davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03

nv all automobile, and the doctor says
his spine is broke. He wont A'e
long.
at was like this. Sans boss nau
treated him so scandalously tor 50
long that Sam just couldn't stalu ~
any more: so when the old man drew
the money from the bank the oe'A
Just naturally got into Sam. j..
Sam he plans it all out. I'm cnel
on a Great Northern dining car, anu
he knows I'll be in Chicago over Deco
ration day. He has me go to COZ
ored folks ball on Twenty-elgnth
street, where he's invited, and make
out like I'm him. We've often done
that just to be skylarking, ana l
thought nothing of it tih l saw the
papers next afternoon. Then rear
lied what position / was in, pre-
tending to be Sam, because rlgnC
away felt 1t was him that had killed
his boss.
81 was scared We favor one an
other SO close, if the police was look
ing for Sam, like as not they'd PICK
me up instead of him.
Twas wild to find him. When went
to where he'd been working there was
lady and gentleman there, and by
the frightened way they acted at signt
of me l was surer than ever that folks
knew Sam was guilty.
"Then / met this gentleman, and
thought / was gone for sure. reckon
1 oughtn't to have run; but l Just
couldn't help it. a.
"By and by some colored folks told
me about the accident to Sam. l went
to the hospital and had him brought
here. After I'd talked to him a while
he promised to tell everything and
give back the money he'd taken"
AS he finished speaking he went to
dresser drawer and took out long
thick manila envelope. This he hand
ed to Hazard.
You'll find all the money there just
like Sam got it-$2,800."
Sam Webb's story was not long.
@1AS pan W stay LIS GUplOySl anu ia
vert suspicion from himself was
simple. He knew Paradis would be
alone the night of the thirtieth, and
also was familiar with Blackburn's
frequent visits to the house and their
object. He also was cognizant of Cur
it's visits. He did not however,
know that Blackburn had left the city
on the Andrew Cole that morning,
and that, when he interrupted the old
mans dummy-hand game and shot
him with his own pistol, suspicion Of
Blackburn would rebound from dead
wall and alight upon the real culprit.
You're a duck, Felix" Helen Der.
tel assured him when once more she
could breath the sooty but more ia,
miliar Loop air. you were kind
enough to take me to lunch today:
if girl should invite you to be her
guest at dinner tonight, would you"
ASK mel" Felix Hazard inter-
rupted
Copyright 1915, by W. G. Chapman.)
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03
FIVE REASONS.

DR.. Henry Williams of New York,
an eminent specialist in nervous and
mental diseases, has summed up his
investigation concerning alcohol in
these words:
Il am bound to believe, on the evil
dence, that if you take alcohol habit
ually in any quantity whatever, it is
to some extent menace to you. If
you do this, am bound to believe in
the light of what science has re-
vealed:
i. That you are tangibly threaten
ing the physical structures of YOUR
stomach, your liver and kidneys your
heart, your blood vessels, your nerves.
and brain;
z. That you are unequivocally de-
creasing your capacity for working in
any field, be it physical, intellectual.
or artistic.
3. That you are in some measure
lowering the grade of your mind. dull
ing your higher esthetic sense. and
taxing the finer edge off your morals.
a. That you are distinctly lessen
ing your chances for maintaining
health and attaining long life: and.
D. That you are entailing upon
your descendants yet unborn a bond
OF incalculable misery"
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03
The Effect of This Simple Question Was Extraordinary

killed by a revolver catching in a
drawer in such a way that merely
opening the drawer should explode it;
then, that the weapon should be
aimed so unerringly at the victims
heart simply knocks the law of prob
abilities to smithereens. It's impos-
sible.
But / got most of my ideas from
Sam Webb-those two card corners,
for instance. He slipped them to me
and told me he had found them tight
ly clenched in the dead mans right
hand Now there wasn't a deck of
cards in the house from which the
jack of diamonds and the queen of
spades were missing.
Here are several curious facts in
this connection. Mrs. Pell tells me
that in his younger days Henry Para
dis was gambler, but that years ago
he foreswore cards and all games Of
chance. Now then, according to Sam
Webb, early in March the old mans
interest in cards all at once revived
and he became pinochle fiend. And,
too, early in March is the time when
young Curtis Paradis, the nephew.
first appeared on the scene. Also at
about this time Henry Paradis took
up with disreputable individual
named Blackburn, tinhorn gambler
who hangs out at neighborhood sa-
loon. Sam says there used to be
some notable games at the house,
marked by constant quarrels and
bickerings-either between Curtis and
his uncle, or between Blackburn and
the uncle; never between Curtis and
Blackburn, nor, to Sans knowledge,
was there ever game when the three
played all together.
I'm simply giving you these facts
for what they might be worth; they
tell me next to nothing.
Finally, on the afternoon of May
twenty-ninth Henry Paradis drew
from his bank $4,000 in currency,
which so far is missing"
II.
Felix Hazard spent the better part
of the afternoon nosing about the
North Halsted street neighborhood.
He gathered lot OF information Of
one sort and another, the net re-
suit of which he summed up in the
reflection: IF Helen wanted to help
her friend, she'd better have let the
coroneT's verdict stand"
For, among other things, he learned
tat Mrs. Pell had called at the Para
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03

