Evening Star Newspaper, July 24, 1921, Page 52

& 1SGUISE,” Malcolm Sage had once remarked, “is the chief characteristic of the detec- ' D tive of fiction. In actual practice it is rarely possible. I am a _case in point. No-one but a builder, or jan engineer, could disguise the shape iof a head like mine.” As he spoke he iNad stroked the top of his head, which irose above his strongly marked brows ilike ‘a down-covered cone. ! In this Malcolm Sage was bitter \appointment to Willlam Johnson, office junior. His conception of the sleuthhound had been tinctured by thé ivivid fiction with which he beguiled his |spare time. ¢ In the heart of William Johmson there lwere three great emotions: His hero- }worship of Malcolm Sage, his romantic devotion to the secretary, Gladys Nor- man, and his wholesome fear of the ro- bustiore hufmor of Tims. In his more imaginative moments he ‘would create a world in which _he was the recognized colleague of Malcolm Sage, the avowed admirer of Miss Nor- man. and the austere employer of Tims i—chauffeurs never took liberties with the hair of their employers, no matter _how knot-like it might be worn. * With these day dreams the junior at the Malcolm Sage Bureau would oc- .cupy_the time when not actually en- gaged either in the performance of his “by no means arduous dutics or in read- “ing the_highly colored detective stories from which he drew his inspiration. From behind the glass paneled door would come the tick-tack of Miss Nor- man's typewriter, whilst outside droned :the great symphony of London. grow- Jing into a crescendo as the door was opened, dying away again as it fell to once more, guided by an automatic self- scloser. s From these reveries William Johnson would be aroused either by remptory blasts upon the buzzer of the private telephone or by the entry of a client. One morning, as he was hesitating be- tween assuming the disguige of a naval commander and a street hawkeg a florid little man with purple jowl and a white bristling moustache hurtled “through the swing door, followed by a tall, spare man, whose clothing indi- cated his clerical calling. “Mr Sage In?" demanded the little ‘Ynnn flercely. ! “Mr. SAge is engaged. sir.” said the Junior. his eyes upon the clergyman, fin whose appearance there was some- ithing that caused William Johnson to ‘Hke him on the spat. dis- the . “Take my card in to him,” sald the ‘Mttle, bristly man. “Tell him that Gen. Sir John Hackblock wishes_ to see him immediately.” The tone was suggestive of the parade-gfound rather than a London office. * ok kX ‘AT that moment Gladys Norman ap- peared through the klass-paneled door. The clergyman immediately re- moved his hat, the general merely turned as If changing front to receive a new foe. - “Mr. Sage will be engaged for about} & quarter of an hour. 1am his secre- tary.” she explained. 4t the general's companion, wondering what sort of teeth were behind that gentle, vet firm, mouth. “Perhaps you will take a Seat,” she added. . William Johnson returned to his table and became engrossed. osten- Sibly in the exploits of an indestruct- ible trailer of men; but really in a surreptitious examination of the two aajlers. “He had just succeeded in deducing from their manner that they were father and son and from the boots of the younger that he was low church and ‘a bad walker, when two sharp blasts on the telephone buzzer brought him to his feet and half way across the office in what was practically one movement. With Malcqlm Sage there were two things to be avoided—delay in answering a summons and unneces- ‘sary words. ., waf Posiaeico “This way, sin” he said. and led _them through the glass-paneled door ‘to Malcolm Sage's private room.. ‘With a short. jerky movement of his head, Malcolm Sage motioned his “visitors to be seated. In that one movement his steel-colored eves had registered a_mental photograph of the two men. That glance embraced all the details; the dark hair of the 'vounger, graying at the temples, the dreamy gray eves, the gentle curves of a mouth that was, nevertheless, .capable of great sternness, and the spare, almost lean frame; then the self-important, overbearing manner of the older man. “High Anglican,” ascetic, out-of-doors” was Malcolm Sage's mental classification of the one. thus unconsciously reversing Willlam Johnson’s verdict. The other he dis- missed as a pompous ass. “You Mr. Sage?" Sir John regarded the bald conical head and gold-rimmed apectacles as if they had been unpol- ished buttons on parade. . “I am Sir John Hackblock: this is my friend. the Rev. Geoffrey Callice.” “Again e slight Inclination of the head indicated that Malcolm Sage had heard. < “I want to consult you about a most ‘damnable outrage,’™ exploded the gen- reral. t's inconeceivable that in sthis— < Wil you kindly be as brief as pos- isible?” sald Malcolm Sage. fondling ‘the lobe of his left ear. ‘can spare only a few minutes.” Sir John gasped, glared across at him angrily: then, seeming to take ‘himself in_hand, continued: “You've heard of the Surrey cattle- maiming outrages?” he inquired. Malcolm Sage nodded. ‘Well, this morning a brood-mare of mine was found hacked about in an unspeakable marner. “Oh, the “damn scoundrels!” he burst out as he .jumped from Ws chair and began “pacing up and down the room. 7/ “T think it will be better if Mr. Callice tells me the details” said Malcolm Sage, evenly. “You seem a little over-wrought.” “Over-wrought!” cried Sir John. .