davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30

water over the dirty dishes in the
sink, so they would soak. Stepping
to the telephone he asked for a
number with which he seemed 10
be familiar, but which was strange
to me.
"All set" he said into tie
mouthpiece.
Enjoying my mystification, ne
sienaled me to the window again.
WATCH" he whispered.
In less than five minutes, down
the street came an old covered
wagon, drawn by two burros and
driven by an old man with a long
white beard.
One of the cameramen stood up
and reached for his camera. Tns
other hesitatcd.
A pretty girl stuck her head out
of the curtains of the covered
wagon behind the old man.
The first cameraman stepped out
into the street to get picture, but
the second one had literally leaped
past him to get it first.
The old man saw them coming.
He turned the burros around. I'd
never seen burros move so quickly
before. He cracked a whip, and they
broke into a fast shuttle. They didn't
want to run, but they We're doing
their second best.
The reporters joined the chase.
They We're catching up with the
queer vehicle at the corner, but the
old man kept plying the whip, and
in another moment the burros had
all but rounded the bend, out of
sight.
"Okay," said Belzer. He was
headed for the stairs. l was close
behind. In two minutes we were
out on the street, and in another
minute were safely around the OPP
posite corner of the block.
The Morning Eagles ace couldn't
help stopping to catch his breath
and eXpend it in a laugh. Il knew
that old guy would come in handy,
the moment I saw him yesterday.
No cameraman could resist such q
perfect shot"
"You mean, you arranged for
him to supply this diversion?"
Sure. He's been waiting at the
parking lot a block down the
street since eight o'clock. I picked
that place because it has a tele-
phone"
But if it's such perfect pic
ture, didn't you cheat your paper
out Of"
He chuckled. 1--WE got our pic
ture yesterday And I paid him
plenty to keep quiet about the fact
that he is the man who put me
wise to the best clue yet in the
Markham murder ase. Won't
those guys feel sick when they
read The Morning Eagle tomor-
row.
(To Be CONT .edl
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30

theory" I told Co" 'ler Silver
You think the killing was done in
| a fit of anger. yet YOU say the body
was dragged along the walk to be
searched. That would indicate pre-
meditation.
The coroner nodded. There are
weak spots in my theory-there
would be in any theory
The captain snorted. That's
why 1 say stick to facts.
You have a theory of your
own the coroner told him. You
say Markham's death was planned
in advance, with the servants"
Gentlemen" I protested. 1T is
nearly two o'clock. Don't you think
we should"
Right" agreed the captain.
Here comes the neWshoy with
The Morning Eagle. We can take
it to bed with us
We each bought a copy from the
gray-haired, hunchback boy"
Captain Mcdonald opened his i'm
mediately, but Coroner Silver kept
mis- folded and offered to drive me
to- my Laurel street studio. 1 ac-
copied with thanks, although 1,
too, was curious to see what Bel
ger had written.
A large man lounged in the
shadows of the doorway adjoining
min. My first t..,..'--.:;.. AS that
he was the man who had sent me
the threat, but when he and the
coroner exchanged a friendly word,
knew he was my police guard.
Coroner Silver drove away. I
climbed my own steps and shut
the night on the outside of the
door.
The hall light was dim, but the
headlines and first few paragraphs
of the newspaper story in my
hands were in large, black type:
"kIRNAPER in MARKHAM
MURDER PLOT!
Bound hand and foot, and
gagged. William Strickland. por-
trait painter who has been sus-
pect in the Alfred Markham muir
der case, was rescued from the
river yesterday q half mile above
the Rio VISTA club, where the pop
ular young jcweler was found
stabbed to death Tuesday night.
interviewed exclusively by The
Morning Eagle, Strickland told of
being slugged ard kidnapped by a
large man whose face he never
;yas given a chance to see. The at
tack. he said, took place an hour
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30
Go Be Cont" ,.cdl

