THE HERMISTON HERALD, HERMISTON, OREGON.
SHEEP’S
CLOTHING
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
-
'
==: Author of
—»
“THE LONE WOLF," THE BRASS BOWL,”
CHAPTER XI—Continued.
“what I still think : That you owe me
an explanation.”
"That’s so ; but first Td like to get at
| this matter of the card—”
"Father," Lydia interrupted, a
heightened color glowing in her cheeks,
“are you still feeling ill?"
He questioned her with a look of sur­
prise. “No,” he said slowly. “I’m all
right now—I presume. Why?”
“Then I think I must insist on your
explanation. You forget how you’ve
treated me—how you’ve deceived me,
made me an accessory to a mean crime,
how you’ve hurt me. shamed me—”
’ Checking her with a gesture and a
word eloquent of deep pain, “Please!”
he sighed desolately, dropped Into a
chair, and drew a hand wearily across
his face. “Perhaps you’re right ; and I
feel I owe you an apology even more
than an explanation. Well, the fact is,
I couldn’t resist Betty. She was de­
termined to smuggle, and she won me
over ; and, sure they’d catch her If any­
thing was attempted In the usual way,
I hit on the scheme of using you with­
out your knowledge. Being an alien,
you were too facile a convenience to
be resisted. God forgive me—I lied to
my girl!”
“But why need you have kept it up?
Only a little while ago you were telling
me how easily a thief might have se­
cured the counterfeit—”
“That wasn’t altogether fancy, you
know,” he insisted—as if a substratum
of truth could mend the breach be­
tween them ! “Betty herself used the
counterfeit to fool the inspectors.”
He bent forward and picked up the
knave of diamonds, frowning thought­
fully.
“Is that all you have to say to me?”
the girl persisted.
“What more can I say?” he expostu­
lated, aggrieved. Tm sorry. I deeply
regret having deceived you. I apolo­
gize! What more do you want?”
Lydia guve a gesture of despair.
“Nothing, I suppose—unless you will
answer me one question honestly. Are
you or are you not In the English se­
cret service?”
Craven’s face darkened. “My dear
girl,” he said slowly, “are you sure
you’ve any right to talk to me in this
Abruptly the door to Craven’s room
flew open with an echoing bang, and
she heard him call her In a voice In­
stinct with mortal terror.
Startled, she turned and ran into the
adjoining room, pulling up with a cry
at sight of her father. Ills face, a
stricken mask, mottled, ghastly ; sweat
stood out upon his forehead, his lips
trembled, his eyes sick with fear. The
hinges of bis knees loosened, he
swayed.
In one quivering hand he held a play­
ing card—a knave of diamonds.
1 He enunciated with difficulty, “Wha
—what—” With a half frantic gesture
he tore at his 1 collar. “Where did that
come from?” be cried hoarsely. “How
—how did it get in that d— box?”
He made a strangled sound, reeled,
and fell back heavily into a chair, the
card fluttering from his grasp to rest
face upward at his feet.
“Daddy, what can I do? What’s the
matter? If only you’d speak to me I”
Kneeling at her father's side in a pas­
sion of anxiety, she fondled a hand
inert and frightfully cold.
His position unchanged, Craven wore
every indication of complete physical
collapse. A hand—his left—clutched
at his coat, above the heart.
But as Lydia moved to rise and tele­
phone for the hotel physician the man
stirred. His lips quivered. She bent
Dear to catch their whisper:
“Brandy I”
' “I’ll order it at once.”
But bis fingers, knitted with hers, re­
strained her with singular strength and
insistence. “No—flask on my bureau—”
“Yes, dearest. Let me go and get it,
won’t you?”
"No—let me—all right now.”
He managed to lift head and shoul­
ders from the chair; then again col­
lapsed, his fingers relaxing.
The bureau top In his bedchamber
was littered with a confusion of ar­
ticles turned out haphazard from Cra­
ven’s dressing case. For a moment
Lydia searched the disarray, at a loss
to single out anything resembling a
flask. Then a low cry of stupefaction
escaped her: In a clear space to one
aide the puzzle box lay open.
.
