davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-08-16

Details Of Concern.

4 am telling you this, not IN
bOastful way. but because IL IS neces-
sary that you should have a thorough
understanding OF the details OF our
business and because It has an impor-
tant bearing. I believe, on what Is to
follow.
Naturally we receive q large daily
mail from our house in New York.
which, as you doubtless know, is in
charge of James II. Hazen my SON
in-law. The mail invariably includes
a daily report OF the business done by
the New York house. ] give this mail
my personal attention.
1T was about six months ago that
I first noticed something peculiar in
this department Of our business. one
day, IN going through the New York
mail. I observed an error in the spell
ing OF some common word In the daily
report II rather grated on me and
took my pen and corrected It. As
turned the sheet over upon the blotter
my eye was attracted by a sentence
lightly writer In pencil on the back.
The hand was the merest childish
scrawl and the substance so utter
IN foolish that I paid no attention 10
IL. I thought il likely that one Of the
children OF the clerk whose duty IL
was 10 write up the report. had been
i'm the office scribbling on the blanks.
Here is the report"
Mr.. Bolton took a document from an
imposing pocketbook and laid il upon
the table. We read upon It the follow
ing sentence:
Il see two black cats on the back
yard fence"
We'll. what do you think OF it?'
asked Bolton after Clark had stud
led the scrawI for few minutes.
Evidently a disguised hand" an
swered Clarke. This new system OF
vertical writing is the easiest penman-
SHIN imaginable under which to hide a
character hand. But go on This
certainly is not sufficiently excuse for
calling In an expert"
Certainly not" answered Bolton.
Il should have thought nothing Of
this had Il not been for the events
which followed. I do not say that
Immediately connected these events
with this scrawl. but you Will see how
[ was led 10 this inference as / pro
coed.
AT the time this report reached me
we had just concluded with the house
Of Forgan & Co. an arrangement 10
buy Up ali Of the broom factories in
The country and organize them into a
tUust. The broom, as you know. is an
insignificant article, but II Is found in
every home in America Our plans
were going nicely. We had every fac
tory in the country save one. This
one, however. had an output equal TO
the combined output of all the others,
and its purchase was absolutely neces-
sary u our plans.
The Washington times., 1908-08-16

send daily 20 your New York Officer"
Il thought you would ask that. and
7 am prepared for you. Some months
ago my son-in-law, Mr.. Hazen. com
planned that our daily confirmation of
wired messages was being defaced,
and suggested, rather sarcastically,
that we keep children out OF our Of
flee As soon as my suspicious began
20 take form, I asked him to send me
all OF the daily combinations which
contained anything IN any manner out
OF the ordinary. 7 have made a list Of
these sentences. and here they are
Three cats eating catnip.
IF a farmer sold three chickens
for
IF the feathers OF sixty ducks will
stun
That is the list, and il you can
make anything out OF such ridiculous
nonsense. you are smarter than am.
and that's considerable Of an admis-
sion for Henry Bolton 70 make 10 any
ran"
Were these sentences ia a hand
similar TO the one which penned the
lines on your daily report?" inquired
Carke.
Here is one Of tha originals, aad
YOU may see for yourself" said Boil
ton. again drawing his ponderous
wallet
The writing was very similar. being
vertical. Clearly the same effort TO
disguise a well formed hand COM
mented Clarke. Now, Mr.. Bolton,
tell me exactly through whose hands
these papers are accustomed TO pass.
First. take the report which you re-
ceive daily"
1t Is opened by my personal file
clerk My confidential man then
brings the report to me in a basket,
together with other mail In fact. 1
usually find this basket on my desk
when l arrive In the morning. After
have glanced over the report I put
L in another basket. together with
other papers to be fled This is re-
moved by my confidential man, who,
in turn. gives the papers to the fling
clerk, who puts them in their proper
files. The daily confirmation list is
made up by the chief clerk, comes to
me through the hands Of the conf
dental man. and is returned bv me TO
him. He then gives It to the file
clerk, who, with his other duties. at
tends to the sealing and stamping OF
all the mail which leaves my private
office. I am not familiar with the
smaller details OF the New York Of
fee, but I imagine much the same
method is employed there
Now tell me something Of these
employees, beginning with the conhden-
tial man"
Tobias Ripple, our confidential man,
has held his present position for
thirty-flve years We have been life
The Washington times., 1908-08-16
A Heated Discussion.

