davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-08-23

in keeping at least one OF Us alive,
and he cannot dispose of one that way
and not all"
Then ensued a long and killing wit
during which two new enemies. hun
ger and thirst. warned us that they
lad enlisted on the doctors side.
Clarke took no part IN our desultory
conversation. and / knew that his
active brain was busy with the as
pets Of our apparently desperate sit
uation.
The hours dragged on until Clarke.
after passing his finger pver the dial
of his watch which ne had set BY
mine, announced that il was 10 O'Clock.
THE time for action has come, ne
said Il am going 10 make trial
upon which I confess rests our only
hope OF ever seeing daylight again.
Take your stations on each side OF
the door. Sexton. give Dudley the
match his hand is steadier than your.
Keep absolute silence. II the door
opens and man comes through, seize
him Dudley win secure the dark
lantern which hangs at bis girdie and
light IL You. Sexton, get your hands
on his throat and strangle him If /
give the word NOW leave the rest
to ne
The Washington times., 1908-08-23
.Come-I Will IT.

Dudley and ] took our stations. I
heard Clarke place himself in front
Of the door. Then I'M voice the IN
tensify of which thrilled me, I heard
him repeating:
'Come-come-come will it,"
over and over ] heard the m0noto-
nous hiss of tie intermin able refrain.
/ felt my limbs growing rigid and i
struggled and fought again st the
subtle influence which was creeping
over me.
At last. after a wait which seemed
an eternity. / heard a soft football
outside OF the door. Then iron bars
elanked and grated. ] heard the
hinges creak and the door swing slow
~ open. A dark form framed ia the
doorway was outlined through the
gloom. Then it stepped into cur midst.
Ny hands shot to his throat. which
was cold and clammy as that OF 8
corpse. There was no resistance.
heard Dudley Wrenching the lantern
from his belt At Clarke's command
released him. Dudley was about
20 strike the light when Clarke
shouted. Quick. Dudley; the door"
IT was swinging slowly shut and in a
second our prison would have Held
four victims. First Dudley's foot then
bis powerful frame stopped II and
swung It back 1 heard the match
strike and then the rays Of the Ian
tern flashed into the face Of our pris-
oner.
I twas the attendant who had ad-
United US tn the asylum, but with such
a stare of AFFECT terror In his face
that ] scarcely recognized him.
Clarke's voice broke the silence. Ad-
dressing our captive he said IN the
same low, tense voice:
"Oliver Dixie, you are completely IN
der my viii"
The attendant nodded. his IusterIess
eyes fixed on Clarke's dark and earn
est face.
There is another outlet from this
place beside the asylum, is there not?''
Again the attendant nodded.
You will lead Us through Il"
The face OF the attendant was con-
torted with terror. and I thought he
tried to shake his head, but Clarke's
powerful will gained the mastery.
The attendant turned. and with
AlAal re = EalA4 On fiAH EAU414EE tntEEEG
the passage. I followed. and Dudley
with the lantern brought up the rear.
At last We came 10 transverse gal
iery which cut the one we were in at
right angles. Our guide turned TO the
right. Soon we found ourselves in a
labyrinth of passages all cut out OF
the solid rock. Our guide threaded
first one and then the other, turning
right and left as we came 10 the in
tersections.
AT asst we entered a straight tun-
mel which declined about one foot I'm
ten The length OF this seemed in
terminable but at last saw the stars
shining at the end ana Ielt the cool
fresh air Of the sea in my face.
The Washington times., 1908-08-23

I can get his mind running on either
Evelyn Mason or Oliver like he con
tinued. you know my methods we'll
enough sexton. to know that I will
get the information we are after our
future course can then be deter
mined
II WAS with trepidation on my part.
/ admit, that we started next morning
TO put our plans into effect. There
may have been a roadway reaching TO
the sanitarium. but we failed to ind
one. After an hours mountain climb
ing. through underbrush that tore our
clothes and scratched our faces. we
reached the plateau on which stood
the three-story gray stone building
looking upon view Of peaceful
grandeur which satiated the eye with
it's immensely. Through grounds like
a garden we approached the central
door of the building. TO which the
barred windows gave the aspect of
a prison. Not a soul was visible. and
the place was shrouded In death-Iike
silence It was uncanny. Tho feel
ing OF dread within me Increased. but
] said no word Of Il to my compan-
ions. The door opened silently 10
CIarkes ring and we were ushered
into a handsomely furnished Office by
a young man. 50 black OF countenance
and so mechanical Of movement that
/ Immediately took him 10 be a pa
The Washington times., 1908-08-23
Launch Against Launch.

