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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1920)
SIXTEEN PAGES DAILY EAST ORECJONIAN, PENDLETON, OREGON, SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1020 PACH SIXTEEN THERE was an under current of excitement In Cedarvtll. The eery atmosphere of the vil lage wu tense and electric with amo tion. Everybody seemed to be tuning a deep eecret which he could not or would not dlrulgc, and there waa a rroeenc when old realdenta met wnlch was unusual and entirely unlike Ccdarrllle, which waa noted not only for being a college center but alio for being one of the most social and hos pitable Tillages on the C. and A. rail road. Something strange had happened, that waa evident or was going to hap pen something mysterious and some thing that touched the Urea of a great many person? Yet no one would mention the matter to another, or ad mit that there was anything unusual troubling hli mind. The fact waa. that during the past week or more leading citizens had re ceived strange and mysterious epistles through the mail epistles written In scarlet nion thin black paper. Each epistle bore the enslgnia of the skull and crossbones and eren possessed the dank odor of parchments of bygone agea, suggesting that they had been hidden for centuries In tomb f sep ulchre. Each of these eplstlles was written In a bold, acrawllng band, and read as follows: . g SSI stood there before him like an avenging angel. She Ig nored the admiration gleaming from his honest gray eyes. Then catching sight of his good-natured smile, she snapped: "I I just hate people that never get angry lust smile, smile." That remark deepened the smile on Nell Bumson's cheery face. "But, alii lie, if you knew how exaa peratingly pretty you look In one of your, h'm! tantrums. If you keep on " "Tantrums! It's honest to goodness disgust and Indifference to any flattery you give me " "As I was saying," resumed the Im perturbable youth, "If you don't stop looking so sggravatingly charging, why. I shall be compelled to take you in my arms." "That's Just what fm trying to make S speaking of airships, I took a trip In one eighteen years ago, and It was as One a plane as any that are made today!" The speak er knocked the ashea off of his cigar and proceeded to tall his story. Two men. casual acquaintances, were sitting In the lobby of a middle west ern hotel. They were both salesmen, and were exchanging the details of unique and extraordinary experiences. "Yon see how It was," said th man who had lntroduoed the airplane story, settling down in his chair. "I was traTellng out of St Louis, selling rub ber goods in southern Illinois and Mis aoart, and I might say in passing that By strongest line were rubber-boots which war a necessity In those days in that part of the country. "On this particular trip I am going to tell you about, I eras on a train bound for Centralla. We wer riding along leisurely, taking our time as oat trains In those dayr. were In the habit of doing. " I say 'hat we were riding leisurely when suddenly I was literally lifted ort of my seat and I found myself In another Instant riding through epace The WHAT'S In the air?" asked young Bill Sherwood of "Slim" IJaker. the station agent, wbu was standing In the door way and playing nervously with the awning rope. "1 dunno." he replied, shaking hi bead. "You know If anybody does." said a voice back of Bill Sherwood; "I heard Ibis morning that you phoned a tele gram over to Mary Goodwin, and now she and 1 red ar gojng to the city. I'll bet they've found John Thayer! Kb. Baker?" The speaker was Dale Morr;o. the blacksmith He was an old resident of Logansville and knew something about the Thayer set ape and the looting "f the LojtniTlllc bank eighteen -rs before. "If Tlmvr ' . oine to life I'll het he'll mate M I "i let Sb-lton. ' ob H' ll (bi M.tfrwnllh v : mi blunto th'ug about It," ro M M. Id another minute tbe train bad pulled Into the station, ane Mary Goodwin nd bt-i brother Fred bad dis A SUltMONa Tou are hereby summoned to appear at the Old Turnpike cemetery, Cedar rule, Thursday night. Not. 20th. at II o'clock sharp. The dead are risen and allTe again 1 We must apeak to you of matters that concern your eternal des tiny. Tour refusal to obey this sum mons will bring upon you the torments of an haunted soul I (Signed) Squire Ebenezer Phllllbrown. (Dead these