davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-07

'T'm not going TO theorize until I've
got something to start with. The facts
seem to point to suicide, but If he
swallowed prussic acid where's the
bottle? He didn't swallow that, too,
did he?"
Maybe wen find it in his clothes"
suggested Simmonds.
'Thus reminded. Godberger fell to
work looking through the dead mans
pockets. The clothes were of a cheap
material and not very new. so that, in
life. he must have presented an ap-
pearance somewhat shabby. There
was a purse in the inside coat pocket
containing two bills, one for ten dol
lars and one for five. and there were
two or three dollars I'm silver and four
tve-centime pieces in a small coin
purse which he carried in his trousers
pocket The large purse had four or
FIVE calling cards in one of its COM
partments. each bearing a different
name. none OF them his. On the back
of one OF them Vantine's address was
written in pencil.
There were no letters. no papers. no
written documents of any kind in the
pockets, the remainder or whose con-
tents consisted os such odds and ends
as any man might carry about with
him-a cheap watch. a penknife. a
half empty packet Of French tobacco.
a sheaf of cigarette paper. four or five
keys on a ring, silk handkerchief.
and perhaps some other articles which
I have forgotten. but not n thing TO
assist In esro hIishfnr- his identify
This proves that he's French" said
Godfrey
His best cirl:"
For answer. Godfrey held M, the
watch. which be had been examining.
He had opened the case and Inside 1t
was a photograph-the photograph OF
n woman with bold. dark eyes and
full lips and oval face. face so typi
cally French that st was not to be mis-
taken.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-07

have been self inflicted" he added
quite to himself.
a man doesn't usually commit sui
eide by sticking himself in the hanC
with fork" GoIdberger said.
No" agreed Godfrey blandIy. "but
l would point out that we don't know
as yet that it is n case Of suicide. and
I'm quite sure that, whatever it may
be. it isn't usual"
Did any reporter for the Record
ever find a case that was usual?"
queried the coroner.
1t was a shrewd thrust and one that
Godfrey might well have WINGED under
He himself had been accused more than
once of a too luxuriant Imagination. 1t
was perhaps a realization of this which
had persuaded him years before to
quit the detective force and take serv-
ice with the Record. What might
have been weakness in the first posi-
ton was a mighty asset in the latter
one, and he had won an immense sue
cess.
Please understand that I set this
down in no spirit OF criticism. 1 had
known Godfrey intimately. admired
sincerely his ready wit, his quick in
sight and his unshakable aplomb His
former connection with the police and
his careful maintenance of the friend
ships formed at that time gave him an
entree to places denied to less fortu-
nate reporters. l had never known
him to do dishonorable thing. More
over. a lively sense of humor made him
an admiral BILE companion.
We've got our living TO make. you
know" he said. I'VE make it as hon.
estly as we can. What do you think.
Simmonds?'
81 think" said Simmonds. who, If
he possessed an Imagination. never
permitted It to be suspected, that
those little cuts on the hand are mere
ly an accident. They might have been
caused in half a dozen ways Maybe
he hit his hand on something when he
fell: maybe he jabbed it on a buckle;
maybe he had boil on his hand and
lanced il with his knife"
What killed him, then?" Godfrey
demanded.
Poison. and it's in his stomach. /
Well find it there"
How about the odor:" Godfrey per-
sisted
HE spilled some of the poison on his
hand as he lifted it to his mouth. May /
be he had those cuts on his hand and I
the poison infamed them. Or may
be he's got some kind of blood dis
ease"
Goldberger nodded his approval, and
Godfrey smiled as he looked at him.
"I suppose you think this fellow was
said the coroner. That's
what you said a minute ago"
Perhaps | was a little hasty," God.
frey admitted. and ! suspected that.
MS thoughts. he had made
up his mind to keep them to himself
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-07
the lower hali ne paused.

