The evening world. Newspaper, November 6, 1922, Page 28

ce { READ THIS, THEN BEGIN THE-STORY. OBERT FORRESTER, a young Chicago engineer, receives a note demanding that he place $10,000 in a hollow tree in Jasper Lane, an unfrequented suburban road. © He deter- mines not to be blackmailed. He has a talk with Frederick Prentice, a fellow clubman, and from him learns that Prentice nas been one among a score of prom- inent men who have responded to similar notes by paying the sums demanded. Others who have refused have met mysterious deaths, the latest being George Nevins, a leading capitalist, to whose son Forrester’s sister is engaged. Prentice strongly advises that Forrester pay the money, but the young man declares his intention of hunting down the “Friends ot the Poor.” Forrester engages Benjamin F. Green, a private detective, to assist in running down the criminals and promises him a fee of $10,000 if he is successful. : Humphrey, a newspaper reporter, calls upon Forrester and ad- vises him to apply the penece practige of triangulation to she solution of the mystery. Forrester fails to see how the mathematical Process may be applied, but he agrees with Humphrey that it is best that he become a detective on his own account for the sake of the solu- tion of the mystery. e Forrester is followed to his home by a mysterious automobile Police follow the car. Next morning he visits the tree and hears from a giant Negro, Joshua, that it is haunted and the Negro ascribes the spirits’ manifestations to a Negro woman whose husband has dis- appeared and is believed by Joshua to have been killed by the woman. Detective Green visits the tree, sets up a flash light, hears noises, Sees queer things, has his apparatus wrecked and is ready to quit the job. Forrester prevails upon him Forresta: also makes a visit to the tree. He is pleased with the accidental meeting with Miss Sturtevant, who has a note of intro- duction to his mother. She is the ing estate and the employer of the Negro, Joshua. The following day Forrester visits the mysterious Negress, Lucy, whose cabin is near the tree, and interviews two city detectives. ‘woman throws no light on the mystery. The sleuths say they have been convinced that an Italian auto gang have done the “Friends of the Poor” murders. ‘ Gteen is established as watchman and bodyguard at the Forrester country home. Forrester, on his last evening in the city, is visited by Prenti¢e, who emphasizes his advice to Forrester to pay the money demanded. Later Forrester finds a note demanding $25,000. CHAPTER XII, (CONTINUED). R Saturday, HE Wbrary at ‘Woodmere’ 4) faced the terrace, upon \ which @ row of French win- dows opened. Forrester sat ‘by the big centre table that eve- ning; {aly turning the pages of a book. ( Heavy footsteps clattered along the tefrace, and a moment later Groen entered at one of the windows. “I was waiting for you," Forrester greeted him, rising as he spoke. “My mother-and sister have just left. Now, one last word of instruction, Green. to stick close to the windows room over there at the After dinner’! will walk ~ ied wind with Miss wane te ‘ake a look at her, ‘While away try and keep an eye slips out, trail her! F to-night.” assured Green. ‘Is ‘the president's private took the package from Green and slipped it into an inner Pocket. “Come,” he said, and led the way peace car, too late to ask for first @ance?" inquired Forrester, ‘am ap- pore Mary Sturtevant after din- Fy aly Tok very late in arriving. r seems to be in rs “ , popular “Depends greatly upon the New Yorker,"" returned Forrester. “You haven't changed a bit since ‘Thureday, have you?" cried the girl. “How many dances do you wisti?"' and she extended her card. * “Im afraid,” declared Forrester, a doleful nute creeping into his voice ax he glanced over the card, *‘that 1 shall have to forego any. 1 must leave be- fore you have completed this long list of engagements," "Oh, of course," she exclaimed. “I bad forgotten. You have a most important engagement yourself at ten-thirty. Forrester looked at her sharply. “How do you know?" he asked. Miss Sturteyant looked surprised. “Why, you told me—and it has been in all the papers.”’ “Not the exuet hour,! returned Forrester, his eyes still observing her keenly. “Ob, she murmured, flushing, “wasn't it? Well, then, I must have , heard it somewhere.” “Over telephone, perhaps," hears gowip in so many ways to remember the source,” easily, “If you won't he asked, indicat- |i to remain as his assistant. temporary occupant of a neighbor- The hand as the music started for the first dance and added impulsively, “There, I must go. I wish you the best of luck to-night.'" Mer last words struck him as ominous. Forrester turned to face Green and tell him to watch the girl, an. order of which he was honestly ashamed. As the two talked Prentice xp- Proached and broke {nto their con- versation, Forrester tmtroduced Green as his bodyguard and told Prentice of his early departure for the tree. “Remember my advice—-get away from the tree if there is going” to be @ battle. See you later."” And Pren- tice strolled iu