The Manitowoc pilot. [volume], October 18, 1900, Image 7

About The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932

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I EDGAR MORETTC
(Copyright, iSqg. by Frederick A. Stokes Company.)
SYNOPSIS.
CHARTER I—Scene of story Is In New
Tork city. Time, early evening, last day
of yea:-. Cable train collides with cab.
throwing to ground cabman and passen
ger also seated outside, batter disappears;
then. Inside the cub, body of man shot
dead is discovered. Sturgis, reporter, ex
amines cab and surroundings.
CHAPTER ll—Later that evening, at
•tag d.nncr party. Sturgis, In impromptu
discussion, maintains reliability of elr
cumsiantlal evidence. Dr. Murdock, fa
mous chemist, wagers in reply $5,00" to si"o
that from any dally paper he can select ua
unsolvable riddle. Sturgis takes bet.
CHAPTER lll—Case selected Is of two
mysterious shots fired that afternoon in
or near Knickerbocker bank. Man bad
been seen running from bank with valise,
and arrested. Man said he stole valise
from bank steps and was shot at. Valise
contained nothing of Interest.
CHAPTER It'—Sturgis secures appoint
ment with Dunlap, president df bank, to
vlslt.scene of shooting early next morning,
then Induces his friend Dr, Thurston to
come to his rooms while he arranges data
of the two Strange'cases.
CHAPTER V—From observations made
thus far and Inductive reasoning thereon
reporter has concluded; (1) dead man in
cab was bookkeeper about 50 years old re
ceiving good salary; (2) wound caused by
bullet fired at close quarters; c;) might
have shot himself; (4) shooting had rot
occurred in cab; (5) right arm broken by
heavy instrument; ami (6) cabman was
drugged, and young man who escaped in
volved in some way in crime. Cab mys
tery also noted as possible sequel to bank
mystery.
CHAPTER Vl—Sturgis rails for Sprague,
artist friend, to get his company during In
vestigation at bank, but artist has appoint
ment with some fair sitter whose portra.t
he Is making.
CHAPTER VII - Agnes Murdock (in
charge of her father’s household since her
mother's death) finds her father In his
study. She, in reply to a question concern
ing attentions of a Thomas Chatham,
shows her dislike of the persistent suitor.
Her father Intimates she shall not be fur
ther bothered.
CHAPTER Vlll—Miss Murdock's final
sitting for portrait Induces artist to ask
privilege of calling at her home, which she
readily grants. Bellboy brings note for
Agnes. This is read with evident annoy
ance. and she drops it. It remains forgot
ten when she leaves studio.
CHAPTER IX—Promptly at time agreed
Dunlap meets Sturgis. Reporter begins
long and careful examination in bank. Re
volver in bookkeeper’s desk shows two
empty cartridges.
CHAPTER X—Examination completed,
Sturgis questions banker regarding relia
bility of Arbogast, head bookkeeper, then
announces Arhogast to he a defaulter with
Chatham, accountant who has frequently
examined condition of books, as accom
plice. Message Arhogast sent Ghatl am
deciphered from marks on a blotter.,
CHAPTER XT—Reporter has now out
pleled diagram showing movement: of
Arbogast and Chatham and one other
whose Identltj is as yet completely veiled.
Arbogast at last moment had found a note
which caused him to suspect his accom
plice. He fired wounding him in hand and
was about to fire again when unknown con
spirator rushed in and struck his arm.
This action resulted In turning weapon and
making Arbogast shoot himself. Dunlap
is Incredulous, but verifies story in part by
later identifying body of Arbogast at
morgue.
CHAPTER Xll—Banker calls upon Mrs.
Arbogast. While with her she receives let
ter written by her husband telling of de
falcation and expected flight. He has by
mistake allowed a depositor to overdraw
account, '’hath.im has discovered mis
take. and for fear of losing position Arbo
gast allows himself to lie used by i 'hatharn
and a Mr. Seymour. By false entries Sey
mour has drawn $250.0"". i’hunge In method
of book keeping was about to expose the
matter. Arbogast tells his wife to give
Dunlap confession us soon ua he has es
caped.
