Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 13, Number 61, Decatur, Adams County, 12 March 1915 — Page 2

THE MASTER KEY. ' CHAPTER XI. Sing Wah and His Wile*. DORR stood stupidly staring at the papers which he had found in the locked drawer of the dresser. His brief inquiries at the desk had only served to wake the matter darker, so he had come back to the rootu to pus zle things out. Painfully he set the facts in order before him. The first was Hint Huth had gone to New York to deal with Everett about money for improvements to the "Master Key.” The second was that she hud evidently not been able to find Everett and had started west ugain. The third was that she had been in this very room. There lay the papers that represented the mine awl its value. But how—where—how could it be? Ills businesslike senses returned, and he proceeded to wire Everett’s office in New York, with the result that he was soon in possession of his address in San Francisco. "So Everett’s here, too," he muttered "That is stranger yet. I guess it was time I dropped in. Now to find Both!” He thrust the packet of papers in his pocket and then withdrew them and locked them again into the dresser drawer. He had a dim notion that Ruth might come back for them. Then he telephoned to the St Francis hotel and left word for Everett, who was reported to lie out Still following what his common sense told him was the logical method of unraveling the tangle he went down to the desk and entered into conversation with the clerk. Meanwhile his eye ran down the register. Opposite the number of the room he now occupied he saw a heavily scrawled “Mrs. J. Darnell and daughter.” He frowned, and the clerk said sympathetically, "You must have a nasty headache?” "I have,” John returned. “Met with an accident in an auto that rather upset me.” He laid his finger on the register and. controlling his voice, went on as if casually, “I see Mrs. Darnell stops here.” To Dorr’s secret amazement the clerk became mysterious, leaning across the desk to whisper, "Ah, you know her?" “I wanted specially to see her,” John equivocated. “Is she here?” “She is not, and she left in a very strange way," the clerk explained quietly. "She came here last evening with her daughter. I gave them the room you have now. Along in the late hours she suddenly came down with the chi unconscious and told me that at* ' Il * x'l? •'.•ft \ W It "Do you know Mrs. Darnell very well?” she had been taken very ill and she was hurrying her to a hospital. There were a couple of men with her, and the house detective didn’t like the looks of the whole affair, so he followed them.” “Was the girl very fair haired and—and beautiful?” Dorr managed to ask in an indifferent, tone. “Precisely.” responded the clerk, suddenly matching bis guest’s manner. "If you want to find Mrs. Darnell maybe the bouse detective got her address—or the address of the hospital they took the girl to.” Presently, in response to a summons, appeared the detective, who scanned John's somewhat bruised face thoughtfully, saying nothing until the clerk explained that Mr. Dorr wished, if possible, to get into communication with Mrs. Darnell. "The best I can do is to find the taxi driver for you,” he said slowly, still studying John’s stalwart figure. "He may be out on the stand now. Let's , see.” As they passed out the detective con- ' tinued hesitatingly, "Do you know Mrs. Darnell very well?” There was that in the man’s tone that made John pause before answer- > ing. He glanced at the cool, impassive face and caught the glint of the steady eyes. He took a sudden resolution. “I believe you’re really interested in this matter,” Dorr said briefly. "Suppose we talk this over before hunting the taxi chauffeur.” “I was merely curious, that’s all,” was the noncommittal murmur. “That girl is not her daughter,” John continued. “I have reason to believe that it is Miss Ruth Gallon, the heiress to the ‘Master Key’ mine, whom she is abducting.” His passion blazed forth in spite of his self restraint. “1 must find her and save her.” "Might I ask what relation you are