| boats. Trucks are cheaper"
You mean there's no way to get
to the lower floor except by the
boat landing?"
That's right. But there amt no
boat landing. It washed away, in
the big flood six years ago."
The reporter was feeling some
of the potatoes in open sacks. I'm
afraid these aren't quite what I
want" he said. Maybe we can do
some business, though. I've got
some friends who are talking about
starting a boat club. Think we
could rent the lower floor of this
warehouse ?"
Don't see why not. Boss never
uses it. But it's awful dirty"
Mind if 1 take a look?" Belzer
asked, pausing at the head of the
stairs, 'while you show my friend
some of your onions?"
go ahead" said the young man.
He turned to me. What kind of
onions?"
"Why-oh-some kind for cook
ing"
1t was very uncomfortable ten
minutes for me before Belzer re-
turned from downstairs. I learned
considerable about onions from
this young man, whose mentality
seemed to have underestimated.
Belzer was frowning when he
climbed back up the stairs. You're
right, it's dirty. And no plumbing
down there. was expecting too
much. When will you. have more
potatoes on hand?"
Were expecting more early
next week."
Good. I'll be back" He grasped
my arm and guided me toward the
door.
I'll load your sack of onions for
you," the young man offered.
Belzer gave me a queer look, but
after the young man carried the
sack down to our boat the reporter
paid the bill. Another item for the
expense account, I suppose" he
mumbled as he cranked the en-
CINE.
What did you learn?"
PLENTY! I've found the head.
quarters of the gang involved with
the Rio Vista club. I've been look.
ing for it for a long time"
(To Be Continued)
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30

| after Markham's death, IN the Rls
Vista garden, only a few feet from
the spot where the body of the
ieWeler had been found. Strickland
said his attacker bound him and
took him upstream by rowboat.
NO reason for the kidnapping
was disclosed. Strickland said his
capfor was careful to reveal moth
ing that would identify him. Nor
could the victim tell where he had
been taken, except to say that 1t
appeared to be a large, half-de-
serted warehouse on the rivers
edge"
The report went on to tell how 1
managed to roll back into the boat
and drift away, how the kidnaper
had shot at me, and how to escape
shot that was almost certain to
be fatal, I had purposely upset the
boat and taken my slim chance in
the water.
Luckily" the reporter said, IAN
Eagle reporter who was giving
thorough coverage to the case, was
on the river in motor boat"
No mention was made of Louise
Markham, for which I knew she
would be grateful.
folded the paper and started up
the stairs, quietly so as not to dis
turb my landlady. felt a little
more kindly toward Belzer. He had
moGe it quite clear that could not
identity my assailant, which should
satisfy the fellow that he didn't
have to kill me to remain I'M
Known.
Nevertheless, I was glad there
was a police guard at my front
door. The kidnaper might not SUBJ
scribe to The Morning Eagle.
There was the disturbing
thought, too, that Belzer had rec
s,nized my danger and had pur-
posely emphasized my inability to
identify the boatman. Suppose the
fellow decided it was trick? Sup
pose it only served to make certain
his suspicion that I was danger
Gus to him?
paused at the head of the stairs.
What about the rear entrance to
this house? Was it guarded? I
didn't remember that Captain Nc
Donald had spoken of assigning
more than one man to the job.
Rcsolutely I opened my door,
snapped on the light. My heart al
most stopped. A man was sitting
at the table, facing me.
Ito Se Continued
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30
CHAPTER NINETEEN
"BELZER!" I gasped.


