Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 146, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1914 — Page 2

THE DEVIL CHAIR

A Chronicle of the Strange Adventures of John Haynes and His Gyroscope Vehicle

THE KINGDOM OF THE NORTH / .?*■■

I'LL BE YOUR DOG AND FOLLOW YOU WHEREVER YOU GO- ILL-ILL"-

When John Haynes escaped from the penitentiary at Nokomis Falls, by aid'of the marvelous gyroscope which he had invented, and set to work to bring retribution upon those who had falsely imprisoned him in order to obtain his western lands, he planned that the punishment should in each case, as far as possible, be commensurate with the crime. The news of his return, the swiftness * with which his blows fell, paralyzed and dismayed the gang of swindlers who had defrauded him. They fled in haste to all parts of the country, to Europe even, and, one by one, they encountered their victim’s inexorable vengeance. To the smaller fry—-the crooked lawyers' clerks, land agents, all who had been constrained to play secondary parts in the conspiracy, Haynes felt contemptuously indifferent It was more by accident than by intention that he came upon Riggs in Newark, New' Jersey. Riggs had played a very small part in the affair; he had been agent tot the stolen Nokomis lands and had sold them to those who. In good faith, purchased them in building lots. When Haynes’ escape broke up the confederacy, Riggs fled eastward, and in due course resumed his occupation in Newark, where he Bold lots upon the New Jersey marshes to purchasers from other states. Haynes was not looking for Riggs, and, having found him, would have ifforgotten him in his quest for those of the chief culprits who still remained unpunished. But Riggs was weakly and fundamentally dishonest. He had sold half rfn acre of what he called “choicest building land” to an elderly lady from Texas, a certain Miss Matthews, with whom Haynes had become well acquainted, and had succeeded in ratifying the deal before she inspected her water-log-ged territory. Haynes had a few days of leisure about that time, and he took up the case for her, acting in the guise, of her nephew. Riggs had not changed, but Haynes had—greatly. Rlgga did not have the slightest remembrance of the man who appeared before him in the little tinroofed real estate shanty located upon the edge of that easternmost tentacle of Newark which stretches out toward Hoboken. IFyou’ve got to take those lots back, Mr. Riggs,” said Haynes warmly. 'AWlojr were sold under false pretenses.” P'Can’t be done sir," answered the HNli puffing busily at his cigar, i'fhey were sold lb good faith and

(Copyright by W.G, Chapman)

“They’re under water. Who’s go Ing to build upon a swamp?” “Why don’t she su© for her money?” asked Riggs insolently. “See here, Mr. Riggs,” said Haynes, “you’re a greedy, unprincipled land shark, and you’ve trimmed many victims. But you aren’t going to trim Miss Matthews. That seven thousand is nearly all she has. I’ll let you get out of it with a thousand.” "Why should I take a thousand when I’ve got the seven?” murmured Riggs lazily. He was a fat, bloated man, of great physical strength, although unwieldy, and he 1 was not In the least terrified by Haynes. “All right, if you won’t there’s no more to be said, I suppose,” he answered, shrugging his shoulders. Riggs turned round in his swivel chair and leered at him. “Say, what’s your game, young feller?” he asked. “That put-up stuff about being Miss Matthews’ nephew didn’t go with me. Why? Because yesterday she asked me to give back her property on the ground that she was an orphan and alone in the world. What were you trying—to skin me for five hundred of that thousand you spoke of?” Haynes could not have had a better opening. He drew up a chair and sat down beside tho fat real estate agent "Better than that,” he said quietly. “What then?” asked Riggs, interested. “The old lady’s a bit wrong here,” said Haynes, tapping his forehead. “She didn’t mind the water, but she wanted her money back to invest in a perpetual motion* machine instead. She had a visit from an angel who advised her to buy stock In it I was the angel.” “What —the—dickens!” soliloquized Riggs, swinging round swiftly and staring hard at the other. “Yep,” said Haynes, nodding his head and buttonholing the real estate man —a mannerism useful for purposes of emphasis. “She’s as rich' as Croesus, but all her money’s tied up In conservative enterprises, and since she’s begun to grow dippy she’s been drawing it out and buying gold bricks and white elephants. Her father left her two hundred thousand.” Riggs whistled. “I trailed her from Texas,” Haynes pursued. “I’ve bought her shares in every outlawed property that can’t be put on the market. But, as I was 1 saying, the angel advised her to Invest in perpetual motion stock. I did it—l have a little'monoplane out in the marshes.” / “You—don't say!” said Riggs, star-

