Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-12-11

TETSR one of the most mysteri-
4 WIN Gus cases that ever arose
<n2A3 in Illinois, but rather for
the reason that 1t marked my first
meeting with Carlton Clarke.
Il was in the summer Of 1896 that
the word came to the Office of the Chi
cago morning paper with which was
then connected that the police of the
little city of Aurora were struggling
with a 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 in hustling
me off by the first train 10 Che scene
of action.
The brief account in the first paper
/ picked up. stripped OF its glaring
headlines, was as follows:
Early this morning a very mysterious
tragedy occurred in the hall OF the An
cient order of Persian knights. a local
secret society, which resulted in the al
most instant death of DIR. Arthur w. Will
liams, a prominent physician OF this city.
The initiation of DIR. Williams was In
progress at the time. In one portion of
the ceremony the candidate, having been
condemned to death for invading the sa-
cred domain of the shah, is ordered to
load an old fashioned dueling pistol with
powder and bali which are furnished him.
He is then placed against the wall and
the pistol In fired point blank at him by
a member OF the lodge holding the Of
fee of royal executioner. The powder
provided the candidate has always been
clever counterfeit made of pulverized
anthracite COAL and the only climax to
the thrilling ceremony. heretofore, has
been the fizzle of the percussion cap and
the shouts OF laughter of the lodge men,
bers. DR.. Williams was an old hand at
lodge work. AS 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 DR.. Homer Smith,
whose duty II was TO fire the shot. and
gazed into his eyes without visible
tremor. Suddenly the members OF the
lodge, about 200 OF whom were present
were startled by loud explosion. DIR.
williams fell forward with blood gushing
from a wound in his forehead. Among
the first TO reach the stricken man was
DR.. Smith. who had fired the fatal shot.
He tried to stanch the blood. but the bull
let had penetrated the brain and DIR. Will
Hams died in his arms without speaking.
Chief OF Police Darling. who is prom
fnent member of the order. holding the
ONCE OF royal astrologer. at once thought
10 secure tne cup from Wnicu TIC poW-
der had been poured. few grains re-
msined. He tasted than. II was unmis-
takably black gunpowder. No arrests
have been made and no one seems willing
20 take the responsibility OF saying that
the tragedy was anything more than ac-
cident due to the carelessness OF some
one In getting the counterfeit powder
mixed with the real article.
"Oh. those country correspondents!
I fairly groanei. There was so much
wanted to know. Who had handled
the supposed counterfeit powder
What was the customary source from
which the lodge procured It? What
were the relations OF the two physi
clans toward each other?
1T all depends upon the history OF
the powder" said to myself as
stuffed the papers into my pocket.
"You are right, sir 1t all depends
upon the history of the powder"
turned around half in anger al
this unlooked-for interruption to my
train OF thought. Whatever emotion
may have felt was instantly lost In
interest In the face before me. II was
face should have singled out among
a thousand. Clean shaven, the firmly
moulded chin showed by its sligh
tinge of blue that the beard. had Il
been allowed to grow, would have beer
black. The nose was aquiline and o
perfect proportions. The intelligent
eyes were dark almost to blackness
The complexion was swarthy, but SUI
fused with the glow Of health. Th'
hair was of that distingue combination
OF colors, black, shading almost Il
white on the temples and over th'
forehead. An American, evidently, bu
inheriting through several generation
of New World ancestors the marking
of southern Europe. His height
should have estimated at six feet
Carlton Clarke really lacks three-qual
ters of an inch of the mark.
"Then you are sort OF Sherlocl
Holmes?" ! ventured.
Sherlock Holmes Is an impossibl
ity." he said.
Further conversation was interrupt
cd by our arrival before the little art