Suddenly it came into view in ths
starlight j could see YVithersbees
eyes in the bow and another form IA
the stern. on it came out Of the
gloom with a rush which sent the
water curling over its bow
Hold fast! He's trying 90 ram Us"
shouted Clarke. swiftly throwing over
his helm. oar little craft answered
quickly and We swung around just IN
:sne to escape the oncomiug rush OF
oUr terrible opponent
A saTdonic laugh from the doctor
rang out over the water lou poor
fools. III get you yet. he shouted as
his launch turned almost I'm her length
and came az us again. This time one
OF his hands had left the wheel ana
/ saw the glitter OF a revolver.
Down la the boat, fellows, he's go
ing 10 fire., shouted Clarke Dudley
and ! dropped Six times in rapid
succession his revolver cracked. But
a swiftly dying launch IS aot easy 70
hit, and we heard the bul cts whistle
overhead.
Don't answer his fire" warned
Clarke
] looked up and saw Nithersbee
throw down his weapon and again
seize the wheel. Clarke had maneu-
vered our craft until Withersbee.s
boat was astern. But IL was coming
on like the wind and overhauling US
By leaps. Even at the pace We were
travelling the impact. should he ram
rs. would crush our fran craft like an
egg-shell Dudley, revolver In hand,
sat in the stern. waiting his coming.
For Gods sake don't ahoot, Dud-
ley. You may hit Miss Mason"
shouted Clarke. Leave him TO nae.
Withersbees boat was almost upon
US when Clarke gave the wheel a
quick twist and cur puTsuer shot past
within three feet Of our gUnwale. as
he threw the wheel Clarke's right arm
shot into the basket al his side.
saw his hand come out holding a
wriJhing black object. He swung II
about his head once and let 90.
saw 1t hurtle through the air ana
strike the doctor fun between the
shoulders Withersbee dropped the
wheel and stood up trying to night the
thing OF while his boat, free Of her
helm, swung round IN circles.
suddenly be sprang 20 the gunvaIs
of the boat threw up his arms md
with piercing, terrified shrek dis
appeared IN the black waters OK the
bay.
Clarke shot our boat over 20 the
staggering derelict, reached over her
SIDE ana stopped her engine. held
The gunWales together while Dudley
ieaped into the doctors boat at a
bound and returned bearing In his
pow arms the unconscious form
OF young woman. The figure in the
stern sat fixed and motionless.
The Washington times., 1908-08-23

vantage. we were having q battle
royal OF wits. and I felt that / was
gradually besting him, when one Of his
myrmidons felled me from behind. ana
i awoke I'm this darkness laid out side
by side with you fellows. Ny head
stu aches from the blow. BY the
way, have you a match2"
] felt in al. my pockets. and found
none.
"Ah. that Is bad. said Clarke
How about you. Dudley?"
Dudley reported that he had one
lone match. and though we searched
carefully. this was all the three OF us
could find
Much as / would ike to see our
prison. we viii save it for an emer-
geney," said Clarke. handing the qre-
cious match TO me. "The fact that
our host robbed us Of all our matches
but left MS our arms seems TO he a
gentle hint that We go crazy and put
ourselves ont Of the way 90 save him
The trouble
''What do you suppose ne will do
with u5?" asked Dudley tn a voice so
steady that. with Clarke's apparent
cheerrulness. It restored my rast en-
bling courage.
lie VIII just forget us, or else ne
Will remember us. either Of which con-
tingencies Will be equally disastrous.
The Washington times., 1908-08-23

