davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-26
CHAPTER XII.


Two Men In a Locked Room.
Some sixth sense of safety-one that
comes to many men who live in the
outdoors on the untamed frontier
warned Clay that all was not well.
The machine had swung to the right
and was facing from the wind instead
Of into it. Clay was not very well
acquainted with New York, but he
did know this was not the direction
In which he wanted to go.
Lindsay opened the door, and swung
out on the running board. "We're go
in wrong. Stop the carl" he ordered.
The man at the wheel did not turn.
He speeded up.
His fare wasted no time in remOn-
strances. A moment, and the chauf-
feur threw on the brake sharply. His
reason was a good one. The blue nose
of a revolver was jammed hard against
his ribs. He had looked round once
to find out what it was %prodding him.
That was enough to convince him he
had better stop.
Under the brake the back wheels
skidded and brought up against the
curb. Clay, hanging on by one hand,
was flung hard to the sidewalk. The
cab teetered, regained its equilibri-
um, gathered impetus with a snort, and
leaped forward again.
AS the cattleman clambered to his
feet he caught n full view of the
chauffeur's triumphant, vindictive face.
He had e it before, at a reception
especially arranged for him by Jer-
ry Durand n memorable night. 1t
belonged to the more talkative of the
two gunner he had surprised at the
pretended poker game. He knew, too,
without being told that this man and
Slim Jim Collins were one and the
same. The memory of Annie's strick-
en- face carried this conviction home
to him.
The rain pelted down as he moved
toward the brighter lighted street that
intersected the n where he had been
dropped. The lights of a saloon caught
his eye at the cOrne He went in.
got police headquarters on the wire,
and learned that a car answering the
description of the n used by his alb
ductor had been headed into Central
park by officers and that the downtown
exits were being watched.
Presently he picked up another taxi.
He hesitated whether to go to the
address Annie had given him or to Join
the chase uptown. Reluctantly, he de-
cided to visit the house.
Clay paid his driver and looked at
the house numbers as he moved up
the street he wanted. Many of the
residences were used to keep dodgers
IN. Others were employed for less
reputable purposes.
!. His overcoat buttoned to his neck,
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-26

CLAW walked without hesitation up the
stems of the one numbered 243. he
rang the bell and waited, mis- rlght
hand in the pocket of his o%vercoat.
The door opened cautiously a Few
inches and a pair of closest eyes
in a wrinkled face gimleted Clay
"Whadya want?"
"The old man sent me with a mes
sage" answered the Arizonan prompt
ly. Got everything ready for the
girl2"
Say, who the HI are youse|
zone of Sims friends. Listen we
got the kid-picked her up at a drug
store"
~ don know watcher fairy tales
about"
CLAW put his foot against the o
to prevent it from being closed n
drew his hand from the overcoat peck
OF. In the hand nestled a blue-nosed
persuader.
Unless the eyes peering into the
night were bad barometers of their
owners inner state, he was in a panic
of fear.
"Love O. Gawd, DIDN'T shoot" he
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-26