“OQverwrought! _ Dammit, so would iyou be if you had lost over a dozen beast: In the army he was known .as_“Dammit Hackblock. Mr. Callica looked across to the genergl who, nodding acquiescence, proceded to blow his nose.violently, as If to bld Malcolm Sage. defiance. “This morning a favorite mare be- ‘Jonging to Sir John was found muti- Jated In a terrible manner—" Mr. Cal. }ice pauseds there was something in his voice that caused Malcolm Sage to Yook un. The gentle look had gonme from his face, his eyes flashed, and his mouth was set in a stern, severe line. * ok * K IN a volce that vibrated with feel- ing and suggested great self-re- straint, Mr. Tallice proceeded to tell the story of the latest outrage. How, .when found that morning, the mare "was still alive, of the terrible nature .of her injuries, and that the perpe- trator had disappeared, leaving no “trace. A _ *Her look, sir! Dammit!" the gen- ,eral broke in. “Her eyes have haunted me ever since. They—" His voice . broke, and he proceeded once more to . blow his nose violently. . Mr. Callice went on to explain that tafter having seen the mare put out of her misery, Sir John had motored over to his lodgings and insisted that they should go together to Seotland }lrd and demand that something be one. 2 “‘Callice is chairman of the watch- ers’_committee,”” broke in Sir John. . . "I should explain.” proceeded Mr. _Callice, “that some time ago we form- ed ourselves into a committee to .patrol the neighborhood at night in the hope of tracing_the ¢riminal. On .the way up Sir John remembered hearing of you in connection with s Department Z and, as he was not satisfled with his call at Scotlamd Yard, he decided to come on here and place the matter in your hands.” * “This is the twenty-ninth maim- +ing?" Malcolm Sage remarked, as i, he proceeded to add a graveyard tp the church. J "Yes, the first occured some two years ago.” Then, as if suddenly She als6 looked ! "The Surrey Cattle Mystery Another Adventure of the Detective, Malcofm Sage. . ‘By HERBERT JENKINS. realizing what Malcolm Sage's ques- tion implied, he added: “You have intercsted yourself in the affairs?" “Yes,” was the reply. “Tell me has been done.” what “The police seem utterly at fault,” contfnued Mr. Callice. “Locally we have. organiZed watch-parties. My boys and I¥kave been out night after night, but without result. "I am a scout-master,” he explained. e poor beasts' sufferings are ter- rible.” he continued, - after a sligl pause. “It i8 a return to barbarism again there was the throb of indig- nation in his voice. “You have discovered nothing?" “Nothing,”” was the response, uttered in a tone of deep despondency. ““We have even tried blood-hounds; but without results."” “And now I want you to take up the matter. and don't spare expense.” burst out Sir John, unable to contain himself longer. “T will consider the proposal and let you know,"” said Malcolm Sage, evenly. = uumumfifilflr ) il | “As it is. my time is full occupied at present; but later—" He never lost an opportunity of resenting aggression by emphasizing the democratic tendency of the times. Mr. Llewellvn John had called it “incipient bolshevism.” “Later!"” cried Sir John in conster- nation. “Why, dammit, sir! there won’t be an animal left in the country. This thing has been going for two years now, and ghose damn fools at Scotland Yard—" “If it were not for Scotland Yard."” sald Malcolm Sage quietly, as he pro- ceeded to shingle the roof of the chureh, the graveyard having proved a failure, “we should probably have to sleep at night with pistols under our| pillows. “Eh!" Sir John looked across at him with a startled expression. “Scotland Yard is the headquarters of the most efficient and highly orga: ized police force in the world.” the quiet reply. “But, dammit! if they're so clever why don’t they put a stop to this tor- turing of poor dumb beasts?’ cried | the general indignantly. “I've shown them the man. It's Hinds; I know it. I've just been to see that fellow Wensdale. Why, dammit! he ought to be cashiered. and I told him so.” “Who is Hinds?" Malcolm Sage ad- dressed the question to Mr. Callice. “He used to be Sir John's head gamekeeper- “And I discharged him,” exploded the general. “I'll shoot a poacher or his dog: but. dammit! 1 won't set traps for them,” and he puffed out his cheeks aggressively. “Hinds uged to set traps to save himself the trouble of patrolling the preserves,” explained Mr. Callice, “and ually watching the agonies of a dog caught across the hindquarters in a man-trap.” _Again there was wave of feeling in the voice, and a stern set about the mouth. “It's Hinds right enoug general with conviction. “The man's a brute. Now will you— “I will write to you shortl said {Malcolm Sage. There was dismissal in his tone. cried the *x * X ¥ R the next half hour_Malcolm Sage poured over a volume of press-cuttings containing accounts of previous cattle-maimings. Without looking up from the book he pressed three times in rapid suc- cession a button of the private tele- phone. Instantly Galdys Norman peared, notebook in hand. She had been heard to remark that if she were dead ‘“three on the buzzer” would bring her to life again. Whitaker and Inspector Wensdale," sald Malcolm Sage, his eyes still on the book before him. ‘When deep in a problem Malcolm Sage's economy in words made it difficult for any one but his own staff to understand his requirements. Without a word the girl vanished and a moment later Willlam Johnson | placed Whitaker's Almanack on the I fable, then he in turn disappeared as sllently as Gladys Norman. Malcolm Sage turned to the calen- | dar, and for some time studied the pages devoted to the current month (June) and.July." As he closed the book there were three buzzes from the house telephone, the signal that he was through to the number re- quired. Drawing the pedestal instru- ment toward him, he put the receiver to his ear. “That Inspector Wensdale? . . . Yes! Mr. Sage speaking. It's about the cat- tle-mafming business. . . . I've just heard of it. . . . I've not decided yet. I want a large-scale map of the district, with the exact spot of each outrage indicated, and the date. . . . Tomorrow | will do—Yes, come round. Give me} half an hour with the map first.” Malcolm, Sage replaced the