davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17

you know. There was time when was an
other man"
Never Bennington said dispassionately
The seeds of evil were always there"
well, let that pass if you like. A bad man
and bad woman and dreadful accident have
reduced me to what you see. What took place
here tonight is beside the mark The fact re-
mains that you know too much. You stand be-
tween us and scheme that ] have been plotting
for years Whether that scheme is connected
with Sir Charles Darryll matters nothing The
great point, as | said before, is that you know
too much What are you going to do?''
Wait my chance and publish my knowledge
to the world Bennington cried.
And lose Mary for ever? Oh. know that
you are still in love with her, know that you
will never be happy till she is your wife But
YOU seem to lose sight of the fact that she is
strongly attached to me. And if harm comes
to me through you, Mary will never become Mrs
Remington She will love you and leave you as
they do in the stories"
''You cannot detan me here for any length of
time Bennington said coldly.
81 keep you here till | have finished my
campaign Sartoris replied. IT could murder
YOU and nobody be any the wiser"
Bennington thought of Field, and smiled Hith
erto he had not tried diplomacy. Now it seemed
time to resort to strategy.
''You are quite correct so far" he said "I
know much, l know a great deal more than Won
| did not do so blindly | had my own reasons
for attending to the work privately But rec
ognzed my danger and the man had to deal
with. So, indeed, would proceed to make my
retreat safe. Did you ever hear of sealed or
ders?"
Naturally have, But what have they to do
with the present case?"
Everything When admiral detaches part
of his feet in war time, he sends the detached
part away with sealed orders which are TO be
opened. ] should say that they are being opened
about now You understand me?"
Sartoris nodded; THAT was clever" he said;
"but not quite clever enough should have
gone little further if l had been in your posi-.
ton What you say merely induces me TO get
rid of you altogether. But let us 90 into my
room and discuss the matter quietly. Kindly
turn my chair around, no. not that way. Grip
the handle at the back and push me -"
Bennington heard no more. As his hands came
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17

Bennington had quick mental picture Of where
different objects were--and he made a dash for
the switch. Some great force seemed to grip
nm by the hands, he was powerlcss 10 move he
heard what seemed TO him to be the swing and
Jolt OF machinery Somebody was laughing much
as u funny play was being performed before
delightful eyes, with Bennington for the third
man Of the company, and then the light came up
again.
Angry and bafhod and disappointed ar Berring-
ton was all these feelings gave way to amaze
ment as he looked around the room
Every sign Of body had disappeared, the room
was empty save for Sartors, who sat smoking a
cigarette, with sardonio smile on his face. All
the Others had gone, and the body was gone from
the table; on the latter was dark crimson cloth
surmounted by mass Of flowers arranged taste
fully around an electric stand. Sartoris laughed
IN an easy, mocking way.
Miracles whilst you wait" he said "I lust
press button and there you are. You say that
you saw lot of people here and some object on
the table. You would swear to that?"
Being in full possession of my faculties
would Bennington said grimly.
And where are they? There was no lady,
there were no people, only my humble, sweet self
always glad to see my distinguished friend Colo
mel Bennington"
Bennington made reply for a moment. It
seemed hopeless to try to cope with the little
fend. He looked down at the floor as If to find
evidence of magic there, but the pattern of the
turkey carpet was intact the big brass-headed
nails were in the corners and along the fireplace
There more things in Heaven and earth
Horatio, than are dreamed of in your phioso
ply " Sartoris quoted. GAS rule your soldier
is dull and not gifted with much imagina-
ton. And 80 you have taken this matter up on
the principle that Satan finds some mischief still
for idle hands to do. But on the whole, YOU are
not what the world calls bad fellow. On the
contrary, am. And that being the case, and as
am not supposed to be in the least scrupuous
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17