'Wnen uu AOu SGC 0iAln Jim 49,
81 might "a seer him this afternoon
an l might not" she said cautiously,
looking at him from under a broad
hat-brim. "Say, what's the l%ay-outf
Are you framin' Jim for up the riverT'
"Tm tryin' to saw Kitty"
Because she's your goil. Where do
I come in at? What's there in it for
me to go rappin' me friend?" demand
ed Annie sharply.
"She's not my GIRL" explained Clay.
Then, with that sure instinct that
sometimes guided him, he added, THE
young lady I'm In love with has
lust become engaged to another nan
Miss Millikan looked at him, frank
ly incredulous. For the love O Mike,
where's her eyes? Don't she know a
real man when she sees one? I'll say
she don't"
She went off swiftly at a tangent.
wouldn't it give a fellow a jar? This
guy Jim Collins slips it to me confden-
tial that he's off the crooked stuff.
Nothin' dom a-tall in gorilla work.
He kids me that he's quit goin' out
on the spud and porchclimbin' don't
look good to him no more. A four-room
fiat, a little wife, an the straight road
for Slim Jim. l fall for it, though
I'd orta be hep to men. An he dates
me up tonight for the chauffeurs'
ball"
Hp,1t NON didn't 0o9O
mo; he sidesteps it this aft with
a fairy tale about drivin' a rich old
dame out to Yonkers. All the time
he was fgurin' on pinchin' this goil
for Jerry. He's a rotten crook"
"What color is Slim Jim's carr"
"a dirty blue. WhyT"
"That was the car"
Annie lifted her hands in a little
gesture of despair. "Tm dead sick
of this game. What's there in it? l
live straight and eat in a beanery.
No lobster palaces in mine. Look at
me cheap buds. And Tim gives me
the over like l was a street cat. What
sort Of a chance did l ever have, with
toughs and gunner for me friends?'
"You've got yore chance now, An
ME. Tim will hop off that fence he's
on and light a runnin' straight for
you If he thinks you've ditched Slim
Jim. You don't owe Jerry Durand
anything, anyhow. Where would he
have Kitty taken? You can give a
guess"
She had made her decision before
she spoke. Gimme paper and a pen
Gill;"
On Clay's notebook she scrawled hur-
riedly an address.
"Jim'd croak me If he knew I'd given
this" she said, looking straight at the
cattleman.
Hell never know-and I'll never
forget it, Annie"
Clay left her and turned to the
driver. From the slip of paper in his
hand he read aloud an address,.
As Clay slammed the door shut and
the car moved forward he had an i'm
preston of something gone wrong, of
a cog in his plans slipped somewhere.
For Annie. standing in the rain IN
der a suffering misty street light.
showed a face stricken with fear.
Her dilated eyes were fixed on the
driver Of the taxicab.
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-26

tell me all about it," Clay told him.
quietly.
eve was comm home an / look
Kitty into that Red Star drug store
for to get her some ice cream. We'll
right after that 1 heerd a man say now
the lady had tainted
"What lady"
s'The lady In the machine"
"Were you in the drug storeT"
mo. We'd jes' come out when this
here automobile drew up al a mar
iumped out hollerin' the lady had
tainted and would l bring a glass o
water from the drug store. Course l
got a jump on me and Kitty she moved
mn closeter to the car to hep If she
could. When I got back to the walk
with the water the man was hoppin'
hack into the car. 1t was already o
In, He slammed the door shut and 1t
went I'D the street like creased light
MIN"
"Get the numberT
mo. IL plumb forgot to look"
Ola slipped a revolver under his
belt. He slid into a street coat. Then
he got police headquarters on the wire
and notified the Office of what had
taken place.
II had come on to rain and beneath
the street lights the asphalt shone like
a river. The storm had driven most
people indoors, but as the westerner
drew near the drug store Clay saw
with relief a taxicab draw up outside.
It's driver. crouched in his seat behind
the waterproof apron as far back as
possible from the rain, promptly &C.
cepted Lindsay as a fare.
"Back in a minute" Clay told him,
and passed into the drug store.
The abduction was still being dis
cussed. He pushed home questions as
to Identification. One of the men In
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-26
CHAPTER XII
A Lady Wears a Rina.