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

By H. M. EGBERT

ing thoughtfully at the other. “Why are you telling this to me?” he suddenly asked, suspiciously. “Because,” said Haynes, looking straight at the other, “I came to Newark specially to get your aid. I was advised by a friend of mine— Chauncey E. Robertson of Benderville.” Riggß ‘fell back In his chair and his face went white. Robertson had beep a leading spirit in the Nokomis land frauds; and Riggs had thought that none of his confederates would cross his path again; He looked at Haynes keenly, trying to learn how much he knew. But he did not remember having seen him before. Five years in prison had made a great alteration in the, Englishman’s appearance, and Riggs had only seen him once previously. ' “Don’t get scared,", said Haynes cheerfully. “It’s all right. Robertson mentioned you as a likely partner in a deal I was contemplating, and I intended to look you up before Providence threw this easy chance in my way. I trailed Miss Matthews up here from Texas, sounded her on spiritualism, and found her ready to take a hook. She’s seen me flying down from the clouds on a dark night four miles out in the marshes, and as my monoplane was draped in white she was quite ready to receive a special revelation. See here, Mr. Riggs,” he said, suddenly coming to the point, “there’s another revelation booked for tomorrow night on the old pike where it crosses the Passaic. I've got the perpetual motion stock all ready and she has been told to bring along her check hook. She wants twenty-five thousand dollars’ worth, and she’s only nineteen thousand in the bank; that’s why she wants her money for the lots. Are you game to come along and bring the money?” “Well,” aald Riggs, smiling, “under the circumstances it would be unjust to force those lots upon the poor old Ihdy. Yes, I think I can manage it—if you’ll* put up a couple of thousand as a sign of your confidence in me,” he added, smiling. ‘Tm no rube, you know, Mr. —you never told me yonr name.” - " “Tupman,” said Haynes promptly. "I understand. You shall have your two thousand by the first mail tomorrow, a certified check. I guess you won’t leave your happy little business to run aWay with it And meet me with the old lady’s check where the bridge cross** the pike At nine o’clock.” “It’s going to be mighty cold,” sighed Riggs, looking out Across the snow-covered. Ice-hound .