forty years) Deacon Jonathan Williams (Departed these thirty years) Captain Ignaclus Thompson. (Being dead since Zachary Taylor was president). Over two hundred of these wlerd epistles had been recelTed by citizens of Cedarvllle. The recipients were all practical men and women, and not be lievers In ghosts or apparitions, and yet this letter was so strange and un usual and bore such convincing ear marks of having emanated from the City of the Dead, that It proved abso lutely convincing, and all receiving the letter deemed It wlso to keep their own counsel (each believing that he was undoubtedly the sole recipient) and to meekly obey the summons upon the night stipulated. As It neared 12 o'clock on the night of November 20th the moon shone brightly and cast Its spectre shadows. Over the clear to you. Tou have done that for the last time! Here, there's no use to prolong the scene." Millie stepped nearer, and snatching the ring from her finger, she crushed It down Into his hand. Her companion's eyes clouded a lit tle as he answered. "I say, Millie, aren't you carrying your little farce too far! It's only a trivial thing and you know It "Farce, Indeed! Neil Burnson. There's another thing. You needn't order those flowers for me; 111 tele phone myself." Then the fellow "that never got mad" said hastily: "See here, young lady, the next time I order any flowers for you, you'll wear them And when you want that ring, you'll ask for It. Good-by." And Nell was off. He didn't see the girl's face pale, he was too angry to at a tremendous rate of speed In as line an airplane as the genius of man could conceive! "I was not alone, of course. There was a driver with me I might say, a chauffeur. I shall never forget him He waa a sturdy, silent fellow who was Indifferent to my presence and Bat tight in his seat while he piloted that big plane through the pathless air over the villages and prairies of southern Illinois. He had a black, closely clipped mustache, and little, penetrat ing eyes which he occasionally turned upon me and looked through my soul like an X-ray. "Finding myself In this airplane, plowing through space at a 50-mlle an hour clip, I was naturally somewhat disturbed and not a little frightened. I couldn't understand how I got there. The driver himself seemed a trifle sur prised to Bee me, but he soon took my presence, for granted. I was complete ly bewildered by my surroundings and situation. I speculated hopelessly, and wondered if I had suddenly become insane for I distinctly remembered having taken the train out of St. Louis. I tried to engage the driver In conver- Love That Lived appeared In a coach. "I always believed in John Thayer, and despite the evidence I never can think be took that ten thousand!" said Thomas Brooks, the white-ban ed hotel-keeper, to a couple of village real dents who walked with him down the plank walk towards town. For some reason the crowd at the statipn followed .Brooks into the hotel. Kverybody was interested and knew that something was happening. They were nearly all acquainted with the LogansviHc bank robbery and general ly supposed that John Thayer had ab sconded with the funds. There was Just one person In tin: town who knew better, who waa positive about It, and that tii Mary Goodwin, a young woman to whom Thayer had been en paged Through these eighteen years 'hi Imd refused to believe in his gull'. a,.d MM now she was waiting, wltb bS I'ft liert. for his return. "It I as all mighty strange anyhow!" ,aW one of the old eettlera as the rro. i st -iro md the betel lobby. "It s a Strang thing. John Thayer was ttMaelto'"Ce It was a wonderful night to hold con verse with the dead. Leading citizens emerged from the warmth and coaifort of their homes and wended their way, with quaking knees and beating hearts, to the Turn pike cemetery, each seeking an unfre quented path across fields and through woods, and unconsciously they played hide-and-seek with one-an other. It may hare been merely curiosity that prompted so many to take this mid night walk to the old cemetery, and most of them actually tried to make themselves believe that this was the case; but the fact waa, that everyone of them felt not a little uncomfortable as he approached the heavy foliage and dark shadows of the cemetery. They all finally reached the Turn pike cemetery gate. It was not with out surprise that the leading rttizens