Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 134, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1914 — THE DEVIL CHAIR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE DEVIL CHAIR

A Chronicle of the Stffentfe Adventures of John Haynes and His Vehicle

ROLES REVERSED

By H. M. EGBERT

■No swindle on the grand scale was ever so successfully contrived as that of the Nokomis Land Company. The members of this organization had filched his western property from John Haynes, an Englishman; had torn him from his wife and daughter, * crippled him with a treacherously fired bullet, and, while he lay helpless in the hospital, railroaded him into the penitentiary for fourteen years, under the name of Pete Timmons, a notorious gang leader. Then, giving - out that Haynes bad accepted a million dollars In settlement of his claims, and had gone back to England, they divided their plunder and went their several ways, while the new city of Nokomis, built on the stolen land, sprang into being and brought them •ample and continuous incomes in the shape of house rents and sales on the installment basis. The company was dissolved. There was nothing corporate for Haynes to seek to be avenged upon—when he came out. He could not sue the thousands of innocent property holders who had obtained their titles in good faith. Nor did he plan to do so. He had no confidence in justice; he himself would bring the conspirators to book. While working in the prison machine shop, he invented a powerful gyroscope, which, when attached to any vehicle, or to the feet, even, would carry the wearer at an incredible rate of speed along roads or railway lines. With the aid of this, he escaped, located his daughter, sent her to Chicago to await his summons, and then turned all his attention to finding his wife and wreaking vengeance upon his enemies. Haynes knew that, like his daughter, his wife must have been told that he i was dead. That was the reason why she had not sought him out One man alone knew where she could be found: Chauncey E. Robertson, of BendervfOe, the corrupt lawyer who had betrayed him into the power of the more corrupt judge that had sentenced him while he lay helpless in prison, awaiting what he believed to be the continuation of his trial. Haynes did not know that he had been sentenced until the warders hustled him away from court without permitting him to make a reply. In the penitentiary, Haynes had worked out the Intricacies of his reT"-• .»-«■ T 1 * ?“ a ““ •« that injury which he bad received from them. Torn between the desire of

driving a bargain with Robertson, in return for the information he needed, Haynes hurried to Benderville. Nobody there had heard of Robertson. Certainly there was no man of such a name in Benderville —a small, straggling city of a few thousand souls, among whom no one could conceal himself successfully. On this point, John Haynes satisfied himself after a few days’ inquiry. He thought at first that Robertson might be living there under an alias. But an old city directory knew Robertson and furnished his address —24 Main Avenue. There Haynes discovered a boarded, weather-worn house with shuttered windows. It had been closed five years and none of the neighbors had any knowledge as to its owner. Since Benderville was little more than five years old, it seemed reasonable to believe that no one now inhabiting that city knew or had ever known this man whom John Haynes sought Haynes was discouraged. Evidently his enemy had resolved to place himself beyond reach of retribution, and, taking hiß own share in the proceeds of the conspiracy, had fled to another part of the country. That night Haynes forced an entrance into the basement of the house, the uncarpeted stairs, and emerged in the hallway where, striking a match, he lit the candle which he had brought with him and proceeded to make a systematic Investigation. ' He was surprised to find the house well furnished, even to the grand piano in the living room, there were pictures upon the walls and costly furniture and rich carpets. But the whole place was falling into decay. Dust covered everything with a thick layer i of white, the paper was hanging in mildewed strips from the walls, the plaster cracking, and spider webs festooned each room. Evidently Robertson had bought the bouse with the intention of making it his permanent home; evidently, too, an afterdecision, or some sudden access of panic, or the conviction that Benderville was not sufficiently remote from the scene of his exploits, had driven him to seek other refuge, and in such haste that he had not waited to dispose of his furnishings. Perhaps he had not dared to take the risk of returning. Haynes looked round him and then perceived that there were footsteps in the dust that covered .the carpetsteps other than his, and finger-marks upon the mahogany writing table. Evidently this house had visitors—not burglars either, tor they would have removed at least that ivory statuette upon the mantel, and the gilt eleelt that had run down—the books,