through the window Forrester had recently left. “Ten o'clock!'' exclaimed Green, consulting his watch. ‘‘Gee, you swells eat late, Better start, hadn't you?" “I <hink I will," decided Forrester, “There's just about time to walk over itead of asing the car.” een watched Forrester until he disappeared in the darkness, then Strolied over to a large tree v hich commanded a view of all the windows on that side of the house. Presently, though no sound had reached Green, he saw a man's figure appear in sijhouctte nguinst the light- ed window which faced him; a tall, broad-shouldered man, wearing a sack suit and a cap. Green knew from his dress that he was not one of: tho guests. Green was enlightened in a few minutes, : ‘The music ceased and immediately afterward he saw Mary Sturtevant ap- pear in the window. Glancing hastily about, probably to make sure that she was not observed, ,the girl quickly stepped through the window and into ‘the shadow at one side. A low, peculiar whistle came from the man, and the girl instantly reappeared as she ap- proached him. “And now, tell me yw matters stand to-night,’ requested the man, evidently ending a report of his own. “No one has left the room except Mr. Forrester," replied Mary Sturte- vant, ‘He started for the tree a fow minutes ago." "Take any one wtih him?’ “I'm not sure, He arrived with that private detectiy nd he may have taken him alon, “Very \Ukely" assented the man. “And there will be city detectives there, too, that I know. It will be very difficult for anybody to approach that tree to-night. It may spoil our plans.” ‘Mr. Forrester's case certainly seems to be attracting more attention than the others,’ commented the girl. “That's because he ix putting up # real fight, To tell you the truth, { have my doubts about the packuge of money he is putting in the tree to- night. It probably isn’t worth the ‘unger involved to get it.” "Gee!" muttered Green. “I’ve got the dope now. I'm wasting time here —me for the tree."* He started off at u run. Forrester did not make any effort to conceal himself as he approuched the great oak, He paused for a moment in front of the tree and listened. Nothing was to be seen, and there was no sound save the distant wall of a locomotive whistle and the faint rustling of leaves overhead, Cautiously picking his way through the dark, Forrester reached the + found the opening and placea the package in it. Then he carefully 1¢ turned to the road aad walked noisily } along ft for a short distance. Suddentv he leaped aside and paused, As the minutes slipped by without incident, Forrester grew restless He remembered that on other oc- casions detectives had waited there throughout the night, only to discover in the morning that their quarry had come and gone. Was this about to happen once more? Suddenly, far down the*lane, For- rester heard a slight creak that seemed to him like the application of the brake on an atitomobile. Listen- ing intently, he felt sure that he could also hear the soft purr of an idling engine, At last they must be com- ing! Strain his ears as he might, how- ever, Forrester could detect no other sound, If any one were approaching the tree it was with a catlike tread that no humah ear could hear. Then, in @ moment, everything changed. There was a short, sharp exclamation, followed by st'fled oaths and the rush of feet. Forrester cou'd tell from the rustling of leaves on the ground and the eracking of twigs that a struggle was taking place. He longed to rush forward and help, yet reason told him that it wus betier to Mlustrat leave the mage tHe hands of the detectives un@t “they wero suro of their men. The, next moment the darkness was scattered by two clec- tric pocket lamps and Forrester recognized * Cahill and O'Connor standing halfway betweon the road and the tree, each with a man in his grasp Forrester darted adross the road, but at the same moment there came a blinding flash of Aight that blotted out everything about him. This wos followed by shouts and oaths and several pistol shots, The flash had lasted for only a second, but the in- tensity of the Nght, followed by utter darkness, left Forrester practically blinded, and he stood helpless in the road. “What happened?” cried Forrester. “That's what I'd like to know,” growled the man, who proved to be Cuhill, Just then another pocket lamp flashed out. It was held by O'Connor, who néw upproached from the road- way and joined them. “No use," groaned O'Connor, “they got away, I stood no chance chasin’ an automobile.” “That'll make some plcture!"* came a, gleeful exclamation, and Humphrey appeared within the circle of light cust by the pocket lamps. “Picture, hell!" bellowed Cahill, “They got away!" Humphrey stared around with a be- wildered air, ‘Why,!' he exclaimed, “when’ you turned on your lights [ thought you had them fast. I decided that was the time to set off my flash- light and shoot a picture of you in the very act of capturing your prisoners.’ “Bright idea, young fellow,” snorted Cahill, ‘*but in one second you killed a whole year’s detective work!" At this moment a wheezing’ sound|a was heard in the road. All turned in ‘that direction and saw Green come stagsering up, out of breath and al- most speechless with his exertions. “Did — you -— get — him?"" gasped Green, with an effort. “Don't see any strangers hanging around, do you?" sneered Cahill. “Well—the—man—started—for—the tree," declared Green, ‘tand I—fol- lowed him,"" He gave a gulp and partly recovered his breath, ‘Just as I turned in—from the main road— down here—I heard the rumpus—and I thought you had got the man."" “THE man?" exclaimed Cahill. “What are you talking about?" “Why—I was keepin’ watch at a house—up the roid here—for Mr. Forrester. I heard a man afrangin’ to come down to the tree—to get the package."* “Well, he split into two by the time. he got here,’ sneered Cahill. "You've been looking through last year’s almanac, partner.”” Forrester took the puffing Green by the arm and pushed him to one side. “If you know anything,”” he whis- pered, “keep it to yourself. We'll talk it over later.” “Look here,’ said O'Connor, sud- @enly, turning to Humphrey, ‘What you goin’ to do with that picture you took ?"" “Put {t in the paper to-morrow,” answered) Humphrey, triumphantly “A big headline across the top will read: ‘Friends of the Poor’ caught while trying to collect their secret toll." “Don't do mmanded O'Con es THE EVENING WORLD, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1922, | Lu SYNDt THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY SHOUTS AND OATHS AND SEVERAL PISTOL SHOTS, Josephine, “that of late it has be- come quite an event when you honor us with your company.” “If you have forgotten, Mother, at least Josephine must remember tha last night was the night on which i was to place that extortion money io the big oak in Jasper Lane."" “Good gracious! erled Mrs. For- rester, “You assured me, Bob, that you had fixed that matter up and that there was nothing for us to worry about. Did you pay them the money they asked for?’’ “[ put a package in the tree last night as instructed,’ returned For rester, evasively. “There is abso- jutely nothing for you to worry about, Mother."”* hope you gave them all they Kked for, Son, and have not trifled with them. You know what happened to dear Mr. Nevins and others who opposed them." . “Tt's all fl Mother, Just so on with your dinner and forget about it. By the way, have you seen the Nevihsses since the funeral?" Dinner over, Forrester joined Green in the pergola. n had selected this spot ax his permanent station because it formed a splendid vantage ground from which he could keep an eye on the principal living rooms of the house, and have both the north and south entrance gates under his obser- vation as well. After gonferring with Green dfong these lines for some time, Forrester left the detective to watch the house, and taking his roadster, started out to visit Mary Sturtevant, To reach the yhouse which Mary Sturtevant had fnted it was necps- sary for Forrester to pass throuxh Jasper Lane. He stopped his car in front of the tree and made a careful examination of the ground in every direction Miss Stuyvesant and her compan- ion, Mrs. Morris, were sitting on the front porch when Forrester arrived The girl was frankly pleased to sev him, rising from her chair and coming part way down the steps ax he ap- proached, Unde the spell of her ‘presence Forrester’'s recent depression took flight. “You are tired," she observed, sym- pathetically. “It has been u great sfrain, 1 am sorry the case remains dnsolved."* nor. “They ain't caught yet. Ke Mt quiet about that picture, Give the negative to us, We'll the faces enlarged Perhaps we no pie uP these Dagos trom their pliotos.”* “T. get you.” assented Humphrey. Green went to the tree and idsorted his hand in the opening. He felt cyrefully around, then withdrew bis arm and turned to face the others, In the dim light of the pocket lamps they saw that his eyes were staring wildly. “It's gone!"’ he cried CHAFTER XIII, A Puzzling Warning. to you WHATEVER happened W last night, Son?" exclaimed Mrs, Forrester, Forrester had just strolled into the dining room, late for the 1 o'clock Sunday dinner. The excitement of the incident at the tree, together with the strange occurre related to him by Green, had caused Forrester a sleepless night. It was nearly dawn when he had finally sullen aslecp and in bis state of nervous and physical exhaustion he had not again awakened until just in time to dress for dinner “It seems to me, Bob," observed nce N© branch of dental science calls for a greater degree gf skill than properly constructed bridge work- fixed or rer ! In this class of service we excel. No matter how many teeth are missing, if you have a few sound ones for proper support, our skilled opera- tors. can duplicate Nature's best handi- work, substituting teeth that match rfectly in shape ang appearance, And built) for lasting service. they are All Languages Spoken, Lady attendants. WATERBURY DENTAL COMPANY, 1, Established 1897 29 W. 34th St, NewYork 414-16 Fulton St., Brooklyn the promised telephone message. “You have heard what happened last night?" he queried. Miss Stuyvesant stiffened percep- ibly, and the guarded nature of her reply was evident. “Your dejected attitude tells a plain Mr, Forrester, Whatever hap sa i hh OR Ba Secret Toll Paul and Mabel Mmhorne, ed by Will B. Johnstone. pened at the oak, I am sure you are: atill_ perplexed."”” “I am,"’ admitted Forrester, shortly. “IT have heard, Mr. Forrester, that you are making a determined eftort to unmask these people; that you\have taken grave risks which should have been assumed by others more expert~ enced. Do you think you are wise?" “What do you think I should do?'