davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
CHAPTER XIV.
THE MURDER SYNDICATE.

THE MURDER SYNDICATE.
"See here, Sturgis, this won't do. I
forbade you to do a stroke of work
to-day, or even to leave your bed; and
here you are scribbling away just as
though nothing had happened. I tell
you when man has the narrow squeak
you have, there has been tremendous
strain upon his heart, and 1t Is posi-
lively dangerous"
Don't scold, old man; have never
in my life been better than feel to-
day. And, besides, this work could not
be postponed"
ooh, pshaw! That is what nine out
of every ten patients say to their physi-
clan. They are modestly convinced
that the world must needs come to q
standstill if they cannot accomplish
their tiny mite of work"
DR.. Thurston, who had assumed his
frown of professional severity, pro-
ceeded to feel the reporters pulse.
well, you are in luck; better than
you deserve. Almost any other man
would have been laid up for week by
the experience you have been through.
And here you have the face to recover
without the assistance of the medical
profession, and in spite of your insolent
disregard of my express orders to leave
work alone for the present. Now, there
is Sprague-''
"Ah, what of sprague7" asked the
reporter, anxiously.
"Sprague has had close call. But
he is safe now. If tender and intelli-
gent nursing count for anything, he
will probably be up in day or two"
Miss Murdoch"
Eyes. She has professional nurse
to help her; but she has insisted on
taking charge of the case herself And
an excellent nurse she is. too. and q
charming girl into the bargain-and
what is more, noble woman"
Does she know OF her fathers
death?"
II broke the news as gently as
possible, She took 1t much more calm
ly than supposed she would. There
evidently was but little sympathy be-
tween her and her father
ION her side, at any rate"
1CS. 11eI uTSt aCt on learning OF 1er
fathers crimes was to send for law
yer. She refuses to touch a cent of his
money, and has instructed her attorney
to make such resolutions as may be
possible and to turn the rest to char
liable institutions. This leaves her al.
most penniless; for the property she
held in her own right from her moth
er's estate amounts to very little. For
tunately, Sprague is rich enough for
both. What are you doing there, II
may ask?"
DR.. Thurston pointed to bundle
which lay upon the table.
THAT is Murdock's autobiography
alegacy to me. The package was found
near his valise in the death chamber.
He had addressed it to me at the last
minute"
Did it help you in your account Of
the Knickerbocker bank case for the
Tempest?"
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

"a little; but naturally, Murdoc,<,s
account Of that osime was not oom-
Plete. The entire journal, however,
is OF absorbing interest. It ia a pity
that II cannot be published"
Why cannot II be published?"
IL would be dangerous to the wei.
fare Of society. Murdoch was An OK
traordinary genius in his line, there
y marvellous originality and ingenu.
~ IN his work. His crimes, num-
bered by the hundred, were all OF
capital Importance in their results;
all deep-laid and skillfully executed.
1t Is hardly likely that such another
consummate artist in crime will cx-
iss once century. To publish tho
details of his schemes would be to
put Q formidable weapon In the hand.
OF the vulgar herd Of ordinary GRIM
inals, who lack the Imagination Of
this brilliant villain.
Il tell you, Thurston," continued
Sturgis, with what seemed very like
enthusiastic conviction, "this man
was the originator OF almost every
unsolved mystery which has non
plussed the police during the last Is
years. he had his agents in every i'm
portant center throughout the coun-
try;' agents working under potent In
centives, and yet working in the dark,
for few of them have ever known who
held the mysterious power which d.
rected their every move. Murder has
been done wholesale; and so quietly
and mysteriously has the work been
accomplished that, in all but this last
case, the detectives have found no
clue whatever which might lead TO
an explanation of he sudden and I'M
accountable disappearance of wealthy
men, whose bodies, shipped to the
Manhattan Chemical company by
Murdock's agents, were quietly aud
systematically made away with in the
chemists laboratory"
HE was the fiend incarnateI" ex.
claimed the physician.
WELL" said sturgis, after q mo-
ment OF thoughtful silence, "at any
rate, he was not wantonly cruel. Ee
was heartless; he was pitiless; but
his cruelty was always means to au
end, however selfish and illegitimate
that end might be. His cruelty ia
that, in measure, of every human
being destroying life that he may live
and trampling upon his fellow men
that he may be comfortable. Be.
tween Murdoch and the rest of us there
was difference of degree, certainly,
but was there difference of kind?"
"There is one thing which I can
not yet understand" said Thurston,
land that is, why Murdoch should
have pushed his auducity to the point
Of defying you to ferret out the mys-
terry of this crime, when he might
perhaps have avoided all risk of de-
lection by holding his tongue"
mo man is perfect" answered
sturgis, sententiously, mot even an
accomplished villain like Murdoch,
fortunately for the rest Of mankind
Every human being has his weak
points. Murdoch had two:-his van
ity and his love for his daughter
They We're the only traits which con.
nected him with the human family.
To them he owes his undoing"
THE END
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
Too n1nch to Exnect.