receiver as “the buszzer sounded, announcing another client. “So there is nothing?" Sage looked up inquiringly from the map before him. | “Nothing -that even a stage 'de- tective could turn into a clue,” said Inspector Wensdale, a big, clean- shaven man with hard, alert eyes. Malcolm Sage continued his study of the map. “They're getting a bit restive, too, at the Yard,” the inspector contin- ued. - “It was this _cattle-matming busine that sent poor old Scott's number up,” he added, referring to Detective Inspector Scott’s failure-to- sol! the mystery. Now the gen- eral's making a terrible row. Threat- ens me with the commissioner. For some seconds Malcom Sage de- voted himself to his designs. In response to a question as to what had been done, the inspector p: ceeded to detail how the wh“l.! neighborhood had been scoured after each maiming, and how, night after night, watchers had peen posted one day._Sir John descovered him act- | the ! Malcolm | Weré at great pains to pour informa. throughout the district, but without result. I have day,” continued the inspector gloom- had men out night and ily. “He's a clever devil whoaver he is. It's my opinion lunatic,” he added Malcolm Sage looked up slowly. ““What makes you think that?" he asked. “His cunning, for ome thing.” was the reply. “Then -it's so_senseless. 'No,” he added with conviction, “he's no more an ordinary man than Jack- the-Ripper was." He went on to give details of his| inquiries among those living in the! 1 D | district. There was absolutely noth- {ing to attract even the remotest €u ipicion to any particular person. Re- wards had been offered for infor- mation; but all without producing the slightest evidence or ciue. “This man Hinds?" inquired. Mal- colm Sage, looking about for more matches. ; “Oh! the general's zot him on the brain. Absolutely nothinz to it I've turned him.inside out. Why,even the deputy commissioger ‘had” & go at him, and if he cant get nothing out of a man, there's nothing to get out." o ‘Well” said -Malcolm Sage rising. | “keep the fact to yourself that T am | interested. I suppose, if necessary.| Mou. could arrange for twenty or; thirty men to run down there?” he| blessed it you Queried: - - “The whol Yara [ like, Mr. Sage.” was the feeling reply. SWe'li leave it at that for the pres. | ent then. By the way. if you happen fo thik you see me 1n the nelghbor: | hood you needn’t remember that we ! are acquainted.” The inspector nodded comprelend- ingly and, with a heart lightened somewhat of its burden, he departed. ¥ * x X % JFOR halt an hour i Malcolm Sage sat; engrossed in the map of the! scene of the maimings. On it were a number of red-ink crosses with figures beneath. In the left-hand| bottom corner was a list of the va- rious outrages with the date and the time, as ear as could be approximated, | against each. The n@mbers in the bottom corner corresponded -with those beneath the crosses. From tlme to time he referred to the two copies of Whitaker's Alma- nack open before him, and made notes upon the writing pad at his side. Finally he ruled a square upon the map in red ink, and then drew two lines diagonally from .corner to cor- ner. Then without looking up from the map he pressed one of the bu tons of the private telephone. “Tims he said through the mouthpiece. Five minutes later Malcolm Sage's chauffeur was standing opposite his chief's table, ready to go anywhere and do anything. ) “Tomorrow will be Sunday, Tims." You. alr “We are going out to Hempd, near Selford:" Malcolm Sage eomiin: ued, pointing to the map. Tims stepped forward and bent over identify the spot. “The car will break down. "It will take you or any other mechanic two Qours to put it right.” “Yes, sir,” said Tims, straightening himself. “You understand,” said Malcolm Sage, -looking at him sharply. “You or any other mechanic.” “Yes, sir,” reported Tims, his face sphinx-like in it lack of expression. ‘[ - shall be ready at 9, said “Yes, | | H Malcolm Sage, and with another Tims turned to go. sir, And, Tim “Yes, sir.” He about-faced smartl on his right heel. - “You might' apolor gize for me to Mrs. Tims for depriv-! ing her of you on Sunday. Take her: out to dinner-on Monday and charge it to me." “Thank you, sir, very much, said Tims, his face expressionl “That is all, Tims, thank you. Tims turned once more and left the room. As he walked toward the out- | er door he winked at Gladys Norman | and, with a sudden dive, made a frightful riot of William Johnson's knutilike hair. Then, without change of expression, he passed out to tune up_the car for its run of the morrow. The following morning, as they trooped out of church, the jnhabi- tants of Hempdon were greatly in- terested in the break-down-of a large car, which seefied to defy the best efforts of the chauffeur to coax it in- to movement. The owner drank cider iat the Spotted Woodpigeon and talk- ed pleasantly withethe villagers, who, on learning that he had never even heard of the Surrey cgttle-maimings, sir,” | | i tion and theories into his teceptive ear. b : The episode quite dwarfed the re- markable sermon preached by E‘r Callice, in which he ‘exhorted his’con- gregation to band themselves toge- ther to track down him who was maiming and torturing = God'd - crea- tures, and defying the.Master's merci- ful teaching. It was Tom Hinds, assisted by a boy scout, who conducted -Malcolm Sage to the scene of the latest out- rage. It was Hinds who described the position of the mare when she ‘was. discovered, and it was he who pocketed two half-crowns 'as the car moved off Londonwards. < ‘That evening Malcolm Sage sat'long and late at his table, engrossed-in the map -that Inspector ‘Wenadale . had sent him. . The next morning he wrote a letter that subsequently caused: Sir- John Hackblock to explode into’ a torrent of' abuse of detectives in general and: the man's a |- —w&_ T in