Clarendon Bromfield got the shock
Of his life that evening. Beatrice pro-
posed to him. 1t was at the Robertson
dinner-dance, in the Palm room, with
in sight but not within hearing of a
dozen other guests.
She camoufiaged what she vas doing
with occasional smiles and ripples of
laughter intended to deceive the 9TH
ers present, but her heart was pound
Ing sixty miles an hour.
Bromf1eld was not easily discomfort
ed. He prided himself on his aplomb.
But for once he was amazed.
81 beg your pardon"
Miss Whitford laced her fingers
round her knee and repeated. Her
eyes were hard and brilliant as dia-
monds.
II was wondering when you are
going to ask me again to marry you"
Since she had given a good deal Of
feminine diplomacy to the task OF
keeping him at a reasonable distance,
Bromfield was naturally surprised.
That's certainly a leading ques-
tlon," he parted. "What are you up
to, Bee? Are you spoofing me?"
I'm proposing to you" she ex-
planned, with a firt of her hand and
an engaging smile toward a man and
a girl who had just come into the
Palm room. II don't suppose l do 1t
very well, because I haven't had your
experience. But I'm doing the best 1
can"
His lids narrowed a triie. do you
mean that you've changed your mind?'
"Have your" she asked, quickly,
with a sidelong slant of eyes at him.
I'm still very much at your service,
Bee"
"Does that mean you still think you
want mel"
81 don't think. l know It,"
"Then you're on" she told him with
a little nod. 'Thank you, kind sir"
Brom1eld drew q deep breath. "By
Jove, you're a good little sport, Bee.
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-26

"Love o. Gawd, D-don't Shoot!" He
Chartered. ~ Amt Nobody but the
C~aretaker."
chartered. 81 amt nobody but the
caretaker."
He backed slowly away, followed by
Lindsay. The barrel of the thirty
eight held his eyes fascinated. BY
lie light of his fash Clay discovered
.1sequent.
Say, don't point that at me-" the
o.l fellow implored.
Are you alone?"
you know it,"
as Jerry comm himself with the
others?"
"They don't none of them tell me
nothin'. I'm nobody. I'm only joey"
UNLOAD what you know. Quick.
I'm in a hurry"
The man began a rambling, whin-
ing tale.
The Arizonan learned that a room
had beer prepared on the second floor
for a oman Slim had made the ar
rangements. Joe had heard Durand's
name mentioned, but knew nothing Of
the plans.
sTll look the house over. Move
along In front Of me and don't make
any mistakes. This six-gun is liable
to permeate yore anatomy with lead"
The cattleman examined the first
floor with an especial view to the ex-
its. He might have to leave in a hur-
ry. If so, he wanted to know where
he was going. The plan of the Sec
end story was another point he feat
to room. From the laundry In the
basement he had brought up a coil
of clothes-line. With this he tied Joe
hand and foot. After gagging him,
he left the man locked in a small
rear room and took the key with him.
Clay knew that he was in a precari-
u situation. If Durand returned
with Kitty and captured him here he
was lost. The man would make no
more mistakes. Certainly he would
leave no evidence against him except
that of his own tools. The intruder
would probably not be killed openly.
He would either simply disappear or
he would. be murdered with witnesses
framed to show ~self-defense. The
cattleman was as much outside the
law as the criminals were. He had
no legal business in this house. But
one thing was fixed In his mind. He
would be no inactive victim. If they
got him at all it would be only after
a fighting finish.
To Clay, standing at the head of
the stairs, came a sound that stiffened
him to a tense wariness. A KEY was
being turned in the lock Of the street
door below. He moved back into the
deeper shadows as the door swung
open.
Two men entered. One of them
cursed Softly as he stumbled against
a chair In the dark hall.
where's that rat Joe?' he demand.
ed in a subdued voice.
Then came a click of the lock. The
sound of the street rain ceased. CLAW
knew that the door had been closed
ana that he was shut in with two
desperate criminals.
What have they done with Kitty,
Why was she not with them2 He
asked himself that question even as
ne slipped back into a room that
opened to the left.
he CROPPED his way through the dark
ness, for he dared not flash his Iioh+
TO guide him. His fingers found tba
age Of a desk. Round that he cir
cled toward a closet he remembered
having noted. His arm brushed the
cioset door. Next moment he was in
siue n had closed it softly behind
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-26

