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_>- — — -™— »— — —^ —^ -.J^S*—^ , \u0084 , iiiwm— ii—iiiw \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0\u25a0!!\u25a0\u25a0 i mm hi ii i — —^— ———'-—— \u25a0»— — g— a— — — g**^ 1 ~L ' (Continued from Preceding; Pac*-> ,<nly murmured, '"Thanks, 'chief; I promise you Til be on the squire." No \ioubt he meant it, thent ', We left the offices of Sterling's pri vate detective agency, and ?as we \u25a0walked sltmg the chief mumblefl to me, "We'll have trouble with that fellow. Trie's so crooked he can't tVen He straight In bed. I am afraid the Cana dian authorities wouldn't send tor him even If I did pfneh him. I'll give him c charrc, though." .' I thought- the chief was quite right to glv-e the man his chance. He had seemed so contrite, so sincere in what he ha»J raid wh-en brought to bay. But I did not understand as- fild the chief how little value there was In such "contxltron" and "sincerity." I was learning every day. David M. -Duncan' was one of San Francisco's most eminent attorneys, a man shrewd, clever, learned la litera ture arid law, wealthy and «• speaker of rational fame. He was a member of the best clubs, married, and with a fami]y wh» were prominent In society. The* handsome, talented lawyer was popnlar 'In all circles. Esthetic in tastes, brilliant In repartee, catered to by the cultured set. admired for his class! c&lly perfect feature* and the ex qtilsite poise of his manner, .be was triily a man among men. Duucan led a dual life. Perhapa be ing- an iflol* palled upon him sometimes. Perhaps hss lower nature craved re laxation. Perhaps society and kls .smart club friends bored him. What ever the reason, he had formed a liaison with an Amazonian brunette, a former chorus- girl, a woman almost blx feet tall, Junoesque and as perfect a phyisi cal specimen in her large way as was \u25a0 the attorney in his refined proportions. Duncan had furnished a splendid home for her In the Western addition. She loved him. and a proof of her affection lived in a little boy. said to be their son. She was a woman with warm, red lips, a bold figure which she under etood how to dress strikingly, for sh*« did not dlflike being stared, at when ehe walked abroad. With her large, lustrous bro-wn eyes and voluptuous grace of carriage she naturally attract ed 'attention wherever she went. And, as is usual in such cases, after three years, of intimacy, the attorney suddenly had his eyes opened to the f*ct that his relation with the Juno esque brunette was becoming public property. Being discreet, even in his amours, he decided thatihe liason must end at once. But how? Just what ac tion could he take? The woman cer tainly had a bona fide claim. He was the father of her child. ' What did It matter — in California, where more than one court had decided that a child, legitimate or otherwise, had its rights — that he was already married with a family that legally bore his name? It "wz.B a predicament from which even his acute mind could not at the moment discover an easy means of escape. What on earth could he do? Pondering deeply, his mind in a tur moil, David M. Duncan walked down Market street. Presently a flaring sign greeted his vision. "Private Detective Agency — Divorces a Specialty — All Matters Strictly Con fidential." Ah, an intuition 1 "Consult a private detective, that's It. Guess I will. Perhtps he — " Which was how David M. Duncan walked Into the parlor of the "Red Spider." "Will you kindly take my card in to Mr. Sterling? I'd like to see him on a very important matter." Thus, air. Duncan, in his courteous tones, to the stenographer — still the came hard faced, bleached blonde who had failed to recognize Chief Lees ear lier In this story. "Mr. Sterling will see you directly. Will you take a seat for a moment?" Very cordially the hard faced blonde pressed attentions upon this unmistak ably "swell" caller. The "Red Spider" was equally genial In his greeting. Possibly he had seen, David M. Duncan before. No doubt he was familiar with the attorney's love affairs. Men who lead Jekyll-Hyde lives are very much like ostriches, only they do not know that until the fact is placed before their eyes in a disagree able climax. "Sir. Sterling?" inquired Duncan. "Glad to meet you. I want to consult you about a matter of considerable importance. Perhaps you can aid me." Suavely answered the "Red S*plder: "No one can beat me in my particular line. There's no case too difficult Mercy for Those Who Make No Angry Retort