Thursday, January 21, 1015
ABHIiAND TIDINGS.
ZUBORA
A Great Mystic Story by Harold McGrath
Copyright, 1914, by Harold McGrath,
SYNOPSIS.
Zudora la left an orphan at an early
age. Her father ! killed In a gold mine,
Zudora and the fortune from the mine,
which grows to be worth t20.000.00U, are
left In the guardianship of Prank Keene,
Zudora'a mother's brother. Zudora, giv
ing promise of great beauty, reaches the
age of eighteen. The uncle, who has set
himself up as a Hindu mystic and Is
known aa Hassaro All, decides that Zu
dora must die before she can have a
chance to come Into possession of her
money, so that It may be left to htm, the
next of kin. Hassam All sees an obstacle
to his scheme In the person ot John
(Storm, a young lawyer, for whom Zu
dora has taken a fancy, and he com
mands the gtrl to put the man out of ber
mind. Zudora Insists that if she cannot
marry Storm she will marry no one.
"Well, well," says Hassam All. "If you
take such a stand I'll compromise. Solve
my next twenty cases and you can marry
him; fail In a single case and you must
renounce him."
Zudora, using the knowledge gained
from years of association with her uncle,
unravels a baffling mystery and wins her
nrst case a case In which John Storm is
saved from Doing convicted of a murder
instigated by Hassam All himself. '
Zudora and Hassam All visit Nabok
Shan's house, where sleep overcomes ev
ery one whenever Nabok attempts to mar
ry a princess. Storm, seeking Zudora, Is
made a prisoner. Zudora foils .Nabok
Shan, restores the princess to her original
lover and saves Storm from death.
A maker of diamonds tells Hassam All
hts secret. Storm informs Zudora that
bis life Is being attempted frequently
Storm suspects Hassam All. Storm Is
arrested for stealing the diamond maker's
gems, but Zudora discovers the real
thieves a pair of mice
The negro help employed on Storm's
father's farm are fleeing because a great
skeleton band appears al night upon a
bill near by. Storm is Dallied in nis In
vestigation, but Zudora learns that ber
uncle has employed Jimmy Bolton, a halt
witted man, thus to annoy Storm s par
ents Zudora rinds Bolton operating a
big magic lantern and is attacked by
Bolton. Storm opportunely appears and
aavea ber from Bolton.
Hassam All asks Zudora to And a gem
lost oy two mysterious old men Zudora
gets a photograph ot the gem and it burns
la her band. An old house Is mined by
Hassam All and the old men. storm and
Zudora are lured there and narrowly es
cape destruction when the bouse blows up
CHAPTER VI.
The Case of trio McWintsr Family.
IN a room la an ordinary dwelling a
woman eat' before a sew tug uia
chine. The low bum of It tilled
the room with a murmur Ilka that
of many bees.
The woman's busband, seated at a
table near by, was readiug nod etuok
lot:, aud be looked up absenti) each
time the humming ceased temporarily
Be scowled, shifted and re tufted bis
Pipe.
"Are ypo crylog again?" be growled
laying down the pipe. "I'm gettlug
tired of your coustaul suivel snivel
He rose aiid walked over toward ber
tbreuteningly. He shook a Huger uo
der ber none.
"That man baa got to pet out of thi
house or I'll know the reason why
lie bothers me every time I look at
Dim. I tell you he's put to seek Miiotb
ei boarding bouse I don't wuut hi
hangdog fuee around any longer''
"Hangdog!" she protested
"That's wbnt I siild There'll be a
rumpus If be doesn't hike.'
"You are wrong you are wickedly
wrong." said the wife She wted her
eyes on ber apron. "Just because be
speaks kindly to me and nets the rhlld
you act like an Insane mini I've slav
ed for you. I've doue everything a wo
Binn could. What do.you dor . You sit
and read all day "
'That's a Iter the man roared "I'm
not an ordinary workmnn. and there
Very little demand for my work "
"So I've noticed " dryly
"I don't want any back talk. All I
Bay la that man Smith has got to iret
out I won't have til iu on the prem
tses after bis week Is up."
The tears begun to run down the wo
man's cheeks again "You were a dlf
fere nt sort ot man before you took to
drink."
