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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1916)
Ine office. What 'what do you mean, sir? Jeweler hesitated, quivering with an ague Uren't you Mr. Moore? Did didn't you for a moment, then groaned softly and fcome into the shop yesterday morning and crept into the little alcove dressing-room. Lsk to have the studs sen here on ap- which had no window. iroval this evening?" Moore closed the door quickly and "Do you mean to ask if I-am Mr. F. F. turned the key. "Vernon Moore is my name," was the rive on the scene, scare the customer Into answer. "You have been careless in more a blue funk by finding the planted jewelry Moore?" said Vernon Moore with, a pe culiar, smirk. The- man fumbled frantically in his ocket, finally producing a card. "Yes, Vis, he said hoarsely; "Mr. Frank X. loore." . 'fWhat a peculiar coincidence!" mur- lured Moore. "F. F. Moore has an apart- lent in this building, just across the hall. know him quite well, but I believe we not related, although our names are bpelled in the same way. fNo!" he added sharply, his voice be- boming suddenly harsh; "I did not call at lour shop yesterday morning and I did Lot order those studs. You do not even low who I am, except that my name is Moore, and you have only my word for that. "So far as I know, not a man in your irge establishment knows me, and I havo not been inside its doors for nearly a year. it's more, I was not in New York yes terday, and I can prove with -witnesses Ihat I was in Boston until last night." The jeweler's man went white with Dsitive terror. "What what are you going to do?" he Eisped. "What kind of a game "The question is, rather: What are yoti joing to do?" replied Moore. .With a sudden agile spring the man lumped to the end of the writing table id "seized the brass iml of the drawer. With a leap far more agile and sw.ft loore was upon him and had him in his "Mind! Not a sound from you!" he whispered through the panel. The doorbell sounded; returning the pistol to his pocket, he opened the door. Two men stood in the corridor large, plainly dressed men, not prepossessing in appearance. - "Mr. Moore," said one of them, "has a package-rf jewelery been delivered to you from Cobb, Frost & Cobb this evening?" "Ah, yes; about half an hour ago," was the answer. "What about it?" The two men stepped into the room, unimpeded by Moore, and one of. them closed the door. "I'm sorry, Mr. Moore," said the first speaker gruffly, "but well, I'm fom the central office," and he turned back the lapel of his coat to disclose a shining badge of authority. ways than one, and that is disastrous. Frank F. Moore lives just across the hall." The men flushed uneasily and backed toward the door; . "I'm sure I beg your pardon, Mr. in his house, and extort all kinds of money from him by threats of arresting him and making his life hideous with publicity. "A man will do almost anything, you know, to keep out of the police-court and but you see " "Oh, don't go now," protested Moore; "we don't understand each other at all. You see, I have the studs here that should have been delivered to the other Moore; and I have also a package containing you say it's a diamond sunburst, so that must be it. I was watching your accom plice when he planted the package in my table drawer I saw his reflection in the window glass while I was looking out." The man with the badge uttered an im precation and made a sharp movement with his hand, but Moore forestalled him, jerking the pistol from his pocket. "Hands up!" he ordered. "I have your overtirnid accomplice locked in my dress- You were in Cobb, Frost & Cobb's yes- ing-rootn, and now we will make ourselves terday morning," he continued, "and while you were looking at jewelry you took a diamond sunburst from . the counter and put it in your pocket. The value of it was 6,000. "If you'd been an unknown man, the store detective would havecsnrested you on the spot, but the Arm prefers to act as quietly as possible in such matters. We havo been trailing you ever since, and now, if you don't care to confess the theft and give up the sunburst, I shall have to place you under arrest and search your Frank F. Moore slepped In. rooms. "I represent the firm, sir," broke in the He flung him away from the table other men, "and I want to say that, as nd backed him against the wall by the you're a man of pretty fair reputation, we replace. ' are 1404 exactly anxious to prosecute you. "Hold hard, my man!" he said. "You'll Some men fall for such temptations in mo nd no pistol in that drawer; I took it ments of you might say insanity. If the ut and I have it in my pocket ready for sunburst is