davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11

Gradually, and by kindness, and the
magnetic, persuasive qualities that dis
tinguished the gifted detective, we
learned the following:
The landlady gave the name of Mrs.
Katherine Wolff. She had kept the
boarding house for one year and catered
exclusively to German people. She
mentioned the names of all the dodgers
and boarders, which are of no conse-
quence in this narrative. She lived
there alone with her daughter and one
servant. The dead woman's name was
Mrs. Alberta Langendorf. She had
come well recommended by the Ger
man benevolent association. She was
very exclusive and retiring, had a lot
of expensive jewelry and seemed to be
a woman of means. She had no rela-
tives in San Francisco so far as Mrs.
Wolff knew. There were three gentle
men callers whom she knew of, all of
them comparatively young men. Two
evening; one had left early, the other
remained upstairs. Mrs. Wolff did not
hear at what time he departed. She
described the one man as a young
fellow about 26, very thin and wearing
a black suit of clothes He had dark
eyes and muStache. She believed him
to be an American. The other was a
soldier. His carriage was military and
she remembered that he wore glasses
and spoke German fiuently. He had a
flowing sandy mustache curled up at
the ends like the Kaiser's. But she
knew no names. The lady upstairs
made no friends in the house. She
took her meals outside and spoke but
little She had no women companions
at all, lived the life of a recluse save
for the three male visitors. Mrs. Wolff
thought her to be very giddy old
lady. fond of the society of young men.
She told her story as we'll as an
excitable, nervous woman could. Bit
by bit the chief plodded along, asking
each question quietly, deliberately and
patiently. Question after question he
framed. but the woman knew nothing
further and the chief felt satisfied that
she had told the truth and that moth
ing more could be obtained from her.
From room to room then we went
awakening those who slept on uncon-
scious that a horrible crime had been
committed in the house. Noone knew
the dead woman. No one had heard
any disturbance. No information, no
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11

and depressed They had met last the
night before and the count had sug-
gested that they call upon Mrs. Lang
endorf. Drake was willing to pay the
call upon the old lady. so they went
up to her room in the Geary street
Drake left at o'clock. as he had an
important early engagement
OF the habits and connections and
friends of the count Won Brachen Drake
knew nothing. He had only met him
casually and had liked him.
Drake told his story freely and in
detail. These were the salient parts of
his information.
why all this, chief? What's up?'
nervously inquired Drake when he had
finished.
did Mrs. Langendorf wear any
jewelry?% disregarding the query of the
architect. asked the chief bluntly. And
do you know anything about her finan-
cial condition."
YES. chief. she wore two handsome
20 karat solitaire diamonds in her ears.
She also had her hands studded with
diamonds. She wore heavy gold chain
and watch. with huge locket set with
diamonds. She always seemed to have
plenty of money and
Get dressed, Drake, 1 need YOU"
rudely interrupted Lees.
my God, chief you don't mean to
arrest me. For the love of Christ tell
me what's happened. My wife is in
the next room. Mrs. Langendorff,S not
been robbed, has she? And you sus-
pect me? Chief, I'm innocent, inno-
cent" walled the young man.
Tell your wife nothing for the pres
ent Say you are called out of town.
Go in and dress. Hurry, don't waste a
moment
60 in there. Billy, with him." he
whispered to me. don't lose sight of
him for a second"
Drake and went into the next ROOM
His wife was calmly. peacefully sleep
ing. He dressed rapidly without awak-
ening her, beseeching me in whispers
meanwhile to tell him what had hap
pened. inwardly sympathized for
the poor fellow, yet my lips were
sealed. His hands trembled and his
face twitched as he hurriedIy made his
toilet, omitting his collar and necktie.
He wrote a note to his wife explaining
that he was called-eut Of town in haste.
For Gods sake, man." he whispered.
tell me, tell me, am 1 under arrest %
1t was a disagreeable position for
me TO be placed in. / could tell him
nothing. I knew the chief intended
locking him up temporarily 1 had not
the heart to tell him that
Drive to the city hail. ordered the
chief. when we went out to the cab
A string of questions was hurled at
Drake on that memorable drive. His
childhood. his schoolboy days. his am
bitions. his schooling. his marriage, his
relations with women, his vices. his
habits, everything was. piece by piece,
touched upon in the interrogatory. His
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11