too, that stood in dusty rows beside the window. Was it Robertson himself, perhaps, or some agent of his? If so, what did be come for? Hayes found the half empty box of cigars in a drawer of the table, lit one. and kindling the charred logs with some scraps of newspaper—not without difficulty, for they were damp with mildew —stretched out his legs to the blaze and fell asleep, pondering. When he awoke it was daylight He started up in some confusion at first not knowing where he was. Then, stretching himself and yawning, he rose to his feet and began to ponder upon the best means of effecting his escape unnoticed. As he stood before the shuttered window, gazing out through a chink at the deserted street, he heard a sharp click at the gate. A postman had dropped a letter into the box. Haynes hesitated? then, very deliberately, he unbolted the front door, walked down the patch of weedgrown garden, and took the letter. It was addressed to Chauncey E. Robertson.

Then the man came there secretly, he thought, as he tore it open without compunction. He sat down in the library and read it. It began without address and briefly informed the recipient that he had opened a real estate office at a certain number in a downtown street in Omaha. There was no signature. But this was a clue. Omaha lies some three hundred and fifty miles east of BenderviHe. That evening, John Haynes strapped on his gyroscope skates, and running swiftly along the railroad lines through the darkness, halting only to make a detour round the larger stations, he reached Omaha about two in the morning and made his way to the address given. It was a small, old building in an old part of the city: it was not, guarded and it was easy to pick the lock of the entrance door with a skeleton key and to enter. Haynes found a little directory printed in black letters upon the wall. He looked for Robertson's name, and to his astonishment, he found: HAYNES, JOHN, real estate, 44.

This was amazing. Haynes hastened up to the fourth story of the building where. In front of him, he saw his name again, painted upon the ground glass panels of a door which again Informed him that he w*s in the real estate business. Two minutes later he was inside a tiny -office, furnished with a single desk, on which was not a scrap of paper, and with a Urge safe of that late pattern which calls itself "the burglar's foe." this office, tote the house, was ert

dently a blind; Robertson was an adept at covering his tracks. Bat why had he' selected Haynes’ name as an alias? Evidently the safe would furnish valuable information, ' possibly embracing this fact But Haynes examined it with increasing dismay. Nothing short of an electric drill and metal-melting apparatus would force it It was controlled by a combination wofrd-lock, but what word Robertson alone knew. If Haynes chose to remain until his enemy arrived in the morning he would undoubtedly hold him at his mercy. But Haynes did not intend to murder Robertson; his scheme was far more subtle —and besides, he must force him to confess where his wife was to be found. There was nothing but to acknowledge defeat and go. Yet the man could not tear himself away, “ but kneeled the safe and pulled now this way and now that, watehing the letters pass across the lock. His fingers moved automatically, for Ms mind was elsewhere, and he did not know that he was making words m answer to the stimulus of the mental images. Suddenly he became aware, with awe and something almost approaching terror, that the safe door was open.