partlcular. stated in @ few words that, owing to circumstances over which he had no control, : able to undertake the inquiry with which Sir John Hackblock s D. C. JULY 24, 1921—PART % R THE SUNDAY STAR,. WASHINGTON, = one investigator It|cast by a large oak. Their faces and hands were blackcned, rendering them indistinguishable from thelr surround- alcolm Sage would not be|ings. ne wore a shade over a pair of ad hon- | gold-rimmed spectacles, a precaution ored_htm. until the end of the month | 8gainst the moonlight being reflected following. ; ™ ok ox X NEAR{A' a_month had elapsed, and the! cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever. The neigborhood in which the crimes had begn' committed had once more settled down to its usual occupa- tions, and Scotland Yard had followed suit. Sir John Hackblock had written to the chief commissioner and a ques- tion had been asked in the house. Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mentjon in. his presence the words “cattle” or “maiming.” The inspec- tpr knew that the affaif’ was referred to as “Wensdale’s Waterloo," and his failure te throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell on his nerves. For three weeks he received no I i “TAKE MY CARD IN TO HIM,” SAID THE LITTLE BRISTLY MAN. word from Malcolm Sage. One morn- ing on his arrival at Scotland Yard he was given a telephone message asking Pim to call round at the bureau during the day. “Nothing new?" queried Malcolm Sage ten minutes later, as the inspector was shawn into his room by Thomp- son. The inspector shook a gfoomy head and dropped his heavy frame into a chair. « Malcolm Sage indicated with a nod that Thompson was to remain. i “Can you borrow a couple of covered government lorries?” queried Malcolm Sage. “A couple of hundred if necessary. sald the Inspector dully. “Two will be enough.” was the dry re'jolnder. “Now listen carefull. Wensdale. 1 want you to have fif: men housed some ten miles away from Hempdonon the aiternoon of the Select men who have done scouting, e: boy scouts. for preferenc Don't choose any with bald heads or with very light hair. See that they are and, above all, no white collars. Take such as is used by negro minstrels."” Malcolm Sage paused, and for the fraction of a second there was a curions flttering at the corners of his mouth. “It will be moonlight and caps might fall off.” explained Malcolm Sage. “You cannot very well ask a man to black -his head. ~ Above all.” he con- tinued evenly, “be sure you give no in- dication to any one why vou want the men, and tell them not to talk. Yo follow me?” he queried. " “Yes,” said the inspector, 1 fol- low." “Don't go down Hempdon way again, and tell no one in the -nelghbo; hood; no one, you understand, 1s to know anything about it. Don't tell the general, for instance.” “Him!" There was a world of hatred and contempt in the inspector's voice. Then he glanced a little oddly at Mal- colm Sage. Malcolm Sage went on to elaborate his instructions. Theé men were to be divided into two parties, one to form a line north of the scene of the last outrage, and the other to be spread over a particular zone some three miles the other side of Hempden. They were to blacken their faces and hands, and observe great care to show no' light coloring in connection with their cloth- ing. Thus they would be indistin- gulshable from their surroundings. “You will g0 with one lot.” kaid Mal- coim Sage to the Inspector,- “and my man Finlay with the ather.: Thompson and I will be somewhere in the neigh- borhood. You will be given a pass. word for purposes of Iidentification. You understand?" “I think so,” sald the inspector, a tone which was suggestive. that he was very far from understanding. Tl have everything typed out for you and®cale-plans of where you are to post your men. Above all, don't take any one into your confidence.” nspeclor Wensdale nodded and foross at Thompson, as if to — at after all it yw “n"? huge Joke. really was not “If nothing happens onthe 224} w. shall carry on the secoffd, third and fourth nights. In all probability .we shall catch our man on the o Then you know who 1t 30 splut- tered the inspector in astonishment I hope to know on the 28rd,” said Malcolm Sage dryly, as he rose and walked -toward the door. - Directness as his_strong point. 'Taking the int, - Inspector Wensdale rose also n not yet ::‘I’l' wllhkthe air of a ma; tite awake, passed out of the Tpcou had better see him tomorrow, ompson,” said Malcolm Sage, “and explain exactly how .the men are to e disposed. Make it clear that none b must show themselves. If the: 3 'y actu- ove in the act, they must T]ly see any rack him, not t 3 e ry to take him. hendingly. “Make it clear t ¥ to wateh; but I d::;lthey hesil "gae anything,” he added. D * ok kX AT eleven o'clock on the night of July the 23 two motor lorries glided s.lowly along some three miles distant from one another. From their interiors silent forms dro noigelessly on the moon-white r’}'rp:dd A moment later, slipping into the shadow of the hedge, they disap- gcared. All the previous night men ad watched and waited; but noth- ing had happened. ‘Now they were to try again. Overhead the moon was climbing the, sky, struggling against masses of| cloud that from time to time swung themselves across her disc, In the village of Hempdon all was uiet. The last light had been ex- tinguistied, the last dog had sent forth a final challenging bark, hoping that some-neighboring rival would an- :W:':l.nd Justify a volume of canine pro- b S On the western side of the highway, and well behind the houses, two fig- ures, were standing in if they'll see! the shadow~ on the lenses. Halif an hour, an hour, an hour and a half passed. They waited. Pres- etly one gripped the arm of the other and pointed. At the back of the house immediately opposite there was a slight movement in the shade cast by