davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1917-09-16

short of it. | amt ever been a-scared
of any threatenin' letters before and
I've received IA plenty of EN- But this
letter ask YOU, gentlemen, how'd
whoever wrote that letter know"
our private papers,? suggested
N.ehan.
Good Lord cried Conybear. II
never kept no private papers of this
deal! In his nervous alarm he forgot
the training of recent years and re-
Nerted to the mode of speech that had
been his before enormous wealth came
to him. II kept it all in my head
but II some one had overheard you
talk with one of your partners and then
overheard you talk with the others -
couldn't Your plan have been pieced to-
se,hef ana understood by the listener"
II was the first time Willard had
spoken toiybear glared at him
The walls Of this room are absolutely
sodndproof How'd they hear me" Why
you,-dye think l'm {; fool? Maybe was
sending FOR YOU people" He snor, ed
"Iusr II minute. Mr.. Conybear." said
Willard soothingly. suppose | show YOU
how YOU could have been overheard -
toiyheArs jaw dropped, Yes, suppose
YOU do" he said.
Agency flashed a look at the manager
Then he walked to picture on the wall
He lifted II down.
Right there" he said. See the. wires a''
va ~ SaSItt me SStDniShet
millionaire flashing iooE OF swift sus-
piCion al his visitors
Right there, Right where. YOU are MIR
'onybear, said Meehan quietly lie sat
sun. his legs still crossed as they had
been since lie sat down but in his hand
WAS revolver,
''Soundproof walls. YOU know. AIR Cony-
bear. And the door is closed"
tohybear stared AT the gun. All his
nervousness had left him. Imagination.
the same imagination that had made him
made him fear possibilities But con-
crete facts were concrete facts-nothing
more. Old Burton Conybear could look
INTO Il gun as nonchalantly today as he
had forty years before. when he'd made
his first stake by rounding up a group of
train robbers and winning the reward Of
fered for their capture
He looked at Henderson. You of
course he said quietly Henderson
nodded, smiling sardonically.
Always thought you were a bit too
said the old man. Don't suppose there's
mite of use i'll my keeping my foot on
this electric button, is there. Henderson ?"
Not Bit" replied the valet, cheerfully.
Mind my smoking?" asked Conybear.
Willard looked al his watch I'VE have
few minutes to spare before we start.
Smoke If it eases your mind
Thanks. Kind of you" grunted Cony-
bear. He lighted a cigar and puffed it
calmly.
You said start didn't you?" he asked
after moment. Whats the answer"
Ten million now; the balance later"
said Meehan.
Suppose you think ] keep little bits
o. change like that on my clothes. hey?"
Evening star., 1917-09-16

by it The average person, disinclined
to be made butt. would have read the
letter even though the envelope was
sealed. But this poor man. treated by
his mother like the child he mentally
was-Herkomer read the letter again.
1t was undated. and was written in Il
Jerky scrawl upon paper that was of the
same apparently waterproofed material II
as the envelope. He read again;
commissioner of Police, New York:
Il ann prisoner. Notify my busine SIS
associates, but not the press. Reward
the finder of this note, and viii meet
all expenses that may be incurred in
locating and rescuing me.
BURTON CONYBEAR"
4 hoax. yes. but--an alert police COM
missioner can afford to overlook moth
ing, especially when the telephone is al =
ways at ones elbow.
Herkomer called up Conybear's New
York office. He said nothing as to the
motive behind his call. He did not wish
to be laughed at. His name procured
him Immediate audience with tonS-
bears office secretary.
No. MIR. Conybear WAS not in the city
today. He had not been in his office
for several days. He had no definite
office hours. OF recent months. Came
when he felt like it. and stayed away
when he felt like ii. The commissioner
would proba bly, reach him at his Ports
mouth estate. however.
Herkomer ran gof II Conybear had
been kidnapped his New York office
would know of it, and certainly. despite
its dread of publicity, would not hesi
tate to take the commission OF police
into its confidence. The kidnapping of
Burton Conybear would be an event of
national. of international, importance.
Still. the most unlikely things hap
pened in this world II the note We're
genuine. despite the million-to- one
chance against it's being anything but
stupid hoax, and Herkomer neglected
to call up Portsmouth-He got Cony
bears country residence on the tele-
Evening star., 1917-09-16