thing suddenly ceased and Sartoris's gentle mock
ing laughter took the place Of the agony.
You arc not feeling very WELL Sartoris called
out "1f you arc not altogether in state OF
physical collapse will you kindly walk this way.
little brandy will about fit the case
Bennington was past protest and past fight, for
the moment He seemed to be sick to the soul.
There came back TO him the vivid recollection OF
the time when he had lain out in the jungle all
night with bullet through his lungs. waiting
YEARLY for death in the morning. He flung him
self exhaustedly into chair and gasped Tor
breath. Sartoris watched him as some cold
blooded scientist might have watched the fay
ing of live animal.
Your heart is not nearly so bad as you think, -
he said. when the pressure goes from your
lungs you will be much better. That is little
dodge OF mine which is built upon pretty full
knowledge of electricity. Up to now have not
had an opportunity of giving it a good trial. Are
you feeling any better!"
Bennington nodded. The color was coming
back to his cheeks now, the painful feeling at his
chest was abating.
you malignant little fend," he gasped. 81
should be doing the world service if took you
by the throat and squeezed the life out Of YOU
"Well, the remedy is in your hands, though |
doubt whether or not Judge and jury would
take the sanguine view of the case. But
you are free to try if you like. l am only mere
miserable bag of bones, and you are strong
man. Get to work"
The cackng challenge passed unheeded Act.
ually there was something about the strange lit
tie man to be afraid Of He took up the thread
of conversation again.
'You will find that every exit is guarded in the
same way" he said. 'I have only to set the
whole machinery in motion and you are power
less. You are in my hands. If you had touched
me when I asked you just now, you would have
been dead at my feet. But strange as it may
seem, have heart hidden in this crooked little
body of mine somewhere. l not always bad,
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17
11he 1.!!.l1!: Slave Of SiIenceES

ing to stand gossiping here all night BE off
with you"
The door closed, but not before Field had got
glimpse Of the inside. The house was most
beautifully furnished, as he could see. There was
an atmosphere of dollhouse flowers and fruit,
and the like; suggestion Of exquisite cigars. A
man in evening dress with diamond flashing in
his shirt, crossed the hall somebody was laugh.
ing in lbred voice.
That card about lodgings is blind" he said.
That place must be watched. I'll get to bed,
for I'm dead tired. In the morning I'll go and
see my actress friend. Probably she can tell me
all about Miss Adea Vane"
II was little after eleven the next day before
Field found time TO visit the little actress. He
had stupidly forgotten to ask her name, but he
seemed to be expected He waited for some time
in small prcttily furnished room till the lady
Of the last nights adventure came down She
arrived presently, bright and pretty and smiling,
her hand Observation-Disclosures Of gratitude on her
lips.
"But ] shall never be able to thank you prop.
ery,' she said The public came very near last
night TO losing their dear, dear Adela Vane."
"You are Adela Vane?" Field gasped. "Rea-
ly YOU arc Adela Vanc?"
For Adela Vane the girl who had been
closeted the night before with Carl Sartoris!
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17

came in contact with the floor and he lay there
just minute dazed and giddy.
He had failed, too, which was the most humili-
ating part of the business. He had at any cost,
resolved to make assurance double sure. He
could see the grinning triumph on the face of
Sartoris, as he scrambled to his feet he could see
the tears In Marys eyes. For the personal dan
ger to himself he cared nothing.
Let's make an end of it, Sartoris cried.
He's too dangerous to live. Let us make an end
OF him. Dead men tell no tales"
mo, no." Mary cried "You shall not do il.
No, no."
Then go and fetch the police" Sartors said
with little laugh. "Fetch them in. / saw. LEFT
them come here and investigate, and after that
you can stand in the dock and give evidence
against your own brother. My child, you are
free to depart as soon as you like Go nowl'
Mary Sartoris stood there trembling and hes;
tating. Sartoris wheeled his chair rapidly and
dexterously across to her, and then raised his
fist IN threatening manner. For a moment it
seemed as il he meant to strike the girl
Go now!" He reapeated his command harsh
ly. Go at once! Go out of my house and
anything. You are not to stay in the room.
Co."
The girl seemed dazed and unable to exercise
her own will, She crept with faltering steps To
the door. As she was going out she turned an
eye of affection on Bennington.
"Jf you will only promise me that there will he
no violence" she said, II -"
81 promise that" Brentwood said in crinUinO
voice He was the only man there who seemed TO
be restless and uneasy and anxious. "There Is
going to be no violence long as / am here.
Why should there be any violence at aI?"
The man asked the question with an eve on
Bennington For some reason or other he seemed
very desirous of pleasing the soldier, and vet NOT
offending his comrades. Sartoris laughed
Cautious man." he said. always be on the
safe side, Hang the girl, is she going to stay all
night? Go, tell you; take your white face from
me- Go"
The door closed behind Mary Sartoris, and
something like sob came from the hall. With
ed to the table again, Like flash the invalid
chair caught Bennington on the shin, and sent
him sprawling across the floor; the chair sped on
and there was a sudden click and the room was
in darkness.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17
As FIELD TURNED 70 CO A LlTTLE CRY FR6T