"Your whining 'd send any man to
drink. Rut you two are always whls
pcrtng. and when I show up yon break
apart and begin to talk ot the weather
Maybe you think I'm a fool?"
"John McWInterr she cried with
passionate Indignation.
"That's right: work up the Injured
look But the martyr stuff doesn't go
with Die, Sally I've got eyes, anil
I've been nslng them He goes at the
end ot bis week, and Hint's all there
Is to It. He's got the child running
around after him as it be and not i
was the lather
"That's iievtiuse he is always kino
to her n ml never strikes her unjustly
aa you do."
"Hastit a man got a right to correel
his wwu offspring. I'd like to know?
"If she gets in yoiit nay you bos
her earn. It she does not come in
tantly when you call her you use the
whip, fan you bin me Hie child foi
not loving yon as you expect?'
Kot herself sbe did not care: she bad
no Illusions left, but where her child
was concerned sbe was somettnug ol
a lioness She riM ttot want i be fairy
tale beliefs knocked out of the little
wie's head before ber time.
"Stop sniveling. The man's coming.
It'd tie Just like you to play the beaten
wife when be comes in. Herbapa It
wouldu t be a bad Idea to give you a
whack once In awhile. Then maybe
you'd have something to snivel about.
The man who was the Innocent cause
of this conjugal arralgument came in.
his laboring man's lunch basket under
hta arm. His expression was that ot
a man wbo bad done bis work that
Jay faithfully and welcomed the com
ing of evening.
He nodded pleasantly. He saw the
red eyes of the woman, squared bis
shoulders for a moment and passed on.
"Humph! 1 notice that you don't
snivel while he's looking at you."
"How can you talk to me like that?"
"I'll talk to you as 1 please."
"You are always in the house. You
are watching every move I make as If
1 wasn't a good woman. When 1 mar
ried you 1 loved you. You were an
analytical chemist wbo every one said
would make a mark In the world, but
drink has thrown you on the reefs
And sometimes 1 bate you!" ,
He caught her by the shoulder and
swung her out of the cbuir aud raised
bis arm.
"Here, here, McWInterr cried a
voice from the doorway. "Noue of
that while I am iu the house. You
ought to be ashamed or yourself!"
"This U my woman. I ll strike ber
If 1 want to."
"Oh, will yon?"
The boarder sprang forwnrd and
caught the upraised arm, giving It un
gentle wrench as he bore down upou
It That was enough for McWlnter
With a snarl like a wolf be closed in
Almost Instantly his back met the floor
with a resounding thump.
"Don't! Lion t!" pleaded the wife.
"It will only make matters worse. You
can't help me. Mr. Smith. Please go!"
"All right, Mrs McWlnter. but I
haven't any use for a wife beater.'
"You'll leave this bouse Saturday,"
said McWlnter, picking himself op
slowly "Saturday night, and then you
aud your truck for the sidewalk. I've
stood all I'm going to stand. Maybe
yon think I'm a fool, but 1 know wbat
I know."
The beaten man slunk out of the
bouse, cursing under bis breath.
He realised that be would never get
any satisfaction out of Smith In a
. '., V '.
3t
'I guess that'll fix you."
game of fisticuffs; the latter was too
strong for him. He'd get him where
be wanted him some day. and that day
wasn't going to be far off either.
He did not come borne until mid
night He grinued drunkeniy in the
mirror aa be yunked oft bis tie and col
lar
He wasn't a chemist for nothing;
Smith would see. McWlnter was a
madman, and nobody suspected this
fact
The nest morning be remained In
bed with a splitting headache.
As Smith started out tor bis day's
work be cauubt up the child and
swung ber alort. She gurgled with
happiness Then be kissed ber and
set her down
"I'm going to bring you that stick of
candy toulght."
"Goody, goody I Can 1 eat It mam
mar
"Yes, dear." To the man she said:
"How lone? How long?'
"Keep a stiff upper up. sfly. We'll
strnlchten out this muddle In time. It
looks to me like McWlnter Isn't quite
right In his upper story. If we could
get him away rroin his whisky there
might be a chance. Rut he's an ludl
an when he's boozed up. Tbey say at
the lalMiratnry that they'd be glad to
give bim steady work if tbey' could
trust him"
"Sometimes I've been wicked enough
to wish that he was dead!"