He looked at the word. "It _ was “Mary." His wife’s name —for his thoughts had been of her; and that was the name Robertson had selected! A sudden flush of anger made his lips quiver and Mb face grew hot; then, swinging back the. door, he reached in and drew out a bundle of papers. They were letters, mostly, and as he read them he learned for the first time the full extent and ramifications of the plot which had been formed and put into execution against him; he understood, too, why Robertson, guilty as. he was, dared not destroy this evidence which kept him secure against betrayal by the power that it gave him over his confederates. When the conspirators, having secured John Haynes within the pent tentiary at Nokomis Fall's, spread the report that he had accepted one million dollars in settlement of his claim to an estate worth more than ten times that amount, this sum was detached from the total capital and became the spoil of Robertson, the lying lawyer who had betrayed Haynes to his enemies. Resolved to obviate all possibility of retribution, Robertson had removed to.Benderville, where he took up his residence. But his uneasy fears would not leave him. At length, finding that life under his own name was intolerable, he hit upon the scheme of taking the name of his victim. He settled in Omaha as John Haynes, and lived upon the proceeds of the plunder, which brought him a substantial income. The house at Benderville he had not sold, partly because he feared to show himself there, partly because hiq avarice impelled him to hold on to a property which yearly appreciated in value. He also left a thousand dollars in the bank there, undisturbed. Of late, however, he had come to the resolution to cut the last connection with his past, and had employed an agent, who had been a minor member in the conspiracy, to visit the! house by stealth and receive ‘ communications from him there addressed under his own name. He had- rented the real estate office to cover his tracks in Omaha; when the sale was effected it was his plan to withdraw to Europe, there to dwell in security. But the letters—to which he had clung in order to bold evidence against the rest of the gang in Case he needed it —these afforded the reader for the first time a complete understanding of the scheme. Haynes learned to his amazement that no less a person than the governor of the state was implicated. He had then been a notoriously corrupt Senator; now he was Governor, and Robertson had not allowed the wretched iri&n to forget his past. One letter, written in despair by Governor Harding himself, although not signed, implored Robertson’s leniency in not insisting upon the vetoing of a certain bill. Another hinted at the place where Mary Haynes was concealed. And, as he read this, Haynes’ heart leaped; now he knew that he could discover her abode at any time without the necessit/ of bargaining with Robertson. On him he coulil wreak vengeance to the full. And she still lived, thank God! John Haynes placed the Governor’s letters in Ills breast pocket, replacing the remaining papers in the safe) closed it, stole out, and locked the door again. There was now no sign that any midnight visitor had ehtered the real estate office. At four o'clock be stood upon the streets of Omaha. At six he was once more in Benderville; and .ten minutes later he was back in Robertson’s house. That morning he took up his residence at the most fashionable hotel, Bigning his name as Chauqcey B. Robertson upon the register. By nightfall all the town knew that Hr. Robertson had returned to live in the community. Next day the shutters upon the windows of the house were folded back and an army of workmen was placed at work upon its renovation. As the days passed, Haynes grew secure in the conviction that Robertson was personally unknown to anyone In Benderville. He made secret Inquiries and discovered that none of the officials in the local bank had been there more than three years. Everything pointed to the success of his undertaking. Haynes knew that, sooner or later, Robertson’s agent would learn and bring him hews concerning this hold usurpation of his principal’s name add interests. But for more than two months nothing occurred. This suited the Englishman's plans, for, the longer the period that should elapse before the crisis arrived, 'the better he would be able to establish his identity in the

town. He did not scruple to state that he had come from Nokomis, or that he had owned shares in the land company. To the full he adopted his enemy’s personality,, and when two months had passed and the house at last stood ready for his occupancy, he had become universally known as Robertson, and w§s considered a person of much importance at the local bank, where be had deposited the balance of the five thousand dollars that remained to him from the proceeds of an earlier exploit against one of thei conspirators. All this while Robertson, made no move. In fact, it was not until eight weeks had elapsed that his agent, making his periodical visit to Benderville, learned to his amazement that Robertson had returned. He hurried to the house, walked Into the hall through the wide open door and into the dining room where Haynes was finishing a hearty meal: The Englishman rose and came forward with outstretched hand. He guessed instinctively who his visitor was. “Good evening, sir,” he said. “What can I have the pleasure of doing for you?” v The other looked at; him and looked again. The face seemed familiar, and though he could not name the man his heart sank under a premonition, of disaster. “I want Mr. Robertson,” he stammered. “Yes,” said Haynes. ‘1 am Mr. Robertson. You may go, Paul,” he added to the man-servant. “Now, sir, what can I do for you?” “You are not Chauncey E. Robertson,” muttered the other. “Who are you?” Haynes pulled oat his card-case and handed his visitor a card on which was engraved the name of Chauncey E. Robertson. “Evidently this is a case of mistaken identity," he said, smiling.

