davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08
NOR detective whose talents
had not been recognized at

NOR detective whose talents
haG not been recognized at
headquarters possessed an
ambition which, fortunately for
my standing with the lieutenant of the
precinct, had not yet been expressed in
words. Though l had small reason
for expecting great things of myself,
had always cherished the hope that
II n big ease came my way | should be
found able to do something with it
something more, that is, than l had
seen accomplished by the police Of the
District of Columbia since had had
the honor Of being one of their num-
her. Therefore. when found myself
plugged. almost without my own Volt
tim. into the .lcifrey-A Moore affair, be-
iieved that the opportunity had come
whereby might distinguish myself.
1t had complications. this Jeffrey
Moore affair; greater ones than the
public ever knew, keen as'thc interest
in it ran both in and out of Washing
ton. ~
IlI - why I propose to tell the
stor CT this great tragedy from my
own standpoint, even il in so doing
risk the charge of attempting to ex-
plot my own connection with this cele-
brated case. In its course encounter.
ed as many disappointment as tri-
umphs and brought ont of the affair a
heart as sore rs it was satisfied, for l
am lover of women and
But am keeping you from the story
itself
was at the station house the night
Uncle David came i'll. He was always
The detective
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08

Perhaps you have heard of the dis
tinguishing feature Of this house. If
SO, you do not need my explanations.
But If, for any reason, you are ignorant
of the facts which within Il very short
time have set Il final seal of horror up
on this old historic dwelling, then you
Will be glad to read what has made
and will continue to make the Moore
house in Washington one to be pointed
at in daylight and Stunned after dark,
not only by superstitious colorcd folk,
but by all who are susceptible to the
most ordinary emotions OF fear and
dread.
1t was standing when Washington
was Il village 1t antedates the capitol
and the White House. Built by u man
OF wealth, it bears to this day the i'm
press of the large tleas and quiet ele-
gance of colonial times; but the sllad-
ow which speedily fell across it made
1t Il marked place even in those early
days. While it has always escaped
the hackneyed epithet of haunted"
families that have moved in have as
quickly moved out, giving as their ex-
cuse that no happiness was to be found
there and that sleep was impossible
under its roof. That there was some
reason for this lack of rest within
walls which We're not without their
tragic "reminiscences all must acknowl-
edge. Death had often occurred there.
and while this fact can be stated in
regard to most old houses, it is not
often that one can say, as in this case,
that it was invariably sudden and in
variably of one character.
A lifeless man, lying outstretched OH
certain heartlstone, might be found
once in a house and awaken no special
comment but when this same discov-
cry has been made twice, il not thrice,
dUfins the history of II single dwelling,
one might surely be pardoncd dis
trust of its seemingly homelike ap-
pointments and discern in its slowly
darkening walls the presence of an
evil which il left to itself might perish
in the natural decay of the place, but
which, il met and challenged, might
strike again and make another blot on
Its thrice crimsoned hearthstone.
But these are old fables which l
should hardly presume to mention
had it not been for the recent occur
renee which has recalled them to all
mems minds and given to this long
empty and slowly crumbling building
an Importance which has spread its
fame from one end of the country to
the other refer to the tragedy at
tending the wedding lately celebrated
there.
Veronica Moore, rich, pretty and Will
full had long cherished Il strange liking
for this flowning old home of her an
cestors and, ut the most critical time
III her life, conceived the idea OF prov-
Ing to herself and to society ut large
that no real ban lay upon it save in
the imagination of the supcrstitious.
So, being about to marry the choice of
her young heart. she caused, this house
TO gsbe opened for the wedding cere-
49,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08
svneIe David

mony : with what result you knaw.
Though the occasion was a joyous one
and accompanied by all that could
give cheer to such function, 1t had
not escaped the old time shadow One
of the guests straying into the room
of ancient and unhaliowed memory,
the one room which had not been
thrown open to the crowd. had been
found within five minutes of the cere-
mony lying OH its dolorous hearthstone
dead. and, though the bride was spared
n knowledge of the dreadful fact till
the holy words We're said, panic had
seized the guests and emptled the
house as suddenly and completely as
though the plague had been discovered
there
This is why l fastened to follow
Uncle David when he told me that all
was not right in this house Of tragic
memories.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08
The great settle
in the room of death

