The Mooreland Leader. (Mooreland, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, July 10, 1908 Page: 4 of 8
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Mooreland Leader.
By Omer Schnocbslen.
MOORELAND,
OKLA.
BLINDFOLDED
A Mystery Story
of San Francisco
BY
EARLE ASHLEY WALCOTT
(Copyright 1906, the Uobbn Merrill Co.)
SYNOPSIS.
Giles Dudley arrived In Sun Kr "'0
to jaln lila friend and distant ive
Henry Wilton, whom he wns t<> abulia
In un important and mysterious task,
and who accompanied Dudley on the
ferry boat trip Into the city. The re-
markable resemblance of the two men
Is noted and commented on by passen-
gers on the ferry. They see a man wltli
snake eyes, which (tends a thrill through
Dudley. Wilton postpones an explanation
of the strange errand Dudley Is to per-
form, but occurrences cause him to
know It Is one of no ordinary meaning.
Wilton leaves Giles In their room, with
Instruction to await Ills return. Hardly
lias he K<>n« than Giles is startled by a
cry of "Help." Dudley Is summoned to
the morgue and there finds the dead
body of his friend, Henry Wilton. And
thus Wilton dies without ever explaining
to Dudley the puzzling work he was to
perform In San Kranclsco. In order to
discover the secret mission his friend had
entrusted to him, Dudley continues his
disguise and permits himself to be 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 Borton who makes a confidant
of hlin. He can.learn nothing about the
mysterious boy further than that It Is
Tim Terrlll and Darby Mevker who are
after him. He is told that "Dicky Nahl
Is a traitor, playing both bands In the
fame. Dudley gels his first knowledge or
Jecker, who is Knapp's enemy on the
Board. Dudley visits the home of Knapp
Is stricken by the beauty of Duella,
fi
and —
Ms daughter. He learns the note was
forgery, lie Is provided with four gfuarils,
Brown, Bark house, Fitzhugh and Porter.
He learns there Is to be no trouble about
money as all expenses will be paid, the
hire of the guards being paid by one
"Richmond." The body of Henry Wilton
la committed to the vnult. Dudley re-
sponds to a note and visits Mother Bor-
ton In company with Policeman Corson.
Giles Dudley again visits the Knapp
home. He Is fascinated by Duella and
bored by Mrs. Bowser. Slumming tour
through Chinatown Is planned.
CHAPTER XVI.—Continued.
"I'd trust ye," she said. "Well, there
was a gang across the street to-night
■—across from my place, 1 mean—and
that Bneafting Tom Terrlll and Darby
Meeker, and I reckon all the rest of
•em. was there. And they was run-
nin" back and forth to my place, and
a-drinkln' a good deal, and the more
they drinks the louder they talks.
And I hears Darby Meeker say to one
feller, 'We'll git him, sure!' and I
listens with all my ears, though pre-
tendln' to see nothiu'. 'We'll fix it this
time,' he said; 'the Old Un's got his
thinkin' cap on.' And I takes in every
word, and by one thing and another
I picks up that there's new schemes
afoot to trap ye. They was a-sayln'
as it might be an idee to take ye as
you come out of Knapp's to-night."
"How did they know I was at
Knapp's?'.' I asked, somewhat sur-
prised, though I had little reason to be
when I remembered the number of
spies who might have watched me.
"Why, Dicky Nahl told 'em," said
Mother Borton. "He was with the gang
and sings it out as pretty as you
please."
This gave roe something new to
think about, but I said nothing.
"Well," she continued, "they says
at last that won't do, fer it'll git 'em
Into trouble, and I reckon they're argy-
fying over their schemes yit. But one
thing I finds out."
Mother Borton stopped and looked
at me anxiously.
"Well," I said impatiently, "what
was it?"
"They're a-sayin' as how, if you're
killed, the one as you knows on'll have
to git some one else to look after the
boy, and mebbe he won't be so smart
about foolin' them."
"ihat's an excellent idea" said I.
"If they only knew that I was the oth-
er fellow they could see at once what
a bright scheme they had hit upon."