he fell back against the wall, painting for breath;
ne looked around him again for some avenue of
escape, but could see none.
1t was curious scene, altogether, the elegant
ly furnished room, the litter of glasses and china
and crystal in one corner, the mysterious out
lined figure on the table. The glare of electric
lights shone on the faces of the men there on
the impudent features OF the woman who had
posed as the Countess de la Moray, and on the
pale, suppicating face of Mary Sartoris For a
little time nobody said anything.
1t was Mary Sartoris who was the first to
speak, She crossed over to her brother and held
out her hand with n gesture of supplcation,
at is all mistake" she cried. Colonel Ber-
rington imagnes that something wrong is taking
place here; he has acted on the spur of the mo-
ment. He did not come to the house to see any
body but me-
Sartoris grinned in evil fashion, just for the
moment he looked half convinced.
He comes in strange fashion," he said "All
the same, have not the least doubt of the value
of Colonel Berrington's friendship so far as you
are concerned. But that is not the point Did
you admit your friend Colonel Bennington to the
house?"
For the fraction of second bold lie trembled
on Mary's lips. But she could not utter it, She
looked down in confusion, and her face trembled
Sartoris grnned in the same wicked fashion. A
black rage was rising in his heart
Good girl" he sneered always tell the
truth. It is the proper thing to do, and it will
bring its own reward in the end. Only it is at,
tended with personal inconvenience at times
such as the present, for instance. How did Col
onel Bennington get here"
al will save your sister the trouble of reply
ing" Bennington cried. "I came here, acting or
certain information that had come to my know
edge. l came here to discover if 1 could learn
some facts bearing on the disappearance of Sir
Charles DarrylPs body. And am not disposed
TO think that my efforts are altogether in vain y
1t was a bold speech and not without its eff
feet The woman called Cora turned shade
paler, and the clean-shaven man by her side
WINGED The only one who seemed disposed to a
mild course of policy was Brentwood.
"For heavens sake don't let US have any VIC
lenee," he said hoarsely. "There has been toe
much of that already 1 mean there is no neces
sity for anything of the kind, If Colonel Ber
rington knows anything of any of us 80"
81 know everything" Bennington replied. II
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17

seemed to him that bold course Of action was
The best to be taken under the circumstances
For instance. ] have pretty accurate knowl
edge OF the checkercd past Of DR.. Brentwood and
the malignant scoundrel who calls himself Carl
Sartoris. OF Miss Mary Sartors ] will say moth
ing. There are others here. too, whose past IS
not altogether wrapped in mystery. There are
General Gastang and Countess de la Moray for
instance. And once ] am outside these walls -
Sartoris pushed his chair close to the speaker.
lie was seething with passionate rage, his face
was livid with anger
You are not outside these walls" he said
~ on are not likely to be outside these walls for
some time to come You have described us in
language that you have spared no trouble to rem
der abusive. You know too much. And we
have our own way here OF dealing with enemies
of ours who know too much"
There was mistaking the dreadful threat
that underlay the hoarse speech. Bennington
smiled scornfully
Il know exactly what you mean,' he said; "in.
deed, ] know more than you give me credit for.
And / will make my suspicious certainties"
Bennington advanced swiftly to the table and
laid a hand pn the sheet that covered the still,
silent form There. Another instant, and the
whole mystery would have been exposed But
Sartoris propelled his chair forward and grabbed
Bennington by the arm
"You cowards," he yelled "If I were not
cursed by these crippled bones of mine, I would
have plucked that fellows heart from his BODY
Don't stand there like lot of mummies Pull
him back, l say, pull him back"
The harsh, ringing command seemed to restore
the other listeners to sense of what they owed
to themselves. With a cry, the man called Reg
gle was on Bennington, though Mary Sartoris had
fallen and clasped him around the knees With
an oath Brentwood darted forward and flung
himself upon Berrngton's shoulders The strug.
,1o LoH 60 rzI- II
but the odds were too many for him, and he was
borne at length heavily to the ground. His head
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17

in my methods, it stands to reason that [ am
likely to get the better of you. Now you a
man of honor, and if you give your word it is
good as your bond, Give me your word that not
one suggestion of what has taken place here to-
night shall be spoken, and you free to co.
Bennington laughed he looked around him.
WHO is going to stop me?" he asked. "You
seem to be sure of your ground. If you were
not cripple l would give you the most perfect
specimen OF thrashing that you ever had in
your life. My word will be passed to worthier
stuff than YOU
$50 you are going to take advantage of my
weakness and walk out of the house?" Sartoris
asked.
'I feel perfectly sure that bold front would dis
may your friends. l wish you good night
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17
coNrINurD rpoM LAST SUNDAY
NAPIER Xxx

