Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-23
WINNERS OF PRIZES
Continued from First Page.)

ceived in some cases from more than one
| member of a family, the most notable
instance being In the case of the winners
of the second and third prizes. Another
| case occurs among the twenty-five SO
prizes. three of which were taken by MEM
| bers of the same household. The explana-
| ton of this fact is that it was but natural
| for the members Of a family who intended
| to compete to discuss the matter of the
mystery among themselves and making 1t
| subject of conversation, SO that when
| they came to write their guesses as to the
outcome of the story it should result that
| their minds had flown in the same direc-
| ton. 1t is thought that the nearness Of
the rank given to these related COM
| petitors was but an evidence of the &C
| curacy of the percentage system of credits
| that was finally adopted to determine be-
| tween the contestants. There being no rule
| to prohibit the entry of more than one
answer from single family, the committee
could not do otherwise than to award the
| prizes in strict accordance with the results
| of their tally sheet, and, indeed, it was not
| known to the committee until the final list
| was made up that there was any rela-
| tionship between the prize winners. AS
| matter Of fact, the names and addresses
| of the competitors were not known to the
examining committee until after the
awards had been made.
An Anonymous Prize Winner.
| few of the solutions received to the mys-
an oversight, without any signature or other
| identifying mark. One of these anonymous
| contributions has been deemed by the board
| of judges worthy Of a place among the
| twenty-nine prize-winners, and The Star
would be glad to know who the successful
| solver is. in order to pay the prize of $40 to
| which she is entitled by her solution. The
| two opening sentences of this answer read
as follows: "Dutton and Warren knew Mr..
| Kirk and his daughter before the war, and
| both loved Martha But Martha loved War
| rem, and when he went to the war with Dut-
| ton she had promised to be his wife when
| the war was over" To the person who can
satisfy the Prize Story Editor that she Is the
writer of this solution the prize of so will
cheerfully be awarded. OF course, it is to be
| expected that any one who claims to be the
author of this solution shall be able to prove
handwriting and stationery, and to give the
points covered by the anonymous answer
First Prize Solution.
| The first prize Is awarded to Miss Jessie
| Dell, whose solution was as follows: Before
I the war Dutton was in love, and wanted
| to marry Martha, but Kirk, her father,
was opposed to their union, but at last
said he would give his consent, provided
| DUtton would leave Immediately after the
ceremony. They agreed to this, that Dut-
| ton would leave for the war. Kirk had
Only mock marriage performed, but both
| Martha and Dutton believed themselves le
| gally married. According to promise Dut-
| ton left Immediately for the war. 1t was
| believed he either died or was killed, as
nothing further was heard OF him. Martha
and Warren were then married and moved
| away. Shortly after their daughter Elsie
was born. Dutton was not dead as
| thought, but was i'll for long while after
! the war, but when he recovered and went to
hunt for Martha, he found she had mar
| ried and gone off. He then went to Africa,
! where he made an immense fortune He
then care back thinking he could win Mar
tina back to him by his wealth; Warren
and Martha were shocked by his sudden
appearance at their home, but deemed it
| advisable to keep him there after he was
| hurt by Wanga and Sam. Grandpa Kirk
| was first surprised and then amused at
| seeing Dutton, and could have set mat
! tiers Alright by acknowledging the part he
! had played, but as he had grown old and
! childish, he was put out by their trying
| to keep him in the dark about Dutton, and
| he wanted to get even with them. Wanga
| was finally shot by Dutton with the old
| pistol VIII Spencer had given him. Wanga
| had overheard the conversation between
| Dutton and Warren concerning the dia-
| monds. and with quick, cunning nature,
| Immediately guessed where the President
was concealed. Hence his attack upon
! button. He, Wanga, had it almost within
his grasp, when Dutton shot him. This
diamord was concealed in the scapular he
| wore round his neck, and Wanga had at
| last found where it was. Dutton dies
| Grandpa Kirk owns up his side of the case
| and all is made right. Elsie and VIII mar
ry and their fortune is the President
| Second Prize Solution.
Following is the solution sent in by Clara
| X. Ingersoll, who receives the second prize
| Conclusion Of the mystery story. Swiftly
! and silently Wanga entered the spare cham
| Der, where Dutton lay dying. One glance at
| the bed showed him the position of it's oc-
cupant, and also the edge of the scapular
| which the open shirt disclosed.
With one bound he at the bedside, and
| in an instant had torn the scapular from the
| neck of the PROSTATE man. But stimuli
| taneously there was loud report, and the
| body of the wretched negro lay writing on
| the floor.
Although apparently MORALLY wounded
| for buttons aim had been sure, Wanga tore
| open the scapular and dragging from his
| person the venomous snake which has be-
| fore figured in these pages, he deposited in
its body. prepared to receive it, the precious
| but fatal stone. He survived this actor but
| a few minutes and when his stiffening
corpse had been removed from the room it
| became apparent that buttons end, too, was
| rapidly approaching.
When the room had been cleared of all but
| Martha, Warren, Elsie and Will, Dutton mo-
| toned the four to draw near. and in a few
broken words explained 1.-The mystery"
In our own words We will tell it to The
| Stars readers:
Years before, when Martha and Dutton
| were young they met and loved, and became
| engaged, much against the wishes of Mar
| tha's father. Grandpa Kirk. The latter,
| however, finally consented to their marriage
| on condition that soon as the ceremony
| was over Dutton should enlist in the army,
! leaving Martha with her father, until the
| war should be ended. This was agreed to-
| and everything was attended to by Grandpa
Kirk. even to engaging the minister who per-
| formed the ceremony. And Dutton went to
| the army. where he and Warren met and
| fought side by side.
During an engagement Dutton was wound
| ed and left for dead. Warren returned home
| believing him dead, and so reporting him to
| Martha, to whom, after reasonable time,
| he proposed and was married.
| When Dutton recovered from his wounds
! he and Golding determined to go far away
| and seek their fortunes He-Dutton-cul-
| pably neglected to write TO or inform Mar
! tina of his existence, and only realized his
criminal mistake when he learned of her e.
| marriage. He thought then he would never
| modest them, but after his trouble with his
| comrades in Africa, and upon realizing tie
| great wealth he possessed. he determined to
| return and share it with Martha, whom in
| his own way, he had deeply loved.
| How he appeared at the door of The War
| ren's dwelling and how shocked and terri
| fled at seeing him, Warren raised his rifle to
| shoot him, we all know.
| Grandpa Kirk, who, while their eXplana-