! the lower hail ne paused.
Perhaps Id better see my visitor
/ 6rst," he said. You'll find new pic
/ ture or two over there in the music
room. I'll be with you I'm a minute"
/ started on. and he turned through
doorway at the left
! An instant later heard sharp ex-
( clamation: then his voice calling me.
Lester. come herer' he cried.
ran back along the hall, into the
room which he had entered. he was
standing just inside the door.
Look here" he said. With a queer
catch in his voice and pointed with n
trembling hand TO a dark object on the
floor.
moved aside to see it better Then
my heart gave q sickening throb, for
the object on the floor was the body of
n man.
It needed but a glance to tell me
that the man was dead. There could
be no life in that Hvid face, in those
glnssy eyes. We stood for n moment
shaken as one always is by sudden and
unexpected contact with death.
''Who IS hep asked at last
"I don't know" answered Vantine
hoarsely. 81 never saw him before"
Then he strobe 20 the bell and rang it
violently. PARKS" he went on stern
~ as that worthy appeared at the door,
what has been going on in hereT
Going on, sir?" repeated Parks, with
a look of amazemeDt
Then his glance fell upon the hud-
died body. and he stopped short, his
eyes staring. his mouth open.
"why-why." he stammered, that's
the man who was waiting to see you.
SIR
You mean he has been killed in this
houseT' demanded Vantine.
He was certainly alive when he
came in. sir" said PARKS, recovering
something OF his self possession. MAY
be he was just looking for a quiet
place where he could kill himself. He
seemed kind of excited"
"Of course" agreed Vantine, with q
sigh OF relief. that's the explanation.
Only wish he had chosen some place
else. I suppose we shall have to call
the police, Lester?"
Yes" said. "and the coroner. Sup
pose you leave It TO me. Well lock
up this room. and nobody must leave
the house until the police arrive"
VERY WELL" assented Vantine. visi-
bly, relieved. III see to that" and
he FASTENED away. while went to the
phone, called up police headquarters
and told briefly what had happened.
Twenty minutes later there was
ring at the bell. and Parks opened the
door and admitted four men.
why, hello. Simmondsi" said, rec
ognizing in the first one detective
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-07
CHAPTER ~.
The Wounded Hand.

z I was swollen and darkly discol
See there" said Simmonds.
Something bit him. And he
pointed TO two deep incisions on the
bnck OF the hand just above the
knuckles. from which few drops of
blood had oozed and dried.
With Il little exclamation Of surprise
and excitement Godfrey bent for an
instant above the injured hand. Then
he turned and looked at US.
This man didn't take poison" he
said in low voice He was killed.
At the words we drew together
little. with n SILVER OF repulsion.
Goldberger. taking a deep breath.
voiced the thought which had sprung
into my own brain.
why. II looks like a snake bite" he
said. his voice sharp with astonish.
ment
The quick glance which all OF US cast
about the room was. OF course. as in
voluntary as the chill which ran up
orr spines.
NO: ! don't think IL was a snake"
said Godfrey and again bent close
above the hand Smell IT. Mr.. Gold
berger" be added.
The coroner put his nose close TO the
hand and shifted
"Bitter aimondsr" he said.
which means prussic acid" said
Godfrey. "and not snake poison" He
fell silent n moment. his eyes on the
swollen hand 1T might " course.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-07
CHAPTER !.
The First Tragedy.

Inc FtF5I
HFT ELIOT ! said as / took down
- the receiver OF my desk
phone in answer 10 the call.
rs that you. Lester:" ask
cd Philip Yantine's voice.
Yes. So you're back again.
Got in yesterday Can you come
Up to the house and lunch with me to-
day."
I'll be glad to- said and meant
#. Tor ! liked Philip vantine.
I'll look for you, then, about I 30"
And that is how Il happened that an
hour later ] was walking over toward
Washington square. Just above which.
On the avenue. the old Vantine man
s.c1 stood. II was almost the last sur
vival % the old refine. for the tide OF
business lad long since overfiowed
frvia tie uei=hborin= streets into the
Erenue.
Philip yautine had been born in the
house where he still lived and declared
that be would die there He had no
ore but himself 90 please in the matter.
siEce 70 was unmarried and lived
alone. ard be mitiGated the increasing
roar AMI dust Of the uei=hbOrhOOd by
long absences abroad.
Eauti1e was about fifty years n age.
the p0sscss0r % a comfortable fortune.
somctt,a= Of "a c0uuOisseur in art mat
iers. a collector 81 old furniture. His
reasons Tor remaining single In no way
Concerned his lawyers. a position
uhich cur firm had held Tor many
years. nj the active work Of which
had cone gradually into my hands.
he came forward 70 meet me. and
We shook hands heartily.
It's plain % see that the trip did
you good" I said
Yes" be agreed. Il never feit more
y But come along: we can talk at
able There's a little difficulty I want
y0u 70 uutauEle fo- me"
followed him upstairs 10 his study. I
where a table laid Tor two had been
paced near a low window.
! had lunch served up here" Van I
tue explained. as we sat down. be [.
cause this IS the only really pleasant /
room left IN the house"
He paused and glanced about the 4
room. Every piece OF furniture In Il .
~ VIZ - "a a AA4alHlA-a
suppose you found some new
things while you were awayF" said.
-Yes-and it's that wanted 20 talk
10 you about. brought back SIX or
eight pieces. TIL show them 20 yOu
presently. They are all pretty good.
had one is a thing OF beauty. It's
bore than that-its an absolutely
lnique WORK OF art Only. unfortu-
lately. IL isn't mine"
IT isn't yours"
No. ana don't know whose IL is.
Y did. I'D go buy IL That's what
sant you 70 do for me. It's a BOule
abinet-tbe most exquisite ever saw.
! came from Paris. and 81 was i'd
ressed 20 me. The only explanation
can think OF IS that my shippers at
'aHs made a mistake. sent me a cabi-
e belonging 10 some one else and
ent mine 20 the other person"
lou had bought one. thenC
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-07
PROLOGUE.

