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About St. Helens mist. (St. Helens, Or.) 1913-1933 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 1913)
SERIAL STORY We Chronicles ef Addington Peace Br B. Fletcher Roblnaoa Co-JLatbor with A. Conao Doyle of Tbe Hcxwd of the BukwrOH etc It THE VANISHED MILLIONAIRE (Continued.) I woke with a start that left me sit ting up la bed, with my heart thump ing In my ribs 11'xe a piston-rod. I am not generally a light sleeper, bat that Bight, even while I snored, my nerves were active. Some one had tapped at my door that was my Impression. 1 I listened with the uncertain fear that comes to the newly waked. Then I heard It asain on the wall near my bead this time. A board creaked. Bome one was groping his way down the dark corridor without Presently fee stopped, and a faint line of lllo- mtnatlon sprang out under my door. It winked, and then crew still He bad Et a candle. Assurance came with the streak of tight. What was he doing, groping In the dark, if he had a candle with hlmT I crept over to the door, opened it, ana tared cautiously out , About a score feet away a man wa standing a striking figure against the light he carried. His back was to wards me, but I could see that bis hand was shading the candle from his Tea while be stared Into the shad' ows that clung about the further end at the corridor. Presently he began to move forward The picture gallery and the body of the bouse lay behind me. The com tor In which te stood terminated In a window, set deep Into the stone of the old walls. The man walked slowly throwing the light to right and left His attitude was of nervous expecta tionthat of a man who looked for something that he feared to see. At the window he stopped, staring about him and listening He examined the fastenings, and then tried a door oo his right It was locked against him. As he did so I caught his pro file against the light It was Harbord the secretary. From where I stood he u not more than forty feet away There was no possibility of a mistake. As he turned to come back I retreat ed Into my room, closed the door. The fellow was In a state of great agita tion, and I could hear him muttering to himself as he walked. When be had passed by I peeped out to see him and bis light dwindle, reach the corner by the picture gallery, and fade Into a re flection a darkness. I took care to turn the key before I got back Into bed. I woke aaia at seven, and, harry ing on my clothes, set off to tell Pewce all about It I took him to the place, and together we examined the corri dor. There were only two rooms be yond mine. The one on the left was an unoccupied bedroom; that on the right was a larg storeroom, the door of which was locked. The housekeep er kept the key, we learnt upon In quiry. Whom had Harbord followed T The problem was beyond me. As for Inspector Peace, be did not Indulge In verbal speculations. It was In the central hall that we encountered the secretary on his way to the breakfast room. The man looked nervous and depressed; he nod ded to us, and was passing on, when Peace stopped him. "Good morning, Mr. Harbord," he aid. "Can I have a word with yon?" "Certainly, inspector. What Is It?" "I have a favor to ask. My assist ant and myself have our hands full ber. If necessary could you help us Vy running up to London, and" "Tor the day?" he Interrupted. To. It may be an affair of three or Soar days." "Then I must refuse. I am sorry. "Dont apologize, Mr. Harbord," said th little man, cheerfully. "I shall have to find some one else that Is all." We walked Into the breakfast room, and a few minutes later Ransom ap peared with a great bundle of letters and telegrams In his hand. Ransom sail not a word to any of oa, but dropped Into a chair, tearing open the envelopes and glancing at tbatr contents. His face grew darker as he read, and once he thumped hit hand upon the table with a crash that ct the china Jingling. "Well, Inspector?" he said at last , The little detective's bead shook oat negative. "Perhaps you require an lnoentlve," tie sneered. "Ia It a matter of a re ward ?" "No, Mr. Ransom; but It 1 becom ing one of my personal reputation." "Then, by thunder! you are In dan ger of losing It. Why don't you anal your friend hustle. Instead of kitterlng reund ai If you were paid by the) day? I tell you, man, there are thou sands hundreds ef thou tan cte nett ing, slipping through your fingers, every