discovered each other's presence and compared notes and fcjund that they all had received the same strange epis tle and had been lured by its wlerd concents to wander forth obedient to Us Imperative bidding. It was a fact that every man and woman of them catch sight of her outstretched arms. Why Millie Clayton should drop Into a chair and burst into tears when she bad accomplished the thing she desir ed, was a mystery. Soon, disgusted with herself, she dashed away her tears. "What a silly goose I am! Ill look like a fright at the party this evening. No Nell Burnson shall keep me away. I must telephone soon for my flowers. Neil always attends to it for me. But I d don't care." Half an hour later Millie called up the florist and made him promise an early delivery. She must have them early. She banged up the receiver as an outlet for her feelings. A picture the girl made In herjthlm mering party dress of pale green. It set off the healthy pink In her face, and her wavy brown hair, and her brown eyes, still emitting defiance that satlon repeatedly, but he was exceed ingly non-communicative and simply said over and over again, 'sit tight! Sit tight! This Is the White Eagle! We're on our way!' "Of course, I knew we were 'on our way," but where to was what Interest ed me, and how In thunder I landed In that airship! 'The White Eagle!' an appropriate name I ruminated. "Afteu fruitless speculation and mental agony I finally decided to make the best of tho situation and enjoy the novel and wonderful experience. I had long been Interested In the possibility Of man's being able to build an airship which would actually fly, and now I was In one, and was flying, so decided that I might as well "sitight" as I was instructed and enjoy the adven ture If that were possible. "I asked the driver a thousand and well thought of and was one Of the comin" men of thfj county, and 1 be lieve that he was gettln' to be too pop ular to suit Rob'rt Shclton! " "Well, It's all-flrcd queer, however you figure it," responded someone in the company. "And Baker, he knows more than he's a'tellln'. Men, let's go back to the station and make him show his Jjand, tell us what was in that blamed telegram!" "It'a a go!" shouted the crowd, and the men strode out of the hotel. Bak er didn't want to talk. He was silent, or tried to be "Let us see a copy of that telegram!" demanded tbc crowd. Reluctantly Baker produced a yellow piece of paper and handed it to one of tbe crowd who read It aloud. It was from St. La 'a Hospital, Delphi City, and read as folio : "Miss Mary Goodwin. Logansville. "Patient David Weston while under ether in operation stated bis name to b Jobo Thayer. He called repeatedly for you. Will yon come? Tin rM m t y.v a n D." "My God!' exclaimed a do' n ie- a . !? -LJ3-0- Over the Top in was credulous aud more than half convinced and spoke In a whisper and with quivering voice. The casting of spectre shadows by the full moon, the oppressive silence of the cemetery all seemed to increase the company's awe and uneasiness. Suddenly Elder Green, one of the most pious and respected citizens of CedarTille, exclalned, "Sec! There's one! He's coming toward us!" The crowd looked with agitation and no small degree of fear Into the soml darkness of the cemetery; and behold, a spectre form was emerging from be hind William Stackpole's tombstone and was stalking toward them! The silence was oppressive and quite un bearable. The spectre walked slowly between grave stones, swaying slightly as he walked, and putting forth his long slender hands as If attempting to grasp something, or as If blind, to guide his steps! The form came on straight toward the waiting throng, finally he came close to the gate, stood still, and seemed to be surveying the company. Then he spoke, slowly. In a hollow rattling voice. but gate a sparkle to the portrait. She gave a pat to the silky folds of her dress, then looked at the clock. "Eight o'clock, and no flowers have come! And Vn patronized that florist for bo long a time. I'll Just leave him," she pouted. She looked down at her girdle where the flowers ought to be resting. Then her glance traveled to her left hand. "How quoer It seems with n no r ring. But a girl can't wear every thing," she argued Inwardly. ,"Oh, It seems to so lonesome my ring and him gone." She looked In her inlrror and began to study the radiant reflection In It. "Perhaps I