Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-10
PHANTOM AUTO IN Town
Appearance in Village Upacts Staid
citizens and Threatened
Serious Results.

There was dire confusion In the police
station OF the village Of Drnkwater.
Seven prominent citizens In seven differ
ent states of wild excitement stood before
the magistrate holding Ringerly In their
hands seven dangerous-looklng dynamite
bombs. After they had vainly endeavored
for some minutes TO tell their stories all
at once. his honor, seized with an inspira-
ton, raised his voice above the din and
suggested that their complaints be de-
livered i'm mohologue form.
This idea finally being unanimously APP
proved, the village banker rected his ex-
perience. Judge he said, IAN hour ago
while ! was at home eating my MONDAY
meal a man. dressed as a chauffeur, rang
my doorbell. [ went to the door myself.
The man stated that his automobile had
become stalled by reason of a bit OF dirt
that had Clogged the feed pipe connecting
his carbureter, and requested that pro-
cure a hairpln for him. He stepped into
the hall as | hurried to get what he de-
sired from a nearby room When I re-
turned he had disappeared, but there was
smell of burning powder Looking about
| saw this bomb I'm the corner near the
door. I stared at It moment. too fright
ened to move I plainly saw the fuse at
burning, l stepped nearer and founG that
1t had gone out. With a gasp of relief
rushed to the door. opened It. and saw
the chauffeur in hfs car Just getting under
way. I ran after him, ordering him to
stop, but he paid no heed and had soon
turned corner. | noted, however, that
his car was of the small runabout type
violet in color. and that the license num-
Der was 52.6S9. I then picked up this
bomb and rushed here"
The village parson then told his story
which differed only In a few minor de-
tails. He expressed himself as positive
that his visitor looked like a business man
and had gray hair, that the runabout was
Indigo in color, and that the number was
26,S93. Then followed in quick succession
the testimonies Of the school principal
druggist, general merchant attorney and
teweler, who had had similar experiences
all within from five to ten minutes OF
each other, but in no case did the appear
ance of the owner of the car, it's color or
number agree. In the order named, each
swore in turn that 1t was blue, green, yell
low, orange and red, and that the nutiber
was 6S,932 S9,S26, 9S,26s, S6,2S9 and 29,S63.
The magistrate at once telephoned to
residences on every thoroughfare leading
from the village appointing citizens living
In the various residences as deputy mar
shals and ordering them to intercept
every automobile outward bound and hold
1t until II could be examined by a squad
consisting of the seven citizens who
manned the bankers machine for the cir
cult of the outposts But investigation
proved that no power vehicle OF any de-
scrlption had passed from the town be-
tWppn the time If the al otafr a nc
and the arrival of the citizens, with the
exception Of an innocent-looking motor
cycle, which had been allowed to pass UNI
challenged
The mystery proved impossible of solu-
ton, although every nook and corner was
ransacked for clues. Famous detectives
were imported but were forced to confess
themselves beaten. A week after the
occurrence each of the seven citizens re-
ceived by mail large envelope bearing
the postmark OF a city many miles dis
tant and containing large and perfect
photographs of the interiors and the front
halls OF their residences. They were per-
feet reproductions of their subjects, with
one notable exception. In each picture
there appeared hanging on the wall some
object that the owner OF the house had
never possessed. In one case It was a
deers antlers, In another a painting in a
heavy gold frame, in the third a large
wooden spoon, and so on. The seven cit
liens met together and conferred on the
night of the arrival Of their anonymous
gifts. on comparing pictures they dis
covered that the nonexisting hall decora-
lions that they had thought they had
seen in the morning were not in the
photographs at all.
The result was that the next morning
the village occulist did more business
than he had done during his two years
Of practice In Drinkwater. He examined
the eyes Of each OF the seven citizens,
found each suffering from serious and
peculiar optical diseases. prepared treat
ment for them, and made appointments
with them for the same time one week