clew was available from any human
being In the house.
Again we entered the room where the
body had lain. The coroner had re-
moved the body to the morgue.
well, Frank" grunted the chief.
"how are you getting along? Comc
across anything yet?'
mo, sir, nothing tangible so far.
I'm going through all the bureau draw
ers carefully. / haven't opened her
trunk yet I've gone through the
closets, searched the bed and mattress
ses closely and have found nothing.
Don't look to me like professional
job, chief Must have been some friend
of hers who robbed her after killing
her.
GO ahead, Frank--did you find any
KEYS to the trunk? If not, break it
open. I'm going to mosey around a bit
myself Let me know at once If there's
anything doing, Billy you come with
me-"
The chief lighted his dark lantern,
which threw a strong calcium along
the hall He entered the bathroom.
On the floor lay blood stained towel.
The basin was blood despatched.
make a note of this, Billy The
f1end evidently washed himself here.
Take the towel, mark it, and wrap it
in paper. Note the blood spots along
the hall. God! What job" ejacu-
lated the chief.
Down on his hands and knees the
old-young man searched the bathroom,
throwing his light on every conceiva-
BILE spot. Under the bathtub, in the
medicine chest, on the shelves-a care
full, minute search was made.
Onening the little door under the
wash basin, the chief bent his huge
body. the lantern light throwing its
strong rays throughout the little aper-
ture. The chief lay fiat on his stom-
ach. his head and half his body hidden
in the tiny stand. He glided his hands
ALI along the sides and in a corner,
under q mass of paper. lay a razor
heard a stified grunt and the mas
sive body and shaggy, beautiful gray
head and hair slowly emerged. The
chief had a clew
Found something, Billy he said
his eyes glowing. Yes, this is the
Instrument Look, there's red blood on
the thing now A razor, and a new
=, Germany. Eh? Clew No. 1. Got
that down. Billy? Got when the first
Hood was dripping. Be careful as you
con that Won don't rub the blood off.
Wran it up and mark 1t with your in
trials so You'll be able to identify it
again.
These orders were given rapidly as
the chief retraced his footsteps to the
scene of the crime.
"WelI. Frank, what luck-anything
You've opened the trunk, have you? ANY
letters? Anything at all as to who her
friends are her relatives, anything
anything?" impatientiy asked the chief
mo, sir, nothing. Here's bundle OF
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11

her relatives In Germany. Ring up at
once for cab. Go get a telephone book
and find brakes address. If it's not in
the book get one of the patrolmen to go
to the nearest drug store and bring me
a directory. Lose no time.
1 hastily obeyed orders. We found
that Drake lived far out in the Mission.
Driver" said Lees, I'm chief of
police. Drive like hell out to that ad-
dress. It's important"
We climbed into the cab. Not one
word escaped the chief as we took that
mad drive. The gray dawn was ap-
preaching. We fairly flew along. Lees
eyes gave no indication of the slightest
WEAKNESS. His domelike forehead now
and then wrinkled up in series of
frowns, as was his way when his mar
velous brain was working on some
mysterious crime His manner, always
brusque when so engaged, had become
almost unbearable. interchangeable
worker he certainly was. Sleep and
rest were to him unknown quantities.
I was ashamed Here was | younger
by so years, and feeling drearily weary
and fatigued while he was alert, alive,
with not a trace of a lack of rest. The
contrast was a remarkable one.
We alighted at small cottage.
Ring the bell, Billy. and ring it so
it will be heard ordered the chief.
did so. The bell pealed through the
hall I rang again and again. Pres
entity we heard signs of life. A man
in his night clothes came toward the
door.
whats wanted?' he whispered, try
ing to peep through the curtained
glass 'Who is it?"
This is Lees, chief of police. Is
your name Drake? Open the door. ]
want to talk with you. Hurry yelled
the chief
What can 1 do for you? Won't you
come in, p1ease?' answered the man.
He ushered us into little sitting
room The man rubbed his eyes, half
asleep half awake. The intrusion.
and by the police department., unnerved
him. as well it might any one. He
was young dark eyed and answered
the description of one of the persons
described by Mrs. Wolff, the landlady
of the house where the murder had
been committed.
.Drake," asked the chief. where
were you tonight?'
why, let me see. | went down to
my office after having my dinner and
there met a friend of mine and called
with him on lady.
"who was the lady?" interrupted
the chief
DO I have to answer that?" num-
bled Drake why this cross examina-
tion? Is there any trouble?"
Answer my question:" said the
chief, now thoroughly aroused at the
evident hesitation of the man he was
interrogating
Well. if you want to know. it was
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11