"Maybe they ain't a-goin' to do it,"
said Mother Borton. "There's a heap
©' things said over the liquor that don't
git no further, but you'll be a fool if
you don't logk out. Now, do as 1 tell
you. You just keep more men around
you. Keep eyes in the back of your
head, and if you see there's a-goin' to
be trouble, jest you shoot first and ax
questions about it afterward. They
talked of getting you down on the
water-front or up in Chinatown with
come bogus message and said how
easy it would be to dispose of you
without leaving clues behind 'em.
Now, don't you eleep here without
three or four men on guard, and don't
you stir round nights with less than
four. Send Porter out to git two more
men, and tell him to look sharp and
see if the coast's clear outside. I
reckon I'll slide out If no one's look-
In'."
"I've got some mon on the next
door," 1 said. "I thought it would be
Just aw well to have a few around In
case of emergencies. I'll have two of
them out, and send Porter to recon-
noiter,"
"Who told you to git your men to-
gether?"
"A little idea of my own."
"You've got some sense, after ali."
The reinforcements were soon ready
to take orders, and Porter returned to
bring word that nd suspicious person
was in sight in the street.
"I reakon I'd best go, then," said
Mother Borton. "I don't want no knifr
in me Jest yit, but if there's no one
to see me I'm *kll right."
I pressed Mother Borton to take
two of my men as escort, but she
sturdily refused.
"They'd know something was up if
I was to go around that way,#and I'd
be a bloody ghost as soon as they
could ketch me alone," she said.
"Well, good night—or is It mornln'?
And do take keer of yourself, dearie."
And, so saying, Mother Borton muffled
herself up till it was hard to tell
whether she was man or woman, and
trudged away.
Whatever designs were brewing in
the night-meeting of the conspirators,
they did not appear to concern my im-
mediate peace of body. The two fol-
lowing days were spent in quiet. In
spite of warnings, I began to believe
that no new plan of action had been
determined on, and I bent my Bteps to
the office that had been furnished by
Doddridge Knapp. I hardly expected
to meet the King of the Street. He
had, I supposed, returned te the city,
but he had set Wednesday as the day
for resuming operations in the market,
and 1 did not think that he would be
found here on Monday.
The room was cold and cheerless,
and the dingy books in law-calf ap-
peared to gaze at me in mute protest
as I looked about me.
The doors that separated me from
Doddridge Knapp's room were shut
and locked. What was behind them? I
wondered. Was there anything in
Doddridge Knapp's room that bore on
the mystery of the hidden boy, or
would give the clue to the murder of
Henry Wilton? If vengeance was to
be mine; if Doddridge Knapp was to
pay the penalty of the gallows for the
death of Henry Wilton, it must be,by
the evidence that I should wrest from
him and his tools. I had just secured
the key that would fit the first door
I had taken the impression of the
lock and had it made without definite
purpose, but now I was ready to act.
With a sinking heart but a clear
head I put the key cautiously to the
lock and gently turned it. The key
fitted perfectly, and the bolt flew back
as it made the circle. I opened the
door into the middle room. The sec-
ond door, as I expected, was closed.
Would the same, key fit the second
lock, or must I wait to have another
made? I advanced to the second door
and was about to try the key when a
sound from behind it turned my blood
to water.
Beyond that door, from the room I
had supposed to be empty, 1 heard a
groan.
1 stood as if petrified, and, in the
broad daylight that streamed in at the
window, with the noise and rush of
Clay street ringing in my ears, I felt
my hair rise as thougl I had come
on a ghost. I listened a minute or
more, but heard nothing.
"Nonsense!" I thought to myself; "it
was a trick of the imagination."
I raised my hand once more to the
lock, when the sound broke again,
louder, unmistakable. It was the voice
of one in distress of body or mind.
I listened with all my ears. Then
there came through the door the low,
stern tones of a man's voice speak-
ing earnestly, pleadingly, threatening-
ly, but in a suppressed monotone.
Then the groan burst forth again,
and it was followed by sobs and
choked sounds, as of one who protest-
ed, yet, strangely, the voice was the
same. There was one man, not two. It
was self-accusation, self-excuse, and
the sobs seemed to come in answer to
self-reproaches.
