The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-29


to me when I am finished: Mike, I
hate to say It. but can. call you a
rival; you're SO far ahead of me in
detective knowledge that I'm a half
witted child beside you'"
That was exceedingly high prasing
from one SO largely great" said Gubb
You bet 1t was! So went to work
and did some detective work, just to
get my hand in. and one day Sherm-
lock says to me: Mike, you're so good
at this detecting work, why don't you
try to solve the great mystery?
Whats that? I says.
why. the greatest unsloved myst-
cry Of the world-the mystery of the
Riverbank. Iowa, miser'
So came her to Riverbank to hunt
up clue. and found just one clue"
What was it?" asked Philo Gubb.
Tt was speck of red pepper no
bigger than the point Of a pin. It took
me three weeks to md 1t. and another
man would never have given it
thought I picked UP the speck of red
pepper and microscoped it. and I saw
that along one edge 1t was sort of
brown. and when I looked close I saw
it had been burned a little. Nothing
but little speck Of red pepper burned
along one edge"
Have you got 1t now" asked Gubb
Got it," said Chi Foxy. Il should
say not! While was lookin' at it a
breeze come and blowed 1t away. But
th-t was enough for me. Red pepper
says, partly buruned!' And began
to tremble. Cause why? Cause I al
ways puts red pepper in my tobacco
to make 1t snappy. Always! turned
as white as a sheet. Nobody in the
vv0rlH hrv% t. ~
tobacco. I was found stunned from
falling head first on a rock. Who was
I before I hit that rock?
well. sir. traced myself back from
the minute when found that speck Of
red pepper; back to where I hit the
rock; back to the blowed-up steamer;
to Minneapolis. sleuthed around
Minneapolis until I found a tobacco
store where they knew a young man
that used to mix red pepper in his
tobacco. I found out that his name
was Jones-Henry J. Jones. I asked
II there was any way they could re-
member him. and the man said: II
was to say my mind. I'd say you was
Henry J. Jones, growed a little older:
but there's one sure way of telling
Henry J. Jones has a wreath Of forget
me-nots tattooed on his left wrist I
puAic0 dp lily Gull Oh LuSiU IL WdS. !
was myself, and I was the murderer.
and was the detective after the MUIR
derer. I fled-led all over Europe.
Asia and Africa, and wherever. went
I was after myself. ready to arrest ne"
Chi Foxy paused and glanced at P.
Gubb questicningly. Cub was deeply
impressed. Such strange happenings
are in almost every detective story.
$50 now arrest me-" said Chi Foxy.
'Td like to favor you by SO doing.
Mr.. Jones'" said Gubb, 'for can easy
see, Mr.. Riggs that you can't arrest
yourself. but it's against instructions
in Lesson Six to arrest a man without
a good clue. and tho only clue you
had was blown away"
For a moment this seemed to annoy
Chi Foxy. but his face frightened.
"Clue?' he said. Say, friend, I've
got a clue that1l mean something.
can tell you right where buried the
old miser's bones. I can. You go uo
the river until you come to q tool house
on the railway, and just back of 1t Is
an old. implanted house. Right in that
yard. close to the railway fence, the
bones are buruied. Now turn me over
to the law and you go up there"
WED best 60 up there Immediately
first before anything else" said Gubb.
starting to remove his paper-hanger's
apron. Putting of clues is against
Lesson One. II you come with me"
Look here" said Chi Foxy. will
you buy me a breakfast on the way 70
II go with your"
Quite certainly sure" said p Gubb.
After the pair had stopped at Hanks
restaurant anad Chi Foxy ate q hesrty
meal. Chi led Gubb to the tool
and pointed over the wire fence to
tho spot where the bones of the MUIR
dered miser were supposed to repose.
Right there!" he said. And when
P. Gubb had climbed the fence ard
had turned to look for Chi Foxy tho
late detective-criminal ives gone. He
had disappeared over the railway en-
bankment. Mr.. Gubb's face turned.
and he stood like a badly fooled and
shamed na-ningo. but as he hung his
head in shame his eyes noticed that
the ground at his feet had lately been
spaded. He looked at 1t. and then
walked to the weather beaten house
and knocked. A lanky. loose-Jointed
man came to the door. and a woman
peered from behind the man.
Il hope you'll pardon my excuse"
said Mr.. Cub, politely. but my name
is p Cub. deteckative and paper
hanger, and I'm looking up a case. May
I trouble you for a spade or shovel?"
What you want with 1t ?" asked the
man, grufily.
I'm lookin' up the murder Of .
miser that was murdered" said Mr..
Gubb. The man seemed relieved. and
handed Cub a spade on which there
were still traces OF soft soil. Gubb
walked to the rear of the yard and
damned the spade into the soft soil. II
struck something hard. The evidence
of the crime was completely uncovered.
There were boned buried there. Gubb
looked up and wiped his brow. Then
he looked at the bones. One was in
deed a skull, but It was the skull of a
calf! All the bones were calf bones
not bones of the human calf. or lower
leg, but bones Of the veal calf. The
lanky man was approaching.
"An right" said he. L give up.
You've got me: I surrender. When
detective gets that close. man hasn't
apy chance I own I'D. / did it..