DALTON
In Its shallow oblong drawer, upon
* layer of cotton wool, blazed the pearl
and diamond collar stolen from Mrs. In One Quivering Hand He Held a
Merrilees—or the imitation?
Playing Card—a Knave of Dia­
monds.
But Immediately the mystery and the
wonder of this was lost in her solici­
tude, and, another glance discovering a tone? Admitting my actions may seem
small lenther-bound flask, she seized it unusual in your eyes. I’m your father,
and not answerable to you. Neither do
and ran buck to the other room.
Craven's eyes were open and, she I concede your right to—ah—tear a
to tatters—”
fancied, Informed with a look of al­ passion
Too
deeply
moved for speech or
most frightened inquiry ns she unstop­
tears, Lydia watched him with eyes of
pered the flask, dashed a generous
amount of brandy into a glass, and profound despondency.
“Well, what about this card? I’ve
turned toward a silver water pitcher.
satisfied
haven’t I? How much
But his husky whisper stayed her longer do you,
you mean to keep me wait­
hand.
ing?” And how he must lash himself
i “No—straight—”
She put the glass to his lips, Invert­ into an Insensate rage!
"No longer,” Lydia told him quietly.
ing It slowly while he gulped and splut­
“I’m quite ready to tell you what little
tered.
“More!” he demanded with his first I know. And then perhaps you’ll tell
me whether Downing street employs
free breath. “A little water—”
Mr.
Southpaw Smith, card sharper, and
After this second draft, which he
drank unaided, he seemed more him- why—”
“Good heaven!” The exclamation
self. For the first time he ceased to
clutch his side; a little color crept back was one of uncontrollable dismay. Un­
into his face. He remained silent, how­ consciously, perhaps, he clutched the
ever, his gaze bent upon the knave of edge of the table for support, and
diamonds at his feet, his countenance again his left hand stole toward hts
heart. “What’s that you say? Smith!
darkly perplexed.
At length Lydia ventured anew, What do you know about him? What
"What Is it, daddy? Can't you tell has he to do with this?”
“If you'll listen to me—”
me?”
Subsiding into a chair, Craven lis­
"Heart,” he muttered, “an old affec­
tion. Nothing to worry about ; but that tened apathetically and without Inter­
ruption to his daughter's succinct story
card keeled me over—rather!”
of the attack and robbery. Quoin’s in­
“But what—what does it mean?”
“You wouldn’t understand. It's some­ tervention and recovery of the puzzle
thing secret, a code signal to me to—1 box.
She watched him as closely. Was
wasn’t expecting It In the box—”
That thought he left unfinished, he merely acting again? What was
mumbling something Indistinguishable. really working in the mind behind
But his eyes flashed toward his daugh­ those Inscrutable eyes?
“That’s all I know.” she concluded.
ter’s face, then were quickly averted.
"In the box with the necklace, you “How the card got Into the box I can’t
say—unless this man Smith put it
mean?” Lydia prompted evenly.
He wouldn’t reply directly. “Gave there when he replaced the necklace at
me devil of a shock !” After a moment Mr. Quoin's direction. I presume a
of silence he cried out In accents of ex­ card sharper would have sleight of
asperation, "But how in the name of hand enough to do that undetected.”
“It couldn’t be worse.” said Craven
God did it ever get there?”
A knock checked Lydia's reply. With huskily, fingering the knave of dia-
a start Craven pulled himself together monds.
He rose, moved unsteadily to the
and rose.
"Mustn't let the waiter see me like center table, and helped himself to the
remainder of the brandy..
this. You let him In—will you?"
“You should have told me first
He managed a slow but unwavering
return to his room. When he was out thing,” he mumbled.
of sight Lydia turned to the door, ad­
“If you hadn’t misled me, I shouldn't
mitting the waiter with his heavy tray, hare hesitated an Instant, father; but
signed for the meal, and tipped and dis- I was silly enough—it seems—to hope
missed the man.
that by saying nothing I might ward
off danger from you."
"Yea." he agreed simply. “It would
CHAPTER XII.
have been better If I’d told you the
The door had barely closed when truth. But then, of course, you
Craven returned, now at least outward­ wouldn’t have consented to bring the
ly quite himself again. He brought stuff in. And bow was I to know they
with him the puzzle box. still open, the were watching me so closely? How did
necklace exposed on its bod of cotton they guess I’d—"
"‘They’?"
wool.