alton by a criminals hand The boa
Of delicate black net which encircled
her neck rose fresh and intact to her
chin; nor did the heavy folds of her
rich broadcloth gown betray that any
disturbance had taken place in her
figure after its fall. If II jewel had
flashed at her throat, or earrings
adorned her ears, they had been re-
moved by careful, If not loving.
hand. But I was rather inclined to
think that she had entered upon the
scene of her death without ornaments,
such severe simplicity marked her
whole attire.
Her hat, which was as plain and also
rs elegant as the rest of her clothing,
lay near her on the floor. 1t had been
taken off and thrown down. manifestly
by an impatient hand. That this hand
was her own was evident from 4 small
but very significant fact. The pin
which had held it to her hair had been
thrust again into the hat, No hand
but hers would have taken this prccau-
ton. y man would have flung it aside
just as he would have flung the hat.
Question:
Did this argue natural expectation
on her part Of rcsuming her hat, or
was the action the result of an uncon-
scious habit?
Having thus noted all that was pos
sible concerning her without infringing
on the rights of the coroner, next pro-
ceeded to cast about for clews to the
identity Of the person whom consid-
cred responsible for the extinguished
candle. But here o great disappolnt-
ment awaited ME. I could find moth
ing expressive Of n second PERSONS
presence save pile of cigar ashes
scattered near the legs of Il common
Kitchen chair which stood face to face
with the bookshelves in that part of
the room where the candelabrum rested
on small table. But these ashes look
ed old, nor could detect any evidence
of tobacco smoke in the general musti-
ness pervading the place. Was the
man who died here fortnight since
accountable for these ashes? If so
his unfinished cigar must be within
sight. Should search for it? No, fol
this would take me to the hearth and
that was quite too deadly place tc
be heedlessly approached.
| Besides, 1 was not yet finished will
the spot where then stood. If
| could gather nothing satisfactory from
the ashes, perhaps could from the
!! chair or the shelves before which Il
| had been placed. Some one with an in
| terest in books had sat there; some one
| who expected to spend sufficient time
| over these old tones to feel the nee(
| of chair. Had this interest been ;
/ general one, or had it centcred in Il par
ticular volume? ran my eye over til,
shelves within reach. possibly with III
idea of settling this question, ant
though my knowledge of books is lin
tied could see that these We're wha
one might call rarities. Some Of then
contained specimens of black letter, al
moldy and smothered in dust: in other
saw dates of publication whicl
placed them among volumes dear to
collectors Eeurt, But none of them
so far us l could see. gave any evl
dcnce of having been lately handled
and, anxious to waste no time OF
pueriie details, hastily quilted M.
chair and was proceeding to turn IN,
attention elsewhere when notices
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08

TOT for an instant did doubt
N the correctness of this identiii-
cation. All the pictures l had
seen of this well known society
belle had been marked by an individ-
uality of expression which fixed her
face in the memory and which l now
saw repeated In the lifeless features
before me.
Having sent the too willing Hlbbard
to notify headquarters, l was on the
point of making memorandum of
such details as seemed important.
when my lantern suddenly went out,
leaving me in total darkness.
This was far from pleasant, but the
effect it produced upon my mind was
not without Its result; for no sooner
did find myself alone and in the I'M
relieved darkness of this grarelike
room than became convinced that no
woman, however frcnzicd. would make
her plunge into an unknown existence
from the midst of darkness only too
suggestive of the tomb to which she
was hastening. 1t was not in nature,
not III woman's nature, at all events
Either she had committed the final act
before such daylight as could filter
through the shutters of this closed up
room had quite disappeared "a hy-
pothesis instantly destroyed by the
warmth which still fingered in certain
portions of her body-or else the light
which had been burning when she
pulled the fatal trigger had since been
| carried elsewhere or eXtinguished.
Recalling the uncertain CLEANS which
we had seen flashing from one of the
upper windows, l was inclined to give
some credence to the former theory
but was disposed to be fair to both. So
after relighting my lamp | turned o
one of the gas cocks of the massiv
chandelier over my head and applied
IL match. The result was just what l
anticipated: no ;:as in tile pipes. y
meter had not been put i'll for the we'd
ding. This the papers had repeatedly
stated i'll dwelling upon the sarsh eff
feet of the daylight on the elaborate
costumes Worn by TIC ladies'. Candles
had not even been provided-ah, can
dies! What. then, WAS it that l saw
4 glittering on small table ut the Other
end of the room? Surely n candlestick
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08