~1IELD stepped into the theatre as the
curtain was going up on the last Of the
- brilliant trihcs Of the evening. In an
ID upper box on the prompt side he saw
the dark face and eager eyes of the
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17


quite casually in the direction of the doorway,
and he moved his chair just little Then his
left hand stole quietly to his side.
''The battle is not always to the strong" he
said in quite gentle tone of voice But since
YOU will not give me your word, must do with
out il. Ii you want to go, there is no reason
why should detain you any longer. Good night,
sir. and pleasant dreams to YOU"
Though the words were uttered in quite sim
nle fashion, there was a ring about them that
bennington did not altogether like. Why, this
sudden change of front on the part of Carl Sar
toris? The thought was uppermost in Berring
toms mind as he laid hand ON the door
Then he reeed back as if struck by some stu
pendous unseen force A great pain gripped him
from head to foot, his brain seemed to be on
fire. In vain he strove to release his hand on
the door knob; it seemed welded to the metal
From head to foot the shooting agony went on.
With his teeth gripping his lower lip till the blood
came, Bennington tried to fight down the yell of
pain that filled his throat, but the effort was be-
yond human power. A long piteous wall of agony
and entreaty came from him. II was only when
the third or fourth cry was torn from him and he
.slt the oppression Of a hideous death, that the
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17

TCdIIleU
mind cleared. He had been somewhat badly
mauled in the preliminaries, and now it seemed
to him that he a prisoner. The only conso-
lation that was left to him was the fact that
Field would come to his rescue in good time
But Bennington was by no means done for vet
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17
{ n AP TER X XII

10 go back for space to Bennington.
Needless of his promise, he had burst
1 headlong into the dining-room whence
u the cry came.
1t had been foolish thing to do, as
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17
c CHAPTER ? XXI

7ARTORIS sat in his chair without cx-
! pressing any opinion or emotion of any
Il kind. There was just a faint sugges-
aBg ton of smile on his face as if he
we're getting little more pleasure than
L =
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17

"It is l who speak,
you know. By accident I
words with YOU again. !
! am in ignorance of ev
that you had left the hoI
had gone. At the same 4
the servants back yet, an
picions. You can hear n
"My dearest girl, l
well" " Bennington replied
er now? Can you speak
"For a minute or twd
more. Carl has gone il
something; he may be B
told me that you had 90
for a minute, so | watt
I found out that YOU
found out about the ley
"The letter to Beatric
eyes, yes, Don't as
get her here, because
know. But there is SON
ruby mines that ! fai
something to do with
Miss Violet Decie's fat
"Shall we ever get I
ness" Bennington exq
you particularly want
"Because | shall be
said the girl eagerly,
! no BB coNTINUl
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17

- zed he became. If he declined to
write that letter it might be the worse
for him and everybody else in the long run; if
he did write the letter it might possibly prove
harmful to Beatrice.
Very thoughtfully Bennington took paper and
pen and ink from the drawer in the table. He
was not surprised to see that the paper bore the
address 100, Audley Place" So Beatrice was
to be lured there for some reason, or other and
Bennington was to be used for the purpose. He
threw the pen down and determined that he
would do nothing in the matter He had barely
come to this conclusion when the whistle in the
tube sounded very family. 1t might have been
no more than the wind in the pipe, and yet on
the other hand it might have been meant for a
cautious message. Bennington crossed over and
asked a question in low voice Immediately a
II, the fair,tast r,asshla ,rl,isssE
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17
{ N A TER XIII

N7HE request was strange one, Berring.
ton thought Not that he failed to
: trust Mary Sartoris. The more Ber
EgNi rington thought it over, the more puz
- zled he became. If he declined to
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-24
MONTCLAIR.

Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas J. Casey, of
Grove street, and Miss Catherine Casey.
of Syracuse. N. Y. are spending a rev
days at Far Rockaway.
Miss Emily Heyn, of 40 Montague
place. is at Baltimore, Mo.
David w. williams and Arthur T.
Edwards, of North Fullerton avenue,
are spending a month In the Adiron-
dacks.
The Misses Elizabeth Brown and
Grace Williamson. of Park street. will
spend the balance Of the summer at
Boothbay Harbor, Me.
Mrs. John H. Frasee. of Park street.
left today for Cortlandt Park, N. Y,
to remain until August Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. Madison Thompson.
of Upper Montclair, will sail for Europe
on Saturday. They will visit most of
the Foreign capitals before returning.
Recorder Henry l. Yost and Arthur
J. Darlington will start for Long
Branch Friday. They Expect to have
some sport fshing before they return.
Division No. IL, A. o. H., of Montclair,
will hold a lecture and dance in Tegak-
vita Hall, Thursday, August 15. The
Rev. Thomas Mclaughlin, of Union
street, State chaplain of the order, and
Colonel Flood, Of the Fourth Regiment
Irish Volunteers, of Paterson, will be
the principal speakers.
John Sproull, of Midland avenue, will
spend his W weeks vacation at AS
bury Park.
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-24
FORNEWFREEHOLDE
BLOOMFIELD CITIZENS TO
HELP SELECT.
Council Names well-Known Men to
Aid It, and Five Glen Ridge coun-
cilmen Select McGowan's Successor.

The Bloomfield Town Council last
night selected the following citizens to
act with the Mayor, members Of the
Council and five members of the Glen
Ridge Borough Council in selecting a
Freebooter to succeed the late Thomas
MCGOWAN;
Frank B. Stone, William j. Wor-
cester DIR. William H. Van Gieson, Jo-
seph Charles, William R. Raab, James
c.. Brown, Charles Fredericks, William
Fornoff. James ]. Thompson, Frederick
Storm, jr., John G. Keyler, Thomas F,
Cadmus. James Y. Nicoll, Frederick X.
Pilch and Louis Schlief.
The delegates from Glen Ridge Will
be Councilmen John w. Knight, Henry
S. Lanpher, ]. w. Skeele, George G
White and Levi Best.
The convention will be held in the
Bloomfield Town Council chamber Sat
urday evening. at $40 o'clock.
Among those mentioned in connec-
ton with the nomination are Charles
A. Keyler. James H. Moore, Seymour
p. Gilbert. John R. Conlan, James II,
Moore and Allison Dodd, all of Bloom
field.
Councilman Farrand eulogized Mr.,
MCGOWAN last night and said that it
would be hard to pick a man who
would measure up to the standard of
the dead Freebooter, who represented
Bloomfield and Glen Ridge in the board
for over twenty-five years.
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-24
LIBRARY READY
TO OPEN KEARMY BUILDING
SATURDAY.
Carnegie's Gift Will Be Put Into Real
Use Monday-0utline Of Nopen-
ing Exercises.

The dedication OF the new Free Public
Library In Kearny, the gift Of Andrew
Carnegie. on Saturday afternoon promises
to be an important as we'll as an interesting
event in that town. The Library Commits
sion at Its final meeting last night received
the report Of the committee on dedication,
consisting OF DR.. e. II. Goldberg and the
librarian, Miss Edna Kilgour. and 1T
showed that the exercises will include an
address by Librarian John Cotton Dana, of
this city, and w. c. Kimball. of Passaic,
a member of the State Library Board.
The address of welcome will be delivered
and the keys OF the building given TO
the town by President Jesse Car
yer, of the commission. and Mayor e.. II.
Goldberg will accept the gift In behalf OF
the town. The invocation will be offered
by the Rev. S. Travena Jackson. pastor OF
the Arlington First M. 4. Church. Con
gratulations win be extended by the Rev
Roland s. Dawson. pastor Of Knox Pres
byterian Church, and the benediction will
be pronounced by the Rev. Thomas ]. Con
roy, pastor Of St. Cecilia's r. G. Church
The program will be interspersed with mu'
steal selections underline direction OF james
Brierley.
After the exercises the building will bs
thrown open to the public for inspection
until 8 u. IN. The real work of the library
will begin on Monday morning, when DOCKS
will be given out.