ia literary miner we're TO np-
,raise this story he would say
oft:
1T pans oat a big percentage
offhrfiIs. "
There's pay dirt In this nlys-
fery story for every lover Of an
exciting tale and an Interesting
plot II rs one of fre master
pieces Of IFS author, wIlo rs a rec
oenfzed leader in the field offhe
detective story.
Round beautifully fr1Iaid cab
inef dating from the days Of
Loufs XIV which stands in a
Fifth oVerue mansion zvedVes a
story of plot and counterpIot,
mystery, suspense and surprise.
Jim Godfrey. sHreWdest of re-
porfers, and the detective bu-
reaus of Nev York and Paris are
trying to unraVeE the fntrfcdteIy
enfoneIed cIeWs. And the read
er, too, rviH go along with them,
breGfHTess and absorbed, getting
nov hint again coming up
against blank WaII, until, like
them, he comes to the amazing,
explanation. And the one who
battles reporters, detectives and
readers is Crochard, The fnvfHci-
BE. creation in detective fic-
IN
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-07

Notice IS hereby given to the public
that viii not BIO responsible for any
debts contracted by my wife after this
date. Signed.
--(Adv) W. s. CRANK.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-07
Public Notice.

&c Be Continuea Next wedneslay. }
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-07

Inc FFsI lfa8cIJ-
HF y ELIOT ] said rs / took down
- the receiver OF my desk
phone in answer TO the call.
.sTa tf,a- ,ort I osfar-s-s ast--
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-06
ARRANGE DETAILS
OF MILK CONTEST
Many State Dairymen Will Send
Entries Here Next
Week.

Final details of the State milk and
cream contest, to be held here next
week under the supervision of the
| Food and Dairy Division of tho State
Department of Agriculture, have been
completed by Commissioner Saunders
and Dairy Inspector Peyton Rowe. The
| handsome trophies offered as prizes by
the State Dairymens Association have
aroused the interest Of every dairyman
in Virginia, and more than $50 appli-
cations for entry blanks have been
received.
Inc judging of tho entries will con-
tinue next week, and the winners an
| nounced at the annual convention of
the State Dairymen's Association In
Lynchburg during the following week
Silver loving cups have been offered as
first prizes In the milk contest and in
the cream contest. and silver medals
will be given as second prizes In both
classes and bronze medals rs third
prizes. Certificates will be awarded by
tho Food and Dairy Division to all
dairymen with entries which score more
than 90 points out of possible 100.
The samples to be entered for tho
contest must be drawn from tho COW
on Monday and shipped to Richmond
on the same day. Milk will be Judged
not only by Its freedom from Visible
| dirt. but by Its bacteria count. Its con-
tents Of butter fat, contents of solids
Cream will be tested by practically the
| same standards.
The milk contest was won last year
by n Farmville dairymnn, and the
cream contest by j. Scott Parrish's
Miniborya Farm, In Chesterfield County.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-06
Personal InteIIicencc