dis house early on the evening Of
May 30th-the evening of the tragedy
and that Curtis Paradis also ! Id
been seen whereabouts by at least two
persons. One individual asserted that
about nine o'clock of the same night
he had seen Curtis hurrying away
from his uncle's residence and in the
direction of the car barns at Dewey
place; that he appeared nervous and
agitated, and that he was tearing to
pieces as he went along and scatter
ing broadcast what looked like "a
couple of postcards" but which, the
spectator having been made inquisi-
tive, on examination proved to be two
playing cards!
These circumstances, in connection
with the fact that Henry Paradis
must have been slain some time dur
ing the night of May Both, and that
the $4,000 was nowhere to be found,
indeed looked bad for Mrs. Pell and
her brother.
It was at nearby corner saloon,
however, that Hazard obtained def
mite knowledge of Blackburn, the
"tinhorn," and in addition some gen.
eral knowledge of Henry Paradis'
character that was in no way credit
thereto.
Speaking of Curtis Paradis, the bar
keeper told Hazard that the young
man was an automobile mechanician
who had come to Chicago from Kan
sas City about March LIST in search of
employment.
HE sure was some pinochle field"
averred the informant, "a regular bug.
Only one other gink around here
fella named Nick Blackburn-that's
as bad. Blackburn, he's a shark, out
for the coin there is in 1t, and boobs,
like this young Paradis. are pickin's
for him" The speaker abruptly
asked:
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03
AL coHoL AND INSANITY.

1.-THE seeming Indifference Of the
public and the authorities appears in
comprehensive when it is considered
what havoc is wrought by alcohol. We
spend millions of dollars annually to
stamp out and protect the public from
infectious diseases, yet the harm done
by alcohol is infinitely greater than
that caused by all the infectious dis
eases put together. In our annual adj
missions to Bellevue hospital of over
5000 patients Tin the wards for mental
diseases) more than ten per cent were
suffering from insanities due directly
to alcohol, and in more than forty per
cent alcohol had played a most impor-
tant part in the causation of the in
sanity. 1t seems to me that it would
be the greatest aid to humanity if
measures might be taken to reduce
the consumption Of this poison to a
minimum, and to provide proper cura-
tive institutions for those who have
formed habit but have not passed
the curative, stage into one of COM
plete mental and physical degenera-
ton. Such an institution should be
custodial as well as educational. In
such institutions many will find re-
covery, while, for those who do not,
proper restrictions will prevent their
leading life of crime"-Dr. NJ. s.
Gregory of Bellevue Hospital, New
York.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03
TO SEE AROUND A CORNER
Some Extraordinary Things Are Being
Claimed for the Invention of
Swiss.

Experiments conducted by Swiss
army officers with periscopelike de-
vice which may be attached to any
kind of rifle, and will enable the DOS
SCISSOR practically to shoot around a
corner, have been remarkably success.
full, says communication from Basel
printed in the Swiss Riflemen's Jour
nal, which reads, in part, as follows:
THE apparatus, which was con.
structed by G. Buergin of Basel, was
tested with considerable secrecy on
the Allschwiler rifle range on October
8, in the presence Of two ordnance of.
ficers, and quite unexpected results
were achieved.
This novelty, which is especially
adapted to modern conditions of war
fare where position is the principal
thing in tactics, is intended for the
use of every soldier who carries a
rifle, as it weighs only about five and
half ounces and can be attached in
moment. 1t can be used In any DO.
sition, lying, kneeling, or standing,
eSAhA, utuOA 6oOA SofOly tu6 HAL using
it is almost entirely safe from the dan
ger Of being shot In the head. The
use Of this device is expected to bring
about great saving of ammunition.
as the marksman, feeling secure
against the enemy's bullets, will
aim with greater elaboration and Ger.
tainty and thus avoid wasting his car
tridges. This additional accuracy is
likely to increase the enemy's losses
IF the foe is hidden behind walls
and hedges, this instrument lends it.
self admirably to use as periscope,
1t also acts as an automatic controller
which prevents the rife from being
tilted to one side, because the sharp.
shooter can always justify his aim.
Consequently, everyone may become
a good marksman by the aid of this
target mirror, which can be used in
any kind of weather.
THE entire sighting apparatus ia
less than eight inches from the
marksmans eyes, which do not be.
come tired, even when shooting at a
range of from 800 to 500 meters. or
still greater distances"
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03