OF the Antrims. Evelyn recalled him
because she took a violent dislike TO
him. Said he was always following
her with his eyes, which she could
even feel burning into her back"
You have given me an additional
clue. Mr.. Dudley" said Clarke.
Clarke did not mention the zinc case
nor his visit 10 Chinatown, yet ] felt
that these must be two of the most
important links in his chain Of rea-
soning.
When we finally reached the end of
our long journey and succeeded in 10
eating the town of Etteso, we found
a little hamlet numbering about 800
souls. Across a snug harbor shoue
the broad expanse of the Pacific
Walled against the eastern sky were
the foothills of the coast range, while
at the limit was outlined the snow
clad summit of Mt. Olympus. In our
character of tourists we had no trou-
BILE, by cautious inquiry. in learning OF
DR.. Clinton Withersbee. His private
sanitarium was pointed out to Us
nestled on the brow OF a hill a few
miles back Of the tcwn. ! thought /
noticed q strange look in the eyes OF
our informants. and one bold spirit,
the keeper of the tavern at which we
stopped. gave US the cautious warn
ing: Il wouldn't so up there If 1. were
YOU" He refused TO commit himself
further. All inquiry for oliver Dixie
was fruitless. We found no one TO
whom the name was familiar.
In our room that night we planned
the campaign. Dudley, with the ardor
OF a lover, was for going directly 10
the sanitarium and demanding OF its
proprietor what knowledge lie pos
sessed Of Evelyn Mason. Clarke We
toed this off-hand. After much dis
cussion he gently reminded US that
he was the leader and laid out our
plans OF action.
In the morning We would leave the
town. Ostensibly on a sightseeing
tour. and by a roundabout way reach
the sanitarium whers Clarke. under
an assumed name and accompanied by
Us as two friends. would seek an
interview with DR.. Withersbee on the
pretense Ct wishing to place a con
sumptive EisteT in his institution.
If by any twist OF the conversation
The Washington times., 1908-08-23
Working in the Dark.

Yes. and he may pack others II he
isn't stopped" answered Clarke. grim
~. Look here. Sexton. Did you ever
zee case Just like this2'
I admitted that I had not
Then it's safe TO say you never
have been to Vancouver"
Neither had I, but / failed 10 see
what it had to do with the zinc case,
nor did Clarke see fit to enlighten me.
He soon brought his examination 10
an end. and. thanking the genial Nc
Nally, we sought a more wholesome
atmosphere.
We lunChed down town. and from
ClaTke's silence knew his busy brain
Tyas wrestling with one of the Two
problems. Which one I was unable to
guess.
You must forgive me, my dear Sex
ton he finally said. for keeping you
IN the dark for a while longer. In fact,
] have nothing to tell YOU as vet but
a mass Of odds and ends which may
be meaningless. 1 am afraid il will be
some time before the slender threads
/ now hold Will lead me 10 the main
cord ! wish to refresh my memory
on two points before deciding definite
~ on the trip to the coast. II we go
l should like to have your company.
for three men may be none TOO many
for the work in hand. Do you think
YOU can spare the timer
II anything Is doing you know
shouldn't want to miss it,"
Thank you, Sexton. Let's see. il
is now o'clock Wen prepare for
tue trip. anyway. You hurry out to
The noIse and pack what clothes we
VIII need and meet US at the station
1 will telephone Dudley TO be there L
also nave a call to make at your little
newspaper Office and a little matter 10
attend 10 down in Chinatown which
VIII aid me in passing the two hours.
Hun ahead and / will settle the checks.
he usual weapons. and pick out a
eood one for Dudlev We NAV md
desperate game.
The time proved little enough. and
q was within a few minutes of train
lime when / met Clarke and Dudley at
The station. Clarkes investigations
since I left him evidently had decided
the trip, for he had tickets and berths
for three straight through TO Seattle
1 spare the reader the details OF tina
tedious Tour-day trip. Dudley and I
were very much IN the dark as 10
Clarke's plans. and as he did not see
mt 20 enlighten US. our conversation
partook mostly of commonplace de-
signed TO keep Dudley's mind as far
as possible from his trouble. This
much only I gathered. Clarke in
some manner connected the finding OF
The Washington times., 1908-08-23