"None of thnt kind or talk, little wo
man." "You've been so good to usr
"Who wouldn't be? Rememlier. now.
mum's the word Keep him In a good
bumor as much as you can, and when
the time comes we'll light out and let
the fool shift for himself."
McWlnter crawled out of bed about
10 o'clock, ugly aud taciturn When
his wife spoke to him be did not an
swer. She sighed and returned to ber
sewing machine.
But for the child sbe knew that she
must have given up the struggle lung
ago She did not waut any shadow to
fall iiHn that pretty childhood.
Her own had been unhappy enough,
and she was determined that the little
ne should not be disillusioned before
bet time.
' Sometimes the machine stopped, and
the woman guzed Into the blue arch
of beaven. To wish any one dead, no
matter how cruel be might be, was
a aln.
I'llcklty-cllckity. cllcsity-cllcfclty, sang
the machine. Prom another part ot
the bouse came the happy laughter of
the child.
McWlnter left the house after drink
Ing h cupful ot strong coffee and stole
along the road toward the woods,
where he finally crime upon a shack.
It waa rather peculiarly constructed.
rhere were no. windows, and the door
waa abnormally thick.
The man went Inside and remained
there for half an hour.. When be came
out he appeared to be In good bumor.
An alienist might have' been disturbed
by , the expression. lg.,the man'a eyes.
McWlnter raised bis fist toward town,
baking It and muttering:
"Spoon, about my house, will yon?
Interfere in my affairs, bnb? You
wait, Mr Smith. You Just ;walt- May
be you won't have to leave Saturday
night You'll go before." v .
Then be trudged back borne, Hla
wife was greatly surprised to Ond him
In an amiable mood. It was so unlike
mi
The Two Men Set Off on Their Hunt
ing Trip,
him after a debauch. But she was
glad enough to accept it at face value,
being an honest and simple minded
woman.
McWlnter did odd Jobs at the chem
ical laboratory In the village. He was
an expert in certain departments, and
occasionally the chief chemist risked
the chance of sending for him.
It was noticeable that the derelict
worked faithfully on these days, with
the hope of continuous employment.
When afternoon came a telephone
call arrived with It, and McWlnter
hurried off to the laboratory, rather
pleased, too, to find himself tempo
rarily placed over the man be hated so
heartily.
The same amiability be bad shown
to his wife be uow exhibited In a lesser
degree toward Smith, who waa rather
astonished at the sudden turn of af
fairs. "I'm sorry I lost my temper. Smith,"
said McWlnter. rather solemnly. "But
my nerves hare gone to smash, aud
I'm imagining all sorts of things."
"Don't let that worry you." replied
Smith, only too glad to bury the hatch
et "We all lose our tempers once In
awhile. But you ought to be a little
more careful of that wife of yours."
"I know lt"-bumbly. all the while
black murder In his heart "We'll lei
bygones be bygones and go out some
day for a hunt like we used to. There's
nothing better than a good rabbit stew,
aud Sally knows bow to cook It"
"I'd like nothing better." said the
other man. believing In bis heart that
this new friendly attitude would aid
In making one poor woman a little
happier.
"I said something about you going
on Saturday night You lust forget It"
"All right" said Smith.
At ft o'clock McWlnier left the lab
oratory and wended bis way to the
mysterious shack In the woods. For
an hour be experimented with a pe
culiar sort of contrivance and from
time to time gave vent to a diabolical
buckle. The man may have been a
monomaniac, but that waa never to be
proved. '
The thick door seemed to please bis
fancy Immensely. An enormous spring
f fo
1 Hi(l'
His Enemy Sinking Helplessly to the
Floor. ,
was adroitly bidden by the hinges,
sncb as would close the door violently
aud make It difficult to open without
physical exertion.
The concussion was bound to shake
everything in the aback. Near the ceil
ing was a small pmtform about six
inches square, lie propped open the
door, took an empty bottle from bis
pocket and placed it upon tbU plat
form. When he liberated the door the slam
ot It toppled the bottle from Ita perch
and It broke Into n thousund pieces on
the stone slab below.
