davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03
CHAPTER X.
stephens Theory.

With Mr.. stephens morning
coffee there appeared an envelope
bearing his name and a French
stamp, as well as the address of
the obscure little hotel where the
Bartons had found him a room.
The lawyer looked down at the
envelope with great surprise. He
broke the seal and saw that the
sheet of note paper he took from
the envelope was headed Pre-
lecture de Police" Hitherto the
police had addressed all their
communications to the Hotel
Saint Ange.
The letter ran as follows:
Dear Sir:
am requested by the Of
fioial who has the Dampier
affair in hand to ask you IL
you will come here this aft
ernoon at three O'Clock. AS
shall be present and can
act as interpreter, It will not
be necessary for you to be
accompanied as you were be-
fore. Yours faithfully.
IVAN BARLOFF.
What an extraordinary thing!
Up to the present time Mr..
Stephens had not communicated
with a single police official able
to speak English; IL was that fact
which had made him find Ger
aid Barton so invaluable an aux
Hilary. But this letter might
have been written by an English
man.
Were the police at last on the
trail of the missing man? Bat If
so, how strange that the Project
of Police had not communicated
with the Hotel Saint Ange last
night!
Three O'Clock found Mr..
Stephens at the Prefecture of Po-
lice.
Ivan Barloff" turned out to be
an agreeable person who at once
explained that he belonged to the
International Police.
This is not the kind of work
with which l have, as a rule. any
thing to do, but I am asked to see
you. Mr.. stephens, because I am
familiar with your language. /
wish to entertain you on a rather
delicate matter. | am sure I may
count on your discretion. and.
may | add. your sympathy"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03

four at the time APPARENTLY insig-
nificant conversations which in
no case could have done much to
solve the problem he had set
himself to solve.
The first of these was a short
conversation, I'm the middle of
that busy week, with Nancy Dam
pier.
I'm afraid" the lawyer be-
gan, that there's very little
more to do than has been already
done. l mean, of course. for the
present. And in your place,
Nancy, I should come back to
England, and wait there for any
news that may reach you"
AS she shook her head, he
went on gravely: II know 1t is
open to you to remain in Paris;
but, my dear, I cannot believe
that your husband is in Paris. If
he were, We must by now, with
the help of the French police
the most expert in the world, re-
member - have come across
traces of him, and that whether
he be dead or alive"
do you think" Nancy asked,
and though her lips quivered she
spoke very quietly, that Jack is
dead, Mr.. Stephens? I know that
Senator Barton's son has come to
believe that he is"
NO." said the English lawyer
mo, Nancy, ! do not believe that
your husband is dead. Had he
been killed or injured-that first
morning in the Paris streets we
should know it by now. The po-
lice assert they have made every
kind of inquiry. No, they, like
me, believe that your husband
has left Paris"
Left Parish" repeated Nancy
in a bewildered tone.
Yes, my dear. AS to his mo-
tive in doing sol suppose-for-
give me for asking you such a
question: suppose that you and
he were on quite comfortable and
well, happy terms together"
Nancy looked at him amazed
and a look of great pain and in
dtgnation flashed into her face.
Why of course we were," she
faltered. Absolutely = ideally
happy! You didn't know Jack,
Mr.. stephens; you were always
prejudiced against him. We never
even had what is called"-again
her lips quivered-" "a lovers
quarrel"
Forgive me-" he said earnest
ly. Il had to ask you. The ques-
ton as to what kind of relations
you and he were on when you ar
rived in Paris has been raised
by almost every human being
whom l have seen in the last few
days"
How horriblei How horrible!"
murmured Nancy, hiding her face
In her hands.
Then she raised her head. TELL
anyone that asks you," she ex-
claimed, that no woman was
ever made happier by a man than
my Jack made me. We were too
happy. He said so that last even
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03

what exactly DO you mean
Monsieur BarOff2"
This Mr.. Gerald Barton il
thinking of enlisting the help OF
the American newspaper men in
Paris. lie wishes them to raise
the question I'm their journals"
II do not think he would do
that without consulting his father
or me-" said Mr.. stephens quick
ly. He felt dismayed by the 9TH
er's manner. Monsieur Baroff's
tone had become menacing. al
most diseourteous.
SHOULD this headstrong young
man do anything of that kind. /"
went on the detective, he will
put an end to the efforts we are
making to find Mrs. Dampier's
husband. In fact. IL the mystery
Is never solved, 1t will be thanks
to HIS folly"
With this the disagreeable I'm
terVieW came to an end, and
though the English lawyer never
eonfided the details of this cur
ious conversation to any livine
soul, he did make an opportunity
of conveying Ivan Baroff's warn
ing to Gerald Barton.
Before leaving Paris" he
said earnestly. there Is one thing
I want to impress upon you, Mr..
Barton. Do not let any newspa-
per get hold of this story; l can
imagine nothing that would more
distress poor Mrs. Dampier. She
would be exposed to very odious
happenings IL this disappearance
of her husband were made, In any
wide sense of the word, public
And then l need not to | you that
the Paris police have a very great
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03
CHAPTER TX.
MIR. stephens Arrives