hour, every hour." He sprang from his seat and started his walk again up and down, up and down, as we had first seen him. "Shall you be returning to London T" At the question the manager halted In bis strldo, staring sharply down In to the Inspector's bland countenance, "No," he (tlJ; "I shall stay bore, Mr. Addington Ponce, until such time as you have something definite to tell me." "I have an Inquiry to make which I would rather place In the hands of some one who has personal knowledge of Mr. JVrd. Neither Mr. Harbord nor yourself desire to leave Meudon. Is there anyone else you can suggest?" "There Is Jackson Ford's valet," said the manager, after a moment's thought. "He can go. If you think him bright enough. I'll send for him." While the footman who answered the bell was gone upon bis errand, we waited In an uneasy silence. There was the shadow of an ugly mystery upon us all. Jackson, as he entered, was the only one who seemed at his ease. He stood there a tall figure of all the respectabilities. "The Inspector here wishes yoo to go to London. Jackson." said the man ager. "He will explain the details. There la a fast train from Camdon at eleven." "Certainly, sir. Po I return tonight?" "No. Jackson." said Peace, "It will take a day or two." The man took a couple of steps to wards the door, hesitated, and then re turned to his former place. "I beg your par.'.on, sir." he began, addressing Ransom. "But I would rather remain at Meudon under pres ent circumstances." "What on earth do you mean?" thun dered the manager. "Well, sir, I was the last to see Mr. Ford. There Is, at It were, a suspicion upon me. I should like to be present while the search continues, both for his sake and my own." "Very kind of you. Tm sure," growled Ransom. "But you either do what I tell you, Jackson, or you pack your boxes and clear out So bo quick and make up your mind." "I think you are treating mo most unfairly, sir. But I cannot be per suaded out of what I know to bo my duty." "Tou Impertinent rascal!" began the furious manager. But Peace was already on his feet with a hand out stretched. "Perhaps, after all. I can make oth er arrangements, Mr. Ransom." ho said. "It Is natural that Jackson should consider his own reputation In this affair. That Is all Jackson; you may go now." It was half an hour afterwards, when the end of breakfast had dis persed tbe party, that I spoke to Peace tng a pipe in great apparent satisfac tion. -Uvd time, isn't Itr I grumbld. snlfflng at his strong tobacco. "Oh. no," he said. "The fact Is, we are going to sit up all nltiht." I threw myself on a couch by the window without reply. Perhaps 1 was nut In the best of tempers; certainly I did not feel so. "You Insisted on coming down with me," he suggested. "I know all about that" I told him. "I haven't complained, have I? It you want me to shut myself up for a week I'll do It; but I should prefer to have some Idea of the reason why." "I don't wish to create mysteries, Mr. Phillips," be said kindly; "but, be lieve me, there la nothing to be gained In vague discussions." I knew that settled It as far as he w as concerned, so I nodded my bead and Oiled a pipe. At eleven he walked across the room and switched off the light "If nothing happens, you can take your turn In four hours from now." be said. "In the meanwhile get to sleep. I will ketp the first watch." I shut my eyes; but there was no rest In me that night I lay listening to the silence of the old house with a dull speculation. Somewhere far down in the lower floor a great gong like clock chimed the hours and quarters I beard them every one from twelve to one, from one to two. Peace had slopped smoking. He sat as silent as a cat at a mousehole. It must hare been some fifteen min ute after two that I heard the faint FOKKSKK M; CHOP INCKKASK Surveyof Northwest SpcIU l'ro' perity for Kwrjone. Seattle. Wash. Report from near ly 600 bankers in Washington. Ore gon, Idaho und Montana insure an era of great prosperity for the Faeilic Northwest. ac.or.lin to information in tho Trade ami Crop Hullelin of the Seattle National Hunk. . , 1 The bank hits issued a review of tins i kind every summer for some years, j and tho publications have been accept-! ed universally as standard and author itative. The most important reports con tained in the review, as affecting eon ditions in Washington, are summar-, ized as follows: 1 Forward attain is the ringing- note in the reports