The other had been staring hard at him all the while. He knew him at last, though it was five years since they had met, when he was q poorly paid clerk in Robertson’s law office at Nokomis. “You’re John Haynes," he whispered in terror, and his knees knocked together. He had read of the man’s exploits,- of his machine, his terrible vengeance. He sank into a chair. “You haven’t any grudge against me, sir?” he whined. "I knew-noth-ing about it at all. Can’t we make some arrangements?" “I really fear you must be under some strange misapprehension, Mr. — Jenkins, isn’t It?” said Haynes, the name of the cheap little clerk suddenly returning-to him. “Why, Jenkins, although I haven’t seen you since you were my law clerk in the Nokomis days, I hardly think this explains the purpose of this unexpected visit. You should have given me warning, Jenkins. Do you not remember that I used to have fainting fits when I argued cases before Judge Charteriß?" The wretched agent sank in his chair like a collapsed bladder, staring at Haynes with fishy eyes, listened in terror to this sarcastic outburst. "By the way, Jenkins," Haynes continued, “I am glad that you have come here after all, for I have been anxious to discover the whereabout of a certain John Haynes. You remember him, doubtless? You win recall that case of mine, a very important one, in which this man Haynes laid claim to certain lands, the property of the Nokomis Land Company? We went all over the papers together, you will remember, and finally, as his lawyer, I advised Mr. Haynes that he had a case and that he should refuse to settle for less than a million dollars.” ' The agent rose up tremulously and drew near, fawning and rubbing his hands together. “I can do anything for you, sir,” he whispered. “I know where Mr. Robertson’s to be found. You want him, don’t you, sir?”

“I have heard” continued Haynes impassively, “that Mr. Haynes has opened a real estate office in Omaha. Probably you have not heard of It yet wait!" He rose, went to his desk, and, extracting the letter which he bad taken from the letter box two months before, handed it to Jenkins. that!" he said sternly. The agent was edging toward the door. He meant to run, as hard as he could, and never stop until he reached the depot, to take train there for bmaha. He would have been just as willing to conspire with Haynes, but this was unendurable, this mockery which wrung his soul with horror. If it should change to rage! He edged closer—and then Haynes leaped in front of him, shouting with laughter. “Please wait a moment longer, Mr. Jenkins," he said. “Come into r the library. Sit there!” He Indicated the chair at the desk, and Jenkins sank into it. “Now take that pen and write to Mr. Haynes as I shall dictate. Are you ready? 'Dear Mr. Haynes: I have received your letter, it is necessary to come to Benderville by the first train. I have an Immediate offer for the house at a figure which will

surprise you, but it must be taken within forty-eight hours or the deal falls through. AH is well. J.’ " When the other had finished, Haynes folded and stamped the envelope. "Now, Jenkins," he said, "you spoke of an 'arrangement* What did you mMn bv an ‘arrangement??'' Jenkins, as if hypnotized, only stared, open-mouthed, at this terrible man. • • “I tell you what arrangement I will make with you, Jenkins," continued Haynes. "You are. employed in Nokomis still?” "In Omaha,” muttered the other. “Correct and I am glad you did not lie to me.. Now, Jenkins, after our pardonable deception of your friend Hf. Haynes you win doubtless mw

the East more comfortable for you. Am I correct in that supposi - tion? Good. Then—’’ He opened a spring drawer in the table—“here are two' hundred and fifty dollars. Make your way to New York by the first train and stay there till the month is ended. If you go to Omaha,” he added. “I’ll kill you. Wait! Take this letter apd post it. on your way to the depot” * He watched the man slink down the Btreet toward the letter-box, but did not even wait to Bee him drop the letter. He knew well enough the deadly fear which he had inspired; he knew, also, that Jenkins, terrified by the trap into which he had fallen, had been temporarily reduced to the condition of an automaton; -that he would obey his command unquestlonhrgly. But Robertson did come. He ar-' rived two evenlngß later, saw -the house brilliantly lighted, and entered in some perplexity. Haynes was waiting for Robertson in the library, and hailed him as he passed by on his way to the reception room, where he imagined Jenkins to be waiting for him. Robertson turned at the sound and came in quickly, looking in astoninshment at the other. The voiee seemed somehow nob wholly unfamiliar, but the figure was that of an old, bent man and the face was nearly concealed under a profuse growth of hair and beard. Even Jenkins would not have recognized Haynes again in that disguise. . "Who the deuce are you, sir?” exclaimed Robertson angrily, as he entered. “I have been under the impression that this is my house, sir.. What are you doing here?”