He gave her a sullen glance. "Smith
“You saw this in there just now, of
course I wonder." he mused, with a and Colonel Gordon. Gordon's the
hint of remorse, “what you must have other crook's name—if Quoin forgot to
tell you. Curse It! Why didn’t you
thought?”
“I thought, " she told him stoutly. tell me this first y
“Why? What difference—"
“No difference,” he grumbled. “Too
late : now mischief’s done !" He with­
drew Into morose contemplation of the
knave of diamonds.
“What have such men to do with the
secret service?” Lydia demanded ab­
ruptly.
“With the—ah—secret service?" He
looked up blankly. “Why—nothing
whatever! What makes you ask?'
“Then what were they after when
they attacked me? Not the ‘evidence’
you talked about?”
.
“My dear child! What do you sup­
pose? What but the loot—that neck­
lace? They’ve been hot on Betty’s
trail from the moment it became
known she had bought the thing from
Cottier’s.”
“You confuse me so !” Lydia protest­
ed in bewilderment. “If they weren't
connected with the secret service, If—
if you had nothing whatever to do with
them, why are you so afraid of them I”
“I? But—my dear child,” Craven
said indulgently, “you’re quite mis­
taken. I'm no more afraid of them
Uncle Sam’s aircraft protection board is co-ordinating the work of air­
than of—well—say Mr. Collector plane manufacturers and makers of allied materials in the interest of stand­
Loeb."
ardization and efficiency and will place contracts for everything the govern­
Seated across the table from him, ment buys in connection with the development of the great alr-flghting force
resting her elbows upon it, Lydia re­ which the government plans. Members of this important board, shown in this
garded her father with an expression in picture, are: Seated, left to right, Rear Admiral David W. Taylor of the
which were blended amazement, stupe­ navy; Brig. Gen. George O. Squier, chief signal officer of the army; Howard
faction, misery and uncertainty.
E. Coffin, chairman of the board and a member of the council of national de­
If Craven read her look, he refused fense. Standing, left to right, Sidney G. Walden of Detroit, automobile man­
to acknowledge it. With an air of ufacturer; E. A. Deeds of Dayton, O., ignition expert; R. I. Montgomery of
thorough satisfaction he rose and, tak­ New York, a banker.
ing up the puzzle box, shut it with a
snap, its treasure undisturbed.
Her eyes followed the puzzle box,
which Craven was slipping Into the
side pocket of his coat, with an expres­
sion he was quick to interpret.
“This goes to Betty Merrilees as fast
as a taxicab can take it," he an­ Uncle Sam Has Big Organization Uncle Sam’s Fight to Save Race
nounced promptly. “In fact, I stopped
in Foreign Trade Work.
Is Bearing Fruit
in only to get it on my way uptown.”
“I’m glad of that,” said Lydia, list­
lessly tracing an empty pattern on the Collects Information Through Several Trachoma Largely Subdued In Schools
table.
Hundred Consuls, Commercial At­
and Infant Mortality, Once Ap­
“If I’m late, don’t fret about me,
taches and Special Agenta.
palling, Reduced.
please. I’m quite all right now.
Chances are I sha’n’t have another
The foreign trade work of Uncle
Those who think of the Indians as
turn like tonight's in several—’’
A knock sounded on the door. He Sam's department of commerce is cen­ members of a dying race are not ac­
broke off with a start, and for half a tered In the bureau of foreign and do­ quainted with the progress of the work
minute stood moveless and silent, his mestic commerce, which is organized carried on in their behalf by Uncle
mouth ajar, his eyes transfixed; then, to collect commercial information in Sam’s department of the interior.
To struggle against tuberculosis and
recollecting himself, he said almost foreign countries and to distribute it
to American manufacturers and ex­ trachoma, and the fight to lower a high
nonchalantly :
“Mind answering that? If it’s any­ porters. Its work partakes of the na­ infant mortality rate, are generally
ture of a commercial reconnoisance. conceded to be the greatest problems
body for me, say I’m out.”