THE quality of mercy, like heaps of other fine things, needs cultivation to attain the perfection of devel opment. There are, alas, too many hu mans In whose hearts even the com mon garden variety is apt to -become dwarfed or extinct unless coaxed or threatened into growth; and still -''a third class who. absolutely destitute of even a trace of the kin making pity that includes dumb brutes In our fam ily circle, needs must be watched and restrained from unkindness by such or ganizations as the San Francisco So ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Yet how many of us know anything about this great work? A few, perhaps, are compelled to deny themselves the privilege and honor of enrolling them selves on the side of our dumb brothers, but too few, Indeed, are the yearly dues of five dollars — less than 50 cents a month — prohibitory. It isn't that ' we are too poor. Goodness no; nor too busy. We Californians have lots of time and money, but we have been too careless of our individual responsibil ities. We treat our own pets and will- Ing servants with all tenderness — we even feel a thrill of righteous indig nation, and a wave, of pity, . when we behold some helpless creature tortured with whip or spur or heel. We go home and \u25a0\u25a0 give Towser ; an extra; pat, and Billy a Hiird lump of sugar, and thank God we. are kind hearted.. But we might have stopped the'second blow on that poor, brute's head an hour ago back -there In the street, .the second yelp of pain from the patient, cur, If we hadn't been too lazy to investigate; or desperate for me to handle." Cautiously, with the brevity of a businessman, Duncan explained the sit uation. He gave such details ts were necessary, describing each and every characteristic of the woman he was trying now to abandon. Being a law yer himself, of course he was careful as to his every word and gesture. When he had finished, the "Red Spider," look ing his role, leaned far back In his re volving chair, chewing the end of a long black cigar, hl3 eyes glued to a spot In the ceiling as if that particular spot would produce the inspiration for which he was striving. For fully five minutes not a word was spoken. . "Mr. Duncan, come back here tomor row at 10," finally said the spider to the fly. "By that time I shall -have a decided answer for you. I can handle this case both -Intelligently and suc cessfully, but it will cost a pile of money. Duncan smiled. He was rich. What he wanted was relief from an incubus. He nodded his acceptance of the Spi der's appointment. At 10 o'clock the next morning Dun can was back at the office. He listened attentively while the Spider unfolded his plan — a devilish conspiracy that one would scarcely expect/ to find outside of a cheap melodrama..- "' The "Red Spider" suggested that he himself should leave directly for Eu rope, where. In Berlin, he knew a man, a tall, c -TOllitary fellow, who was , now working In one of the famous rath skellers. He knew this man well and could handle him— for an amount of money. He would purchase the waiter a handsome uniform. He would look up some German title for the gentle for I don't believe we of the west are moral cowards when we take the trou ble to open our «yes. Come with me and hear and see what 1,500 people of San* Francisco's population have done* and are doing for the animals of; this city. Out on Sixteenth and Alabama streets are the buildings of ; the society,, organized nearly 40 years ago by 25 of the lead- Ing citizens of this city, who had time to be kind. The n . there were but three anti-cruelty societies In the United States. Indeed, it was but two - years previous to that 'time -that Henry Borgh organized j in- New York the first society of the kind,, so' that then,, aY now, .California was in the van of the movements for public; good, but there are still a lot of us that- need "to I put our shoulders to the wheel lest it lag. However, with such - ; men as form tho present board, no movement ; would have a chance to ; lag comfortably; jto say nothing; of Mr. .McCurrle, the sec retary, to whose executive ability, (un ' tiring effort, warm j heart' and cool head, the society owes such a large measure of its" growing success. For there , are no ; laws ;so hard '\u25a0< to enforce and none the r enforcement of whichis so bitterly,: resented by ;Va cer ' t.aln class, as the law which says. thc»y shall not abuse the dumb -creatures; in their, care." The: deputies are not: per mitted to . carry ', weapons* /of - any sort and- are .instructed, noV matter .what abuse they, receive,- always to be cour teous In their treatmenfof personsand gentle in the handling; of -animals, for their aim. Is' not to^antagonize, : but* to make friends" and 1 secure sympathy and co-operation in their >'work.