davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1913-09-30

! prosecutor of New York county. SAY
he went on, with rising excitement. DC
you know what you're up against!
They're talkin' about nominatin' him
for governor! I heard about him way
out in Chicago. Whenever he went
after a man he got him. Why. he sent
and you know the Master Minds repu-
tation"'
A flicker of something that might have
been pain, anger. or amusement passed
over the Wallets strong, impassive face.
Somewhat, Walter" he said gently.
why, the cleverest this country ever
produced!" cried Mr.. Blount, with en-
thusiasm. why, he only touched the
high spots-banks. corporations. When
ever there was anything big or original
pulled of we said. The Master Mind
Why, he only directed; but his work
was so classy that the guys who took
his orders never saw him and even the
bulls had nothin' on him. Well, VAIN
wright put 1t over on him 50 hard that
the Master Mind quit and disappeared.
Now, what chance you got?"
That shouldn't perplex you. Walter.
returned his valet, smoothly. 1T ID
sufficient that have guaranteed your
safety"
Mr.. Blount emitted an incoherent
sound expressive of bottomless contempt
end d:strust-
What's the guarantee WORTH" he de-
manded.
Mr.. Andrew darted glance at him
that was like the flicker OF blade.
You found it worth while SO far" he
reminded him.
That was different declared Mr..
Blount. Don't you suppose he knows
the difference between the real thing and
a frame-up? He came near bein' croak-
ed in an auto smash in Chicago awhile
'ago-that was the real thing. This thing
last night wouldn't fool a fish,
Before Mr. Andrew could reply the
fcotman appeared with the announce
ment that Mr.. and Mrs Blount were
wafting"
"And Miss Blount!' questioned Mr..
Andrew swiftly.
"She sent word she would be over
shortly replied the footman.
Mr.. Andrew nodded. THE lights, Par
ker. Show Mr.. and Mrs Blount in. And,
Parker. when Miss Blount arrives, noti-
fy me. Walter" he continued In the
same tone that he addressed the ser
want, 'the memorandum"
The young man flushed. gurgied. sput-
tered, and then flung himself out Of the
room with an angry You get my goat,
all right" h
Mr.. Andrew just turned his back
when the door-was opened and Mr..
Their makeup and appearance are
worth a line. Mr.. Blount was some
six feet tall and apparently about four
feet thick on any diameter Of his
body. His head was large and craggy,
the face Of fleshy and the eyebrows pro-
tuberant A peculiar birthmark that
discolored the lids of both eyes gave
him a remarkably sinister appearance
1t was almost impossible to tell at a
distance whether his eyes were open.
The Washington times., 1913-09-30
e talked in deep.wheezy. a.thmatic

4 ne tdiheo III ccp'WHccSy, dsthihotio
tones.
His companion, MRS. Blount." was
a matronly. black-eyed woman with
small. hard features and an expression
of indescribable petty meanness. Both
were in full evening dress. which ac-
centuated their general coarseness.
well, Andrew, we're here" wheez-
ed Mr.. Blount with cordiality that
was intended to cover his timidity.
Mrs. Blount preened herself as the
two men shook hands.
"Of course we're here" she remark
ed looking down at herself with open
pride as she observed Mr.. Andrews
critical glance.
How longs the game going to
keep us in New York;" inquired Mr..
Blount with an attempt at easy af-
liability
Why" asked Mr.. Andrew coldly.
why -er- ah, - stammered Mr..
Blount, evNently fearing he had given
offense.
You need have no fear Of the auth
critics cut in Mr.. Andrew quietly. IT
shall protect you as I have for the
past four years. Your only danger
lies"-his eyebrows came together and
the lids drooped-''your only danger
lies In curiosity and disregarding my
Instructions.
Mr.. Blount wheeled ponderous'y on his
wife in the manner Of a man whose
sentiments have been indorsed by the
highest authorities.
Get that, Sadie?" he demanded. RE
member it-or else you'll be back In
Joliet doing fancy stitches on bed
ticking"
IScertainly DO get it." Mrs. Blount
assured him with some heat. I've
been honest 50 long I really begin to
feel honest And what's more-I never
thought 1t would be possible-but you
can shoot me II I amt beginning to
like it,
And as II to give the company time
to recover from this shock she sat vio-
lertly In large chair. Mr.. Andrew
looked from one to the other for a
moment or two and they awaited his
next commands with inward quakings.
You are about to meet the boy
have selected for your son." he said.
Don't trust him.
Does he know anything about our
record" cried Mr.. Buont in alarm.
while his wife leaned forward with
an anxious look.
"Yes?-Does he know you've got any
thing on us?" she demanded. Mr.. An
drew waved his hand.
He knows no more Of you than Jou
do Of him, and II you value your
safety. I advise you to keep him in
ignorance" With this warning he turn
his back on them and called for Wal
ter. When the young man entered he
indicated the newcomers with a ges-
ture.
Walter, your father-and-your moth
err" he said. and his lips twitched.
Then he silently withdrew.
Young Mr.. Blount regarded his par
ents critically and his parents regarded
young Mr.. Blount In much the same
The Washington times., 1913-09-30

