Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume], October 16, 1908, Page 10, Image 10

About Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917

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10
WATERBURY EVENING DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16. 1008.
TIE PORT OF
MISSING MEN
3y MEWDITH JVlCHOLSOrf
. ,.. Avther of "Th. Horn of a Thousand Caodl.s"
COPYRIGHT. 107. BY THE BOBBS-MBRRIIL COMPANY
Chaptering
BASK TUMNGS.
HE second dsy thereafter
Shirley Claiborne went
' Into a jeweler" on the
' Grand Qual to purchase
a trinket that had caught
Iter eye while she wnlted for Dick,
who had gone off In their carriage to
the postofflce to send some telegrams.
It was a small shop and the time early
afternoon, when few people were about
A man who had preceded her was
looking at watches and seemed deeply
absorbed In this occupation. She heard
bis ' Inquiries as to quality and price
and knew that It was Armltage's voice
before she recognized bis tall figure.
She made her purchase quickly and
was about to' leave the shop when he
tuned toward her, and she bowed.
"Good afternoon, Miss Claiborne.
These are very tempting bazaars, aren't
they? If the abominable tariff laws of
'America did not give us pause"
He bent above her. hat in hand, smil
ing.' He- had concluded the purchase
of a watch, which the shopkeeper was
now wrapping in a box.
"I have Just purchased a little re
membrance for my ranch foreman out
In Montana, and before I can place It
In his hands it must be examined and
appraised and all the pleasure of the
gift destroyed by the custom officers
In New York. I hope yon are a good
muggier. Miss Claiborne."
Td like to be. Women are supposed
to have a knack at the business, but
my father Is so patriotic that he makes
me declare everything."
"Patriotism will carry one far, but I
object both to being taxed and to the
alternative of corrupting the gentlemen
who lie In wait at the receipt of cus
toms." ' f-:
"Of course the answer Is that Amer
icans should buy at home," replied
Shirley. She received her change, and
Armitage placed bis small package In
his pocket ; '
"My brother expected to meet me
here. He ran off with our carriage,"
Shirley explained. . ' .
"These last errands are always try
ing.,' There are Innumerable things one
would like to come back for from mid
ocean, tariff or no tariff." . - ,
"There's the wireless," said Shirley.
"In time .we shall be able to commit
. our afterthoughts to it, But lost views
can hardly be managed that way. Aft
' r I get home I shall think of scores of
things I should like to see again that
photographs don't give." i
Armitage had been the subject of so
much Jesting between Dick and her
self that It seemed strange to be talk
ing to him: His face brightened pleas
antly when he spoke. His eyes were
grayer than she had mockingly de
scribed them for her brother's benefit
the day before. His manner was grave
ly courteous, and she did not. at all be
lieve that be had followed her about
Armitage was aware that a Jeweler's
shop was hardly the place for extended
conversation : with i a . young woman
Whom he scarcely knew; but be lin
gered in the Joy of hearing this Amer
ican girl's voice, and what she said In
terested him immensely. He had seen
her first In Paris a few months before
at an exhibition of battle paintings.
He had come upon her standing quite
alone before "High Tide at Gettys
burg," the picture of the year, and he
had noted the quick mounting of color
to her cheeks as the splendid move
ment of the painting its ardor and fire
"-took hold of her. He saw her again
In Florence, and it was from there that
he had deliberately followed the Clai
bornes. His own plans were now quite unset
tled by his In ten-lew with Von Stroe
j beL :. He fully expected Chauvenet in
Geneva.'' The man had apparently been
on cordial terms with the Claibornes,
and as he had seemed to be master of
his own time it was wholly possible
that he would appear before the Clai
bornes left Geneva. It was now the
second day after Von Stroebel's depar
ture, and Armitage began to feel un
easy. He stood with Shirley quite near the
hop door. The carriage drove up.
and Dick Call borne came up to them
: at once and bowed to Armitage.
' "There is great news. Count Fer
dinand von Stroebel was murdered In
his railway carriage between Here ana
Vienna. They found him dead at Inns
bruck this morning."