them to send two more uniformed men.
Tell the policemen to keep out every
one until I get through. Let no ex-
ceptions be made, except the coroner
and his deputies.
Billy, let's see first what the land
lady has to say"
Leading the way downstairs, the
chief raped at the landlady's door.
Only stified means were the response.
open the door, madame" demanded
Lees, but in rather softer voice than
usual when delivering an order. Don't
be afraid. This is the chief of police.
No harm will come to you"
Sure, is it chief police2" came a
frightened, weak voice from within,
with a decided German dialect. "Ach,
Gott! 1 am so frightened. 1 open at
vonce."
>Te heard her tottering to the door.
Suspiciously she partly opened 1t. The
chief showed his badge and the woman
became more composed. She was ashen
pale, was dressed in an old worn wrap
per, her hair hanging loosely down
her shoulders She was an elderly
woman, past so. Great black rings en-
circled her eyes. She was so nervous
and frightened that her lips and hands
shook in unison, as did her whole body,
as II she were palsy stricken
There, there, dear lady," murmured
the chief, as was his wont in dealing
with characters of this sort. calm
yourself now. Just be quiet and We'll
take good care of you. This is a pretty
room you have. Who is that lady?''
pleasantly asked the chief, indicating
a photograph. Seems to me I know
k==r
A running fire of questions inmate
rial to the tragedy brought the woman
to a degree Of composure and sanity.
This was one Of the old chiefs master
strokes in diplomacy.
we want to know" continued Lees,
taking the old woman's hands in his,
tenderly, and shaking them with a
cordiality which added to the confidence
she was now ready to place in him
who the poor woman was who lived
upstairs; her name, her antecedents, her
relatives, her friends; who called on
her, the other boarders and dodgers in
the house; your own name and all the
information you can give. Now just
answer my questions as I ask them
Think carefully, that's a good woman
There now, that's right" soothingly
continued the old master.
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11

being driven to a house in Geary street
right in the center of the city.
1t was tile regulation, ordinary two
story wooden structure. The outer door
was open. A uniformed police officer
stood at the door awaiting the chief,
70 whom he had just telephoned.
Pretty bad case. chief" he whis-
pered. @Nothing's been disturbed since
I was called IN. Have made some un-
important Investigations. but thought
the matter serious enough to call for
you. An old lady upstairs has been
foully murdered"
All right. officer" answered the
chief Where's the body?"
Upstairs. front room. It seems this
IS g boarding house and the lodgers are
so frightened they've locked themselves
OF them. The landlady is a German
woman. She's in swoon on her bed
Just of the lower hall here"
Come on, boys. let's get to work" !"
ordered Lees. as he led the way up
stairs. followed by three Of his best
men and myself We all entered the
front room, which was. in total dark
ness. The chief struck match and
lighted the gas. A horrible sight was
disclosed
on the floor lay the body Of an old
woman long past 60 years Of age. She
was completely dressed. Her throat
was cut from ear TO ear, her gray hair
matted with blood. Great pools of blood
lay under her head. The room had not
been disturbed. save that the bureau
drawers had been opened. No article
OF jewelry was found on her person.
Her ears were GU. and bruised, giving
evidence that the ear rings had been
brutallv torn from them. She was stone
dead. a CHASTITY expression of fear still
apparent on the lifeless face
s.FIere. Billy" said the chief to me,
take a description OF every article in
this room and note the opening and
rining Of the bureau drawers. Clear
nsse Of murder. with robbery as the
.ootive. Gus. call up the coroner and
have him remove the body. Billy, be
very careful that you get description
Of the wound in the throat and make
4 fnemors ndum of the condition OF the
esrs. The cut IN the throat has been
done by razor or some like sharp
instrument. Dan Snd pete, search this
house thoroughly. room to room
k-valxer, any one necessary Look par
ticularly for the instrument of death.
search the streets within a radius OF
six blocks north, east, south and west
Report at once any clew. Frank, you
search the trunk, closet, bureau and
desk. every nook and corner Of the
room. for any letters. any article, any
thing Won may think important 10 the
issue"
Quickly these orders emanated from
Lees and were Immediately acted upon
by his lieutenants
Come on. Billy" said the chief to
NJ we viii interview every soul in
DIS house and see what we can CLEAN.
There's work ahead for US tonight, my
boy.
Frank, call up the Office and tell
The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11
By 0. H. Hevneman
TOR 10 YEARS SECRETARY TO CHIEF LEES
Copyright, 1910, by the Author

