Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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^ikPM 'flOM (Gontinutd from last weak) I CHAPTER XI What ths Telephone Told. All West'* Indifference vanjshed Instantly. He hud to pry the paper out, so closely had It been wedged In beneath the closed blade, and It required a moment In which to straighten It out so that the writing was discernible. Even then the marks were so falht, ahd minute, he could not really decipher thdta until he made use of a magnlfylug glass lying oq the desk. A woman's hand, using a pencil, had hastily Inscribed the words on a scrap of common paper, apparently torn front some book?the Inspiration of an Instant, perhaps a sudden hope born of desperation. He fairly had to dig the words out, letter by letter, copying them on an old envelope until he had the message complete: "Please notify police to search Seminole quick." ^ ?/>? -? A-*-!- ' * T>cai rnu mis over, worn oy worn, again and again. What did It mean? I"Ud it mean anything? Had it any i possible connection with the case in whch he was interested? There was no signature, nothing to guide him; ' yot In some way the plea sounded j real, wns a cry of distress, an appeal ! for help. It could he given no other j meaning, y&t how long had It been I lying there In the all#y? Not any j great length of tiqje surely, for the j polished silver was far too consplcueus to escape notice. It must have been dropped during the nigtit, within a very short time of its discovery. But what did the words signify? "Notify police" was clear enough, but "search Seminole" meant absolutely nothing. What was "Seminole"?an apartment , house? A hotel? A saloon? Perhaps the police would know; evidently the writer so believed, or she would never nave used the name with such confidence. A familiar name to her, she assumed that the police would have no difficulty In Instantly locating the place meant. The haste with which the message had apparently been written, Its short, sharp words, bespoke urgent need, the consciousness of Imminent peril. Plainly the writer had used the only means at hand In n hurried desperate effort to gain assistance. "The police." The request had been for the police; then why not appenl to the police? Why not take the note now directly to headquarters, and let them help solve Its mystery? At first West hesitated, yet a moment's thought convinced him this would be the logical course to pursue. Ills appealing to the police need not nec essnrlly Involve any disclosure reintlve to the Coolldge matter. lie had found thh? note accidentally In an nlley In the northwest section of the city; his being there need require no special explanation; he did not understand Its meaning, and consequently he placed It In their hands. That all sounded natural enough. He looked at Sexton, who was sleeping soundly, and decided not to awaken the man. He hod no use for his services Just now; the City hall was only a few blocks away, and he might not he out more than an hour himself. He would leave a note so that If by'any chance he should he delayed. Sexton would understand what had occurred. He scratched this off hastily, placed It In a conspicuous place, and swiftly departed, after extinguishing the light. He was no longer conscious of fatigue, or the pain of bruises, his nilnd eager to learn the meaning of this new dls covery. ' It hnd been a quiet night nt the Clt> Hall station, and West encountered no difficulty In reaching the presence of the lieutenant In charge. The offieei who had opened the door to the lnnei cut,I .... ,1,.... . "This guy wants to see you person- ] ally, sLr; he wouldn't talk to no one else." "All right, Slavin; shnt the door and I'll hear wliut he lins th say. What Is it. my man?" West explained swiftly and clearly his manner of speech, as well as life | statement as to who he was. evidently making n favorable Impression on hh listener. He took the note, spread ll out on the desk, and studied It care fully. "Looks genuine enough," he com niented at last, "hut not very clear I don't know any pluce In this town culled Seminole. Walt a minute though ; perhaps one of the boys may have an Idea." lie pressed a bulton on top "of the :desk. dad In respond* to the summons a side door opened, uad a van in plain clothes entered. "You rang, sir?" ^ "Yes, Me Adams; this gtntleman hero?" "Captain West, as I am a tinner,H "e exciuioiea. uw) i out i are. giaa \u see you again, old ninn I Say. By Ond! you dont remember me." "Oh, but 1 certainly do, Mac," and West grasped the extended hnnd heartily. "It's a devil of n surprise, that's all. Saw you last at Brest. th? day you sailed for home. So this war your Job, sergeant?" "Been' with the department ever since 1 was a kid. Put me In -plain clothe* since I came back. Lieutenant this IS Captain West, officer across the pond with the engineers; we were huddles for about two months. What was wanted, sir?" "Well;* Captain West has Juat l>fcer. telling me a rat&gr peculiar story, and * '-^r- - 1 ' ? j/wi I B MBH COPVRtOMT 1922 by ALFRED A. KNOPF mc wanted some Information T Thought perhaps you could give; you know the old town right better than I do. First of all, do you recall any crook by tho native of Hobart?Jim Hobart?" "Hobart? Hobart? No. not off hand, I don't. How old a man Is he. Cap* tain?" "Middle-aged, nnvway; an active fellow enough, but his hair Is quite gray." "Do you know where be bangs out?" "The last I saw of hliu was In a saloon known as Mike's place over on Wrny street," "Off Milwaukee; yes, I know. Mike Is a big Pole, bnt, bus never had any serious trouble so far as I know. However, being there Is no special recommendation to a guy, but I don't believe this mun Hobart has been pfdVd I since I've been on the force." "Look lilin up In the Index, Mac." McAdams drew out a thlcjr Volume from a 'nearby cabinet, and ran his fingers swiftly down a long column of names, Indexed under the letter "H." Suddenly he stopped, with an exclamation. 1 "The lad Is here all right?government offense, fifteen years ago, third tf?r |j^ ^ "The Lad Is Here, All Right.". arrest; mugged number 28113. Let's look hltn up, nnd see if he is the same man. Coiue over here, Captain." "Is that the fellow?" he asked. West studied tho face seriously. "Yes, I believe It is, Mac," he said at length. "He looks much older now, but those are his features nil What was his game?" con mostly, according to the record; only one conviction though, two) years In Detroit for using the mnlli1 to defraud. Oil, yes, here Is something! different, 'assault with Intent to kill'? i Indeterminate sentence to Jollct fot that. Nothing heard of him since. Sc he Is back, and at the old game again Do you want him brought In, Cap tain?" "No, not yet. I haven't anything ngulnst the man now but a. suspicion j I wanted to learn his record, that'j nil. This Inquiry was only Incidental What I'm really Interested In Just al present Is something I picked up ir the alley hnck of Mike's place thre< or four hours ago. It's a note In ?' womnn's handwriting, nnd when J: found It, it w(in hidden In n sinal! \ silver penknife, such as a lady might carry," '"I'liere Is a woman ir. it. then?" "Yes; but I haven't got thlngt hitched up sufliclcntly to talk uhout It Tlie note Itself Is blind." "in what respect?" "Well, here It Is. Can you make II out? I'll rend It for you?"Please no tlfy police to search Seminole quick.' "No signature?" "None." "But that Is plain enough, isn't It?' "Yes, If you know what she mean* by Seminole; what Is It? A street' An apartment house? A saloon? D< you know ot anything under thai name?" McAdams stood motionless thinking "jNo, i>y thunder, I don't," he ad relnctnntl v. "There Ik no atree' of that name In the city. There use< to he a shady hotel over on Ontarlt street called "The Seminole,' but tha> was torn down ten years ago. I nevei heard of any other, did you, Dave? "No," answered th? lleutenan* slowly, sucking away at a cigar. ''May be' It's the name of a l>oat?seems me I've heard some such name before' but I don't Just recollect whereN "A boat I Wpll. that's a straw, any way, ^nd worth looking up." Ma< picked up the telephone. "Who Is ot at the harbor master's office this tlmi of night Y" "Wlnchell, usually, and he'll have- a record there." j The detective Jiggled the receiver impatiently. I "Yes, tills Is police headquarters <*nlllntt. (Jive me the hnrbor mnster's t'fllce, please. Oh, Is this you, Dun? Ih?b McAdnms speaking. Do you know of uny bout on the hikes culled the Seminole? What's that.? A lumber schooner nt Rscnnnhn? Never makes ihls port. yyou sny? And you don't know of any otlior by thnt name? Sure, I'll hold the wire; look it up.". - *ror m T?r pwriomr ?