'n "Is It possible! Are you quite sure
he was murdered?"
i It was Armitage who asked the ques
tion. He spoke in a tone quite mat-
l Aop you are a good muggier, Him
Claibotn.' -
i xac of tact and colorless, so that Shlr
irJLtoked. at him In surprise, but she
iwthtt'He "was very grave, and then
Instantly some bidden feeling flashed
in his eyes.
"There Is no doubt of It It was an
atrocious crime. The count was an old
man and feeble when we saw him the
other day. He wasn't fair game for
an assassin," said Claiborne.
"No; he deserved a better fate," re
marked Armitage.
"He was a grand old man," said
Shirley as they left the shop and walk
ed toward the carriage. "Father ad
mired him greatly. It is terrible to
think of his being murdered."
"Yes; he was a wise and useful
man," observed Armitage, still grave.
"He was one of the great men of his
time."
His tone was not that of one who
discusses casually a bit of news of the
hour, and Captain Claiborne paused a
moment at the carriage door, curious
as to what Armitage might say fur
ther. "And now we shall see" began the
young American.
"We shall Bee Johann Wllhelm die of
old age within a few years at most
and then Charles Louis, bis son, will
be the emperor-king In his place, and
If he should go hence without heirs bis
cousin Francis would rule in the house
of his father, and Francis Is corrupt
and worthless and quite necessary to
the plans of destiny for the divine or
der of kings."
John Armitage stood beside the car
riage quite erect his hat and stick and
gloves in his right hand, his left thrust
lightly Into the side pocket of his coat
"A queer devil," observed Claiborne
as they drove away. "A solemn cus
tomer and not cheerful enough to
make a good drummer. By what sin
gular chance did be find you in that
shop?"
"I found him, dearest brother, If I
must make the humiliating disclosure."
"I shouldn't have believed it! I
hardly thought you would carry it so
far." -
"And while he may be a salesman
of Imitation cut glass he has expen
sive tastes."
"Lord help us, he hasn't been buy
ing yon a watch?"
"No; he was lavishing himself on a
watch for the foreman of his ranch in
Montana."
"Humph! You're chaffing."
"Not in the least He paid-I
couldn't help being a witness to the
transaction he actually paid 500 francs
for a watch to give to the foreman of
his ranch his ranch, mind you, ' in
Montana, U. S. A. He spoke of it in'
(Mentally," as though he were, always
buying watches for cowboys. Now,
where does that leave us?"
"I'm afraid it rather does for my
theory. I'll look him up when I get
home. Montana isn't a good hiding
place any more. But it was odd the
way he acted- about old Stroebel's
death. You don't suppose he knew
him, do you?"
"It's possible. Poor Count von Stroe
bel! Many hearts are lighter now that
he's done for." '
"Yes, and there will be something
doing in Austria now that he's out of
the way."
Four days passed, in which they de
voted themselves to their young broth'
er. The papers were filled with ac
counts of Count von Stroebel's death
and speculations as to its effect on the
future of Austria and the peace of En
rope. The Claibornes saw nothing of
Armitage. Dick asked for him in the
hotel and found that be had gone, but
would return in a few days.'
It was on the morning of the fourth
day that Armitage appeared suddenly
at the hotel as Dick and his sister
waited for a carriage to carry them to
their train He had Just returned, and
they met by the narrowest margin. He
walked with them to the door of the
Monte Bosa.
"We are running for the King Ed
ward and hope for a day in London
before we sail. Perhaps we shall see
you one of these days In America,'
said Claiborne, with some malice, it
must be confessed, for his sister's ben'
efit
That is possible. I am very fond
of Washington," responded Armitage
carelessly.
Of course you will look us up," per
sisted Dick. "I shall be at Fort Myer
for awhile, and It will always be a
pleasure"
Claiborne turned for a last word
with the porter about their baggage,
and Armitage stood talking to Shirley,
who had already entered the carriage.
"Oh, Is there any news of Count von
Stroebel's assassin?" she asked, noting
the newspaper that Armitage held in
his hand.
"Nothing. It's a very mysterious
and puzzling affair.".
"It's horrible to think such a thing
possible. He was a wonderful old man.
But very likely they will find the mur
derer." "Yes; undoubtedly."
"The secret police will scour Europe
in pursuit of the assassin," she ob
served. "Yes," replied Armitage gravely.
"The truth will be known before we
sail, no doubt" said Shirley. "The as
sassin may be here in Geneva by this
time."