~ ed Clarke one morning late
IN the fall OF 1886. as he
came into the breakfast room.
! was deeply engrossed IN the re-
ports Of a speech-making tour OF half
a dozen ex-union generals who were
junketing through Illinois. and I was
forced to tell my companion had read
nothing but politics.
These are duh days for one OF my
trade" continued Clarke. as he picked
up his paper and sat down TO his cof-
Zee About the only thing left-Ah!
Here's something you overlooked. VIII
il disturb you IL I read it?'
by no means" I answered.
Body Found In Trunk. " began
Clarke. But III skip the headlines.
o. Upon opening a box which they had
purchased At an uncalled-for-freigh
sale two young men residing in Austin
were Mortified yesterday to discover
the body OF a man. 1t was hermetieal-
~ sealed IN g zinc case which was in
closed in an ordinary Handicapped
trunk, which IN turn was packed in
sawdust within pine dry goods box.
Considering the fact that the box had
the freight warehouse, the body was
iu q remarkable state Of preservation,
due probably 10 the manenr OF pack
ing it. There is no clue to the identity
OF the body other than that It was
billed 10 a fictitious address on South
Jefferson street, and was shipped from
Salt Lake City. having been rebillsd
there from. Etteso, Wash.
That's tLe gist of Il, but, OF course,
after the fashion of you reporters the
story is told from several angles in
order 90 Fix the column. Il looks like
a promising mystery
YES but one that probably is i'm
possible of solution considering the
length OF time" / answered.
I'm sot so sure OF that. Did it ever
occur TO you that any crime can be
solved If some one Is willing 10 ex-
pend money, time. and travel2 Given
unlimited resources, I believe L could
organize a detective force which would
make punishment a certainty for every
criminal Crime goes unsOlved because
the men capable Of doing effective
work can make more money in other
lines. ia rather ike 70 look into this
case Does your influence extend TO
the county morgueT'
Deputy Coroner NIoNally in charge
there is one OF my particular friends.
/ am sure he will favor US"
Suppose we call there this after
noon, If your engagements will per
nit
/ acceded. but shortly after break
fast something arose that put the
matter entirely out OF our minds for
the moment. 1 was busy at my own
devices, and Clarke was deep IN
very erucite work 9u Oriental mysu-
Cism when there was a violent tug
at our door bell. / opened the door
and admitted a handsome, athletic
young fellow, square OF Jaw and keen
Of eye. but apparently laborng under
the most intense excitement.
The Washington times., 1908-08-23
Freedom Once More.

We emerged on the rugged side Of
a hill overlooking the broad expanse
Of the bay. Clarke stood and looked
out over the sea Following his eyes
I saw outlined against the horizon the
dark spars of s three-masted schooner.
Clarke turned, and, seizng the at
tendant by the shoulders looked fixed
~ into his face.
You think he VIII attempt it to
night?' nc asked.
Yes, tonight" answered the at
tendant. Clarke released him. Sud-
denly with a shout: He's calling me!
He's calling meT' he turned, and elud-
ing the arms OF Dudley and myself
stretched out to catch hian, dashed
into the passage and was lost 10 sight
in the stygian blackness.
What is 1t, Clarke? Was that Oil
yer Dixie? Who was the man in the
trunk? ?" ! asked.
Don't question me. I must keep
this tension or we fall Kissed Clarke.
Quick. 10 the village. There are the
lights to the south See that shin?
Within The night, unless we prevent il
Miss Mason will be taken aboard It
and lost to us forever"
This was enough for Dudley. Once
on the sand beach he led us at a run.
Ny heart was fairly bursting before
the first mile Clarke's wiry frame,
entirely sdbservient to his powerful
mind, seemed to fly over the sand. At
little creek. which Dudley and
Clarke cleared at bound, dropped.
wait for us here" shouted Clarke as
they sped on. Wen come by water"
Lying fat on my back on the sand,
my heart Juggling and humping. my
breath coming in rasping gasps which
seemed to scar my throat. / waited. 1
know lot how long.
At last I was aroused by a soft
'keIlo," and the nose Of swift gaso-
lene Iaruch shot into the creek, I was
soon aboard and found Clarke at the
wheel and Dudley in the stern. On
the seat beside Clarke was a covered
wicker hamper No one spoke.
swiftly and noiselessly We cut
through the water to a point about
half mile from the shore and per
haps three miles from the ship. Here
We hung in the water. rocked b. the
The Washington times., 1908-08-23
Ecc0ntriolty Of Detective.