An excellent story is told of the
weakness in spelling of an old Indian
colonel. One day a brigade major ap-
preached him with the remark: Very
sorry to hear that you've been suffer
ing from govt, colonel" "Gout, sirl
What do you mean, sir?" roared the
colonel. why on earth should I haze
govt? Never had govt in my life,
confound yous" "Wellf I'm sorry to
have offended you. colonel, but only
this morning I received in the brigade
Office your application for leave, and
you distinctly asked for it on the
ground that you had been suffering
from govt" ~ dare say 1 did" an.
swered the colonel, but what of
that? You couldn't expect me to
spell word like rheumatism
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
CHAPTER xx1v.
CIIECKMATEl

The two detectives, after leaving
Spragueand Sturgis in the cellar of the
Manhattan Chemical company, pro-
ceeded to search the premises from
basement to roof. Then, somewhat
discounted, they returned to the eel
lar, and We're surprised to And that
the reporter and his friend had disap-
peared.
After questioning the man whom
they had left on watch on the outside,
and ascertaining that neither>Sprague
nor sturgis had yet left the house,
the detectives called loudly to the
missing men, and receiving no reply,
at last became alarmed and sent word
of the mysterious disappearance to
headquarters. The chiefs answer came
at once:
Remain on watch where you are.
We shall investigate from the other
side"
One Of the detectives thereupon went
up to the roof of the building, whence
he could keep watch upon the back
yards, while his companion remained
In the front hall.
They had been waiting thus for some
time, when the latter thought he heard
footsteps in the direction of the private
office. He was on the alert in an in
slant.
The door was cautiously opened and
man stepped out into the hallway.
He carried valise and a package. He
blinked like q man coming suddenly
from the darkness into the daylight.
"Who are you?" asked the detective,
brusquely.
The man looked in the direction Of
the voice, and, as his eyes became ac-
customed to the light, returned the de-
tective's surprised stare with calm
and searching look.
'Checkmate!" he muttered quietly
to himself at last.
Then, without seeming haste, he
passed back into the private Office, be-
fore the astonished detective could
make any attempt to stop him.
Recovering himself quickly. the de-
tective followed the sounds of the re-
treating footsteps to the cellar stairs.
Then, fearful Of an ambush, he fired his
revolver as signal to his companion
on the roof; and, after striking a
match, he cautiously descended, reach
ing the cellar just in time to see Muir
dock disappear into the underground
passage.
He rushed to the spot; and, unable to
find the door he Dounded with all his
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
Sc0tt'S
E ll(IISiOn

of Cod Liver Oil is the means
of life, and enjoyment of life to
thousands: men women and
children.
When appetite fails, it re.
stores it. When food is a
burden, it lifts the burden.
When youlose hesh,it brings
the plumpness of health.
When work is hard and
duty is heavy, it makes life
bright.
It is the thin edge of the
wedge; the thick end is food.
But what is the use of food.
when you hate it, and can't di,
gest it?
SCOTS Emulsion of Cod
Liver Oil is thefood that makes
you forget your stomach.
If you have not tried 1t, send foi
Tree sample. its agreeable taste will
AoS GSS 5I1Ti s go4WNE. Chemists IS mi Vs.
SOC. and $I.oo; all druggists.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