* asked Forrester. “Go away!" she answered, quickly, emphaticall “Until n?** “Until—,"” she paused a moment, ‘until the police have cleared this matter up." Forrester could not . determine whether the girl was solicitous for his welfare or was cloaking her connec- tion with the mystery under feigned anxlety. Impulse won over logic as he burst out: “Mary, I love you The girl regarded him steadily, a serious, searching look in her brown eyes that held Forrester fascinated and for the moment incapable of further speech. Then she broke the spell “How can you,” she asked, “in 86 short a time?" “Mary, I am old enough te know my mind and heart.” “Robert," said the girl, timidly, and Forrester thrilled at the sound of this name on her lips for the first time. It showed at least a partial victory. he fate that has so strangely thrown us together still holds us in its hands, Both of us are entangled in the meshes of a malignant force and until such time as fate relinquishes its present hold upon us I eannot give you the answer you are seeking.” ‘This admission from Mary Sturte- vant startled Forrester. Yet its great- cst effect. upon him was to further strengthen his resolve to pull herjback from the black pit of disaster before it was too late. “Do you think that IT am involved In this affair of the ‘Friends of the Poor'—that I have guilty knowledye of it?” she asked. “T have suspected it,” assented For- rester, ‘Many of your actions have implicated you seriously. You must remember,” he added, “that I have been playing the detective myself.”” “And you still want to marry me?” she queried. y “yes; I want you more every min- ute I know you.” “Then, I know she murmured, ‘ou really love me,"’ 3ut, Robert—I ca POLITICAL. ( SAMUEL MARX For Because, as a successful JAMES W. GERARD FRANK L, POLK WILLIAM H. EDWARDS NATHAN STRAUS, Jr. wiVRRAY HULBERT MARK EISNER Be sure to vote for Member of 3 Congress Capable, intelligent, courageous and ene —SAMUEL MARX is an examp! needs of an overtaxed and over! Because, a lifetime of work in charitable and philanthropic movements gives ample proof of his big heart and humane spirit. Because, his record of accomplishment in publi making good in Washington. GEORGE GORDON BATTLE MRS. ROYAL S. COPELAND MUEL MAR name in Group 13 of the ballot—as follows: not draw ‘back now, Mary Sturtevant missing him. If. you will wait until this thing reaches its inevitable end—and you still feel that you want me—then.I will answer you." rose to her and Forrester knew that she was dis- Her companion tong since discreetly disappeared uni{ at the dusk of approuching evening al- ready threw the porch into shadow. Realizing that they were free from ob- Forrest nd he resisted nor feat rester a feeling of ree tion to solve the myste any cost. Releasing without a word, had her, dashing Protect health and in- sure comfort while coal is Scarce witha Simplex Sunbow!] ELECTRIC RADIATOR Keep comrortable and save coal. Buy your Sunbowl where you see the “Sunbowl Kid” displayed. ' SIMPLEX ELECTRIC HEATING CO. Cambridge, Mass. 120 W. 32nd St.,New York City POLITICAL. SAMUEL MARX < should be elected. | POLITICAL. 19th Congressional District The Nineteenth Congressional District, comprising the territory between 86th Street and 125th Street, from Fifth Avenue to the Hudson River, is one of the largest and most intelligent districts in the State. It should be represented by a man of the type of SAMUEL MARX. rgetic—a man of common sense and sound views on public questions le of the successful business man in politics. business man whose interests are all centered in the City of New York he knows tho SAMUEL UNTERMYER WISN TOSEPH L, BUTTENWIESER OBERT R. RRTHUR J. W. HILLY WILLIAM HARMAN BLACK CHAS, 8S. GUGGENHEIMER And thousands of other prominent business and pr —second ‘This Advert AMES A, O’GORMAN OBERT ADAMSON VINCENT J. GILROY WARREN W. FOSTER CLARICE M, BARIGHT. DR. HERBERT S. GOLDSTEIN GEORGE J, GILLESPIE SAMUEL ROSENTHAL ement {s contributed by the Marx Boosters Club, burdened community and is pledged to aid in necessary reforms. ic and private life in New York gives full assuranr of his SAMUEL MARX has been endorsed by the following distinguished citizens of New York: ABRAM I, ELIKUS JAMES A. DE HANTY MRS. HENRY MOSKOWITZ EDWARD SWANN TERRENCE FARLEY HENRY W. UNGER EDWARD WISE LEON SANDERS -ofessional men and women of New York City SAMUEL MARX respouded, her soft, warm body aroused In Por less determina quickly and he let down th steps and across the drive to his eas (Continued To-Morrow.) a