to the young lady?" asked the detective mildly. John stared at him uud then realized y the oddity of his actions and words. Ii He briefly explained ids position at the 1 mine and bls wardship of the heiress. s He also went into detail as to what he I- suspected Wilkerson of, describing him > carefully. “He was one of them, sure enough," agreed the detective. "But young heirr esses ain't being kidnaped days like I these out of hotels like this.” ! "I may las mistaken," John assented , wearily. "All I know of Mrs. Darnell , is from occasional words dropped by . Wilkerson. But I suppose we might t get u clew ns to where they went anyI way.” , After some search of the long line of [ taxis they came to one which the deI tective identified as the one Mrs. Darnell had taken the night before. “Driver, take us where you did th <e fares who were in such n hurry I tst night,” the detective ordered. The chauffeur shook his head. “You can search me for the address,” he returned. “There w.-om t any." The driver leant d pvt bls coat and went on ea.u.idly: ••*.*,• know how they jumped in and we rolled off. Well, it seemed it was a case of 1 fe and death, according to the worn n. and I stepped on the machine c::d hastened some toward the North l’-i---citle hospital. But when we got into Chinatown one of the men hailed i le and told me to drive just as be s:.. I. He got out here in front with me, and when we reached a certain spot they all beat it” “Can you take us to that spot?" “I was just wondering to myself whether I could find it,” was the re sponse. "But I'll try.” He threw In his clutch and the car left the line and started up the hill toward California street. John Derr leaned back against the cushions with a strange sense of at last being on his way toward his goal. He barely her rd his companion’s murmur, “Evidently they took her into the lower i«rt of Chinatown.” We usually credit the oriental with little or no imagination, pointing to Ills art, his clothes and his language as evidences. As the fact runs, even the Chinese coolie uses the faculty of imagination more frequently than his white brother on an equal social plane. Sing Wah, or Wah Sing, as he was Indifferently called, was outwardly a stolid, dull eyed Chinese of uncert :in middle age. His picture—it was In the gallery of every secret service oflice from Singapore to Philadelphia—was not less changeless of expression, nor more teciturn than he. Yet In spite of his sember clothes and general air of blank stupidity. Sing Wah was a man of mark, a man with a history replete with adventure and, not too seldom with crime. If the ordinary criminal could have an office or a store he would quadruple bls profits. But the common run of rascals must steal and fly. Their postoffice address is a figment. They are not at home when opportunity knocks. Sing Wah knew this, and it was his boast that for tlrfrty years any cue who wanted him, either day or night, could find him. So he sat at the back of his little store night after night, blinking through the wooden screen at the variolas customers who came in to trade or barter. And year after year they came to bis door, the pirate and the thief, the smuggler and the robber, and he took bis toil of them and passed them on. Whither? Sing Wah never told. And because he did not tell they came back with greater loot and richer booty, and he again passed them through bis store to vanish utterly from the haunts of men and the purview of the police. Among the many hundreds who had availed themselves of Sing Wah’s aid was Wilkerson, who, during dark ]>eriods of his career, had several times run athwart tb<* barriers of the law and been compelled to seek refuge where he could. Harry Wilkerson was not a fool. In some ways he was brilliantly endowed. He recognized Sing Wall's superiority to all others in the great game of outwitting the law. He perceived beneath the stolid mask the alert, active, stu dious mind which was ever vigilant, never forgetful, always intelligently watching the world that passed before his filmed eyes. The Chinese had, as well, acknowledged Wilkerson’s adeptness and persistency. In several deals they had been partners to their mutual profit “You are a very good fellow, Harry,” Sing Wah had told him once as they drank tea in a little room in the rear. “You are a smart man—almost as smart as I am. But you are 100 hungry. You cannot resist your appetites. Now’, I”—he made a slight gesture of distaste with his lean brown hand—"l have no appetites.” Wilkerson nodded. “I guess you're right, Sing Wah. You even haven’t any pride. You talk pidgin English to , the tourists and the nst, instead of | speaking the perfect English you know." The dull eyes lit for a moment humorously. “I have always felt that I owed it to Oxford not to flaunt my education in a small tradesman’s shop, don't you know?” The imitation of the Oxonian drawl had been so natural that Wilkerson had slapped bis thighs in delight. Thereafter he took a peculiar pleasure in watching Sing Wah’s assumed silent stupidity and comparing It with what he knew to be the real person behind the dull features. It was to Wilkerson that the Chinese had explained his reason for never changing his address, no matter how brisk the police might be. “And I have thought out a scheme which you will like,” he went on. “Come with me.” It was then that he showed Wilker-