The one elevator which was still
running took US quickly 20 the floor,
the whole OF which was devoted 20 the
offices OF Bolton e. Co The outer
door was closed. Clarke silently
opened Il with a key. evidently hav-
Ing prepared himself for such an emer
gency. Quietly, noiselessly, and with
knowledge born OF his previous VISIT.
Clarke zuided me through the dark
labyrinth OF small rooms until we
reached the tioor leading 70 Bottoms
private office
Within We heard the sound or angry
voices In dispute. The door was slight
~ aiar. and lifting a warning finger TO
me Clarke applied his eye 70 the crew
ice. while I noted that he had his
WEAPON In hand with the barrel in line
with the opening.
Placing hts mouth close TO nay ear
not TO interfere unless absolutely nee
essary."
From the heat OF the discussion
within, there was no danger OF his
being overheard
do you mean 10 tell me that I can
not read. sir? DO you dare tell me
you did not write those words?"
This was the first connected SEN
tence I was able TO distinguish. The
voice was Bottoms.
you have brow-beaten me long
enough. answered his companion.
Come with me 70 the Yault and viii
prove 70 you that every one Of the
daily reports for years contains the
same line as that paper. Daily Report
from New York &"
1T is a farce, you scoundrel, but I
will give you every chance 10 prove
your innocence"
We heard them step into the vault
where the conversation was continued
in now muffed tones.
Sudder y We heard q curse, a loud
cry, ard the sound Of a falling body.
Clarke was IN the Office, at g bound,
with myself e. his heels. He had
scarcely reached the center OF the
room when a tall, angular. gray
bearded man spTang IRON the vault
With q demoniacaI laugh ne swung
the heavy door shut. and rapidly spun
the dial which threw the combination
Then he Strengthened up to find him
self looking into the muzzle Of CIarke's
revolver
Now, Mr.. Tobias Nipple. wen have
that vault open at once. and let Mr..
Bolton out. said Clarke in about the
same tone he would have used In ask
ing anyone to pass the butter.
Who are your" demanded the con-
tdential clerk. for little as I was able
TO credit it. such he seemed TO be.
Never mind who I am. Just quietly
run that combination. Mr.. Bolton viii
be needing air"
This doubtless was true. as we heard
the imprisoned man. who evidently
had revived from the blow Nipple
struck him, gasping and beating wild
ly on the steel door with his fists.
The Washington times., 1908-08-16

bath, I found Clarke was already
away.
About O'Clock he returned. HIS
d. TX, handsome face was inserutable,
and he vouchsafed no information
further than that he had spent the
major portion OF the day In Bottoms
office. and had seen Ripple. Wiley, and
the dle clerk, whose name turned out
20 be Bobus. judged that he had not
been able 20 engage either Of them IN
a conversation sufficiently Intimate 70
make his peculiar third degree" ef-
fective.
we ordered a $50 dinner; after il
intended to 20 to the theater.
As soon as we ~cFe sea ted at the
table, Clarke ruried his face in his
evening papef, looked up 5ut once 10
say: "Boxb"ard is up &c ten points.
Did you buy?"
I confessed that I had cot.
Suddenly the telephone bell rang
violently.
"Ah. expected that; no theater for
you tonight" exclaimed Clarke, jump
ing up so suddenly that he sent river
Of soup across our spotless cloth The
ends Of the conversation caught were
as follows: Yes, this is Carlton
Clarke-Wen be down right away
Behind the door OF the private office
Don't fear. We shall come armed. 3"
"Come on. Sexton, we're wanted.
he then said TO me. while he took his
favorite revolver from the rack %
arms and handed me a weapon.
BY the cars; It win be quicker than
a cab: takes Us 10 the door. Sexton,
I'm afraid I've made a terrible mis-
take. I've turned q fend loose on Boil
ton. His life is IN danger God send
We get there in time. It will be all
right II he follows my advice"
BY this time We were on the car,
and my companion relapsed into taci-
turnity.
The great office building was almost
deserted when we reached It. Here
and there a light on the dizzy facade
showed where some belated worker
was closing dp the days business As
safe place for a crime. I thought, in
the heart OF that cavernous structure,
az IN the depths OF an unbrohen forest
The Washington times., 1908-08-16

