THE MEDTTORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, .TANUARY 21, PERKINS WILLING TO ! TO HOUSE! He Announces That He Is Favorably Considering Running for Legis lature In Douglas County. nOSEBUno, Or., Jan. 21. J. W. Perkins, c local coal mtno operator, mltnltB that he Is "seriously consider ing" becomtug a cavlldato for rop r.aentntlvo from Douglas county. Ho la a republican, favors tho assembly .ilnn nnrl CfifV-n.1 n tho Iplflslntliro aS a representative from Jackson coun-J ty In 1907-8, when ho as engaged In tho frill. grow-In? business near. Mcdford. "If coal mining by my' tnpany .8 to bo earned on exten sively and successfully," said Mr. Por klns, "tho present laws relating to such projects will have to undergo some changes. It would he my chief object to bring about such changes If 1 should go to tho legislature again. I aspired to the legislature from Jack son county for tho sole purpose of n'dlng horticultural legislation, and tho la,ws that wore enacted along that lino were of tremendous heneflt to tho fruit growing lutcrests of the state." HOUSE VOTES TO DESTROY 19,000 ROOSEVELT MESSAGES WASHINGTON, Jan. 21. Tho house had fun recently destroying by resolution about 1000 tons of use less documents now stored in the Cap itol. "I want to congratulate tho repub licans," said Representative Fitzger ald of New York, "and rejoice In their courage to disposo of the messages Pf one whose presenco In Africa seems io be 66 pleasing, and whose return is so greatly feared. I find that among the useless documents are G442 copies of Roosevelt's messages to the Second session of tho Sixtieth congress; 3-196 of his messages to the first session of tho Sixtieth congress; 4409 of the same papers to the Fifty-ninth con gress; 2D38 to tho Fifty-eighth, and -067 to tho Fifty-seventh congress. "In all, Mr. Speaker, there are about 19,000 documents devoted to My Policies which republicans 'want to forget. I will take the whole lot and distribute them In my district, and in the districts of some of the mem bers who pretend to be republicans." Representative Olmsted of Penn sylvania retaliated by pointing out that there were 3390 copies of Gro ver Cleveland's messages In tho heap, and 10,000 copies of tho minority re port on tho Payne-Aldrlch tariff bill. The resolution was passed. FRUIT EXPERT BUYS PLACE BOULEVARD NEAR ASHLAND ASHLAND, Jan. 21. O. II. Barn hill, a fruit expert and writer, and formerly connected with farmers' in stitute work both in Montana and Iowa, who enme to Ashland a sho-t time ago, accompanied by his moth er, brother nnd sister, has purchased tho Bowcrsox orchard tract on the boulevard just south of tho city, comprising 18 acres, a portion of which is set to new orchard, pear.-, .cherries, elc. Mr. Barnhill expects to improvo tho property systematic ally and scientifically and make a nodel orchard home of tho place. Ho has been investisatinR the va rious fruit' soctions of the north west, which ho is "writing up" ex tensively for eastern agricultural journals, and his investment in Ash land orchard lands is cortninly quite n compliment to this section's at tractions in this lino. RUMOR HAS IT THAT FREEMAH HAS SOLD CENTRAL POINT, Jan. 21. A report was current on the streets yesterday hat W. J. Freeman had bought tho Mrs. M. E. Mapradei farm of 33 acros, lying between the east line of tho town corporation limits and Bear creek, tho consider ation being $300 an acre, or $10, 000. When asked over tho phono to verify tho rumor, Mr. Freeman de clined to give any information re garding tho deal, but admitted that it was under way. ELKS HAVE GOOD TIME; LADIES' NIGHT Last night was "ladies' night" at tho Elks' lodge. Over CO ladies, daughters, wives nnd invited guests of tho members of tho order wero present. A bnnquet was served and nn espocinlly pnjoynblo program of vocal nnd instrumental mumc was presented, nftor which tho floor was cleared nnd dancing was indulged in until a Into hour. Found Both Parents Dead, TULSA, Olda., Jan. 21. Planning to surpriso his paronts, 1). A. Smith, of Evorott, Wash., arrived hero toduy only to learn that the couple W been accidentally asphyxiated m their homo hero two months ago. ! THE PERFUME OF THE LADY IN BLACK lty GASTON' LKKOUX, Author of "The Mystery of tho Yellow