a hedge. Then the line yeadjusted itself and the shadow vanished. A moment later it reappeared in a patch 3:‘moonlighl, looking like a large Stooping low, Malcolm Sage and Thompson followed the dog-like form, themselves .taking advantage of ev- ery patch of shadow and cover that offered. The mysterious form moved along deliberately and without haste, now disappearing in the shadow cast by some tree or bush, now reappearing once more on the other side. Once it disappeared altogether, and for five minutes the two trackers lay on their faces and waited. “Making sure hes not being fol- lowed,” whispered Thompson, and Malcolm Sage nodded. Presently the figure appeared once more and, as if reassured. continued its slow and deliberate way. Having reached the outskirts of the village, it continued its crouching course along the western side of the hedge flanking the roadside. Malcolm Sage and Thompson fol- lowed under the shadow of a hedge running parallel. For a mile the slow -and laborious tracking continued. Suddenly Malcolm Sage stopped. In the fleld on their right two horses were grazing in. the moorikight. It was the scene of the tragedy of the month previous! For some minutcs they walited ex- pectantly. Suddenly Malcolm Sage gripped Thompson's arm and pointed. From under the hedge a dark patch was moving slowly towarad the nearer of the two animals. It was apparently tge form of a man, face downward, wriggling along inch by inch without bending a limb. “‘Get across. whispered Sage. knife."” Thompson nodded and slid away un- der cover of the hedge separating the field in whish the horses were from that along which the watchers had just passed. Slowly the form approached its quarry. Once the horse Tifteq 1ts head a8 though scenting danger; but the figure was ap- proaching upwind. Suddenly it raised itself, appearing once more like a dog. Then with a swift, pantherlike movement it mo- mentarily disappeared in the shadow cast by the horse. There was a muffled scream and a gurgle as the animal collapsed, then silence. A minute later the form seemed to detach itself from the carcass and wriggled toward the hedge, a dark patch upon_the grass. Malcolm Sage was already half way through the second field, keeping well under the shelter of the hedge. He Cut off his retreat,” “Look out for the reached a spot where the intersecting hedge joined that running parallel with the highroad. Thete wis a hole suffi clently large for 2 mag % crawl through from one field to the “other. By this Malcolm Sage waited, a life-preserver in his hand. At the sound of twig he gripped his: later a round, darl through the hole in the hedge. Without hesitating, Malcolm Hage struck. There was a sound, hal’ grunt, half a moment apo; sob, and Malcolm Sage was on his feet | easy, gazing down at the strangest creature |outrages were clearly not acts of r he had ever encquntered. Clothed in green, its face and hands smeared with some pigment of the same color, lay the figure of a tall man. Round thé waist was a belt from which {as suspended In_i{p case a Gurkha's ukri. Maicolm Sage bent down to un- buckle the belt. He turned the man on his back. As he did so he saw that in his hand was a small. collapsible tin cup covered with blood, which also Ktained his lips and chin, and dripped from his’ hands.. whilst the front.-of his clothing was stained in dark patches. v “I wonder who he is” - muttered Thompson, as he gazed down at the strange figure. “Locally he is known as the Rev. Geoffrey Callice,” remarked Malcolm Sage quietly. . * % ¥ % ““ ND that damned scoundrel has been fooling us for two vears." Sir John Hackblock glared at I spector Wensdale as if it were he who was responsible for the deception. They were seated smoking in Sir Joh#'s library after a particularly early breakfast. “] always said it was the work of a madman,” said the inspector in self- defense. “Callice is no.more mad than I am snapped Sir John. I wish I were go- ing to try him” he added grimiy. “The scoundrel! To think—"" His ins dignation choked him. “He is not mad in the accepted sense,” said Malcolm Sage as he sucked meditatively at his pipe. “T should! say that It is a case of race-memory.” | “Race-memory! Dammit! What's | that?" . Sir John Hackblock snapped | out the words in his best parade- ground manner. “How the devil did you sppt the brute?" he demanded, as Malcolm Sage did not reply immediately. “Race-memory,” he remarked, ig- noring the question, “is to man what tinct is to animals: it defies an- alysis or explanation.” Lir John stared; but it was Inspec- tor Wensdale who spoke “But how did You manage fo fix the date, Mr. Sage?" he inquired. “By the previous outrages,” was the reply, “They all took place about the time the moon was at the full. 4There were twenty-elght in all” Mhleolm felt In his pocket and' drew out a paper. “These are the figures.” | were north, east and south of Hemp- |don as the headquarters of the black- {race-memory? Second day after. .28 exclaimed Sir Total. .. “Well, 'Im damned!” snapping of a|John, looking up from the paper at Malcolm Sage, as If he had solved the ‘shape appeared |riddle of the universe. The inspector's only comment was a quick withdrawing of breath. “That made matters comparativel continued Malcolm Sage. “Th venge upon any particular person; for they involved nine different owners. They were obviously the work of some one subject to a_mania, or obession, which gripped KIm when the moon was at the full.” “But how did you fix the actual spot?’ burst out Inspector Wensdale excitedly. “Each of the previous acts had been either in a diametrically opposite di- rection from that immediately pre- ceding it, or practically on the same spot. For -instance, the first three | don. in the order named. Then the cunning of the perpetrator prompted wim to commit a fourth, not to the west, but to the south. within