As Lydia rose he swung sharply back For collecting Information, it now re­ confronting medical men of the Indi­
Into his bedchamber. When she turned lies mainly upon three agencies—com­ an office. Supplementing the work of
back from the door she saw him poised mercial attache, special igent and the regular agency doctors, special phy­
sicians at intervals visit the various
alertly just within the threshold, his consul.
The ten commercial attaches were reservations, performing eye opera­
right hand buried in his coat pocket.
“A note for you—wants an answer. sent to their posts about two and a tions, caring for defective teeth and
half years ago, when the war started, spreading information.
The bellboy’s waiting.”
With a nervous gesture Craven ad­ these posts being at London, Paris,
Already trachoma has been very
vanced and took the envelope, his Berlin, Petrograd, Buenos Aires, Rio largely subdued In the schools, and
breath quickening and brows clouding de Janeiro, Santiago (Chile), Lima such new cases as appear generally
as he conned the superscription—his (Peru.), Peking and Melbourne. These come from outside. Acute cases are
name In ink and the room number in men are highly qualified business segregated and treated with regularity,
blue pencil. But for several seconds diplomats, who are expected to be and at present a large majority of the
he seemed to hesitate. Then abruptly capable not only of reporting the cases known are among the old and
minor incidents of commercial impor­ feeble. The unhealthy manner of liv­
he ripped it open.
And this time he seemed to have tance, but of following up the bigger ing that marks the period of transition
been prepared; for he manifested no developments, and of detecting and un­ between the old life and the new Is
untoward emotion when he drew from derstanding the undercurrents of the fast passing.
the envelope a single playing card, the business and commercial life of the
The building of sanitary homes is
knave of clubs.
districts to which they are assigned. -urged and the value of clean food and
Drawing a deep breath, which might
The special agent is a specialist in cooking utensils emphasized. As a re­
have been a sigh of relief, Craven de­ some one line, and if he proves to be sult of the campaign, there has been
liberately tossed the card face upward the right man he may be sent to every within the last three years a very no­
on the table. “You’ll notice a pin corner of the earth to study the mar­ ticeable falling off in the number of
puncture in the stem of the club, be­ kets for his line of goods.
illnesses and deaths from tuberculo­
neath the small J,” he observed coolly.
The consular service of the state de­ sis.
“That means one of my agents, on partment has long been one of the
Last year structures valued at $775,-
urgent business.”
chief reliances of the bureau, and in 885.57 were built on Indian reserva­
“I’ll stay In my room with the door this branch of the information-gather­ tions, and included practically every­
shut,” Lydia volunteered.
ing service there are some 230 con­ thing from frame cottages and office
“No—wasn’t thinking of that : mere­ suls. These consuls give part of their buildings to heating plants and flour
ly wondering if you could. You see. time to reporting on commercial con­ mills and laundries.
I'm likely to be detained by this chap ditions for the bureau, and in years
The younger generation now knows
—can't tell how long.” He consulted past the publications of the bureau that a sturdy child grows Into a sturdy
his watch, frowning. “After ten now; were based entirely upon the work of man, and great care is taken of the
I can't well call on Betty much later. the consuls.
young mother in childbirth. Before
How would you like to take a taxi to
the present administration assumed
the Margrave, and give her this con­
three-fifths of the little Indi-
CARE OF DIVERS' PERSONNEL control,
founded collar?”
ans died before they were five years
He could have made no suggestion
old. The introduction and enforce­
more shrewdly calculated. In a breath Uncle Sam’s Doctors Find That Duty
ment of modern methods has reduced
on Undersea Craft Has Effect on
Lydia’s countenance lightened and her
this appalling percentage, and the
eyes grew animated.
Health of Men.
health of the Indian is now, as a whole,
“Oh, if I may !”
far better than it has been at any other
“Why not? You’ll be perfectly safe.