my odd bits of change-after he'd
robbed me and sister of what was
rightfully ours, tool We'd play two
or three times week. and other
nights he'd be taking lessons from a
| fellow named Nick Blackburn. Nick
| got him job on the Andrew Cole
started to work day before yesterday
and he couldn't have fooled with
the old man any more"
| Are you sure he went to work on
the thirtieth?" Hazard interrupted.
Eyes, sir. 1 saw him off in the
morning-Decoration day." z
| Paradis then recounted, in so far as
he was concerned, what happened at
the house on the fatal night.
81 came in like I always did. hoping
might pick up a piece of change
from the old man. The house was as
still as cemetery. Sam was gone;
couldn't raise my uncle-nobody at
all. This seemed queer because the
front door wasn't locked.
"As soon as lit the gas in the Ii
brary l saw Uncle Henry on the floor,
dead. was pretty badly scared. A
| pinochle deck was on his desk with q
lot of melds spread out, as if he'd
been playing a game with somebody.
On top Of the cards was his gun. 1t
| looked like whoever had shot him had
reached across the desk and poked
the gun right against him, then
! dropped it and run.
Right away l thought whoever
found the cards spread out like they
were-anybody knowing how much
we'd played together-would think I'd
| shot him.
| Il dropped the gun into drawer
that stood open. and put the cards in
my pocket"
The balance of Curtis Paradis'
story agreed with what Hazard already
had heard, and likewise explained his
movements when leaving his uncle's
house and proceeding south on Hal
sted street.
Gust before turning off the gas l
| saw two cards in the old mans hand.
Believe me, it was worse than being
shot at to stoop and snatch them
away; yet l might as well have left
| the rest as those two.
well, l snatched them, and the
corners tore away. 1 was too ratified
to stop and get the corners; was
scared stiff. beat it as fast as
could"
Knowing of Blackburn's vacated
room, he had slipped into it from the
alley and remained there hiding all
night. He it was who had left the
pack of cards there.
A period was put to the colloquy by
the hall door opening and the fright
ened negro reappearing upon the
threshold Mrs. Pell and Curtis re-
coiled before him in obvious alarm,
the latter exclaiming:
Sam! What's been the matter with
your"
The intruder addressed himself to
Hazard.
Boss, can't explain myself very
well-not here. reckon you are a
police officer; I want you to come
with me. if you please" He paused
and as Hazard only continued to eye
him steadily. in a moment added:
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03
Are you Gam waoor" he paused