the drug store had caught a flash of
the car number. He was sure the first
four figures were 1867. The fifth he
did not remember. The car was dark
blue and it looked like a taxi. This in
formation Clay got the owner Of the
store to forward to the police.
He did not wait to give it personal
ly, but joined Johnnie In the cab. The
address he gave to the driver with the
waterproof hat pulled down Over his
head was that of a certain place Of
amusement known as Heath's Palace
of Wonders. A woman he wanted to
consult was wont to sit behind a win
dow there at the receipt of customs.
Miss Annie Millikan's pert smile
beamed through the window at Clay
when he stepped up.
Hello, Mr.. Flat Worker" she sang
out. How many?"
Clay explained that his business was
serious. 1--WE got to see you alone
now" he added.
"If you gotta you gotta" The girl
called an usher, who found a second
usher to take her place.
Annie walked down the street a few
steps beside Clay.
whats the dig idea in calm me
from me job in the rush hours?' she
asked.
Clay told his story.
"Some of Jerry's strong-arm work ="
she commented.
Must be. Can you help me?"
Annie looked straight at him, a hui
morous little quirk to her mouth.
"Say, what're you askin' me to do
t'row down my steady?"
Annie was pretty, and inevitably she
had lovers. One of these was Slim
Jim Collins, confidential follower of
Jerry Durand. He was a crook, and
she knew it. But some quality In him
his good looks, perhaps, or his game
ness-fascinated her in spite of her
self. She avoided him, even while she
found herself pleased to go to Coney
with an escort so well dressed and so
glibly confident. Another of her adj
mirers was a policeman, Tim Muldoon
by name, the same one that had res
cued Clay from the savagery of Du-
rand outside the Sea Siren. Tim she
liked. But for all his Irish ardor he
was wary. He had never asked her
to marry him. She thought she knew
the reason. He did not want for a wife
a woman who had been "Slim' Jim's
girl.
Clay had come to Annie Millikan
now because of what she had told him
about "Slim" Jim. This man was one
Of Durand's stand-bys. If there was
any underground work to be done II
was odds-on chance that he would be
in charge Of 1t.
I'm askin' you to stand by a poor
girl that's in trouble" he said in an
swer to her question. "You wouldn't
let Durand spoil her life if you could
stop it."
well, what's my cue? Where do
l come in Oh this rescue-the-beautifu
/! heroine act?"
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-26

l think I'll get up and give three ring
ing cheers"
I'D like to see you do that" she
Knocked.
"Of course you know I'm the happi-
est man In the world" he said, with
w~ell-ordered composure.
You're not exactly what I'd call a
rapturous lover, Clary. But I'm not,
either, for that matter, so I dare say
We'll hit it off very we'll"
I'm a good deal harder hit than I've
EVER let on, dear girl. And I'm going
to make you very happy. That's a
promise"
Nevertheless he watched her warily,
behind a manner Of graceful eager
ness. A suspicious little thought was
fltering through the back of his mind.
"What the deuce has got into the girl?
has she been quarreling with that
bounder from Arizona?"
"Tm glad of that. I'll try to make
you a good wife, ever if" She let the
sentence die out unfinished.
'May / tell everybody how happy 1
ann"
IF you like" she agreed.
"a short engagement" he ventured.
Eyes" she nodded. "And take me
Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-26
CONTINUED from Last Week.
SYNOPSIS

CHAPTER LX.-With a theater party.
which Includes the Whitfords, Lindsay
neats Kitty Mason, friendless and pennt-
less. He leaves the party to a the girl
to- his apartment, there seemingly peing
no other place available and Kitty IN oiee
need of immediate food ana warmth
CHAPTER X.-Beatrice resents Lind
saws interest in Kitty. Though not ad-
hitting 1t aver to herself, she is becoming
attached to the Arizonan, as ne is TO her'
The two part in anger.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-02
NEITHER WOMAN GIVEN
POSSESSION OF BABE
Judge Kathryn Sellers. of Jnscnitc
Court, Decides Unique