"HOUGH pnst seventy, Uncle
David was II brisk walker, and
on this night in particular he
sped along so fast that he was
half way down ii street by the time l
had turned the corner of New Hamp-
shire avenue.
His gaunt but not ungraceful figure.
merged in that Of the dog trotting
closely at his heels, was the only NOV
ing object in the dreary vista of this
the most dcsolate block In Washington.
AS ncared the building l was so Inn
pressed by the surrounding stiffness
that was ready to vow that the shad-
ows were denser here than elsewhere
and that the few gas lamps which
flickercd at intervals down the street
shone with more feeble ray than in
any other equal length of street in
Washington.
Meanwhile the shadow Of Uncle Da-
vid had vanished from the pavement.
He had paused beside fence which,
hung with vines, surrounded and near
ly hid from sight the little cottage he
had mentioned as the only house on
the block with the exception of the
great Moore place; in other words, his
own home.
AS came abreast of him l heard
him muttering, not to his dog, as was
his custom. but to himself. In fact,
the dog was not to be seen, and this
desertion on the part of his constant
companion seemed to add to his dis
turbance and affect him beyond all rea-
son. l could distinguish these words
among the many he directed toward
the unseen animal:
you're knowing one-too know
ing! You see that loosened shutter
over the way as plainly as do; but
you're n coward to stink away from it.
l don't face the thing, and, what's
more, I'll show you vet what l think
of u dog that can't stand his ground
and help his old master out with some
show of courage. Creaks, does it?
| Well, let 1t creak. don't mind its
creaking, glad as I should be to know
whose hand Hello! You've. come,
have you?" This to me. had just
stepped up to him.
Eyes, I've come. Now, what is the
] matter with the Moore house?"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08
The Moors house

Of the house. In another moment the
rich peal of an organ sounded from
within, followed by the prolonged
bowling of Rudee, who, either from
too keen appreciation of his masters
music or in utter disapproval of it-no
one, believe, has ever been able to
make out which-was accustomed to
add this undesirable accompaniment
to every strain from the old mans
hand. The playing did not cease be-
cause.of these outrageous discords. On
the contrary, 1t increased in force.and
volume, causing Ridges expression of
result can be imagined. AS listened
to the intolerablc bowls of the dog
cutting clean through the exquisite
harmonies of his master wondered If
the shadows cast by the frowning
structure of the great Moore house
were alone to blame for Uncle David's
lack of neighbors.
Meantime Hubbard, who was the
first to hear my signal. came running
down the block. AS he Joined me the
light, or what we chose to call a light,
appeared in the window toward which
my attention had been directed.
"SOme ones In the Moore housew'I
declared In as matter of fact tones .as
could command.
Hubbard is a big fellow, the biggest
fellow on the force, and SO far as my
own experience with him had gone, as
stolid and imperturbable, as the best of
us. But after quick glance at the
towering walls of the lonely building
he showed decided embarrassment and
seemed in no haste to cross the street.
With difficulty concealed my dis
gust.
Come" cried, stepping, down from
the curb, "let's go over and investi-
gate. The property is valuable, the
furnishings are handsome, and there is
no end of costly books on the library
shelves. You have matches and re-
volver?"
He nodded, quietly showing me first
the. one, then the other; then, with a
sheepish air which he endeavored to
carry off withia laugh, he cried:
Have you use for 'em? If SO, I'm
quite willing to part with 'em for q
half hour"
l was nloreMhan amazed.at this evil
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08