*V * I aid over bit shoulder, ''but Dsn will hsvs the dope for us In a mluute." He suddenly straightened up, the receiver at bis ear. "I didn't quite get that, Dan. A me- | dlum-slzed yacht, you say? Where Is | It? Ob, at the Jackson Park lagoon. X see, and who did you say owned It? | Coolldge? What Coolldge? Exactly; j the fellow who killed himself out 1 south. Hold the wire." < He swung about to face West. '"This mean anything to you?" "It surely does," eagerly. "The girl I spoke of was Natalie Coolldge. Ily all the gods, we are on the right truck." "All right, Dan," resuming his conversation. "What's that? Coolldge had the boat UD the river n tew week* ago trying to sell It. That's how you happened to remember the name?I see. Say, Is there any one out at JackRon park I eould talk to at this hour? Who? Oh, yea, the life saving stntlon. Sure: somebody will he on duty there. Thnnks, old man?good night." lie hung the reeelver upon the hook, and reached for the telephone directory. "Some luck, I say. Jackson park? oh, yes, here It Is. All right. Central; sure, that Is the proper number. This Is the City Hall police headquarters again; hustle It up. please. Hullo, Jackson Park life-saving station? Good; this Is MeAdauis speaking from the city detectlv* bureuu. Is there a yacht out there In the lagoon called the Seminole? belongs to a man named Coolldge; medium-sized boat, with gas engine. Yes; what's that? Not- there now; went out Into the lake about two hours ngo. The h?11 it ?iiii' \vn?? was aboard? do you know? Say that again; oh, you wasn't on watch when she suiled; your partner said what? Three men and a women. All right, yes, I got It. Say now, listen ; this is n police matter, so keep your eyes open. It will be daylight pretty soon, and If you get sight of that boat, call up the City Hall station at once. Do you get me?" lie wheeled about, snitling whimsically. "It's on again, off again, Flannlgan. We had It, and we have It not. Dave, I am getting Interested; I feel the lure of the chase. Can you spare me for a day or two? You can? Good enough; we'll comb the lakes until we find out who Is sailing aboard the Seminole. You're with me, old man?" West extended his hand silently, nnd the fingers 'of the two clasped In a mutual pledge. CHAPTER XII Th? Yacht "Semlnol?.'* There wus little to do but wajt Impatiently for some further mewuiee of guidance. Mr. Adams dispatched a few telegrams to nearby lake ports, nnd briefly outlined certain pluus of action for the morrow, provided nothing further was heard from thd missing boat; these included a possible visit to Falrlawn, and a city-wldo search for Ilobnrt, who both men de- ' elded could not he Included among the party of the yacht. West told his new assistnnt the entire story In detail, and Mac's interest In ferreting out tlw matter became Intense. It was th< kind of case which fascinated hlio with Its mystery, but no theory h? could spin born from long police experience, seemed to exactly fit all the revealed facts. The great puzzle re volved about the strange ncthvs ol the girl; her part In the affair pre sentlng an unsolvahle riddle. Thej must have talked for an hour, discuss injr the situation frankly from everj nnirle. vet nrrlvlre at no definite con elusion. The sky In the east was re<! with dnwn when both men fell fasi asleep In their chairs, still waiting. It was nine 6'cloek, and still n< word. The two had eaten a liastj breakfast In a restaurant across th< street, discussing the - situation ngali; thoroughly, but to no more satlsfactorj result. It seemed Impossible to recon ! clle certain facts. If the silver knife with Its call for help, had Indeed beef dropped by Natalie Coolldge, and slu was being held a prisoner In the liandi of villains on hoard the Seminole why had she acted toward West ai she did in that house on Wrny street* To all appearances there she had beei hand In glove with the conspirators willing even to connive at the Pap tain's murder If necessary to the sue eras or uieir mine. imiy one moor; was possible; that the girl was undei constraint, driven to her strange act b; personal fear. She dare do nothing else, terrorized hy the threats of Ho hart, and her own sense of utter lieln lessness in Ills power. This, and thh only, must be the answer to the riddle McAdntns, unable to rem at n quiet departed to get his police search start ed in nil attempt to discover Ilohnr in his new hiding place. The fellov could not be on the yacht, as that hat sailed from Jackson park at far tot early on hour for him to have posslblj made one of the party. lie would stii