davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-07
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Q Quarter
with The Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE


few sentences. of which the porter
had distinguished the one word time"
Then he had hurried off in the manner
described 1t was just half-past ten
by the hall clock.
Let me see," said Holmes. seatin';
himself on Staunton's bed. You are
the day porter. are you not?"
Yes, sir i go off duty at eleven"
THE night porter saw nothing, ]
SUPPOSE"
No sir; one theatre party came in
late No one else
Were you on duty all day yester-
day."
Yes, sir"
Did you take any messages to Mr..
Staunton?"
Yes, sir. one telegram"
All, That is interesting. What
O'Clock was this?"
About six
Where was Mr.. Stanton when he
received it,"
Here in his room"
Were you present when he opened
it?"
Yes, sir. wanted to see if there
was an answer
Well, was there"
Yes, sir, he wrote an answer
Did you take it,"
No, he took it himself"
But he wrote it in your presence"
Yes. sir, l was standing by the
door, and he had his back turned at
that table. When he had written it.
he said: "All right, porter, Il will
take this myself
What did he write it with"
"A pen, sir"
Was the Geographic form one of
those on the table,"
Yes, sir, it was the top one"
Holmes rose. Taking the forms he
carried them over to the window
and carefully examined that which
was uppermost.
1T is a pity he did not write in
pencil" said he, throwing them down
again with a shrug of disappointment
LAS you have no doubt frequently OBJ
served, Watson, the impression us
ually goes through-a fact which has
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-07

dissolved many a happy marriage.
However, l can find no trace here
rejoice, however, to perceive that he
wrote with a broad quill pen, and I
hardly doubt that we will find some
impression upon this blotting pad All,
yes, surely this is the very thing"
He tore off a strip of the plotting
paper and turned toward us with d
hieroglyphic.
Cyril Overton was much excited.
Hold it to the glass;" he cried.
That is not necessary" said
Holmes. This paper is thin, and the
reverse will give the message. Here
it is He turned it over and we read:
Stand by us for Gods sake"
so that is the tail end of the tele-
gram which Godfrey Staunton dis
patched within a few hours of his dis
appearance. There are at least si%
words of the message which have es-
capped us; but what remainS-'S Stand
by us for Gods sake'-proves that
this young man saw a formidable
danger which approached him, and
from which someone else could pro-
tect him. Us mark you! Another
person was involved. Who should il
be but the pale-faced, bearded man,
who seemed himself in so nervous a
state? What then, is the connection
between Godfrey Stanton and the
bearded man? And what is the third
source from which each of them
sought for help against pressing dan
ger? Our inquiry has already narrow
ed down to that"
We have only to find to whom the
telegram is addressed" l suggested.
Exactly, my dear Watson. Your
reflection, though profound, had al
ready crossed my mind. But l dare
say it may have come to your notice
, that, if you walk into post-office and
demand to see the counterfeit of an
other mans message, there may be
some Discrimination on the part of the
officials to oblige you. There is much
red tape in these matters. However,
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-07
PART TWO
Have you heard from Lord Mount
a ~, oc

FAh wv
Have you heard from Lord Mount
James,"
NO"
What motive could your friend
have in going to Lord Mount-James ~
We'll. something was worrying him
the night before, and it was to do with
money it is possible that he would
make for his nearest relative who had
so much of it. though from all have
heard he would not have much chance
of getting it. Godfrey was not fond Of
the old man. He would not go if he
could help it,
We'll. we can soon determine that.
If your friend was going to his relative
Lord Mount-James. you have then to
explain the visiti of this rough looking
fellow at so late an hour. and the agi-
tation that was caused by his coming
Cyril Overton pressed his hands to
his head Il can make nothing of it, "
said he.
Well. we'll, 1 have a clear day. and
| shall be happy to look into the mat
ter" said Holmes. Il should strongly
recommend you to make your prepa-
rations for your match without refer
ence to this young gentleman. It must,
as you say, have been an oVerpoWering
necessity which tore him away in such
a fashion and the same necessity is
likely to hold him away. Let US step
round together to the hotel and see If
the porter can throw any fresh light
upon the matter
Sherlock Holmes was a postmaster
in the art of putting a humble witness
at his ease. and very soon, in the pri-
vacy of Godfrey Staunton's abandoned
room, he had extracted all that the
porter had to tell. The visitor the
night before was not a gentleman,
neither was he workingman. He
was simply what the porter described
as a merchandising chap" man Of
fifty, beard grizzled, pale face, quietly
dressed. He seemed himself to be
agitated. The porter had observed his
hand trembling when he had held out
the nate. Godfrey Stanton had cram
med the note into his pocket. Staun,
ton had not shaken hands with the
man in the hall They had exchanged
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-07
TROUBLED FOR TEN YEARS