.Lazare?" he asked finally. looking
up again.
Mary gave my arm violent pinch.
went on. Where do you want it?'
This is strange hour to be deliver
ing goods" / said.
Cant help 1t. Believe me, I amt
doing II from choice. It's a special or
der. That's all know about it. Ordered
to deliver the stuff here as soon as it
was dumped OFF the car. and 1t just
came in less than an hour ago. what'u
Much of it?" / asked.
Eight or ten cases." he answered.
grumblingly. Some Of 'em are big, too
and heavy"
Bring them in the basement way."
said Mary. I'm go down and unlock
the door,
She left me on the Threshold and
ran back into the hall, and a moment
later i heard the sound of a door being
opened below us. Then / saw her white
figure emerge from the darkness at
one side of the porch, and / heard her
call to the expressman:
You can carry them in this way"
standing together on the lawn, we
watched the two men unload a series of
boxes from the van. They were of all
shapes and sizes Two, which were at
ieaSt iiteeh leet IN lenstn by six IN
width, attracted my attention particu-
larry, because II was with great diff
Guilty that they were juggled down the
basement steps and into the lower hall.
When the last of the cases had been
slowed indoors. and / had signed
! stood looking at them in bewilder-
ment.
what is it?'' I asked.
I haven't the least idea"
1T was shipped here without any no.
tice to your"
Absolutely
"Vinton and his friends seem to make
pretty free with your house." / observ-
"Oh! yes" she replied. with a shrug
of helplessness. II expect anything of
late"
together. They were simply labeled "A.
Lazare," with the address of the house
painted upon them In black letters. but
no other inscription that would give the
least clue to their contents.
Mr.. LaZare travels with a good deal
of baggage" / remarked. Tell me
where / can find hammer. and We'll
get an explanation"
mo: don't she said. Leave them
as they are. Somebody is sure to be
here In the morning. 1t would be better
not to disturb them"
Reluctantly. | acquiesced. and after
closing and locking the basement door
we went up to the library floor.
shall we have another look for that
wilI?' ! asked.
mo, it's useless-I feel sure of that.
What tine s it?''
After g."
She uttered an exclamation of dis
may.
"Oh, you must go. Please go now!"
she exclaimed.
but we haven't settled anything
The Washington times., 1913-09-30