called Uncle David, even by the ur-
chins who followed him in the street, so
\ am showing him no disrespect, gen
tleman though he is, by giving him u
ute which as completely characterized
MIN IN those days as did his moody
ways, his quaint attire and the per-
sistence with which he kept ut his side
his great mastiff Ridge.
l had long since heard of the old
gentleman as one of the most interest
ing residents OF the precinct. had
even seen MN more thah once on sthe
avenue, puo ! hau never beIores been
:. =. " illl--
-,hsequehtiy had much too superficial
Il hloWlease OF us couhtenanee TO de-
serinine o1hand whether the uneasy
,ght III MS small gray eyes was nat
RAJ TO them or simply the result OF
resent excitement. but when he be-
IN 10 tax l detected an unmistakable
snlor IN ms tones ana decided that he
Is IN a state Oh suppressed agitation,
iHonsh he appeared to nave nothing
nole .'l",iniis ~ iilinr. thah t'ie lact
.n..e nc naA seen d ,isht burning III
sol,ie mousse presumably empty.
~ WIS aii 80 Twill .iiat gave MN
nu, ee,in. ai'eii'ioil ''i' ne iet name
n Ml.eu causeu ilie " PRICK vi, my
s sal enu eye, " pu. M wolu' nc
A ''.,.. nouse' ne n'u saiu.
ne nioo'e nouse! repeated IN
ai"Aaen. o., are YOU speaAi'ls VI INC
nooie npuse1 >,
'iiousai'i reeo''ec.iohs c'liie WIN
'nv na',e
WHAT other! ne grumDleu. directing
towara me look rs Keen as II was I'M
pu.icht' 10 you tliink mat | would
uotl'er niyseH long about Il mouse
had no interest IN, OF drag Kudge from
no ~"iA lus " saw soi.e uiisra'eiui
ool ron poss.pic pufsiary!
~, :. % my llousc Mnicn solhe rogue
nus nus s Inosen " ei'.ci' mt ID, he
.. ee 80 40 ne s,M suip,tse
IN. ~ 's,. ese' .ne nousc winch ,,ie iuw
WIN slVe ms - any ,iiiis ever napleils
,s.. ,'an LII III, y, s'' i'o''i my pfo'i'cr
crow,,no some words a. tho doc
who chavez, doo;doa ,,,o,,,,t,o =,
Ito down ,yhera ba ,yos tho old ,nor
moda for tho door and IN anothar mo.
mani would hove hoon ;n +ha .tront
AZ had mr. stennod oftor him
"Yor nra n Mooro and 1.-Two In or ,,oo,.
that old bousa9, osIoa
Tho s,,,nr,sa ,,,,t,, ,,,,,;oh ho ,,+ AT,
oua.t,o,, ,o,,ntoa NO i,tt,a
uLJo,, love l,n,.o ,o,, hoo,, T., 1vos,,
,,nton s,,onId NJ -, ,s,. ~. 80 H.,
oo,,s rotort
"nh some five ,rortbsn
r1;s oond notrra nr ,Yho+ ,osso, %,
snoh ,n tI,,s ;raso;h,a ola n,ar not,,nro,
in ~ ,nstnnt 49,, W. o,,..,,, NV. ~
mnrindlv ra,n,,rad.
aya. -.
.,u,a" ~" nv. ia. teu li,uen AZ .nll
..as; ., VIII u nou ,ilofc cerI-
,,,a,.. US a .aan muny uno,ner nun
~ ns asuu, WIN euluen u,sii'y'
un " .ns e.uei oiuiicii anu iive ~
.ne .o.'ase lioluns .nc o'u p'aee' !
1 aM, .ne on,y res.uent On the DOCK.
~ AANo .''eu neie teisei you
VIII know why that especial neighbor-
hood Is not a favorite one with those
VINO cannot boast OF the Moore blood.
FOR the present, let us attribute the
bad name that 1t holds to-malaria."
And with Significant hitch OF his lean
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08
RudGo

SiI pltl luIut1
with Il gesture us fierce as it was in
stinctive, shouted out:
BE still there! If you haven't the
courage to face blowing shutter, keep
your jaws shut and don't let every
fellow who happens along know what
fool you are. l declare" he maun-
dered on, half to himself and half to
me, that dog is getting old. He can't
be trusted any more. He forsakes his
master just when The rest was
lost in his throut, which ratified with
something more than impatient anger.
Meanwhile I had been attentively
scrutinizins the house thus pointedly
brought to my notice. l had seen it
many times before, but, as 1t happen
ed, had never stopped to look ut it
when the huge trees surrounding it
were shrou1ed in darkness. The black
hollow of its disused portal looked out
from shadows which acquired some Of
their somberness from the tragic mem
cries connected with its empty void.
Its aspect was scarcely reassuring
Not that superstition lent its terrors
to the lonely scene, but that through
the blank panes OF window, alternately
appearing and disappearing from view
rs the shutter pointed out by Uncle
David blew to and fro in the wind,
saw or was persuaded that saw Il
beam of light which argued an I'M
known presence within walls which
had so lately been declared unfit for
amy mans habitation.
You are right" l now remarked to
the uneasy figure at my side. Some
one Is prowling through the house yon-
der. Can it possibly be, Mrs. Jeffrey
or her husband"
AT night and with no gas in the
house? Hardly"
The words were natural. but the
voice was not. Neither was his man
ner quite suited to the occasion. Civ
ing him another sly glance and mark
ing how uneasily he edged away from
me in the darkness, l cried out more
cheerily than he possibly expected:
81 will summon another officer, and
we three will just slip across and i'll
vestigate."
MOT ~ was his violent rejoinder as
he swung open Il gate concealed In the
vines behind him. The Jeffreys would
resent my intrusion if they ever hap
pened to hear of it"
Indeed" laughed. sounding my
whistle. Then, soberly enough, for
was more than little struck by the
I oddly of his behavior and thought
lin as well worth investigation as the
house i'll which he showed such an in
terest: You shouldn't let that count.
Come and see what's up in the house
you are so ready to call yours"
But he only drew farther into the
shade.
Il have no business over there" he
objected. Veronica and 1 have never
been on good terms. was not even
invited to her wedding, though 1 live
: within stones throw of the door.
No; l have done my duty in calling ut
tention to that light and whether it's
the bullseye of n burglar perhaps
|. you don't know that there are rare
treasures on the bookshelves of the
, great library-or whether 1t is the fan
tastic Illumination which frightens
fool folks and some fool dogs, I'm done
/ with 1t and done with you, too, for to-
night"
AS he said this he mounted to his
door and disappeared under the vines,
hanging like II shroud over the front
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08