Among the visitors TO the city yes
terday were w. w. Richardson, of Pitts
burgh. Pa, general passenger agent of
the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and
st. Louis Railway Company. and George
w. Wheedon, of Cincinnati, and L. b.
Freeman. of Columbus. o., assistant
general passenger agents of the Penn
sylvania Lines west of Pittsburgh. At
ter spending the day in Petersburg
they left for Richmond
Last evening at o'clock, at the
home of the brides parents In Ettrick,
Miss Ethel A. Arpe daughter of MIR.
and Mrs James II. Arpe. was married
to Ernest G. Hawkins, of this city.
The ceremony was performed by the
Rev. l.. C. Primm.
Miss Annie c. Belcher. daughter OF
II. t. Belcher, of Prince George Coun-
", was operated on yesterday at the
Petersburg Hospital by Dr. c. S. Dodd.
She stood the operation well and is
getting along nicely.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-06
MANY MERCHANTS
COMING FOR WEEK
Favorable Replies to Spring
Trade Week" Invitation Re
ceived by Bureau.

Ihe members of the Trade Exten-
sion Bureaus executive committee are
gratfied by the number OF favorable
replies received from retail merchants
FOR the South to the invitation 10 at
tend Rtchmond's Spring Trade Week.,
March as. The Manner in which the
merchants are indicating their desire
20 come to Richmond during the week
at the expense of the local wholesale
nrms is taken by the bureau as an in
dication that the retailers were de-
lighted with the reception accorded
them here during Better Acquaintance
Week and with the results OF their
fall buying in this city
Although Southern retail merchants,
as rule, do their principle buying in
the early fall, they are showing a sur
prising willingness to reverse their
usual process and lay in u stock OF
goods In the early spring. That act
ually Is the result which tho Trade EX-
tension Bureau hoped to accomplish
by Spring Trade Week." believing
that such inducements as are offered In
the terms OF the week will attract the
retailers to Richmond in spring as
we'll as fall
Thousands OF dollars will BIO spent
by the bureau In the entertainment OF
the visiting retailers and the reba ting
or their railway fare. The success OF
Better Acquaintance Week" has
drawn nearly every large wholesale
and manufacturing concern In Rich
mond to contribute literally toward tho
expense of the coming affair, and all
are cooperating to make 1t a success
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-06
Several Deaths.

Landon w Coleman. eighteen years of
age, son of Mr. and Mrs. j. Nj. Coleman
OF near Wilson. in Dinwiddie County,
died yesterday in the Petersburg Hos
pital. following an operation for ap-
pendicitis. Tho parents took the body
home for burial yesterday afternoon.
Meredith w. helms, well-known
citizen and machinist. died this morn
Ing at the home OF his daughter, Mrs
John III. Brown. on Halifax Street, aft
ter an illness of two weeks He was
siNty-s;x years old. and besides his
daughter, Mrs. Brown. Is survived by
one son-William +. helms, of Peters
burg; two brothers-W. II. L. Nc!ms
of Petersburg. and George w. Nelms
of Newport News: and one sister-airs
Virginia Il. Clarke, of Petersburg lie
was Confederate veteran and n mem
Der of A L. Hill Comp.
Information has been received Of the
death on Tuesday, in Denver. Col, OF
David Calender. youngest son of MIR
and Mrs. Thomas Calender, of this
city. and was highly esteemed I'm the
community. He had been living in
Denver for some time for the benefit OF
his health Besides his parents, he is
survived by two sisters-Misses Ella
and Bessie Calender. The body Is on
Its way to Petersburg.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-06
INCOME RETURNS
COME IN SLOWLY
Individuals and Corporations in
This District Have Until
March l to Report.