obscured. And the envelope was ad
dressed TO the commissioner of police,
New York city. Beneath that title We're
the two words. Important. Reward"
II was ID peculiar envelope. too. Her
koner noticed. Its material was not
the usual paper II seemed made of
some waterproofed stuff 1t was un-
opened. and the commissioner slit it
with Il paper knife from his desk. He
read the InCioSure. and the obserVant
kelcey saw his chiefs shoulders
stiffen.
What's your name demanded Ker-
llomer of the little man.
Perkins, sir. Peter Perkins sir"
Where do you live? What do you
do"
I'm Portsmouth,. sir, and | do any
thin, sir. Gardenin lookin' after
hosses. clammin -
"Where'd you find this note?
I'm the main road. sir. just outside
the main gates OF Nj. Burton tony-
bears estate. sir.
When
This mornin, sir. about 4 O'Clock
l was goin' TO dig CLANS
why didn't you bring it to me at
once
Well, | had to dig the CLAIMS, didn't
/? Ny mother. she said that il | didn't
dig en- I'd hear from her. and ] had
TO go and do it. didn't %
Did YOU tell your mother about this
noter
The mamie was plainly half-witted
cooked his head on one side and
wiuked cunningly
And let her get the reward when |
amt had anythin' to smoke for
week: | didn't tell nobody anythin'.
just told her | was goin out for a
" ak and came in here"
You didn't walk all the way from
out on Long Island. did you"" asked
Herkomer
No. sir. I got rides here and there
along the way. don't suppose l
walked over ten miles, sir. But | could
Evening star., 1917-09-16
continued from Fourth Page)

continued from Fourth Page}
secured for clew to the whereabouts
of Hassan and Company, and drawn
absolutely blank. Then there's Earl
Dexter. Where does he come IN for
once in way he's living in hiding. |
can't hnd his headquarters I've peeh
thinking
He drew me aside into the small gal
lery which runs parallel with the AS
syrian room.
Dexter has booked two passages IN
the Oceanic Who is his companion:
wondered had wondered more
than once. if his companion We're my
beautiful violet-eyed acquaintance. y
scruple-perhap an absurd scfupie-
hitherto had kept me silent respecting
her, but now l determined to take BITS
tol fully into nay confidence a conNlc-
tion was growing upon me that she ana
Earl Dexter together represented thas
third party whose existence we mao
long suspected Whether they operated
separately or on behalf of the Mosiems
,of which arrangement could not con-
ceive) remained to be seen was
about TO voice my doubts ana susPi-
cious when Bristol went on hurrlsdis.
Il have thoroughly examined the bur
ton room, and considering that the
windows are thirty feet from mo
ground. that there is no sign OF iaa
der having stood upon the lawn ana
that the iron bars are quite intact. IL
doesn't look humanity possible Tor any
one to have been in the room last night
prior to Mostyn's arrival,
One of the dwarfs--
Not even one of the dwarfs, sald
Bristol. could have passed between
those iron bars"
But there was blood on the WIN
dows"
Il know there was. and human biooo-
It's been examined
He stared at me fiXedly. The thins
was upSpea ka blV uncaUnN.
Tonight he went on. Il am remain
ing in here"-nodding toward the AS
syrian room-"and / have so arranged
it that no mortal being can possibly
know | am here. Mostyn is staying aid
you may stay, too, If you care to Owing
to Prof. Deeping's WILL you are badly in
volved in the beastly business and have
no doubt you are keen to see il through"
II am," admitted, land the end I look
for and hope for. is the recovery OF the
slipper by its murderous owners
II am with you,'' said Bristol. ITS
lust a point of honor: but l should be
glad to make them a present Of It We're
ostentatiously placing constable on duty
in the hallway tonight-largeiy as blind
1t will appear that we're taking no other
additional precautions"
half anticipated. though I cannot i'm
agine why, that Earl Dexter would put
in an appearance during the day He did
not do so. however. for Bristol had pIt a
constable on the door who was well
acquainted with the appearance OF the
Evening star., 1917-09-16
CHAPTER V.

