River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-10-08

as part of the plot that was his I'M
doing.
"The knife thrust through the table
seems to suggest either pure bravado
or an excess of murderous passion
that is not borne out by any other evil
dence OF struggle in the room. The
satin slipper and the telephone call are
the points of evidence added by the
woman. She may have stepped into
the blood and shaken off the slipper,
not to avoid being tracked, for she
thereby left dangerous clew, but be-
cause it would be easier to explain a
lost slipper than one soaked with
blood. But here l was faced by a
stone wall and l could go no further"
Absolutely nothing" / said blankly.
"Of course not; but read this and
see if it throws any light on it. I
clipped it from this mornings paper"
1t was an item from the personal in
telligence column and it said: Capt.
FftZhugh Graham, the famous English
orchid hunter, arrived in the city yes
terday after six months stay in the
Philippines and is registered at the
Auditorium Annex"
Capt Fitzhugh Graham" said
Clarke to the clerk at the desk, ten
dering our cards.
The captain hastily cleared two
chairs for u.s. "Mr Clarke I under
stand then is a fancier of Orchids" he
said as his eyes wandered inquiringly
from one to the other of u.s.
The captain hung over the back of
his chair with boredom written on his
face. There was no flaw in his acting,
if acting it was, as he carelessly re-
piled:
you have been we'll informed, Mr..
Clarke, but | regret to say that the
OdontoglOssum stood the trip badly,
as you know they nearly always do.
1t was not such a specimen as I would
care to offer. In fact I had deter
mined not to spoil Hoppington's col
lection with it, even if he had not been
murdered, and this morning l had the
slavey throw it out If that is all you
will kindly excuse me and I will con-
tinue my packing as I am leaving for
London this afternoon"
Clarke glanced quickly from Graham
to me, and l thought I detected warn
ing in his eyes. The captain watched
him with apparent nonchalance, but
there was something in his attitude
which suggested the crouch of a tiger
ready for the leap.
and so the servants threw the
| Odontoglossum 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
Eyes, there are three, and Captain
Graham, you have lied"
The metamorphosis to the tiger was
sudden and complete. Full half the
length of the room the captain leaped
knocking over two chairs in his flight
| through the air, while his long sinewv
| fingers closed around the throat of
| Clarke. 1t was so sudden that scarce.
ly seemed able to gather the thought
necessary to bring my finger to the
trigger of the revolver in my pocket.
AS soon as l saw Clarkes hand go
up and encircle the captains straining
wrist l recognized one of Clarke's IA
vorite tricks of jiu jitsue. A look of
intense pain crossed the captains
face, the arm became nerveless and
in moment more his huge bulk of a
body swung around and Clarke bore it
easily and gently to the floor, then
reaching for the other hand, clicked on
the beautiful little pair of nickelsteel
handouts, dainty as a lady's bracelet
| that he always carried in his hin
| pocket.
Then the coming of the chief re
| lieved a situation that was becoming
tense.
Captain Graham stood haughtily al
the door waiting the chiefs will
Whatever battle had been raging in his
mind evidently had ended in mastery
for he quietly interprosed:
Mr.. Clarke, 1 ask that you take nc
further steps. 1t is useless. 1 alone
am guilty. AT the proper time I will
tell all"
Clarke, Clarke, I've got her." 1 al
most shouteds thrusting the paper al
him.
The item was under the head OF
Society Notes and read: Among the
occupants of the boxes at the perform
ance Of Aida by the Metropolitan
Grand Opera company at the Auditor
ium last night we're Captain Fitzhugt
Graham and Countess Evelyn Scrym
gour of London"
Quick, a telephone" ordered Clarke
and the obseQuious waiter set an in
strument on the table and connected il
with the wall switch. He soon had my
old newspaper office and asked fer the
society editor.
Here" he said, handing me the re
ceiver ASK her where the countess
is staying"
"The Victorian, believe came the
answer
1t was only step away and we pait