davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-09-27

The captain hung over the back OF
his chair with boredom written on his
face. There was no flaw in his acting,
If acting Il was. as he carelessIy re-
piled:
You have been well Informed. AFR
Clarke. but 7 regret TO say that the
OdOntogiossum stood the trip badly,
as you know they nearly always do.
II was not such a specimen as would
care 10 offer. In fact. I had deter
mined not 10 SPOIL Hoppingtou's col
lection with IL. even If he had not been
murdered. and this morning Z had the
slayey throw IL out. III that is all you
will kindly exsuse me and I viii con-
tinue my packing as am leaving for
London this afternoon"
TOO bad, 700 bad said Clarke in
a sorrowful tone. Il had at least
hoped TO buy a little pollen That's
too bad. sorry you're busy 1 had
hoped 10 discuss the Orchidaceae with
you"
As Clarke taxed he had arisen and
was wandering earelessly about the
room. but WI, his wary eye always in
the direction Of the captain for the
moment suTpri cd out or his indiGer-
ence by Clarke's strange actions sud
denly my companion stopped before a
species OF hUnidOr resting upon a
chair. II had 3 handle by which 10
carry Il and IL was evidently tco pre-
cious a piece ~ baggage 10 be in
trusted I'm . trunk.
Clarke glanced quickly from era
L 4
warning IN his eyes. The captain
watched him with apparent nonchal-
ance. but there was something in his
attitude which suggested the crouch
OF a tiger ready for the leap.
And so the servants threw the
Odoutoglossum out how sad Do
not believe there are two specimens
In Chicago"
Clarke suddenly reached over and
threw open the door Of the humidor-
Within there was an orchid of sur
passing beauty.
Yes. there are three. and Captain
Graham, you have lied.
The metamorphosis to the tiger we
sudden and complete Full half the
length OF the room the captain Ieaped.
knocking over two chairs ~ his hight
through the air, while his long sinewy
fingers closed around the throat OF
Clarke. II was so sudden that I
scarcely seemed able 20 gather the
thought necessary 70 bring my finger
10 the trigger Of the revolver in my
pocket
Had Graham adopted the trick,
which doubtless he knew, Of the Zulus
who break the neck OF an antagonist
with a def twist the moment their
fingers close il would have been a
closed chapter with Clarke But II
takes a few minutes 10 strange a
man to death, and these few minutes
Clarke put 20 such use that by the
time / had gathered my scattered
senses the danger was past.
The Washington times., 1908-09-27
Used Jiu Jitsu.

As soon as I saw Clarke's hand 90
up and encircie the captains strainSng
wrist I recognized one Of CIarke-s IA
vorite tricks Of jiu jitsu. A look OF
intense pain crossed the captains
face. the arm became nerveIess and
IN a moment more his huge bulk OF a
body swung around and Clarke bore
It easily and gently 10 the floor. then
reaching for the other hand. clicked
on the beautiful little pair Of nickel
steel handouts. dainty as a Iady's
bracelet. that he always carried in his
hip pocket
And now, Sexton, kindly step TO
that telephone and call up the chief.
He's probably back at his office by
this time. We might as well let him
know first as last that he has lost I
had hoped TO discuss the matter ami
cably with the captain here, but he
has chosen TO inject force into the ar
gument"
I did Clarke's bidding, and soon had
the chief on the wire with the word
that he would be the-- as soon as his
auto could bring him. While we were
awaiting his coming Graham sat on
mis- trunk with his face buried in his
maLacled hands. All Clarke's efforts
TO draw him into a conversation by
which he might put INTO play his pc
culiar telepathic powers failed Never
in all my association with Clarke have
I seen him put a victim on the rack in
so gruelling a third degree All his
inesse, all his subtle fsthomIng OF
the human mind. an his delicate irony
OF confidence were thrown 20 the
winds as he went hammer and tongs
for the man before him
Through It all Graham was un-
moved. He met Clarke's broadside
with a stare Of bulldog pertinacltv
and had his features been carved in
stone they could not have been more
sphinx-lize. began to see that
Clarke for once had met his match.
This stOlid. practical mind vas not
one that his arts might bend and
fathom at will and but for the one
brainstorn OF temper which was hi
undOing, the orchid alone might never
have solved the murder Of Hopping
ton.
Then the coming OF the chief re-
heved a situation that was becoming
tense.
We'll. Mr.. Clarke he said. when
he had heard the details, you have
your nerve with you. coming right into
swell hotel and slipping the darbies
on a distinguished foreign guest on
the evidence of a bloomin' dover. but
never knew you 20 be very far
wrong yet, and II il works out as you
say IN free 70 admit thai you have
done me. Won't talk. you say Wen.
we'll Just take him over 10 the station
and give him a chance 10 think il over.
Maybe he'll change his mind And.
By the way, there's a little matter OF
The Washington times., 1908-09-27
Fancier in Orchids.

