The Carter Express. (Carter, Okla.), Vol. 12, No. 33, Ed. 1 Friday, November 4, 1921 Page: 2 of 8
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T H 1 CARTER EXPRESS
The Mystery of
By Randall
Parrish
Author rsf
theSilverDagger
“The Strange Case
of Cavendish”
Oopxrlfht. by Ben<1x11 PxrrUb
CHAPTER XIII—Continued.
—20—-
I stood Irresolute, undecided as to
my next move. I felt convinced I was
at last on the right trail but how
could I verify my suspicion? There
seemed to he but one sure method.
Whoever hud actually committed the
murder and robbery, I still clung to the
theory that Ivan Waldron knew him,
and would demnnd his shure as the
price of a silent tongue. Nor would
he, under present circumstances, be
content to wait very long for such
u division. He needed the money
more than ever to escupe from the
observation of the police. If Wine
had possession of the valise he would
certainly be called upon to deliver a
portion of Its contents very shortly.
My best course, then, was to keep an
eye open for Waldron; If he came,
there would be no doubt as to the
exact nature of his errand.
The stairway gave me no advan-
tage; It was open and doubtless fre-
quently used. To be seen loitering
there for any length of time would at-
tract attention. I ventured to try the
private door, but, as expected, found
It securely locked, nor did I dare ex-
ert any force, not knowing who might
be Inside. The office remained quiet,
no one either leaving or entering,
nor did I observe any shadow on the
frosted glass indicative of movement
within. Baffled and uncertain, I had
barely returned to my point of con-
cealment, when an elevator stopped
at this floor level, and three men
stepped out Into the corridor. Two of
them attracted no attention, but the
third was In Ills shirt-sleeves and wore
a cap with some insignia upon It.
He advanced briskly, and flung open
the door leading into what had once
been the “Kailway Exchange,” and
tnotlopei] the others to enter. As the
three vanished, I heard him explain
that this was the only vacant suite on
this floor, and then another voice
said, dissatisfied, that It was altogeth-
er too small for their purpose. When
•they came' out the agent closed the
door carelessly and pressed the ele-
vator button, saying he would $how
them something on the second floor
above.
Even as they shot up ,out of sight
} was across the corrldo'r with hand
on the knob. I feared a sprlnglock,
but was pleasantly disappointed, the
door opening Instnntly, permitting me
to slip Inside. There were two rooms,
both small, and littered with the frag-
ments left by the late occupants.
What struck me forcibly was that
there was no connection between
those rooms and the next suite; they
Vere separated by a thick wall. I
could hide here securely enough, and,
by slightly lifting the glass, gain good
view of the corridor, but It would he
impossible to overhear anything tak-
ing place In Wine’s office. At that,
the position was better for my pur-
pose than the open stairway, and I
Unfastened the window sash, propping
K open a crack so as to afford me a
fair view. If Waldron appeared I
would endeavor to discover some
means of learning the object of h!<l
visit. Meanwhile I was safe enough,
and able to observe every movemerf
on the floor.
Suddenly, when I least expected ft,
the door of the Investment oltVie
opened, and a young woman came out.
She had her hat on, and I took note
of a pencil stuck Into her hair, ami
felt no doubt she was Wine's stenog-
rapher, who had finished her day’s
work and was departing for home.
Then the man wns probably still there
—alone. The girl disappeared down
the elevator, and could scarcely have
reached the lower floor, when a cage
traveling In the opposite direction
stopped and discharged a passenger.
It wns a woman who stepped out,
glancing quickly about as though un-
certain where to go, and I recognized
Marie Gessler.
She started down the corridor, look-
ing for the numbers on the doors, and
then, discovering herself wrong, re-
traced her steps and approached
Wine's door. Even then she ap-
peared to doubt her next move, glanc-
ing around as though anxious to re-
main unobserved before venturing
farther. Then, opening the door
quickly, she disappeared within. In
that moment, before the door closed,
I caught the sound of a men's voice,
startled, uttering a single surprised
exclamation.
“You here! What does tills mean?"
Then u low spoken answer, the
words Inaudible, and ended by a click
of the latch.
That closed door seemed to urge
me to learn what was transpiring be-
yond ; 1 could not fight back the
temptation. But would It open? had
It been left unlocked? The only way
In which I could ascertain was to try.
There was no one to witness my at-
tempt. and. even if some o?Ilce. door
suddenly opened, I could quickly find
concealment In the nearby stairway.