But it is far easier to form
such a resolution and to make
such a promise as that which
Dampier than it is to carry IL out.
The officials of the Prefecture
of Police grew well accustomed to
the sight of the young American
coming and going I'm their midst,
and they all showed a sympathetic
interest in his quest. But they
we're APPARENTLY quite unable to
elucidate the growing mystery of
the English artists disappear
ance.
Early on Friday morning Ger
aid Barton telephoned to Nancy
Dampier's friend and lawyer the
fact that they were still entirely
without any clue to the where
about of the missing man. And,
true to his word, Mr.. Stephens ar
rived in Paris that same evening.
He found his poor young client
awaiting him in the company of
the new friends to whom she owed
so deep a debt of gratitude, and
this lessened, TO a certain extent,
the awkwardness of their meet
ing.
A very few moment spent in
the Englishman's company
brought to the American Senator
an immense measure of relief.
Whatever else was obscure in
this strange story, it was now
clear that Nancy had told nothing
but the truth concerning her
oh a4. IL
ing back the Senator found it
difficult, as a man SO often finds
it difficult when he becomes wise
after an event, to justify, even to
himself, his former attitude of
distrust.
As to Gerald Barton, he felt a
little jealousy of the lawyer. Till
the coming of Mr.. stephens 1t was
to him that Mrs. Dampier had in
stinetively turned in her distress
and suspense; now she naturally
consulted, and deferred to the
advice of, the older man and old
er friend.
But Mr.. Stephens was not able
to do more than had already been
done. He listened to what all
those about him had to say con-
corning John Dampier's disap-
pearance, and he carefully went
over the ground already covered
by Senator Barton and his son.
The lawyer was there a whole
week, and every succeeding day
was packed with anxious, excit-
ing interviews and expeditions,
each of which il was hoped might
yield some sort of clue. But what
remained fixed on the English
lawyers memory were three or
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03

dislike to publicity: they are
doing their very best-of that I
am eonvinced-to probe the mys-
terry"
Gerald hesEtated. but allowed
himself to be persuaded.
IL was on the morning of Mr..
stephens departure from Paris
that the lawyer uttered the words
which finally made up the Amer
lean Senator'S mind for him.
You have been 50 more than
good TO Mrs. Dampier." the Eng
lishman said earnestly, that | do
not feel IL would be fair. Mr.. Sem
ator. to leave you in ignorance Of
my personal conviction concern
ing this painful affair"
The American turned and
looked at his companion. Yes"
he said with suppressed eager
ness. Yes. Mr.. stephens. l shall
be sincerely grateful for your
honest opinion"
1t Is my honest opinion that
this disappearance of Mr.. Dampier
is painful rather than mysterious.
| believe that poor Nancy Tre-
mains bridegroom made up his
mind to disappear. When faced
with responsibilities for which
they have no mind men before
now have often disappeared. Mr..
Senator. Lawyers and doctors
come across stories even more ex-
traordinary than that which has
been concerning us nowi"
Il take IT." said Senator Bar
ton slowly. that you did not form
good impression of this MIR.
Dampier7"
Concluded Tomorrow.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03

MAZATLAN, Mexico, July 8.
Her name is Helen Jacks and
she lives in Chicago.
Ensign Crutchfield. U. S. N,
is thinking of her night and day
as he PAGES the deck of the
cruiser Cleveland, doing emer-
gency duty on the west coast of
Mexico.
Ensign Crutchfieid is the
grandson of General Crutchfieid
of Civil war fame. A Crutch-
field fought at Lundy's Lane, at
New Orleans. at Gettysburg. at
the first battle of Vera Cruz and
at Santiago. a Crutchfield
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03