OHAPTKR XHT—The afternoon of crime
Chatham had had occasion to use tele
phone. Sturgis learns lie had been con
nected with the Manhattan Chemical com
pany, a mysterious concern not known to
commercial agencies. At office of chemical
concern Sturgis places detectives.
CHAPTER XIV-Sprague next morning
finds letter Miss Murdock had dropped in
his studio, and decides to return it in per
son.
CHAPTER XV—He reaches her home,
end is announced Just in time to interfere
with implied threat of Chatham, who has
forced ids attentions upon Agnes, and with
dangerous looking • per knife in hand has
declared: 'it I dot i marr; j no on'
ever shall.” Afti rCh tl n ' ■■■ os
gives way to hysterical we, ping, but is
soon comforted bv her now ai eepled lover
Sprague.
CHAPTER XVl—Sturgis traces t'hnt
liam s movements as far as I >r. Thurston s
house. Doctor had just developed Roent
gen ray photograph showing position of
bullet in accountant’s forearm,
CHAPTER XVII Reporter now goes to
vicinity of Manhattan < 'heinleal office De
tectives report Chatham to have twice
entered the place but not seen to have
come out either time. Murdock's house Is
on next street directly behind chemical
concern. Here Sturgis gains admission,
and overhears Chatham's excited voice
threatening “to give the whole thing
away.”
CHAPTER XVlll—Sturgis has come tc
get rear view of < hemleal office, but gives
as his reason desire for interview with
chemist regarding r cent experiments.
Murdock asks reporter into laboratory,
but Sturgis remembers engagement and
excu.ses himself.
CHAPTER XlX—Meeting Sprague out
side the two go for warrants and police to
search chemical concern. Arriving, Stur
gis with skeleton key opens two doors,
then leaving police and detectives he and
Sprague descend to cellar, follow an un
derground passage and come to Murdock's
laboratory. Here Is found a vat from
which reporter carefully fishes out a bit
of lead which appears to be u flattened
bullet.
CHAPTER XX—Sturgis finds vat con
tains fluid that dissolves bone as well as
flesh. The bullet just found shows how
Chatham had but a little before met his
end. Murdock coming from above dis
covers tlie men. Sturgis Arcs, but he re
treats in safety.
CHAPTER XXI—By a mechanism work
from above the men now find themselves
completely trapped. From an opening
come fumes of gas. A speaking tube Is the
only other connection with outside world.
By breathing through this, turn about, the
men are able to hold out awhile Sprague
finally succumbs, and Sturgis feels his
strength going.
CHAPTER XXII-in the study above
Agnes seeks her father to seenr ■ Ills ap
proval to her engagement. While talking
he Is railed away The next moment she
hears the whistle of the speaking tube.
As soon as she was sufficiently re
viveil. she rushed to the side of hei
lover, whose head she gently raised to
her lap. Murdock's eyes were fits
tenccl upon her. She met his caltif
questioning gaze.
“Yes, I love him," she said, simply.
Then this strange man. without an
other word, gently pushed his daugh
ter to one side and, throwing off hh
coat, stooped over the prostrate form
of the man whose life he had tried to
take, and industriously worked over
him. in an attempt to restore the fail
ing respiration.
Slowly and steadily he work and for
what seemed an eternity to tie anx
ious girl. At length he rose. ca!:n and
collected as usual, and drew on his
coat again.
“He is out of danger now,” he said; 1
“you can do the rest yourself."
And he handed his daughter the
brandy flask.
A faint tinge of color had returned
to the artist's face; his breast heaved
gently in an irregular respiration.
Sturgis, still unable to stir from the
chair in which he had fallen, was
>aguely conscious of Murdock’s move
ments. He saw the chemist open the
safe which stood near his table and
i take from it numerous bundles of
oanknotes. which he carefully packed
into a valise; he saw him take from
the same safe a few richly bound
notebooks, which he proceeded to do
up in a neat bundle, securely tied and
sealed.
