Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-11-08

". III
Is understood, recently inherited $3.50 900
from a maternal uncle At the time the
Will was probated considerable interest
was aroused by the fact that the legacy
was TO go TO Mr. Master only on condi-
tion that he carried out certain provisions
contained in sealed envelope, to be read
only by the executors and Mr. Master.
And so on There was much more Of
1t. The Master Mystery, as the papers
called IT, came at duh season. and
the reporters made the most of 1t.
They pointed out that Mr.. Master had
been sufferer from dyspepsia for
many years, but this had not had a
permanently depressing effect on his
mind His home relations were most
satisfactory. His own business-he
was a dealer in laundry supplies and
laundry machinery-was doing well,
and no trace OF outside troubles could
be discovered
On the morning of his disappearance
Mr.. Master had shown some signs of
mental eccentricity. \ neighbOr. hap
pening to be al her window. saw Mr..
Master come hurriedly from the door
In fact, he carried his linen collar, his
tie and his coat and vest in his hands.
Custer! Custer! Come back his
wife had called, but Mr.. Master had
fed down the street. putting on his col.
lar as he fed
An hour later friend passed him rs
he was standing on corner six blocks
from Mr.. Masters home. Mr. Master
seemed greatly distressed.
II can't do 1t! 1t kills me! l can't
do it!' he was muttering TO himself.
Il never could do It. said so!''
The next news of Mr.. Master was
gained from the keeper OF bathhouse
and swimming pool known as the I'm
perlal Natatorium About 10 O'Clock
Mr. Master entered the natatorium
hurriedly, asked the price of baths and
chose TO pay for a plunge in the big
swimming pool He paid in advance
removed his garments in one of the
small dressing rooms, put on swim
ming suit and went to the edge of the
big pool. Here he grasped the rail
touched the cold water. when he ut
tered cry, rushed to the dressing
room and as soon as he had thrown on
his clothes dashed from the building
That was the last trace of Mr.. Master
| In Chicago Since then his fate had
| been a mystery.
Philo Gubb, having finished reading
| Lesson NJ for the third time, picked
up the Chicago paper and was half
way through the Master Mystery arti-
| Gle again when the silence of the Opera
| House building was disturbed by the
! sound of feet ascending the brass clad
stairs. The feet seemed to be treading
as lightly as possible. and Philo Gubb
| judged there were two pairs Of feet
| OF this he became sure when they be-
gan their Journey along the corridor.
1t was evident to the detective that
| these visitors were reading the names
on the doors as they progressed along
the corridor and he was about to ex-
| tinguish his lamp and prepare for the
worst when the two men stopped again,
struck a match and after an instant's
hesitation raped sharply upon his
door
Come mr. called Philo Gubb at the
same time dra wing his bed sheet over
his seantily clad legs. There were two.
| One of them Mr.. Gubb recognized at
once He was Billy Gribble, proprietor
Of the Gold Star Hand Laundry, Just
across the way on Main street The
other man was a stranger.
"Gubby old sport" said Billy Crib
BILE In his sloppily noisy way, this
| is
Now. now said the stranger irri-
tably. Now, wait. / said | would
talk to him, didn't /? What do you
mean by-if youll please let-you are
Detective Gubb, are you not?" he
asked.
! Philo Gubb gazed at the man The
man was tall and thin, taller and thin
ner than Mr. Gubb himself. He was
clean shaved. and his face showed deep
| lines about the mouth and nose. His
hair was closely clipped making his
head seem pealike IN Its smallness.
But Mr.. Gubb was not gazing at these
| things. His birdlike eyes were fasten-
ed on the end of the suit case the
stranger still held In his hand. On the
end OF the case were painted In black
the letters &C. NJ" and the word "Chl.
cago." The stranger glanced down at
the suit case and put 1t on the floor
with suddenness that brought forth
a humping sound.
Il presume the honor Of this call at
this late hour Of time" said Philo
Gubb shifting his sheet little, rs on
a matter of business, IL II Is of so.
cial, society sort III have to ask to be
kindly excused while | assume my
| pants"
| Business call. business call entire.
| ly. Mr.. Gubb," said the TALL stranger.
Don't put anything on If-if you feel
| ha III tal- g,,,,.