Herkomer commissioner of police
yawned over his evening paper 1t was
incredible, the virtue of New York, Be
yond a few petty breaks. the routine of
gathering in criminals wanted in other
cities. the restraining of the drunk and
disorderly. the town was as duh as a
United States senator making a speech
against women's suffrage
Not major crime of any sort in seven
days. Truly, the millennium was here :,
Not line in the paper abusing his ad-
ministration of the department, no letters
from indignant citizens criticisins the
traffic arrangements. TIE turned
idly to the financial page. A headline
caught his eye.
Herkomer carelessly read the half col
umn story that followed. Condensed, it
was to the effect that certain bear inter
ests had taken advantage of the Amaga-
mated General Products Company's fail
ure to pass Il dividend Yesterday by cir
culating reports that the company was
facing a receivership. If true, such Il
condition would affect the markets of the
whole world, and there was q lively time
for twenty minutes. the whole list of
stocks tumbling an average Of two points
The huge trust Immediately issued a
statement, declaring that the reason for
the failure of the directors to pass the
usual quarterly dividend was that IL had
tiers. to get quorum of the directors to-
gether. The directors meeting had been
postponed a week, at the end of which
time a dividend would be passed All
statements intimating that the companyS
finances were i'll disorder We're canards.
The company would use every means to
trace these canards to their source. and
confidently expected that the governors OF
the stock exchange would take measures
to prevent their repetition.
l.
rectors did refuse to declare divi-
dend would they tell the public in ad-
vance OF their intentions, or would
they quietly sell. All along the line,
that Bill Smith is a crook, but it's all
right for Bill to be a crook, It's a fun
ny world. the humor of ii depending on
whether you're a little fellow or big
fellow.
He turned over the paper to his fa-
vorite cartoonist, and was chuckling
when there came a knock on his door.
Sergeant kelcey entered in response to
his call.
Another nut, sir. If he don't see you
Wen wake up some mornin' to find the
Woolworth buildin' in the East river"
Herkomer smiled wearily. rs that
what he says?
Sergeant Kelcey shook his head No,
he won't say anythin. sir, except that
he's got to see you. and KNOWN your
rulin'. sir"-
Once, year or so ago, an alleged
crank had been elected from police
headquarters without being permitted
to see Herkomer. The crank had gone
directly to newspaper office, and the
newspaper had received the glory of
bringing a dangerous criminal to JUS
tice. through the crank's information.
Also. Herkomer had received his first
and last rebuke from the mayor. There
after all persons wishing to see the
commissioner on matters connected
with the enforcing of justice found
more or less easy access to him. OF
course. If they would divulge their in
formation to snbordinate. 50 much
Evening star., 1917-09-16
by Arthur Somers Roche
Mystery the Author of Loot

the better, but when they would not,
Herkomer saw them.
Bring him in" he ordered
kelcey saluted and left the Office. He
returned in a moment. like battleship
-Kelcey stood six-feet-three in his
stockings-convoying a submarine.
The clothes of the understood man
whose frightened eyes stared at the
commi SIS ioner were ludicrously large
for him. Skinny, short of legs and long
of neck out of all proportion to his
trunk. his head emerged from a collar
several sizes too big for him, like the
periscope OF a submarine.
This is the commissioner Go on
speak to him." ordered Kelcey.
From somewhere in his bagsy. dilap-
idated clothing the man produced an
envelope. He handed 1t to Herkomer.
Dirty. as though II had lain on a dusty
road. the address. nevertheless, was not
Evening star., 1917-09-16

of walked all the way" he said boast
fully. Thirty miles amt nothin' to
me. Why, / could walk hundred
miles-a thousand miles IL l wanted
to-"
But you wouldn't want to, would
you? You'd like to ride back on a train,
wouldn't your
Yes. sir. with the reward money
We'll, we'll see about the reward a
little later. Hungry
Yes. sir
"Kelcey, turn him over to some one
and have him fed. good meal and a
good cigar"
The little mans face elowed with de-
light. He took Kelcey's hand as a child
would. and almost danced in his hurry
to be fed. Herkomer smiled pityingiy
after the half-wit
A hoax, of course. and only a half
witted person would have been tricked
The Ordway new era., 1917-08-17
JOIN OFFICERS RESERVE