IBy Unitcd NcWs.l

WASHINGTON. March l.-..Iudce Q
Kathryn Sellers. OF the juvenile
Court. has delivered her most din :
cult decision. in n case calling for
the judgment OF modern Solomon.
She removed II months "id hoy
from the custody OF two women, cd CHI
claiming TO be his mother. and order :
ed the baby committed To the care Of
the Board OF Children's Guardians
until he reaches the age OF II.
The strange case was thus dis
posed of after long arguments and
pleading by Mrs. Maria Mattco. OF
Washington. and Mrs. Eta Peck. uf
Tuxedo. Md. Mrs. Peck. who Is 43.
insisted that she was the mother "f
the child. and that he was stolen
from her and given to Mrs. Ma,ten.
whose own baby hau been kidnapped.
The court decided that Mrs. Mat;co
was the true mother. but held that
neither woman's home is fit environ
ment. and therefore. ordered the in
fants removal from the mothers
custody.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-02
MONCURE ASSURES MINISTER'S
GRAND JURY PROBE DESIRABLE
Alexandria Judge Suggests Exhaustive Investigation of
Whole Divorce Situation in His Court and
Recommends Action at March Term.

Members of that committee who
have examined the records and stu
alton would he very proper witnesse
to go before Il grand jury and thci
knowledge would be complete.
There is hearing before that com
mittee the latter part of this month,
and the writer personally desires
and vii! insist upon appearing before
the committee and making a state
ment. which will probably be in the
week following.
"The writer hopes the COMMITTEES
will shortly and completely report.
a grand jury should have full and
ample time to investigate and the
short period remaining for the Feb
ruary term would not be sufficient,
but the March term (of one month)
begins March IL. 1922, about which
time grand jury may certainly be
expected. and II Is the earnest desire
OF the writer that you cooperate for
full. fair and impartial invcstiga-
ton. yours truly,
"RoBINSoN MoNCURE, u
Judge of the Corporation Court,
.'Alczandria, Va"
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-02
Wins $4,000 Verdict
in False Arrest Suit

y verdict FOR $4,000 damages
was returned by "a jury In the Law
and Equity Court last night in the
suit Of :. T.. Guggenhcimcr against
the Southern Seminary and x. :.
Durham. Mr. Guggenhcimcl .ucd
Tor $4,000 for false arrest on the
charge OF abductins Miss Ruth
Hanks from that institution. lie
was acquitted Of the charge by a
magistrate a Buena Vista, the cvi-
dence showing that Mrs. Guggen-
h"imcr and Miss Hanks had been
irtonds OF long standing. and that
she voluntarily accompanied the
GugEenhcimcrs on the occasion I'm
question. The hearing consumed
thrce days in the Law and Equity
Court. The defense declined TO
submit evidence. Offering instead
demurrer To the evidence pre-
sentcd by the plaintiff. Argu-
ment on this demurrer will be
hcard at date to be fixed
The status therefor. is that
while the jury returned a vcriic,
for $4,000. the final result will
rest upon the determination OF the
case as upon the demurrer. \
number Of leading business men
Of Richmond went on the stand
yesterday to testify as TO TIC good
reputation OF MIR. GuSgcnheirer.
including Rabbi T.. y. Ca!isch.
Rev. Frank +. McFadcn. u. D.. j.
]. Paimatary. l.. u. Morris and
Thomas B. McAdams
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-02
COL. MUTT LIKELY TO
BE SENT TO FLORIDA
Try Associated press.l

WASIlNGTON. March l.-Organi
zation OF the prohibition headquart-
ers forces for the coming concen
trated campaign in Florida against
liquor smuggicrs Is being rapidly
completed. officials said tonight
Colonel l.. G. Mutt. head OF the
narcotic section. it was understood.
may be sont to Florida as field chief
of the prohibition agents gathered
there and to take active command
OF the combined forces of airplanes,
submarine chasers and land officers
which. 1t is said. are being concen-
trated for Southern operations
against rum runners.
Assignment of Colonel Mutt to
.Florida 1t iwas thought would also
mean q cleanup, OF smusglers bring
Ing Illicit drusA into the country.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-02
Mapp Stamps 1t Most Dras-
tic Prohibition Measure
Yet Passed in State.
AMENDMENT FORBIDS
SEARCH OF BAGGAGE
Bill Is Attacked by Opponents,
but Passes by Vote
of % to 9.
ACTION NOT UNEXPECTED
carrie" Out sentimen Mt Generally Prev
"lent for Stricter Enforcement
Practices.