Uncle Sam’s medical officers are time since he came under the influence
It's no great distance, nobody knows keeping the closest watch on the
you have the collar, and Betty’ll be health of the personnel on duty in sub­ of the white man.
glad to see you. You might stop with marines, in order that every manifes­
her till I call for you—if you don’t tation of bodily and mental disorder WOULD USE MEXICAN GOATS
mind being made an excuse of.”
may be noted quickly. Assistant Sur­
“Yes,” she agreed, breathless. “I’ll geon Walter W. Cross of the navy, has Head of Breeder’s Association Telle
be glad.”
compiled some interesting facts as a
Uncle Sam’s Experts They Will
“Then jump into your hat and coat result of his observations of the per­
Help Solve Food Problem.
and— Half a minute ! I wonder would sonnel attached to submarines. He
you mind running another errand for believes that long continued duty on
Civilize the Mexican goat and solve
me?”
such craft Is conducive to high blood the problem of the poor, was the mes­
“Of course not.”
pressure. He says :
sage carried to Uncle Sam's agricul­
“It's only a few blocks out of your
“Whether this Is due to mental
way, and won’t delay you longer than strain, loss of sleep, overeating with tural experts by S. Douglas Demmon,
to deliver a note and get an answer. lack of exercise, excessive use of to­ president of the American Goat Breed­
I'll write the note now—two Unes will bacco, coffee and tea, or some toxic ers' association.
“Since the time of the Aryan race
do."
agent peculiar to submarines, I am un­
“Ill hurry,” Lydia promised, dashing able to say. It Is noted that a slight along the Euphrates the goat has
supported the poor,” said Mr. Dem­
off into her bedchamber.
fall occurred after a 47-hour surface
When she returned, ready for the run and a three-hour dive. Undoubt­ mon. "Turn him loose on the moun­
street. Craven was folding down the edly this could be accounted for by fa­ tainous lands of the eastern states
flap of an envelope blank save for the tigue or lack of all physical exercise and he’ll sweep through them like
the German army, turning shrubbery
figures In Ink, “98.” “I'm suppressing during the preceding 48 hours.”
into meat and milk.
the address," he said, smiling mysteri­
One effect, natural under the cir­
“Goat kid flesh is a delicacy,"
ously, “because this is official business. cumstances. was lack of weight, and
That, however, is the number of the it is observable that there is probably Demmon said. “The average fe­
house; the street you'll have to carry no occupation, except that of a boiler­ male goat will produce six kids a
In your memory. East Seventy-sixth, maker, giving rise to so many cases of year—two or three at a time—and
also the name, Mrs. Ellsworthy, one of partial deafness as submarine duty. It until these kids are six months old
our most valued agents. Hand this to Is not uncommon for men to report to the meat is fine if they are fed as
ber personally, and ask for an answer. the medical officer that they have in® lambs are fed.”
I'll join you at Betty's about eleven­ creasing difficulty In hearing the com­
thirty ; earlier If possible. Now the mands. This is attributed to the con­
Mexicans Turn to Business.
Margrave—but every chauffeur in the stant vibratory movement of the sub­
To the chamber of commerce at Tor­
town knows where that is.”
marine. the straining of the ears to reon falls the distinction of being the
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
hear above the noise of the engines, first chamber to be organized in
the presence of cold drafts of air down Coahuila since the beginning of the
Holland's Great Dikes.
One of the great dikes of Holland the hatches while operating on the Mexican revolution. Uncle Sam's con­
Is 40 miles long, starting far up in the surface, excessive temperature while sul at Piedras Negras reporto. It is
country, near the Yssel river, and con­ running submerged, and the Inhala­ actively proceeding with the work of
tinuing across the Hoot of Holland to tion of gases given off by the bat­ restoring commercial relations with
other sections of the state and with the
the sea. It was built In sections, and teries and fumes from oil tanks.
United States and regularly issues an
However.
It
Is
believed
that
the
for seven centuries has held back the
waters from the low-lying fields. It is number of bacteria and molds present interesting bulletin. There is a great
- feet broad at the base. 85 feet broad In the air of submarines while run­ deal of talk among the merchants of
at the top. and its height varies from ning awash and submerged probably Is other towns relative to the formation
less than In dwellings and battleships. of these business clubs.
25 to 85 feet.
WILL BUILD UNCLE SAW’S GREAT AIR FLEET
THREE AGENCIES USED INDIAN IS HEALTHIER
MOUNT M'KINLEY
IS REAL MONSTER
Central Feature of Uncle Sam’s
Newest Park Presents Arnaz*
ing Spectacle.