lloom." Copyright, 1000, by llretmiTV's CHAPTER XVI. A Living Tomb and a Baflllntf Murder. Mi luougius lurueu io itouicia bllle. What was he doing now? Why had he gone away? As 1 ' lay there puullng my brain over the outcome of the affair I heard some one knocking at my door. It was Tcro Beraler, who brought mo a brief note from my friend which had been handed to IV ro Jacques by a little lad from thevlllagc. Itoulctabllle wrote: I shall return early In the mornlns. Get j up as soon as in is rcacnos you ana oe Bocxl enough to go nshlns for my break fast and catch vome of the Una trout which are so plentiful amonK tho rocks near the Point of Garibaldi. Do not lose an Instant. Thanks and romcmbranccs. HOULETAUILLE. This communication gave me more food for thought, for 1 knew by ex perience that whenever Itoulctablllo seemed most occupied with trivial mat ters his activity wa3 really most thor oughly engaged with important sub jects. I dressed myself in haste, provided myself with some old tackle which was furnished me by Dernier and set out to obey the request of my young friend. As I went out of the north gate, having encountered nobody at that early hour of the morning (It was about 7 o'clock). I was Joined by Mine. Edltbt to whom I showed what Itoule tabUlc had written. The" young wom an was greatly dejected over the un explained absence of her uncle, re- I markjQjl tkjt jb? letter was "so queer i that It made her tiervous," and she in- I formed me that she Intended to follow : me to the trout streams. We started to flsb for Rouletabllle's trout. Mrs. Itauce and I both removed our shoes and stockings, but I con cerned myself more about the dainty bare feet of my pretty hostess than about my own. She clambered into the pools and crept among the rocks with a grace which enchanted me more thau I dared express. Suddenly we both desisted from our task and prick ed up our ears at the same moment. We heard cries from the shore where the grottoes are. We distinguished a little group, the persons in which were making gestures of appeal. We hastily rushed to the beach, and In n few sec onds we learned that, attracted by moans, two fishermen had Just dis covered In n cave In the grotto of Ko meo nud Juliet an unfortunate human being who bad fallen into the chasm and who must have been there help less for several hours. The quick conjecture which rushed into both our minds at once proved to be the right one. It was Old Bob who had been fished out of the cave. When he had been drawn up on the beach in the full light of day he certainly presented a pitiable spectacle. Ills beautiful black coat was torn and cov ered with mud, and bis white shirt was as black as tar. Mine, Edith burst into tears and nearly went iuto hysterics when she found that the old man had a broken collar bone and a sprained foot. And he was so pale that he looked as If he 'were going to. die on the spot. Happily the ca6e was far less seri ous than it at first appeared. Ten minutes later he was, according to bis own orders, stretched out on his bed in his room in the square tower. But could any one believe that he abso lutely refused to be undressed, oven so far as to have his coat removed, be fore the arrival of the doctors? Mme. Edith, more and more nervous, in stalled herself as his nurse, but when the physicians came Old Bob ordered his niece not ouly to leave his room, but to go out of the square tower al together. And he Insisted that the door should bo locked after her. This last precaution was a great sur prise to us all. We were assembled in the Court of the Bold. M. und Mme. Darzne. Arthur Itance and myself, qa well as Pere Bernler, who haunted my footsteps, uwnltlng the news. When Mme. Edith quitted the tower nftcr the arrival of the medical men she came to us and said: "Let us hope that his injuries won't be serious. Old Bob is solid as a rock. What did 1 tell you about hlra? 1 have made blm confess, the old sin ner! Ho was trying to steal Prince Galltcb's skull, which ho believed to be more ancient than his own Just the Jealousy of one savant toward another. Wo shall all laugh nt blm when be Is cured." ( At that .moment the door of the equaro tower opened, and Walter, Old Bob's faithful servant, appeared. His face was pale, and 'ho seemed very nervous. "Oh. Mme. Edith." ho