->*'. *\u25a0 : \u25a0. \u25a0-.- Our hearts , are^not \u25a0wrungivery',fre quently nowadays'by^ the f sight. 'of. In jured animals \u25a0. about ;,th e 'city,' ;»f or day and night two large i> ambulances! and one : small ' one T are at^ the ; disposal *6t the public." _ The 'smalli; vehicle", goes-bn Its errands" of mercy without cost. \u25a0 - . man and Import him instanter to the United States and to San Francisco. He would transform the Dutch waiter into a nobleman with class A written all over him and exhibit him dressed in his ' gorgeous new uniform. ,.' He would instruct him fully as to what \u25a0was expected of him. As the "Baron yon Lowenstein" the Berlin waiter should be Introduced to the Juno who had proved a thorn in the side of th«i dapper Duncan. :An impressionable, weak minded woman, of little; knowl edge of the'big.outßide world, vain and presumably , silly, would -naturally be flattered by the attentions of a titled foreigner. Just imagine— a baroness! "Bah, even'oneof your swell society women "would" snap up ,such : an. ad mirer," sardonically observed: the Spi der with one of his cynical grins. The rest, after, the Introduction, would be too easy, I All this the. Spider knew he, could accomplish. - His man would unques tionably \ play his part as instructed. But— it would 'take all of $20,000 to do. this. : ; • .' \u25a0 . \u25a0 \u25a0'\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0* Duncan agreed to everything. A.let M. E. B. Borland wherever called. Are you, sir or madam, moving' to the country or go- Ing abroad and loath to leave the stray kitten or dog that claimed your tran sient hospitality to starve? Or do you see a hurt animal dying In the street? Just telephone Market 1702, or 1703 and the compassionate hands of the society will reach: out, gather ; in \ and speedily put beyond all pain : and neg- , lect the little 'dumb' brother. ;.. If you are a member and your, horse or cow is 111 or hurt the larger ambu lances,, equipped* with every { . ingenious device for easy., and painless handling, are at .your service. to convey the ani mal to <\u25a0 whatever hospital you '\u25a0 desire free of charge.' Nonmembers have .to pay a $s, fee.- But go and see for your selves I the sunny yards wherein the . un redeemed dogs are put," after 48 r hours, for sale at $3 each— silken hairedthor oughbreds and 'tangled coated- gamins alike. . ;. :;•;-: .\u25a0 \u25a0. .-;..- .;;/.:. .;\u25a0..-. ;-;:•'. ; The next time my lady- "wants a pet, why not visit the home? ; You may ; find, at a fifth/of the downtown price, some four footed arfstocrat : 'whose Jintelll-: gence and beauty will . : be;.a'- reward,; outside of the sense of : complacency • that enwraps like a ; warra' garment the doer of •_ kind deeds, ;to say nothing, of the mite : added to ' the city's profits, . for during the month ; of March $438.80 .inj fees was. collected; and .deposited .with' the city; treasurer, "'while i in 'April I ; there were \u0084.'71 7 cases Investigated;- involving 1,854. animals. It is not alone financially, that a city is benefited by. an organization \u25a0of this character, its moral :is\ be yond reckoning, rfoiv the v stepping; stone to all crime, is brutality, ;andfa • strong,' vigorous suppression* of ithls^forai; "of s^vlce,. with systematic* teaching; of; kind -j ness and patience, can-not but result mi ter of credit in favor of Charles Ster ling for -520,000 was issued. . It Is all In- the records of the San Francisco police department; this pretty little tale.v ,-..\u25a0 ; '\u25a0 .y : Sterling traveled directly' to Berlin. j He returned in, due course of time to San Francisco. -With him came a handsome, distinguished, * uniformed, German six feet t^all. •It was the "Baron :- von Lowenstein." . , -The baron'was not only fine looking, a typical .German aristocrat, a cultured and delightful gentleman, but he was genial and gracious. Maintaining the dignity of tho officer . and \u25a0 gentleman. the prevention of greater crimes." Be yond the mere moral, force exerted' the society accomplishes -a great deal of concrete, . practical work -in maintain ing a system of water troughs for the convenience of teamsters and the driv ing;, public I generally; operates the only