my apartment. The first thing I did
was to set my alarm clock for 7:30. Then
undressed, took hasty bath and
jumped into bed for an hour Of rest.
This time I had dreamless sleep.
remember lying stupidity for two or
three minutes. listening TO the recurring
warning Of the alarm, before realized
that a new days work was awaiting
me.
As I dressed. I found q sense of
within me. Chance had drawn me into
a strange gamut Of events: now. Of my
own yolition, was plunging farther in
to the unknown. Back there In the
gloomy house nothing had been too ex-
traordinary to fit the scene and the at
mosphere: here. In my own quiet apart
ment, everything that had happened as
sumed a grotesque form and lost Its
reality.
What had I enlisted for? It seemed to
me now, as I looked at the business
with a clear mind, that sufficient for
stepped out OF them and taken upon me
the affairs Of others. Whittier would
they lead me? Having attained the age
of thirty-five with reasonable steadiness
and balance, was about to emberk up
on an unfamiliar sea Of adventure, OF
make-believe. even Of arrant nonsense?
More than once I formed resolve TO
drop the affair where 1t stood and wait
for Vinton and his friends to make
another move, II they so chose. But
each time-and was broad awake, too
would come the white vision again.
and I could see the great brown eyes
appealing to me. The eyes conquered.
Go to il, son." said. half aloud. as
7 adjusted my scarf before the mirror.
You may be sorry, but go to 1t!
Now that / was resolved TO see more
of the affair. and with nv promise TO
mind. I found myself getting back upon
the mental plane of the night before.
n did not seem to me astonishing, for
instance, that before leaving the apart
ment | went to my desk. took out a
small automatic revolver. ard shpped u
into my pocket At anv other time 1
should have considered 1t insane to arm
myself in this fashion.
As ate breakfast in nearby res
ta,lrant, | made an attempt TO 1ormu-
late a plan concerning Vlnton- mao
assured Mary with the utmost disp ay
OF confidence that l would get the WIZ
for her in order to help break the hold
that he had upon her: although why
should happen to be so concerned IN
breaking that hold did not appear en-
tireIy clear to me. At any rate. l was
to get the will.
Rut where was IT? 1t was unlikely
that Vinton was foolish enough to carry
the thing around IN his pocket; ne
Nigh. have II locked away in safe
d. posit vault for all knew. All knew
was Vinton's address. Lacking a clue
as to the whereabouts Of tbs neXt-tO-
the-last testament of Rufus Jennings.
the first logical step seemed to be in
the direction Of vinton himself:
one, and 1t was not yet o'clock when
Is Robert Vinton staying hsrsr, !
The Washington times., 1913-09-30
You Can Begin This
Great Story Today
By Reading This
First
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.

young Washingtonian named Mans
neld, while In Statuary Hall. is startled
by hearing some one mention uis name.
He finds himself oeing discussed by .
man and . beautiful young woman who 10
being instructed to follow him with the
idea of finding some mysterious document
which the man evidently believes Is In
Mansield's possession. Becoming inter
ested. Mansfield decides to lead the
woman on
Mansfield deliberately scrapes acQuaint-
ance with his fair pursuer and at her sug-
gestion they 20 to reception at the
White House.
In the midst Of the festivities the wom-
an begs to be taken home. At the door
she Jumps quickly into a motorcar and Is
whisked away. leaving Mansfield standing
on the curb. He gives chase. and after
many exciting experiences follows his
quarry to Baltimore and TO a large house
on Eutaw place.
The Washington times., 1913-09-30

I protested. What are you going to do
tomorrow, for instance-or, rather, to-
day? You told Vinton you had an ap-
pointment with me-"
"Oh! don't know. But you must go!
Somebody might come at any time
now"
And leave yon alone in this house?''
,, 1T will be daylight in less than an
hour. I'm not afraid OF that. Please
co.
But waitr" 1 said. 1--WE can't leave
things this way. I promised to help you,
you know
There. Hothins you can do" she an
But perhaps there Is. In the first
place, you are threatened with a re-
lapse into timidity. l told you to stop
that. want you to keep your nerve
up. Take your courage in both hands
and be a woman, Mary"
She Strengthened her slender figure,
raised her head. and forced a faint
smile.
That's better l said. with a reas-
suring nod. Now listen. You don't
want to marry Vinton, do your
If l could only escape," she mur-
INJURED.
You can"
! said 1t with an air of great conf
dence, though / had not much faith in
my own words. ] knew that the brave
'front.' she was assuming would not last,
once she faced the tall man again. She
waited breathlessly for me to go on.
IF We had found that second will.
you'd feel a little more secure. wouldn't
ycu?'
!. She nodded.
And Il vinton hadn't got the other
VIII you'd feel still safer?'
Yes. She said II slowly and hesi-
tatingly.
well We hayen't found tho Ia sf will
but We might get the other one"
How
She leaned forward, her eyes big with
wonder and excitement.
why. III get It for you" answered.
did not have the shadow Of plan
In my mind but | made my words as
boastful as those of a boy, principally
or the purpose of infusing courage into
| her.
You?' she whispered. incredulous.
Certainly | will Where does Vim
II don't know" she faltered.
Where does he live?
She told me the name Of the hotel
in Washington.
II imagine he keeps IL pretty close to
out"
You mustn't tryr she exclaimed.
! He Is dangerous, I tell you"
swered. .'rll believe ne's dangerous
, when / get demonstration"
must confess that this was sheer
Drag. In my own mind j was well sat
isfied that Vinton was dangerous-peca-
| iiarly dangerous: but did not want the
girl to know my thoughts.
What are you going to do?' sne
asked quickly.
Get the wiII," I repeated "And III
have an answer for you within the ns4s
The Washington times., 1913-09-30