The English lawyer looked Mt
the suave-spoken detective. Ger
tainly," said he, certainly you
can count on my discretion. Mon
sieur Baroff. and-and my sym
pathy. / hope I am not unrea-
sonable in hoping that at last the
police have obtained some kind of
clue to Mr.. Dampier's where
abouts."
mo" said the other indifrer-
emily. That 1 regret to tell you
is not the case.
What | have to say to you to-
day, my dear sir, Is only indirect
ly concerned with Mr.. Dampier's
disappearance. I am really here
to ask IL you cannot exert your
influence with the Barton family,
with the American Senator, and
more particularly with his son. 10
behave in a reasonable manner"
Il don't quite understand what
you mean"
We'll, IL Is not so easy to
explainl All can say Is that
young Mr.. Barton is making him
self very officious, and very dis
agreeable. He has adopted a pro-
fession which here. at the Pre-
lecture of Police, we naturally de-
test"-the Russian smiled. but
not at all pleasantly mean
that of the amateur deteetivel He
is determined to find Mr.. Dam
pier. But what I now wish to
convey to the young man is that
should he be so ill-advised as to
do what he is thinking of doing
he will make IL very disagreeable
for the young lady I'm whom he
takes so strangely violent an in
terest-"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03

ing-he said." she ended her SEN
tenee with a sob, that his happi-
ness MADE him afraid"
Ibid he?" questioned Mr..
stephens thoughtfully. That
was an odd thing for him to say,
Nancy"
The second episode which was
to remain wildly present in the
memory of the lawyer, took place
on the fifth day of his stay in
Paris.
He and Gerald had exhausted
what seemed every possible line
of inquiry, when the latter put in
plain words what, in Difference to
his fathers wish he had hitherto
tried to conceal from Mr..
Stephens-his suspicious of the
Poulains.
Il haven't said SO to you be-
FORE" he began abruptly. but I
feel quite sure that this Mr.. John
Dampier is dead"
Nancy's lawyer turned and
faced Gerald Barton squarely.
Il cannot agree with you" he
spoke with considerable energy.
81 am quite sure that John Dam
pier is alive. He may be in con-
finement somewhere, held to
ransom-things of that sort have
happened in Paris before now.
But be that as IL may, IL is my
firm conviction that We shall have
news OF him within a compare
lively short time. OF course l
cannot help seeing you suspect
foul play on the part of the Pou-
lains. But no other human
being holds this theory but your
self. Your father-you must for
give me for say ing so-has
known these people a great deal
longer thanyou have, and he tells
me he would stake everything IA
their integrity. And the police
speak very highly of them. too.
Besides, in this world one must
always look for a motive. But
in this case no one that we know
Il repeat, Mr.. Barton, no one
that we know of-had any mo-
tive for injuring Mr.. Dampier."
Gerald Barton looked up quick
ly-"You mean by that there
may be someone whom we do not
know o. who may have had a mo-
Tive lOi SpiHitlhS MN away
Mr.. stephens nodded CURLY. He
had not meant TO say even so
much as that.
II want you to tell me-" went
on the young American earnest
ly, exactly what sort of a man
this John Dampier is-or was?"
The lawyer took off his specta-
cles; he began rubbing his glasses
carefully.
Well" he said at last. that
isn't a question I find il easy to
answer. I made a certain number
of inquiries about him when he
became engaged to Miss Tremain,
and / am bound to tell you, Mr..
Barton, that the answers, as far
as they went, were quite salts
factory"
Mrs. Dsmpier once spoke to
me as n she thought you did not
like her husband?"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03
MELBOURNE

Charles Chaplin. the star COM
edian of the keystone company,
is I'm one of the keystone pre-
auctions at the Melbourne thea
ter In the mid-week program.
ending tonight. Charles appears
In "Mabel's Busy Day" with Ma
bel Phillips. Charles and Mabsi
are very busy people during the
1000 feet of film and they are
good for Just about 1000 laughs
during the time they occupy the
screen.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03
| A NOVEL
| A w EEK
I NEXT WEEK-.Shea of
the Irish Brigade" by Ran
dali Parrish.