The dining room in the rear OF the
library showed nothing UNUSUAL hut
the natural disorder Of an upset house
mold. Opening of the dining room on
the right was a small conservatory.
This was devoted exclusively TO or
chlds. and from my limited knowl-
edge OF these plants 1 judged the col
lection 10 be an exceedingly fine one.
An, he was a fancier of orchids. I
see remarked Clarke.
Yes replied the chief. 81 .belie,,a
II was his greatest hobby. But don't
you want 10 interview the servants?''
Clarke. however. was oblivious to
everything in the study OF the plants
before him. He went from bank 10
bank, peering at the ! ong. unpro-
nounceable scientific names like a
beagle on fresh scent. one bank so
absorbed his attentions that he seemed
to forget absolutely the presence of
the chief and myself. / heard MN run
ming over the names aloud and he
finally took from his pocket a note
book and began to copy them down in
1t. When this was finished he looked
up.
May I ask. chief, how you qualified
for the position Of head OF the police
department.
Well" answered shipp. taken
aback, that's a funny question. Ky
experience, Of course. from walking a
beat up"
Then allow me to suggest that YOU
made a mistake. You should have de-
voted your attention TO the study Of
orchids" and Clarke closed his note
book and put IT in his pocket.
"Humphi" snorted the chief. Pm
sure I don't know what you are talk
ing about. but If you're lookins for
clues there are the knife and the slip
per, that are worth more than all your
old orchids put together for my pur-
poses"
Yes. and they have told you all
they can tell you and you are
stumped. Now what would you say
II l told you that I can lay nv hands
on the man who used that knife and
the woman who wore that shoe with
in the hour? And the credit viii all
be yours"
The chief waxed grandilOquent at
the prospect Of such a coup as solving
so famous a case out Of hand
81 would say. Mr. Clarke" he said
POM jously. that the sincerest thanks
OF the police department Of Chicago
viii be due you
Just then the lieutenant in charge
OF the house stepped up to his superior
and handed him a cable envelope. The
chief took it and read it hastily. In
stantly a puzzled look came into his
face and his manner toward Clarke
changed visibly as he turned and said 4:
But I trust we WI not need your
services I just have a clue that
seems 10 clear the situation UP consid-
erably and I am sorry 20 have bother
ed you about what seems after all to
be a trivial matter"
'AH right" returned Clarke. know
ingly. Then we will bid you good
morning. Come. Sexton"
The Washington times., 1908-09-27