oblige him agreed to adopt . son and
daughter for q .fsv wseka"
''Yes, john 'chimed in his wife.
'.and he absolutely assured - that Il
was harmless joke. But II M q
Walter says--'' <
..Av. h-l! exploded her son- at TIE
mention Of his name. ~
Mr.. Biount bent On him Z fovn Of
extreme displessure.
Listen. here. son." he said grimly.
III I'm soing to be father to you. Tvs
got 70 do Il alIcthe time, not meee1y
when somebody else = around lean't
be . fond father one minute and hate
your insidss the next althoaGh WIN
this thing Il over I might feel diffeFsnt.
But a. Iene - we're On this gnmeTm
going to think . heap Of you-no nat
ter how much Il hurts ne to Do H.
HE son listsnsd with An tsoleht
cynical smile. y.
I've, got you dopsd out. aR right =
he informed him.
"Dopedr' echoed M. Blount. With
surprise-and something else. why.
what do you mean. son?
And he drew softly nearer.
'T haven't placed you exactiy. but
I've got your class. an right" de-
clared his son. not noticing that the
distance between them had narrowed
materially. Also he did not know that
his father had been described In certain
literature n very powerful man Of
about fifty. extremely active for his
years"
The Washington times., 1913-09-30
CHAPTER K.
CHAPTEK x.
hour on that early morning
train from Baltimore to WASH
ington was the first I had had In

ington was the first I had had In
many for sober reflection. I was
still in evening dress. and hatless; but III
anybody remarked my unusual appear
ance / was unconscious of the fact, for
/ was completely occupied with my
thoughts They were not. however.
very orderly thoughts.
Every little while a white figure would
rise before me. obscuring my mental
yisIon-the figure of slender. dark
haired woman, who was now laughing
and archly alluring. now fear-stricken
and pathetic, now wondering and dis
mayed.
Save for this ever-recurring picture.
nv mind perversely drifted to triviali-
ties. ] speculated as to whether the
messenger boy had recovered his motor
cycle. i recalled with a chuckle the ex-
preston Of the clerk at the library:
when we asked concerning Balboa. /
laughed at the look of the indignant lit
tIe foreign attache who overheard my
companion In the White House grounds.
and reverted time and again to the con-
ductor of whom I asked the destination
of his train.
The really big things that had hap
pened were evasive. Then too, there
was the persistent and distracting phan-
tom of what seemed a great, rose-red
lily, wreathed in the halo of glowing
beam of light. II seemed to sway be-
fore me bewilderingly. then slowly fade
to white and disappear. only to return
and glow once more with steadily deep
enjng tints until once more II was rose
red. .s
I must have dreamed some of 1t. for
a reaction had come upon me and ! was
weary for sleep: btt which was dream
and which was the vision of a wakened
mind could not tell. ] know. however.
that at Washington brakeman had to
shake nv shoulder to arouse me.
1t was 6 o'clock on a bright morning
when I reached the Capital. and twenty
minutes later Q taxi had carried me 20
The Washington times., 1913-09-30
CATARIHS SUFIBl66
CT Iuuunsliaaa - E6eelivo ~
Efby uing f1easi