ambulance in the city, for moving disabled animals and maintains a force of uniformed : officers to patrol 1 the streets and" prevent, abuse to.anlmals. Through, its -pound department: It cares' for the slck.homeless and .stray ani mals, of ; the town,: lends; its I- BUppcj-t," moral and financial; to. all movements tending, to; betterment: of animal life and to many other things; that are a direct benefit to the citizens of San Francisco. Of course most ;of the episodes brought to light are of the variety that makes one's' heart ache, as the case of tortures implements taken from .those arrested^ for 'their; use eloquently, testi fies, but: here and^.there is a tale of a different > sort ; that - makes one "smiley 'round the" lips tho'. 1 teary 'round the lashes." . :.Most of us have seen ;th e little one legged lad who sells 1 papers; at Lotta's ;-.. fountain.^ /At t home [ his .c^npanion was \u25a0: a small; black "mongrel VvSich escaped \u25a0 from its, yard;- oneV day "and J was im '.pounded.: ;When.\ the , circumstances .were explained: at the': office, the fees, i ; which '*. In all • cases the pound L keeper vis; compelled i'toi collect and deposit withy the ; city - treasurer, were paid by • the * society,, and ?th o := greeting; between the dog and his little" master, amply re ,.; paid -the kind; hearts -had* com : passed It.:.V Another crippled.boy . whose : playmate had' -been -impounded, waited ,; several ,-weeks,: while \heVearned? money : sufflcient;to". pay the 'fee,^before ; going' \:\ out Ud'the > yards; only; to. findthls >pet .y had Bold;; to :. ay gentleman \u25a0 who had taken ;it" to" the" country. But' a \u25a0 lad*c owning, a. Fes - terrier :. whlcV sha he was yet a "good fellow." as we call them on this side of the Atlantic. He put up at the best hotel In town, where he spent money liberally and was lav ish with his gratuities. The hotel peo ple, from the bellhops to the manager, /were enraptured with the titled guest. Every one who met him exclaimed at his charm of manner. .It was an easy matter to introduce him to the Junoesque brunette, who T/ent by the name of "ilrs. James." It was easy for the baron to make fast and furious love to the lady, lie could have . made love to a stick. It was again easy for the illustrious baron to propose matrimony to the beautiful Juno — was he not imported to this country for that very purpose? Mrs. James, faithless to the father of her child — for he, alas, could give" her neither name nor title — accepted the impetuous wooer from Berlin. The wedding journey was planned * with the baronial castle on the Rhine as destination. The society reporters were kept busy. Photographs of the baron and baroness" filled the society pages. The baron played his role nobly and to the letter. The betrothed pair were entertained and feted. They were seen at the opera and the theaters and out driving in the park. Here was a strange condition. A coulfl not keep, but ; it-sired to place in a good home, offered it to the lonely chlld, who promptly transferred his affection to this bright bit of dog flesh, much to the satisfaction of every one concerned. A third case was that of a blind man whose little canine comrade had first been cut loose from its cord by cruelly mischievous boys. Being impounded, with the owner too poor; to. redeem it, the society paid the fee and restored the "dog to the over- Joyed master. The children constitute a most effi cient aid to the society. Before the fire fully 50,000 children were members of the" Band of Mercy, and woe betide any brutal driver if the youngsters spie.d him! There was -no .escaping ,the sharp* little eyes and active legs that kept him in view till an officer could be found to make the arrest. And here, as . In most movements for the betterment .of the race, the hope and promise lie with the children.* Train the child In ways of gentleness, and when>he : is grown, -behold the gen tleman* In the very best and broadest sense of the word. . The society especially desires to con tinue and widen Us work In t'a!s line, and bequests or gifts, however small; will bring a twofold reward. But. don't take my word for this, go out* and seek. Then tell your friends about it.-'^lt's our; work, not alone the so ciety's, , nor yet ; Mr. McCurries, who labors mainly without other reward than that of "acquiring merit" for hl3 "own 'soul. The home is open day.' and night, wlth^ome, one;always there to show visitors all there is to be seen, and one would, needs be harder hearted than the'-average decent human If : he can come 'away without a longing and de termination to" help. *• .;... "Blessed, are; the; merciful, for -they shall receive mercy/ 1 and "ia faith swe shall need It!"