Iv•'% :'{? '■ • * ffs*r*f* £ r -i “However, I think I can manage to be there." Riggs was wrapped in his fur overcoat when he met Hashes at the appointed time, and even so was none too comfortable, for a brisk northwester had sent the thermometer down to about the zero point. When Haynes greeted him he asked for the machine. “It’s over here,” said Haynes, drawing him across the frozen flats to where a dark, amorphous shape broke through the blacksesa It was the aeroplane. Haynes stooped and touched the gyroscope which stood within. Instantly a purring, humming sound became audible. Riggs started back in momentary alarm. - “What’s that?” he cried. Then, recovering his self-possession, “the'’engine, of course,” he said nervously. “No, the perpetual motion machine,” said Haynes laughingly. “Step in.”, "But the old lady?” asked Riggs, hesitating. “O, she’ll be down by the lots she’s bought,” Haynes answered. “I couldn’t bring her down here. We’re the angels, you know; we have to go to her. Jump in. You’ve got tho check she gave you?” “Yes,” answered Riggs, as he took his seat. “Pretty risky, flying in the night, isn’t It?" "* “Not a bit,” answered Haynes. “We’ll be there In three or four minutes. Ready?” He started the motor, and the aeroplane kicked up the frozen clods, grated along the surface of the marshes, and slowly rose into the air until, gaining her poise, she whirled off through the night. Riggs clutched the seat and vertical bar in terror* It was his first ride. He could see nothing in the darkness though, far in the distance, the lights of Newark gleamed. Haynes removed his hands from the wheel, The gyroscope, humming busily underneath, would maintain the machine perfectly steady, upon an even bottom, so long as he chose to fly; secure against all changes of wind, he set the course of the machine due south and turned to his companion. “Look at me Riggs,” he thundered suddenly, bawling into his companion’s ear. “You don't remember me, do you?” Riggs, still clutching his seat, raised his head in sudden papic. “Why—why—” he stammered. “I’ll cut short your soliloquy by telling you my name,” said Haynes. “I am John Haynes of the Nokomis property. Oh, I see your memory is improving!” Riggs peered at him through the darkness, his lips parted, at first incredulous until the full force of the revelation struck home to him; Then, overcome with horror, he clutched at the bar, fell forward, and, hugging this frail support as a man shipwrecked might grasp at a spar, he bowed his head in agony and fear. Too well he knew the relentless character of Ae man with whom he had to deal. The terror of Haynes, which had struck home to all after the first of the conspirators had met with his deserts, had not failed to include Riggs in its all embracing panic. But in the security of that Jersey town he had believed himself safe from pursuit and from detection. “Why have you sought me out?” He sobbed and whined like a whipped child. “I had to hold my job. I had no part in the planning of the conspiracy. What are you going to do with me?” “I’ll take those checks first,” answered Haynes. “Miss Matthews’ and mine.” “And then you’ll let me go?” begged Riggs. Though far superior to the other in strength he appeared nerveless as a bag of jelly as ha cowered there, terrified by the swiftly moving machine, prostrated by this unexpected encounter. Beneath him gleamed the waters of the sea over which they were now flying almdst cloud high, and only the lights of moving steamships told him that, far below them, must be New York harbor. It was intensely cold. “Give them to me or I’ll pitch you out of the machine!” Haynes thun- , dered. “But —I can’t let go,” faltered the other. “Take them from my pocketbook. It has Miss Matthews’ check for the first payment of two thousand inside.” Haynes took the leather folder from his companion’s breast pocket and put back the heavy wallet, stuffed out with bills so that, like its owner, it seemed on the verge of apoplexy. “Where’s my check?” he asked. “I mailed it to the bank this afternoon,” faltered the other. “No matter. I had It Btopped,” answered Haynes, smiling. “And now let me ten you, If ever you get hick and show your face in Newark again I’ll kill you for sure.” “Then you aren’t going to kiU me now?” demanded Riggs, and the passing of his chief terror gave back to him something of his courage. “It’s mighty cold up here, Mr. Haynes,” he said with an effort >at jocularity. “Suppose you turn her head toward Newark and let me get to bed. Tomorrow I’U settle up my affairs and quit; I swear yob won’t see me again —or Miss Matthews either.” “My good Riggs,” said Haynes solemnly, “you will be a good deal colder before I get through with you.” “Where are you going to take me?” cried the other. “Ain’t that the bay down there? For the Lord's sake, let’s get over thrf land somewhere—in case the gasoline givss out” “It won’t give out” Haynes answered- “This machine has a double supply. One part comes from the gasoline tank that feeds the motor, the other from the one which supJ)Um the gyroscope.”