son the cylindrical room which had a ■ single door and revolved at a touch ou 1 a lever. "Dangerous stuff!” commented Wil kerson. "If the police find that they'll sure land you." ’ Sing Wall’s pallid lips opened in faint 1 smile. “I built.lt for them. And the Chinatown guides know about it and will charge $lO extra for a trip through the horrors of the underground, as they ' call it.” The Chinese sneered. "Let them play with such things while I use 1 the brains heaven gave me. And yet, sometime that trick room may serve a purpose,” Thus it came about that Harry Wilkerson. driven to his wits’ end to accomplish his designs, bethought him of Sing Wah and fairly drove Jean Darnell and Drake before him. To Mrs. Darnell's credit it must be said that she rebelled strongly. But ■■■■■■l ■ “You’ve got to do the trick.” the stake was too great to risk, and she bitterly consented to Wilkerson's hastily outlined plan of biding Ruth away somewhere in Sing Wah’s precincts until they could once more get their plans Into working order. Before she would leave the phi e she must indeed see Sing Wah himself. “Will the girl be safe here?” she demanded. The Chinese looked at her flushed and passionate beauty In silence until she repeated her question. Then he said quietly and in his own exquisitely modulated English: “You need have little fear. The servants are honest and discreet. And”—he let his eyi s meet hers fully—"l think it is possible that she is safer now than she h ;s been for some time. Good night, madam!" While Wilkerson and Mrs. Darnell had been hurriedly arranging matters with Sing Wah, Drake had gone in search es lodgings nearby. He found them in what had once been a noted hotel, which had fallen into sad decay. It was in the faded rooms he engaged here that the three met to consult on the future. “The first thing to do is to get h Id -of those deeds and papers she has in her grip.” said Wilkerson. “I wonder you didn’t think to get them before, Jean.” The woman’s eyes lit with dull hatred, but she made no answer. She watched him fuss with the locks of the hand satchel which she had Indicated as the one in which Ruth carried her valuables. When it opened and Wilkerson thrust his clutching fingers downward into it Mrs. Darnell leaned forward as if in prqtest. He paid no attention to her, but continued his search with ever increasing haste. At last ho straightened up with an oath so venomous and deadly that even Drake shrank back. “The deeds aren't here,” Wilkerson said thickly. “She's hidden them!” "But where?” Tins question seemed to break Wilkerson's almost steely intensity of purpose. The question put his whole problem before him in two words—but where? He shifted his eyes from the emptied satchel to the curtained window. Instantly there leaped before him the picture of the truck turning slowly over in the gulch, of the huge billow of smoke, of the little lances of tire that charged through the dry un- | dergrowth as if to preserve to the flames their prey. Was it for this that | he was a murderer? The curtain blew I inward before some vagrant wind from the bay, and Wilkerson drew back in terror. “What is it, Harry?” demanded Mrs. Darnell, instantly taking alarm. “Nothing,” he said sullenly. “I was just thinking of something.” He turn ed on Drake. “You've got to do the trick,” he went on. “How's that?” demanded the young | er man. Wilkerson eagerly formulated his I his plan, ticking off the points on the | tips of bis quivering fingers. “First you’re Everett, turned up at I last. You find her”— “In Chinatown!" sneered Drake. “You can easily gain her confidence I and get hold of the papers, and may- , be”— Drake laughed uglily. "I look like | the Ijind of joker who would dress up as a banker and then proceed to renew my client’s acquaintance in a Chinese joint. How am I supposed to know she's there? I te” you, Wilkerson, that you can’t travel straight, even when it pays you. Why in God's name you ever took that girl to that place of Sing Wah’s is beyond my comprehcn sion. Any place would have been better. Now you have put the heads of all of us in a noose. You know what people will say when”— "They’ll say nothing.” said Wilker son furiously, and he proceeded once more to argue that Drake could easily continue to Impersonate Everett and in that guise carry their scheme to its profitable conclusion. In spite of Ids eagerness and sophistry he was unable to move either Drake or Mrs. Darnei! from their attitude of frightened contempt. At last Drake agreed to do his i best to make Ruth trust film. "But 1 don't like this impersonation 1 business,'' he said firmly. “I might go : to a hotel and hand in my broker’s rard and ask for an interview, but I I haven't lost my senses." "Well.” growled Wilkerson, "just see o ft that you worm out of her where Lose papers are.”