cried out, "ho is covered with blood! Ho doesn't want anything to bo Bald about it, but ho must bo saved." Edith had already rushed into tho square tower. As to us, wo dared not utter a word. Soon the young woman returned. "Oh," Bho sobbed, "It ia frightful! His whole breast Is torn openr Eouletablllo reached tho castlo about an hour after these eventa. He cut abort my demands far an explanation ad asked mo Immediately If I had wade a cood catch. "Oh, yes; aTery0Mtel Iftsfetf Ho started violently. I shrugged my shoulders, for I believed thnt he was counterfeiting surprise, nnd 1 went on! "Oh, you knew very well what kind of fish 1 should find when you sent your message!" "You certainly must be unaware of the purport of your words, my dear Salnclnlr, or else you would have spared me the trouble of protesting ngnlnst such nn accusation." "What accusation?" I cried. "That of having left Old Bob in the grotto of liotuco nnd Juliet, knowing that he might be dying there." "Oh, nonsense!" I cried. "Old Bob Is far from dying. Ho hns n sprained foot and n brokeu collar bone, nud his story of his misfortune Is perfectly plain and straightforward. He de clares that ho was trying to steal Prince' Unlltch's skull." "What a funny Idea!" exclaimed Rouletnbllle. "Do you believe that story? And nud that Is all? So other Injuries?" "Yes," I replied. "There Is nnother Injury, but the doctors declare that It is not nt an serious, no nas a wouuu lu tho breast. "And how wns this wound made?" "Wo do not know. Xoue of us has sceu It. He would not even permit his coat to bo taken off in our pres ence." As soon as we camo to the chateau we encountered Mme. Edith, who ap peared to have been watching for us. "My uncle won't have me near him." she said, regarding Itouletnblllo with an nlr of auxlety dlffereut from nnythlng 1 had ever noticed In her be fore. "It's Incomprehensible!" , "Ah. madame." he replied. "I assure you that nothing in the world Is in comprehensible when one Is willing to take n little trouble to understand It." And he offered her his congratulations upon having had her uncle restored to her at the moment when she was ready to despair of ever scelug him again. Hero we were Joined by Prince On lltch. lie had come to ask for news of bis old friend Bob, of whose mis fortune he had learned. Mme. Edith reassured blm as to her uncle's condi tion and entreated the prince to par- dou her relative for his too excessive t devotion to the "oldest skulls in the Wo turned with one impulse, utter history of humanity." The prince ; ing an exclamation of horror, smiled graciously and with the utmost We nil stood there, shivering, our kindllno&t when he was told that Old ' eyes wide with horror. Who was Bob had been attempting to steal his ; dead? What expiring breath had emit- skull. The prince asked for the details. Ho seemed very curious about the affair, and Mme. Edith told how her uncle had acknowledged to her that ho had quitted the Kort of Hercules by way of the air shaft which communicated with the sca.( As soon as she said this I recalled' the experience of Bou letabllle with the Hush of water and also the close Iron ttirs. and the false hoods which Old Bob bad uttered as sumed gigantic proportions In my mind, nnd I was sure that the rest of the party must hold tho same opinion as mvself. Ime. Edith told us thnt Tulllo had been waiting with his boat at the opening of the gallery abutting on the shaft to row the old savant to the bank In front of the grotto of Bo rneo and Juliet. "Why so many twists aud turnings when it was so simple to go out by the gate?" I could not restrain myself from xclalmlug. Mme. Edith looked nt me reproach fully, and I regretted having even seemed to have tnken part against her in any way. "And this is stranger yet." said the prince. "Day before yesterday the 'hangman of the sea' came to bid me adieu, saying that ho .was going to leave the country, and I nm nure that he took the train for -Venice, bis na tive city, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. now then could ho have conveyed your uncle in his boat late thnt tilzht? In the first place, he was not In this j part of the world; lu the second, he bad sold his boat. He told me so, add- Ing thnt he would never return to this