"That is quite likely," said John Ar
mitage, with unbroken gravity. "In
fact I rather expect him Jiere or I
shonld be leaving today myself."
He bowed and made way for the im
patient Claiborne, who gave his hand
to Armitage hastily and Jumped Into
the carriage.
"Your imitation cut glass drummer
has nearly caused us to miss our train.
Thank the Lord- we've seen the last of
that fellow!"
Shirley said nothing, but rased out
of the window with s wondering look
in her eyes. And on the way to Liver
pool she thought often of Armltage's
last words. "I rather expect him bers
or I should be leaving today myself,"
he bad said.
She was not sure whether, if It bad
not been for those words, she would
have thought of him again at all She
remembered him ss bt stood framed In
the carriage door his gravity, bis fine
ease, the Impression he gave of great
physical strength and of resources of
character and courage.
And so Shirley Claiborne left Geneva,
not knowing the curious web that fate
had woven for ber nor bow those last
words spoken by Armitage at tbe car
rlage door were to link her to strango
adventures at the very threshold of her
American home.
Chapter IV
Ti MOST POPULAR
WOODBURY
MADE IN
BOSTON
PIANO
JOHN AKIIITaQI A PRISONER.
HE man whom John Ar
mitage expected arrived
at the Hotel Monte Rosa
a few hours after the
Claibornes' departure.
While he waited Mr.
Armitage employed his time to advan
tage. He carefully scrutinized hli
wardrobe, and after a process of elimi
nation and substitution be packed bis
raiment in two trunks and was ready
to leave the inn at ten minutes' notice.
Between trains, when not engaged in
watching the incoming travelers, he
smoked a pipe over various packets of
papers and letters, and these be burned
with considerable care. All the French
and German newspaper accounts of
the murder of Count von Stroebel he
read carefully, and even more particu
larly he studied the condition of affairs
in Vienna consequent upon the great
statesman's death. Secret agents from
Vienna and detectives from Paris had
visited Geneva in their study of this
astounding crime and had made much
fuss and asked many questions, but
Mr. John Armitage paid no heed to
them. He had held the last conversa-.
tion of length that any one had en-
Joyed with Count Ferdinand von
Stroebel, but the fact of this interview
was known to no one unless to one or ,
two hotel servants, and these held a
very high opinion of 'Mr. Armltage's
character, based on his generosity in
the matter of gold coin, and there could
of course be no possible relationship be
tween so shocking a tragedy and a
chance acquaintance between two trav
elers. Mr. Armitage knew nothing that
he cared to impart to detectives and a
great deal that he had no Intention of
imparting to any one. He accumulated
a remarkable assortment of time ta
bles and advertisements of transatlan
tic sailings against sudden need and
even engaged passage on three steam
ers sailing from English and French
ports within the week.
He expected that . the person for
whom he waited would go direct to
the Hotel Monte Rosa for the reason
that Shirley Claiborne had been there,
and Armitage was ' not mistaken.
When this person learned , that the
Claibornes had . left he would doubt
less hurry after them. This is tho
conclusion that was reached by Mr.
Armitage, who at times was singularly
happy in his speculations as to tbe
mental processes of other : peoplo.
Sometimes; however, he made mis
takes, as will appear. ''.
The gentleman for whom John Armi
tage had been waiting arrived alone
and was received as a distinguished
guest by the landlord.
M. Chauvenet inquired for his friends
the Claibornes and was clearly annoy
ed to find that they bad gone, and no
sooner had this intelligence been con
veyed to him than he. too, studied time
tables and consulted steamer adver
tisements. John Armitage In various
dlrcreet ways was observant of M,
Chanvenet's activities, and bookings at
steamship offices interested him so
greatly that he reserved passage on
two additional steamers and ordered
the straps buckled about his trunks.
for it bad occurred to him that he
might find it necessary to leave Geneva
In a hurry.
It was not likely that M. Chauvenet
being now under his eyes, would escape
him, and John Armitage. making a
leisurely' dinner,, learned from his
waiter that M. Chauvenet, being worn
from his travels, was dining alone in
his rooms.