CHAPTER XII. Crossed Wires. ' HL'S It happened that just when Drake entered Slug MES Wuh's unpretentious doorway the taxi with the hotel detective and John Dorr drew up In a side street and stopped. “It was here they left me," said the chauffeur sulkily. The detective and John got out and stared about them. They were in the lower part of Chinatown, a single tier of blocks that stretched beyond the bounds toward the bay—not in the quarter, but of it. “Which way did they take the girl?" ■ said the practical detective. The driver led them around the corner and up an alleyway. He pointed to Sing Wall’s door. "I think they went in there,” he muttered. “All!" said the detective thoughtfully. “When I was on the police force' I used so know that Chinaman. He's the smoothest rascal in America, bar none.” John gritted his teetli in helpless rage. “And she’s in that fiend’s foul clutches,” he groaned aloud. At this moment a policeman enme along and accosted John’s comiMjnien familiarly. In a few words the case was explained to him. “You won't find anything, of course." the officer remarked. "But just for satisfaction let's have a look-see and a chin-chin with Sing Wall.” They entered the shop just as a Chinese was closing a panel door after Drake, who had come to make Ids promised attempt to win Rush's con'ddeuce. Sing Wah was nowhere to be seen. After some futile parley with the Chinese, whose ignorance was com plete in every detail, the two officers agreed that they were wasting time. “Old Sing’s the boy to see.” said the house detective. “Let's wait awhile.” Now, Sing Wah had pondered the affair during the night, and the more he thought over having a lovely white girl in the cylindrical room the less he liked it. It was deadly dangerous. Courts might be lenient with the smuggler and the go-between. Sing Wah knew that if even a suspicion got abroad that a young white woman was imprisoned in his quarters a ravening mob would tear his place stick from stone and hang him without trial. He wilt determined to get the girl away immediately. So h& was unfeignedly glad to see Drake. Drake attempted to explain what Wilkerson wanted, but the Chinese cut him short “Harry is insane,” he said quietly. “He is mad over that woman. I have done all I can. You must get her out of here.” "But how?” demanded Drake. “She doesn't know me very well, and she’ll scream her head off, and I'll be arrested, and we’ll all be in a muss.” Sing Wah nodded thoughtfully. Then he looked up and listened to tlie low words of-one of his clerks. Dismissing him with a single grunt, he turned to Drake. “There’s not much time," he said softly. “They are on the trail already.” “Who?" “The police.” He motioned Drake to a chair in the little alcove, where they stood and went on: "Stay here a moment. I will see for myself.” He pulled a lever, and the room swung around till the door was opposite him. With long, slender fingers he slipped back the panel and vanished. Ruth lay on a couch, open eyed and white faced. Beside her a richly dressed Chinese woman crouched, whisperi . "1 j Si i ’Jr * . ./ Rl|| W i iflrC i ■• fl “I have come to take you back to your friends." ing soothingly. At sight of Sing Ruth Gallon suddenly sat tipright in silent horror. “I beg your pardon, miss,” Sing said in ills silkiest English. “I have cbiae to take you back to your friends outside.” Tlie girl shrank back. “No, no. no!” she moaned. "They are not iuy i friends.” I “Surely Harry Wilkerson"— Sing ■ suggested craftily, to see ho/v tlie land lay. “Wilkerson!" she whispered. “Is he i —was he here?" j Her tone conveyed all that he wished to know. He motioned to the woman to leave and when she was gone pulled a cord, which let down a light rope j ladder. i.

