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H - m JW&i* '' ~ i 4 author or 2® STRANGE CASE CAVENDISH + ♦ ♦ Illustrations* _ ^ J«*WEIL copy R>OHT. BY RANPALt. PARHI5H MARIE GESSLER. /'r • -v. Synopsis.—In a Now York Jewelry store Philip Severn, United States consular acent. notices a small box which attracts him. He purchases it. Later he discovers in a secret compartment a writing givirtg a clew to a revolutionary movement in this country seeking to overthrow the Chilean government. The writ ing mentions a rendezvous, and Severn decides to investigate. Find- ‘ ■ng the place mentioned in the writ ing apparently deserted, Severn visits a saloon iq the vicinity. A woman in the place is meF^by a man, seemingly by appointment, and Severn, his suspicions aroused, follows them. They go to the des ignated meeting place, an aban doned iron foundry. At the ren dezvous Severn is accepted ^s one of the conspirators and admitted. He meets a stranger who addresses hi« as Harry Daly. The Incident plays into Severn's hands and he accepts it. His new acquaintance is a notorious thief.- “Gentleman George" Harris. Concealed. Sev ern hears the girl he had followed address the conspirators. She urges them to hasten the work of the revolution. The girl discovers Sev- of his presence and makes an appointment to meet him next day. He tells her his name Is Daly. Hgrrls Informs him of a scheme tl% has to secure a sum amounting to fi.000,000. the revolu tionary fund, and offers to “split" with him. Severn accepts the prop osition. Severn lArns it was his new friend and a “CapUIn Alva" who had lost the box which started him on the trail. . the d—n revolution, for he gets his share out of the pot right away. He’s justice. desire In roy mind was io be once more alone, so as to think over, and piece together as best I might this fabric of villainy with which I was confronted. The situation was fairly dear, yet there were _ strange lights Yful shadows In It 1 found hard to reconcile. Moreover, what should I do? How,could«I serve best—by Im mediately telling my story to the of ficers of the law, and thus washing my hands clean? or by continuing to en act tbe rule of Harry Daly, and in this way entrapping these fellows red- handed? I had had fully enough of Harris for the present. Hi? boastful ness and pride of crime disgusted me. I had no desire to be associated, with the fellow, or pretend, even for a worthy purpose, to be his companion. Yet, all this had happened so sudden ly and unexpectedly I could not de termine the best course to pursue. - J remained dazed nnd^fconfused, the only clear decision being an eagerness to bring him, and these others also, to CHAPTER VI—Continued . “And then, of course, you hunted up Alvar “The next morning, before any bank opened. I thought over It all night and got up 1 peach of a story! v needed k, too, for this Alva was smooth guy. It took some nerve to get him, but I knew, through Horner's memorandum, some things shout him he never supposed was known up In this country; so when I sprung them, nutural-llke, he quit being offish, and gave me the glad hand.” “Who Is he? A crank?” “Not by a d—d sight. He’s n cap; tain In the Chilean army, military at tache to the embassy at Washington, intrusted with certain work. But he’s really working to overthrow the pres ent Chilean government—gettln’ up a revolution down there. I lied until I was black In the face, but I must have.kept within bounds, for he got to liking me real well. He was a high-roller, and I put him .onto some things In New York he had never been; steered against before. That made a hit with him. There wasn’t nothing said about cashing up all day long, and early the next morning we 'breezed into a downtown hotel, and went to bed.” “What hotei?” “Search me: We’d been tanking up on champagne nnd were drunker in the morning than when we turned In. That's the honest truth. All either of us wanted for breakfast was a cup of coffee. We got that at a little dump on some side street, so as to brace up a ITttle.” He paused to laugh at the recollection, helping himself to a third Cigar. “And you actually ret alp fra knowl edge of where you spent vHBght?" “Not the faintest gllmmeL^Can you beat it? Alva lost part of a letter somewhere, and a curious sort of box he had picked up In Chinatown. He put thftfn both in his pocket, so he says, bat that was the last he ever saw of either. Queer looking box that was; nothing I cared about, but ♦ It cost the guy a hundred bucks, and he was daffy oyer it. Anyhow, that night put ms solid with Alva." “But the money? He’s never drawn itr “Not a dinky red. He claims the time hasn’t come yet, and that it’s safer with Krnntz. But I’ve stuck to him like a brother and he’s took me in with his gang, so now I know every move that’s going on. „ I’m on the in side, all and now it’s beginning to get hot." ‘They are ready to act?" "Sure; that's what the meeting was about tonight." "What are they after—ships?" “Well, they’va got to have some, but mostly arms; then there is a guy down there who’s got to be croaked. I don’t care what It is; when the time comes they won’t find a handful of change to act