Rev. John Reid, Jr. of Great Falls,
Mont. recommended Ely's Cream
Balm to me. l can emphasize his
statement, sit is positive cure for
catarrh if used rs directed. "-Rev.
Francis w. Poole, Pastor Central Pres
Church, Helena, Mont.
After using Ely's Cream Balm six
weeks | believe myself cured of ca
tarrh. Joseph Stewart, Grand Ave-,
Bhffalo, N. Y.
The Balm does not irritate or cause
Sneezing. Sold oy druggists also cts
or mailed by Ely Brothers, Sc Warren
st New York.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

CHAPTER xxII-In the study above
Agnes seeks her father to secure his APP
prevail to her engagement. While talking
no Is called away. The next moment she
CHAPTER XXITT-With failing strength
structions for effecting their relief. she
comes to rescue her lover, but suecumbs
to the gas. Murdoch discovers situation.
Sprague and tells sturgis to follow. Then
he gets few things together and disap-
pears into the laboratory. BY this time
tent. and they enter laboratory from both
directions. but no trace of the chemist is
found ~ Stursis points to the vat into
which Murdoch had thrown himself.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

upon the scene he found the first one
removing the bottles from the shelves
by the light Of match held in his
left hand.
Get light and an az, Jim, There's
a secret door here which we'll have TO
break In, can't find any way Of open
ing It,"
A few minutes later, the detectives,
after dealing upon the shelves some
telling blows with an AK, called upon
Murdoch to surrender.
Receiving no answer to their sum-
mons, the men stood irresolute for q
few seconds, Then, with grim deter
mination, they attacked the door;
raining the blows upon 1t fast and flu
riously, and filling the air with show
er Of splinters.
At length final stroke sent the
weakened hinges from their fastenings,
and the men rushed through the IN
foreground passage into the murderer's
laboratory.
A hasty, startled glance told them
that Murdoch was not there.
They started for the stairs and were
met by q policeman who was just en-
tering Murdock's Office,
Have you got him9" asked the detec-
tives in chorus.
NO" replied the policeman, sur
prised; "Mr. sturgis says he went down
here about 30 minutes ago."
"We chased him in from the other
end not ten minutes ago"
The policeman hurried down the
stairs.
Murdock's valise and package stood
conspicuous upon the long pine box.
But of Murdoch there was no sign.
"Gone!" exclaimed one of the detec-
tives, deeply mortified at the thought
that his quarry had slipped through
his fingers. "Gone! How? Where
He cannot have escaped. He cannot
What is it, Mr.. sturgis7"
he had suddenly caught sight of the
reporter, half way up the stairs.
Weak and i'll, sturgis, with blanched
face, chung unsteadily, with one hand,
to the railing; while, with the other
he pointed toward the lead-lined vat
whose dark viscous contents were
bubbling like boiling oil
A pungent vapor rose in dense clouds
from the surface of the liquid. Through
It the fascinated gaze Of the mortified
men vaguely discerned nameless
thing, tossed in weird and grotesque
contortions in a seething vortex.
Murdoch had escaped the Justice OF
men.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

The world has been so absorbed else.
where during the last few months,
says the Chicago Record, that several
South American revolutions have been
pulled off with practically no spec
tators.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
Not a Chin or the ola p,o,,

George Gould put up 81 600 900 to pay
Count Boni de Castellane's debts, lust
ass matter OF pride. 1t is apparent,
says the Chicago TimesHerald. that
George doesn't take after Jay very
hard. The latter's pride would never
have carried him to such an extreme.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

Feelings of safety pervade the house
hold that uses One Minute Cough Cure
the only harmless remedy that pro-
duces immediate results. 1t is infalli-
BILE for coughs, colds, Group and all
throat and lung troubles. 1t will pre-
vent consumption. j. II. Luers Co.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

Dandruff and falling hair are I'M
natural and the result of disease, caus-
ed by poor circulation. Beggs' Hair
Remover never fails to cure because it
restores the circulation and nourish-
ment to the scalp and tho hair cant
help but grow even on bad heads. =
Tomas & Son,
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
His ExhaustinE Pose,

Henry had to go to bed after that
visiting clergyman went away"
What was the matter?"
HE Frustrated himself trying to
give the clergyman the impression
that he was pillar in our church,
Chicago Record.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
Language In Hawaii.