“I am sorry. muiUm.” be said <li ly, "but 1 Shull have to ask you t ( climb up this. It is the only safe way , out." He laid one bund gently ou be arm. , , ul , 11 Now. Ruth was California bred, with nil the prejudices for and against tlie ( Chinaman. She screamed. At that in- ; stunt there was a crush of a shattered door In the distance and the sound o men talking In excited tones. < "You must come," said Sing um>“I wilt take you to a place of safety. All I ask of you is to follow me and be silent.” His earnestness was unmistakable, mid Ruth yielded. A moment later they both stood on a small landing place above the cylindrical room. Sing Wnh carefully drew up the ladder and cofied it again on tlie wooden trigger that had released It. Then he led the way down a dark passage to stairs lit ■ by a mere glimmer of gas. Ruth drew back, but he indicated that she must go on. Even as she obeyed his imperious gesture there rang out the muffled clangor of revolver shots. Then again came the sound of doors yielding to violence and the shouts of wrathful men. Sing Wah hurried her on. down steps, along shadowy passageways and j . .<■ -I Srw must come," said Sing Wah. under low arches till she felt a sudden cool, salt breath ou her face. At her feet she saw the glimmer of water and a boat riding to a long painter. Quickly and silently Sing Wah drew the little craft alongside and motioned to her to get in. By this time the tumult had died down to a mere muttering of shots with an occasional yell, muffled by walls and the distance. She stared fearfully about her, at the great arches of dripping brick overhead, at the little landing under foot, at the dark vista of the tunnel through which the water streamed in a swishing tide. She drew back and let her voice out in one long, forlorn scream, the pent up agony of many hours, her final call for help against the dark .powers that had seized upon her. With swift strength Sing Wah reached out his sinewy arms, raised ber up and seated her in the stern of the boat A moment later he had cast off the painter and shipped the oars. The boat slipped silently away on the current into the murk. ****«•» After some talk between the officers John Dorr was informed that if he liked they would enter Sing Wall's and make a thorough search. “Not that 1 think we’ll find anything or anybody,” said one of the policemen, “but it never does any harm to take a look-see through Sing Wall's, and the lieutenant is coming down now to take charge.” A moment later that officer arrived, and John Dorr made tils tale as convincing as possible. The lieutenant seemed dubious. “It Isn’t like the old rascal to run his head into danger that way,” he insisted. "I think you are on the wrong trail. Who did you say was the man who did all this?" "Wilkerson—Harry Wilkerson," John answered bitterly. “Wilkerson?" repeated the lieutenant. “That puts another color ou tlie matter. Wilkerson and Sing Wah used to be pals. This’ll bear looking into. Gome <>n. men.” With wonderful quickness the officer disposed Ills men so that every known exit was guarded Then he motioned to John to follow him and went boldly up to the shop door and entered. Followed again a futile parley with a Chinese who professed to know no language but his own. The lieutenant’s quick ear caught a sound of something moving directly behind the impassive clerk. Brushing him aside, he smashed in the door in the partition and strode into the hallway beyond. John Dorr was close at bis heels. The next few moments were to live long in John’s memory as the strangest of his life. “Be careful!” warned the officer. “The rascals may start shooting." Even as he spoke there was a ruddy flash down tlie dark alleyway, und Dorr staggered back. “Only my arm,” be muttered. “Come on! Don't give ’em another chance at us here! Rush ’em!” I An instant later they stood in the cylindrical room. John stared about him. but the lieutenant, merely remark ed. “This room was built merely for . tourists’ consumption. Let me see that I «rm of yours!”

11-Il I''""' 1 K Tb.., ejys*iithe doorway swing room revolved. . j ]| e u. tenant. lit la ' u , . \v e 've lost 1 Dor r's arm. " Ke . e| ’ Vl ,“nust wait a " lo ' 1 Xd’S-dUver where that door- . -nd ends. A panel sill I are j f or " ‘"I " Dd " 'T.? t D a s S Chtoawoman with Dorr at his shoulder. Once through they paused aemidarkness to orientate them es. Finally the lieutenant stepped for«s • "This wav.” he said. "I bear voices. \t that very moment there came up t 0 them an unearthly scream, a shriek of pure terror. “Ruth!” John yelled, and he and the officer both plunged forward. Instead of the firm footing they expected empty air received them. l«enty feet below they struck the waler. Spluttering and swearing, the policeman helped Dorr to a little ledge that ran alongside the tunnel. "The miserable Chink dropped us into the big sewer,” be gasped, it runs into the bay just a little ways on. We’ll have to swim fur it, i>aitner.”