— most of; us./ / The San Francisco Sunday Call Gertnan nobleman engaglas himself to • an unknown woman of comparatively little or no mean.s. Here was a titled foreigner figuring in an out and- out lov© match wherein monetary consid-. erations were conspicuously absent. Strangre — but true. And' no on© scented the rodent — stranger still. ;.V- . ~ • , . They were married. The happy pair left immediately after v the ceremony for Europe. They arrived in Berlin after a delightful trip. , The bride was gloriously happy and eager to drive to. that castle on the Uhlne. The noble bridegroom insisted that they shpuld first go to a hotel, 53 it was necessary for him to 'Instruct thrV house keeper to prepare >he old castle. which for months had been unoccupied ! by any- but servants, for the royal/en tree-T—his "dark eyed queen, his llebchen bride." He Impressed upon the ba/oness the grandeur of the castle's surroundings. described ths immense driveway ex-* tending through thick forests, the huge hunting preserves", the, galleries oh whose walls hung the womierful paint- "' ings and portraits of his Illustrious ancestors. « •• • * They should* live. Indeed, he assev erated, emphasizing his words* with a \u25a0 kiss, as befitted their stations, and there would come a day, soon, too*, when they would be received by .tha great kaiser. . . Al Ithis the bridegroom poured <nto the ears of the baroness as they drov« to their temporary location. one*of the leading hoatelries of Berlin, and were ushered to the bridal suite.* "Now, dearest." said the baron In his broken English, "I go to the eountrjr and my castle and <nake arrangements 5 for our reception." He kissed her fondly. 3s he opened? ' the door, blew one more kiss from hi» shapely fingers asd departed. • > The baroness was radiantly, bliss-* fully happy. Her right name at that moment was Contentment, spelled with the capital. Her 'baron, her husband^—-; ah, indeed, he" was a man of men. How fortunate she was! 3ha thought of Duncan and her boy. a pang shot through her heart, but shew recovered *• quickly. Her mlpd reverted, to the castle — her castle' on the Rhine. She mused on the honors to comp — the Cer man emperor, the social favors from her husband's aristocratic relatives and friends. Oh, Row good It was to be* a real, live baroness — yes. indeed. It wa3 good! • • The moment the illustrious baj-on closed the door to the tfaroness' apart ment he vanished. "Xo genii in .the "Arabian Nights'' disappeared more * mysteriously. The bride from Califo'r-. nla was most shamelessly deserted., by her German bridegroom. • Though, not an educated woman "hor especially clever, the barones3 was not a fool. She had lived and learned in a hard school. of sitting down. wringing her* hanaj- *ad weeping, or me'dltating suicide, she put her* men-* tallty to work on the puzzle of her marriage and desertion. Her vanity ha 4 received a, shock that had opened, her *. eyes .to many things she had hitherto passed by unheeded. \ She had an inspiration, and \pst no time In acting upon it. her Jewels, of which she had many of value. * jrifts mostly from Duncan in the first months CZ their connection, she took the proceeds, bought her ticket and returned to San Francisco, for her tho baron no longer existed. . She went to no private detective agency, but straight to Chief, of Police Isaiah W. Lees. She told her story, and. though hurriedly, she told It well. .The immediate result of her dramatic tale was the warrants Issued for the arrest of Duncan and Sterling for conspiracy. But the "Red Spider" was true to his name. He Cropped out of sight and has never been seen here since. . Duncan was not so fortunate, and though there was Insufficient evidence to connect him with the conspiracy or to convict, all the details of the story became public. Practice, friends fam ily — he lost them all. • • • • '•Well. Billy," said the chtsf to m« one Cay long after the baron and his bride had been forgotten by tho read ing world, "I've just received a lettar from the superintendent of pollca **/ i Melbourne. Australia. He la seeking i a W formation regarding a man with red hair, and flowing red mustache who had been caught in a crooked transaction ia southern Australia, . wnat -to you think. -Bill? Guess thi: 'lUd Spider's' »*£& ; weaving new -»«ha. ai^r»