IF You suffer pains and aches during
the day and sleep-disturbing bladder
weakness by night, feel tired, nervous
and run down, the kidneys and bladder
need to be restored to healthy and reg
ular action. J. T. osborn, r. +. D. No.
!, Lucasville, O., writes: Il had kidney
trouble for ten years. I tried many
remedies but they did me no good l
took Foley Kidney Pills and they
helped me so much that now am
we'll" Don't delay. a. G. Luken and
Co, 626-62S Main St-Advertisement.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-07

pearance. his voice had sharp cackle,
and his manner quick intensity
which commanded attention
Tomorrow-The Adventure of the
Missing Three-quarter, continued.
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29

. E., 54.62 chs. to cor No. 2, thence
s. AZ o 81 W.. 2s.U2 chs. to cor. No. 8
thence N. Al 81 w. 12.11 chs. to cor.
No. 4; thence s. AZ "a w. LAT chs.
to cor. No. 8; thence N. Al 81 w.
4251 chs. to cor. No. 8; thence N.
40 81 E., 29.47 chs. to cor. No. ].
the place of beginning; being III.
d. S. No. 7s4, List No. 1-1s4s. Act Of
June, IL, 1906, has filed notice Of in
tention to make three year Proof. to
establish claim to the land above des-
cribed, before Hampton Taylor, U. S.
Commissioner. at Grangeville. Idaho
on the 3ri day Of October, 1921.
Claimant names as witnesses: Ida
NJ Price, Elmer A. Carpenter, Eugene
W.. Burlingame Of Grangeville, Idaho
and Frank Hogan of White Bird
Idaho.
(non-coaD HENRY HElTFELD
Sept. 1-Sept. 20. Register
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29

To W. II. Hayward, heirs or assigns
Each and everyone OF you are hereby
notified that the undersigned has ex-
pended the sum of five hundred $500.
O0) dollars In labor for the year 1921.
on the following mining claims: Mo
dec, Modoc No. 2, Modoc No. 3, Bear
Lake No. 2 and Sterling, comprising
what is known as the Modoc group Of
mining claims, situated in the Mar
shall Lake mining district, Idaho
County, Idaho, which said labor was
performed for the purpose and in order
to hold said mining claims under the
provisions of section 1924, revised
statutes of the United States, and be-
ing the amount required to hold said
claims for the aforesaid year, and 4
within ninety days 600 days after the
publication of this notice you fail TO
contribute your proportion, $125.00
being one-fourth of SAID expense OF
$4,000, together with the cost Of this
publication, your interest in said grouE
of mining ella ms will become the prop
erty OF the undersigned, under the
provisions Of said section 1924 Of til,
Revised Statutes Of the United States
Dated July 81, 1921
July 21- oct H. Burgdorf, Idaho
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.

Department Of the Interior, U. S. Land
office at Lewiston, Idaho, August
30 1921.
Notice is hereby given that Alison
Vaughan, cf Garfield, Idaho, who, on
June 80, 1919, made additional stock
raising homestead entry No. 06S04, for
lot 4, section 2, township 20 north.
and NEA SWA, and N1a SEA, sec
ton 33, and NJ SWA, SEA SWA,
and SWH SEA, section "a, township
80 north, range 1 east, Boise meridian,
has filed notice Of intention to make
three year proof to establish claim to
the land above described, before
Hampton Taylor, u. S. commissioners
at Grangcyflle idaho. on the 10th day
of october, 1921.
Claimant names as witnesses
Charles NJ. Gill, John A. Bentley
Clauds s. Irwin, Frank Johnson, all o.
Grangevilla. Idaho.
on-coal HENRY HEITFELD,
Sept. scot 6 Register
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
\ NOTICE OF FORFEITURE.

To A. c. Carpenter, heirs and assigns.
You are hereby notified that l have
expended $400 -four hundred dollars
in labor and improvements upon the
Halliday lode-Halliday No. /, No. 2,
No. 3 and No. Quartz claims-and
$4,000 flour hundred dollars) in
labor and improvements upon the Pho
neer group OF Placer claims-Oscola
Golden, Phoenise and Pioneer Hill, as
will appear by certificate filed IN the
office of the deputy recorder Of the
Ten Mile Mining district in order to
hold said claims under the. provisions
of section 1924 Revised Statutes of the
United States, being the amount re
quired to hold the same for the year
ending June 80, 1921.
And ir within ninety days from the
service of this notice-or within ninty
after this notice by publicatton-you
fail or refuse to contribute your por
ton of such expenditures as co-ownel
your interest in said claim will be
come the property of the subscriber
under said section 1924.
34-13t. EDWARD TIMM
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.