was too quick, and child ish per-haps I was," she drawled. "It I'm old enough to bo a society woman, I'm old enough to have a little patience with Neil. He's such a boy! Besides, I do miss my ring and htm." 1 1 ssH gM :' one questions, such as 'Who does this maebine belong to? Where did It come from? and Who are you anyhow?' To all of these interrogations the driver simply replied, 'Sit tight! This Is the White Eagle! We are on our way!' "Then Anally, I decided to look down at the country we were flying over. It was a fascinating pastime, I can tell you. Vast prairies of waving wheat and grain were spread out be neath us; grazing cattle and horses looked like moving Insects or ants; Tillages appeared as if something heavy had fallen upon them, and they were all spread out or flattened out, while church steeples looked like toothpicks that had bceu fixed on a doll's house. "Suddenly 1 felt the machine trem ble and shake, and the driver turned to me and said, 'Hold tight! I'm go- By Algia. Frances Brooks. Toices in uniton. "It Is John Thayer, and now that he's found it'll be the penltentary for him!1' Mary Goodwin and her brother reached the hospital that evening early. Thayer's doctor awaited them, and taking them into a private consul tation room told tbem the story. "While under the ether," explain ed the doctor, "the man told about having been cashier of a bank in Logansville, and he continually re 'peatod, 'Don't shoot! Don't shoot'" "Ob, may I see him?" Miss Goodwin exclaimed Impatiently. She and h"r brother were straight way ushered into the patient's room, i be. man rose up slightly upon his pil low and looked at tbe woman betore him. For a moment be seemed dazed, and then, when the woman smiled, be reached out bis arms and exclaimed. "Mary! It Is you, after all of these yearsl" "John. I haTe loved you all the tlm" believed in you!" Falling do'n QP' on her knees by the bed she kitM-d bis hand lmpuirw-ely. a Cemetery "Enter yel Enter ye!" he com manded. "Enter re Into the Kingdom of the Dead!" Instantly the gate swung open as If by magic, and two hundred of Ccdarrille's most respect ed citizens advanced with feeble and hesitant steps Into the walled enclos ure of the cemetery. Almost simultaneously there was a loud noise as though the earth were quaking, and the wind was blowing through the distant trees, and a count less number of white apparelled forms appeared as If out of their graves seemingly from nowhere! They lined up In a semicircle around the fright ened, trembling company. Then thero waa a full minute what seemed to be an Interminable length of time of heavy, awe-laden silence, and a ghost stood forth and spoke In a strange, subdued, delib erate voice! "I am the ghost of Cap tain Ignaclus Thompson! In behalf of the dead, long resident In the Turnpike cemetery, I bid you welcome. We have called you hither to speak to you of matters that vitally concern your everlasting destiny!" A loud peal at the door bell startled her. "There's the flowers. I'll go my self." Sho tripped down the stairs, and turned to open the door, and there stood Nell with a box of flowers. The girl's face lighted unconsctous ' ly. The young man's heart beat fast er. "Why y, Nell Burnson, dldnt I tell you not to engage " Nell threw out his hand. "When a young lady, one's own fiancee," Millie's head lifted defiantly "orders me on the telephone to bring her flowers early, I obey." He ended with alow bow. "But I telephoned to th florist," explained Milly. ' "You thought you did, dear girl; but your numbers got mixed. So here I am ready to escort yoO to the party," and the shameless fellow calmly led hite Eagle ingto do a few figure eights and turn over a few times! we're getting to the. big city and I want to show 'em what the White Eagle can do!' "'What big cityr I gasped. In utter bewilderment, clutching desperately to the railing and trying Instinctively to dig my toes Into the floor. "'London!' he said. "'London!' I ejaculated. 