!. II. Meikle and M. W. Allen, of
ordway, who took the examination
recently to join the officers reserve
nave both been accepted and have
been ordered to report for duty Au-
gust 27. They will be stationed at
Fort Sheridan, in Illinois.
Mr.. Meikle is at present city treas
urer and deputy district attorney,
and both places will have to be filled
Mr.. Allen has a homestead north of
ordway which he had well stocked
and in anticipation of his passing the
examination he recently had a sale
and disposed of his livestock.
George Edgar returned Monday
from Denver and Golden where he
had been at army headquarters for
the past month. He was rejected on
final physical examination and given
federal discharge. When he re-
turned on call to headquarters and
took the state examination he was in
formed that he could not pass, but
he remained for the federal examina-
tion in hopes he could make sue
cessful examination. George regrets
that he was unable to go on with the
work. as he had served during the
Mexican border trouble and was sta
toned at Brownsville. Texas. He was
In the medical corps and his posi-
tion as sergeant paid s56 monthly.
He liked the work and wanted to see
service thru the present war.
w. C. (Billie) Walker came down
from. Camp Baldwin at Denver the
latter part of last week for a visit
of few days, returning to the head
quarters Monday of this week. Walk
er is getting along fine and has been
gaining in weight since he. changed
to active army service from bank
work. He eats three full meals a
day.
Ordway boys stationed at Camp
Gunter. in Pueblo, are getting along
fine and altho finding things a little
monotinous they are looking for
ward to the time when they will GO
into real training. This will be when
they are transferred to training
camp in California which will prob
ably be within the next month. When
seen at camp by a represen-
tative OF the New Era they were be-
ing held close at camp until the fed
eral examination, which was then on.
was over. No one was allowed a
pass to go down town.
The Ordway new era., 1917-08-17
RED CROSS NOTES

Some of the sewing work has been
sent to the Needlecraft club which
is composed of some of the women
north of Ordway. These Needlecraft
club members have taken q great
deal OF interest in He'd Cross work.
Women at Olney Springs, members
Of sewing club there, have been
sent knitted sponge and crocheted
samples. These women want to do
what they can for the soldier boys.
= The sewing rooms are opened from
l to o'clock on Wednesdays, Thurs-
days and Fridays.
Work which has been turned out
from the sewing room has been very
satisfactory and It is progressing
nicely. There are lot Of women
who are interested and who have
found time to devote to the work
The secretary reports that new MEM
bers are coming in every week and
makes the announcement that those
who entered as subscribing members
will get their magazines within a
short time.
The Ordway new era., 1917-08-17
BOB CREEK NEWS

Herbert and Fritz Drescher left
Tuesday for few days in Pueblo and
Denver.
Seven automobile loads of pros
pective land buyers were looking over
the Bob Creek farms Saturday.
The school board met Monday to
select a teacher for the coming year.
Miss Carrie Schneider was chosen for
the position.
Mrs. Josephine Lundahl visited
Sunday with Mrs. Thos. James, of
Crowley.
Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. Reilstein and
daughter and H. R. Newhouse and
mother motored from Pueblo Sunday
to spend the day with Geo. Frants
and family.
Russell McFall returned from
Colorado Springs Wednesday even
ing.
Emery Massey and wife took in
the circus in Pueblo. Aug. 8.
Mrs Gus Ericsson and daughters
visited with Mrs. King in ordway on
Saturday.
n. n 4j.t
The Ordway new era., 1917-08-17
BABE MEETS DEATH

Elmer, the sixteen months old
baby son OF Mr.. and Mrs. John Pantle,
fell in an open cistern at the Pantle
home Monday evening of this week
and was drowned. The baby was
missed from its play and Immediately
a search was made and soon its life
less body was found in the water.
The funeral Of the babe was held
on Wednesday of this week at 10
O'Clock from the Evangelical church
and interment made in Lake View
cemetery, Rev. H. A. Schneider, pas
tor of the church delivered the fu-
neral sermon and a choir sang some
appropriate impressive selections.
The pail bearers were four little girls
friends of the family, Gertrude and
Gladys Kelly and Ruth and Helen
Weimer. Many beautiful floral gifts
were made. Little Elmer Pantle is
survived by his parents and sister,
Elsie.
The Ordway new era., 1917-08-17
DON'T LIST YOUR FARM
WITH
TALLM A DIG e

