knew whom to thank—
but I do thank him—for my safety—
perhaps my life. Believe me—I am
grateful to a brave man."
I felt the warm clasp of her fingers
for a moment, and then with a flash of
her eyes that set my blood on fire she
was gone, and I was staggering down
Doddridge Knapp's steps in a tumult
of emotions.
CHAPTER XIX.
A Deal in Stocks.
The wolf-face, seamed with hatred
and anger, and hideous with evil pas-
sions, that had glowered for a mo-
ment out of the smoky frame of the
Chinese den, was still haunting me as
I forced myself once more to return
to the office. Wednesday morning had
come, and I was due to meet Dodd
ridge Knapp. But as I unlocked the
door, I took some comfort in tb
reflection that I could hardly be mon
unwilling to meet the Wolf than he
must be to meet me.
I had scarcely settled myself in my
chair when I heard the key turn in
the lock. The door swung open, and
in walked Doddridge Knapp.
I had thought to find at least some
trace of the opium debauch through
which I had gained the clew to his
strange and contradictory acts. But
the face before me was a mask that
showed no sign of the experiences
through which he had passed. For
all that appeared, he might have em
ployed the time since I had left here
two days before in studying philoso
phy and cultivating peace and good
will with his neighbors.
'Ah, Wilton," <ie said, affably, rub
bing his hands with a purring grow!
"You're ready for a hard day's work
I hope."
FORGOT.
Nothing would please me better,'
I said cheerfully, my repugnance |
melting away with the magnetism ot ,
his presence. "Is the black flag up to- j
day?"
He looked at me In surprise for an
Instant, and then growled, still In (
good humor: I
" 'No quarter' is the motto to-day." I he said, that he couldn't open his
And I listened closely as the King of mouth without making an arrant ass
the Street gave his orders for the of himself.
May Have Accounted for Hit Proposal
Being Turned Dov/n.
Senator Beveridge described, at a
dinner, an absent-minded farmer.
"The man was so absent-minded,"
"Once he courted a young woman.
His suit looked promising for a time.
Then, with a sorrowful visage, he
ceased his courtship.
"'Yet she seemed infatuated with
you, Jabez,' said I, one day when he
came to me for sympathy.
" 'She were, too,' Jabez agreed.
" 'Well, what could have been the
trouble?'
" 'Dunno,' said he. He filled his
pipe. 'Dunno; but when I perposed,
she turned me down cold.'
" 'Perhaps your proposal wasn't ard-
ent enough?' 1 suggested.
" 'Oh, It was fiery,' said Jabez. 'Hot
as pepper. I told her she was the
only woman I'd ever loved, ever
looked at, ever thought of, or—'
" 'But, said I, 'you forgot, then, you
were a widower.'
" 'Jingo,' said Jabez, 'so I did.'"
"Nails."
"Nails are a mighty good thing—
particularly finger nails—but I don't
believe they were intended solely for
scratching—though I used mine large-
ly for that purpose for several years.
I was sorely afflicted and had it to do.
One application of Hunt's Cure, how-
ever, relieved my itch and less than a
box cured me entirely."
J. M. WARD, Index, Texas.
ASKING FOR ONE.
morning.
You understand now," he said at
the end of his orders, "that you are
to sell all the Crown Diamond that
the market will take, and buy all
the Omega that you can get below one
hundred."
"I understand."
"We'll feed Decker about as big
dose as he can swallow, I reckon,"
said the King of the Street, grimly.
"One thing," I said, "I'd like to
know if I'm the only one operating
for you."
The King of the Street drew his
bushy brows down over his eyes and
scowled at me a moment.
"You're the only one in the big
board," he said at last. "There are
men in the other boards, you under-
stand."
I thought I understood, and sallied
forth for the battle. At Doddridge
Knajip's suggestion I arranged to do
my business through three brokers,
snd added Lattimer and Hobart to J
Wallbridge, and Hockstein and Epp-
ner.
Bockstein greeted me affably:
"Velgome to de marget vonce more, '
Mr. —, Mr. —"
"Wilton," said Eppner, assisting his
artner in his high, dry voice, with i
cold civility. His blue-black eyes re- I
garded me as but a necessary part of
the machinery of commerce.
I gave my orders briefly.
"Dot is a larch order," said Bock-
stein dubiously.
"You don't have to take it," I was
about to retort, when Eppner's high- j
pitched voice interrupted:
"It's all right. The customary mar-■
gin is enough."
Wallbridge was more enthusiastic.
"You've come just in the nick of j
time," said the stout little man, swab- 1
bing his bald head from force of
habit, though the morning was chill, j
The market has been drier than a
fish-horn and duller than a foggy
morning."