Snarrinp ~ ~

Clarke dark eyes flashed In scgr7
az tie chief pompous tone.
Il am perfectly aware that the EIoe
Bertie HCppington cabled you % o.
FER thousand pounds. I am not 81
this case for money. but without uns
you would have h0undered until the
prey was gone. and when have com
pleted my work I shall know how %
take care OF my own interests. As for
the credit with the public. YOU know
how much care for that. Il is yours
and welcome / win bring you the
woman before night"
Captain Graham stood haughtily az
the door waiting the chiefs win.
Whatever battle had been raging IN
his mind evidently had ended in mar
terry, for he quietly interposed:
Mr. Clarke, i ask that you take no
further steps. It is useless. 1 sIone
am guilty At the proper time L VIA
tell an"
Not a soul in the hotel EXCEPT the
discreet clerk 10 whom Graham gavs
some hurried directions about his Iur-
gage knew that it was an arrest as
the prisoner. unmanacIed for The &C.
casiOn, and the chief got into ire laf-
ter's auto and Clarke and I waved
them goOd-by and returned 10 the
hotel cafe % get our loug-negIe-tsd
luncheon. Il was already late ia the
afternoon, and If we made good
ClaTke's promise to the chief We Etiu
had plenty OF work before US.
How do you expect 20 locate herr
Has Graham pointed the Rayg'' I
asked Clarke.
You saw I could make nothing CO
him He has a wonderful mind Il Is
impossible 20 fathOm g. IL would not
be hard % trace her by the regular
police routine, but that is too slow, a
matter OF days To pick her I'D in
what is left Of this afternoon is a diff
ferent matter But let's eat now and
then work"
had mechanically taken from my
pocket a morning paper and spread It
out before me You know how some
times at a glance one item. one name,
stands out on the printed page IS II II
was IN black face. There e vas be-
fore my eyes, Capt Fitzhugh Ora
ham" Hastily I read the item.
Clarke. Clarke. I've got her." al
most shouted, thrusting the paper at
him.
The item was under the head a
Society Notes and read Among the
occupants Of the boxes at the per
Torrance OF Aida by the 0IetrOpOIi-
tan Grand Opera company at the Az
ditorium last night were Capt Fitz-
hugh Graham and Countess Evelyn
Scrymg0Ur, OF London"
quick, a telephone" ordered
Clarke, and the obeequious waiter set
an instrument on the table and con-
nected 1t with the wall switch he
soon had my old newspaper office ana
asked for the society editor
Here" he said, handing me the re-
celver. Ask her where the countess
is staying"
The Victorian, / believe came the
answer
The Washington times., 1908-09-27

the intrepid orchid hunter risks horri-
bic death By snake bite. by starvation.
and by mlasmic fevers in the swamps
of BRzil. the mountains OF the Philip
pines. and many tropical lands the
kinds the pollen OF which is often sold
for fortunes for the purpose Of propa-
gazing others.
Like all Of Hoppington's collection
this group is arranged with admirable
care. IN ascending order from the
commoner varieties TO the mosl rare.
But what instantly attract a nv
attention was that the topmost pot Of
the pyramid was empty. There was
the label. 'Odontoglossum Crispum
Alexan6 -ae.' a rare form Of the baby
orchid found only in the Philippines.
/ know of but four in cultivation. Nor
had the 'OdontoglOssum' ever been in
the pot. The earth was freshly pre-
pared and evidently had been tended
with care by Hoppington personally IN
preparation for the plant that was 20
be his GROWING acquisition. There
was the clue. Now what do you make
of IT."
Absolutely nothing" I said blankiy.
"Of course not; but read this and
see II ii throws any light on it.
clipped it from this mornings paper"
It was an item from the personal in
teIIgence column. and it said: capt.
F1tzhugh Graham, the famous English
orchid hunter. arrived IN the city yes
terday sitter n six months stay in the
Philippines, and is registered al the
Auditorium Annex"
md you think he did ftp
Il don't know. but I do know that
the very orchid which seemed to be
the commissioning ambition Of Hop
plngton's .Ife is found only in the Phil
ippines. and if any orchid hunter could
get it for him it would be Capt. Fitz-
hugh Graham
but the woman"
"we'n cross that bridge whes we est
The Washington times., 1908-09-27
Countess a Suicide.