This done, the chemist put on his
hat and coat, and was preparing to
I ass out into the hallway, when a
knock sounded upon the door.
Murdock opened slightly—enough
to show himself, without revealing
the presence of the other occupants
of the room.
It was one of the housemaids.
"Plaze, stir," said the girl, in a
frightened voice, “the polaeemun says
he can't wait no longer; he must see
yer right away.”
“Are they in the parlor?"
1 . “Only the polaeemun, sur: the other
man said he would wait outside.”
Murdock took a minute for reflec
tion.
"Wait in the hall until I call you,"
he said, at last. "If the policeman be
comes impatient, tell him I shall not
be long: that I am engaged on most
important business."
No sooner had the gir! gone than
Murdock, seizing the valise and the
package, opened the door of the ex
tension. His eyes rested for awhile
upon his daughter, who. still absorbed
in the tender care of her inanimate)
lover, was oblivious of all else. There
was in them an unusual expression—
almost n tender light; but tlie im
passive face was otherwise emotion
less.
The chemist seemed to hesitate for
a brief instant whether to speak;
then, passing out into the extension
he softly closed the door behind him.
Sturgis alone, weak and powerless
had seen him go.
CHAPTER XXIV.
CHECKMATE!
The two detectives, after leaving
Spragueand Sturgis in the cellar of tlie
Manhattan Chemical company, pro
ceeded to search the premises from
basement to roof. Then, somewhat
discomfited, they returned to the cel
lar, and were surprised to find that
the reporter and his friend hail disap
peared.
After questioning the man whom
they had left on watch on the outside,
anil ascertaining thxt neither-Sprague
nor Sturgis had yet left the house,
the detectives called loudly to the
missing men. and receiving no reply,
a' last became alarmed and sent word
ol the mysterious disappearance to
headquarters. The chief's answer came
at once:
“Remain on watch where yot are
We shall investigate from the other
| side.”
One of the detectives 1 hereupor went
, up to the roof of the building, whence
he could keep watch upon the back
I yards, while his companion remaim and
. in )he front hall.
They had bum waiting thus for some
I time, when the latter t hum; lit he heard
I footsteps in the direction of theprivate
j office. He was on the alert in an in
stant.
The door was cautiously opened and
1 a man stepped out into the hallway.
He carried a valise and a package. He
blinked like a man coming suddenly
from the darkness into the daylight.
| “Who are you?” asked the defective,
I brusquely.
I the man looked in the direction of
the voice, and, as Ids eyes became ae
| customed to the light, returned thede
tcelive’s surprised stare with a calm
and searching look.
“Checkmate!" he muttered quietly
to himself at last.
Then, without seeming haste, hr
passed back into the private office, bi -
fore the astonished detective could
make any attempt to stop him.
Recovering himself quickly, the de
tective followed the sounds of the re
treating foot si i ps to the cellar stairs.
Then, fearful of an ambush, he fired his
revolver as a signal to his companion
on the roof; and, after striking a
match, he cautiously descended, reach
ing the cellar iu-l in time to see Mur
dock disappear into the underground
pa; sage.
He rushed to thespot; and. unable to
find the door, lie pounded with all las
mb 'it upon the shelves, causing the
bottles to dam e and mill-.
"Come,now," he shouted, "the game's
up! You may as well be reasonable.
You can't possibly escape, ior you’re
surrounded."
No answer came from within.
The man tried his powerful strength
upon the door without any perceptible
effect.
When the second detective arrived
upon the scene he found the first one
removing the bottles from the shelves
by the light if a match held in his
left hand.
“Get a light and an ax, Jim. There's
a secret door here which we'll have to
break in; I can't find any way of open
ing it;
\ few minutes later, the detectives,
after dealing- upon the shelves some
telling blows with an ax. called upon
Murdock to surrender.
Receiving no answer to (heir sum
mons. the men stood irresolute for a
I 1 |D>
HE CORE HER GENTRY L’P THE
STAIRS
few seconds. Then, with grim deter
mination. they attacked the door;
raining the blows upon it fast and fu
riously. and filling the air with a show
er of splinters.