At about 8 o'clock, as Armitage turn
ed the pages of Figaro In tbe smoking
room, Chauvenet appeared at the door,
scrutinized the group within and passed
on. Armitage bad carried his coat, hat
and stick Into the smoking room, to be
ready for . possible emergencies, and
when Chauvenet stepped out into the
street he followed. ' (
It was unusually cold for the season,
and a fine drizzle filled tbe air. Chau
venet struck off
at once away
from the lake,
turned into the
Boulevard Hel
vetique. thence
Into the Boule
vard Frolssart
with Its colony
of pensions. He
walked rapidly
until be reached
a bouse that was
distinguished
from its imme
diate neighbors
only by its un-
ligbted upper
windows. He
Dulled tbe bell
in the wait and the door was at once
opened and Instantly closed.
Armitage. following at twenty yards
on the opposite side of the street
paused abruptly at the sudden ending
of his chase. It was not an hour for
loitering, for the Genevan gendarmerie
have rather eood eyes, but Armitage
had bv no means satisfied his curiosity
as to' the nature of Chauvenet" s errand.
n walked on to make sure be was
For the MOST POPULAR GIRL
' ,. , : .......
The girl who wins the Woodbury Piano
bought of us by the Eagles for their Fair Contest
will have an instrument good for the rest of her
life, not merely " a piano." If she knows how to
judge pianos she rieed not hesitate to examine it
most critically and to subject it to hard use. It
was not "built to sell" but built to serve. It
takes our positive and complete guaranty with it. The lucky girl
at the Fair will only be another added to the lists of Woodbury
enthusiasts in and about Waterbury. See other styles of the
"Woodbury" at Our Ware-rooms. ;.:'5;v f '-
STEINWAY,
WEBER,
HUME,
JEWETT,
WOODBURY,
CURTIS,
BERKSHIRE,
and the
PIANOLA PIANO.
The M. Steinert & Sons Piano Co
LARGEST RETAIL PIANO HOUSE IN THE
29 West Main Street, Waterbury.
WORLD.
He packed hi
raiment
He assumed from" the general"pTaiTof
the neighboring buildings that there
was a courtyard .at the rear of the
darkened house, accessible through a
narrow passageway at the side. -.. As
he studied the situation he kept mov
ing to avoid observation and presently,
at a moment when he was quite alone
In the street walked rapidly, to the
house Chauvenet had entered.
Gentlemen In search of adventures
do well to avoid the continental wall.
Mr. Armitage brushed the glass from
the top with his hat It Jingled softly
within under cover of the rain drip.
The plaster had crumbled from the
bricks In spots, giving a foot its op
portunity, and Mr. Armitage drew him
self to the top and dropped within.
The front door and windows stared at
him blankly, and he committed his
fortunes to the bricked passageway.
Tbe rain was now. coming' down in
earnest, and at tbe rear of the house
water had begun to drip noisily into an
Iron spout The electric lights from
neighboring streets made a kind of
twilight even in the darkened court
and Armitage threaded his way among
a network of clotheslines to the rear
wall and viewed the premises. He
knew his Geneva from many previous
visits. The quarter was undeniably
respectable, and there Is, to be sure, no
reason why the blinds of a house
should not be carefully drawn at night
fall at the pleasure of the occupants.
The whole lower floor Seemed utterly
deserted. Only at' one point on the
third floor was there any sign of light
and this the merest hint
The Increasing fall of rain did not
encourage loitering in the wet court
yard, where the down-spout now rattled
dolorously, and Armitage crossed the
court and further assured himself that
the lower floor was dark and silent
Balconies were bracketed against the
wall at the second and third stories,
and the slight iron ladder leading thlth
er terminated a foot above bis head.
John Armitage was aware that his
position, if discovered, was, to say the
least untenable, but he was secure
from observation by police, and he as
sumed that tbe occupants of the house
were probably too deeply engrossed
with their affairs to waste much time
on what might happen without Ar
mitage sprang up and caught tbe low.
est round of tbe ladder, and in a mo
ment his tall figure was a dark blur
against the wall as he crept warily up
ward. The rear rooms of the second
story were as dark and quiet as
those below Armitage continued to
the third story, where a door as well
as several windows gave upon tbe
balcony, and be found that it was
from a broken corner of tbe door shade
that a sharp blade of light cut the dark.