with. Fm some patriot, I am. and I’ll put a bigger crimp in their sails than the whole United States government secret service." “But . see here, Harris,” soberly, “how do you know you are going to get this? Of course, I see the gntne the way you’ve mapped it out, but •uppose'Krantx pays in check, or draft. That spikes your gun." TJ—I, ye*: but be won’t. Fve sized op this mao Krantx. He’s in the game for money. He dent care who wtas playing the game secretly on his own account. Get that? He expects 4t may be a year, or perhaps two, before he can cash in on the deal, but when It does come his share of profit will be likely a hundred thousand. That beats bank interest, and the old .bird is willing to fake the chance, “Quite likely that’s true; no bank would finance such a project.' “Of course not—the directors would throw a fit. Well, now,' that kind of a guy, in on s raw deal like this, Is going to play safe, isn’t he? He isn’t going to leave any evidence lying around to hang himself with—any drafts, or checks to pass through the clearing house? Not on your life; he is too wily a fox for that. Krantz knew this was coming, and he’s been cashing In for six months or more to be ready for it. And now he’s got the currency stored away, nobody knows where but himself. When Alva comes for It, it will be handed out se cretly, and thift old bird will crumple rewipt 1n his pocket and wait till he can cash In through those guys in London. So now It’s up to us to locate the dough; we’ve got to sepa rate It from either Krantz, or Alva— Pm for Alva." ' “Why?" "Because the job looks easier. He’s human nnd no money grubber. He’s Just as liable as not to carry the whole wad around with him; d—n It: I tWnk-4hat’s just what he will do, for he won’t dare deposit such a sum anywhere. That’s why I have laid back so long, without attempting to strike—I’m banking on the army cap tain to offer me a soft thing. What do you say?"',- I had the whole story now in a nut shell and It was one to think over. That Harris had played his cards well was sufficiently evident. Now I must be fully as cautious In playing mine. I felt the fellow had given me his full confidence; actually believing me to be Daly, and on the same trail with him; desiring to use me in what was probably the biggest Job of his life, he had been led Into the Indiscretion of confiding to me the full truth of his scheme. If I kept my head nnd nerve. I had It In my power to block everything and thus bring the whole gang to swift justice. I realized the danger (»f such an attempt, the Imme diate peril of endeavoring to accom plish this alone, yet at the moment perceived no other way. I must re main Daly and appear eager to obtain my share of the spoils. “A slick piece of work, Harris," I admitted admiringly, “and so far as I can Judge you have figured out the chapces about right. They look, good. Furwith you. old man—shake!" Our hands clasped, “That Is what I thought you would say, Harry," more familiarly. “Come on now and drink with me." I put the stuff down,'rather feeling the need of It, nnd desiring to estab lish our intimacy more closely. “Then that’s settled, George—yes, I’ll have anothec cigar. By the way," as I lit up, “there was another thing I wanted to ask you about. You said there was 1 a woman here from Wash ington. What’s the idea?” D—n If I know, but I guess It’s- all rlghtr Still I don’t quite cotton to the dame. This Is how I get It from Alva. Those junta fellows-—the big ones, you know—think this New York bunch is pretty slow; they want some action, ftff* their money. So,Senor Mendez, 3 who seems to be engineering the deal, decides to send somebody over here to stir up the criminals. But he’s watched every minute; secret service men are as thick as flies, and if one of hts underlings was to leave for New York, he’d never get_ten feet without being spotted. Mendez is wise to this, so he gathers In privately a skirt he believes is, all right, and sends her. It’s not a decent Job for a woman, and that’s what makes It safe. He made a good guess, too; that female is as smart ns a steel trap. She gave me the cold shivers!" You don’t think she suspects you?" No, I don’t; there ain’t no reason why she should; but she gave me the oiice over, all right, and I am perfect- y,willing to know she Is on her way back to Washington. I never did play in any luck with a woman In the game —perhaps that’s what makes me afraid of ’em.” *What’s her name?” ‘Gessler. so Alva said—Marie Cess er; South American, I suppose; any how, she talked that language like a native. I steered clear of her most of he time. Somehow she got my goat, lowever, that’s nothing to worry over.”