Dorr looked down at his arm and ( shook his head. "Isn't that a boat over there?” be demanded, pointing ( into the shadow. “Blamed if it ain't,” said the lieutenant. much relieved. “Well soon be out of here.” In spite of his wound Dorr insisted ' on rowing, and the officer philosoph- f ically allowed him to. seating himself ( gingerly in the stern of the little craft and fending it off the brick walls of , : the tunnel with bis hands as the swift t current drew them onward. j To John the whole affair seemed like , a dream. He saw the great dripping arches sliding past overhead to join . the long vista of arches that bridged ‘ the glimmering water which splashed [ gently along to the call of the tide: he saw the dark bulk of the lieutenant in ‘ the stern; he felt the pain of bis wound; I he still heard Ruth's wild call for help. ' But It was all unrelated, as if each I were a fact by itself, isolated. He struggled to gather his senses together. "Look out!” shouted the policeman suddenly as the great half cylinder curved sharply and a blast of fresh air struck them. “We’ll be swept out into the bay! Keep the boat trim!” Awakened by this warning. John devoted himself to his oars and a haff moment later steered their little craft out under the piles of a wharf. "Where to now?” be demanded dully. The lieutenant pointed a thick forefinger toward another small boat a few rods away. "There is Sing Wah now, by smoke!” be exclaimed. John Dorr glanced around. He first saw the impassive visage of the Chinese and then the figure crouched in the stern sheets. It was Ruth! He raised his voice in a triumphant yeli. Hearing that call from her mate, the girl roused herself and cried back across tlie water: "John! John!" At this point the police officer took part with a stern order to Sing Wall to stop rowing and surrender. He emphasized this command by covering the Chinese with his revolver. Sing Wah was of no mind to be caught in this way. With a dexterous sweep of the oars he swirled his little skiff around so that Ruth was between him and the other boat, and he neve"

ceased to pull doggedly away. “You've got to row, son." said the lieutenant grimly. “Mr. Sing Wah doesn't intend to be caught so easily. I daren’t shoot for fear of hitting the girl." John saw the reasonableness of this and bent to his oars without regard to his wound. The boat surged through tlie water after the other. With a good lead of a hundred yards Sing Wah stood a fair show of gaining his object-a landing under some wharf and a quiet escape. He knew that if he were to fall into the hands of the police under the present circumstances he would be treated mercilessly. He rowed furiously. I»ut the Chinese had long since ceased active life, and his muscles were soft. John Dorr steadily gained ou him. Slowly he crept up. foot by foot, inch by Inch, his eyes fixed on the steady figure of the officer in the stern. At last he caught encouragement from the policeman's face. He heaved the skiff fairly out of the water, grasped the stern of the other boat and before the Chinese could clear himself for a leap overboard was upon him. Now, Sing Wall was a true oriental It showed in bis swift drawing of a knife und a swifter slash at John Dorr’s turn. But he was too late. With an inarticulate roar of rage John flung the knife overboard and then flung its owner after it. Sing Wall gone and swimming awny toward the shelter of a nearby wharf John strode back to where Ruth liy half inanimate and picked her un in his arms. Honey! Honey!” he murmured “You’re safe with me!" Very slowly she opened her eves and gazed long and searchlngly in to bh face. It was indeed true that she was safe. She laid her head on his sboulder in perfect confidence that all was wen The police lieutenant stepped into the boat and took the oars "It's not like Sing Wah to be doinsuch tricks.” he argued to himself "I believe that Harry Wilkerson is back of this. I’ll just keep an eve cut for Mr. Wilkerson.” ‘ The lieutenant contemplated his drin ping uniform with a frown, which softened when he looked up at the two lovers. He pulled more strongly f or the landing. (Continued next week}