At length a final stroke sent the
weakened hinges from their fastenings,
and the men rushed through the un
derground passage into the murderer’s
laboratory.
A hasty, startled glance told them
thiit Murdock was not there.
They started for the stairs and were
met by a policeman who was just en
tering Murdock's office.
“Have yon got him?" asked the detec
tives in chorus.
“No," replied the policeman, sur
prised; "Mr. Sturgis says he went down
here about 20 minutes ago."
“We chased him in from the other
end not ten minutes ago.”
The policeman hurried down the
stairs.
Murdock’s valise and package stood
conspieuous upon the long pine box
Rut of Murdock there was no sign.
“Gone!” exclaimed one of ti e detec
tives, deeply mortified at the thought
that his quarry had slipped through
his fingers. “Gone! How? Where?
He cannot have escaped. He cannot —
What is it. Mr. Sturgis?"
He had suddenly caught sight of the
reporter, half way up the stairs.
Weak and ill, St urn is, with blanched
f ace. clung unsteadily, with one hand,
to the railing; while, with the other,
he pointed toward the lead-lined cat
whose dark viscous contents were
bubbling like boiling oil.
A pungent vapor rose in dense clouds
from the surface o." the !' pi id. Through
it the fascinated gaze .! the horrified
men vacuely discerned nameless
thing, tossed in weird and- rotesque
contortions in a seething vortex.
Murdock had e.-caped the Justice of
men.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE MURDER SYNDICATE.
“fine here, Sturgis, tin- won't do. 1
forbade you to co a stroke of won
to-day, or even to leave your lau. and
here you are scribbling away just as
though nothing had happened. I tell
you when a man ha.-t hi narrow squeak
you have, there has been a tremendous
strain upon his heart, and it i posi
tively dangerous—”
“Don't scold, old man; 1 line never
in my life been better than i r-el to
day. And, besides, this work co' ld not
be postponed— ”
“Oh, pshaw! That is what nine out
of every ten pat ients sav to their physi
cian. They an mode-tly convinced
that the world must mails come to a
standstill if they eaimo accomplish
their tiny mile of work."
Dr. Thurston, who had assumed his
frown of .profi ssional severity, pro
ceeded to fee it he n I )V ■)■';■ j ul e.
“Well, vou are in luck; better than
you deserve. Almost any other man
Would have been laid up for a week by
the i xperiem- • yoh have been through.
And here you have the face to recover
without the assistance of the medical
profession, and in spite of your iii.-.o!t u i
disregard of rnv express orders to leave
work alone for Ihe present. Ntm, I here
is Sprague- "
“Ah, what of Sprague?" asked the
reporter, anxiously.
"Sprague has had a close call. Hut
he is safe now. If tender and inti lli
gent nursing count for anything, he
will probably be up in u day or i wo.”
“Miss Murdock—”
es. She has a professional nurse
to help her; but she has insisted on
taking charge of the case hei self. \nd
an excellent nurse she is. too, and a
charming girl into thi Im-gain- and
w I at is more, a noble woman."
"Does .she know of her father's
di ath ?"
“I broke the news as gently as
possible. She took it much more calm
ly than I supposed she would There
evidently was hut little s\ apathy be
tween her and her fall er."
"On he'- side, at any rate.”
es. Her first act on lea ruing of her
father’s crimes was to t end for a law -
yer. She refuses to toia ha e nt of lib
money, ami has instrucu-ii ,
to make such restitut toi . a< i , \ (-•
passible and to turn the n > to char
itable insfit nt ions. Tbi •;. ■. es her nh
liiast penniless; for the property sh e
held in her own right from her moth
er's estate amounts to 'er\ little. For
tunately. Sprague is rich enough for
hoth. What are you doing there, if I
may ask?"
Dr. Thurston pointed To a bundle
which lay upon the table.
"That is Murdock’s autobiography—
u legacy to me. The package was found
mar his valise in the death chamber.
He had addressed it to me at the last
minute.”