I crept out through a narrow crack,
and approached on tiptoe the entrance
to Wine's office. No sound reached
me from within, and my lingers si-
lently pressed the knob, which
turned without resistance—the latch
was off. A half Inch st a time I
opened the door, listening for any
noise behind, my eyes peering through
the narrow crack at what was re-
vealed within. They perceived little,
merely a smull, unoccupied room, evi-
dently an outer office, containing u
cheap desk, two chairs and a type-
writing stand, tlie machine covered.
Two maps hung upon the walls; In
one corner was a glass water-holder,
and In the other a diminutive closet,
the door ajar. That was all, except
that indistinguishable voices were con-
versing somewhere beyond the parti-
tion and well out of view.
Encouraged to believe this I thrust
my head far enough forward to make
sure. A step to the left would doubt-
less have revealed Wink, but from
where I stood the end of the partition
interfered. By slipping to the right It
woud be quite possible for me to en-
ter without being seen, and three
cautious steps would bring me to the
security of the closet. From there,
with the door Into the corridor closed,
I might overhear all that passed be-
tween the two. I had ventured too
far now to retrent, and, without a sec-
ond of hesitation, I pressed through
the narrow opening, and silently
closed the door behind me. Confident
that I had not been detected, I
crouched Into the narrow closet,
scarcely knowing whethe;- to be
ashamed or proud of my success.
I could clearly distinguish the
words of conversation. At first these
were hardly understandable, seeming-
ly having'no connection with any mat-
ter with which I felt concerned. The
two were evidently discussing money,
to be sure, but In terms involving the
payment of Interest, and the Impossi-
bility of extending a loan. I over-
heard her say, quietly but firmly:
“I came to you, Mr. Wine, because
of our connection In other matters. I
overheard this discussion, and felt
you ought to be forewarned.”
“I appreciate your kindness.” he an-
swered, evidently surprised, “but sim-
ply cannot raise the amount today—
It Is too late."
"It does not have to be raised to-
day. but before the closing of bank-
ing hours tomorrow,"
“I ran have it by then," desperately.
“I was sure you could, If I only ex-
plained the necessity.* ,
She arose as though her purpose
had been accomplished, but appar-
ently the man was uneasy, and de-
sired to know more.
‘‘But I fall to understand your In-
terest ; why should you tnke the trou-
ble to come here and tell me this?"*
She laughed lightly.
"Why? really It Is easily enough un-
derstood. We are together, are we
not? Now that Captain Alva Is dead.
It Is generally believed you will be
selected to ’lead In this work. Oh.
yes It Is; I have already been so In-
formed. And In that case It Is ab-
solutely necessary that your bank
connections be excellent. There are
other funds already In this country."
“Other funds! I supposed tills last
payment was to be all.”
“Assuredly not; the cause caarmt
stop for an Instant merely because of
this loss. Moreover, that will doubt-
less be recovered."
“Do you think so? Hove the po-
lice found any clues?”
“The police 1 Hurdly, but there are
others searching, not so easily turned
aside. We believe we know already
who got the money.”
“You—you think you—yon know?”
he could not keep the tremble out of
his voice. “Was—was It one of us?"
“It could scarcely be an outsider,
for the secret was guarded well. Only
#those of that circle knew the money
"was here even, while not more than
two or three were aware of Its hav-
ing beqn passed over to Alva. I can’t
say any more at present. Mr. Wine.
You knew Captain Alva very well, did
you not?”
"Y-yes; that Is, we were good
friends. We had much In common.”
“Are you a German?"
"By blood—yes, but born tn Po-
land ; Captuln Alva’s mother was also
a Pole; this brought us closer to-
gether."
“And you have no suspicion of any
one who could have known, and been
guilty of tills murder and robbery?"
“Why should I? Why you ask me
that?” excitedly. "There were many
there; perhaps all know except me.
You not suppose I know he—he die?”
"Oh, no: I merely thought you
might have some suspicion, that was
nil. It was a -trange weapon he was
killed with.”
"A strange weapon 1 What you
meun, u strange weapon? Do they
know what It wns that killed him?"
‘Certainly; It was picked up lu the
bottom os the auto—a dagger hat-
pin. such as women wear. See, It
was Just like this of mine.”
She. must have plucked the orna-
ment from out her own hat and laid
It on the desk, for I heard the faint
click of Its fall. There was a mo-
ment of Intense silence, and I could
vision the intense horror with which
he was staring at the Instrument, un-
able to command words.
“That thing I" he burst forth final-
ly^ “Killed with that I”
^ “No, not tha ; but one exactly like
"Who says so—the police? Gotti
It could not kill a man. Why you tell
me this—why?”
'Oh, only because I thought you
might be Interested. However, let's
not talk about It any more. You will
settle that account before the close
of banking hours tomorrow?’’