The police agent handed IL to
Gerald Barton without a word,
and shortly he and his assistant
departed.
As Gerald watched them go he
sighed YEARLY. Nothing hed been
accomplished. This search had
been. as the police agent limited.
something of a farce after all, and
he had led not only himself, but.
what he regretted far more, poor
Nancy Dampier down a blind al
ley.
He found her waiting. fever
ishly eager and axious to hear the
result.
ssWeII?" she said.
He shook his head Respondent
ly. I'VE found nothing, absolute
ly nothing which counld connect
your husband with any one of the
rooms which we searched. Mrs.
Dampier. If, after leaving you,
he did spend the night in the Ho-
tel Saint Ange, the Poulains have
obliterated every tract of his pres
ence."
She gave a low cry of pain, of
bitter disappointment, and sud
denly sinking down into a chair.
buried her head in her hands
can't bear it," she walled. 81
only want to know the truth,
whatever the truth may bel Any
thing would be better than what |
am going through now"
Gerald Barton came and stood
by the bowed figure. He became
- ri nClx In Nf
unhealthy, pallor which is Undue
ed by exceptional intensity of
feeling.
Mrs. Dampier?" he said, in a
very low voice.
She lifted her head and looked
at him fixedly.
Everything that a man can do
| will do to find your husband.
IL | fail to find him living l will
find him dead"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03
low co ON WITH THE STORY
CONTINUED From Yesterday

CONTINUED From Yesterday
The agent shrugged his
shoulders and continued his in
resignation. 1t took several
hours and finally they came to
the attic where Mrs. Dampier had
insisted her husband spent the
night.
Here were rough garrets, OPP
pressively hot on a day like this,
but each and all obviously serving
> some absent client of the hotel
as temporary dwelling place.
Madame Poulain looked quite
exhausted. 81 think" she said
plaintively, 81 will remain here,
monsieur, at the end of the
passage. You will find every door
unlocked. Perhaps we ought to
tell you that these rooms are not
as a rule inhabited, OF indeed
used by us in any way. That must
excuse their present condition.
But in a season like this we could
fill every Granny twice overl
Gerald, Monsieur Poulain, the
agent and his assistant walked
along the corridor, the latter
flinging open door after door of
cell-like little bedrooms furnished
for the most part, only with an
iron bed, a couple of chairs. and
the usual wardrobe.
Whats this?" asked one OF
the men sharply. 1--WE find a door
plastered up here, Monsieur
Poulain."
But it was Madame Poulain
who came languidly forward from
the end of the passage. YES"
she said. "If you wish to see that
room you will have to get a lad
der and climb up from the out
side. A young Breton priest died
here last January from scarlet
fever, monsieur she lowered
her voice instinctively-"an the
sanitary authorities forced us to
block up the room in this way
most unfortunately for u.s."
1T is strange" said the man,
that the seal OF the sanitary au-
thorities is not affixed to the
door"
ITO tell you the truth" said
Madame Poulain uneomfortably,
THE seal was there, but l remov-
ed 1t. You see, monsieur, 1t would
not have been pleasant, even
when all danger of infection was
gone, to say anything to our other
clients about SO sad an event"
The man nodded his head and
went on.
But the incident made dis
agreeable impression on Gerald
Barton. And when they all
finally came down to the court
yard. he drew the agent aside.
There was one thing" he said
(which rather troubled me-
Yes, monsieur"
81 mean that closed room on
the top floor" said Gerald hesi-
tatingly. Us there no way of
ascertaining whether Madame
Foulain's story is true-whether
that is, the room has been con-
demned by the sanitary authori-
ties?"
YES" said the agent, nothing
is easier, monsieur, than to find
thst out"
lie took a note book out of his
pocket, tore out a sheet, and
wrote a few lines on 1t. Then he
called his subordinate and sent
him to the office of the sanitary
inspector of the district.
In a quarter of an hour the
man was back. He handed his
chief a large sheet of paper,
headed:
WILLIE DE PARIS,
Sanitary Inspectors Depart
ment.
I'm answer to your question,
have to report that we did con-
denim a room in the Hotel Saint
Anges for cause of infectious
stiisease."
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03
TRAINING OF BOYS

SAN FRANCISCO. July :. -
Training of boys. the vice evil,
marriage health certificates and
medical quakery were discussed
by the Pacific Coast Association
of Social Hygiene which closed
here "Wednesday night.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03
REPUBLICANS GALL

Getting into the political fray
at an unusually early daet. the
Young Mems Republican club has
issued a call for the first organi-
nation meeting of the season, to
be held Monday evening at
O'Clock at room 219, Bankers
Trust building.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03
GRASS FIRE SETS
BUNK CAR ABLAZE

A rapidly spreading grass fire
near Center street yesterday aft
ernoon set fire to an empty bunk
car and demolished IL before tire
men arrived. Several brush flies
I'm various parts of the city have
kept the department busy this
week
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03