Department of the Interior, U. s. Land
Office at Lewiston, Idaho, August
20, 1927.
Notice is hereby given that Eugene
q. Zwiesicr, for the Heirs of Joseph
NJ ZwiesIcr, deceased; Of White Bril-
Idaho, who. ON July 10, 1918, made
Additional Homestead Entry, No. 0S
602 Off NEA SW14, Sec. %, TIP. % N.
r. f., B. Meridian, has filed notice
of intention to make three year Proof,
to establish claim to the land above
described, before James Lemon, U. s.
Commissioner, at White Bird, Idaho,
on the 4th day of October, 1921.
ClaimaGt names as witnesses: Ed
ward @. Smith, Pickett Chamberlain,
Willard DAILY and John Doumacq. all
of White Bird, Idaho.
| (non-coal HENRY HEITFELD,
Sept. 1-Sept. 20. Register
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.

Department of the Interior, U. S. Land
Office Mt lewiston, Idaho, Septem
Der /, 1921.
Notice is hereby given that Hazel c
Rookie, formerly Hazel G. Van Poo.
of Boles, Idaho, who, on May 10, 1919
made additional homestead entry No.
O7360, for VIZ of NWA, and VIZ of
SWA, section /, township % north
range 3 west, Boise meridian, has filed
notice of intention to make three yea.
proof, to establish claim to the land
above described, before James Lemon
u. S. commissioner, at Whitebird, Ida
no, on the 18th day of October, 1921.
Claimant names at witnesses: PicE
ct Chamberlin, of Whitebird, Idaho
Herbert 8. Boles and Walter I'll. Lem
ons of Boles, Idaho, James Chamberlii
of Garfield, Idaho.
non-cOal HENRY HEITFEl.l1,
Sent. scot Register
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29

There Is more Catarrh in this section
of the country than all other diseases
put together, and for years it was sup
posed to be lncurable. Doctors prescribed
local remedies, and by constantly failing
to cure with local treatment. pronounced
il incurable. Catarrh is a local disease,
greatly influenced by constitutional con-
ditions and therefore requires constitu-
tional treatment. Halls Catarrh Medi-
cine, manufactured by F. j. Cheney &
Co., Toledo, Ohio, is a constitutional
remedy, Is taken internally and acts
thru the Blood on the Mucous Surfaces
of the System. One Hundred Dollars re-
ward is offered for any case that Halls
Catarrh Medicine fails to cure. Send for
circulars and testimonials
F. J. CHENEY & CO, Toledo, Ohio.
Sold by Druggists, 75c.
Halls Family Pills for constipation.
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.

Department of the Interior, U. 5. Land
Office ut Lewiston, Idaho, August
10, 1921.
Notice is hereby given that Dwight
]. Anderson, of Mt. Idaho, Idaho, who,
ON August 10 1915, made Forest Home
stead Entry, No. 06269, for tract of
land containing 1g6.50 acres, within
what will probably be when surveyed,
tp. % N. r. 3 & e. b. NJ, described
as follows: Beginning at cor. No. l,
which bears s. So e. from .. s.
L. NJ. No. 734, 1920 chs; thence 5.
AZ 81 e. 31.91 chs. to cor. No. q;
thence S. 40 o 30 w. 1890 chs. to
cor. No. 3 thence N. Al 80 w. 5.02
chs. to cor. No. 4; thence S. AZ 81
w. 3453 chs. to cor No. s. thence N.
At o 2S w. 1888 chs to cor. No. 6;
thence N. ~ o "a Il. 54.44 chs. to cor.
No. /, the place of beginning; be
ing Fl. II. S. No. 49,; List 1-1933 Act
of June II, 1906, has filed notice OF
| intention to make three year Proof, to
establish claim to the land above des
cribed, before Hampton Taylor, U. 5
Commissioner, at Grangeville, Idaho
on the Bird day of October, 1921.
Claimant names as witnesses: Ell
gene Burlingame, Elmer A. Carpenter
George v Ring, and Frank Hogan, al
Of GrangegilIe, Idaho.
| JEINEINI /
Sept. 1-Sept. 20. Register
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
prsTORATTON TO ENTRY Oh
IxNDS IN NATIONAL FOREST.