country." ' , There was a dead silence, and Prince Gnlltcli continued: "All this Is of little importance, pro vided that your uncle, mndaine. reco- crs speedily from his Injuries nud again." he added, with another Hintie more charming than those which hud preceded it. "If you will aid me lu re gaining u poor piece or Hint which lm disappeared from tho grotto and of which I will give you the description. It is a sharp piece of Hint tweuty-llve centimeters long and shaped at one end to the form of a dagger In brief, tho oldest dagger of tho human race. I value it greatly, and perhaps you may bo able to learn, madame, through your Uncle Bob whnt has become of it." Mme. Edith at onco gave her prom ise to tho prince, with a certain nlr of haughtiness which pleased me greatly, that she would do everything possible to obtain for him news of bo precious an object. The prince left us. When wo had finished returning his parting aalutes wo saw Banco before us. lie seemed very thoughtful. He hnd his ivory beaded cano lu his hand and was whistling, according to his habit, and bo looked nt Mmo. Edith with a strango expression. "I know exactly whnt you are think ing, sir," sho said, "and you niny keep on thinking for aught I care." Sho stepped near Itoulctabllle. "At all events," sho exclaimed, "you can never explain to mo how when ho was outside tho squoro tower ho could hnvo hidden behind that panel." "Madame," said Itoulctablllo Im pressively, looking at her as though ho were trying to hypnotize her, "if Oou is with mo, before night I shall explain to you all that you wish to know." A little later I found myself in the lower parlor of la Louve, tete-a-tete with Mmo. Edith, I attempted to re assure her, seeing how restless nnd nervous sho was. But she burled her pnlo face In Iior hands, and her trem bling Hps allowed tho confession of her fears to escape thorn, "Let us go out into tho air," sho sntd Impatiently. "I can't breathe lu this place." Wo entered the garden, it was approuchlng the hour of noon tide, and the court was a dream of perfumed beauty. I looked at Mim. Edith. Beads of perspiration stood out on her fore head, and her face was as pale as death, Edith led the way toward the postern gate. The vault of this postern formed a black arch lu the light, nud nt the extremity of this tun nel wo perceived, facing tin, ltouleta blllo nud Darzne, who wore Mainline at the edge of the inner court like two white statues. Itoulctablllo was hold ing In his hand Arthur llnncc'tt Ivory headed cane. Motioning with the cane, he Rhowcd Dnrzac something on the summit of tho vault which wo could not see, and then he pointed us out lu tho same way. Wo could not hear what he said. The two talked togeth er for a few moments with their lips scarcely moving, like two accomplices lu some dark secret. Mme. Edith paused, but Itoulctablllo beckoned to i,ePi repeating the signal with his cane Wo went on until we reached tho vault, and the others watched us with out making a movement to moot us. We had come up close to them by this time, nud they bade us turn around with our backs toward tho jourt so that wo could see what they wero looking nt. There was on top of the arch a stone, now Iikwo, which seemed In Imminent danger of fnlllug and crushing the heads of the passers by. Itoulctabllle asked Mme. Edith If she hnd any objections to its being pulled down until It could bo replaced more solidly. "A good Idea." she answered. Itoulctablllo bnuded the ivory head ed cane to Darzac, asking him to per form the feat of dislodging tho stone, which was part of n carved escutcheon, tho shield of the Mortoln. "You are taller thau I." he went on. "Seo If you enn roach It." Dnrzac seized the stick. He stretch ed upward and struck with great vigor at tho object, which clattered to tho ground. Suddenly behind me I heard the cry 0f a man In his dying agony. ted that terrible sound? Itouletnblllo was the most terrified 1 of us all. Mnttonl. who wns passing through ; tho garden nnd who had nlso heard j the cry, rushed up. He hurried behind j hlin. When we hnd passed tho shade of the eucalyptus wo found tho cause, i Tho cry had come, Indeed, from n soul I passing Into the unknown. It was Bender Bernler. In whose throat sounded tho death nittle. who was trying lu valu to rise and who