TIA LII M A d G e
UNLESS you want 1t sold. l am the
sole and exclusive sales agent Of the
farm lands belonging to the Twin
Lakes Land and Water company
We have many calls for improved
farms. If you want to sell your farm
give me an opportunity and l will
find you buyer.
My only agent or representative
is Crowley County is A. g. Bowers
of Crowley, Colo. Write me direct
or telephone Mr.. Bowers. f
B. H. TALLMADGE
744 First National Bank Bldg.
PUEBLO, COLO.
The Ordway new era., 1917-08-17
LOCAL AND PERSONAL

Miss Kate Pantle, an Evangelical
Deaconess from Chicago, arrived the
first of the week for a visit with her
parents Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob Pantle.
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Roberts and
Archie Ford, a brother of Mrs. Ro-
berts. left yesterday for Hopewell,
N. M. where Mr.. Roberts will look
after mining interests.
Ray Keator. who is employed at
the Je Rue, is under the care of an
eye specialist in Pueblo. He got a
piece of steel in one Of his eyes. Henry
Peters, of the Alamo Candy company,
in Pueblo, will do the baking while
Mr.. Keator is away.
Mrs. J. B. Wadlington, who has
been spending the summer with her
daughters Mrs. A. P. Atwood and
Mrs. Walter Lester, at Cadiz, KY,
and other relatives. arrived home the
first of the week. Her grandson,
Ellis Atwood, accompanied her for
a few weeks visit.
The dance last Friday. which was
held in the Chamber of Commerce
hall, was attended by about fifty
couples. There was good music and
a good time enjoyed by all.
Miss Ruth Mcdowell is the guest
of her cousin. Mrs. Paul Williams,
this week.
Numa-Mrs. Fred Trainor was the
guest of her sister, Mrs. Claude Mat
tingly, last Tuesday.
Mrs. Milton Bollacker entertained
about thirty friends last Thursday
in honor of Oran Belveal, who is at
Camp Gunter in Pueblo. Ice cream
and cake were served and a good time
enjoyed.
Mrs. Charlie Cockerell, who has
been quite i'll with typhoid fever. is
some better.
Mrs. Irwin Rodeck spent a couple
of days in Rocky Ford this week.
Floyd Koon. who has been en-
ployed at Byars G Strickland's, has
accepted a position as nightwatch-
man at the cantaloupe shed.
Miss Edna Ray who has been visit
ing with friends, returned to her
home in Canon City Wednesday.
Mrs. Fred Trainor spent the last
week with Mrs. AL Houston at Sugar
City.
Misses Sarah Roberts and Edwarda
Davis are spending the week with
Bessie Worker, who is out at Box
Springs with her parents.
Miss Margaret Wyde returned to
her home in Rocky Ford after visit
ing with her friend Miss Irene Pot
ter.
Miss Minnie Immel left Wednesday
for a few days visit in Colorado
Springs and Denver.
The Ordway new era., 1917-08-17
Henry Valerius
Pays the Price

Henry valerius has paid the pen
atty for having played the part Of a
dealer, in an illegal way. in intoxi-
eating liquors. Valerius was arrest
ed last spring by Sheriff Lewis Work
er and goods were confiscated. In
his trial in county court he was con-
victed and Judge Woodbridge sentenc-
ed him to 80 days in jail and fined
him $500 and costs which made
total of $37S.15. A short time be-
fore his sentence expired he made an
appeal to the county commissioners
asking that the fine be quite mater
tally reduced The commissioners
decided that they would and should
not interfere in the case. VIM.
Broadbent, one of the members of
the board, held that to take ac-
tion it would set precedent which
would cause many other such cases
to be appealed to the commissioners.
Mr.. Broadbent also held that inas-
much as the case had been tried to a
jury and the court had imposed n
fine as the law directed it was beyond
the provence of the board of COM
missioners to consent for settle
ment for less than the court set.
Following the announcement VAL
erius paid the fine and costs, and hav-
ing served his sentence has therefore
paid the full penalty for his viola
tion of the prohibitory law.