He blinkcd his eyes in the sud-
den light and grinned at me.
Sorry l scared you. Guess 1 must
have fallen asleep"
But how did you get in here ?"
He looked surprised. Il asked
the landlady if 1 could wait. She
looked kinda pcevcd to be walked
at midnight, but my press caro-
made her think | was important.
I waited half hour, then / turned
off the light to get Il snoozc.'
But the guard out in front
the policeman ?"
"Oh, yeah! l wasn't sure OF the
address. He said this was 1t. He's
q friend of mine"
l was beginning to breathe nor
mally again. What did you want
to see ne about? offered him a
cigaret and lighted one myself,
then dropped TO Il seat on the edge
of the sofa.
about a little more co-opera-
ton. Some Of the smart guys on
the other papers will be around to
see you in the morning. I'm here
first"
80 see. It's evident. Why?"
Just to be here first, that's all.
Belzer of the Eagle gets his man
first"
You mean you intend to stay
here the rest of the night? ?"
and why not? I've slept on
worse places than that sofa. Right
after sun-up you and I can start
going places"
couldn't help grinning back at
him. The cheek of him! However,
that was the way he got his news.
He was a good reporter. No one
could deny it.
The sofa made up into fairly
comfortable bed. I loaned him a
pair of spare blankets. Don't open
the window too WIDE" I warned
him. Fog is likely to blow in from
the river
Don't I know it! I'll sleep with
the windows shut. Wouldn't want
to dampen any of these faces you
have hanging around the walls.
Did you paint 'em all? Who's that
dame over the radio?" He twisted
his cigaret butt into the ash tray
and squinted at her again. "I've
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30
NOTICE OF SUNMCNS.
In The Superior Court.

State Of North Carolina:
County Of Vance:
Dorothy S. Johnson and Milton
Fields, Admr. of Annie Hughes
Fields, deceased.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30

, seen her some place"
You saw her at the Rio Vista
club" I told him. That's Miss
Muriel Benson"
"Oh, yeah! The dame that faint-
ed" He gave me a queer LOOK
well, g'night, Butch. See you IN
the morning"
The last l saw of him as closed
the bedroom door, he was staring
at the picture and scratching ms
head Now that he had taken MS
hat off, at last, I noticed that ne
was slightly bald.
I expected to lie awake, my
thoughts in a turmoil, but I reck-
oncd without the physical eXhaus-
ton of the past "a hours. My sleep
was dreamless. I Weakened to find
Belzer in the doorway, banging on
n tin plate with a spoon. The air
was pungent with the aroma of
coffee.
1 jumped out of bed. "Stop that!
My landlady-"
your landlady is downtown, do
ing her shopping. It's nine o'clock
and we've got to be on our way.
MY policeman friend at your front
door goes off duty at 10, and his
successor may not be as successful
in persuading my rivals that you're
not to be disturbed"
He led me, still in my pajamas,
to the front window where we
pecled through the curtains. Sew
eral young men stood on the side
walk below, arguing with the plain
clothes officer. Two cameramen
were seated on the curb as though
resigned to waiting ali day.
What will we do-go out the
back way?" I asked him.
Leave that to me. Get dressed.
I'll get you out of here"
I had to admit he was a good
cook. By $50, bathed, shaved and
in clean clothes, with a breakfast
of bacon and eggs to fortify me
against what the day might bring,
T was ready to follow the lead of
my unusual guest.
"You realize" I reminded him,
chat I am doing this as a special
favor to you. After all, I might
just walk out there and talk to
those reporters"
He wasn't the least perturbed
"Not you, Butch. You're too hon.
est. You can't forget that I saved
your life"
"And so it's to be another exclu-
sive story, is it,"
Right. Today you and I find
the warehouse where you were
held prisoner. Well also go looking
for the man who kidnapped you. ]
have a line on him, believe it OF
not"
That's what the police thought
last night" I was skeptical, but
at the same time curious. when
do we start?"
"Now." He dumped a pot OF
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30
NOTICE.

Pursuant to an order Of the c..r,
dated the 22nd day OF Marr. 4:o
in that special proceedings .r'"uH
"Cephus Jones VS.. Robert Jonr. lie
undersigned Commissioner WITH ..,..
for sale and sell to the highc-r a..,g,-
for cash, at the Courthouse 4u.. IN
Henderson. North Carolina .. -
o'clock midday on Monday t... d.
1910. the following described ua,
estate:
That property located mean Hen
derson, North Carolina. known - II,
home place Of the Late Louisa
Badger Jones: said property .me
been bought by Louisa B1d-"a I.o.
from Mrs. ChaVaSSc by deed record
cd in Vance County Registry d. BOO.
l. at page 500 and Idjyins the lands
Of Harriet Cotton Mills ON the North
on the East the Harriet Cotton Mills.
on the South the Lands Of Archie
Coleman and on the West the Estate
Of the Late J. D. Cooper. f.. fur
thcr description see VIII Of Louisa
Badger Jones recorded in Vance
County Registry in Boo; Il" III yagc
1852.
Bidding to start al $4,000.
This the 22nd day Of March. 1870.
J. p. ZOLLICOFFER.
Commissioner.
J. P. & J. II. Zol!icolfcr. Attorneys.
% and 80
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30
far upstream, couldn't ?"