'Why man. you're crazy er, that Is, I am! we haven't crossed the pond yet!' "'Hold tight!' he muttered again through his teeth. "And we plunged down, down! My heart was In my mouth. I could hear it pounding against my ribs and It sounded louder than a clock. This was worse than taking a drop in an eleva tor from the twenty-second floor. The engine breathed heavily, and seemed to gasp, and then take another breatb. "Help mo doctor, to sit up, 1 must tell her all about it. She must know the truth before I die " "But you are going to live!" said Dr. Maynard, smiling. "For eighteen years, dear," the man began, "ever since that awful nlgbtat the bank, I have been alternately two persona. I have been one, David Wes ton, and tben. every once In a while, something would tell mo that I was John Thayer, but I couldn't make out anything clear. It wasn't until after my operation here (hat I could think clearly, back of those cigbtotn years, and suddenly while lying here it all camn to me my name my real Identity-the truth about Logautville, and you and tbe bank. . . , You know, my dear, I was nominated for supervisor. Robert bbcltou was a young man th-n Just aa I was, and was very ambitious and was Jealous of my popularity with th rank and file of tie peopl In Logansville. He ranted to be tho political power of the t.p-n. anil be feared that be never could realize his ambition wltbout re fcafcfcfcifcita'shTdfcp'itas'fcis'nlw'w By Thar was a pause In the speaker's -Introductory remarks." Everybody could hear his own breathing so tense was tho silence and the excitement It would be, expected that all present would be fully conduced by this time convinced that the ghost was pre cisely whom he said he was, and that all the other ghosts wore. genuine dis embodied spirits, now haunting tho darkness of the cemetery. Beyond a doubt all present were convinced all except one the redoubtable Captain John Teasdalel Captain Teasdale was one of this strange company not because he was oonvinced, but because he loved ex citement and delighted In every oppor tunity to eipose an lmposter. It must also be remembered that Captain Teasdale was a hero of the World War, and Had Known what Jt Is to flirt with death and to go over the top In fighting tho kaiser's hordes In France. Tho captain could endure the situa tion no longer, and elbowing his way through the crowd be exclaimed, "Men. this is a fake! a miserable fake! the way to the living room. MUlte went over to the window, and. with her emotions In a tumult, stood looking down the street. Her companion produoed from his pocket a little figure of a Cupid, which he placed on top of the telephone cov ering. The girl with troubled eyes still gaz ed streetward. Nol next took the ring and bung It on the tip of Cupid's arrow. Then be called : "Come Millie, look at your lovely flowers. The girl turned slowly, caught sight of the ring sparkling Its welcome, and with a little quivering sigh she cried out: "Oh, my dear, darling ring. ' I've missed It so!" And she eagerly snatch ed It from its place. Then she looked at Nell, who tried his utmost to con ceal the mlchfevous twinkle In his eyes. But Millie saw It and challenged: "Why don't you say what a woman would? that "If you wanted flowers from me you'll wear them; and when you ant this ring you'll ask for If I do ask you for your ring, Noll and I do want the flowers you bring. I found. By Ono moment I was falling down down and the next I was literally standing upon my head and clinging to the floor and the railing of the ma chine like a fly to the wall. My brain was reeling, I was deathly BlcK. It seemed an Interminable length of time that we were cutting up these , wonderful stunts In spaoe, when sud denly i found myself looking Into tho large, beautiful eyes of a woman! They were rich, dreamy, almost trop ical! I looked and looked. I had nev er seen such beautiful eyes before. They were wonderful I thought, tho Inspiration for a Byron or a Raphael! Gradually I was able to see her fea tures, and her face was quite as beau tiful as her eyes. She was gazing ex pectantly, tenderly Into mine! Then she smiled, and she whlsperered, 'Lie perfectly still, the danger Is over! Tho moving me from the path. My nom ination to run against blm In the elec tion for euperrisor was more than he could stand or tolerate. He simply bad to get me out of the way, and he took a means to accomplish his pur poso which proved my ruin and your unhapplness. I look back upon Know and realize that I was a coward, a miserable coward, but It Is no use to regret or condemn myself It Is all in the past. Shelton continually warned me not to oppose him politically. . . . said that If I did he would drive me out of Logansville, would ruin mo forever, and made other threats, but I disregarded them and accepted the nomination. As you know I was'casblcr of tho Merchants' National Bank at the time. Well, on the night that I accepted the nomina tion I was working In the bank on the bonks; Shelton. using a skeleton key managed to force his entrance; he suddenly appeared at my desk, put a revolver to my forehead, and Bald, 'Thayer, glTc mo eTcry cent, there Is in this bank and leave on the mld ti'Tht iraiu. and never return!