LOSS than one-third Of the individuals
and corporations In the Eastern Dis
trict OF Virginia have made returns
under the new Income tax law al
though the time limit expires March /.
inter which heavy penalty VIII be
inflicted on all delinqucnts j. Robert
Wade. deputy collector OF internal
revenue. who has charge OF the col
lections In this district. is kent busy.
however. Issuing instructions and as
sisting In getting the returns In on
time.
Tho income tax law is new. and ii is
round that very few persons under
stand its many ramihcations. one OF
the principal points of confusion arises
over the fact that the returns for
1913 are based on ten months instead
OF the fun period Of twelve months.
and that many persons are under the
Impression that an exemption can be
claimed on the full amount, whereas
an income OF $4,000 for the ten months
is equivalent to an income of $4,000
for the full year. and must he de-
clared rs such. In other words. the
exemption for the year 1913 has been
lowered TO s25o0. which represents
five -slxths OF the annual exemption Of
$4,000
While returns i.,ust be made before
March /. Mr.. Wade announces that any
iUtNci n pOStTldFk before noon
on that date will he accepted az com
Ing In on time. There are between
1000 and 5000 corporations subject to
the tax In this district, which ts com
posed OF forty-six counties Indi-
v!duals subject 10 tax Will probably
swell the total 1900 or more
Failure to make returns carries n
penalty OF from $50 to $1,000 while
wilful neglect or refusal means nm ad-
ditional penalty OF so per cent In the
tax assessed together with tho fine.
false or fraudulent return makes the
person liable to n fine not exceeding
$4,000 or a term In Jail not exceeding
one year.
AS an accommodation 10 persons In
this district. numbers OF blanks have
been sent out, but II Is not a duty OF
the department 10 do so. and the fall
ure OF person to receive one will not
be accepted as an excuse for not max :
ing returns
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-06
STATE PLANS TO
SUPPLY DOCTORS
Board of Health Opens Register
for Physicians Willing
to Move.

The State Board OF Health opened
yesterday In Its office a register for
the listing of physicians who wish to
move ,,,,n, to localities less Literally sup
temporary vacancies In medical insti-
buttons. In recent months the board
has received numerous requests to
supply substitutes and assistants to
found 1t usually impossible to render
the desired service on short notice
The board invites physicians not
averse To making change of practice
TO place their name on this regis
ter.
In conjunction with this register
Commissioner Williams has begun to
map out the geographical distribution
OF physicians in Virginia and learn
the localities most In need OF medical
the lists will be open to public in
spectfon At all times. Physicians out
side OF the state who wish to enter
practice In Virginia are asked to enter
sons living In localities deprived OF
suhicient medical attention are re-
auested TO communicate with the
board.
The board has been surprised to
find" said Commissioner Williams yes
terday. that there is In Virginia no
channel OF communication between
physicians and the public except the
the listing of physicians and localities
In register will be OF genuine SER
vice to the public"
Tho board has issued another small
universal vaccination Smallpox OF a
sirnient type is appearing In many
and the danger Ia serious. All school
preventative treatment should be vac
clnated at once.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-06
HOUDON STATUE
BILL OPPOSED
House Committee Against Cor
ham Plan to Make Copies
of Famous Work.

The House Committee on Public
Property yesterday afternoon reported.
with the recommendation that II do
not pass. the Easley bill. allowing the
Gorham manufacturing Company to
make and sell duplicates or replcas
OF the Houdon statue Of Washington,
now In the State Capitol. The COM
pnnion bill has already been favorably
reported by the Senate committee, and
is on the Senate calendar.
1t was explained that there have
been two authorized casts made from
the Houdon statue of Washington, one
in 1865, OF which there are seven or
eight copies In existence, and one In
1905 by the Gorham COMPANY. of
which copies were placed in the Capt.
tol at Washington. and one sent as a
gift from Virginia TO the republic of
France. The Gorham Company asks
permission to use the molds made at
that time for further bronze casts, and
offers to pay royalty for each one
sold. to go 10 the maintenance of the
State Library.
the opposition. Tho statue. he said,
ranked among art students as the most
valuable piece of marble In America,
and has been roughly estimated to
have sale value OF not less than
100000. A small bust of an un-
known girl by Houdon recently sold
abroad for $4,000. To make further
copies for sale. Mr.. Myers held. would
cheaper and commercialize this work
OF art. and would have u tendency to
make light of the gifts Virginia has
made to the United States government
and to the republic Of France.
Advocates OF tho bill stated that
from one OF tho earlier casts, plaster
molds were being made and sold in
New York. from which Virginia de-
rives no royalty. 1t was stated to be
the accepted policy OF art museum
abroad 10 allow authorized copies to
be made So far from cheapening the
original. they merely advertised IL,
and would make II known TO the
world that the original of one Of the
really great places OF sculpture was in
Richmond. Authorized copies OF the
Venus de Milo, Of the LAGOON group.
and OF other OF the most famous of the
worlds sculpture are in the Valentine
Museum in Richmond. and in most of
the other largo art museums OF the
world, where art students are taught
Although reported adversely by the
committee. friends of the bill have cx-
pressed confidence that they will oh
tain favorable action on the moor OF
the House.