far upstream, couldNt?"
mo, not far
There weren't many places tc
choose from. A dirty red structure
with a faded sign that read
Dream Bros" seemed the most
likely. Belzo swung the boat
around and drifted downstream to-
ward it with the motor shut off
L.. building extended out C. the
water, but The water was not deep
enough among the piles to float a
rowboat.
There was a high tide Tuesday
night and another yesterday morn
ing" Be!zer whispered. THE wa
ter would have been a couple of
feet deeper. Look like the place ?"
Wees, I believe it is. What do
we do neXt?"
Ven get inside"
He swung the boat inshore a
hundred yards downstream. That
outfit sells potatoes" he told me.
Know anything about potatoes ?"
1 shook my head.
Good. Just keep quiets I'll be
the potato buyer" He jumped
ashore and tied the boat. fol-
lowed him up the bank and back
along the road to the warehouse.
"A not-too- bright appearing
young man in dirty overalls was
mending sacks or the warehouse
platform, He looked up without
much interest.
rs this the Dream Bros. ware
house," Belzer asked, and on re-
ceiving nod, added, we Under
stand you've got some pretty nice
spuds here"
'Guess So said the young man.
Boss is away. You wacta look
at emp"
THAT'S the general idea"
Ihe young man stretched his
legs and got up. Amt 50 much
here now. Business been bad" He
unlocked the door and preceded rs
inside.
It was the place, al; rigil:. rec
ognlzeo It by tie odors, even be-
fore l identified the windows. ]
gave Belzer e. nod when he threw
me an inquiring glance.
mot very much on hand" Bel
zer agreed with our guide. ANY
thing down stairs?
Nav Amt been anything down
there TOR years. We quit usin'
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

al TOLD YOU the servants
were mixed up in this exclaimed
Captain Mcdonald. trirmphantly.
We should have suspected some
thing when Pappinl, the cook. said
his helper went home early
I thought II the weeping mother
downstairs. The hoy was lnno-
cent" I told the officers. obvious
ly he killed himself because he had
fallen into the power OF this man
who tossed the note of warning to
him through the window
Coroner Silver agreed with me.
81 think Strickland has something
there. Captain. The 'hoy had kept
his drug addiction from his moth
er. This man knew Of it. and was
holding it over him TO force him
into a life of crime. Rather than
have his mother learn his terrible
secret, or become 4 criminal. he
chose this way out
The captain shook his mead.
"Good theory. but we should stick
to facts. This IS too early for
theories. The fact is that this boy
is linked. somehow. to the killing
OF Alfred Markham. You can't get
away from that
The boys name was Robert Will
Hams, We discovered. He was IS
years old. There WIS little more to
be learned from studying his room
ard his belongings.
I'VE can question his mother to-
morrow the captain said. Might
as we'll call il 4 night. Tine We all
got some sleep
Riding back to the police sta
ton. after picking ZIP Sullivan and
his equipment. Captain Mcdonald
asked, BY lie way. Silver. since
you are So sure Tie servants at the
Rio Vista club weren't mixed up in
MarkhGn:,S death. Just what is
your theory" There was a note of
sarcasm il his voice. but the cor
oner didn't seem TO notice it.
There was a quarrel said Cor
oner Silver slowly. He vas looking !
at the river front lights we were
passing. but without seeing them.
1T took place in the rose arbor.
The assailant. l believe. tried 10
use Strickland's pocket knife. Per-
haps it vas stolen out of Strick-
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30
CHAPTER TWENTY