be in the city then, securely concealet in some dive of the underworld, jier fectlng his plans, whatever thej might ho. and, perhaps, arranging tt loin those on the bout Inter. The de j tertlve even thought this unlikely, his theory being that Hobart merely desired to get the girl safely out of tha way for a length of time sufficient to enable him to complete his nefarious scheme, lie argued that Natalie was In no real danger; she would be held, no doubt, kept out of sight as long as was necessary, but otherwise left uninjured. This was no stmng-urro crime, hut a high-class confidence game, and the Important thing was to quickly lay hands on Ilohart. With him once In the tolls, the whole conspiracy would lustantly collapse. With this end In view, McAdams took up tho man's trait, leaving West to stand guard over the telephone. The tatter called up Sexton, and hurried him out to Falrlawn, with In. struttions to find out all he could from the servants there relative to any lato development.^ This accomplished, nothing remained for West to do but sit down and watt for something else to hnppen. The delay was shorter than he an* tlclpated. There was a sharp ringing of the bell, tha police operator respond. iBfJUUSlto folic# headquarters. What's want* 9d1 McAdams; no he is not In Just now. Who ts calling him? Harbor master's office; all right; hold the wire a minute.** j He turne<l his heud around. "Must be your case, Captain; better hear what they have to say." West grasped the receiver eagerly. "Is this the 8eminoIe matter?" ho j asked swiftly. "Certainly, I under, stand about it. What's that. Oh, J Wluchell told you to cull up If you learned anything. Of course; wliut is it? Yes, I hear; Just found her tied I up at north side of Municipal pier. I What's the trouble? Kngine working | bad, and had to come in, hey? All ' right?thanks; I'll go straight over and i see them." J This was great luck, yet there was very Mttle he could hope to accomplish 1 alone, without the help and authority of McAdnms. Even If the vessel had been stolen?which was probably not true?he possessed no power of arrest. All he could hope to do would be to keep the fellows In sight until Mac showed up, and. If possible, prevent them from putting out Into the , lake again. Evdn In that he needs must be cautious not to be seen by any of the gung who might recognize J him. An alarm, proving they were being followed, would doubtless send , them scattering Instantly. | Wwit ?hn>mh? "11 H.V. -*' ? ...?uBuv w? an uipav iiiniKM aa I a taxi bore him across the vlty to the pier, and acted accordingly.The open nlr restaurant acconled lilin every reasonable opportunity for concealment, while affording ample view of whatever was going on. -A pleasure boat, a hand aboard, and with a barker j Industriously busy, was close by, surrounded by a bevy of women and children. Beyond these, on the same side,' ! snuggled close against the cement wall, lay the yaclit. The Seminole was a much larger boat than West had anticipated seeing, yet he could not doubt her being tlm vessel sought. The name was plainly stenciled on the bow, as well as upon the dingy towing astern. The cabin appeared tightly closed, even the windows being heavily draped. Some mechanics were evidently working below; there was a sound of hammering, and occasionally a fellow In overalls np- j peured at the hatch opening. No one ' wearing any semblance of a yacht unl-! form was visible, although four or five men lounged about the deck, or close ?? l 1 tw. ?I ui iiiiuu </ii uic pier, apparently connected with the vessel. While nn alt' of curelossness was assumed by nil these, yet West, watching them closely,: There Was a Woman on Board, Thenl ' felt that they were very much on their i ' guard, anxiously waiting an opportunl- j ty to depart. He left the tattle, and 1 strolled out on to the promenade. So i fnr as he could observe, this move 1 1 ..... ..?>.? -Ill i. fii* ill (iiii 111 iru ii" II i iv-in I?