Are you Yam Webb?' he paused
on the steps to inquire.
The effect of this simple question
was extraordinary. At the first SOUND
of Hazards voice the negro started
and, all atremble. stood staring al
him. The mans face and attitude
were expressive of utmost terror ant
CONSERVATION.
Without the least warning, he
wheeled and ran at top speed bach
though the narrow passageway be
tween the two buildings.
The detective was too astonishet
by this singular conduct to think Of
act for a second, and when he die
recover himself and in turn went
plunging down the narrow passage
way to the back yard, Sam-if it were
Sam-had disappeared
With something Of the feeling o
an explorer into unknown wilds, Fe
lix Hazard, instead of returning tt
the front of the house, mounted thu
rear steps; perhaps somebody was il
charge.
The screen door stood wide open
and under the impact of his fist the
inner door proved itself to be un
latched by swinging inward slightly
Without the least premonition, Haz
ard was blinded by a flash and
stunned by deafening report as 6
revolver was fired almost pointblanl
in his face. So close was the weap
on's muzzle that his cheek felt the
hot blast of the explosion and the
singing touch of two or three powder
grains.
At once the door was ierked cleal
open, and an excited young mar
rushed out at him, yelling:
Good God! Did l hit you?
thought"
Whatever he might have been
thinking was not Immediately re
vealed, for Hazards fist caught him
squarely upon the point of the chin
with blow that had all his weight
behind 1t. The fellow went down
as if every bone and sinew of his
body hsd turned suddenly to jelly.
A minute passed, then, weak and
dazed, the young fellow rose slowly
to his feet. When Hazard realized
how frightened and unstrung his an.
tagonist was he regretted the i'm
petuous blow. He pocketed the pistol
and sternlv demanded:
who are your" -
my names Paradis-" chartered
the other, Curtis Paradis."
Curtis, Ell? I'd like to have q
word with you. Come inside"
AS they entered what proved to be
the kitchen, Paradis protested with
nervous volubility that he had fired
on a sudden impulse.
II thought it was that crazy mig.
ger coming back" he amplif1ed. HE
nearly frightened my sister to death. .
At this juncture a pale-faced. ter
rified woman appeared in a doorway
opening into the houses farther re-
cesses.
Don't hurt Curtis" she pleaded
TREMENDOUSLY. Hes innocent. Are
you an officer? Oh, I'm glad-so
glad! Let US tell you all we have to
tell about this terrible AFFAIR.""
AS this proffer exactly met the visit
or's desire, he was soon listening to
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03
1fflIlhl IpJE;EI5I|I[a
gZAL -
,c.,a,oted by the National Woman's
VCoiuG GSristian Temperance Union)
u,cu TO HIGHEST.


,,cENsE-HleH TO HIGHEST.
~ massachusetts, the minimum cost
% frst class saloon license is $l,0oO.
~ nv nay;mum is not fixed by law, but
tbore are instances on record where
, rro have sold for $500 and $1O,-
oOO The average price is about
$500. 49, uoo,so .rs
+ar raised to its highest poWerY the
Now YORK Commercial-certainly not
a drv advocate-speaking OF the IN
oroose of the license fee in the state OF
New York from $1,000 to $1,000 a year,
says:
at seems plausible to reduce the
number of drinking places and raise
their status by imposing heavy IL
cense fees. but in practice it results In
turning over the business to few
brewers who are able to finance the
license fees and to drive independent
dealers out of business. In some cities
IN Massachusetts brewers and whole
sale dealers control practically all the
saloons and hotels and form synd1-
Gates to handle the monopoly so given
to them by the high license law. 1t
would be easy to form syndicate IN
New York city that would pay $4,000
a wear for each license taken out. The
revenue might be increased by giving
such a monopoly, but the liquor bust
ness would be run for all there was in
it, and social conditions would not
be improved. Massachusetts, has given
high license fair test and the results
are not what its original advocates
prorniqnd -
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03

Have you any idea why old Henry
No? I'll tell you. The old man was
learning to play pinochle. Yes, sir,
he was! He paid Blackburn to teach
him; not just the rules of the game,
understand. but the fine points that
win games. For two hours, three
times week, he gave old Paradis les
sons on inside pinochle, at two bucks
per night.
I'm less'n two weeks the old man
wins baCk not only all he'd paid
Nick, but about all Nick had picked
up here besides. That's goin' some
for an old party like him. Why,
blamed if Nick didn't have to go to
work."
For some reason Felix Hazard
found himself strongly attracted to-
ward Mr.. Nick Blackburn; and by
following an inclination to learn all
that he could of this individual, he
early found the apparently plain trail
of Henry Paradis slayer to be split
ting up into a number of confusing
and misleading by-paths.
For example, Blackburn had been
rooming opposite the car barns, in
the direction of which Curtis Paradis
had been seen going on the fatal
night tearing in small pieces two
playing cards; but the barkeeper
thought Blackburn had given up his
room, having found employment on
some lake boat
Hazard was shown the room, where
the landlady was still keeping its re-
cent occupants effects pending his
calling for them, and by the simple
strategy of sending her to fetch some
matches he contrived to pocket a
pack of playing cards which lay on a
small shelf.
Subsequent examination proved
them to be a pincchle deck from
which one knave of diamonds and
one queen of spades were missing!
To round out the days work, Haz-
ard resolved to call at the Paradis
residence, hoping that he might be
able to see and interview the negro
servant, Sam Webb.
The scene of the tragedy concealed
more than one surprise for him, the
first of which happened as he was
ascending the front steps He saw
negro, whom he took to be Webb,
com. IL round from the rear.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03
"There," He soIemnIy Averred,