Hawaii has closed its last school for
teaching the native language. Here.
after young Hawaiians will be taught
to talk English.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
what Shall We Have for Dcs. ert?

This question arises in the family
every day. Let us answer it to-day.
Try Jell-O, a delicious dessert. Pre-
pared in two minutes. No baking! add
hot water and set to cool. Flavors:-
Lemon, Orange, Raspberry and Straw
berry. At your grocerS. 10 cts. 6w4
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

Ii you want your hair to grow, you
must restore the conditions that made
it grow originally. That is good heal
thy scalp and perfect circulation of
the blood that SUPPLIES the cells with
nourishment. Beggs' Hair Remover is
the only preparation that is Guaran-
teed to do it. Lomas s. Son.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
A nemc of shaknspenre.

In the British museum is a carved
box made from a mulberry tree that
Shakespeare planted with his own
hands.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
The Bridal Feast

Is not infrequently followed BY long.
lenten period of enforced fasting and
fieshly modification. The cheek grows
hollow, the eyes are dull and deep
ringed, and the step ia slow and lanpuid.
There is an tall draoued. o,,t Eaoiss,.e- !,
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
Chlna,s Frontiers,

The coast line of the Chinese empire
exceeds 1900 miles and the land from.
tier ia 4,4O0 miles.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
For Sale.

2 dwellings, 2 business places, and
one of the best farms in Howard
county. All very desirably located
@. +. MILLER.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
Had Not Left Much.

Young Edison--Well. she has left me.
A Friend-Eh? What has left you?
Young Edtson-A comb and tooth
brush--thaYs all.4GoMn Topic2
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
A Curio Distributor.
At makes You SO timid ~

Catch me proposing to girl by let
ter
What makes you so timid?"
why, three girls in this town have
my framed proposals hanging UP in
their 'dens.' Detroit Free Press,
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

GO AAAAHp
which makes life
an utter burden.
The great func-
tional changes
which follow
marriage are not
usually antici-
pated, or the WIFE
ly suffering might
be avoided.
DR.. Pierce's Fa-
vorite Prescription
Is the best friend
Of weak and sickly
women. 1t cures
the wornanly dis
eases that rob the
eye of brightness
and the step of
lightness. Ittones
up the system and
establishes the
wonlanly organ
ism on a basis of
sound health.
Favorite Pre-
scription" con-
foiy1c M o1ooL11
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

might upon the shelves, causing the
bottles to dance and rattle.
"Come,now," he shouted, "the games
upl You may as well be reasonable.
You can't possibly escape, for you're
surrounded"
No answer came from within.
The man tried his powerful strength
upon the door without any perceptib1e
effect.
When the second detective arrived
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

Little Dick (after mediAltion)-
wen. II say you, ma will get angry;
ana IL say ma, you will get so.-Tit-
Bits.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

neither opium, cocaine, nor other mar
cotics. Accept no substitute. There is
no other medicine just as good" for
weak and sickly women.
III had been great sufferer from female weak
Richardson, of Goss, Wayne Co., Ky. ocould
not do my work part of the time took four
bottles of DR.. Pierce's Favorite Prescription and
felt as we'll as ever did"
Young married women will find
lasting friend in DR.. Pierce's Medical
Adviser. 1t contains 1908 pages and
is sent free Tin paper cover), on re-
ceipt of 81 one cent stamps to pay
expense of mailing only. Cloth bind
ing, 81 stamps. Address DR.. r. v. Pierce,
Buffalo. N. Y
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

The hest method of cleansing the
liver is the use of the famous little
pill known as DeWitt's Little Early
Rise rs. Easy to take. Never grippe. j.
n. I,,uejS Drug Co.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19
Discreet Young Ceu1lemnn
Little Dick-Solomon.

Governess--Who was the wises
man?
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

A valuable bit of information comes
to US from Mrs. M. Evans, Cairo, ILL.,,
who says: THAT Beggs' Hair Remover
removed the dandruff from her hair,
I'D stoppea it falling out, after every
thing else had failed Don't waste
time. Cure the disease and your hair
will take care of itself. Tomas s. Son.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-19

Governess-Correct; name the wis.
est woman
Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-19
BADLY SPLIT.
Cuyahoga County Has
+ Many Candidates.
Judge U. L. Marvin Sends Letters TO
Delegates-His Claims.