/II, nil 11* M l L. 11 o moment later his eyes plainly caught ' a lilt of drapery drawn slightly aside at one of the cabin windows of the ' Seminole, and, he felt convinced, the quick gesture of a woman's hand. There was a woman on hon.'d, then* ' This certainty of Knowledge by evidence ot his own eyes, set his blood leaping. Whatever the purposes oi these people he was ngn<n upon the right trail. A little later one of the feilows loafing on the pier, a rather heavily l.uilt man, with closely clipped red mustache, ami a scar over one eye, slowly crossed the deck, and entered the caldn. He came forth again II lll'lllt.'lll IllUT, IIMtl'U qilCSllOU of the workmen below nnd then clambered back carelessly over the rail, joining his companion on the pier. "A half hour yet; It was quite u Job the buys iiuti, hut they arc making time. Come over here a minute." They walked forward, out of earshot from where West sat en n bench In the sun. lie watched the fellows HHHK' ill K J. ill MMMMHMHPHMnaBBSnBBHI ???Ha. iin?n \ Amei j Agrici j Chemical 1 FFRTil \ MT ELa H %. J. JLI I ! ft 4 I II I I II I I * j , ,? I G Ri Especially made for Weevil C | Mr. D. P. D< [ Will be our Repre not see you, HOLLIS B BENNETT3> Soseiy. yet without no?lettlnK the boul, this t.n(1 t]w two , but they neither glanced toward him. , lossIy ,mck t(nv|inl , or .seemed aware of his existence. U s Jn>, w|tWu a fow f(i whole thought centered 011 the early 1 i. arrival of McAdnnis. Until tin; detee- , 'y\^.hu live came, there was nothing lie could "Had some hart do but sit there quietly and wait, Hut . "Unglne givi t t# !,<? no/>pu^i}PV repairs were completed, and the Seminole sailed he- ! at)oUt, his eyes sur fore Mac got there? Was there any . indifferently, means In his power by which this could i "HroUe a piston, n be prevented? The only suggestion J ln ? jie repHe?l care! which came to him was the picking i QKaln presently." of a quarrel ln some way, with the two The very lmliffer men ushore. The boat would nevei j(?,j West to take a depart unless they were aboard, as "Some nice boat they were evidently the leaders of the The Cnelhhre yacht, gang, yet this would be a most desper- B4.?.n it nut lately." lite expedient, to be resorted to only "Are you a yacht? v. lien nil other effort had failed. Tie- "A bit of an ami sides It would put tliem on their cnt-l oat I play wi ! g ard. and possibly avail nothing. Why n,,, Columbia club, lint speak to the fellows pleasantly, "(if:' tlrant park; mid naturally? They had no reason to |? the .Taekson lag" he suspicious of him; he was hut one p,st night. You 1< of many others lounging Idly about the "No, never met h pier, ills curiosity would seem reus- ? irwiu, IHWII^II, 11119 , OitiiUle enough, and he nilj^lit thus gain "Not yet. It \vj some clue as to their destination. Then, belonged to the estn even If they did sail before Mae ap- trustees; that's hov pea red, they could he safely Intercept- Gf it?see? liver 1 ed In time for o rescue. West shook his I Clrcumstunces seemed to work to "No. but I would rican [1 11 iltural Gompanys ' I^T?n C! ^l?i?il\0 J " 1EST VDK Cotton under Boll ionditions OUGLASS sentive. If he does call on him. ROTHERS /ILLE, S. C. lion strolling euro- dfui<l>. . i "Mlio Rum !? nottor tnslr'p tnnn nut iv he re lie sat, nans- U . , li ..f l.hn, nil heir ? * ""'e "'"T"1: "*'1* Bot r rlvetol u,.m> .!>< ! "? Mark; well take n look at the cabin 1 luck?" he veil- flrst' nn(1 ,hon fonvar(1-" p out?" The three men stepped over the low . . . rail, and moved aft across the deck, the 0(1 one clan red I ... .... . , , leader tataing nueiiuy, una punning tl,e ?l?J?kor on( vnr|mis The ml hn,l to lie lowed ?,h" ""ver epolte. and ?'? anve 1BOi? .... ... . ? lV no thought to Ills presence. He had *' ? ' " been rarely fortunate so far, and was ... , looking for an opportunity to question cnee of the fellow ,, . , , ? , , his guide on the purpose of their voychance. ... . .* . age. The man opened the cabin door. MM*' West stepped Inside, the Interior i is., tit? Haven t dnrkon|l<1 ,(V ,?,lwn curtaIus. Tho mi*.n?** dusk was confusing, and he stood still " ' , after the Hist step, hearing the latch iteur. yes: have a . click behind linn* S U' 1 ' ? A hand grippal liis shoulders as . , though in u vise, and swung him this boat quarters , . , on. We left there ar"l,r,,i! ,lu* nmz?.le ?f an automatic now Cool idge?" * <'<;,11|,onted him, and behind It the im ; recognized the; threatening eyes of his guide glared it been sold?" : directly into bis own. .. .1 . i "Not n move, .vou d?d snv." a voice imi i iiiN, iiiiy>vny; 4.__ __ " to. I'm one of tho s,,,d col(1,y- ,N"W' Mark' frlsk ,b0 v I've got tho use C11SS- and b* ,lve,y nbout u* Had ? noked It over?" ' K'lt1, hey : 1 thought so. Give it to mo lt,|Uj j Now got the cord over there ami giv4 In't mind; site's a 1 b,IU H turt or two* A Tery B0**1 Job? (Continued on latt page) III ionic ft L L 20 DC