returned, sir, I think we may ny emergency." "What are you going to do?" the man reiterated, his eyes staring wildly and Limlessly about the room. ."The question becomes monotonous," lemarked Moore, "and it is not an easy bne to answer offhand. I am taking time, hU see, to think. When I decide it for xyself, I shall act with great firmness of burpose. He took the ease of studs from his be able to fix the thing up quickly for " "Won't you give me a chance even to admit the theft?" interrupted Moore. "You haven't found the missing sunburst yet, you know." . "All right," said the man with the badge impatiently. "We'll search- the place. Re member, you were seen taking the stuff." Moore," began the other with the badge;' the papers, no matter how innocent he ia." "When I came in just now," said the bewildered visitor, "the hallboy said that a man had come here from a jewelry shop, and that you had asked him if he didn't mean me instead of you when he called you up. I was expecting some Jew elry, so I dropped in to- ask you about It." "I was about to tell the boy that I was not the man," explained Moore; "but I suddenly recognised the peculiar 'symp toms,' just as my young detective de scribed them ""he jeweler's man calling In the evening and all that. I was tempted toliave a bit of fun and I hau certainly enjoyed it." "But weren't you afraid of getting Into trouble yourself?" inquired Frank Moore. "I am immune," answered the other, with a peculiar smile. "They couldn't ex tort momey from me, for I have none. If they killed me it would not matter much. The down-and-out man, my dear Frank, fears no evil after he has reached' a cer tain stage of ill fortune." "Do you mean to say that you are down and out, Vernon?" cried Frank Moore, forgetting tho wild-eyed captives in his surprise. "Why man alive! Why didn't you let me know?" "I have never burdened my friends with my woes," said Vernon Moore simply. "Well, then, I'll take up the burden vol untarily," rejoined the other. "There'' a $3,000 job open in my office. If you want it, come in tomorrow and hang up your hat. Now, let's get the police and have them take this rubbish out of the way." "Oh, yes, let's ge.t the police," echoed Vernon Moore cheerily. "And you'd better take a took at your studs, Frank, while we are waiting." Copyright by The Frank A. Munscy Co.J comfortable and wait here for a policeman with a real badge." "I'll give you a thousand dollars to let us go!" cried the man who claimed to rep resent the jewelry -hou. Moore smiled whimsically. "That is a lot of money," he said, "but I am not in your line of business, you see. Every man to his trade!" At that moment the bell rang again. Moore backed to the door, keeping his prisoners covered, and as he opened it "Hello, Vernon!" said the newcomer cheerily. "What why, great Scott! What is all this a moving picture rehearsal?" "You are just In time to assist me a little, Frank," was the reply. "We need the police. I have some very handsome studs here for your approval, and, I bc-Heve-a diamond sunburst for the approval of no one in. particular. I took it upon my self this evening to save you from what might have been an annoying experience. "I was dining at a little French res taurant the other night," he continued, "and I heard 2"young detective tell of the latest scheme to blackmail reputable men about town. The blackmailers,.get in ca- "That's where you are off the track, my hoots with a poor but weak-natured con- friends," said Moore blandly. "I was not seen taking it, for I have not been in the shop, and all day yesterday I was walk- cket, opened It, and looked at the studs ing the streets of Boston. It may help gain speculatively; and as the man made you to know yon have got, the wrong mac; furtive movement forward he put his and, unfortunately for you, a penniless Ither hand In his pocket and slowly drew man cannot be intimidated by any de- lut the automatic fldential man in some jewelry house. "They wait until some well-known man orders goods on approval; then the jewel er's man arranges, to deliver the goods in the evening when the shop cannot be communicated with by phone. "He does his legitimate duty, but while You see," be said, "that neither of us hould act too hastily. Almost all disas ters are precipitated in that way." The Jeweler" terror became pathetic Let me goi" he cried suddenly. "IU ve the things here " Of course," interrupted Moore dryly. Ill go away quietly and make no rouble," the man promised. "I don't want y. trouble." Trouble is what we would all like to Old." said Moore with a philosophic air, but It is ever present, dogging us at very step." The telephone bell trilled, and both men tarted