TN AZ ~-4<2'AS sEOAEIAhH TO CHIEF LEES
Copyright 1910, by the Author
HAL just come home. We had had
strenuous day at the office. one
of those unimportant days wherein
petty crimes had kept us on the
alert until - o'clock midnight. 1t took
me actually bvt three minutes by the
clock to get into my bed. How good
it looked. No invitation. however
alluring. could have come between me
and wei earned rest. I gathered my
pillows together and crawled into the
sheets-oh, how restful it seemed The
arms Of Morpheus enslaved me quickly.
had hardly realized that was so ex-
hausted.
Close by my bed stood a hand tele-
phone Old 'Morphy" just had me in his
clutches when was rudely awakened
by the telephone bell.
'Oh, let the old thing hum" I mur-
INJURED. half awake, and turned over.
Again and again the bell tangled close
to my ear. Mechanically picked up
the receiver Finally summoned up
sufficient energy 10 shout. 'Hellow
The answer came clearly, distinctly;
That you, Billy? Come right down
TO the ofhce. Have sent carriage for
you. Lose no time. Case OF utmost
Importance"
It was Chief Lees. Only too well
did I recognize the voice as 7 answered.
now fully alive and awake:
,-s-
you"
Before I was dressed I heard tho
carriage drive up to my residence.
Opening the window 1 warned tho
driver not to ring the door bell, that
I'd be with him directly. Inside Of
half an hour Chief Lees and I, with n
score Of his trusted lieutenants. were
Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-07
SUFFRAGE STATIONERY.

The latest eonceit In stationery is
"suffragstts note paper" which is as
startling In its appearance as it sounds
In fact, It is quite a revolution In note
.aper. While members OF suffrage
,lubs have been for some time writing
of1cial communications on paper VITA
various smblenas ia notices expressive
Of their views on political sauality. In
their social notes they have had to
torego such an opportunity to adver-
tiss their cause. Now they may write
their tenaerest thoughts on fne paper
prociaiming as far as the eye can see
that the sender IL an ardent sufTragist.
Even the envelopes bear the mark.
The new rapsF In IN the true saas-
frags color. q deep. clear yellow. At
thu top of the sheet n on the TAP OF
the envelope there are tiny pai.' Of
scales. perfectly eysa, with the wSrd
"Equality'' underneath. Relieving the
yellow Is q very narrow border OF
brown. whils the paper il tied with
Brown Tzbbon.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-07
How to Be Graceful

Your shoulders must be held we'll
back and your chin well up. The posi-
ton of the chin is one of the most i'm
portant of all.
If your shoulders are not naturally
tat you must wear shoulder braces
and also exercise them night and
morning. A simple exercise is to draw
the arms back behind you. bend them
at the elbows and back. then walk
up and down your room for ten min
utes or rs much longer as you can.
the longer the better.
You should practice h different
pastures of sitting and standing before
your mirror until you get tha right
ones. 1t is wonderful how this helps,
Remember when you r walking that
the same rule applies about balancing
the weight of the body on the balls OF
The feet. Turn your toes slightly out
ward and never swing your arms.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-07
Gifts to Bridesmaids

groom and the dgte Of the wedding.
A recent bride delighted her entire
wedding party by presents Of oblons
shoe buckles studded with r~hinestones.
Another prospective bride is having
designed belt pins of a size to be worn
at waist or back of neck. They are to
be In small topaz, her birthstone, and
her own and her ianca's initials are
set In q circle Of gold ON which are to
be engraved the day, month and year
of the wedding.
Small charms for warch or chats-
Isine In bridal emblems are attractive.
A tiny garter in deep yellow gold or a
wedding bell with initials of bride and
bridegroom engraved upon 1t Is appro-
pirate.
Gold or silver cardcases are pop
ular gifts this fall for brides who can
AFFORD them. Sometimes the groom
gives his ushers cigarette cases to
match.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-07

would serve-were twined about the
planes and at the wheel sat a tiny
wax Cupid. Narrow satin ribbons
were strung from this wheel to each
place and tied to the place cards.
These were in the form Of large white
butterfly wings. splashed with gold,
and SO bent that the wings seemed
poised for flight. In the center of the
table was a low bowl of white roses
and bridal wreath, with here and
there a golden butterfly lowering. II
one does not happen to be handy at
such things, instead of the white
wings WITH their touches of gold one
may get n call of the crepe paper
which Is covered with gorgeous butter
flies of all sizes asa colors. BY cut
ting these out and pasting ON cards,
one NAV have most attractive MACE
Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-07

