La Junta tribune., 1898-11-19
.BARKER'S CAPTURE.

June, and turned into m y club with no
delnisc purpose except that Of securing .
cool nook and some refreshing drink. As
I passed tho hailman To stopped mo with
the announcement that thern was o letter
in the rack for mo
Somcwhat surpnHsi. for mover have
my mail addressed to Try clrb, too.; the
envelope from the mans hands. Tho d.
rction was plain enough. Richard Ear
ton, - Club, Now York City" Imagine
my conservation therefore when tore
open tho envelope TO find that 1t contained
two blank sheets Of paper-nothing more
nor less. is6
looked at tho handwriting arain. It
was entirely unfamiliar to me. tried to
recall recent ey cnts and conversations with
wy friends which might lend some point
to the matter In case 1t were done a. u
Joke, but l could not. Surely no one
would go out Of his way to perpetrute o
joke with 20 little sense to 10. There was
nothing In the way Of fatisfavtion to be
gained from such an action.
looked nt tho postmark. 1t was stamp
ell "CambridRcpcrt, Masa.. q place only
dim1y familiar to me by name certain.
ly had no friends Or acquaiptances there.
Slight though tho incident was, It both
cred me quite liitls. 10 save mo could
nnd no reasonable explanation for it.
though spsnt . whole hour over long.
cool drink in the smoking room puzzling
over It,
had jrse about given tho riddle up a.
unsoivablc, and had. In fact, quite forgot
ten It when Barker came In was glad
to see Barker, and ordered another long.
cool drink fer him. Barker II = queer Gus
toner, but he always has something inter.
cstinR on hard. He IL an adventurous In
dividual, and WINS surprised to ase that
he was rot already at the front Fighting
the Spaniards Ny first query, however,
which was somewhat 70 that effect. elicit
cd . low growl from Barker that he had
''mcre Important business at homo"
OF courss that settled the question 70 far
- my interested curiosity Was concerned.
and forbore to question him further.
He sank intO his seat rather wcarily.
~ never knew ihcrc were NJ confounded
many clubs and hotels M there ure In this
town." he mutterod.
yes" snswcrcd Tentatively. There
arc kood many"
Barker looked up at me quickly. He
bad sAid son cthing be hadn't meant to
say knew that MS well as Barker
"By the way" I said. suddenly remem-
beriDg my mysterious letter. ''You nre
something Of nm amateur detective. Per
haps you can solve this mystery
So saying. handed him the envelope.
Barker scrutinizcd Garrett lily tho address
sad tho envelope itself Then he orened
IL and turned the sheets OF paper over sew
erai times
Carefully folding and replacing the Int
ter In the envelope. Barker handed It buck
to ne
"Do Jon know any ono who could pos
sibly do such q tniEy to bo funhyr' he
asked.
..No."r returned. IT DO not. and. more
over, canrot SEQ whcro tho joke would
como in. Tho jc.-cr would have to 60 to
great deal mors trouble than have over
IT.
sBerker shook his head 1T In just pos
sibic. " he said, ''that this letter IL precise.
ly what am locking for. II you will
obiiae me hy asking no questions Of my
kind and will came to my rooms with me,
10 may he able to make aometnIng 0f It. :
I laughed at Darkers . air Of mystery.
but willingly complied. having nothing
better to do, and accordingly We repaired
to Barkcrs apartments, which were not
far from the club. z
Arriving thcye I was not little aston
ished 10 find that Barker had one room
completely fitted UP as . laboratory Re-
menibsring Barker's injunction, however.
to ask no questions, ! snid nothing
First Barker heated the blank sheets Of
paper They remained as blank as ever.
Then he tried acid, with similar result
Barker subjected those two blank sheets
Of parer to every conceivable test known
to chemists, but without result There
WAS 20 -watermark. no makcrs' nane ON
either paIer or envelopes, not the slightest
clew to their origin.
laughed at Easker for hh pains, but
- kept bis temper.
s.Just let ms have Il overnight, will
your" be begged. -
or course complied with his reqnest
Thsu went book 10 the club 10 dines
when asked him to Accoupany me
As ] entered the door shs mailman again
accostrd mo. -
"3eg pardon, Mr.. Barton, but was tha1
ls4ter {oe you. cir, ! gave you tcdnyf"
"why do you n kf' demanded quickly.
..Dccauaa. sir. thefs was . genticniat
hcss just now aaking for it He aid tha4
was bis rame, and be thought q friend q
II. h.d airscssd Isssr g this club y
-H,mrs1 rssurpsd musinsiy, "whss
DARK gentleman. sir-liks IN EytaIia4
or SON 4hlng He aid b, ,wAs very any
ious - <ess Il. bscAuss u contained >
ehsck. He'll b book hers this svsning q
- abods fs.''
s.vssy ,vsil. & I snswsssd '.wbsn -
oounea, let me know
{ ~ 3uSs AnsshSdj leaf1H wAsn . hq6
Nuughe me in word thst > gentIema4
Wish1d 20 80 me. In ths waiting roomt
GuqA him. . tall pan. AAek - 70 con-
pon1un and slightl5 foseisn s1ooking as =
ausa. bGt srsakinRN nsaislS 1usutiy.
ssskfSVse ygu Will 4taua shis intTusSont
- psM eoaIteupsly Which las hseo
- ~ nipe =. O.
Fs1ssared 1lm % Shi5 point. bns hs
Ooed - I'll him thAe slthoagA ! bad b
olfSo1 IN enS61Bpo adjs0us4 % 4 Richa36
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