Hyomea b nature's tine rsnsdy -
catasrh There p NO stomach doen4
when uslne TIN trtaAms.k you
breathe boaunG bnasnms and G9oeotxos
" roach t1Se moae remote e1r 60 g
the threat, nooe ard lungs. the cat1xx1s
q germs are desnoyedEQuic an4 eqfe
relief regulta ~
Hyomd oftsn rssterss hsaltA -
chronic casesi that haA given ~ ~
hops Of recovery. IT. bsst actioa = ae
the start Of the diesase whGu the
breath 70 becoming Offensive. and 60
slant sniniings discharges nom tho
nose droppings IN the throat anl -
quent sneesine. or that choksd-up toe.5
ing begin 70 make life burden AZ
the nrst symptom Of catarrhal troueies
such a. crusis In the nooe. watofy eyeas
hawking and morning choking. surely
use Hyomei and see how quickly you
get relief. All druggists sel1 Il
The complete out1t. including innnlee
and bottie of nquid eosts but IL ext
cents. Hyomel h sold by OsDcansafe
DRUG Store under guarantee to refun4
the money II Il does not gtve sAfismc.
tion.-Advt-
The Washington times., 1913-09-30


~ elassr' exclaimed his fafher.
Ihs young man tapped the han e hi1'
thuunb vtth tho foreflnger ok ~ othqG
hand. =
For : hundred IN tst you ve1ldn3
Pot yow Derillloa on ptpeo = wox13
TbeFp was dsad3y oath and ~ ne4
tnsfant Z voey powoEfuI man - aboq
Afns. exfssnsly setivs Tor ~ yeaf1t
had si1n ~ ~ throak and - 80 eqci1-
Iating - - cir .llkD footnat q -
kan6s q n unusua1l5 eouoc1enf1eo
houss@aia There Wge sfznngD no11G
IN NJ eass ana pyroteo1fnB bslsre -
eyes vhon HI feGe Wese azJoWu4 -
toueA tha Fug aGzin snd . sroeu G4nD1
tity q All adnlffed = - lunR NJ
IN sn&irssy strong votcs hlDee
hi eaT: 70
Nov, yuu Iouk haxes ~ 16no ~
john. B1ounf-lsn yow fn1hee. 1hW9
your Snbfher. In ffu0 Inromea VS1e
Tnoy foapeet - sut fh1g9 4nev,H1
eoong - r1n NJ foe 1G0or ~ GEn0
and my vffs y peN1oof q ~
1Go4herr Cluh. Yoa ean Ioek - -
Ffooscd fer tho - 1uuE- ynnzk -W06Du'
livsa sesuighk 81 wefso OBdn6 - oo1E
'sexsight anas = - look 80 1nEEn61
beeh. yeu'fe looA1ng ~ tzou1so - e
scAanes - get erpaned ~
The Washington times., 1913-09-30
Now Read On
; = : 3 >
CHAPTER IX-(Continued.)
- Ut she dragged me back. The old
Il terror was upon her again.
Wait she exclaimed. Don't go

walt Sne eAcidlHeO. Ion 20
yet"
She dropped my arm and ran swiftly
out of the study and down the hall to
the front bedroom. j followed as far as
the doorway and heard the sound of
window softly raised. A few seconds
later she was back again.
It's a wagon" she whispered. "A
van."
AT this hour of the night?' i said,
wonderingly. Were you expecting
one?"
No"
The bell WAS ringing again, in long
and snort peals. insitently, petulantly.
even spookishly.
Somebody has made mistake
said, starting down stairs. 'We'Il soon
find out
She followed me closely and huddled
az my shoulder as l unclaimed the in
ner door, orened it. and threw back
the bolt on the outer vesfibule door. A
bulky-looking young man was standing
on the front porc:a.. There was another
figure out on the s,C>walk.
"Well?' 1ema!-de-
His glanc. 's:-cd In surprise for an
instant or tue costume of the girl at
my side. ard then Segan searching a
slip OF pap~ that he held in his hand.
The Washington times., 1913-09-30