Mr.. Stephens looked mildly
surprised. II don't think I ever
gave her any reason TO suppose
such a thing" he said hesitat-
tngly. Mr.. Dampier was eager,
as all men In love are eager, to
hasten ON the marriage. You see
well to put il plainly. John
Dampier was madly in love"-the
WINGED. and. rather sorry than
glad at the success of his little
ruse. he hurried on: shat being
so he naturally wished to be mar
ried at once. But an English
marriage settlement cannot be
drawn up in a few days. Nancy
herself was willing to assent to
everything he wished: In fact
had to point out to her that IL is
impossible to get engaged on
Monday and married on Tuesday!
| suppose she thought that be-
cause | very properly objected to
some such scheme of theirs, l dis
liked John Dampier. This was a
most unreasonable conclusion.
Mr.. Bartoni"
Gerald Barton felt disappoint-
ed. He did not believe that the
English lawyer was answering
truly.
In a small way the painful
misery was further complicated
by the attitude of Mere Bideau.
Brides and threats were alike IN
availing to make the old Breton
woman open her mouth. She was
full of suspicion; she refused to
answer the simplest questions.
And the lawyer wondered II
the old woman knew more than
she would admit; he even suspect
ed her of knowing the where
abouts of her master; the more
impenetrable became the mystery
the less Mr.. stephens believed
Dampier to be dead.
And then, finally, ON the last
day of his stay in Paris some
thing happened which, to the law
yer's mind. confirmed his view
that John Dampier, having van
fshed Of his own free will, was Nv
ing away from the great city
which had been searched, or SO
the police assured the English
man, with a thoroughness which
had never been equaled.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03
BEGIN HERE TO-DAY

Jack and Nancy Dampier at the
end of their honeymoon. arrive In
Paris late one night and go to the
Hotel Saint AnRe. Here they are
gwen separate rooms, Nancy on the
second floor and Jack in the attic.
The next morning Jack has dis
appeared without leaving word for
NANCY, and the proprietors the
Poulains-insist that Nancy has no
husband. but arrived at the hotel
Alone.
An American. Senator Barton.
and his family of two grown chill
dren. Daisy and Gerald. who arc
stopping at the hotel assist Nancy
In her search for her husband. All
sources of news are exhausted. and
the Senator interviews the Project
OF Police himself. The Project as
sures the Senator everything is
being and will be done to find the
missing Engiishman, and sends his
pen to make a search of the Hotel
Saint Ange.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03

Better telephone Main IL
and order the Times to
come TO your home regu-
larly. You'll get four high
class novels complete, with
the Times, each month
hereafter. A novel VIII
start each Monday and
finish each Saturday. NJ
long waiting. You get :
complete novel each week.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03
DRUGGISTS PLAN OUTING

Druggists of the state are PLAN
ming an outing. The annual ses-
sion of the Washington State
Pharmaceutical association will
be held July IS, IA and Is at
Longmire Springs.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-03

served under Admiral Dewey
during the battle of Manila bay.
When war clouds first began
to gather, Ensign Crutchfild was
enjoying the rare comforts of
shore duty that come so seldom
Sans navy. His engagement to
Miss Jacks hal been announced
and the date of the wedding set
a few weeks ahead.
In spite of his swAeetheart's
protests, Crutchfield volunteered
for active service at the first
mobilization of the American
squadrons. Later. Miss Jacks
gave her consent.
Evening journal., 1914-06-19
TRIES HOLD-IIP AND
MURDER; CAUGHT BY
COPS after Chase

Frank Jockett was before City Court
today on the charge Of attempted high
way robbery and assault with intent to
commit murder
Aaron Finger, IN the absence Of John
+. Lynn, acted as deputy city solicitor.
and prosecuted the case.
Adam Dubick testified that on the
morning OF June Z, while Boleslaw Sa-
bozeenski was sitting on his doorstep at
No. 100 Oak street, ,iocNett came along
with two other men .lockett placed a
revolver against the witness breast and
demanded his money The two other
men attempted 10 rifle his pockets. The
witness also said that Ioclett fired a
revolver at him twice
John Samenski said he saw the men
and took a knife and revolver away
from one Of Them
Jockett had no witnesses and made
no statement. He was held il $1,000
bail on the charge Of attempted high.
way robbery, and IN $1,000 bail on the
charge OF assault with intent TO commit
murder.
Officer Hawke worked zealouslv on
the case and upon information received
Special Officers Green and Harris went
after Jockett yesterday When the man
saw the officers he ran and after a run
through streets and across the marshes
for nearly a mile, -iockett was held up
by Harris at the point Of revolver
lie then submitted to arrest