nervously. JNow Is the time," said Moore, "when rouble will cease to be passive if you at- iSapt a single move, my man." fie held the automatic in a menacing osition, replaced the studs in his pocket, nd stepped to the telephone. "Hello!" he called, keeping his eyes on t man. "What? Two men to see me O important business? That's odd! They on't give their names? WelJ, that's not odd! All right, Jack; send them up." "Let me go, Mr. Moore," begged the an again. "Let me get out before any- ody gets here, I won't make airy trou- Tm BUre you won't,' was the reply, because I shall not let you. Step into hat room quick! And if you t make a mands upon his purse or threats against In the customer's house he plants a val his business reputation." uable Jewel that he has borrowed for the "You're Frank F. Moore!" exclaimed occasion from his firm. The other fellows the man with the badge. " give him time to get away, then they ar- THE GENIUS (Continued from Page 1) standing there, wringing his hands. Isi dore opened his eyes and rolled his head from side to side. A mutter of disjointed words came from his bloodless lips. ile was begging for rest, rest the planp was bending over to crush him, it was coming nearer, it was falling upon him, ah! The terrified boy screamed in fear and fell back again moaning. Tm afraid it's the brain," said the doctor calmly. "Better let me send him to the hospital." "The hospital!" croaked Isidore's fa ther. "The hospital! No! Never to the hospital!" Mr. Strunsky came forward, his wrin kled face stern and terrible. was borne away to that rest for which he had longed so. 4v. Suspicious eet," said the swain. O thinik that if we got married secretly your father would ever forgive us?" "I'm sure he would, dear," replied tho girl without hesitation. "And would he give us a house of our own?" "Yea, darling." "And an income big enough for us to live in icomfort?" The imaid nodded decidedly. "And would he take me Into the firm?" "Certainly he'd do that." "And let me run the business to please myself?" - X "Why, of course he would, silly boy!" She snuggled into his shirt front, but he put her coldly from him. can't marry you, Miss Brown," 'ha said sadly. "Your father is too anxious to get you off his hands." I IV. F YOU go into a tailoring establishment in Grand street, gear the corner of East Broadway, you may sometimes catch a glimpse of a pale young man who sits at a sewing machine with a resigned, fright ened Smile. There is something wanting in the depths of his large eyes. That Is Isidore Levine. When he came out of the hospital his musical talent had entirely disappeared. The sight or sound of a piano still makes him tremble with a vague feeling of dread. Sounded Familiar A N Englishman was walking along cilf of the principal thoroughfares Washington and saw a curly-headed a negro putting coal in one of the cellars . the government" buildings. The negro worked away industriously. "What Is your name?" asked the inter- ested tpurist at length. The negro bowed in a pleasant way. "My name's George Washington, sah; at your service." "Washington? Washington?" muttered the Englishman. "It seems to me I have which he does not understand, for he can "You have killed the poor boy you, not remember what happened in the days heard the name before." with your wicked greed you, with your that went before. "Shouldn't wonder, sah," rejoined tbe insane ambition, Schule! Bah, I despise Herr Schule has found several other negro in a delightful tone. 'Tvefceen here you despise youl" geniuses, but not another Isidore. doing ithis sort of thing for the last ten "You aremad, Strunsky," said Schule. Strange to say, Isidore's best friend, in years." "Do not speak to me," thundered the spite of the disparity in their ages, Is a old man fiercely. "Doctor, take. Mm away, certain fierce old man, whose fierceness and be so careful with him!" turns to tenderness when he comes near The doctor nodded', looking from one to the tailor's shop in Grand street. You bund before I give you permission the the other, puzzled. Oh, those artists, what might scarcely be able to recognize the pal trouble will date from that instant." children they were! 614 man's tenderness, for facially it i3 He pointed the pistol full at the other's Jn a little while the ambulance came, manifested in a wrinkled grin. ead and made an Imperious gesture. The and, Isidore, still muttering and tossing, ICopyright by The Fraefc A Monsey Co J 12 EASILY MADE.I TPflt a I a 1 . , V I Oct ready to make m nowf hl nMr at pimtfea, filrs, park. Mm Bwr (rurOenit, reaorta whmrr thir-' tow1. Write for frea catalog x1t. 'art Guar Hw icata C, t7S tct 11 . lau !., aiivaaMa, vta.