Circuit Judge U. l.. Marvin, of Ak
ron. has already started a vigorous
campaign with the view of securing a
denomination at the hands of the
next judicial convention, says the
Cleveland Leader. He has written
letters to all of the delegates to the
convention from Cuyahoga county,
who were elected at the recent Repub-
llcan convention. Judge Lampson, of
the Common Pleas bench, is again a
candidate for the nomination. He was
q candidate last year against Circuit
Judge Hale who was nominated and
elected. H. II. Winch has been spoken
OF rs n candidate, and 1t Is said that
certain ones are backing Miner e..
Norton, eX-Law Director Of the city,
with the hope of securing his nomi-
nation. In all probability there will
be other candidates in the field before
the convention is held.
Indications now point TO badly
Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-19
ROMANTIC
An Erie Engineer Marries His Child
hood Sweetheart.

Isaac Huffmann, Il well known Erie
engineer, and Mrs. Mary Il. Weitzel,
of Gallon, were quietly married in Blu
cyrus Saturday morning by the Rev.
NJ. j. Keyes, of the Methodist Episco-
pal church.
They We're lovers in childhood but
became separated and both married.
Mrs. Weitzel was divorced from her
husband about ten years ago, and
Huffmann only a few weeks ago got
II divorce from his wife, who is now
in California with their two children.
As soon as all legal restraints were
removed the arrangements for the
wedding We're made, but We're kept
so quiet that not even the immediate
relatives knew the exact date.
Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-19
None Of the Conf!dgratloEs Were oil
Serious Nature.

sunday proved a busy day for the
Akron fire department.
There were four fires during the
morning, and three of them occurred
between the hours of $40 and 10 o.
clock. Had any of them developed
into serious contlagrations, the depart
ment would have been greatly hand-
capped and a large property loss would
have resulted. ~:
Fortunately in each instance, the fire
was quickly extinguished, and in one
or two of the cases, Il was scarcely
necessary to turn in an alarm.
The first of the three fires was
sounded from box 81, ut $40 o'clock.
The residence of j. j. Loomis, G32 f.
| Buchtel ave, had caught fire from
torch, being used in thawing out frozen
water pipes. Departments l and z
responded. The fire was eXtingoislied
by the use of chemicals. Loss will
amount to 500, covered by Insurance.
| Fifteen minutes later an alarm came
in from box A. Nos. and 4 made the
run. A house OH Vors ST., owned by
james Gilhooly, and occupied by f. G.
! Christ and S. Bittner had caught from
a defective flue, under the roof. DAM
age slight. ~
At 10 O'Clock an alarm by telephone
called department No 3 to 21O ). Tn
ion ST., The house is known as Mas
aldwar' and is soccupied by the young
ladies of Buchtel College as n dorni-
tory. 1t is owned by John T. Johnson
The furnace had failed to act proper
ly and the house was filed with smoke
The occupants, thrilled with horror at
the prospects Of another fire to burn
them out of house and home, hastily
gave the alarm. The young ladies
were badly frightened and after the
furnace had been properly regulated
and the house cleared of smoke, one
of them shyly asked Chief Manderbacf
if he would not allow one cf his mer
to wait an hour to prevent further out
break of the flames. The request was
granted.
AT 2:1O o'clock Sunday morning al
alarm came in from box II. A lamI
had exploded in Henry. Campbell's
meat market, ut 203 Grant st. The
chemical engine soon eXtinguished tho
flames. No damage was done except
by smoke.
At 6:30 o'clock Saturday evening, d
house at the corner of Thornton and
Harvard SITS, owned by Byron Wise
and occupied by ID. F.. Mckee, caught
fire from an overheated stove. Loss
will amount to $40. Departments
and 1 responded.
To complete the activities of the day
the department was called to box 20
corner Washington ST., and Hopp alley
at $50 o'clock Sunday evening. Il
proved to he Il false alarm.
|