1t was only a step away and we paid
our bill and hurried out II was plain
as day Al the opera together n II.
20 Hopplngton's by cab between that
hour ana midnight. The countess,
whoever she might be. was too close
d. connected with the action Of the
night before not TO know something at
least
When we reached the Victorian We
were aware Of unwouted excitement
IN the neighb0rEood Of that usually
quiet hosiery. A police ambulance
and a patrol wagon were at the door
Gischarging their load of biuecOats-
Several active young men whom an
medlately spotted as reporters were
hUrrying into the lobby. One Of them
whom I knew. Nevins. Of the Globe.
ErIpDed by the shoulder and asked FOR
All explanation.
Countess OF ScrymgOur or some
thing committed suicide III her room.
Come on with me-
Under ms guidance we followed the
police and the reporters 10 the fatal
room on the parlOr floor.
There across the bed lay the woman
OF whose existence we had learned not
we had hoped 20 be IN conversation at
that very moment She was Suly
dressed. about thirty years o. asS,
and beautiful even IN death, VIA her
deeD olive complexion. her feGtlrSs OF
the most delicate patrician Iaold. her
lips. which the blood had not yet de-
serted. as red as coral. and her SILKY
black hair. one Loose strand OF which
strayed over the temple and half cos
cealed the round red spot where death
had entered. And this form but few
moments before had been instinct and
auivering with life and love and pas
SIGN. A jeweied revolver OF s-aau cali
Der. sitter for a lady's toy than tor an
instrument Of tragedy. rested in the
NJ rveIess fingers or the white lace
covering Of the bed
Nevins was proving around making
his Investigations Independently OF the
p7Iice. 1 kept my eyes on him and
watched him abstract q letter from the
open secretary. He slauced at the adj
dress and put Il carefully in his pock-
ct. 1 drew him into a corner.
Look here, Nevins," I said. let ms
see the letter and I'll let you In on the
biggest story you ever pulled on Trust
me and you'll so into the Office with
the fun story Of the Eoppington muir
der"
This was halt enough. and he took
the letter from his pocket L glanced
at the address It was Captain Fitz-
hugh Graham"
We've got It. Quick. Out Of here"
I whispered. catching Clarke's eye and
reckoning him 20 follow
A few minutes later we we're at cen
tral station and with the chief IN Gra-
hams cell
Clarke handed him the letter. His
face bianched as he glanced at the
address. but he pulled himself to-
gether. broke TIE seal and read the
contents. Then. but for Clarke catch
Continued on Seventh Page)
The Washington times., 1908-09-27
NSMET AND THE BABY ORCHID

little farther and read IN his collection
a good many pages OF his past Hop
pington was a passionate collector OF
orchids. Orchids meant nothing 10 the
chief. simply because he knows moth
ing about them. They meant a great
deal TO me. because I know a great
deal about them. 1t is another proof
of what ] have often argued 10 you
that 10 do detective work successfully
a man should possess absolutely uni
versaI knowledge. See here" and
Clarke took his notebotS from his
pocket Here is the gro lp OF plants
that most attracted my attention.
viii not read YOU all the names. but il
represents the most Important group
Of ne family OF orchidaceae. contain
ing the rarest and those most sought
by collectors, the varieties for which
The Washington times., 1908-09-27

change Of heart It's the reward. I
noticed by the morning papers that all
of Hoppington's money win go TO Ber-
tie Hoppington, his nephew. who is a
young blade in London He evidently
has cabled the chief. And the mount
well. II must have been large to
bring that look o. cupidity in-O the
eyes OF one who doubtless has touched
many fat pickings. Now what Is the
first number that comes into an Eng
lishmans mind? It's a thousand
pounds, isn't il? SO ! shoulI say the
reward IS not less than 5000.
oh, OF course. it is always well TO
make these things strong when talk
ing 10 one Of the chiefs caliber. but
here Is the case as / see IL. II may
need several revisings before we come
10 the end. I admit when confronted
The Washington times., 1908-09-27