"I? Yes, I will settle.”
There was the sound of a foot on
the cement floor of the corridor with-
out, and, almost at the same Instant
the electric light, which had been
“Felt You Ought to Be Forewarned."
turned on, revealed a man’s shadow
on the glass of the closed door. He
seemed to stand there hesitatingly;
then he rapped with bis knuckles od
the glass.
1 flattened myself out against tho
Inner wall of the closet, aware that
the two In the second- office were com-
ing forward together, Wine giving
vent to a startled oath In his excite-
ment. He strode straight to the door,
and opened it with a Jerk.
"You, hey I What the devil do you
want here?"
“A word with you, and d—n
quick—”
It wns Waldron's voice, but his
speech ended abruptly, as his eyes
caught sight of the woman. She
wasted no time.
“1 wns Just going,” she said calm-
ly, Ignoring him, but speaking directly
to Wine. "I will see you tomorrow
then.”
She pnssed between the two. with-
out so much as favoring the Russian
with a glance, and he stared after
her with open mouth, then stepped
bnck to watch her progress down the
corridor. Wine drew him hastily
aside, closing the door tightly and
shooting the night-latch.
“The d—n girl never locks this door
when she goes out,” he muttered
angrily, wheeling about to fnce the
other. “Now, speak up, will you I
what sends you but’ »’ In here?”
"Well, first you tell me,” thundered
Waldron, gripping the other angrily
with one hand, "what business that
female has with you? By God, Wine.
If you are trying to double-cross, you’ll
find me no ensy mark. Answer, yon
cur—what was she here for?"
“Nothing, only private business.”
“You promised to see her tomor-
row T”
"Yes, It was to pay n not*. Come
In here, and I’ll explnln all There's
nothing to frighten you. Waldron.”
The two disappeared Into the Inner
room, Waldron's voice still rumbling,
with Wine Interjecting a word now
and then. I ventured to stand erect
again in the confines of the closet,
and .tress my ear to the crack of the
Inner door. Both men were confident J
of being alone, and so deeply Im-
mersed In their own affnlr r to speak
with little restraint. Waldron, really
a (frightened at this discovery of Miss
Gessler, adopted the method of a bully
to carry his point, more eager than
ever to escupe the city.
“Well," lie began, thumping the
desk with a fist, "now you begin to
spill. Don't try to Vork any game
on me. What do you mean by pay-
ing a note? You owe her something?"
"No; now listen, and don't get mad.
I tell you Just how It wns,” and Wine
endeavored to he smooth and plaus-
ible, his voice pitched so low I had
difficulty In henring the words. "She
said I wns to succeed Alva, nnd be
the revolutionary ngent; partly she
came to tell me this, but some way
she learning of my Indebtedness, that
I hnve an overdue note at the hank—"
“How the h—1 did she know that?”
"I could not tell,” apparently sur-
prised himself. “I never asked, but
maybe Kruntz he told her. When
they talked' over my being given
charge of the fund—yes, that must be
(he way, for she Insisted I must
straighten that matter up quick, be-
fore other money was given me.”
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
CAN NOT HIDE WEAKNESSES
Philadelphia Writer Draw* a Moral
From the Life and Works of
Two Men
There were two men.
One, In order to hide his faults from
the eyes of the public, surrounded him-
self with muny friends, better than
himself In character.
The other man had a single friend,
as sterling In character, sympathies
and perceptions ns himself.
In the first case the man fooled the
public, which seemed to see him
through his friends.
In the second ease, however, the
man and his friend were misunder-
stood and neglected by the public.
The first man, during life, was
praised and fluttered, for, being very
wealthy, he could very easily purchase
empty words, but not loved or re-
spected.
The second man, after death, was at
lost understood, respected, honored
and loved, but to no avail; for he
could not be brought back from the
grave.
It was a case of the same old story
—of on unjust, blind world.
Moral—Armor will not hide one’s
weaknesses.—Charles Flngerman, In
the Philadelphia Record.
The J»y of Living.
I hnve never had much money, but
I hnve always enjoyed the things at
hand. I have become so familiar wltu
the face of Nature that It Is as the
face of an old friend nnd I know and
love It In every mood. My years hrve
been full of Joy, but they have been
years of simplicity and economy. I
have never sated myself with anything
nnd the bloom Is still on my life.
I have kept young because I have
kept free from worldly and selfish am-
bitions. If I had been miserly and
grasping, I would have been old nnd
unhappy long ago. There Is nothing
like love to keep you young—love for
your fellow man nnd for Nature—and
Jove Is Nature’s final law. Someone
once asked me how I had kept so
young and I answered that I had been
born young nnd had never thrown my
youth away.—John Burroughs.