w you, without
question, where you had been
and what you had been doing.
Surely / should have TO sacrifice both
privacy and Individuality. A few
weeks. howeve-. taught me that my
fears were ErouLdIess. If Clarke en-
ployed his wonderful powers in my
case IL was only in anticipating my
wants
We had been house mates but a
snort time, when discovered that his
clientele already was a large one and
drawn from widely different circles.
What their troubles were or In what
manner Clarke was able 70 aid them I
was unable 10 guess. once, when l
suspect my mind was dwelling on the
mystery with ratheE morbid interest.
Clarke turned to me and said:
These cases are too commonplace
10 interest you. Wait until we have
something big and viii take you into
my confidence By the way, / ex-
pect q client this evening who ought
10 De worth while. lie is the head Of
one or the best knu, = stock broker
age houses in the city, and i'm his note
ne says he hopes / may be able to
solve a mystery affecting some Of the
greatest corporate interests of the
country
Dur.ng the evening a severe cleo
tTlcal storm broke over the city. AS
clarke dId not expect his caller until
half-atter eight L retired to my room
70 snatch an extra Hour for some work
had an hand. Soon my typewriter
was gathering away 20 The accompanI-
ment OF the artillery or the heavens. 1
could near Clarke Hrry0usIy pacing
the library. Without. Tie lightning
Kept up one continuous flash. A bolt
hnally struck SO near that the flash
and The report seemed TO come almost
Al the same instant This was too
much for my nerves. and 1 decided
that work was out Of the question.
It's a fierce night out. In. afraid
your man VIII not come" 1 suggested
70 Clarke, going 10 the door.
Clarke stopped his restless march
I had begun 10 think so myself, ., be
said, "Uut II I am not mistaken he ls
Just now turning into Chestnut street
at Clark
AS well as 1 knew Clarke. and with
all my faith in his wonderful mowers
TINS was trifie beyond my compre-
hensi0n. In less than FIVE 17fnH+as
however, we heard a carriage drive
Up 10 the entrance I rushed TO the
window and saw the coachnlan cover
ing a steaning pair of handsome
blacks with their rubber blankets.
i suppose you scarcely expected me-
such a night as this. Mr. Clarke
said our caller. as he laid OF his rain
coat and top hat Il assure Won nv
coming serves to show that the mar
ter Is Of sreat Importance. am
Henry A. Bolton of the firm Of Bolton
& Co You doubtless had my note
this afternoon. 7 was referred TO Won
D a friend, who tells me that Won
nave had considerable success IN CON
hdentiaI cases"
The Washington times., 1908-08-16

long friends When I was taken into
the 1rm at the age Of thirty. we were
both clerks together. One of my first
orders was TO place him IN the posi-
ton he now holds. and 10 give him a
substantial increase IN salary. He is
very religious man. a deacon in the
church, besides being greatly inter-
ested 10 city mission work. His sal
airy Is $4,000 a year, which is much
more than such positions usually com
mand. bur ne is more than a mere
clerk Ha lives In his own home.
very handsome one N Riverside. Ills
son, by the. way. Is attentive to my
youngest daughter. 50 you see we are
bound together by family as well as
business ties
Have Won ever known him 70 dab
hlt i'm stocks asked Clarke.
The Washington times., 1908-08-16

When the sound Of Bottoms carriage
wheels had died aV,sy, and Clarke and
I were again seated IN our coy little
library, my compan on sat for many
minutes gazing fixe6ly AT a list OF the
mysterious sentences which he had
hastily scrubbed.
AN apparently simple case, Sex
ton" he finally said. But there are
depths 20 II which we have not sound
ed. Bolton was as honest with re as
70 IS possible for a man 10 be who f.
daily in the mad vortex OF money
getting. There was something IN his
mind, however. which I could not
grasp. Several times I had a stray
thread and then Il was gone. I feel
that, before we are done. we will
witness a drama or human hearts;
yes. perhaps a tragedy"
"Can you make anything out OF the
eipherT'
NO. and I have little hopes OF doing
so. II is obviously an arbitrary code.
and the fact that the sentences always
stop short OF ten words would suggest
It was devised for telegraphic pur-
poses, despite the use to which It was
put
Which Of the clerks 10 you sus-
pect?'' asked, as Clarke tossed away
his cigarette and seemed inclined 70
end the conversation.
"Oh. that deals with the mind Of
man, something upon which II is i'm
possible to speculate According 20
Bottoms judgment. Nipple and the fIe
clerk are out OF the question. This
leaves only Wiley. the expensive dress
er. But we shall see. Now you had
better go 10 bed and get some sleep.
7 will eft up a while and think II over
BY the way, Sexton. II you want to
pick up some money and test the cash
value Of telepathy at the same time,
buy Boxboard early tomorrow. Boil
ton Is going TO bull IT."
The Washington times., 1908-08-16
SOLVER