which this story deals his fame as an
untangler OF mysteries had gone Tar
and wide and our Oak street quarters
often presented a regular procession
OF clients as early and as late as
Clarke was willing to receive them
Sometimes IL was some single note OF
tragedy. some heart story laid bare,
a missing son or daughter 10 be found,
a business conspiracy 70 untangle and
thwart 4 confession 10 be wrung
from some suspect More often il WAS
the Subtle reading OF human character
and ihe human mind which showed
Clarke in what direction 10 point the
police At times il was a thrilling
dash into the Crime-intested districts
OF the great city where human life
is held at a discount compared to Sc
crecy and safety from the law.
But in all this phantasma goria OF
mystery and crime I confess my sur
prise at the comparative few that pos
sess all the clements Of good plot
1 believe the reader will sanction my
verdict i'm numbering among tins few
the tale Of The badly orchid and the
dance that IT le5' as.
Many of my readers doubtless Will
recall when the city was shocked by
the mysterious murder OF the Honor
able AlgernCn Sydney Hoppington-
Such was the sensation nj the time
that it seems almost unnecessary now
20 go into the details. The crime. for
crime il was upOn the face. was dis
covered about 1 O'Clock in the morn
Ing, and So great was the figure that
tlR Honorable Algernun sydney had
cut during his three years residence
in Chicago. where ne had come from
England 10 claim the fortune running
RclJ in TO the millions eracIously
founded there 10y a greatuncle, that
the newspapers held on their entire
mechanical force for a double-rolumn
extra. II was a lifting tribute 10 the
Honora bic AlgernCn sydney, for his
eCcentricities had furnished the papers
with many 4 column OF news and fea-
ture matter and now that he lay dead
IN his palatiaI Prairie avenue home,
stabbed 20 the heart. his butler and his
second man druSged and lying IN the
dining room. and the maids, ialntlnS
and historical, locked fat in the but
ler's psntry-well, the newspapers
could do no less than give him
good send-off, and they certainly did.
At first glance il looked like an alb
surdly simple case. AS Clarke read
the msager array OF actual facts pre-
sented in the extras he gave MS IN
qualified opinion that the papers had
overpIayed the mystery end and be-
fore night either the slayer would De
in custody or a good working descrlP-
ton Of him in the hands Of the police.
The Washington times., 1908-09-27
Clarke Was Wrong.

"By this time the men servants have
told their stories and the maids nave
added their evidence he suggested.
EITHER they know who did il, IN which
case an arrest ought TO follow within
a few hours. or else the crime was
committed by stranger, burglar
perhaps. in which case the servants
1hculd be able 10 describe him SO accu-
rately that 1t will be up 10 the police
1t always affords me a little Inward
satisfaction when Clarke's premises
prove wrong. 1 think we all feel II
when some mind whose superiority or
dinarfly we acknowledge for once de
scends TO the level Of our own.
1 did not have long 10 wait Clarke
had hardly finished speaking when
there was a sharp and authoritative
tug at our bell, and I opened the door
TO admit our old friend, late Inspector,
now chief, Ship. 1t was not his trst
call at our humble quarters. for he
had long since discovered where to
come for a quiet tip that demanded
none Of the official credit in return,
and many a stubborn case had he laid
before Clarke.
w had him back into the dining
room. Clarke merely nodded and con-
tinued to sip his coffee and puff at his
cigarette. while lie watched the chief
and waited for him to speak.
well. Mr.. Wizard, 1 suppose yen
know what I'm here for before 1 tell
you" began the chief.
YES. 1 should say It is the Hopping
ton case am afraid I viii have 70
revise the estimate of the affair 1 was
tust delivering 90 Mr.. Sexton, here
Not so simple as IT looked then. Tell
us about IT, Haven't the servants put
you on the right track?'
Not within 2 thousand miles OF the
track. They don't know anything.
Hoppington was writing in his library
at ] O'clock. He called the butler,
Bian. TO get him bottle Of wine. Half
an hour later he came out 20 the din
ing room. where Bimn was with Bry-
son. the other man servant. and hand
ed them the bottle one-fourth full and
told them 10 finish Il. They did and
that IS the last they remember. Drug
ged, I suppose. I have the bottle with
the few drops that were left and will
have them analysed. The three maids
had been entertaining company. some
OF my men. K appears, In the kitchen.
They had just let them out the back
gay and had gone into the buffers
1antry TO get bite to eat before go
Gg up TO bed when the door slammed
md they heard the bolt shot and
rhey were locked IN. About an hour
afterWard. as near as I can gather
from their hysterical memory o. what
happened. they heard a piercing se-
male scream ring through the house.
And look here, Found II on the
lower step of the stoop," and the chief
drew from his pocket bundle and on
unroIling It displayed a tiny white sat
In slipper, a No. A. 1t was literally
soaked in blood
The Washington times., 1908-09-27

