South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-21


Mysteries follow one anot or so
closely in a great city that the read
ing public and tho friends % Johnny
Belichambers have ceased 10 mar
vel az his sudden and unexplained
disappearance nearly year ago
This particular mystery has now
been cleared up. but the solution -
so strange and incredible 10 the
mind OF the average man that only
"a select few who were In close touch
with Beuchambers viii give II full
Credence
Johnny BeIcham bers, as is well
known belonged % the intrins.cally
inner circle OF the elite. without
any OF the ostentation OF the fash
ionable ones who endeavOr 20 at
tract notice By eccentric display OF
wealth and show he still was an
fait In everything that gave deserv-
cd lustre 20 his high position IN the
ranks Of society
Especially did he shine in the
matter OF dress. In this he was the
despair OF imitators. Always cor
rect. exlu.sitely groomed. and pos
sesed OF an unlimited wardrobe, he
was conceded 20 be the best-dressed
man in New York, and. therefore. IN
America. There was not tailor in
Gotham Who would not have
deemed II a precious boon 70 have
been granted the privilege or max
ing Bellchamber clothes without a
cent OF pay. AS he wore them. they
would have been a priceless adver-
tisement. Trousers were his espec-
ial passion. Here nothing but per-
- Ia rnrrr "A
have worn a patch as quickly as he
would have overlooked a wrinkle.
He kept a man IN his apartments
always busy pressing his ample sup
ply. His friends said that three
hours was the limit OF time that he
would wear these garments without
exchanging.
BeIchambers disappeared very
suddenly. For three days his alb
seDce brought no alarm 70 his
friends. and then they began 10 ap-
crate the usual methods OF inquiry.
All OF them failed He had left alb
solutely no trace behind. Then the
search for a motive was instituted,
but none was found. He had no
enemies, he had no debts, there was
no woman. There were several
thousand dollars I'm HIS bank 10 his
credit He had never showed any
tendency toward mental eccentric
ity; In fact, he was OF a particularly
calm and well-balanced tempera-
Llent.
Every means OF tracing the van
ished man was made use OF, but
without avail. T. was ore OF those
Cases-more numerous IN late years
where men seem 70 have gone out
like the flame OF a candle, leaving
not even a trail of smoke as a wit
ness.
In May. Tom Eyres and Lancelot
Gillian. two OF Bellchambers' old
friends. went for li.tle run on the
other side. While pottering around
in Italy and Switzerland. they hap
pened. one day, 10 hear Of a mon
astery in the Swiss Alps that prom
Used something outside Of the ordi-
nary tourlst-beguiling attractions.
The monastery was almost inacces-
sible 70 the average sight-seer. be-
ing on an extremely rugged and pre-
cipitous spur OF the mountains. The
attractions 1t possessed but did not
advertise were, first. an exclusive
and divine cordial made by the
monks that was said TO far surpass
benedictine and chartreuse. Next a
huge brass bell so purely and &C
curately cast that It had not ceased
sounding since IL was first rune
three hundred years ago. Finally
IL was asserted that no Englishmau
had ever set foot within its walls
Eyres and Gillian decided that
these three reports called for inves-
tigation.
Il took them two days with the
aid OF two guides TO reach the mon
"a
on a frozen. windswept crag with
the snow piled about il in treacher.
Gus. drifting masses. They were
Hospitality received by the brother:
whose duty II was 20 entertain the
infrequent guest. They drank OF
the precious cordial, finding IL rare
~ potent and reviving. They lis
tened to the great, ever-echoing bel
and learned that they were pioneer
travellers, in those gray stone walls
over the Englishman whose resties:
feet have trOdden nearly every cor.
ner OF the earth.
At three o'clock on the Afternoon
they arrived. the two young Goth
antics stood with good Brother
Christofer in the great. cold hallway
OF the monastery TO watch the
monks march past on their way q
the refectory. They came slowly
pacing by twos, with their head.
bowed treading noiselessly with
sandaled feet upon the rough stone
flags. AS the procession slowly
filed past. Eyres suddenly grippeC
Gillian by the arm. Look" he
whispered. eagerly. at the one op.
pOsite YOU now-the one on thi.
side. with his hand at his wrist-ii