lie must have expected the question,
vet his answer was long time COM
ing. His voice, too, sounded strained
and was pitched quite too high to be
natnral But he evidently did not ex-
pect me to show surprise at his man
ner.
Look at that window over therew
he cried ut last. THAT one with the
slightly open shutter! Watch and you
will see that shutter move. There, it
creaked! Didn't you hear 1T"
A growl-it was more like moan
came from the porch behind us. In
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08
The candle in the tumbler
front of the house and sthusstoathe
stairs communicating; witathe supper
Ito BE CONTINUED


1t is n popular dclusion that doctors
are compelled to attend to any and
every call made upon them. Nothing
of the kind; but medical men very
rarely refuse, although in many cases
the chance of receiving fee is remote.
Street accidents or people suddenly
taken i'll sometimes Il mnlingerer) will
make kind hearted onlooller run to
the nearest doctor for assistance, quite
oblivious as to who is responsible for
payment. AS n matter Of fact the
one who calls the doctor is liable.-Lon-
don Tit-Bits,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08
s1.4o to Waterloo
For The
Maccabees' Picnic.
JUNE Q, 1904.
For The

The Illinois Central will sell excurs-
ion tickets to Waterloo, Thursday, June
9Th, for the train leaving Manchester at
500 A. M. at the above low rate. Tick
cts good only on this train, and return
ing only on train leaving Waterloo ZOO
p. M of that date.
The Maccabees' State Picnic and Uni
form Rank Carnival. together with the
low rate named, affords an excellent
opportunity for pleasant days outing.
There will be Prize Drills BY crack
divisions of the Uniform Rank, Speak
ers of National Reputation, High Dive,
Champion Trick Rifle shooting, Racing,
Games, Dancing, Boating, and the Iowa
League Ball Game between the Oska-
looss "Quakers' and the Waterloo
Microbes"
Don't forget 1t.
J. f. MERRY,
Asst. Gen. Pass. Agent.
2Sw1 Dubuque, Iowa.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08
The Only Line with Worlds Fair
Station

This refers tothe Minneapolis & St.
Louis Railroad and means
lst-The shortest line.
2nd-The most comfortable route.
std-Two fine through trains direct to
the gates of the fair.
tth-A saving of about three hours
5th-You avoid the crowds at the
Union depot and on the street cars,
6th-1 on save money by being landed
Just where you want to 60.
Ihere are many other aeasons but 20
word to the wise ia sufficient"
For excursion tickets, berth reserva-
tions and complete guide to the fair,
free, address A. b. Cults. G. p. & T. A.,
Minneapolis, MINI. 20w2O
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08
Cheap Round Trip Rates

Cheap Round Trip Rates
Via Chicago Great Western Railway
Every day this summer to September 30
the Chicago Great Western Railway
will sell tickets to st. Paul, Minneapo-
lie, Duluth, Superior Ashland, Bayfield,,
Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and
Salt Lake City at about one half the
usual rates. Good to return until Oct
ober 3lst. If you are contemplating
trip apply to any Great Western Agent
or j. z. Elmer, G.P. A. Chicago, Ill.
for complete information. 23w13
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-08
Simmer Tourist Rates.

Simmer Tourist Rates.
The Minneapolis 4 st Louis has placed
on sale daily round trip summer tour
list tickets to st. Paul, Minneapolis,
Duluth and other Northern Minnesota
summer resorts; Denver, Colorado
Springs, Salt Lake City, Ogden, etc, at
extremely low rates. Limit for return
to October 3lst. Call GU agents for
particulars or address A. b. Cults, G.
p. 4 T. A., Minneapolis, MINI. 23w13