just gathered from the Pacific Northwest. We have received from nearly 600 banks reports cover ing every county in the states of Mon tana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon, a territory running over 1000 miles east and west, and 700 miles north and south. The products of this great domain cover almost everything which is grown in the temperate zone, und, with few exceptions, the rcsrU indi cate a great increase in productiveness throughout. "In the analysis of replies lumber lends with regard to the proKirtion of increase, as compared with decreases indicated. There are 75 predictions for increase to every prediction for de crease. In logs there are L'O pnslic tions of increase to one of decrease. OREGON STATE1TBB OF INTEREST Cenerul New of Hie Industrial nd Educational IVv,lpmf- nJ Progre of Pu Communities, Public InHlitulJoua, u MANY NKW LAWS IN rOKCK More Power (liven Coernor a Ke Hult of New MeiiNures). Salem - All the laws passed at the recent session of the legislature, ex cept those having emergency clauses or those to be referr.nl to the hh.1o. lifetime operative June 3. Chief among the new measures are those relating to highways, irrigation, wages of women and children, ension for mothers, fixing number of hours ,f workmen in factories, mil's, etc., giving tho governor more iwer to en- swa oca v. revising nsu mm force for Pacific faint creak of a board In the corridor In hay, 15 to 1 ; livestock, IU to i , ..an jr i.ik, v - 3 t. 1 small fruit and vegetubles. '.i outside. 1 sat up, every nerve strung to a tense alertness. And then there came a sound I knew well, the soft drawing touch of a hand groping In the darkness as some one felt his way along the panelled walls. It passed us and was gone. Yet Peace never moved. Could he have fallen asleep? I whispered his name. "Hush!" The answer came to me like a gen tie sigh. One minute, two minutes more and the room sprang Into sight under the glow of an electric hand lamp. The In spector rose from his seat and slid through the door, with me upon his heels. The light he carried searched the clustered shadows; but the corri dor was empty, nor was there any place where a man might hide. "You waited too long," I whispered Impatiently. "The man Is no fool, Mr. Phillips Do you Imagine that he was not listen ing and staring like a hunted beaat A noisy board, a stumble, or a flash of light, and we should have wasted a tir ing day." "Nevertheless be baa got clear away." "I think not" As we crept forward I saw that a H3 ATTrjUSt WAS OP MxVOUS EXPECTATION about It, offering to go to London my self and do my best to carry out his Instructions. "I had bad luck In my call for vol unteers," be said. 'I should have thought tbey would have been glad enough to get the chance of work. Tbey can find no particular amusement In loafing about the place all day." 'Doubtless they all had excellent reasons, he said with a smile. nut anyway, you cannot be spared, mi. Phillips." 'You flatter me." 'I want you to stay In your bed room, write, read, do what you like, but keep your door ajar. If anyone passes down the corridor, see) where he goes, only don't let him know that you are watching blm If you can help It I will take my turn at half-past one. I don't mean to starve you." I obeyed. After all. It waa. In manner, promotion that the Inspector had given me; yet It was a tedious. anxious time. No one came my way. barring a sour-Iooklng housemaid. I tried to argue out the case, but the deeper I got the more conflicting grew my theories. I was never more glad to see a friendly face than when the llttlo man came In upon me. The short winter's afternoon crept on, the Inspector and I taking turn and turn about In our sentry duty. Dlnoer time cam and went I had ben off duty from nine, but at ten-thirty I poured out a whisky and soda and went back to join M'n. He waa sit ting In the middle of the room amok- to 1. and fruit 1 J to 1. In the case ol wool, the percentage of increase pre dicted is slightly in excess of the per centage of decreases predicted. "From Northwestern Washington logs and lumber production are pre dicted to bo 25 per cent higher; from Skagit county, 25 per cent; from Lewis county, 40 er cent; from King county, predictions ranging from 20 per cent to 50 per cent ; from Stevens county, 75 per cent on lumber. "Hay production is predicted to be in Okanogan county 25 per cent great er; King county, 25 per cent ; Kenton county, 25 percent; Cowlitz county, 25 per cent; Lewis county, 25 per cent; Yakima county, 10 per cent; Whitman county, 10 per cent. "As to livestock, Cowlitz county predicts 25 per cent increase; Yakima county, 15 percent; Lincoln county, 10 per cent; one section of Kenton county, I'.'U per cent; Stevens county, 50 per cent; Spokane county, 10 per cent. "We have abundant evidence of the fact that the raising of livestock is on the increase, this being part of the tendency to diversify farm products. "From Lincoln county : 'The pros pects for a large crop of w heat anil other small grains in the Kig Kend country to this date, May 20, are the most promising they have been for the last ten years; the average of winter wheat is fully 50 per cent greater than was ever sown before in this section of the country.' "From a report from a highly val ued source, w hich has covered the en tire Palouse country, wo have tho fol lowing : " 'The condition of winter wheat in the Palouse country, a district com prising the greater part of Whitman county, Washington, and Latah coun ty, Idaho, as a whole is retried hs average, ranging from F per cent above in western part to 5 per cent below in the eastern. The acreage is slightly increased. "Spring wheat on about 75 per cent of the usual acreage is nicely up and of healthy growth, except in the east ern part of the Palouse, where seeding and growth have been retarded by late rains. There is a material increase in the barley acreage. "Oats occupy about half the acre age of former years. Timothy, alfal fa and clover show rank growth on an increased acreage. "Oregon reports by counties indi cate a big increase in dairying, in hog and cattle raising. In the wheat rais ing counties of that state the gnin in grain yield this year is estimated in some quarters as high as 50 per cent. "Idaho reHjrts indicate prosperity in both wheat and fruit raising. The Snake river country seems to be espe- strlp of the oak flooring along tbs cia,,,y prosperous, due to big yields of w . . . Wruil trrtt i n Hat anil fmld ' WsVlljl WRi TT With rlllHt Tf It Ke.il I ' " "J " " wte, Wwm been In such a neglected state In the afternoon I should surely have noticed It In some curiosity I stooped to ex amine the phenomenon. "Flour," whispered the little man, touching my shoulder. "Flour r "Yes. I sprinkled It myself. Look there Is the first result." He steadied his light as be spoke, pointing with bis other band. On the powdery surface waa the hlf foot print of a man. The flour did not extend more than a couple of feet from the walla, so that It was only here and there that we caught op the trail. We bad passed the bedroom on the left yet the foot prints still weut on; w were at the store-room door, yet they still were visible before us. There waa no other egress from the corridor. The tall window at the end waa, as I knew, a good twenty feet from the ground. Had this man also vanished off tb earth like Ellas Ford? Suddenly the inspector stopped, grasping my arm. The light be held fell upon two footprints set close to Demand for Children I!ijr. Springfield, III. The committee in vestigating home-finding Institutions in Illinois reported to the lower house of the legislature as follows: "In most of the home-finding insti tutions the demand for children has been greater than the supply. The so cieties started out to find homes for homeless children, but they are now seeking children for childless homes. The moment a society so forgets its purpose, its license should be can celled, as it Is a standing menace to the homes of the poor and Ignorant." Small Cities Affected. Harrisburg, Pa. A senate bill which, if enacted, will establish the commission form of government in third-class cities of Pennsylvania, was passed finally In the house of repre sentatives by a vote of 147 to 14. The bill was sent to tho senate for concurrence in amendments. The bill abolishes the present form of govern ment and vests .F.iti... Iiiws. iinnropriBlion Panama exposition, regulation of bro kers, regulation of pawnbrokers, uni form system of accounting in state und counties, teachers of Portland on civil service basis, pensions for Port land police, abolishing district fairs and creating county fairs. Summaries of the most imirlant measures ure as follows : Highway commission bill -Creates highway commissioner and provides for a highway engineer at a salary of :1000 a year. t'nder