Then there was sound as of a man
praying, and the prayer was broken
by sobs; and again I thought there
were two men. Aud then there was
a noise of a man moving about, and
a long smothered groan, as of one in
agony of spirit. Fearful that the door
might be Cung open in my face, I tip-
toed back to my room, and silently
turned the key, as thoroughly mysti-
fied as ever I had been in the strange
events that had crowded my
life since I had entered the city.
tossed between two opposing forces.
1 knew that a mysterious boy was aup-
posed to e under my protection, and
that to gain and keep possession of
him my life was sought and defended.
I knew that Doddridge Knapp bad
caused the murder of Henry Wilton,
and yet for some unfathomable reason
gave me bis confidence and employ-
ment under the belief that I was Hen-
ry Wilton. But I had been able to get
no hint of who the boy might be, or
where he was concealed, or who was
*he hidden woman who employed me
to protect him, or why he waB sought
by Doddridge Knapp.
How long I sat by the desk waiting,
thinking, planning, I knew not. One
scheme of action after another I had
considered and rejected, when a sound
broke on my listening ears. I started
dp in feverish anxiety. It was from
the room beyond, and I stole toward
the door to learn what it might mean.
Burning with impatience, I thrust
aside the fears of the evil that might
follow hasty action. I had drawn the
key and raised it to the slot, when I
heard a step in the middle room. I
bad but time to retreat to my desk
when a key was fitted in the lock, the
door was flung open, and Doddridge
Knapp stepped calmly Into the room.
"Ah, Wilton," said the King of the
Street afTably, "I was wondering if I
should find you here."
There was no trace of surprise or
agitation In the face before me. If
this was the man whose prayers and
groans and sobs had come to me
through the locked door, if he had
wrestled with his conscience or even
had been the accusing conscience of
another, his face was a mask that
showed no trace of the agony of
thoughts that might contort the spirit
beneath it.
"I was attending to a little work of
my own," I answered, after greeting.
If I felt much like a disconcerted pick-
pocket I was careful to conceal the cir-
CHAPTER XVII.
In a Foreign Land.
The groans and prayers, if they con-
tinued, could be heard no longer
through the double doors, and I seated
myself by the desk and took account
of the events that had broi'^ht me to
my present position.
Where did I stand? What had I ac-
complished? What had I learned?
I How was I to reach the end for which
I struggled and bring justice to the
slayer of my murdered friend? As I
passed in review the occurrences that
had crowded the few weeks since my
arrival, I was compelled to confess
that I knew little more of the mys-
teries that surrounded me than on the
night I arrived. I knew that I was
7KE CAHZXSVN scope?*?' /Avon..
cumstance, and spoke with easy Indif-
ference. "You have come back be-
fore I expected you," I continued care-
lessly.
"Yes," said the King of the Street
with equal carelessness. "Some fami
ly affairs called me home sooner than
I had thought to come."
"Mrs. Knapp is not 111, I trust?" I
ventured.
"Oh, no."
"Nor Miss Knapp?"
"Oh. all are well at the house, but
sometimes you know women-folks get
nervous.
Was it possible that Mrs. Knapp
had sent for her husband? What
other meaning could I put on these
words? But before I could pursue my
investigations further along this line,
the wolf came to the surface, and he
waved the subject aside with a growl.
"But this is nothing to you. What
you want to know is that I won't need
you before Wednesday, if then."
"Does the campaign reopen?
asked.
"If you don't mind, Wilton," said
the Wolf with another growl, "I'll keep
my plans till I'm ready to use them.
"Certainly," I retorted. "But maybe
you would feel a .little interest to
know that Rosenheim and Bashford
have gathered in about a thousand
shares of Omega in the last four or
five days.
Doddridge Knapp gave me a keen
glance.
"There were no sales of above a
hundred shares," he said.
"No—most of them ran from ten to
fifty shares."
"Well," he continued, looking fixedly
at me. "you know something about
Rosenheim ?"
"If it won't interfere with your
plans," I suggested apologetically.
The Wolf drew back his lips over
his fangs, and then turned the snarl
into a smile.
"Go on," he said, waving amends
for the snub he had administered.
"Well, I don't know much about
Rosenheim, but I caught him talking
with Decker.
"Were the stocks transferred to
Decker?"
"No; they stand to Rosenheim,
tinstee.'
"Well, Wilton, they've stolen
'em a surprise before they're quite
awake."