a few yards of the previous act. The crim- inal argued. probably subconsciousl that he would be expected to complete the square.” “But what made vou fix on Hemp- i i | guard?" inquired Sir John. “That was easy,” remarked Mal- colm Sage. “You supplied me with a large scale-map showing the exact spot where each of the previous maimings had taken place. I drew a square to embrace the whole. Lines drawn diagonally from corner to cor- ner gave me the center of gravity." “But—" began the inspector. /%A man committing a series of cpimes from a giVen spot was bound to spread his operations over a fairly | wide area in order-to minimizé the, chance of discovery. The longer the | period and the larger the number of | crimes, the greater the chance of his befng located somewhere near the center of his activities “Well, T'm damned!" remarked Sir John. “There was. of course, the chance | of his striking in another direction.” | continued Malcolm Sage. digging into | the bowl of his pipe with a penknife, | “gg 1 placed the men in such a way that if he did so he was bound to be seen.” “But what | vas that vou said about Sir John had quieted down considerably since Malcolm Sage had begun his explanation. “I should describe it as a harking beck to an earlier phase. It is to the mind what atavism is to the body. In breeding, for instance"—Malcolmn Sage 100ked across to Sir John—*y: find that an offspring will manifest characteristics, or a taint that is not to be found in either sire or dam.” | Sir John nodded. | * * % % { “WE LL. race-memory.is the same thing in regard to the ment~! ltng Callice’s . . \ =, | Pay belors full twoon,.. 4 plane, a sort of subconscious waveyof - Day after . 7 reminiscence. In Callice's case ft xs . in all probability the memory of s rite of his ancestors cen- sacrificial turies ago. “A case of heredity?" “Broadly speaking, yes. At the full mooh this particular tribe, whose act Callice has reproduggd. was in the habit of slaughtering some beast, or beasts, and drinking the blood, prob- ably with the idea of absorbing their strength or their courage. Possibly the surroundings at Hempdom were similar to those where the act of sacrifice was committed in the past “It must be remembered that Callice was an ascetic, and consequently highly subjective. Therefore. when the wave of reminiscence is taken in conjunction with the surroundings, the full moon and his high state of subjectivity, it is easy fo see ti material considerations might ea be obliterated. That is why I wat ed the back entrance to his lodgings " “And all the time we were telling him our plans,” murmured the inspec- tor half to himself. “Yes. and he would go out hunting himself, said Sir John. “Damn funny, 1 call it. Anyway, he'll get seven years, at least “When he awakens he will remem ber nothing about it You cannnt punish a man for a subconscious crim@” Sir John snorted infgnantly: bu Inspector Wensdale nodded his head slowly and regretfull “Anyway, 1 owe you five hundred pounds,” said Sir John to Malcol Sage; “and, dammit! it's worth he added. Malcolm Sage shrugged his should- ers as he rose to go. “] was sorry to have to hit him he said regretfully, “but I was afra:l of that knife. A man can do a I of damage with a thing like tha: That's why T told you not to let vour men attempt to take him. Wensdale.' “How did you know what sort of broke down. Incidentally 1ot of acquaintances. includ- patrol-leader. a bright made lad. He told me a lot of things about Callice and his wavs. A remark®bie product, the bey scout” he added “Kipling calls him ‘the friend of all the world." " + Sir John looked across at Inspector Wensdale, who was strongly tempted to wink. Don't think too harshly of Callice.” said Malcolm Sage. as he shook hands with Sir John. “It might easily have been you or I had we been a little purer in mind and thought.” And with that he passed out of the room with _Inspector Wensdale fol- lowed by Sir John Had:.block, who wos endeavoring to interpret the ex- act meaning of the remark “They said he was a clever devil."” he muttered as he returned to the library after seeing his guests off. “and, dammit! they were right." (Coprright. 1921.) A WESTERN SENATOR WHO STARTED HIS CAREER AS BUS BOY IN A RESTAURANT BY V. ) . HUDSO UT in the western states they not you are worth a few millions of dollars, but they do care to know if you are on the “level” and if you ! 40 not pass that acid test you might to a region of the country where the requisites of manhood are taken more lightly. Some of our younger and less thickly populated states are, by reason of these facts, more like a great, big family than the densely settled commonweulths of the east. When President Harding selected Senator Fall to be Secretary of the Interior it left a vacancy, and it rest- ed upon Gov. Mechem to appoint a one of the genators from New Mexico. The task imposed upon the governor was not an easy one, as there are numerous high-grade men in the state. but, weighing them one and all as to this or that qualification, Be uppointed Holm O. Bursum of Socorro. been a resident of New Mexico for {with you a good supply of burnt cork, | many years, but also because he hadj ever been on the alert to aesist in bringing the state to the fore. The senator was not born With a gold spoon in his mouth, nor was he rearsd in the lap of luxury by doting parents. Neither did he have the advantages of a flying start given to him by wealthy parents. Unlike many scions of overindulgent parents, he had, at a tender age. to begin the battle of life alone and unaided. His school was that of ad- versity and hard knocks, but he brought to the surface the laten spirit of his sturdy, rugged and hon est forefathers. * - * K ¥ K SE.