wns at the last gasp of his life. It wns Ber nler from whoso breast flowed a stream of blood and who. with one last fearful struggle, summoned stren'rtl, euotigh to utter the two words "1'nsl eric Lnrsan!" Then his head fell back, and he was dead. I.arsan always, forever. Here yet again was his mark a dead body nnd no one anywhere near w'ho could have committed tho murder by any possibility of human reason. We rushed Into the squnre tower, tho door of which still Htood open. We entered in a lody tho bedroom of Old Bob. passing through the empty sitting room. The Injured man wns lying quietly on his bed within, nnd near him n woman was watching Mere Bernler. Both wero as calm and still as the tiny itself, but when the wiro or tno aeaa coucicrgo snw cur faces she uttered a cry of affright, an though smitten by tho knowledge of Borne calamity, Sho had hoard noth ing; she knew nothing. But sho null ed into the air like a streak of light ning aud went straight, as though im pelled by some hidden force, directly to tho place where tho body wns ly ing. And now It was her groans that wunded on the air under tho terrible inn of the Midi over tho bleeding corpse. We tore tho shirt from tho dead man's breast nnd found u gaping around Just above tho heart. Wo looked for the weapon every where without finding it. Tho man who had struck tho blow had carriod (he knlfo away. Where was tho man? Who was he? What wo did not know Bernler bad known before he died, and it was perhaps becuuse of that knowledge thnt his life had been for feited. "Frederic Lursan!" Wo re pcatcd tho last words of tho dying man in fear and trembling. Suddenly on tho threshold of the postern we saw Prince Galltch, a newspaper in his hand, no was read ing ns ho came toward us. Ills air was Jovial, and tils faco woro a smile. But Mmo. Edith rushed up to him, snatched the paper from bis hands, pointed to tho corpse and cried out: "A man hns Leon murdered! Send for the pollen!" Tho prince turned away from tho body, stating that ho would send for the authorities, Itouletnblllo was examining tho iron bars aud heavy lid which closed tho shaft, but his manner was distrait and discouraged. Turning onco moro to bis hostess, lie said In tho saroolow voice: "And what will you tell tho police when they get hero?" "Everything!" Mrs, Banco fairly snapped out tho word between her teeth, her eyes flashing fire. Ho scorned uttorly ex hausted and vunqulshcd. M, Darzac wanted to search through tho square tower, tho Tower of tho Bold, tho now castle, all tho dependencies of tho fort from which no ono could hnvo made his escape and where, therefore, tho assasslu must still bo concealed. Tho reporter shook his head drearily ' flmj gold .that It. jyould bo jot jm uso, T itouletnblllo anil I knew ouly too well that any scnrcli would be hi vain, No, no! I had learned that there was no uso In looking for I.arsan with one's eyes. To see clearly It was bettor to close tho eyes, as' Itoulctablllo was doing at this moment. And wlieii ho ocncd thorn ho wns another mail, A new energy animated his features. lie stood erect as though he had thrown off a weight, Ho clinched his list nud raised It toward the heavens. Ho threw himself on the ground, creeping ou Ida hands and knees, his nose to the earth, like n hound follow ing tho nccnt, going round tho body of poor Bernler nud around Moro Bernler, around tho shaft, around each of us. Ho moved about like a pig nosing Its nourishment out of tho mire, nud wo nil stood still, looking nt him curious ly and half In alarm. Suddenly ho started to his feet, almost white with dust, nud uttered n shout of triumph as though he hnd found Lnrsnii him self lu the gravel. What now victory did ho feel thnt ho hnd nchlcvcd over the mystery? "It's all right, monsieur! Nothing is changed!" Attracted by tho Bound of voices, wo looked around and saw Pcro Jacques approaching, followed by two gen darmes. It was the brigadier of I.n Mortola. who, summoned by Prlnco tinlltch. hnd hurried to tho scene of tho crime. Whnt did Itouletnblllo mean by his "Nothing Is changed" If not thnt de spite the incidental murder of Hornier everything which wo dreaded, which made us shudder nud which wo had no understanding of, continued Just ns before? The gendarmes were busy examin ing tho body