: “The gyroscope!" gasped Riggs. He knew how, by the invention of this fiendish machine, Haynes had escaped the systematic search of his enemies and how, using it he had run them down and devoted them to terrible reprisal. “Hie gyroscope!*’ he repeated in helpless horror. He looked' down again; he was not so nauseated now by the flight through the clouds. To him it seemed that the machine was standing still. Haynes read his thought and made haste to answer him. “Yes, the gyroscope,” he answered, placing a mocking emphasis upon the words. “How fast do you think we are going?” "Twenty miles an hour?" suggested Riggs. “Three hundred and seventy-five,” answered Haynes briskly. “Doesn't seem credible, does it? But the gyro-, scope cuts the a»r like a screw and draws a back drapgbc; that’s why you don’t feel the bre?ze, which otherwise would blow uu from our seats. Now, I’ll tell you where you are going, Riggs. You are a land agent. You’re hungry for land, especially building lots, aren’t you? You’ve been In land all your life, lied for it, thieved for it, and sent innocent men to the penitentiary for it. I am going to give you all the land you will want for the remainder of your life. You said that was the bay, I believe? No, Riggs, that is the Atlantic ocean, and we are now two hundred miles northeast of New York and heading for Labrador!” “Labrador!” gasped^the other. "An excellent place for you,” Haynes answered cheerfully.’ “You’re not going to dump me down in Labrador and fly home again!" “I hope to, Mr. Riggs. And please consider that we furnish transportation free —not even a coupon is necessary.” “For God’s sake, listen,” shouted his unhappy companion. “I’ve got twenty thousand. I’ll feive it to you if you’ll put me down somewhere in a civilized country. Let me off at Bar Harbor and you’ll have time to cash the check I’U give you and get away before I can return. Don’t take my life. If you kill me, who did so little, what will you do to the rest?” “I’ve settled the rest,” responded his companion, and an angry scowl came over his features as he remembered the tragic encounters which he had with the members of the land gang. He touched the lever and the machine dipped until she was flying not more than a hundred feet above the earth. There was no water in sight; they were traversing a forest belt. “Maine!” said Haynes, and again his companion noted that the machine Seemed almost motionless, an astonishing optical illusion produced by the incredible swiftness of that astonishing journey. Haynes flew higher again and dipped into the fog of the clouds. So, hour after hour, they flew. And all the while his miserable companion shivered at his side. The machine flew lower; water appeared. "The Gulf of St. Lawrence," explained Haynes, and pointed skyward. “Do you see Pegasus?” he asked. “That constellation is not now visible in lower latitudes. And there is Cassiopeia. / Riggs,” he chuckled, “what a fine story you can put into your next prospectus about the staryy heavens!” The other flung himself upon his knees and grasped at hiß companion's hands. "Forgive me,” he babbled, “and I’ll work and slave for you always* I’ll help to bring the conspirators to Justice. I know where most of them are to be found; there must be some of them left.” “Who?” Haynes asked scornfully. “Robertson.” “He’s in the penitentiary, serving a sentence for forgery.” “My God! Judge Charteris, then. He was bribed to send you up for fourteen years. Don’t leave that old fox out of the reckoning.” “O, he?” answered Haynes carelessly. “I’ve got him in a lunatic asylum.” “Jack Poole, then.” “Dead. He was the first.” “Jenkins, Robertson's law clerk —he was in with them. Frank Staples! Byers!” “They’ve all got what was coming to them,” said Haynes grimly, and again he felt that torturing Bense of the impotence of revenge. “I tell you what I’ll do, Riggs,” said Haynes presently, apparently arousing himself from a prolonged meditation. “To send you into the interior of Labrador would probably mean death to you, and since so many worse scoundrels have been spared' that extreme penalty, I think perhaps I may give you a chance for life also. I’ll deposit you in the forests a hundred end fifty miles north of Quebec. You’ll be able to make civilization in four or five day* if you’re a good walker, and you’ll get some needed exercise. When you get down look for the Pole Star, turn your back on her, and go in the opposite direction till sunriße. Then steer a course by the sun until the Pole Star comes out again. My, Riggs, what a number of building lots you’ll fover in those few days.” Riggs sobbed—he was crushed, and the frightful conflict of hope struggling with despair and terror, had wholly unnerved him. Twenty minutes later he was incapable of response. Haynes shut off the gyroscope and motor, and the machine fluttered to earth in the midst of a semi-open country, in which pine trees grew sparingly. All round were the illimitable wastes. Haynes got out of the machine, and. at his command, the other followed him. Tteep away from the machine,