Suddenly. with a superhuman eIort
which took me By surprise and sent
me headlong against the wall ne was
out Of my arms At a bound he had
reached the table, seized Clsrke's re-
voiver, and glaring and painting Ike
an animal at bay he brought the muz-
zle In line with Clarke's head
Ny hand was on my pistol hut q
glance from Clarkes eye held me.
Then began battle between ina
overVrOught brain OF the strange oid
man and Clarke's eyes IN which the
STAKE was two lives Ny heart STOOD
stiH awaiting the report that would
tell Il was All over. The knocking OF
the imprisoned man which beat a tat
too TO this weird drama was becoming
fainter and fainter Ills last audible
gasp ended IN a pitiful moan.
AT last the stronger mind conquered.
HfJple's right arm fell gradually and
the pistol crashed 10 the floor from
his nerveless fingers. lie tottered and
ran to save him from falling. a look
Of exultation came into C1arke's face
which I knew meant victory
''To-to-57,' he cried, carefully spin
ming the dial
There was a click. Clarke swung
the door open and rushed into the
vault while Nipple slipped through my
arms into limp heap on the floor.
That was a close shave. Mr. Boil
ton" said Clarke. after he had slipped
a pair of handouts on the still uncOn-
scious Nipple. telephoned for the po-
lice. and we were seated at the bro
kers desk. why didn't you send for
me earlIer2 II is q wonder ne did not
attack you and find some way 10 XIII
rrnrr
The Washington times., 1908-08-16

Never. II Is q capital crime IN my
once fer any or the working force
10 have any dealirgs on the exchanges.
Resides, Ripple IL opposed TO the stock
market OF principle. Several times
mis- conscience has troubled him so
regarding the nature Of the business
with which he is connect ed. that only
by reminding him Of the stronger duty
10 his family have I prevented him
from resigning- But IL Is needless TO
question me regarding Tobias Nipple.
II ever a man was the soul OF honor.
he Is, and I would as soon suspect
myself as suspect him"
Now for the chief clerk. then. said
Clarke.
THE chief clerk, Gordon Wiley. is
a young man who has only been with
US about six months. He came from
the New York house and is a protege
Of my son-in-law. know very little
about him other than that he does his
work we'll and seems invariably cfvu
and willing. ] have felt slightly pre-
JUDGED against him at times. because
he wears more expensive clothes than
he should on S125 a month, but have
found no reason to let that weigh
against him. The file clerk I think Won
can count out altogether. he is an
overgrown boy. ana I am satisfied thai
Il he lives to be as old as Methuselah.
he will still be filing papers at the rate
OF s. a week"
1T is clear commented Clarke,
medltatively putting ms cigar. that
you have stumbled upon somebody's
secret code. Your reverses in business
are doubtless the result of Information
given and received through this meth
Cd. What fail to understand is. why
the parties TO the conspiracy, for such
II appears TO be. did not adoot the
quicker medium Of telegraph. or the
safer method OF the private letter
This point doubtless viii be clear II
we can get at the roots of the nvs-
terry. Did Il ever occur to you that Won
might break the thread OF Information
by pocketing the report immediately
on its receipt and never letting II onr
of your hands?"
The Washington times., 1908-08-16
Plans for Re1eneA.

"A few months after they weHe mar
ried I found among his papers damn
ing evidence that he had deliberately
led me into q trap with the intention
Of running me and prohtinK By my
ruin. and that the money which
bought his place n the firm was nv
money. The idea OF revenge took root
in my heart I meditated murder but
what is death compared 10 a crushing
blow 70 a vain mans pride Besides,
be was safe from me through the love
I bore the woman who could never be
mine. While she lived I made no
move against him. went steadily
about my duties. learning his business
intimately. that 1 might strike thu
harder when I did strike. raising q
family as I was raised II the fear and
admOnition OF ths Lord. and withaI
awaiting my turn OF the wheel OF fate.
when year ago the dear heart
that was my hrst and only love was
laid IN the grave, 7 set my machinery
in motion I made q connection with
house IN New York city which Bolton
would never suspect. We arranged a
telegraph code in which the names of
various domestic animals stood for
various stocks. We thus were en-
abled TO block every deal which the
house or Bolton & Co. started, and,
besides, by unloading IN time. 10 make
q nice profit Of our own. In a few
months we would have driven Bolton
& Co. 20 the wall. but I suppose I got
too anxious. and gave the plot away
somehow"
Through this strange interview BOZ
ton sat with bowed head and closed
eyes.
y trust that you can defend yourself
Continued on Ninth Page)
The Washington times., 1908-08-16
A Man Of Affairs.