- He glanced at hts watch. “The dame’s safely off by this time. What do you say—Jet’s go home." 1 signified my willingness. ▲a we passed out together through the narrow passage, extinguishing the ights behind us, the We were the last to leave the place, and emerged from the building Into the deserted yard, leaving alt in si lence and darkness behind us. The door closed tightly, secured by a night- latch, and we stood motionless In the drizzle. By that time I was ready with a suggestion,, but by good fortune he took the initiative. “We better slip out of here alone, I reckon,” he whispered. “I’ll go up this way, and then yop take a sneak through the lumber yard. Likely we’ll catch the same car going down. If we don’t, look me up at Costlgan’s place —you know where that Is?” “Sixth avenue, isn’t It?" ‘^Syre. Ask for Parker, and It will be all right. If I afn’t In, leave a note where I can hunt you up. . I got to keep my eye on Alva tomorrow, so he don’t get away with the stuff.” "You expect him to draw?" “Not before night; but, just the same,. I want to know for sure. You wait here five minutes, for I’ve got the longest trjfr'lo make. You’ll show up all rlgtoT’* “Yop can’t lose me; It looks too good." He chuckled and patted me on the shouMer In an excess of friendliness, evidently feeling to. some extent the whisky he had been imbibing so freely. “That's the talk, Daly. Well ao long.” He slipped out through the gate Into the dark of the alley, leaving It slight ly ajar for me to follow. I sheltered myself behind the high board fence and listened to the soft slush of his feet In the mud. The sound vanished, and all about was silence and dark ness. I waited only long enough to be sure he was safely out of the way, and then followed, eager to l>e off. One thing was certain, F would make no effort to Join him on the car; I would use the remainder of the night to de cide the future, working out the prob lem-.alone. To make certain that I avoided any possibility of encountering the fellow again, I passed directly through the deserted lumber yard before emerging upon Gans street. This thoroughfare was at this hour desolate enough, not a light showing In the houses, or a moving figure visible as ^far as I could see in the dimness of the street lamps. The rain was steady, the pave ment shimmering with moisture, the only sound the flattering of jthe drops ns they fell. If any policemen were abroad I saw no signs, qnd, with col lar turned up to my ears. I chose to walk rather than seek the block to the east and the possibility of a street car. The factory district ended In a row of houses, dark and silent at this hour, but the walking was good, and I pushed forward briskly, so burled In thought as to bfcome practically In sensible to the unpleasant surround ings. The night had been a full one, far exceeding my expectations, yet left me more puzzled than ever as tc my. own duty. So far I knew of no act of crime with which these men could be connected; they were mere ly proposing a future attack on a neu tral government. If, however I con sented to play my part with Harris, I would not only be In ample time to circumvent any danger Alva and ^ils gang might contemfxlate, but also gain ample evidence for-their conviction and expulsion from this country. In addition to this I would be in position •to block the daring plaps of this inter national thief. Altogether' It seemed to me that the wiser course for me to pursue was to wait, and watch, ready to act at any moment, but keeping my own council until certain that the specific moment luid arrived. Nor was I oblivious to the strange Impression left upon me by my en counter with Marie Gessler. She had interested me oddly, and.J could not drive her memory from my thoughts. Our moment of conversation had been peculiar, and her words and, actions remained as a constraint. Why had she stood there, her hand on the door, and talked to me 'in that mocking way? Had she a purpose, an aim? Did she believe my explanation? or was her suspicion aroused into a de termination to verify It In some way? Although I could Dot decide, yet doubt less the latter theory was the most probable. That was why I had been pledged to call at “247 Le Corapte street,” and ask for “MISS Conrad." This was the same place where Harris had secretly met Krantz. * Evidently It was another headquarters for these precious villains. Once there, an<\ safely In their power, the truth of my identity could easily be established. Was that her Idea? ©ova (HI»» * SCOUTS COMMONER SEEMINGLY WAS IN FINE SPIRITS THOUGH HE , , HAS A SEVERE COLD. DISCUSSED DROSS SALES TAX Shifta Burden From the Profiteer to Victime, but Process Lika a Snare Set in Sight of a Bird. Columbia.—William. Jennings Bryan dropped in on Columbia for y. abort visit on his way from Washington to Miami, Fla. Mr. Bryan was here for only a brief time between trains. The commoner was in the best of spirits, although suffering from a se vere cold. Mr. Bryan diaenssed briefly the gross sales tax while here. “Do you think the proposed gross sale tax would tend to reduce tha cost of liv ing," the commoner was asked and ha answered: “Not at all. It would simply trana* for the tax from the profiteer to hia victim. An excess profits tax answers two purposes. First, it collects reve nue from those who are best able to pay. Second, It discourages exploita tion by taking from the exploiter a considerable part of his booty. “What reason have we to believe that a profiteer without conscience would decrease prices merely because he can, when by keeping them op be can make two or three times as much? But the gross sale tax Is not likely to be Indorsed by congress. It operates too plainly. It shifts the burden from the profiteer to hla victim, but the pro cess is so simple that it Is like a snare set in sight of the bird. Spartanburg —It may be that In the approaching municipal election the people of Spartanburg will be called upon to vote for four city commis sioners instead of two, as has been the practice for several years ilast. The matter is being investigated now by city attorney, George W. Nichols, and by other attorneys as well but no body Is as yet willing to express s poe- tlve opinion. Chester.