the measure als.ut $:li")0,000 will be provided for road work annually. The work will be done by the counties, and the engi neer will give all assistance sisible to the county courts. County bunding act (lives counties the right to issue bonds to build mmiIs. This and the highway commission bill are iniortant, for they t institute vir tually the first practical highway leg islation enacted in the state. Columbia Southern bill -Appropriates t too, 000 for irrigation of 2.1.000 acres of land in Kastern Oregon, work to be started at once. The 1'nited States department of interior has offered to give a similar sum for the work, but it has not been accepted by the desert land isuird. Another bill provides for an appropriation of 50, OiiO to investigate feasible irrigation projects, the Federal government to co-operate by giving a similar amount Still another measure appropriates $15,000 for the investigation of a pro posed Miwer plant on the Columbia at The Ilalles. It is declared that the project contemplate the creution of one of the greatest waier power sys tems in the Cnittsl Slates. Minimum wage bill Creates com mission to be named by the governor to investigate wages of women und children and the conditions under which they work. It gives tho com mission s)Wer to enforce decrees, tlx wages and regulate sanitary condi tions. Mothers' pension bill - Provides for assistance of mothers whose husband are dead, in state institutions or phys ically or mentally unable to work. The counties are to provide the pensions. Ten hour law Provides that 10 hours a day or fit) hours a week con stitute the working schedules in fac tories, mills, etc., but that employes may work LI hours a day, but no long er. They are to receive time and one. half pay for all time more than 10 hours a day. Kill increasing (siwer of governor (lives governor siwer to appoint spe cial district attorneys, sheriffs, con stables, when regularly elected offi cials do not attend to duties. Another measure, urged by the governor, classes immoral resorts as nuisance so they may be closed more easily than at present. Shipping of liipior a. t-Provides that intoxicating liipior shipjied from "wet" to "dry" territory must be la beled and bear the names of the con signee and consignor. The package must describe the liipior it contains. Another measure provide that saloon keepers who sell liquor to intoxicated persons, minors or blacklisted persons shall be liable for all dumnges that ac crue. (Jame and fish laws - Completely re vises game and fisli laws of state. It is probably one of the most compre hensive measures ever passed by a leg. islature. Flection revision measures-Uncertainties existing in many laws rleared and laws which proved unsatisfactory repealed. Kill creating hoard of control Hoard to have jurisdiction over all state institutions excepting those for higher education. To bo composed of governor, secretary of state and state treasurer. municipal an air in getber. They were at right angles to! the lan(1" of " mayr r"1 tour com- the passage. Apparently the Aaa bad missionera. passed Into tbe solid wall I "Peace, what does this mean?" (CHRONICLES TO BE CONTINUED.) Prehlsterle Menster, Eighty feet long aod thirty feet high, tbe at lantosaurus waa one of oar prehistoric animals. Daniel, to Visit Pacific Coast. Washington, I). C Secretary Dan iels, who returned Wednesday from a trip which Included the dedication of the Maine memorial in New York, plans to leave in June for a tour of in spection on the Pacific Coast. Prune Crop to lie Pumper. Kiigene The Lane county prune crop will be between 35 and 40 car loads this year, according to J. O. Holt, secretary of the Fugene Fruit Crowers' association. Last year rains at tho pollenization senson cut the out put greatly, but this every indication of a record crop The green fruit is well formed and the trees are loaded. Cherries will be at least an' average crop. Orchard to the northeast of the city are unusually heavy, while thoc to the northwest arc not showing up so well. InveHtijrate Handling of Prunes. A a result of a recent conference nl the I ortland Commerical club between prune growers of tho state and Profs C I. Lewis, II. S. Jackson and Her man Tartar of the Oregon Agricul tural college, this fall probably will see the beginning of an important ser lesof Investigation on the handling of the Italian nnino ti ...:.i cover all phases of the subject, from until it I pt Into the box ready to WRONG CHOPS Mieep, nogs and Corn Are K!.J (Irt'irfin l,...l... mjuria, Kiigene Declaring that f,m the Willamette valley ?" butter 00 per cent chcii.r thua, J made in New Fngland ...i!!"l is.uiwl of pork can bu rsii.