both of them excitedly talking at
once; but for the purposes of brevity
and clearness their recitals shall be
disentangled here.
The woman declared her identity as
Mrs. Pell, the dead mans niece, and
confirmed Helen Bertel's assertion
that Henry Paradis had been a
gambler in his younger days-"a card
sharp" she expressed it. Her father
and Curtis'-Henry's brother, had
owned considerable property and
money; in an unhappy moment he
bad appointed Henry his administra-
tor, without bonds, and then died.
I'VE only want our rights, Curtis
and l." Mrs. Pell passionately averred.
I'VE had agreed to relinquish all
claims for certain sum, and we COM
promised on $4,000, which Henry
promised to pay me the night he was
killed. 1 never got it; nobody an
swered when rang the bell.
He was a devil, Henry Paradis
was. Why, even that old niger of
hds, Sam Webb, was scared to call
his soul his own. He held something
over Sam, and treated him like a
dog"
Hazard turned to Curtis.
Were you here at any time on the
evening of the thirtieth-Decoration
day?"
Before replying the young fellow
hnc{foTnd Nd rrIa al - II e
sister. She urged him with ned to
answer. Then
Il tried to hide it." he returned,
but l suppose l might as well tell
Yes, | was here. saw my uncle
lying dead on the library floor"
Here's the way OF it," Curtis pur-
sued. Uncle Henry knew how
liked to play pinochle, and he hired a
shark to teach him SO he CO aid win
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03
81 can take you to the man VIII,
killed Mr.. Paradis"

Mrs. Pell and her brother were left
in charge of the house. On the way
down town Hazard and the negro
were joined by Miss Bertel, to whom
the former had telephoned. The jour
ney ended among the Twenties just
off of South State street, a region
whose population is mostly colored.
Hazard and his companion were
conducted up two flights of stairs and
down hall to a room where the me-
gro halted and threw open a door.
When they came up with him so they
could see within, he pointed dramat-
ically to figure lying upon bed
"There," he solemnly averred, sis
the man who killed Mr.. Paradis."
The man rolled his head round and
looked at the intruders, two of whom
recoiled in establishment.
Lineament for lineament, line for
line, his face was facsimile of the
mans who had brought them hither!
YES" confirmed the man on the
bed in a weak voice, 81 done it. I'm
Sam Webb. And I'm about all in;
I'm bad hurt"
Sans double spoke.
my names Clifford Hartley. |
knew you wouldn't believe me unless
Sam and me was together, SO ]
wouldn't talk.
Were first cousins. Sam and me-
though we might be twin brothers by
the way we look alike. We are al
ways being mistook for one another,
and it seems like the resemblance has
landed me in a peck o. trouble.
Sam can't talk much; III have to
talk for him. Last night l.s was hit
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03
TOTAL ABSTINENCE ADVANCE

Total abstinence is no longer a rid.
iculeo ranaticism. 1t sits in regal
state on the throne of empires and
VI kingdoms, and in republics swavs
IN ever-lncreasing measure, the voting
cltlzensh1p. 1t safeguards the soldier
tne aviator and the crew of the submo'
rine' 1t gives a clear brain to the
railroad man, the athlete. the an+ois.
ana the commercial, industrial and
agricultural worker. 1t says: "Tbs
nrst man o'be taken off and the las
man TO be taken on is the man who
drinks. Anna A. Gordon.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03
DRINK AND ACCIDENTS

Inc following report was sent by
the Bessemer C Lake Erie Railroad
company to the interstate commerce
commission:
Average number of employees Febru-
airy 10, 1918, to September /. 1915 Q ooo
average number Water Wagon cinb ,O'oSo
me 4a1s February 10 to September
Total number accdent: 500
t hi0sees 10 lose three or more days
Nu5 h OF the 224 employees Injured N@A
p VINO are members of the club. 40
b ers =, i,e 81 total number of mem 10
PPereentage OF. club members Injured S 3 81
percentage of men injured wbo Gu a. z'S0
pe e0t club b. members ...;..... are sss
total number injured 'efs 10 "a d
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-03

This story throbs with real
ism In the words narrowest
meaning. It Is faithful rem
dering of an authentic expert
ence In the career of a high
official of a detective agency
whose name is household
word throughout the English
speaking world. Real names Of
persons and places are some
times disguised. In all other re-
spects the amazing, often thrill
ing, always gripping facts are
recorded just as they happened.