The melancholy days of fall owe
tfnuch of their gloom to the dusty "A.
Duplicated appearance of the average
nome after being closed for the sum-
mer, OF after being wide open to the
rayages Of SUD and dust, To retprn
from viewing the gorgeous tlnts of
autumrai spiendor to gaze upon Yeded
wallpaper and rugs that seem sudden.
iy threadbare and dull. Ia not an ak.
Vibrating experience, With the fail
!rsnovafiag comes many furnishing re-
luuirernents. Particular attention Ia
given to the foor-coverings at this
time OF year. Perhaps some of the
Older rugs have been used for porch
service, which will necessitate constd-
Ierable changing about and no doubt
mean the re-carpeting of some room.
Never have artistic effects In rugs
and carpets been SO well within the
means ct the moderate purse. For the
living roo the range of price and
material is great-from the Orientals
and their most satisfactory velvet imi-
~tations to the durable fiber rugs of
striking design and grateful colorings.
While the Wilton rugs and the slightly
cheaper Administer, which are always
In great demand are being shown In
many new patterns, the popularity OF
the cheaper rug is increasing, partic.
ularly for dining room and bed room
use. A Scotch weave rug, called the
Kilmarnock will be found to be among
the most durable as well as attractive
and reasonable rugs on the market.
They have the look Of the old Gobelin
tapestries with designs that range
from elaborate embossed effects, that
further emphasize the resemblance, to
the plain-centered. conventionaI-bor-
Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-07

No mechanical achievement has
ever opened up such unexpiored
realms of artistic possibilities, In
every field, as the attainment of fight.
The influence has already filtered down
through to such humble arts as hair
dressing and walI-papering and table
trimming. Clever conceptions for
table decoration, that suggest aerial
pleasures and voyages. are being car.
ried out tn various particularly charm.
ing fashions.
AT a recent dinner given for a bride
and groom who were supposed to be
about to navigate the Seventh Heav-
en-" the central point of interest was
a large toy aeroplane. which had been
painted white and hung above the
center of the table. Sprays of white
bridal wreath-auy small white flower
Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-07

Platinum, the heaviest of all metals
except iridium, vas given its name by
the SpaniaTds on account of its sill
very color, plata" signifying silver. 1t
was discovered in the sand Of the
river Pinto, in South America, and
was unknown in Europe until TAI,
when 1t was announced in Ulloa's mar
rative of his voyage to Peru. 1t was
by DR.. William Hyde Wollaston. 1927,
that this metal was rendered mallea-
BILE and ductile, an invention for which
the doctor is said to have received as
much as S150,o0o.-New York Ameri-
can, f+-
Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-07

dered designs that are SO well in keep
ing with the wall papers and draperies
now In use. one-particularly pleasing
design was an adaptation Of the Tudor
rose idea carried out In moss green
and a dull blue. Another rug of this
style was In warm shades of brown
with a fash of orange that made It
seem especially suitable for the library
with Its leather tones or the dining
room with It's copper. Navajo effects
are much liked for the den-
Fiber rugs on account of their great
variety Of coiors, their price, and the
ease with which they may be cleaned
are superseding all other fabrics for
bed room use. Then too 1t is possible
Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-07

There Is no question about 1t, grace
fulness can certainly be cultivated AL
though nature has favored some wo-
men with better material to work upon
thar she has others. it is still possible
for the girl with the most ordinary
figure and carriage to possess grace"
to an agreeable extent.
First, of course. you must know what
a graceful carriage means before you
can train yourself to obtain one.
Your body should be almost erect.
Let it incline just slightly forward
above the hips. The weight of the
body should rest firmly upon the balls
OF the feet, not or the heels or the toes.
When you are standing keep your
heels fairly close together and your
knees also, and let your arms hang
naturally. with your elbows close to
your sides.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-07

70 carry out more successfully the
color scheme of a bed room with these
rugs since they r made in ali the
more delicate shades. so hard to End
IN velvet rugs. A suggestion from a
dealer in regard to mending any sort
OF fiber rug or mating IA worth re-
rnembering. Instead OF using thread
which Is likely to LOOK unsightly, get
q little rafha which may be bought In
almost any color. and liz much strone'
or than even the coarsest thread. An.
cther idea which may be OF value ID
to use bran instead Of soap when wash
ing rugs Of this description. The bran
may be tied In a cheesecloth bag and