The National tribune., 1897-07-15
Copyright, 1897, by The NATIONAL TRIBUNE.

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
!. The body Of middle-aged man is drawn
out of the South Branch OF the Chicago River,
in the Coal Yards Neighborhood. The Coroner
holds an inquest, but nothing Is developed be-
yond the apparent facts that the victim was q
fairly. well-to.do merchant in some country
town. had been stabbed to death and thrown
into the river There were no papers the
body or any signs for Identification, except the
initials "E. M. s." shirt and key ring.
Such tragedies were of so frequent occurrence
at the time of the rebuilding of Chicago as to
excite little enduring interest. But Kent Hal
liday, young printer. and one of the Coroner's
jury, resolves to probe the mystery, He has
vague suspicious aroused by the appearance
of q stranger at the inquest. On his way to
work he is struck by the appearance of a girl
whose eyes and face have such q resemblance
to the murdered mans that he fances she is
his daughter come to look for him. He sees
her about to fall into the clutches of vilainous
hackman. In attempting to rescue her, he and
his two friends-Wat Sparger and Con Purtell
become involved in a fight, and all are
arrested.
II. Kent, Sparger and Purtell, are taken to
the Station house, and fined for disturbing the
peace. Then Kent starts ont in search of the
girl. He ia greatly puzzled how to begin, but
hits uron the idea of finding the Conductor of
the train that brought her in, and learning
what he may know of her. He finds the
house. but the Confederation Moriand--has
gone to attend meeting of the Peoples Co.
operative Real Estate Association, of which
he is Secretary. Kent sees the girl in the par
lor aud overhears a conversation that renders
it almost certain she is the daughter of the
murdered man. He does not dare address her,
but goes off in search of the Conductor. He
finds the meeting of the Association and is
startled to discover as its President and
Treasurer the stranger whom he saw at the
inquest. and whoseDname is Ruckenbrod
Ruckenbrod carelessly pulls out gold watch
with heavy, curiously- wrought chain, which
is broken, and corresponds with the links left
in the button-hoe of the vest of the murdered
man. Kent joins the Conductor in the street
car, and goes of with him to talk over the
affair of the girl and her father.
III. Kent makes long search for the assas-
sin, and finally runs across the man whom he
saw at the inquest and the meeting coming out
of an office building. He finds out the mans
office in the building, and thinking that he has
gone away for the evening, enters it and makes
examination. He finds that the man has
been passing under many aliases aud discovers
some tell.tale evidence in his waste basket.
While he is securing them the man unex-
pectedly returns and surprises him.
w. desperate fight ensnes, in which Raga-
bert finally gets the better of Kent but the I'M
expected entrance OF Sparger and Purtell turns
the tables. They leave Ragabert in Sparger's
charge. and 60 out to seek an officer. Ragabert
suddenly produces revolver, drives Sparger
out Of the room, drenches the desk with kero-
sene, sets fire to it, and escapes. Kent goes over
in the evening to see Miss STANDARD, but is hor-
rified to find that she has been decoyed away
by letter which has evidently been written
by Ragabert.
v. Kent Halliday goes to the Superintendent
n: IA - - IL III
be taken. Wat and Con are there, after 8
little airing Of their new official Importance at
the Coal Yards. They all set to examining
the desk which has been brought from Raga-
bert's office, and find letter which shows that
the motive for the crime was probably to get
rid Of man who knew Ragaberts criminal
past, and threatened exposure unless he de-
sisted from his evil ways. The officer on duty
on Madison street arrives, and reports having
seen girl answering Eliza Standards descrip-
tion spirited away in hack driven by Mick
Horgan. Wat aud Con are sent to bring Hor-
gan in.
VI. Hergap was found, and at first proved
recalcitrant, but at length yielded to the press
ure the superintendent put upon him, and
confessed that he had taken Miss STANDARD and
Ragabert to 945 Van Buren, street. Horgan
was locked up until it could be known whether
he was telling the truth, and the Superinten.
dent, with the rest, started for the house. In
the meanwhile, Ragabert, by playing on Miss
Standards sympathies for his hurts, had de-
coyed her into the house. He tried to per-
suade her to accede to his wishes, and failing,
locked her in an inner room, but not before she
had flung footstool through the plate.gla
window.
VII. The Superic tendent arrived at the
house, and sent Con and Wat to watch the
rear, while he and Kent went in at the front.
They could occasionally hear faint screams.
They forced their way in, but Ragabert escaped
through the trap on the roof The Superinten-
dent returned to his office to set watches at the
depots, hotels, and livery stables, while Kent
accompanied Miss Standard home. The young
folks made great progress in acquaintance on
the way. Ragabert robbed drunken man Of
his hat, coat aud vaise, on the street. called a
hack, and went to the depOts which he saw
were watched. He then decided to 60 to Q
hotel and put up until morning.
VIII.
Ragabert looked war;ly up and down the
broad sidewalk in front of the Sherman
House as he got out of the carriage. He
saw no one to arouse his distrust.
He handed the bag and overcoat to the
porters who came out, and walked leisurely
into the brilliantly-lightedo Office. With one
comprehensive sweep of the eye he saw that
there was no one there but the lounging
half-asleep bell-boys and the heat-weary
night clerk on duty. The latter reused up,
turned the register around, showed it toward
him, and handed him a pen.
Ragabert took it, and wrote, after q
moments thought as to the train that came
in near that hour:
w. X. Rangabrent, Milwaukee, Wis"
Hot night, Mr.. Rang a-brent," said the
clerk, after studying out the signature
Hot in Milwaukee, too?
Very. Roasting" said Ragabert briefly.
suppose you want to go to your room
at once" said the clerk, adding "139" to
the entry, and reaching back for the key.
Front"
IN 60 into the bar first, and also to the
wash-room. l want to get some dust out of
my throat, and off my hands and face"
Ragabert felt that he had strong need for
stimulant. after all that he had gone
through. He went to the bar and swal-
lowed strong draft of brandy. Then to
the wash-room, where he took off his coat,
collar and cuffs, and gave himself an invig-
Grating wash. His hands had been torn
and scratched by his struggles with the tin.
He covered his hurts with adhesive plaster
found clean collar and cuffs in the bag
combed and brushed his hair carefully, and
after 20 minutes returned to the Office look
ing much refreshed.
Another late-comer had arrived, in the
meanwhile, who looked very tired and
sleepy. lie had evidently been bracing up