Lattimer and Hobart, after a polite
explanation of their rules in regartl j
to margins, and getting a certified
heck, became obsequiously anxious
to do my bidding.
I distributed the business with such
judgment that I felt pretty sure our
plans could not in any way be ex-
posed, and took my place at the rail
in the board room.
The opening proceedings were com-
paratively tame. I detected a sad
falllng-off in the quality and quantity
of lung power and muscular activity
among the buyers and sellers in the
pit.
At the call of Confidence, Lattimer
and Hobart began feeding shares to
the market. Confidence dropped five
points in half a minute, and the pit
began to wake up.
There was a roar and a growl that
showed me the animals were still
alive.
The Decker forces were taken by
surprise, but with a hasty consultation I
came gallantly to the rescue of their
stock. At the close of the call they
had forced it back and one point high- I
er than at the opening.
This, however, was but a skirmish |
of outposts. The fighting began at j
the call of Crown and Diamond. i _
It opened at 63. The flrst bid was Proof is inexhaustible that
hardly made when with a bellow Wall- Lydia E. Pinkliam's Vegetable
bridge charged on Decker's broker, j Compound carries women safely
filled his bid, and offered a thousand through the Change of Life.
shares at 62. ; j^ea(j the letter Mrs. E. Hanson,
There was an answering roar from E I/mg gt Columbus, Ohio,
■ ™b -m* to imh,,..,
He—If we were not in a canoe I
would kiss you.
She—Take me ashore instantly, sir!
GOOD HOUSEKEEPERS.
Use the best. That's why they buy Red
Cross Ball Blue. At leading grocers 5 cents.
It's surprising how brave the av-
erage man is when there isn't any
real danger in sight.
Smokers appreciate the quality value of
Lewis' Single Binder cigar. Your dealer
or Lewis' Factory, Peoria, 111.
Being bitten by a toothless
must be a soft snap.
dog
on Wallbridge with the apparent in-
tent of tearing him limb from limb.
Wallbridge's offer was snapped up at
once, but a few weak-kneed holders
of the stock threw small blocks on
the market.
These were taken up at once, and
Decker's brokers were biding 65.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
" I was passing through the Change
of Life, and suffered from nervous-
ness, headaches, and other annoying
symptoms. My doctor told me that
Lydia E. Pinkliam's Vegetable Com-
pound was good for me, and since tak-
ing it I feel so much better, and I can
again do my own work. I never forget
to tell my friends what Lydia E. Pink-
ham's Vegetable Compound did for me
during this trying period."
FACTS FOR SICK WOMEN.
For thirty years Lydia E. Pink-
ham's Vegetable Compound, made
from roots and herbs, has been the
standard remedy for female ills,
and has positively cured thousands of
women who have been troubled with
displacements, inflammation, ulcera-
tion, fibroid tumors, irregularities,
do was to take sun baths. I stripped periodic pains, backache, that bear
and would go out in the yard every \ ing-down fee ling, flatulency, mdiges-
morning and lay for 40 minutes In the tion,dizziness or nei'TOUS prostration,
broiling sun. It was not so hot, but ; Why don t you try it t^
felt so to me, as I was unprotected. | Mrs. Pinkham invites all si eh
Well, sir, in a few days I began to feel w()m<'n to write her for advice.
better In three weeks I was nro- She has P'"ded thousands to
better, in three «eKs l was pro- he.llth> Address, Lynn, Mass.
nounced a well man. The sun baths
certainly did the trick for me."
Effect of Sun Baths.
"The taking of sun baths is one of
the most healthful things In the
world," said Evan T. Roberts, of Cln-1
cinnati. "Several years ago I visited
Germany, and while there was taken
down with nervous prostration. I
called in the best specialists of Ber-
lin. They told me I needed more ex-
ercise, more fresh air and more sun-
light. The first thing they made me
Line Pays No Dividends.
The coach line that Alfred Vander-
bilt has established between the Hol-
land house, New York, and ArdBley on
the Hudson is not a paying business. [
All the fares received in one season |
would not buy one of the eight Ken- I
tucky blooded horses that draw the
coach. The round trip fare is (6.
PARKER'S
HAIR BALSAM
Clean*?* and beautifies the hair.
Promotes a luxuriant growth.
Never Fails to Restore Gray
Hair to Its Youthful Color.
Curea scalp diataie* & hair falling.
^^60c,and f l.O) at Druggist*
DR. A. D. YOUNG
NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASES.
OKLAHOMA CITY, t i OKLAHOMA.
Loug Distance Phone. P. B. X. 98.
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Gould, C. W. The Edmond Enterprise (Edmond, Okla.), Vol. 8, No. 45, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 16, 1908, newspaper, July 16, 1908; Edmond, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc140618/m1/4/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.