thong, can scarcely Claim to be- a
conEoisseur. I am informed that YOU
have lately returned from the Philip
pines with "A specimen Of the OdonJo-
glossum Crispum Alexandra As you
expected 90 dispose OF this specimen
10 Mr.. Algerh& sydney Hoppington
whose collection lacks only this one
variety or being the most complete in
America. and owing 10 mis- most I'M
fortunate death last night sale in
that direction Is 'ut Of the question
I have caileG 20 ask If there is any
possibility Of acquiring it,
The Washington times., 1908-09-27

90 il. Anyway. I have n idea that AT
interview with CAPT. Fit hugh Graham
should prove inter eAtng 10 say the
least. and IL may throw light on other
things besides orchids. But here we
are at the hotel.
capt. Fitzhugh Graham, said
Clarke 10 the clerk az the desk. EN-
derinE our cards.
Captain Graham is 'ndisDosed and
begs to be excused came tho answer
through the clerks telephone. He was
In then. IL looked innocent enough.
There was 10 attempt at escape.
Clarke leaned over my shoulder at
the desk and scrubbed the following
note on the back of one OF his cards.
MIR. Clarke would Ike TO consult Cap
tain Graham about the OdontC glOssum
Crispum Alexandria. II Captain Gra-
The Washington times., 1908-09-27
on 70 the Hotel.

Once out OF the house, Clarke ex-
claimed:
Quick. Sexton. a cab. Wen beat
TIE chief at that little game"
1 hailed a passing hanson and
Clarke directed the driver to get to the
Auditorium Hotel in the quickest pos
sible time.
You see it. do you not?" he asked
! confessed that ] saw nothing at all
The cablegram- The chiefs sudden
The Washington times., 1908-09-27
What Clarke Learned.

Then we went into the conserva-
tory, and nay ~hole view Of The case
changed in an instant When q man
mas an commissioning hobby II s rot
hard to read something OF his ch,.rte-
ter from the methods he uses n its
pursuit. II is even possible to go a
The Washington times., 1908-09-27

a reward. something Ike FIVE t.ou-
SIND. 7 believe. We con; ike o. eco
those things get away from US h-f
If sou bring me the woman and Eegp
your connection with the case cuies
I give YOU my word that your inter
ests win not suffer"
The Washington times., 1908-09-27
Smashes Woman Theory.

"A woman'5 work. you think?''
queried Clarke.
What I thought for minute, but
there's the knife. I can't show you
The Washington times., 1908-09-27
~ looking over my

Z looking over my
rather meager
notes 1 often find
it difficult TO Sc
lect among the
countless cases
which 1 have
been associated
W ith Carlton
Clarke the one
that will best
make a story
At the time OF
The Washington times., 1908-09-27

Page Five
The Washington times., 1908-09-27

Septe NIB er 81, 1908
The Washington times., 1908-09-27

CONTINUED on Seventh Page)