"I guess that'll tlx you. 1 guess
that'll show you whose house you re
boarding in, yon snake!"
Mc Inter loosened Ihe spring so as
to open the door and passed out.
The following 'morning the clerk In
the inlMiratory whose business It was
to account for all the deadlier concoc
tions to making hla dally inventory
found a bottle missing, and this bottle
contained one or the deadliest fumes
b existence. He was greatly per
turbed.
He asked Smith, but Smith denied
that he. bad. touched the bottle,. That
seemed to be the end of the affair.
On Sunday Mrs. McWlnter'a face
was brighter tbah it bad been In
weeks. Her husband seemed to be an
entirely different- man.
He bad sortened so far as to tell a
comic story, and you may be sure that
Smith and Mrs. McWlnter laughed
heartily over it
The two men shouldered their guns,
whistled for the dog and set off on
their bunting trip. And only one of
them returned alive.
Smith came buck alone and was
rather surprised t,o find neither Mc
Wlnter nor the dog. They bad sep
arated in the woods near the shack,
of which Smith apparently knew uoth
Ing. McWlnter was missing all the next
day. Tuesday morning they found him
in the shack straugely dead.
A very peculiar case confronted the
local authorities. There was oue thing
quite plain to them, however, and that
waa McWlnter had been murdered in
a most cunning and diabolical manner
Naturally the coroner's inquest drew
the net ahotit Smith's feet. Ue had
gone out hunting with McWlnter aud
was the last man to see him alive
Then came the clerk, who swore that
the bottle found In the shack was
Identical with that stolen from the lab
oratory where both men worked.
Smith, despite nil protests, was held
for the grand Jury on the charge ot
murder in the first degree.
Other facts began to circulate. Some
one had heard McWlnter accuse his
wife of being too friendly with Smith,
and out of this calumny raised lta ugly
bead.
ere and there men began to mutter
about Judge Lynch, and Mrs. McWln
ter was shunned by all those wbo bad
posed as her friends.
A few days before the trial began
Hassam All was poring over bis crys
tal. .Near by sat Zudora, reading and
reflecting.
The two had been talking about Mes
mer and Cagllostro, and Zudora was
gathering ber arguments from the book
gbe beld. The bell was heard to ring.
A few moments later a visitor was
ushered In by the Hindu servant To
Hassam All's cold eye this client did
not suggest any future profit but Mrs.
McWlnter'a tale caught the sympathy
of Zudora.
"I will take this case, uncle," sbe
volunteered. "It interests me. It Is
purely circumstantial evtdence.and that
'1 u ,
"What a Thick Doorl"
is usually the most puzzling to solve.
If I succeed It will add another step
toward ray twenty cases.'
"Suit yourself." carelessly. "But re
member, if it turns out to be an ordi
nary case it will uot count"
"I accept that risk."
Zudora. In accordance with her agree
ment wltb her lover, John Storm,
wrote him explaining about the case
and asked bim to meet her at the Mc
Wlnter house the following afternoon.
When the two arrived in the village
they fouud the suburbs lu turmoil.
Tbere bad been, they found, a punl
tlve expedition against the Jail that
beld Smith, but It bad been frustrated
"This Is going to be Interesting.
John," said Zudora.
"I've an Idea I'd like to plead for the
poor devil. never realized how many
kinks there were In life until you en
tered this detective business."
'The unexpected Is always happen
ing. On the face of It. this man Smith
looks guilty. The very fact that the
woman Is eager to save bim has a sua
plclous angle. But. for all this, we
may Hud bim Innocent as a child."
Meantime Hassam All had not been
Idle He was going to lose no chance
to further bis schemes. To be sure, be
bad signified his utter lack ot Interest
In the case, but that hud been to hood
wink his niece.
So quietly and unobserved he made
a secret Investigation of the shack. It
did not tuke bis remarkably keen eyes
long to discover what bad taken place.
Clever, abominably clever!
Here was a criminal who had fantas
tic Ideas If this Inreruai contrivance
had served one man's purpose It might
readily serve another's.
So he contrived to separate Zudora
and Storm and bring the latter to the
shack. He wrote frankly, signing bis
owu name and declaring that It would
uot be safe for Zinlora to go deeply
Into this case, as there was more to It
than could be seen on the surface.