“Dili it help you in your account of
the Knickerbocker bank ease for the
Tempest?"
"A little; hut naturally. Murdock's
account of that crime was not com
plete. The entire journal, however,
is of absorbing interest, if is a pity
that it cannot be published."
"Why cannot it he published?"
“it would lie dangerous to the wel
fare of society. Murdoch was an ex
traordinary genius in his line; there
is marvelous originality anil ingenu
ity in itis work. His crimes, num
bered by the hundred, were all of
capital importance in their results;
all deep-laid and skillfully executed,
it is hardly likely that such .another
consummate artist in crime will ex
ist once a century. To publish tho
details of his schemes would be to
put a formidable weapon in the hands
i the vulgar herd of ordinary eritn
i ils, who lack the imagination cf
tils brilliant villain.
"I tell you. Thurston." continued
Sturgis, with what seemed very like
enthusiastic conviction, "this man
was the originator of almost every
unsolved mystery which has non
plussed tlm police during the mst 1.5
years He had his agents in every im
portant center throughout the coun
try; agents working tinder potent in
centives. and yet working in the dark,
for few of them have ever known who
held the mysterious power which di
rected their every move Murder lias
been done wholesale; and so quietly
and mysteriously has the work boon
accomplished that, in all lint this last
case, the detective; have found no
clue whatever which might lead *0
nn explanation of he sudden and un
accountable disappearance of wealthy
men. whose bodies, shipped to the
Manhattan Chemical company by
Murdock's agents, were quietly and
systematically made away with in the
chemist's laboratory.”
“He was the fiend incarnate!" ex
claimed the physician,
“Well,” said Sturgis, after n mo
ment of thoughtful silence, "at any
rate, he was not wantonly cruel I •
was heartless; he was pitiless; hut
his cruelty was always a means to au
end. however selfish and illegitimate
that, end might he. His cruelty is
that, in a measure, of every human
being destroying life that lie may live
and trampling upon his fellow men
that he may lie comfortable Be
tween Murdock and the rest of ns there
was a difference of degree, certainly,
but was there a difference of kind?"
“There Is one thing which I can
not yet understand," said Thurston,
“and that is. why Murdock should
have pushed his audacity to the point
of defying you to ferret out the my -
tery of tins crime, when he might
perhaps have avoided all risk of de
tection by holding his longue."
"No man is perfect,” answered
Sturgis, senfentiously. “not even an
accomplished villain like Murdock,
fortunately for the rest of mankind.
Every human being lias his weak
points. Murdock had two: —his van
ity and his love for his daughter.
They were the only traits which con
nected him with the human family.
To them } ■ 1
TIIK KMD.
Held Reformer !|l Word.
When a beggar asked a 1 hiladclphi
stationer the otlni day fur lielp, tin
latter offered him two lead pencils. >a\
ing: "With half tie I'ort required in
begging you can i y sell these for
five cents npiece." I e beggar ga/ec
at llie pencils se nil'.:!' - , “Who'd give
me five Cents for (In , "he demanded
■‘Why, anybody." - 1 Mu stationer
"Go out and try it" "Would yam?"
asked tiie beggar "Why. certainly."
was (lie n ply. A- .le of triumph
spread over tl < giin \ fe; tines of tin
nienciicnnt. "Here y n n:e. then." In
said. “Giron ■th u -nts. Von
can't go back on your < w i word." Ii
took tiie si .Mom vc I minutes v
recover his 1 eat'i, :■ t e tiinlly en
ered into tl e a- al. . nd !e i-a ft r In
viII acloi otl ■ tidier.- Bunion
limes.
/pr Afelan
k I \ a
I \ style all
■ ■l' I its own.
K , V k I men prefer
“ S • / dHr h to any
• oilier,
t It has extra
, full back and
| diagonal or
. J -ft perpendicular
■ pockets, made
all the comet
materials. Wry swell
BfiS >r loM.
ICBiM
I HI IWI —U ■ inmMM
T ANARUS"
1
Xj IMIIILTjS
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