WHAT IS this important clue
you've uncovered?" l asked the
reporter as he signaled a taXicab.
II searched the river with the
Markham motor boat yesterday, "
ne explained, land after I had gone
downstream for miles without find
ing your boat I began to WONDER if
someone hadn't picked it up"
MY boat?"
Sure! The rowboat in which
you got away from that kidnaper.
You turned it upside down and it
was full of bullet holes, but it
couldn't sink. 1t was made of wood.
And I was pretty sure the kid
naper wouldn't go after it, because
it was in midstream he might
have to follow it for miles"
But what could you tell from a
rowboat?"
He gave directions to the taxi
driver as we climbed in, then con-
tinued, "There'd been no report to
the police, and none of the Offices
of the water transportation CON-
panies had a report of an over
turned rowboat being picked up by
any of the employees. I was about
ready to give up when I saw this
old man with his covered wagon.
He was camI ID at the edge OF the
river, below the Rio Vista club and
Just above town, on the opposite
side"
And he had the boat?"
Fright. He wouldn't say so, right
off. He gave me a kind OF funny
answer, until I told him I'd give a
reward for the boat. 1t was inside
his wagon. I guess he figured on
selling it, though it wasn't worth
very much with those bullet holes
in it. tied it behind my boat and
lowed it upstream. Then beached
it and cut out the piece of wood
where one of the bullets had
lodged. 1 took the piece to a bal
listics expert. He's talSi-g the bull
let out and studying it. If our luck
holds, We'll find out what gun hred
that bullet, and through the gun
We'll uncover the owner"
"Belzer, you're a genius"
Call me Scoop" he said mod
estly.
Our cab was following the road
toward the river, north of the RIO
Vista club. We stopped near a
farmhouse I remembered from the
preceding day. Scoop" Belzer
paid the driver as we got out, ana
explained in an aside to me, III
goes on my expense account"
We descended the path to the
river. The Markham motor boat
was moored there, waiting for u.s.
Belzer pulled one of the small VI
tai parts of the magnetic from MS
pocket and put it in place. BET
ter than a lock-" he remarked. NO
body can run the boat without 1t.
For ten minutes it seemed that
Belzer could not even run the boat
with it, but the engine finally
started. We swung out into deep
water and headed upstream. The
river was smooth. Sunlight had
long since dispelled the fog, I
breathed deeply of the fresh air.
.SThere's something about the wa
ter" I started to remark.
"Yeah, know" said my COM
panion. Keep your eyes peeled.
What we're looking for now is the
warehouse where you were kept
prisoner"
"The only thing I remember
about it was a few trees overhead,
and the fact at the boat was a e
to go in -rder the pilin0
Among the piling," he correct
ed me. land it couldn't have been
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30
ruE KILLER SSPEAKS
IT, sV RlCHARD/HOuGHT0N
oRANDR
READ THIS FIRST:

I Bill Strickland am suspected in
the murder of my friend. Alfred Mark
ham. rich young Jewc!rr. at 4 party, at
the Rio Vista clUhhuusS. Captain OF De,
tecttvcs clyde Mcdonald is convinced
OF my innocence. bat E"uuE Coroner
Silver s,Il doubts me The coroner Is
surprised ~ iiad that hOhuailed boot
prints IN the garden whore Markham
was killed match prints found outside
house where 4 boy commits suicide
the following midnight. The boy WAS
ti.e COOKS helper 1T the RIO Vista cIup.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30
READ THIS FIRST:

I, Bill Strickland. am suspected IN
the murder of Alfred Markham, rlch
young jeweler. at party at the ! R ~
Vista club. An hour later. in the DARK
garden where my friend was stabbed
/ am slugged, trussed up and KID
naped. BclZer. reporter Tor Inc MoIh-
i've EarIe and Louise Markham, sister
If Alfred, rescue me. My unknown kid
NADER sends me a warning not to idGn-
tify him TO the police. The next night,
with a police guard in front of my
rooms. I return home, feeling SALE ana
open the door TO come face to face WIN
q man.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-30