The Water Spider.
A correspondent of English Country
Life describes a peculiar spider that
lives under water the greater part of
Its life. It builds a dome-like nest of
silk among weeds In ponds nnd
ditches, and fills the nest ,wlth air.
In Umt strange house it lives nnd
lays Its eggs. In autumn It makes
another nest nt a greater distance
below the surface of the water, and,
having senled itself Inside. It sleeps
until spring. Taken out of the water,
the spider looks like any other, but as
soon as It Is put hack, the bubble of
air thut It collects round It body mnkes
It look like a hall of quicksilver. It
Is the only spider that has taken tc
a wholly aquatic life, says the writer.
Time Enough.
"Am I right In surmising tlint yon
have something of serious Import to
ssy to my daughter?”
“Oh, no, sir. I’m merely going to
propose to her. I’ll talk over the seri-
ous details with y-u after the
wedding.”—Detroit Times.
Watch Your Kidneys!
That !*bad back” ia probably due to
weak kidneys. It ahowa in a dull,
throbbing backache or sharp twingea
when stooping. You have headaches,
too, dizzy spells, a tired, nervous feel-
ing and irregular kidney action. Don’t
neglect it—there is danger of dropsy,
gravel or Bright's disease! Use Doan's
Kidney Pills. Thousands have saved
themselves more serious ailments by
the timely use of Doan's. Ask your
neighbor l
An Oklahoma Case
Carl Groves,
machinist, 110 E.
Cameron St., Tul-
sa, Ok la., says:
“I was down with
kidney trouble
and my back
ached so badly I
had to lay off
from work. I
could get no relief
and every move
pained awfully.
My kidneys didn’t
act right
! Doan's
ney Pills and they gavTlne relief. My
kidneys haven't troubled me since/'
Get Doan’s at Any Store, 60c > Box
doan’s
FOSTER.MILBURN CO.. BUFFALO. N. Y.
80 I
Kid-
New Method
Nuj'ol is a lubricant,
not a laxative.
Without forcing or irri*
tating, Nujol softens the
food waste.. The many
tiny muscles in the
intestines can then re*
move it regularly. Ab-
solutely harmless-try it.
Tbt Modem Method
UfTieoeiosomOld
Leave It to State Legislators.
Man was some millions of years
reaching his present stage of develop-
ment; but Be It Enacted may speed
him up.—St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
WHEN THEY ASKED
GRANDMA PARK
ABOUT CONSTIPATION
,®he ,lU.st plac,ed 80m® roots and herbs in
m»a„WSter^and made th« **a which hi?
made her known all over the world. We
with th°„mb ned ,hTr knowledge of nature
with the present-day methods of scientific
manufacture, and produced the original—
76 GRANDMA’S
■ LIVER and STOMACH
TEA
Beware of Imitations!
None genuine without the-
picture of Grandma Park
. ?, wl.1,1 ab8°lutely relieve constipation,
indigestion, heart-bum, bad breath, etek
headache, or any other weakness due to.
disorders of the stomach and liver. Don’t
•onsult anyone—a look at your tongue
will tell of your condition. If your tongue
la covered with a thick yellow coat, your
liver and stomach should be given instant
SSSJS®5- GRANDMA’S LIVER AND
STOMACH TEA relieves this condition.
Ten full doses to a package. At all drug
stores. •
Druggists would rather sell a pound
•f cure thnn an ounce of prevention.
Dorit cough
T’HE violent paroxysms of coughing
1 soon eased by Dr. King's New
Discovery. Fifty years a standard
remedy for coids. Children like it.
No harmful drugs. All druggists, 60c.
Dr. King’s
New Discovery
For Colds and Coughs
Make Bowels Normal. Nature's
way is the way of Dr. King's Pills—
gently and firmly regulating the bowels,
eliminating the intestine clogging
waste. At all druggists, 25c.
TV PROMPT! WON’T GRIPE
JLlr. Kinffs Pills
Let Cuticura Be
Your Beauty Doctor
Soap 25c, Ointment 25 sad 50c, Ttlctw 25c.
Red Cross
BALL BLUE
H I, the finest product of lu kind In the I
■ world. Every women who he* uted ■
Jit fcnowe thle etetement to ba true, J
FRECKLES
•1 >.■
• •
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Cain, George W. The Carter Express. (Carter, Okla.), Vol. 12, No. 33, Ed. 1 Friday, November 4, 1921, newspaper, November 4, 1921; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc957225/m1/2/: accessed April 18, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.