IS DOING FINE WORK. Talk about "shining ’em up." j Ust | lake u look at the many autontohil., J that are out this spring and || look like brand new cars, but in f act j | are several seasons old. You've w„ n . dered how they brightened up, Wil. bur Dorter, propreltor of th, Decatur I 4 Carriage Works, located in the oW IS Hailing building, corner of First ani Monroe streets, has been doing a I ? rushing business the past lew week repainting and upholstering th,. m any I ; , u tomobileß that are brought to | llß } place of business for their spring I ’ ■dressing.” Yesterday he turend out f f A ,> automobiles which looked better ] than new ones. Wilbur lias a half. |H| dozen men working for him and say; I he is ready and able to turn out each 1 mtwhine on time.—Advertisement. notice tc non-resident. The State of Indiana, County of Ad. I nms, ss: M In the Adams Circuit Court, Febre- I ary Term, 1915. K Eli W. Steele vs. William B. Mar- I tin. No. 5941. Complaint te foreclose I mortgage. ra|

It appearing from affidavit tiled in I the above entitled cause, that Benjamin B- Teeple, the above named, de- ® teiidant, is a non-resident of the State of Indiana. Notice is therefore hereby i given the said Benjamin 11. | Teeple that he be and appear be- W fore tlie Hon. Judge of the Adams I circuit Court on the Sth day of I May. 1915, the same being the 24th Ks Juridical Day of the next regular term H thereof, to be holden at the Court I House in the City of Decatur, com- 1 mencing on Monday, the 12th day of I April, A. D„ 1915, and plead by Kl answer or demur to said complaint, I or the same will be heard and determined in his absence. Witness my name and seal of said I court hereto affixed, this 12th day es H March, 1915. FERDINAND BLEEKE. (Seal) - clerk - I J. F. Snow, Atty, for Plaintiff. 12-19-26 I POLICE COURT. Kurt Johnson, the young man ar- I rested Wednesday by Chief of Police Melchl, after having disposed of sev- I eral Bibles he stole from this oflice, I was brought to trial before Mayor R Christen late yesterday afternoon and 1 leaded guilty to the charge of larceny. A fine of S2O and costs and a thirty-day jail sentence was imposed upon him and he will be the guest of Sheriff Green for the next two months. f-rank Kessler and Clarence Davis, two well known farmers, against whom affidavits were made yesterday by Albert Duer for heavy hauling on soft roads, appeared before ’Squire Kintz i this morning, pleaded guilty to the charge, and were assessed fines ol ; and costs, amounting in beth cases to | $13.45. The fines were paid and the I - cases dismissed. ———o

PUBLIC SALE. The undersigned will hold a public auction on the J. W.‘ Smith farm, - miles northwest of Pleasant Mills, 4 miles southeast of Decatur on Friday, March 12, commencing at 10 o’clock a. m„ the following property, to-wit: Horses: Team of good work horses; Belgian mare colt, 2 years old .1 April. Cattle: White Durham cow, 5 years old, fresh Ist of May; roan cow, 6 years old, fresh March 20; two ten-months-old calves, one Durham aad I one Polled Angus. Hogs: Four brood sows, farrow in May; male hog 10 months old; S shoats, weighing 100 to 125 pounds; 8 shoats weighing about GO pounds. Poultry: Three Bronze turkeys, large; 1 Tom and two hens; 2 geese, 6 Black Langshang cocks. Implements: Two farm wagons, < ne narrow and one wide tread; eonil illation beet and hay rack, combination beet, hay and hog rack, 14-16 Deering disc; New Century cultivator, good as new, Scotch Clipper breaking pio*< double shovel plow, mud boat; many other tools and implements not n. >*' tioned. Terms:—All sums under $5.00 cash in hand; over $5.00 bankable note, bearing good so< urity for six months; 4 per cent off for cash. z No goods '<*• moved until settled for. ASA SMITH. Harry Daniels, Auct. Chas. Winans, Clerk. ■ —o —■ BURNS HOLE IN ROOF. Sparks from a chimney started if ; on the roof of the residence occi' ’ ! by Frenk Hurst and owned by ’ Hurst at the corner of Madison : : *d Tbirtenth streets, shortly after noon i today, resulting in a damage to toe | roof estimate-1 at S2O. The fire was ■ quickly put cut by the fire departm nt. ' LOST—'t op part or a music rack, between the Fledderjohana residence on North Second street and Central . | school building. Fnder will pl<’i' s3 > return to this office. sStf - FOUND— Pair of gloves. Owner c.ut have same by calling at the Old Mlams County bank. 55t3