Graybeard rose chuckling and held out his hand. “Mr. Robertson, I think,” he said. “Well, sir?" “My name is Patterson. I have purchased this house—or rather have arranged to purchase it. through Mr. Jenkins, your agent. I have four thousand dollars in the Benderville bank to meet the first Installment, and you shall have the balance of twenty-four thousand dollars in twenty-four monthly payments.” “But —but—” stammered Robertson. “I understood from Mr. Jenkins that if you had not returned from Europe by the time the house was I was to have free residence here pending your arrival. I moved in three days ago.” Robertson had never thought so hard before. “To-morrow morning, Mr. Robertson,” resumed the other, “we can transfer the title-deed, If you are agreed. I understand that it is at the bank now. And then we can sign tha agreement.” Robertson’s brow cleared;-he smiled and, sitting down, bit off the end of a cigar'. Of course! What an ass he had been so nearly to betray himself. He had not hoped to get more than $25,000 at most, and here Jenkins had obtained three thousand dollars more. • “By all means, Mr. Patterson,” he said pleasantly. “I hope you will forgive my abruptness. At what hour will it -suit you to be at the bank?” “How would eleven do?" asked Graybeard. “I can step Into my lawyer’s office and have him meet us in the directors’ room. That will enable ua to wind up the affair In a single session." "That will suit me admirably,” said Robertson. His caution had been completely overcome by avarice. It would be the work of a few minutes only to complete the formalities and then he would arrange to have the monthly installments sent to London and leave "America forever. After a few trivial remarks he rose and took his leave cordially. When he had gone Haynes went u> the telephone and called up police headquarters. Afterward he telephoned his banker at his residence.

“Well, gentlemen, here we are," smiled the old man as he welcomed Robertson in the directors’ room on the following morning. “Mr. Robertson,” he continued, “you are, 1 believe, almost a stranger here. Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Carpenter, a director of the bank. Mr. Carpenter’s assistants,” he continued, waving his hand comprehensively toward two gentlemen with lafge, unpolished boots, who sat behind the table rather glumly. “Mr. Robertson —my lawyer, Mr. Franks. Mr. Franks, have you th» title-deed ready?” Franks placed it upon the table and Robertson read it over carefully. Then taking a pen from Carpenter, he held it over the document. “Where shall I sign?” he asked. “You may sign here,’’ said Franks. “But not unless you want to,” he added impressively. "Why, of course I want to,” said Robertson genially. “It isn’t often a man refuses to sign for eight and twenty thousand dollars, Is it?” He wrote his name in a large, legible hand. Then Haynes took off his beard and the two men rose from where they were seated Snd stood one on each side of Robertson. “Come along," said one of them briskly. “I beg your pardon!" skid Robert son briskly. Then, as he turned, he found himself looking into the face of Haynes. He knew him at once. He gasped, staggered, fell backward; snd the handcuffs were snapped on his wrists. "What Is the charge?” he muttered as they helped him to the door. “Forgery," replied the lawyer curtly. Robertson felt the! net close round him. How could ho deny himself, he who was known to all his friends in Omaha as Haynes? He could not call on anyone In Nokomis to identify him. He had forged his own name for MBMEywII' Hu I ■ ". I. II«!. 1.. n I. I -«.»»■

WHO THE DEUCE ARE YOU SIR ? EXCLAIMED ROBERTSON ANGRILY