\'ATOR BURSUM is a typically afraid. western character, virile and un- He was born at Fort Dodge, lowa, n the early part of 1867, and, after receiving a little education, was compelled by the death of his parents to go to work. He migrated fo Coloradd and became bus boy in a restaurant, called the “English Kitchen,” in Denver, Col. He also wat times washed dishes and was a general handy boy about the place, In addition to his “board and keep meaning room, board and laundry, the lad received the large wage of $3.50 per month. At spare times he read with the idea of later improv- ing his station in life. Another po- sition he occupied in the state was switchboard tender, for which he re- celved $30 per month, out of which he paid for his room and board. Quitting this job he became walking Doss of a rallroad gamg, arising at 3. a. m. and continuing labor until the sun had set. This and other jobs kept him in Colorado until the spring of 1881, when he hit the trail for New Mexico. His railroad ex- perlence had given him an insight to the fact that money could be made by engaging in the contracting business, 50 he hired out as a “mule skinner.” The definition of “mule skinner” in the dictionary of the west is “a man who drives mules.” These highly in- telligent animals are guided by means of a “jerk. line’ and it re- quires no end of skill, to say nothing of an_ extensive vocabulary, to suc- cessfully guide the destinies of these long eared but highly intelligent animals, It is extremely doubtful if.any of the ultra-fashionable gen- tlemen who “tool the four-in-hand coaching teams. at Saratoga in this country or in Merrie Old England | could - successtully pilot eight mules, each with @ separate and distinct aim in life. - Frugality end thrift soon enabled the. young man to add some eight he teams to his.collection of equines 1and he speedily learned.that the horses nodded his head compred| th cight horse teams were as a rule of a Dalky nature. The senatdr, ag a young man, had | madesup his mint® to study life ‘from ievery angle and it is doubtful if | there is in .the Senate today a man ! who is a-more successful psycholog- iist than the junio- senator from New {Mexico. He had noticed after —the {first or second trip that when he ihalted his horse teams in the sand to give them a breathing spell that When he gave the ward to get them to o they responded quickly, but that If he walted until they had stop- ped of their own volition it was not an easy matter to get them started again. Tt would be unfair in recounting Senator Bursym's experience if one did not mention a remarkable inci- dent that occurred to him during his early career. He wi “punching”—a Western term for driving—a team of oxen when the latter suddenly de- termined to run away. This seem- ingly , impossible happening is ex- plained by the fact that the oxen in running away ran down hill. Finding that that contracting busi- nesg was declining_he traded the mufes and horses oft-fof a band of 1,300 sheep. The man who got the don't care so much who vour great - great - grand- father was, or whether ori just as well pull up stakes and hlkel man to serve in Mr. Fall's place as} v It was a fitting appoint- ) ; wearing dark clothes and dark shirts)ment, because Bursum had not only the Cabinet of Presiden | | | Golt. "OLM O. BURSUM of Socorro. N. M. | Appointed by the Governor to Fill Out Term of Senator Fall, Who Was Appointed to | as a Dish Carrier in the “English Kitchen.” | His Jobs as "Mule Skinner,” Gang Boss and | Cattleman—A Senator Who Does Not Play t Harc_ling. First Served ! | SE! mules lost half of them. Bursum lost half of the herd of ‘sheep. Each one of the traders was satisfled with the deal and each { contended that the laugh was on fhe other fellow. The sheep were driven to Socorro and sold. Mr. Bursum then engaged in the pursuit of feeding icattle and, like many another good man, he went “broke™ in 1893, “broke” at a period when many supposedly sound financial institutions toppled to the, ground, carrying with them for- | tunes of thousands of men throughout i the length and breadth of the land. | “From time to tin. in a place where ,there might hanpen %o be a night school the voyng_mule <%inner would put_in a leisure hour or so trying to perfeét his education. * K X K THERE is hardly a man of the early some time days of New Mexico who has not o ‘other in his career punched cows and upon many occa- s seat in the United States Senate has ridderfby dav and hy night and while the moving pictures of today have endeavored to depict the dangers-and terrors of a bunch of cattle that have been_ stampeded, yet those who have not participated in the real.article can never appreciate the danger which is thredtehed by a bunch of crazed cattle and it'is only by skillful riding and aided by a good horse that | the stampede can be checked and cne's life saved. ‘The senator has been the: central figure.in a couple stampedes, and ‘the matter of stam- pedes brings to mind another little human interesting story of his career. Every cow puncher is proud of his horse, or “ponyv.” @& he calls it. In the earlier days of;New Mexico, Ari- zona and other states where .men l;‘:va real red blood in their veins, ey NATOR HOLM O. BURS ons the man who was to occupy a | sed to rage.what they called . OF NEW MEXICO. ‘quarter horses.” The races were about 440 yards in- length. Coming into town one day after a round-up, Mr. Bursum learned that there was’ to be a horse r: in tewn the next day. and, ”keeJ inhabitants of -the state, conclud to stay over and watch the fun. The race was won by a pinto pony and after the race the owner of the nner declared that his “hoss™” could run faster than anything that wore hair” Bursum was right proud of his cow pony. A match was arranged. The owner of the pinto rode bare- back. Bursum using his forty-pound saddle. Bursum won the race by a length. The pinto owner was not ) satisfled and .another race ‘was ar- ranged for later in the day. Bursum again