Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-10
MYSTERY OF CECIL DACRE.

Cecil Dacre was an artist. He was des
perately poor, undenIable good looking,
and he stood six feet in his stockings.
YOUNG Dacre was an EngIishman, and he
lived with another artist, young Ameri
can as poor as himself, just behind the
church of San Martina, in one of the old
est houses of old Naples. So poor were
they that they could hardly ever afford
model, so they used to take 1t in turns to
sit to each other. Cecil Dacre end his
friend Orlando p. Jones, were both rival
artists, = ut Dacre had an additional talent
he was a fHrceur of the first water. He
hadn't bean six months in Naples before
he attended before the committee of Mon
te di Misericordia and suggested that
they should paw his debts. 81 am poor"
he said, Il am deserving, and / am deeply
in debt-so deeply that can get no more
credit. Pay my debts, give me little
cash to go on with, and you, gentleT en-,
will be doing your duty. That is your
raisOn d'etre.'
But the committee laughed and bowed
Mr.. Dacre out. declining TO accede to this
very modest proposition. On another oc-
casion Dacre, becoming indignant at the
pertinacious way IN which his move ments
were watched by one of his neighbors,
who were accustomed to stare at MIN from
his balcony opposite, drove up to his door
late one evening in street cab. The cab
man got down from his box, and female
figure wrapped in cloak was carried
carefully into the house by the artist and
the cabman; the two men reappeared in
the street, the artist mysterionsly placed
his fingers to his lips, paid the cab-driver,
and the man drove off. The little drama
was will lighted by the solitary gas lamp
that stood in front of the artists lodgings.
The inquisitive neighbor was at his post
and carefully noted all the details of this
mysterious affair.
At noon the next day four officers ac-
oompanied by the neighbor, presented
themselves at Dacre's room door and
knocked loudly for admission in the
name of the law.
Only at the third and very imperative
summons was the door opened by Orlando
p. Jones. The supposed criminal was
discovered seated at his little table, on
whiSh lay a blood stained dagger, his
face was buried in his hands.
"Signor Dacre," said the chief police,
II call upon you to surrender, and l de-
mand, to search your apartments. This
gentleman" said he, pointing to the in
yeying the body of a dead or insensible
female into this house." The informer
being an Italian, immediately struck an
attitude.
II YIELD" said Dacre in a broken voice:
''the proofs of my crime you will fad in
the next ROOM"
Two of the agents advanced and seized
the supposed murderer by the arm.
81 should recognize her at Once," cried
the informer. "The poor creature wore a
dress of bright blue color; [ saw the
edge of it from under the cloak ID which
she was enveloped."
The bedroom door was flung open by
the leader of the little party. In the cen,
ter of the room was alay figure in q bright
blue dress; it was standing on its head,
The police instantly released their
prisoner.
Let this be lesson to you, SIR" said
Dacre to his too curious victim in a voice
of thunder, "when you nsxt dare to in
trude upon the privacy of gentlemen and
men of honor"
And then Messrs. Dacre and Jones exc
cnted ferocious pas &c tIiumphe.
A less sublime but equally ridiculous
Joke was perpetrated by Dacre upon an
unfortunate old lady who had the misfor-
tune to dwell upon the second floor of
the great house of which the comrades oc-
cupied the sky parlors.
She was a devotee, her one harmless
amusement being the keeping of two i'm
mense goldfish in a big glass globe upon
her balcony. With diaboGcal ingenuity
Dacre, by means of g piece of string, a
bent pin, and small piece of meat,
angled for the two finny monsters who
e - = 10 IL Id s.
caught them, fried them in egg and
bread crumbs, and then restored them
to their once happy and transparent
home.
In the cafe Verdi, Cecil Dacre once
calmly declared, after rather hilarious
breakfast, that he would cause twenty
innocent citizens of Naples to be arrested
within the hour. Ths Cafe Verdi is, as
we know, situated in the Piazza del
Alartiri. Dacre went out and purchased
large ball of string; he made loop
in the end of it, and then he took mean
advantage of the urbane politeness of
the Italians. Producing huge note
book, he courteously raised his hat to the
first respectable bystander.
"Signor," said he will greatly oblige
me by holding this piece of string while l
take a few measurements? Thank YOU
so much" And then with strides he
commenced to pace the piazza. OF
course a little crowd collected at once:
Dacre selected another victim with the
same result.
'Keep it quite taut, if you please" and
he bowed politely. Within five minutes
thirty individuals were holding the tight
ly stretched string, an immense crowd
had assembled, Dacre had finished his
pacings, his string and the careful notes
he had appeared TO be making.
BE patient gentlemen" he said; q
shall not detain you long" Then he dis
appeared, only to re enter the Cafe Verdi
by the back door to watch the result. He
had chosen his time with considerable
ingenuity, for he knew that the police
patrol always arrived on the Piazza de-
Martini punctually at noon. It wanted
two minutes of the hour. Just at thai
time the peace of Naples was much dis
turbed by political demonstrations, which
were severely put down by the authorities