—The material for the con struction of the overhead bridge of tbe Southern railway s few miles north of Chester has arrived and work is going on rapidly toward the con struction of It. It will be a splendid bridge of steel. The hews of the con struction of this new bridge will be hailed with delight from long suffering travelers all the way from Charlotte to Columbia. Tha SOver Dagger! _ (TO BK CONTIMUKDJ ^Conducted by National Council of tba Boy Scouts of America.) ST. LOUIS HONORS SCOUTS St. Louis celebrated the week of April 4 to 9 aa Boy Scout week, to tha great Interest of the community. Tbs mayor of the city Issued the follow ing proclamation In connection with the event: Whereat, The American boy embod ies the hope of civilization and prog ress of our country, our state and out city, aa the boy of today is the man of tomorrow, and Whereas, Every citizen has a respon sibility to encourage all efforts that have for their purpose influence and training of boys, so they may develop to tbe stature of manhood, safe, clean and prepared to undertake their individual parts in. the work of the world with an understanding of their obligations as citizens, husbands and fathers; and Whereas, The president of the Boy Scouts of America, Cbilfa H. Living stone of Washington, D, C n a man of large affairs, Is making a special trip to St. Louis at personal sacrifice tp encourage and counsel with the local boy scout organization; and Whereas, The boy scout movement In this community has been given grat ifying impetua during the laat two years, resulting In many forward steps such as the purchase and full payment for a wonderful camp site in the Ozarks, a broadening of the scope of the work In St. Louis, participation In the Francis Home for Boy Scouts, and Junior Chamber of Commerce; and Whereas, The citizens of St. Lonis are obligated to the boy scouts for val uable service rendered on numerous occasions, such as tbe various cam paigns during the war, the very effi cient handling of the ushering at the Municipal opera, and in fact every pub lic function where their services are natled; Therefore, As mayor of the city of SL Louis, I hereby proclaim the week of April 4 to 9, 1921, as Boy Scout week, and request the mothers and fathers and all other citizens of St. Louis to give special thought, atten tion and encouragement to the boy scout activities and organisation dur ing that week, as evidence of their love for boys and their genuine appre ciation of a movement which has been defined aa “a process of making real men out of real boys with a real program," and which leads the boy in early life to do his duty to Ood and <^>untry, Ro help other people at all times and to keep physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. Charleston.—W. T. C. Bates, Jr., of Columbia, pleading guilty before Judge H. A. M. Smith In federal court here of an indictment for embezzlement of over J150.000 from the Liberty Na tional hank, of which he was assistant cashier, was sentenced to pay a flue of $5,000 and costs and to -serve five years In the federal prison In Atlanta. Hartsville. — Under the efficient leadership of A. H. Ward, county agent, 30 sterling young prospective farmers of Darlington countv held an interesting club rally at, Coker col lege. The magnificent campus of the college, with the. dining room, dormi tory and swimming pool, was given to the use of the youngsters who had a great time. Aiken.—News was received In Ai ken from Birmingham, Ala., of the (loath of Jesse L. Gantt, a former well known South Carolina newsnaner man In several states, was prominent tn this state tn political affairs for four years. He was .secrete* , v nf state about 1900.' > Larry Gantt, widely known reform editor in the ’90s. was hti father. Anderson.—J. Dexter Brown and daughter. Gladys: Mrs/' Paul Chow- ther, Carol and Henry Crowther and Miss Mary Burton left for a trip West. Thev will <?o to THcaeo and on from there to Chico, Celff. Th«>v. will visit the Yellpwstone park on their return. THE FIGHTING BPIRIT. A statement by an Eagle scout: Many a person has proved himself an utter failure in life because ha lacked tbe pep and the push that com pel success. Why? Simply because he hadn’t been brought up to put his shoulder to the wheel. He lacked that great virtue so vitally Important, so neces sary for a successful career—fighting spirit! One of the objects* of the boy scout organization is to teach, self-reliance and persistency; to stick to a propo sition till jt Is accompljshed; to use discouragement as au Impetus toward that accomplishment. * What finer lea- son could there be? The boy scout is taught to carry his own load without a murmur, without “pulling a long face” or falling by the wayside and to carry It with a smile. Each and ev ery scout Is taught to meet the turn ing of fate without a flinch.