So Storm concluded fo meet llassam
All at the shack and find out what b
had to say. He promised himself that
he would be cautious and watch every
move of bis enemy.
Kverytblng was ready for him. hut
again Hassam All was overanxious
He set one of the bottles he had found
In a cabinet on the little platform near
the celling.
Welcome. Mr. Storm, welcome! ne
laughed and bis laughter might well
bare been an echo to that made by tha
man who bad built this wlndowlea
shack.
By and by be beard hurrying foot
steps. Slyly be looked out and observ
ed the unsuspecting attorney. Good!
But something slipped. The spring
moved too soon or Hassam All bad not
pulled It back far enough. The door
slammed violently.
Tbere came a tinkle of breaking
glass, and Hassam All struggled des
perately to pull the door open. He waa
already too weak.
Storm beard the door. He concluded
his Journey at a run. It took all his
strength to force the door, which Im
mediately closed again when be was
Inside. He saw dimly his enemy sink
ing helplessly to the floor, and almost
instantly It seemed that the walls of
the shack hud begun to revolve.
Fumes! He stumbled desperately to
ward the door, but could not reach It
Doubtless the only thing that snved
llas.su in All. or Storm for that matter.
W w i - f ...i1; i 4'-
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f'iTlhttiiT
j
' X
VI
The Eager Girl Pointed to the Little
Platform.
was the second opening of the door,
which let In a gust of pure ulr and car
ried out a certain volume of the poi
son. Fortunately for both or them Zudo
ra aud Mrs. McWlnter were both start
Ing out for the shack at the very mo
ment the door closed upou Uussum
All.
Mrs. McWlnter dreaded to see the
fatal shack again, but Zudora Insisted.
She must see the shack and everything
In It If sbe was to aid Smith. In the
slightest degree.
After Mrs. McWlnter had fully ex
plained the conditions Zudora was
quite confident that the man Smith
was Innocent, no matter how deeply
circumstantial evidence bad Involved
him.
She also felt Instinctively thnt the
widow was holding something back.
"There It Is," utuiouuced Mrs. Mc
Wlnter. wltb in shudder.
"Why. there are no windows In It!"
"I know It My busband built It
For what purpose I cannot say, unless
It was to experiment In "
Mrs. McWlnter begun to cry.
"There, there." said Zodora. "From
wbat you have told me I don't think
that busbaud ot yours was worth
tears."
"But I have not told you all."
"Well, what more Is there to tell?"
"The man accused of my husband's
death was never my lover, lie was
my brother!"
"Good heavens! Why didn't you tell
that to the "orouer?"
"I dared nut 1 dared not tell even
my husband that"
"Why?"
"My brother Is' an escaped convict
Again It was circumstantial evidence
He suffered In another man's place
For two years he him lived quietly
here, and the police have lost all track
of him He was sentenced for five
years mid escaped during the first year
of his term. If I bad taken my bus
band into my confidence be would have
enjoyed nothing greater than exposing
George."
"You can trust me with your secret.
He would be totally lost If the people
knew this. Well, there's the shuck
What a thick door!"
Reaching It she tried to open It It
refused to budge. She called to Mrs
McWlnter. and the two of them suc
ceeded In pressing It hack.
"Hold It!" cried Zudora. reaching for
a log near at bnnd. Wltb this she was
able to bold the door.
Then she saw Storm ami n.issam All
lying senseless on the floor She anlfJ
ed and for n momei-t felt dizzy.
The fresh air. however, came in
strongly, and ufter a tew moments the
two men dazedly opened their eyes.
Zudora helped them both outside,
shaking them roughly! It took a quit
ter of an hour to bring them around to
anything like normality. Whatever
Storm thought of the affair he kept to
himself.
Zudora. believing It wise to close the
door again, was about to cast aside the
log when her eye was attracted by a
tuft of course hair caught lu a splinter
"Did your bubnnd have a dog?" m
asked the frightened woman at her
side.
"Yes. But be ran away the day m
husband died, and no one has seen him
since.'
Zudora again studied the log thought
fully. The earth about was soft, and
presently she discovered the footprints
of n dog. The tiirt of hair and the
tracks set her thinking deeply.