VETS and dryS in the Virginia SEN
ATE stood by their guns yesterday
and the Mapp prohibition enforce
ment bill was passed, carving the
oiiN"r amendment making BUYERS OF
ardent spirits sold in violation OF tho
law guilty OF msdemcanor J,hsd
been hoped by the moderates that the
ASpse OF night would rcsul, I'm n
Reconsideration OF what they d..
clhred was hasty step and that the
amendment would be eliminated. The
measure. haied by dry leaders as the
mos, drastic enforcement hin ve,
passed was adopted. however. 90
to ..
Despite the inroads in the bin
made by opponents Of the measure.
Senator G. walter Mapp Of Accomac.
saffron fthe prohibition laws. de-
patron OF the prohibition laws. de-
ccpt In one place. lie is opposed 10
the amendment by Senator G. O'Cono.
GoolricH. OF fredericksburg. which
forbids the search OF private bag
gage In vehicle without warrant
unless other liquor is found therein.
Strongest Inv Yet.
This ~ the strongest prohibition
law we have ever had In Virginia. -
ssAaid Senator Mapp. Even with tho
Goolrick amendment II provides a
weapon TO meet the hootleggcr and
Illicit dealer more than half way"
The passage Of tho bill was cX-
pccted. as all Of these in previous
years who had been classcd as
''wcts" have announced their desire
to tighten up on enforcement. The
amendment making booze buyers
guilty of misdcmeanor was sron
fored hy Senator Walter Tansill
oliver. OF Fairfax. a consistent foe TO
prohibition until IT becomes a part OF
the organic law Of the land Senator
oliver. however. voted against the
bill with his own amendment incor-
porated..
When the enforcement bill was
called up. Senator Gooirick who had
hiibustered on Tuesday night 10 pre-
vent vote against reconsidcrinE
the oliver amendment until after the
Senate could think the proposition
over in a calmer moment, took the
floor. He stated that he was opposed
Mo the Oliver amendment because il
would make the enforcement OF the
prohibition law more difficult. He
declared the vote was taken hastily
and without the Senate considering
the gravity Of the step.
Fenra Widespread AntnEonlsm.
The same argument was offered by
Senator Louis S. Epes, of Nottoway.
who declared that tho Oliver amend
ment would antagonize thousands of
persons and would tend to defeat dry
reinforcement by bringing the law into
idisrep~te.
Senator Mapp disagreed with the
others and announced that he would
stick to the Oliver amendment. al
though he considered ii too drastic a
iCnntinuc1 PAGE 6 Col 4 \
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-02
Especial to The Times-Dlspatch. ]

ALEXANDRIA. VA. March l.
Judge Robinson Moncure, OF the
Corporation Court, today sent the
FOLLOWING letter to the Ministerial
fNssociation following the receipt OF
letter yesterday in which they
asked the judge to request the Gov
ernor of Virginia to make thorough
, and exhaustive Investigation OF the
divorce situation here and to take
such action as the facts warrant
His reply dated March l, follows:
REV. L. V. REGISTER. D. d.. prcsi-
dent. and members OF the Alexau-
dria Ministerial Association, Alex
andria. Va.
Gentlemen:
Receipt OF your letter Of Febru-
ary 2S, 1922. is acknowledged. 1t
mas always been and Is now my pur-
pose to have a full and complete
grand jury investigation of the di
Yorcc situation in Alexandria at. the
earliest possible time.
!. "It is. however. due the Bar Asso-
4iation committee. who have con-
.5stibutcd much time AMI labor to their
Investigation. to allow them to COM
plete the same, Is