- Though the boy scouts’ motto Is "Be prepared," we might supplement It with still another: "Don’t jtfve up tHL.the whistle blows." Take the average scout; what Is failure to him? He Is taught to smile at defeat. He hits In all the harder, more determined than before to attain his goal. He takes pride in this spirit and climbs the hill under his own poWer. not under the powers and do ings of others. He puts full faith in himself and builds his castle on the foundation of persistency. He stands for the square deal, for all that is Just In life, and In standing for these principles he stands for what hts en tire organization represents. • Badtv Injured bv Enqine. Spartanburg.—W. M. Wright, who resides at 130 Dickson street, while erasing the railroad track leading from the station to the Inman cotton mills about noon, was run into by an engine which was shifting cars, and hla horse killed, his wagon demolished and he was badly injured. He suffer ed injury on hip, his right arm and breast. He was taken to his home where he was thoroughly examined tb find the extent of the injuries. The horse was badly mutilated. BOY SCOUT FRIEND TO TREES. Every boy scout Is a pledged con servationist. He will not only run the risk of being responsible for a for est fire himself, but he will preach the hows and whys of forest fire preven tion wherever he goes.-..He will not willfully hack or Injure trees In any way, and he will interest himself In fighting tree enemies of all sorts like the pine blister and the tent caterpil lar. The trees are his friends and be • la ready to do them a good turn when ever opportunity offers. , Anderson Man a Champion Shot. Anderson.—Paul Earle of this city has won both championships for the Southern zone and preliminary handi cap at the -trap shooting contest to Atlanta Mr. Earle broke 135 targets without a miss and tied 117 of 200. In shooting the tie off he won the championship event. He was present ed with a 14 carat American Trap- shooters association medil. and the championship of the Southern zone. Mr. Earle made a remarkable record by breaking 97 oet of 190 white tiara hi tha handicap shoot BUSY BOY SCOUTS, Sixteen boy scouts of Dubuque spent their spring vacation on a ncioc'nf trip down tbe Maquoke a river. In recognition of tbe floe services of the Boy Scouts of America during the war, a new oil tanker built by the Swiftsurs Company of Portland, Ore., was launched recently under the name of the Swiftsrout and christened with a bottle of water from Wabtua Lake, tbe scout summer tamp, by Harold Adams, tbe ranking scout ef Portland Bcllans Hof water Sure Reliefs: BiMafthSE WOULD TAKE, BACK HIS RIB Tommie Planned Diro-Vei^eance for the Faithlessness of Hla Ftckla Playmate. Little Tommie, a precocious six- year-old, had been disappointed tn love. He had a date to play with little Mary Ann In her house across the way. When he got there ha found she had forgotten all about him and *as sliding dowgi bill on bis rival's new sled. Tommie returned home, disgusted with all girls In general aud one in particular. He didn’t cry nor did ha contemplate suicide. Instead he went straight to his mamma and with child ish naivete said: “Mamma, d’you know what I'd do If 1 vas Adam? I’d go right up to heaven and I’d say, ‘Please, Mr. Tfod. if ii’s just the same to you, Fd Ilka to have my rib back.’" d WHY DRU66ISTS RECOMMEM) SWAMP-ROOT . For many years druggists have witched with much interest the remarkable record maintained by Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root, tha great kidney, liver and bladder medi cine. It is a physician’s prescription. Swamp-Root is a strengthening asedi- eine. It helps the kidneys, liver and blad der do the work natare intended they should do. Swamp-Root baa stood the teet of yearn. It ia sold by all dTOggiata on its merit and it should help you. No other kidney medicine bee oo many frienda. Be sure to get Swamp-Root and start treatment at once. However, if you wish first to test this groat preparation send Jen cents to Dr. Kilmer A CoL Binghamton, N. T n far a sample bottle. When writing be sure and mention this paper.—Adv. All In Good Time. It was at a children’s picnic, and they were playing at farmyard, each youngster pretending to be bis or her favorite animal. Tbe woods echoed with grunting, barking and crowing— but one little girl sat silent. "Why don’t you play?" asked one of the teachers. N “Please, miss. Fm playing," she re plied. “What are you. then?*’" “Please, miss. I’m a hen, and Paa laying an egg. When I’ve finished I shall cackle!’’ The next time you buy calomel ask for The purified and refined calomel tablets that are nauaealeaa, safe and sure. Medicinal rirtues retain* ed and improred. Sold only in sealed package*. Price 35c. eoMc. dtanhosa, |tom Hat i ■ HEADACHE? Go to your druggist or dealer and ask for a package of and get rriidL aftereffects. You can upon White Capa. Tky<