was more than surprised when
Clarke, after Dudley's departure, ap-
parentiy dismissed the matter from
his mind entirely and suggested that
we go out 20 the>county morgue.
When we reached the little low red
building whose every brick numbered
a tale of tragedy, the inquest was IL
ready in progress. Strange as It
seemed. two claimants had already
arisen out OF the restless sea Of hui
manity and were fighting for the
CHASTITY bit OF wreckage It had cast up.
one party, two men in hashy gar
ments and displaying huge watch
seals, ere put out Of court forthwith
Their missing friend had disappeared
from salt Lake City. They had not
read the newspaper reports care
fully. He was two inches taller than
the body in the trunk. Their eye for
measurement was bad. In fact. their
entire course savored OF a longing for
a good museum attraction.
The other claimants, a middle class
family from northern suburb, pre-
scented a remarkable case remark
able az one Of the strange condolences
which occasionally arise I'm police
work ia a great city. Despite tie
length OF time, the difficulty Of ac-
curate Identification and all other
probabilities TO the contrary. they de-
scribed the body most exactly, even 10
the filings OF the teeth. His name.
they said was oliver Dixie: he had
disappeared three years and a half
L. l. "A
gone to take a position as attendant
in All asyiun.
For the want of a third and better
claimant the body was turned over
to them. Here, for ths suburban fam
lily at least, the case ended. The boy
was but a second cousin and an
orphan. Their grief was long since
assuaged. A neat round hole in the
OccipltaI bone, with q corresponding
one in the frontal. told all too plainly
that his death had not been natural
one. Somewhere, perhaps, q fellow
man with bIOod-guilty hands lived and
thTiyed. but money was required TO
md him and the suburban family
thought their full duty was done
when they agreed TO relieve the county
of the expense OF burial.
Before We left Deputy Coroner Nc
Nally. who. despite his greWsome cali
ing. was most jovial, round-taced
Irishman. led us to the basement to
view his treasures. the exhibits in the
case.
The body already had been prepared
for burial. and Clarke did not ask to
see it. The pine box ne glanced at
just long enough 10 read the fictitious
address. The trunk also he passed
with a look. When he came to the
zinc case. however. it riveted his at
tenuon. He examined closely every
seam and corner Of il.
"A nate job, that. Mr. Clarke" sug-
gested Mentally. 9TH murderous div
vii that done II has packed NANNY a
wan before by tn looks av ut"
The Washington times., 1908-08-23
She Had Only Painted.

Dudley swiftly cut the ropes which
bound her It's she. It's she" he
muttered- Clarke felt her pulse. shes
only tainted" ne said. we fell 10
channg her wrists and Dudley scooped
up handful Of sea water and bathed
her brow.
Then a new danger arose. From me
direction Of the ship we heard fle
regular rise and fan CT oars .Iiis
shots have aroused the opium SHIN DO
said Clarke. Make a tow of the Go
tors boat. Sexton, and well pull i'm 90
land We can laugh at them They
dare not come in close"
AS we neared the shore orr r,,,r
suers fell of, and soon we heard tbe
sound OF their oars dying away m
the direction Of the ship. Miss Mason
had recovered consciousness ana wac
elasped in Dudley's arms.
AT Ciarke's direction ! pulled me
doctors boat alongside. Clarke then
turned to the silent figure in the stern
ana swapping his fingers SAID. .Ouver
Dixie, you are free"
Free. free" shouted Dixie jumping
up. Thank God, Thank Cod,
AT the tavern, after Miss Mason nan
been safely slowed away IN clean
warm bed by the motherIy Iandlady
we patched together the ragged
threads OF the story over the best in
the landlords cellar.
First said Clarke. IF YOU are
Oliver Dixie. whose was the BODY tnat
DR.. Withersbee shipped TO Chicago in
an opium case2'
He was another attendant. a young
fellow by the name OF frank ,v1l-
liams. We were very similar fin an
pearsnce even 10 the nlungs IN orr
teeth. 1 think Withersbee picked us
out that way so that n one OF us ais
appeared ana a cry WIS raised ne
could furnish the body OF the other.
which YOU may be sure would have
all the evidences or a natural DEAN.
Williams was not quite so amenabIa 70
the doctors hypnotic influence as I
was and ! think got too close TO some
. OF his secrets. suppose Withersbes
gave his opium crew orders 20 MAKE
way with him ana they KILLED him
and shipped him 70 & fictitious addres
IN Chicago. / probably would have
gone the same way tonight"
How did you get in HIS power2''
II answered an advertisement for a
hospital attendant and came out here
Prom that moment 1 ives under WIN
ersbee's influence completely. Most
Of the time I was IA a hypnotic state.
but when / wasn't my MIND was -
weak that / dared not break away
from him I knew when ne brought
Miss Mason there and that some G.
his Chieuese agents had kidnapped hei
I knew ne was trying TO force her
marry him
Il didn't worry much about her 70
ne treated her well and she seemed r.
be In no danger from him. and mad
seen 50 many terrible things in cases
where he didn't want TO marry Them
that / was sort of hardened 10 Il any
way ] was the Waterman OF the whole
place after williams disappeared ana
fEouffnrod on Ninth Pare