"And," I continued coolly, "Decker's
working up a deal In Crown Diamond
and toying a little with Confidence—
you gave me a week to find out, you
may remember."
"Very good, Wilton," said the King
of the Street with grudging approval
"We'll sell old Decker quite a piece of
Crown Diamond before he gets
through. And now is there anything
more in your packet?"
"It's empty," I confessed.
"Well, you may go then."
Doddridge Knapp followed me to
the door, and stood on the threshold
as I walked down the hall. There was
no chance for Bpying or listening at
key-holes, if I were so Inclined, and
it was not until I had reached the
bottom stair that I thought I heard
the sound of a closing door behind
me.
As I stood at the entrance, almost
oblivious of the throng that was hur-
rying up and down Clay street, Porter
joined me.
"Did you see him?" he asked.
"Him? Who?"
"Why, Tom Terrlll sneaked down
those stairs a little bit ago, and I
thougbt you might have found him up
there."
Could it be possible that this man
had been with Doddridge Knapp, and
that it was his voice I had heard?
This in turn seemed improbable, hard-
ly possible.
•There he" is now," whispered Por-
ter.
1 turned my eyes in the direction he
indicated, and a shock ran through
me; for my eye had met the eye of
a serpent. Yes, there again was the
cruel, keen face, and the glittering, re-
pulsive eye, filled with malice and
hatred, that I had beheld with loath-
ing and dread whenever it had come
in my path. With an evil glance Ter-
rill turned and made off in the crowd.
"Follow that man, Wainwright,"
said I to the second guard, who was
close at hand. "Watch him to-night
and report to me to-morrow."
I wondered what could be the mean-
ing of Terrill's visit to the building.
Was it to see Doddridge Knapp and
get his orders? Or was it to follow
up some new plan to wrest from me
the secret I was supposed to hold?
But there was no answer to these
questions, and I turned toward my
room to prepare for the excursion
that had been set for the evening.
It was with hope and fear that I
took my way to the Pine Street pal-
ace. It was my fear that was realized.
Mrs. Bowser fell to my lot, while Lu-
ella joined Mr. Carter, and Mrs. Car-
ter with Mr. Horton followed.
Corson was waiting for us at the
City Hall. I had arranged with the
policeman that he should act as our
guide, and had given him Porter and
Barkhouse as assistants fn case any
should be needed.
"A fine night for it, sor," said Cor-
son in greeting. "There's a little cele-
bration goin' on among the haythens
to-night, so you'll see 'em at their
best."
Looking across the dark shrubbery
of Portsmouth Square and up Wash-
ington street, the eye could catch a
line of gay-colored lanterns, swaying
in the light wind, and casting a mel-
low glow on buildings and walks.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
WOMAN WHO IS APPRECIATED.
Truth and
Qualify
appeal to the Well-informed in
walk of life and are essential to permanent
auccess and creditable standing. Accor-
ingly, it is not claimed that Syrup of Fig*
and Elixir of Senna is the only remedy of
known value, but one of many reason*
why it is the best of personal and family
laxatives is the fact that it cleanses,
sweetens and relieves the internal organ®
on which it acts without any debilitating
after effects and without having to increaaa
the quantity from time to time.
It acts pleasantly and naturally and
truly as a laxative, and its component
parts are known to and approved by
physicians, as it is free irom all objection-
able substances. To get its beneficial
effects always purchase the genuine-
manufactured by the California Fig Syrup
Co., only, and for sale by all leading drug-
gists.
The Tangled Web.
Charley is the white-haired negro
man employed by a southern family on
Charlotte street. And Charley is cau-
tious about lending anything. Th
other day a man new to the neighbor-
hood appeared at the door and aske?
If he could borrow a spade.
"No. sir," said Charley. "Ain't got
no spade."
"Haven't you any sort of a shove)
I could use to dig flshworms with?"
"No, sir, ain't got no shovel."
The stranger hesitated a moment
and then asked:
"Do you suppose the folks next door
have a spade they'd lend me?"
"No, sir," replied Charley, promptly,
"they's all the time a-borrowin' our'n."
—Kansas City Times.
She of Sunny, Cheerful Temperament
Always Popular.
