Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1908-12-03

I'll
z one Of the most mysteri-
\ EFFpta 4 Gus cases that ever arose
en&xkasxrAxn& in Illinois, but rather for
the reason that it marked my first
meeting with Carlton Clarke
Il was in the summer of 1896 that
the word came 70 the Office Of the Chi
cago morning paper with which | was
then connected that the police Of the
little city of Aurora we're struggling
with case which seemed destined to
prove one Of the greatest mysteries Of
the day As | had met with considera-
Bile success in criminal cases. the man.
aging editor lost no time I'm hustling
me off by the first train to the scene
of action.
The brief accour n the first paper
picked up, stripped of its glazing
headlines, was as follows:
Early this morning a very mysterious
tragedy occurred In the hall OF the AM
Client order Of Persian knights, u local
secret society which resulted In the al
most instant death of DR. Arthur w VIII
HAMS, "a prominent physician Of this city.
Tho initiation of pr. williams was va
progress at the time In one portion Of
the ceremony the candidate. having been
condemned 10 death for invading the sa-
cred domain Of tho shah, rs ordered 90
load an old fashioned duelng pistol with
powder and ban which are furnished him.
He "a then placed against the wall and
the pistol Is fred point blank at him by
member OF the lodge holding the Of
hCe of royal cNcCutioutr The powder
provided the candidate has always been
clever counterfeit made OF pulycrizrd
anthracite coal and the only climax TO
the thrilling ceremony, heretofore has
been the hzzle of the percussion cap and
Nhe shouts OF laughter Of the lodge mem
bers Or. Williams WAS an old hand at
lodge work As a consequence. none OF
the efforts Of the Persian knights TO
break down his nerve or self-possession
had been successful When he had load
ed the pistol he faced Or Homer Smith.
whose duty it was 20 fire the shot, and
gaged into his eyes without visible
tremor Suddenly the members of the
lodge about 200 OF whom were present,
were startled by a loud explosion, Dr,
williams fell forward with blood gushing
from wound In his forehead Among
the first 10 reach the stricken man was
Or smith. who had hred the fatal shot.
lie tried 60 stanch the blood but the bull
let had penetrated the brain and DR. VII
Hams dlod In his arms without speaking.
Chief Of Police Darling, who Is prom
tnent member OF the order holding the
office ~ royal astrologer, Mt once thought
TO secure the cup from which the pow
der had been poured \ few grains re-
manned He tasted them, IL was uum's-
takably black guupowder. No arrests
have been made aud no one seems willing
60 take the responsibility OF saying tnat
the tragedy was anything more than ae-
cldent due 70 The carelessness OF some
one In getting the counterfeit powder
mixed with the real article
"Oh. those country correspondence
fairly groaned There was so much
l wanted TO know Who mad handled
the supposed counterfeit powder?
What was the customary source from
which the lodge procured Il" What
were the relations OF the two physi
clans toward zach uther2
1T all depends upon the history of
tho powder" 1 said 10 myself as
stuffed the papers into my pocket
You are right. sir Il an depends
upon the history of the powder
turned around half i'm anger at
this unlooked.for interruption To my
train Of Thought Whatever emotion
may have felt was instantly lost IN
interest in the face before me 10 was
a face | should have singled ont amonG
a thousand Clean shaven. the firmly
moulded chin showed by its slight
tiuge OF blue that the beard had Il
been allowed TO grow. would have been
black The nose was aQuNue and 81
perfect proportions The Intelligent
ewes were dark almost TO hlackuess
The complexion was swarlhN but SUIT
fused with the glow of health Tn,
hair was of that distingue combination
of colors black shading almost y,
white on the temples and over On,
forehead An American. evidently hu
iuhemuug through several generations
of New World ancestors che markings
OF southern Europe His height
should have estimated al six feet
Carlton Clarke really lacks threeQuar
ters of an inch Of the mark
Then you are sort u Sherlocl
Holiness ! ventufed
Sherlock Holmes is an impossible
ity. ne said
Further conversation was interrupt
ad by oQt arrival before the little ART