! took Mr.. Bottoms hat and coat
and when I returned from slowing
tHem away in the reception hall had
my hrst opportunity 20 make a care
tul survey IF his person.
our visitor was evidently a man NJ
AFFAIRS. He was round 10 the verge ~
corpulence. A keen gray eye-a mon
ey eye. If there is such a distinctive
oTo-iooked straight al me. His cheeks
gloWed under healthy tan and his
White hair. mIstache and neatly trim
med Imperial gave him something OF
military bearing. For the rest he
was a member Of the Mystic Shrine
witness the handsome seal on his
heavy gold watch chain. he was .qo1f
ehlhusIasl-wiJness the tan and the
callouses on his otherwise white
PAINS and his tailor was the best IN
the city.
When my confrere had set out the
generally prescribed antidotes for a
wet night ami our cigars were going
well. Clarke asked Mr. Bolton for an
explanation of his note and visit.
Let as have the story, Mr. Boil
Ton, he said and / Will question YOU
as is necessary"
Well began Bolton. as YOU per
haps know. / am the senior uanhAr NJ
the stock brokerage firm of Bolton &
Co. Possibly YOU do not know Tho no
siJiou my firm holes IN the financial
world, for our work is confidential in
the extreme. To the world az large We
are members OF the principal av-
CuauEss huJH here and ln tie E.ast
doing a general stock brokerage husf-
ness with q branch house i'm New
York and private telegraph service
As matter Of fact, though, and I
tell IL 10 you IN confidence, which 1
am assured oy my friend you will not
beirayr our actual business is organiz-
ms trusts"
wIH say los way OF parenthesIs
that Tie business deals OF Bolton x
90. have since become so well known
10 the world through the investIga-
uoHs OF The Department of Commerce
ana Labor that 1 ann not violating this
confidence lu the course of this mar
rative.
we are closely affiliated with the
well known firm of Z. j. Forgan &
Co. OF New York" continued Mr.. Bol-
ton. Most of the combinations of
capital which the house of Forean has
backed openly have ia reality had
their inception in our office. I NAV
say. without egotism. that ] am The
father Of the modern trust idea for
1 had it worked out in detail twenty
five years ago.
Recently our most fortunate ven
lures have been i'm cornering the man
ufacture of minor articles which are.
however. important necessaries in
The Washington times., 1908-08-16
The Mystery of the Trust Builder

tell you the worry it has caused me.
The blows delivered my house recently
have been heavy. and many times
have seen financial ruin staring me in
the face. If you can explain this mys-
terry. and put a stop to these occur
rences. you may save me from the
bankruptcy court, which, with me,
means a suicides grave"
LET me ask you first Mr.. Bolton"
said Clarke. II any similar notations
have appeared on any paper which you
The Washington times., 1908-08-16
At Work on the Case.

why don't you buy ftp asked
"Oh. It is not in my line. and have
a horror Of these money changers.
Still I shall not baTk at BoIton's
check If I succeed. It Will only be
spelling the spoiler."
When I went to bed I left Clarke
studying intently his favorite piece OF
brac. the skull Of a woman.
polished 10 the whiteness Of ivory, and
richly lnlaid with silver. This odd re-
hinder of human mortality. deftlv
fashioned into a receptacle. served
normally as. a container for Clark e. 8
favorite brand of tobacco. but now he
seemed 20 look to the silver present
ment OF a woman's head and bust,
which ornamented the cover, for a So
luton Of the mystery.
I awoke late, and when reluctantly
piloted my sleepy way to my morning
The Washington times., 1908-08-16

household economy, There was the
lamp chimney trust, the potato mashtr
trust. the can-opener and cork-screw
trust. and many others which ] might
mention, all or which we're ideas OF
mine. and were organized IN our office.
We have also had a hand in practi-
cally all OF the better known combina-
lions Of capital within the last half
dozen years.
The Washington times., 1908-08-16

ZEN I took up
m Y residence
with Carlton
Clarke, telepa-
THO detective, /
admit II was
with C ert a 1 n
misgivings. I'M
agine Twin s
with q man
who, in case
you were out
the night be-
fore, could tell
you, without
The Washington times., 1908-08-16
No One benefited br Losses-

But it only dawned on me Gradual
ly that there was any connection he
tween these writings and my business
losses. / have taken that course with
yesterdays report. and It has never
been out IF my possession"
'Ther 1t will be interesting to see
II the developments are the same. al
though / am inclined to believe that
we Will have the whole matter cleared
up before we Will have time to test
that plan. Now let me ask you If any
one in your office. or any OF your COM
petiters. has apparently benefited by
your losses
Absolutely none, and that is one Of
the things that mystify ne. The
The Washington times., 1908-08-16
Faced Financial Ruin.

Now, Mr. Clarke-and Mr.. Sexton.
I may add-as you seem 10 be equally
interested. I have given you a pretty
full account OF the case. I can never
The Washington times., 1908-08-16

tie WASHINGTON TIMES hACAZINE