Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-15
THE WHIRL OF DEATH
AN ADVENTURE OF PETER CREwE-THE MAJ
WITH THE CAMERA EYES"
By HAROLD CARTER
W. G. Chapman in tss United sals. and Great Britain

persons are cognizant Of the facts re-
lating TO Benedict Shay, the celebra-
ted inventor. He was brought TO trial
in England under the name he had as
sumed-which is immaterial here
and, being found insane by the jury,
was sentenced to Broadmoor pend
ing his majesty's pleasure" which
means that he will spend the remain
der Of his life in that excellent asylum
which England maintains for her in
sane criminals. That the prisoner
was Shay was known 10 less than q
dozen persons, Of whom Crewe and
myself were two, the Judge and the
public prosecutor two more, and the
administrators of Shay's estate In
America the remainder.
When Shay disappeared from Balti-
more, after betraying signs OF COM
plete mental breakdown, my services
were requisitioned by his friends, who
were DESTROYS OF having him brought
back and placed under the care Of the
best physicians. It was known that
Shay had sailed for England. but
there all trace Of him had been lost.
Shay's career had been a romantic
one. Beginning as a newsboy, he had
made discovery after discovery In en-
cheering and the kindred sciences.
whose patents had brought him fame
and wealth. II was after his improve
ment Of the turbine, a task at which
he labored necessarily for months,
that the mental collapse occurred. He
rarv.a4rV1l nathan
duced the most bizarre-and. OF
course. entirely worthless-machines
declared that his failure TO have these
taken up was due to plot, developed
homicidal tendencies and, the day be-
fore his intended apprehension. sailed
for London upon a British ship, thus
removing himself from American ju-
risdiction. Although his whereabouts
were unknown, II was obvious that he
would be found In close touch with en-
cheering men across the Atlantic, and
had little doubt that l should read
fly locate him, after which the real
task OF inducing him to sail for Ameri-
ca would begin.
In spite OF the facility OF my task,
] thought Il wise to consult Peter
Crewe as soon as reached England.
Crewe had assisted me in solving
many strange problems such as befell
me in my capacity OF a hard-worked
lawyer. He had the remarkable OPP
teal power OF permanently remember
ing every person or thing that he had
once seen, SO that he was able at a
moments notice 70 call It to memory
exact 70 the last detail. He claimed to
know half the population of New York
and London by sight. A stranger seen
for a moment on passing omnibus
the passengers on a ship. those on the
platform of a railroad station-he
could remember all with exactitude
He had been in London for several
weeks when ] arrived, and my frs
task was TO call on him and ask h.:
assistance in locating the object o.
my search.
shay" queried Crewe thoughtfully
81 must have seen his photograph
Oldish man. clean shaver, clear eyes
iron gray hair?"
NO" 1 replied, laughing. you're
thinking OF Edison. Shay is a short
stout man, about five-and-forty. with /;
straight nose, eyes wrinkled at thu
corners. a trick of screwing up hi
forehead when he speaks to you"
Il have seen him twice during tn,
last week." Crewe answered. Il nc
ticed him particularly, because rec
ognized him as a man whom ono
saw entering the engineering exhibi
ton at Madison Square Garden Il
New York. and wearing his hat awry
I have seen him twice and, curiousl
enough, each time in the same plac
and at the same time. II was In tn
Earl's Court road at eight in tn
morning. and he was walking brisk
in the direction OF Kensington. hav
been In the habit Of passing throug
that region at an early hour on m
way to my brothers ONCE. and tn
coincidence OF this double meetin
impressed me greatly"
Then how can we find himT"
why, let Us be in the same spc
tomorrow at the same hour, and
should say that We should run an el
cellent chance" Crewe answered wit
his brusque common sense.
We followed Crewe's suggestion, bu
though we perambulated the Earl
Court road for several mornings /
succession. we did not encounter Sha.
Have you been TO the engineerin
papers and the big irms7" Crew
asked.
NO. I want TO avoid doing so
possible" / said. Il do not want III
facts OF my mission to becom
known"
Unless We meet the man face
face / hardly think we are likely I
ind him." Crewe replied. There al
seven million people in the metropol
tan district OF London, Langton."
Il did. indeed, seem to be case
which Crewe's optical powers woul
prove unavailable. We walked slow
back past the entrance TO Earrs Coul
exhibition. discussing the matter. A
at once a placard caught my eve.
stated that on the following night Il
great Industrial exhibition would /
opened. in which engines and sngir
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