and chattering over It In their incomprehensible Jargon. Tho delegnto would have power to begin the Investigation, which would bo con tinued whoti tho oxnmlulng magistrate bad been notified. Tho delegnto arrived. It was easily to bo seen thnt ho was enchanted, even though ho hnd not hnd the time to finish his repast. A crime, nctually a crime, nnd In the Chatouu of Her cules! He wns fairly radiant. His eyes shone. Tho delegnto examined tho wound and said In very good English: "That was a iiingnltlceiit stroke!" "And now how did" till this happen?" ho nsked encouragingly, smncklng his Hps ns though In the anticipation of hearing a story of thrilling Interest. "It Is terrible." ho ndded-"torrlblo! In tho live years thnt 1 have boon delegnto we have never hnd a murder. Monsieur, the oxnmlulng mnglstnite" here he chocked himself, but wo know well what ho hnd boon on the point of snylng "moiisteiir. the exnmlnlng mng lstnite will bo very much pleased." Ho wiped the perspiration from his fore head nnd repented. "It Is terrible!" At the request of tho delegnto wo nil entered the square tower. We took our places In' Old Bob'H sitting room, whore the Inquest wns to bo held and whore each of us In turn recounted whnt he hnd seen nnd heard. Mere Bender was flint ques tioned, but little or nothing could be gained from her lestltuouy. She de clared thnt sho knew nothing about anything. An exclamation from tho delegnto struck upon our enrs. The fnrthor the evidence of tho witnesses pro gressed tho greater became tho amazement of tho commissioner nnd tho moro and more Inoxpllcnblo he found tho crime. Ho wns on the point nf finding it Impossible that it should have been committed nt nil when It enmc Mme. Edith's turu to bo Interro gated. ner lips opened to answer tho first question when Itouletnblllo'M voice was hennl: "Look at tho end of the shadow of the eucalyptus." "What Is Iff asked the delegnto. "The weapon with which the crime was committed!" Itoulotnhllle Jumped Into tho court nnd picked up from the bloody stones n sharp, shining piece of flint. It was "the oldwit dagger of the human race." (2o be continued.) EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS CHANCES 0-room hoaflo for rent. 7-room honso, furnished. FOR SALE 1-room bungalow. 0-room honso, lot 70x260. FOIt DJSKT I-rfind from 1 aero to 400 In ono body; have spud land. WANTED Man and vroman on farm, WANTED Woman to cook nnd do hounowork o:. ranch. ANY ONE having any kind of bulld Incn to moro, call at room 208. FOR SALE OR TRADE 10 noros improved 6-yoar-old vinoyurd lo cated in California. FOR SALE A restaurant, tho only ono in town. Half interest in n Rood restaurant. Rostaurnnt for $5G0. Rcstnurnnt for $1000. Two othor husinoBHos in town. A gontlo maro, rido or drivo sitiglo, $85. A gontlo horso, $G0. 40 noros, 8 miles from Woodvillo, $000. 4-room houso, $1150. 0-room hoiieo. ' Hnvo othor houses to soil. Lots to soli. ( E. F. A. BITTNEfi. Prop. R0MM 208, PHIPPS BLDG. PHONE MAIN 4141. THE ROGUE RIVER LAND COMPANY NO. 11 NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE Ol'Cors nn especially good Tout I I orchard for a low price and on good terms. In thuou days of advancing prices, it will pay to look into this. It pays to deal with tho "Man AVho Knows." Whon the Koguo Kivor Land Company sold tho Tronson & Guthrie orchard at Jiaglo Point to tho prizo winning owners, four years ago, the salesman, V. M. Holmes, assured tho purchasers those Spitzonborgtrees would produce tho world's best apples, and subsequent events prove tho soundness of his judgment. By tho way; Did it over occur to you that most of tho men who havo won out in tho Rogue Rivor Valloy, bought thoir win ning orchards through tho Rogtio River Land Com pany ? W.,M. Holmes, Manager, is always at your sorvico for a good buy. There's a Reason Why the custom of the Rex Market is growing. The reason is worth in vestigating and trial order will explain the reason. sRex Mar Ret Huth ft Pech Props. Phone 3271 Best Groceries At Prices Strictly in Keeping with the Quality of Our Stock which is A Trial will Convince You Allen The Square REAL Farm Land Timber Land Orchard Land Residences City Lots Orchards and Mining Claims Medford Room 10, JaGkson i Reagan Deal Grocers ESTATE Realty Co County Bank Building