Notice Is hereby given that the lands
described below, embracing 1926
.crea. within the Idaho national for
ast Idaho. win be subject to settle
ment and entry under the provisions
Of the homestead laws Of the United
states and the act of June IL, 1906
ga Stat, 1881, at the United States
land Office at HALEY, Idaho on Oct
ober %, 1921. ANY settler who was act
ually and In good faith claiming any
~ said lands for agricultural purposes
nrior to January 1, 1905, and has not
abandoned same, has preference
right to make a homestead entry for
The lands actually occupied. Said lands
were listed upon the applications OF
the persons mentioned below, who have
a pn(Hence right subject to the prior
righA1 any such settler, provided
such settler or applicant is qualified 70
TO make homestead entry and the pref
erence right Is exercised prior to Oct
ober 90, 1921, on which date the lands
Will Ut o0bJCSb w SCNAACmCht anu CAAhh
by any qualified person. Applications
may be filed twenty days prior to the
above date but will not be allowed
until the day set for opening thereof.
Ex-service men who served during the
war with Germany will also have a
preference right of entry for period
of sixty-three days prior to the above
date Such preference, however, is sub
ject to the superior preference of sci.
tiers prior to January l, 1906 AMI list
ees. A tract of 1883 acres within
Sections "a and %, I. "A n, r. 10 Il
and Sections 10 and 80. T. "a N, r
ii f., B. NJ, described by Ii. +. S. No
$50 Listed without applicant. List 4
2502. A tract Of 7043 acres within Sec
%, T. "A N, r. 10 e.. d. ri, described
by II. Il. S. No 692 Listed withou
applicant. List 4-250S. GEO r. WICK
HAM, Assistant Commissioner Of tn,
General Land office. July %, 1921.
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.

Deartment of the Interior, U. S. Land
Office at Lewiston, Idaho, August 80
1921.
Notice is hereby given that John l..
Whitman, of Whitebird, Idaho, who, on
June Is, 1918, made homestead entry
No O7299 for NEA NWA, wa NE1A
and SEA NEH, section Z, township
81 north, range east, Boise merid-
ian, has filed notice Of intention to
make three year proof, to establish
claim to the land above described, be
fore James Lemon, U. S. commissioner
at Whitebird, Idaho, on the 10th day
of October, 1921.
Claimant names ut witnesses Frank
L. Taylor, Ellis Harness, Tom Large
Stephen T. Mahurin. all of Whitebird
Idaho.
non-coal HENRY HEITFELD,
Sept. S-Oct. 6. Register
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.

Department of the Interior, U. S. Land
Office at Lewiston, Idaho, August
IL, 1921.
Notice is hereby given that Iva FL
Smith, formerly Iva ii. Mills, OF
Grangeville, Idaho, who, on August &c
1915, made Forest Homestead Entry,
No. O626S, for a tract Of land contain
ing 1924 acres, within what will
probably be when surveyed, tip. % N.
r.. 8 & A East, B. NJ, described a.
follows Beginning at corner No. /
which bears N. & w. of U. 8. L. NJ
No. 734, 1894 chs, thence 8. Al 3
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
EOR SALE.

10 acre ranch, 40 acres in crop bal
ance good pasture. 6 room house and
other improvements. Good water.
Will include good team of work
horses, some cattle, machinery, new
cream separator and other articles.
viii take part cash and give time on
balance. Write or see Nettie b. Yah
raus. Grapgeyille, Idaho. 34-tf
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
NOTICE.

$1,000 reward for information lead
ing to the arrest and conviction OF any
party breaking insulators- ON our pow
err or telephone lines, or in any other
way interfering with the operation OF
the lines,
GRANGEvILLE ELECTRIC LIGHT
& POWER co. 35-tf.
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29

See Hancock for monuments and
grave markers. Full line Of latest
designs. Local agent for Lewiston
Marble Works. 27f
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29
SECRET ORDERS

/. o. o. b. CANVAS PRAIRIE EN-
campment No. Is. Meets second and
fourth Saturdays Of each month at 1.
o. o. f. hall. M. H. Baulch, O. P; b
III. Amber, Scribe
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29

NEIGHBORS OF wOODCRAFT,
Idaho Circle No. 100. Meets at l. o,
O. r hall the second and fourth Mon
days of each month. Rose Wood
G. NJ; Lena Markham, Clerk.
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS, BUFFALO
Hump Lodge No. 30. Meets each
Monday at Lodge Rooms In Schmadeka
HALL. WIN. NacNeill, G. c.; II. Hoth-
well, K of r and 3
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29

r o. e. GRAEGHvILLn AERIE NO.
90. Meets every Friday at 8 p m.
Visiting brothers are always welcome.
f. s. Hancock, w. p; Frank Van Dew
enter, Sec.
The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-29

W. o. w. GRANGEvILLE CAMP NO.
2O0. Meets first and third Monday
of each month. VIM II. Pearson 9. G.
n. II Amber, 0lerk
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-08-27
A Mans House Is His Castle.