Slale Oh NOfln SdlOI.!.d.
County Of Vance:
Dorothy S. Johnson and Milton
Fields, Admr. of Annie Hughes
Fields, deceased.
Lula E. Harlee and husband, Alex
Harlee, Rosa NJ. Clark, Catherine
Clark, Mary NJ. Clark. Mabel
Clark, Charles {. Clark. Jr. Ciya
Clark, widow, individually. and as
Administrative of Charles {. Clark,
Sr. Alex Clark and wife. Bertha
Clark, Florence Clark twidOw Of
Hosea Clark, Nancy Cor Nanme
Jefferson and husband James Jcl
ferson; Ella Clark Brown. widow;
Elnora Clark, (widow Of Willie
Clark, Jeffrey Henderson Chus-
band of Margaret Clark Henderson,
deceased, Katherin Henderson and
husband --; john Henderson
and wife, Catherine Henderson.
Eliza Henderson Bumnc! and hus-
band, Ed hummer. Rcbccca Bailey
and husband, Joe Bailey, Daisy
Henderson Bullock and husband,
Buddie Bullock, Sylvester lEcndcr-
son and wife, Lille Henderson.
Mrs. Lewis Clark (widow OF Lewis
Clark, deceased) Lewis Clark Jr'
and wife Clark, George
Clark Clark. -
Clark, Clark. tiniani
children of Lewis Clark, 81. whose
names at this time arc unknown
TO plaintiffs, Simon Clark and VIE
Effie Clark, ISuddic Hughes ana
wife, Emma Hughes. Rosa Clark
Bullock and husband -
Bullock, Alex Hughes. Daycy
Hughes and wife, -- Hughes
William Hughes and wife. -
Hughes, Sam Hughes, Ola Hughes,
Mary Frances Twisdaie (WldcW I"
Henry Clark, william Henry
Clark, Rufus Clark and wife -
Clark, Mary CIarl: and nus
band, Clark, NahdoIA
Clark, Gomorrah Clark. Dorothy
Clark, Hazel Clark and EDWARD
Clark, Lewis Johnson. husband
Of Dorothy S. Johnson and a.!
other persons in cssc or who miSL'
have an interest in the subject mat
ter who will appear b. Guardian
ad Litem.
The defendants, Rosa Clark bu-
lock and husband ---- bu!:oc''
Buddie Hughes and wife. ho'a"
Hughes, Alex Hughcs and vile
Hughes, Davcy IIugh". and VINE.
Hughe3, william iueAc,
and wife, IuGh", -.
Hughes, Ola Hughcs. William Il.
Clark, Mary Clark and husband
--- Lewis Clark and wife. -
- Clark, George Clark.
Clark, - Clark.
Clark (infant children Of Le"N
Clark, ST.. whose names 4; ihIs ,...S
are unknown to plaintil.>r FL.
Clark Brown, Florence Cam,
(widow Of Hosea Clark. Nancy ~.
Nanine) jefferson and huso"i'oS,
James jefferson, Alex CLARK ana
wife, Bertha Clark, Simon Claf@ "..'
wife, Effie Clark, and all other H'
sons in esse or who might nave "''
interest in the subject matte. WV
will appear by Guardian az L.'..'
will take notice that an ac'."i '.
titled as above in the nature az o..
action for construction Of VIII. d..
establishment of the RICH, d" .
parties hereto, and the app"h ..
If a Receiver, has been c"Im.,''."
n the Superior Court Of Vance O"o"
y, North Carolina, and the ~"'o a.
endants will further take notice .."'
hey are required to appcaI II.
'fflce Of the Clerk Of the superb
>ourt Of Vance County. in The I1".,
ouse in Henderson, North C.."''.,%:
n the 30th day of April. 1870. ~"
nsWer or demur to the complaint 90
aid action, or the plaintiffs "" ~
ly TO the Court for the rene ~
landed in said complaint.
This 21st day of March. lJt''
E. o. FALKNhh.
Clerk Superior Co"."
Gholson & Gholson,
Attorneys for Plaintiff.
O-6-13-2O
1t.
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