- I shall have two men at the station to see that you obey my orders. Hand over that moticy or I shoot!' I saw that he was desperate. I was orercom by fright and I obeyed- -handed him ten thousand dollars. And that nlgbt 1 took the 1:10 train for the city. I re member reaching Chicago; but there, Parke Whitney Follow me! Over the topi And down with the ghosts forever!" There waa the real note of command In Ills voice, and everybody could see that Teasdale was In earnest and was resolute In his purpose. And Captain Teasdale made one mad lurch. He grabbed the ghost of Igna clus Thompson, and ruthlessly tore the white robe from his shadowy body, which proved to be not etherlal at all. but Just as material and carnal a anybody's! Other men, seeing that the ghost was more humsn than splzty ual, became suddenly Tory brave and Jumped Into the fight with valor. Soon the Turnpike cemetery was the soene of a mad struggle, a desperate melee. Women cringed In fear, and wept, and wrung their hands. Suddenly a loud voice was heard above the confusion: "Boys," it said, "It's no use! We're foiled I The game's up!" And then a bunch of young follows from the college on the hill, untangling themselTes from the free-for-all. and doffing their whit robes, stood forth and meekly "gave up tho ghost," as It were. out how trivial I'd been as soon aa you left me, Nlj I was so lonely I" Net! stood patting the telephone. "Oood old telephone! Yon played a successful part as Cupid that time," ba exulted, 0 This Ii Hade la Boston. "So this Is your famous Beacon street?" said Major X. as he strolled with bis friend along past the State house. "Frankly, I'm surprised. I had nlways heard that It waa a Terr exclusive street, you know." "Well, so It Is," ssld the other man. "Eh! old chap, how can you say sot Why It positively rerges on the Com mon." a Duff (the Inquisitive) Hullo, did man, how did you get your hand hurt! Bluff (the convivial) Oh. I was walking home from the club last night and a clumsy Idiot trod on my Angers. a , "Which side do you wish your hair combed?" asked the bafber, who ap peared to be trying to make a hole Jo, the customer's head with bis oomb. "On the outside, please." 1 Parke Whitney doctor says you will live! But do not zdbve!' "I hesrd agonizing cries sbout me. I eaw men with stretchers pass by me, hurrying. That woman was a nurse! I understood then I had been in a railroad wreck!" 0 Secondary Consideration. Widower "I suppose that when yon recall what a handsome man your first husband was you wouldn't consider me for a minute?" Widow - "Ob. yes. I would. But I wouldn't oonslder you for a second." 0 m Hunt Yes; I had a narrow escape from a rhinoceros. Quiz And what raved youf Hunt I suspect that the fact that the rhinoceros could not climb a tree had something to do with It. for days, my mind was a blank. I knew of nothing els that happened until six months afterwards when I was selling Insurance In Oakland. I was now another man; I was David Weston; but my mind was haunted by tho shadow of another personality, and dear, your face kept coming to me, though I couldn't place you or speak your name! I am now myself again! i am John Thayer! And you dear, are you still mine bare you found an other to " "No! No!" said Mary, leaning orer and kissing him, "I am yours dear, now Just as I was the night you left Logansville and the years that hare followed!" The next morning Mary Goodwin and her brother wero at breakfast at the hotel. Fred was reading the morn ing paper. 8uddenly ho exclaimed, "Sister, listen! Hero's a dispatch from Logansville! Let m reatr It : Robert Shclton, protniueot Logansville citizen, commits suicide. Confesses to robbing bsnk eighteen years ago. Bank of which he was president!" ' Mary Goodwin burst Into tears and hid her face in her hands. "At last at last" she sobbed- "John 1" "Vindicated!" said her brothor. 0 She -"I never could IS why ttT rail a boat 'she.' He - "Krldently you never tried tit steer on" AawajMaV