The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-30
(By Bertram A. Koblepartl

AoAoHiu6 lacIS, Will ueuuCtlOuS DaSeQ
upon an accidental discovery by my
self, may serve as solution OF its
mystery mystery 30 absolute that
many men were driven by its glamour
to attempt desperate deeds to provide
a solution, and always with the same
result-failure.
Joseph Powell, Virginian, was q
noted surgeon during the Civil war,
at the close OF which he retired with
fortune. His wealth, however, was
not acquired through his profession,
but by a single deal or Investment in
real estate-not an extraordinary
thing. indeed, but one that, when all
the circumstances OF his lucky deal
are cited, will be found to bear most
strangely and startlingly upon this
narrative Of the man and his wonder
full hobby, his book.
Inc voluue wasl Acommonpl&ce
<enoueh,iRl outwardue ppearanas being
rather large and stoutly bound in
sheep, adorned with heavy clasps OF
silver. The story OF Its manufacture
was as unknown as its purpose and
contents.
Throughout the war and after tho
close Of hostilities. DR.. Powell and his
book were inseparable. The leathern
bag, swung from the shoulder by q
strap, and containing the precious
volume, became recognized as an es-
sential part of the eminent surgeons
raiment wherever and whenever he
appeared. During social intercourse
the surgical case was laid aside; the
book never left his hands. Whenever
he opened the volume. he first made
sure that no prying eyes were close
enough to scan Its contents. The fact
that DR.. Powell always carried the
book with him. guarding 1t zcalously
and giving 1t the tender care and So
licitude Of mother to her babe, in
vested 1t with deep mystery and rem
dered the public most curious con-
corning its nature. Al first this In
ordinate curiosity. had led the holder
ones to make direct inquiries, but their
experience had been an everlasting
warning to others. DR.. Powell was
reserved man; his disposition border
ing on the morose; besides. his tongue
was as sharp and rs cutting as his in
struments. Therefore. while no one
but himself was permitted even a
glance at the forbidden pages of the
book. many conjectures were advanced
about it-and conjecture was the only
recourse at hand. That it was pri-
vate text on surgery was hardly plaus-
ible. since he was wholly self-reliant
on his science. 1t was not Bible.
for he was known to be skeptic on
religious subjects. But. he had in
vestigated the claims OF Spiritualism.
and. while not believer. was fond of
occult studies. Consequently some in
sisted that it must be rare work on
an esoteric theme
These facts and conjectures tended
to spread the hooks fame. which was
distinctly displeasIng to DIR. Powell.
Men laid traps to get possession Of the
volume. as they would something OF
known worth. hut in every instance
failed. On one occasion two masked
men planned to waylay DR.. Powell in
secluded spot for the purpose OF
stealing his book. but they quickly
realized that this strange man had in
some mysterious manner forestalled
their appearance and design. by going
to his home by another and more cir
cuitous route. This and other hap
penings caused the book TO be regard
ed as talisman. or bizarre amulet.
incidentally. when in the field. DR..
Powell's life had been preserved on
two occasions by the books intercept
ton OF bullets which pierced hut did
not penetrate its mysterious contents.
But. whether the odd tome possessed
talismanic power or not, its owner
certainly bore a charmed life; as. for
instance. in two duels he fought and
adroitly won. One OF these in par
ticular. which has 10 do with the mar
rative. was the result Of challenge
issued by DR.. Powell to a wealthy
New Yorker, Jason Poe. whom Dr.
Powell alleged had atrociously affront-
ed him. The weapons used were pis-
tolls. and Poe received wound in the
left arm, which soon afterward made
amputation necessary. Poe's physician
being III at the time, and none other
being available, DR.. Powell offered TO
perform the operation that was to
save. and did save. the life of his
enemy. Poe. in spite of this act, never
acknowledged the wrong he had COM
mitted. or seemed in the least grateful.
Several months after this episode,
Poe, who had regained his former
health, made purchase OF consid-
cradle tract Of land near New York
City. which was then regarded as
commonplace. but which soon after
ward became immensely valuable by
reason Of sudden demand of COM
merce. Whereupon. Poe sold his
property for fortune, when it had
cost him but mere pittance in COM
parison. At the time he bought this
tract. he wanted also the one adjoin-
ing, which was OF equal size, but was
informed that it was sold He did
not take the time or trouble to find
out to whom the sale had been made
but had he. he would have been more
than surprised. as he was when Its
owner also sold out his piece, stimuli
taneously. and to the same concern
for similar sum OF money-and this
other Spectator was none other than
DR.. Joseph Powell. On making the
discovery that DR.. Powell shared in
his clever deal. Poe was first dumb
founded; then enraged He would
rather have divided his reward with
any one living than Joseph Powell
Powell was a stranger to New York
and its envirors-in fact. he had neye,
visited that city before this purchase
AS to shrewdness in business he DOS.
sessed none. being rated very poor
manager. Yet, he had figured in the
cOtiD with one of the shrewdea,