SEEMS LOFTIER THAN OTHERS
Abrupt Rise of More Than 17,000 Feet
Makes Mass Appear Higher
Even Than Tallest of
the Himalayas.
Uncle Sam's new national park in
Alaska is one of the monster specta­
cles of the world. To say that it rises
20,300 feet above sea level and that
it is the loftiest peak in America is to
convey no idea whatever of its gran­
deur. There are several mountains in
the Himalayas which materially exceed
its height—one which rises more than
25,000 feet above sea level—and yet
Mount McKinley, to the observer, is
loftier than any of these.
The reason is that the greatest Him­
alayas are seen from valleys 7,000 to
10,000 feet in altitude, while Mount
McKinley rises abruptly from valleys
3,000 feet and even less in altitude.
The visitor to the Mount McKinley Na­
tional park will look up more than 17,-
000 feet to the double peak, the upper
14,000 feet of which are covered with
perpetual snow.
This enormous mass Is the climax at
the same Alaskan range which ex­
tends roughly east and west across
southeast central Alaska, separating
the vast northern inland from the more
populated country whose shores are
the Gulf of Alaska. The range par­
allels the mighty Yukon many miles
to its south.
Titanic Alpine Scenery.
The reservation contains 2,200
square miles. Its northern slopes,
which overlook the Tanana watershed
with its gold mining industry, are
broad valleys inhabited by enormous
herds of caribou. Its southern plateau
Is a perpetual water wilderness
through which glaciers of great
length and enormous bulk flow into the
valleys of the south. In this national
park, which the railroad now building
by the government Into the Alaskan
interior will open presently to the pub­
lic, America possesses Alpine scenery
upon a titanic scale.
From the stormy south, Mount Mo
Kinley is wholly inaccessible. Bu1
from the plains of the north, valleya
of easy grade lead one from another
to its foot.
“It is an awe-inspiring region of ma»
slve mountains and Ice-capped peaks,"
Belmore Browne of the Camp Fire
club, testified before the senate com­
mittee on territories. “The Piedmont
plateau that follows the range affords
n beautiful roadway direct to Mount
McKinley, and when you reach the
plateau all difficulties vanish and you
see a view that is unique on this
earth. Yon see the huge mountain
Une of perpetual snow, rising like a
great wall on the .southeast. You
can ride a pony to where Mount Mc­
Kinley rises 17,000 feet above you In
a glittering wall of snow and ice. It
Is flanked by stupendous mountains
which make a wonderful setting for
the monster.”
Enormous Herds of Caribou.
North of the vast mountain, how-
ever, is a rolling country dotted with
beautiful lakes and forests and inhab­
ited by enormous herds of caribou. In
fact the special reason why congress
set apart the region at this time was
to conserve the wild animal life In ad­
vance of the invasion of hunters which
the new government railroad will bring
Into Alaska, the road as projected run­
ning within twenty miles of this great­
est of nature’s spectacles.
Charles Sheldon of the Boone and
Crockett club told the senate commit­
tee that several times he has counted
as many as 500 mountain sheep In a
single day of ordinary travel, and
that herds of caribou numbering from
1,200 to 1,500 are frequently seen.
As a game refuge and breeding
ground, the new National park con­
serves Alaskan game which elsewhere
Is rapidly disappearing.
As In the
case of Yellowstone National park, the
reservation serves as a perpetual cen­
ter of game supply for large neigh­
boring areas.
These animals do not greatly fear
man, because they have never been
hunted. One can approach the great
herds of caribou.
There are also
many Alaskan bear of great size.
FISH RESCUED BY UNCLE SAM
Taken From Overflowed Lands and
Returned to Their Original Streams
for Benefit of Anglers.
Every year Uncle Sam's bureau at
fisheries has agents out in the over-
flowed lands in the Mississippi basin
to rescue fish from their new tempo­
rary homes, returning them to their
original streams for the benefit of the
angler.
The floods this year carried from
their original streams the following
species : Spotted, blue, channel and
yellow cat, horned pout, bullhead,
small, common and black buffalo fish,
carp, pike and pickerel, crappie, rock
bass, red eye, google eye, warmouth al­
so known as google eye, largo mouth
and small mouth black hass, bluegill
bream or bluegill sunfish, yellow perch
or ring perch and white bass.