All continned quiet below. He heard
tbe traffic of the neighboring thorough
fares quite distinctly, and from a kitch
en near by came tbe rough clatter of
dishwashing to tbe accompaniment of
a quarrel in German between- tbe
maids. For tbe moment be fett se
cure and bent down close to tbe door
and listened.
unobserved, cross
again passed the
which Chaovenet.
noted tho place can
outward appearance
the street and
irk, silent house
id entered. He
ily. It gavo no
Ibeln occuoled.
Two" then Vere talking, and evidently
the matter under discussion was of im
portance, for
they spoke with
a kind of dogged
deliberation, and
the long pauses
in the dialogue
lent color to the
belief that' some
weighty i matter
was in debate.
The beat of the
rain on the bal
cony and its
steady rattle in
the spout inter
vened to dull the
sound of voices,
but presently one
of the speakers,
with an impa
tient exclama
tion, 'rose, open
ed : the small
glass paned door
He was tecure from a few inches,
observation by po- 4 peered ' out and
lice. returned to his
seat with an exclamation of relief.
Armitage had dropped down tbe lad
der half a dozen rounds as be heard
the latch snap in the door. He waited
an Instant to make sure be had not
been seen, then crept back to the bal
cony and found that tbe slight opening
in the door made it possible for him to
see as well as bear.
"If s stifling in this bole," said Chau
venet drawing deeply upon his cigar
ette and blowing a ' cloud of smoke.
"If you pardon tbe Informality I will
lay aside my coat'
He carefully hung tbe garment upon
the back of his chair to bold Its shape,
then resumed bis sent His companion
watched him meanwhile with a certain
lntentness.
"You take excellent care of . your
clothes, my dear Jules. I never have
been able to fold a coat without ruin
ln&Jt" (To Be Continued.
The rent card in the window will
not do the work that a rent adv in
the columns of the Democrat will
do. The card Is read by persons liv
ing in yonr district. The rent adv
would be read by people ia all parts
of the city. Try a rent adv aad save
money; S days for 25 cent.
British Army Intelligence.
An army order gave tbe following
as tbe occasions, on which the anion
Jack Is to be flon:
(a) On anniversaries only, or when spe
cially required for saluting purpoM. (b
On Sundays and anniversaries (c) Dally.
Punch.
Not Like Father.
"Do you think Mr, Sklnnnm's baby
wUl take after Its fatherr
"Not at alt The other day they
persuaded it. to cough np a nickel tt
had swallowed."-Washington Star.
. No man has ever by complaining of
his 111 luck induced others to have con
fidence in hlra. Chicago Record-Herald.
, . V ' . .
Where 6h Drew the Lin. '
Mr. ' Birrell's anticipation that w.
lng to the bigness of heaven, it win
not be Inevitable that we shall knock
np against our acquaintances there
may have been suggested by one of
Dean Ramsay's best 8cottisB stories.
It should be mentioned that at Hawick,
the scene of the anecdote, tbe peoplo
used to wear wooden clogs, which mada
a clanking noise on the pavement Aa
an old woman lay dying some(frlends
said to her. "WeeL Jeeny, ye are gaun
to heeven, an' gin yon should see oar
folk ye can tell them that wo'ea a
wecf -
. "Wee!." said Jeeny cautiously, "gin
I should see them I's tell them.' bat
yoa manaa expect that I an to gang
clank-clanking through beeves looking
for ypor folk."-I4o Chronicle. 1
Don't let a dollar stand between you
V ANDOUR
Fine Fall Clothing.
You are perfectly welcome
to our ..v
Stunning Suits and Coats
BEAUTIFUL FURS; HATS,
WAISTS AND SKIRTS
$lwEEK
PAYMENTS $4
PER
MONTH
WILL CLOTHE THE WHOLE FAMILY.
The UNION,
194 BANK STREET
U Buckingham Building - Waterbury, Conn
TRY A DEMOCRAT WANT AD. 3 DAYS FOR 25 CENTS
TBI ONE FOR A KENT 01 10S
A HEW HOUSE.
ONE MAT BELL TEAT PIANO
; 0B GET A B0ABDE8,
TO RENT IDS 3 EM FC3 A QU3TER-TRY OSE.
- P