The woman who Is appreciated Is
generous not so much with money
as with large-heartedness and thought-
fulness and sympathy. The world
loves the one who can find a redeem-
ing quality, even In the greatest of
sinners, one who forbears to strike
a defenseless soul. The sunny, hope-
ful woman is ever in request. Every
door flies open to her who has a cher-
ry, pleasant word and a bright smile.
She is the woman who is always con-
siderate of the rights of others and
never attempts to monopolize the con-
versation or to make herself the cen-
ter of attraction. She realizes that
money will not buy love. That though
a woman may enjoy every comfort
and luxury obtainable, her home may
be absolutely cheerless because of
love's absence. She knows that there
is no woman living who, deep down in
her heart, does not appreciate being
cared for, admired and loved by
those she comes in contact with.
HEALTH BRINGS HAPPINESS.
DOCTOR SAID "USE CUTICURA*
Compensation.
When Wilson Hobart married Hetty
Lewis there were many people who
predicted domestic troubles, even
tragedies, but they were mistaken,
says the Youth's Companion. The Ho-
barts were to all appearances, an un-
usually happy couple. "I reckon Hetty
must have learned to keep her tem-
per better than she used to," remark-
ed one person, to whom this state of
affairs was inexplicable. "You don't
look a bit older than the day you
were married. Wilson." "I don't know
as she has," said Mr. Hobart, with a
slow smile. "I tell her I guess she'3
got enough on hand to last her; she
needn't save any to accommodate me.
And I can tell you," he added, with
enthusiasm, "it would take more than
any temper ever I saw to sour Hetty's
march on us, but I reckon we'll give bread or her cream pies!"
Invalid Once, a Happy Woman Nowk
Mrs. C. R. Shelton, Pleasant Street.
Covington, Tenn., says: "Once X
seemed a helpless li*
valid, but now I en
joy the best of health.
Kidney disease
brought me down ten-
ribly. Rheumatl®
aches and pains mad
every move painfuL
The secretions wer
disordered and my head ached to dis-
traction. I was in a bad condition, but
medicines failed to help. I lost ground
daily until I began with Doan's Kidney-
Pills. They helped me at once and
soon made me strong and well."
Sold by all dealers. 50 cents a box*
Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
Certainly.
"Why do you always read the new
paper criticisms of the opera so car
fully after you have attended a pep
formance?"
"People will be sure to ask about lt
and one must be able to answer an
If one understood something about it
you know."
In Bad Case of Eczema on Child-*
Disease Had Reached a Fearful
State—His Order Resulted
in Complete Cure.
"When I was small I was troubled
with eczema for about three months.
It was all over my face and covered
nearly all of my head. It reached
such a state that it was just a large
scab all over, and the pain and itching
were terrible. I doctored with an able
physician for some time and' was their
advised by him to use the Cuticur®
Remedies which I did and I was en-
tirely cured. I have not been bothered
with it since. I used Cuticura Soafr.
and Cuticura Ointment but do not
know exactly how much was used te
complete the cure. I can safely say
that Cuticura did a lot for me. • Misn
Anabel Wilson, North Branch, Mich.
Oct. 20. 1907."
Without labor there Is no arriving
at rest, nor without fighting can the
victory be reached. — Thomas n
Kempls.
TO DRIVE OUT MALARIA
ANI> BDILU UP THE SYSTEM
Take the Old Standard UROVK8 TAMTJSLlMfc
CHILI. TONIC. Yon know what you are taking
l'he foriuulu Is plainly printed on every hottl
showing It Is simply Quinine and Iron In a tastelea
form, and the rnixl effectual form. For grow*
people and children ■ 60c.
A girl will forgive a young man
quicker for kissing her against her
will than for not b'eing interested
enough to try.
DON'T SPOII, VOIR CI.OTHES.
Use Red Cross Ball Blue and keep them
white as snow. All grocers, 5c a package.
No man on earth Is rich enough to
enjoy paying taxes.
Smokers appreciate the quality value ot
Lewis' 8inple Binder cigar. Your deale*
or Lewis' Factory, Peoria, 111.
Being bitten by a toothless
must be a soft snap.
dot
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The Mooreland Leader. (Mooreland, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, July 10, 1908, newspaper, July 10, 1908; Mooreland, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc157744/m1/4/: accessed April 17, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.