"Was your man quite right?" sbe
asked, touching her forehead.
"How do yon mean?"
"1 mean did be aci queerly at times ?'
"Why, now- you come to speak of tO
yea. 1 thought be waa Juet erratic.' ,
"Here's a bit of good luck." said Zo
dora suddenly. - She pointed down the
road a bit where a wagoa was visibly
approaching. "He'll be able to give ua
a lift back to the vtlhige. 1 want to
see -the authorities at once. I've an
Idea bow your busband came to die.''
"How?"
"All in good time." Zudora balled
the farmer. He would gladly give
them a lift "These two men," said
Zudora, indicating John and Hassam
All, "have met wlth'un accident Help
me get them Into the wagon."
"in a Jiffy, miss!"
The exhausted men were bandied
into the wagon, and the farmer touch
ed his team with bis whip.
At the outskirts of the town they
came upon a mob. It was very disor
derly. In the midst of this mob was a
pale man securely bound.
"My brother! They are going to lynch
him!" cried the widow wildly.
It looked that way to Zudora too.
There was one thing for her to do.
into this mob she resolutely pushed
her way. The excited men stepped
aside grumbllngly.
"Men. even If this poor man waa
guilty you are acting like a pack of
wolves. He Is Innocent. 1 can tell
you how John McWlnter canio to his
death. He died In a trap be had set
for this very mnn yon would hung.
Ills own dog was the cause of Uia
death!"
"Uia dogr
"Come, come: this Is no time for
fairy stories. String him up, boys, be
fore the police nose In!" '
Smith was backed against a tree.
"I warn you that you will be com
mitting murder. Give me one hour,
and If I cannot reasonably prove that
Smith Is guiltless, why, 1 engage to
stand aside and watch you hang him."
This declaration made the mure sober
men pause. -
"And I'll help you pull the rope!"
shouted the sheriff, quick to recognlzo
the value of u respite.
"Choose six among you to follow
me," said Zudora, "or as many ua you
wish."
"We'll aU go; Smith toor
That settled It The mob began to
surge along the road at a dog trot If
this girl could prove what she said.
why. Smith could go; If not there'd be
enough trees near the shuck to serve
their purpose.
When the eager girl exhibited th
bottles and explained what was lu
tbem. pointed to the little platform,
aud then to the door wltb Its spring;
a calm began to settle upon the blood
thirsty men.
"To hold the door open against th
pressure of the spring It was necessary
to prop this log against It McWlnter
aud Smith had gone out diluting. Sud
denly Smith missed McWlnter, whu
was. In fact arranging the details of
the trap. McWlnter'a dog evidently
got In his way, anil he kicked It The
dog In ifs endeavor to escape a sec
ond kick humped against the log. shut
ting McWlnter lu the shuck and caus
ing the poisonous fumes to be liberat
ed. Aly uncle has ulready proved this
fact to his satisfaction."
Hassam All nodded gravely. There
was nothing else for him to do Storiu
stared at bim Ironically fur a moment.
"But there Is something else to add."
went on Zudora, now satisfied that sho
hnd won the Interest of the mob.
"McWlnter bad laid this trap for
Smith himseir. He wan an Insane
man. and none of yoo ever snspicloned
"Ha is innocent." '
this fact He Imagined all hla trou
bles. Smith bad absolutely nothing to
do with them. Now bang hi in If you
can!"
The mob quietly took Itself off, vast
ly shamed and chastened, and Smith
soothed bis sobbing sister, his eye
full of gratitude.
"You're a wonderful little person. Zu
dora," whispered Storm.
"Am I? Take me bark to town, I
am tired. And there's more to do.
I've got to free Smith again from
prison."
But the death of the real culprit did
that and Smith walked the earth again
free citizen.
TO BE CONTinCEO.
A Ruse That Failed.
Comedian - While Kavenyelp was
traveling In Italy he thought It would
he a great press agent stunt to get him
self captured by bandits and beld tor
ransom.
Soiihrette How did the scheme work?
t 'oiued Ian -Bobbers captured him all
right, hut when they tonnd he waa an
actor they made bim work for bla
board. -Judge.
J
Bad conduct soils the finest ornament
more than filtb.-Plautua,