BY its recognition of The fact that
no mans home is to be searched with
out warrant, Congress has given its
first indication OF tendency to relax
the rigors of the Volstead law. Accord.
ing to old English common law,
mans house in his castle, and that
to-day, but is the basis of our own
laws. A man may go to any extreme
to protect his home from unlawful in
vasion. The constitution of the United
States says in the plainest kind of
language "the right of the people to be
secure in their persons, houses, papers
and effects, against unreasonable
searches and seizures, shall not be vio-
lated; and no warrants shall issue but
upon probable cause, supported by
oath or affirmation, and particularly
describing the place 20 be searched,
and persons or things to be seized"
Congress, therefore, has no power to
pass law giving prohibition agents
or anyone else the right to search with
out warrant, and that warrant must
be supported by oath or affirmation
and particularly describe the place to
w SSdithCd anu iHt ptIcon VI AiIISs
TO be seized, Therefore, no blanket au-
thority can be given.
In its lesser aspects it may be that
this will permit the manufacture of
home brew" although if the line is
finally drawn, this is not so, for if the
home brew is not authorized by law,
but, on the contrary, is forbidden, then
it may be possible TO secure warrant
to search the premises of a person sus.
pected of making it, and to seize the
stuff The larger fact is that the pro-
hibition law has been going too far in
the invasion of the clearly stated con-
stitutional rights of the citizen Ii I'M
ioubtedly goes too far in many par.
ticulars and carries with it a severity |
hat might have been mitigated, for |
The time being at least.--New York |
Commercial.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-08-27

Then, having become acquainted with
our own state and having become thor
oughly convinced of the excellence of
the things which the state has TO offer
we shall become better advance
agents and boosters in presenting 10
other people what the state has to m
terest outsiders. So, the campaign by
the Vermont Hotel Mems association
to place Photographic exhibits at vari
Gus fairs, including the Rutland fair,
the state fair and the Brattleboro fair,
will go far toward building firm
foundation for wider publicity later
on. We can advocate to dooms day
the desirability of Seeing Vermont
first" without impressing upon any
considerable number of Vermont peo-
pie that Vermont has a great deal to
offer. Possibly if the hotel men bring
it forcibly to the attention of the gen
eral public at the fairs by means of
visual proof the people can become
the more quickly convinced and then
become persistent advertisers of their
state, just as Floridians and Califor-
mans are for their native or adopted
states
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-08-27
BAsEBALL's PLACE IN. AFFAIRS.

Action of the Chicago Tribune in
cutting down the space devoted each
day to reports of professional baseball
games is undoubtedly intended as
reproof to those elements in the ma
tional game which have been recently
brought to light in very unsatisfactory
manner. albeit jury failed to con-
vict the alleged offenders. A great
many people feel the same disgust
about the revelations made in regard
to the 1919 world series in which play
ers of the Chicago American league
team were accused of deliberately
throwing" the series tletting the 9th
er side win by refusing to play up
to the standard of their ability. There
was righteous Indignation over the ac-
cusations and the supposed confes
sions of some OF those who were vital
ly concerned in the case. Pro ession-
al baseball was considered to have
been smirched in serious fashion. And, |
indeed, it was. Yet the majority of |
those who felt disgust over the reve-
lations were not prepared to inerimi-
nate professional baseball as a whole,
not caring to indict the whole because
of alleged moral weakness of the few.
They still feel the same about it. They |
are inclined to believe that profession
al baseball is not all rotten. There
fore, they are still giving their moral
support to the game and do not feel |
Just the same as does the Chicago I
newspaper regarding the matter. Base
hall still is the national game. wheth-
er played by professionals or ANA
teurs, and as such it deserves a place
along with the other events of the day
according to the resources that the
newspsp ers are able to devote to it.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-08-27

The farm bureaus in Vermont are
putting on some programs which
amount almost to agricultural fairs.
The fair associations will have to
eliminate some of the tinsel and cheap
tawdriness if they wish to maintain
their prestige and retain the patron
age of the farmers, to whom they
owed their existence in the first place.
Several of the farm bureaus have been
instrumental in putting out some
thing that was really worth while
for the farmers.