-a market for less Ihun it l ' for In the corn regions of ik, y :H vi'..- I-,., ti . tl .... , iiuiims Mim b iMittilml nutuirl f tl... li:i. 'H system, told thu Pniversit. llaVJ that Willamette valley f.Tj ifivilHliiil tl.M yininn L ii,.L . . -1 K ... i miMiui eroui The W illaniette valley, h. the one place In the LnitHSmJ where sheep ran be grown to 1 - iui IIMttsJ the farms of this district, he n.H raising ny. w mcn can not be cut, ol' en, because of rain. He advocated tho cause 0f dry fo. ing; ucciaring mai me grtsl fcg arena in r,.frn Tegon cu n -u.t..,., I,. r.r..,.l,U .....l .1 ' ury miiniiiK n is now bfing 1 1 fed In Montana, 30,IiiiO,IHio trm 14 states that are now barren mn j ma.io 10 raiso enormous iiuintiu. wheat. Hy dry farming, hedwljr- Montana ha increased it whitn nr., I . I . .... ' irom .an cariouns 10 u.ooij rarlokk Unless this land is prcsird nta Xi use, tho 1'nitcd States hat rvvtwj., limn in wneai pnsiucnon, ht till The growing of sweet tov . - I I . . e. . . . rj no iimrnii"! as prouutilt P-J r.ir Oregon, In the pnxluetiot sheep, hogs and cattle. Fish Obstruction May Co. Astoria - Deputy Fish Wsrdwi on returned last evening from itr to the Upier lwis and Clark me where he went to inspect mt iu that are obstructions to fun in vn ing their way to the nututal grounds in the uppi-r res. hit of stream. lie found two such dmns, on Ion cd alxiut eight mile lve Stivrti Landing and the other four milttk ther up. Fach is sn old plth put in by the logger long sua, they have not been In use fur mn year. Mr. Larson found that lor stnictions entirely block the pnn of the fish, a they are 21 feet If and there is not a sutlii ient fkv water over them to permit ths fut jump them. In the numerous p below the dam he saw large numb of stoelhcad playing alsxit, aod i! i aid in the fall hundreds of tilvfrw ascend the stream. Mr. Larseon has forwarded I trpA to the fisheries department, which exH-cted to take steps to have U struction removed. Had Hill Hcing- PUnked. Cherry ville Nearly all the plau I ing on the Cherry villi) bill haa brr. completed and with afcwdayinxs of good weather the work will U it ished. This hill has been contiikni niw of the most difficult iinU oats automobile road to Mount Hood. The hotel have prepared to uii rare of the summer favel. The if hotel at (iuvernment Cap was finish up last week. It has 3s r.imi asli dining-room for 125 persons, t f I man will be tbe Mount II.khI jruidt.il in former year. Itrookingsj to Have (tank. Cold Peach Articles of inrorjwtl tion of the llrookings State bankhm been forwarded to the scrrctirj'' stale by George D. Wood, cashier t the Curry Csiunty bank here, ft MO.n.itl capital stM-k was all scribed. When Mr. Wood can Cold Peach three years ago lo orpM ize a bank, he received little w agement and could hardly get witf assistance to fnrm a hoard of dit I tors. Oregon's Attraetion Felt. Salem -A visit to Oregon five I ago by Mr, .ells Nicholls, thi Knox, Ind., has resulted in her bff ing a permanent resident of tint CI Mr. Nicholls declare that ft"' turninir homo from htr first visit Oregon she wa no longer talinW elsewhere and began making plaM" move to SBlem, but it took her lon"l to dispose of her proerty intcreiun I Indiana than she had expected. Port Harrow In I'ae Soon. A M til ft A Trial ta at EntTsl fltf tht bi( disc harrow being built for the Port'' Astoria commission to be used in proving the channel across th at lh mouth nf fhn river are WOT Comilleted and'tha hnrroW ruiu .... i r.- ten daTl ,,,, unc III n hit, "i -- , It i to be V-haKMl with a PJ" 20 feet and will have eiglit threa-f1 revolving discs. Trmiwriliin 'ear 11)0. Hood Kiver Saturday and SnnW were the hottest days of the "" here. In parts of the valley the to perature hovered around the 100 m The warm weather will tend lo the ripening of strawberries, nun" of the pickers and packers that FJ er can collect will be In demand dur ing the next few weeks. Cherry Fair Is launched. Salem Plana will be made for ob taining subscriptions for the Rr cherry fair ever held In Siiletn rw. . , : . M .1. a...... rofllis'1' tec. If the warm weather c"nllr3 the display of cherries will e lh'M ever made.