The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-29
SECRET OF
THE WATERS.
A Mystery Story.

Copyright, 1897, by THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
The body of middle-aged man is drawn
ont Of the Chicago River near the Coal Yards
Ncighborhood. An inquest develops nothing
beyond that he is well Ito. d. merchant in some
country town. who had been stabbed. Only
the initials "E. NJ. S." are found on shirt and
key ring Kent Halliday, young printer, re-
solves to probe the mystery. His suspicious are
aroused by stranger ut the inquest AT the
depot he notices a girl who resembles the MUIR
dered man enough 10 be his daughter. In at
empting to rescue her from yillafnous hack
man he and two friends-Wat Sparger and Con
Purtel-become involved in fight, are ar
rested, and fined.
Then Kent searches for the girl. He starts
to find the Conductor Of the train that brought
her in, and at his house the girl and over
hears a conversat10n that renders 1t certain she
is the daughter of the murdered man. lie
finds the Conductor at an association meeting
and discovers as its President tile stranger he
saw at the inquest. one of whose names Is
Ruckenbrod. Ruckenbrod carelessy pulls out
a gold watch with curiously- wrought chaIn
which is broken, and corresponds with the
links left In the button-hole of the vest OF the
murdered man. Kent talks over the affair
with the Conductor.
He finally runs across the stranger, enters his
an examination. He finds that the man has
many aliases, and discovers tel.tale evidence
The man unexpectedly returns.
desperate fight ensues. and Kent is saved
by 'sparger and Purte. Ragabert, as he isnow
known, escapes. Kent that evening fluids Miss
standart the daughter of the murdered man,
has been decoyed away evidently by Ragabert
An examination OF Ragaberps desk at the
Police Snperintendeht's office results i'll the
finding Of a letter which shows that the mott We
for the crime was probably to get rid of man
! who knew Ragabert's criminal character and
| threatened exposure. The girl is found in a
| house on Van Buren, Street, where she was de-
coycd by RagaUert She is rescued, Ragabert
| escaping through The roof. Depots, hotels and
stables are watched. Miss STANDARD and Kent
become great friends, and Kent is in love with
her.
Ragabert pnts up at hotel. under the name
OF Nv. X. Rangabrent. Milwaukee" Kent
locates him. A stranger takes a room next to
Ragabert's. Kent and PurteIl. both of whom
have been for sometime special officers, go to
| the hotel in the morning, and ont of Ragaberts
| room walks the stranger. who is j. s. Tarbell.
| Detroit Ragabert changed the keys of the
| rooms when the bcll-boy took the guests up
| stairs The Superintendent of Police receives
a telegram from the Conductor saying that
Ragabert has taken Train for st. Paul,
| The Superintendent releases Hickman
| Michael Morgan, who took away. the girl in his
hack at the instance of !, Ragabert, and was
forced Ivy the police to tell about it. Sparger
and he have !. fight in a freight yard. Further
| examination OF Kagaberts desk discloses evil
dence OF big swindling operations. >. Kent finds
letters in cipher which lie and Miss STANDARD
| interpret in a way to disclose a message which
shows that, Ragabert is in With criminal gang
whose headquarters are ut 1913 Clark street.