won, but his pony evidently desired to administer a rebuke for Veing worked overtime, for he bucked just after crossing the, fin- ishing mark, with the result that the senator was pitched up on the horn of the saddle. It Was. as near. a case of “pulling leather” s had ever happened to him. During the time ‘he had been carv- ing out his fortune Mr. Bursum had been active in the affairs of the state. He had been elected a member of the territorial Eenate from 1899 to 1900. He had been honored by his fellow republicans by being made a delegate to the republican nntlona” conventions of 1904, 1908 and 1912. He was made chairman of the re- publican territorial central commit- tee from 1905 to 1911. He was a member and the republican floor leader of the constituti 1 conven- tion held fn 1910 and has been a member of the republican national committee since 1919. EE THE senator is enthusiastic about the state in which he lives and the people of New Mexico, and whan asked by the iter some time ago as to why he had settled in New Mexico he sald: s . jstate which I have !lcoked upon as one of the “dependa “I had heard glowing reports of change of the wind. the opportunities presented by Mevico. It appealed to me as be a field where, if @ man was willing to work and piay the game on the square, he could succeed. 1 had beer there but a short time when I found that the people webe the sort that you could depend upon if they could depend upon you. Their outlook was both broad and human. They were ever willing to. help the less fortu nate brother. There is no higher type of manhood or womanhood in the world than ‘the people of the the honor, in part. to represent in the Senate. Touching on the ~qualities pos- sessed by the citizens of the stat whose ancestors were of Mexic origin, he sald: “The native Mexicans of New Mex- ico are as good Americans as you will find anywhere in this country. They have always come forward when the country needed them.” . If there is one thing of which the senator is prouder than another, it is the fact that the youth of Arizona re- sponded to the call to arms with a rush and that they acquitted them- selves nobly during the great conflict In his office the other day he spoke of a native Mexican who had gone through the battie of the Argonne and who, when they found him, had both legs shot off and was calmiy smoking a cigarette. The Young man afterward died. While the senator is essentially in favor of peace, it must be an honorable peace. Despite the fact that Bursum has been in the Senate only since the 11th of March of this vear, he has been n able to put through the war risk in- surance bureau many claims for the men of his state. This has been ac- complished by keeping everlastingly at itand instructing his office force to ‘sec that claims were promptly followed up. Another instance of his desire to see fair play given to the “citizen soldfers” is the bill he introduced glving disabled emergency officers the same right in the matter of retire- ment compensation as is given offi- cers of the Regular Army, and at the time this story was written the bill had been reported favorably to the Senate by the military affairs com- mittee. It is more than likely that the measure will pass the Senate and House some time during the present —the Sixty-seventh — Congress It is another evidence of the senatot's ! desire not only to help the veterans of the late war. but also to see that justice is given to the civilian as well as the professional goldier. The senator is tall, of athletic bufld, smooth face, gray hair and has clear, gray eves. He gives one the impres- sion that he is a strong, resourceful 2nd a determined fighter. When he talks to you, he looks vou straight in the eve. He is the kind of a man who would not carry an ace up his sleeve, and he is also the kind of & man who wouldn't permit you to carry one in yoursleeve. He appears to take much Jlight In smoking a pipe. He carries his tobacco in a pouch that is remi- niscent of his cowboy days. He wads down the tobacco 8o that it does not splutter out. another trick of the plainsman. He possesses rather unique positfon in the Senate, as h is one of the few members of th: body who do_mnot play golf. but he does enjoy a good game of base ball In the councils of his party he bles.” because his judgmént is always «ound. He dislikes to make a speech but those who heard him during th campaigns in New Mexico say tha when he gets started he is extremely forceful. Senator Bursum is one of the men who has continually fought for the in- terest of the cattie men, rancher and miner, and he believes that money advanced by the government for the 8id of the people of these industrics should be administered by the ciyzens of New Mexico who are famillar with the needs and conditions there If you want to hear about the won- ders of New Mexico and the high qualities of the people there, visit him in his office, chat with him for ralf an hour. and if you don't go straight to the railread office to pur- chase a ticket for New Mexico it I8 because you have other affairs that need attention. He Is a twenty-four- FLour booster for his state. el Snowproof Ponies. [ discussing the problem of the origin of horses, an eminent in- vestightor described s one of the most distinct kinds, now living arc the Celtic ponies, which are found in the most northern parts of Icelund They reach a height of only four feet and are so abundantly furnished with hair that in winter storms the ar® practically snowpfoof. He ob- served the cornduct of one of these ponies during a snowstorm. AS soon as the storm began the animal turned her hind quargers to it and in a short time the snow had formed a kind of shield or disk upon the long hair growing gbout the root of the tail. Thus protected, the pony did not shift her position, while the storm lasted. except to turm with &