The San Francisco call., 1896-05-08

A. Kearney directs every one desiring IN
formation touching upon the fate of young
Frederick Bell.
Bells life is fast ebbing if it has not al
ready passed away after an accident or
worse, which occurred more than a week
ago. The people of his immediate sur
roun ding have studiously refused to make
known the details of the strange affair
and as the days go by the mystery grows
deeper
Thomas Bell, the young man s father,
died as a result of an occurrence similar
to the present one. He, millionaire,
with attendants to watch his every move
ments, was said to have strayed away from
his bedroom toward midnight four years
ago, falling down a circular stairway and
meeting with death on the basement ce-
Inent flooring two floors below. No one
saw the happening until the sickening
thud of his body az it struck called atten-
ton to the fact that something dreadful
had occurred. The details of that tragedy
were withheld for days until the tongue of
gossip was silenced at the Coroner in
quest.
Even then dreadful suspicion of foul
play was rife, to be revived at this late day,
when the wealthy mans son is lying on
his deathbed under circumstances so sim
liar that they are positively startling.
The latest tragedy occurred at the house
11O7 Bush street, kept by Mrs. Clinton D.
Ferry, a lady whose prominence as the
wife of 1.-The Duke of Tacoma" once
brought her into contact with the news
paper world. Under the circumstances she
has an aversion for all news-seekers, and
she, following the example of DR.. P. a.
Kearney, stands like signpost on de-
serted road. pointing toward the House
of Silence"
Mrs. Ferry, it will be remembered, Wis
=
her wealthy husband. While there she
met a most seductive young ribbon-seller,
who was clerk in the Bon Marche. The
gallant young Frenchman became a con-
slant visitor at the Ferry hotel, where it
subsequently turned out in the divorce
case he had installed himself as an instruc-
tor of the Dukes" wife in the French
language.
The scandal was first published IN the
newspapers the world over when ''The
Duke of Tacoma" became so jealous that
he called upon the gendarmes to enforce
the laws of the country and arrest Mrs.
Ferry. To do this it was necessary to find
the suspected couple together. Mr.. Ferry
furnished the opportunity. He had the
clerk watched, and having located him he
burst open the door leading to his wife, s
apartment and gave her in charge of the
officers.
But that is all ancient history. Mrs.
feITY, IHc OlfOlC6cs ID now UOdIQinR-
house keeper at 1107 Bush street, piece
of property belonging to the Bell estate
When it was leased to her a room was re-
served for young Frederick Bell, who has
occupied it off and on ever since he and his
mother had falling out over a division OF
the estate.
In the Ferry house are other board ers
and dodgers, the greater number of whom
have no place in this story. But there is
one young lady among several others to
whom Fred Bell paid assiduous attentions.
To her is due the fact that the young man
had greatly mended his ways. His erst-
while frequent breaks from a sober path
occurred more seldom. 1t was Bells
habit to go to her for consolation during
those periods following his debauches, and
while nursing a sore head he learned to
think more and more of his gentle nurse.
But there was another Richmond in the
field. He, too, thought great deal of
the young lady boarder. He was not SO
fortunate as young Bell, insomuch that
,he lived in another neighborhood. lie
was a frequent caller on her, however, and
at times the two young men burned Mrs.
Ferry's gas very late, each trying to out
stay the other.
Bell conceived visible dislike for his
rival, who returned it with interest. He
showed it especially when he WIS in his
cups, for he, too, sometimes looked upon
the wine when it was red.
The other people in the Ferry house
have been in momentary expectancy that
some day there would be an inebrious
clash. and the friends of Bell on the out
side are prone to believe that it came on
the night he was found unconscious,
broken-limbed and bleeding on the floor
TO which he had fallen.
At ali events private detective agency
is looking the matter up, and even if Fred
erick Bell never does recover conscious
4. AL .-l.A
tragedy occurred. surrounding circum-
stances and the testimony of the fair
charmer may tell the tale.
In the meantime the mystery keeps
growing darker.
Mrs. Bell, widow of Thomas Bell and the