The National tribune., 1897-08-05
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
Neighborhood. An inquest develops nothing
beyond that he is we'll I'd o merchant in some
country town, who bad been stabbed. Only
the initials "E. NJ. s." are found shirt and
key ring Kent Halliday, young printer, re-
solves to probe the mystery. His suspicious are
aroused by stranger at the inquest. At the
depot he notices girl who resembles the muir
dered man enough to be his daughter. In at
tempting to rescue her from viianous hack
man he and two friends-Wat Sparger and Con
Purtell-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 sees the girl and over
hears conversation that renders 1T certain she
is the daughter of the murdered man. de
finds the Conductor at an association meeting,
and discovers as its President the stranger lie
saw at the inquest one of whose names IS
Ruckenbrod. Ruckenbrod careessly pulls out
a gold watch with a curously- 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
Office while Ruckenbrod is away and makes
many aliases, aud discovers tell-tale evidence.
The man unexpectedly returns.
A desperate fight ensues, and Kent is saved
by Sparger and Purtell. Ragabert, as he Is now
known, escapes. Kent that evening finds Miss
STANDARD, the daughter of the murdered man,
has been decoyed away evidently by Ragabert.
An examination of Ragabert's desk at the
Police Superintendent office results in the
finding of a letter which shows that the motive
for the crime was probably to get rid of a man
who knew Ragaberts criminal character, and
threatened exposure. The girl is found in
house on Van Buren, street, where she was de-
coyed by Ragabert. She is rescued, Ragahert
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 puts up at hotel, under the name
of wv. X. Rangabrent, Milwaukee" Kent
locates him. A stranger takes room next to
Ragaberts. Kent and Purtell. both of whom
have been for sometime special officers, 90 to
the hotel in the morning, and out of Ragaberts
room walks the stranger, who is J. 5. Tarbell,
Detroit. Ragabert changed tie keys Of the
rooms when the bel-boy took the guests up
stairs. The Superintendent of Police receives
q telegram from the Conductor saying that
Ragabert has taken train for st. Paul.
The Superintendent releases Hackman
Michael Morgan, who took away the girl in his
hack at the instance of Ragabert, and was
forced by the police to tell about it. Sparger
and he have q fight in freight yard. Further
examination of Ragaberfs desk discloses evil
dence Of big swindling operations. Kent finds
letters in cipher which lie and Miss Standard
interpret in a way to disclose message which
shows that Ragabert is in with criminal gang
whose headquarters are ut 1873 Clark street.
Kent hides near the Clark street house and
sees Mick Horgan deliver trunk to the janitor,
an ex-pugilist named Jem Tile. Kent scrapes
acquaintance with Jem, and sleeps that night
in the house.