few hours. You will be here"
Yes"
Her eyes were searching my face
wonderingly.
'Pn either report in person or get you
a message" l said. Meanwhile, stand
pat. Don't worry. Don't make move
until you hear from me-"
Mary nodded mechanically.
"Coodv' said. And now. good
night-Mary!"
She gave me her hand fmpulsively. II
was cold, but there was firm pres
sure In her fingers.
II thank you for what you are trying
tc do" she said simply.
For what / will do corrected.
For a moment stood looking at her.
She looked like a beautiful white statue.
her soft breathing was all that
prevented the Illusion from oeing com
nlete. Then I bowed my head. touched
her fingers with my lips. and passed out
Of the house.
The Washington times., 1913-09-30

asked the clerk.
He consulted the room directory and
nodded
I'D like to see him"
The clerk took up the desk telephone
and called number. and in waiting
interval asked for my name.
''Mr. Larned." I replied. promptly,
using the fictitious name she had given
me at the White House.
heard the clerk repeat 1t into the
he hung up the receiver and turned To
me.
''Mr. Vinton says he does not know
you. but II you care to wait in the lobby
for 10 minutes he viii be down."
l nodded and strolled away from the
desk. 1t was no part of such plan As /
had to meet Vinton In the LOBBY. or any
other public place. Ny business with
him required \ certain degree Of pri-
vacy. / had learned from the clerk all
tons room
Crossing the lobby. I stepped into one
Of the elevators and directed the boy to
take me. to the NTH floor. vinton's .
room proved to be at the end of long
corridor. Even as / approached II had
no very clear idea of what was to do.
yet there was no time to hesitate now.
At the door l verified the number and
paused for a brief instant before
raised my hand to knock. During that
ScCoiu the SOuiiu VI NOiScS AiUh 1uiu
reached my ears through a half-open
One 1 recognized instantly as the voice
Of Vinton: the other was also that Of a
man. although strange to me. withheld
my knock and considered rapidly, for
/ had not figured upon sncountering a
second man. With Vintoa alone,
should have knocked and forced my
way into the room as he opened the
door. With the odds increased. I real
ized the advantage to me of creating a
surprise. II possible.
Ii Vinton had caller. the chances
were that the door was unlocked.
placed my hand on the knob and turned
II gently. The door gave inward
slightly.
Then l swung it open sharply. stepped
me. and stood with my back against II
One hand was buried in side pocket OF
my coat. and grasped In II was the auto
matte revolver.
The door was shut again almost as
quickly as Y,nton could turn. He was
standing before the dresser. In his shirt
sleeves. and had been in the act Of ad-
justing his collar when the interruption
came. The mans self-controi was
frightened: but he was not even sur
prised. either In expression or gesture.
He looked al me steadily for q few sec
onds, ond hand still holding the loose
end Of his collar, then deliberately
turned hack to the mirror again and
proceeded TO button the nap into place.
why. good morning: Mr.. Mansfield"
well as conventional, this Is an unex-
pected pleasure.
r>.<s-.~ts~~ of Tha~ Sto.v vrssa
The Washington times., 1913-09-30
GRocARs

Our Carpet Department
offers you a free service
which is not duplicated, so
far as we know, by any
other house in the country,
certainly by none in Wash
ington.
We make, line and lay ali
Carpets free, and charge
nothing for what may Be
wasted in cutting to match
figures.
Delivery is so prompt that
Carpets ordered before 1 100
P. N. are laid on your, floors
the following day.
Our prices are as low as
can be found and our stock
so large and varied as to
make this one Of the leading
Carpet houses of the city.
Remember, we give you
an open account for all pur-
chases, arranging terms so
that divided payments shall
be just as easy as you wish
them.
Peter c rosan & Sons Co.
SIT to 823 -eventh g. /
The Washington times., 1913-09-30

A Continuation Of This story VIII
De Found In Tomorr0w's
lssuo Ot The Ttnes.
The Washington times., 1913-09-30

tFe d esaaanesa tpaesssA