Riggs,” said Haynes, drawing a revolver from his coat pocket. His numbed hands could hardly hold lti brt Riggs was not aware of that, nor that the muzzle described wide circles round him—he was too broken in spirit. He cowered, shivering and stamping his feet upon the frozep ground. “Here’s a box of matches, Riggs,” said Haynes drawing one from his overcoat pocket and tossing It to him. “You’ll bo abl© to light a few fires. Don’t waste them. I don’t know just exactly where we are,” he added in mock apology. ‘Tm afraid I’ve taken you too far to the north—we’re almost beyond the timber belt However, you’ll strike a river if you look round, for the land Is well watered—you must add that to your prospectus. Remember that all streams flow Into Hudson bay, and so follow them 'toward the source southard. You may fall in with some Indians. You —really, Riggs, I ought not to be instructing you in your own business. I’ll have to say good-by anyway, now; I must be back at Newark by morning.” He retired backward toward the machine, keeping the revolver by an effort between hiß frozen fingers, which had no more sensation than sticks of wood, and watching Riggs warily. He expected a hostile rush, and the rush came —but it was not hostile. Riggs flung himself upon him and slid to the ground, holding his knees. “Let me come back,” ho shrieked. “My God, man, you’ve had all the revenge that you can need. You’ve turned my hair white by this night’s work. Til give you everything I have —my property, all my money—l’ll be your dog and follow you wherever you go—l’ll—l’U— ’’ Haynes thrust the wretched man from him and entered the machine. He felt an intense disgust arising in him at this abjectness. This was the stuff of which all his enemies seemed made! The thought that such dogs had been able to rob and imprison him, to tear him from his wife and daughter, was intolerable at that moment. However, seeing that Riggs made no further attempt to rise, and that he was liable to freeze to death in the bitter cold, he gathered some fallen twigs and little branches of dead wood, and, with a strip of brick* bark from a near-by tree, kindled a fire. Then he re-entered the machine. Once more Riggs rushed toward him and tried to enter. Haynes thrust his fist into his face. Riggs did not release his hold. Haynes pressed the pistol muzzle against the other’s throat. “I’ll Are at three,” he shouted. “One —two —” , Riggs dropped to the ground witty a despairing groan and, a moment lateir, the monoplane was beating skyward. Once started on hiß homeward flight Haynes flapped his frozen hands against his breast, rubbed them with a little snow which he had scooped up from the ground; and then, when he felt the blood tingle in them, he suddenly began to , laugh. Rocking with uncontrollable mirth, he hardly held the monoplane against the countering winds. The humor of •this revenge—the most self-satisfying of all, dulled the sense of his insatiable wrongs. But Riggs, cowering over a big Are of wood, shivered in the desolation of his despair. He did not know whWe ho should turn. To face the solitude of those dreadful forests, to find a stream and follow it, seemed like the promptings of a madman’s brain. Ho might as well have flung his enemy out of the machine and followed him, to find his end speedily—better that than to be condemned to die of hunger and thirst and cold In this far northern, frozen wilderness. Presently day broke and, In the gathering light, he counted the matches in the box. There were sixteen of them—sixteen fires at most if he should choose to start on that Impossible journey. Why not rather wait where he had been left yntil the end should come? There, at least, there would be warmth. There he need not fear that gripping frost Wrapped in his furs he could lie down among the encircling fires and sleep his life away. Thon he must gather wood; he must find and stack cords of it so that tho end should not find him fireless. Fire was all to him now, more than food, almost more than his life. It was his father and mother too; h’e loved It with the intensity of a maniac. Almost Insane • from terror, filled only with this thought that possessed his mind, he began plunging through the undergrowth, gathering sticks and twigs. Again and again he staggered back, bedring each time a huge armful of dead brush, which he flung upon the blaze, and at last he cowered beside it again, mumbling and muttering, while the sun’s rays touched him with a blaze of gold. Then shouts echoed among the treeiß. At first he did not turn his liead, thinking thqm but the fragment of a dream. When he was Bure he heard them he did not dare to answer from fear they would cease. Hty crouched beside/ his blaze and did not stir nor look up until a man in overalls broke into the circle of the blaze and began tossing the sticks aside and stamping on them. Then, realizing at last that life had been restored to him, Riggs fell on his knees before h(s rescuer and wept like'a child. The other ceased his work and stood staring in amazement at tha strange fur coated figure. "What are you doing here?” ha asked, subduing his tone. “Why did you light that fire on thia estate T “What estate? Where am IT “Camford. New Jersey.” . —...... —4....