Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 264, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1917 — Page 3

The Shining Black Feathers

And How the Lost Gold Was Discovered

By Ethel Holmes

(Copyright, 1917, Western Newspaper Union.) Phil Manton of the Far Eastern bank -in" Shanghai went out into the streets feeling dull and out of sorts. Each morning for a week he had found a mysterious envelope on his desk. No one could explain whence it came. It was not in the morning’s ' mail—it was simply there! The envelope was one of those loqg, narrow oriental affairs, perhaps two inches in width by twelve inches- or more in length. Sometimes it was longer or shorter, to accommodate its contents. The contents were invariably the same—a black feather, narrow and shining. The inscription in Chinese was familiar to him now. “A feather from the wing of the black pheasant” was the meaning of the ideographs. “A feather from the wing of the black pheasant,” he was repeating to himself as he went down the Bund, unmindful of the curious glances sent in his direction by friends and acquaintances. “What's the matter with Manton?” they asked each other, for the president, of the Far Eastern bank was normally a practical, well balanced. Cool headed business man. “Hope nothing

is wrong with the bank.” Manton confided his business to no one. He had lived in the east long enough to guess that some evil influence was working against him, some secret power that was trying to weaken his efficiency, to break down his nerve. Some one had whispered that Oscar Blare, the former president of the Far Eastern, had committed suicide because “he had seen things.” What had he seen ? Money had vanished at the time of Blare's death, but no one could ever trace it or could account for the manner in which it had been spent. The "money; gold in canvas bags,Had van-, ished. Phil Manton could have told another tale—that for two months now there had been a steady pilfering at the bank. One gold piece after another had vanished from the strong room. Privately he had had the different employees watched, and each one was proved impeccable. Of course there was Wong Suong, the watchman, but Wong Suong was poor and had a big family to support, and he was proved to be impeccable as well as the others. And the shadow of the black pheasant's wing darkened the days for the young president of the Far Eastern. The next morning he found another feather in its envelope and put it away. The accompanying card he studied carefully. * . - -' - Phil Manton had tried many devices to find if his employees were trustworthy, and, nothing having developed in that line to help him, he was at his wits’ end. _ Even his friends, were beginning to take notice of his abstractedness, and, worst yet, it was getting on his nerves to the extent of interfering with his heretofore splendidly restful nights. Certainly something must be done, and he was feeling that he must be the one to do it. Finally, after long deliberation, he made up his mind that in the afternoon when it was time to leave he would secrete himself in the strong room and, revolver in hand, grimly wait for the thief to appear. From his corner behind a’ heap of canvas sacks Phil watched the clerks as one by one they came into the strong room to put away cash and books. Each one went about his business in an open, honest way, and the last one locked the steel doors and threw the heavy bolts of the combination lock. Phil Manton knew that the strong room of the Far Eastern was well supplied with fresh air from a ventilating pipe which ran up to the roof, so that even if his imprisonment had lasted for several days he would not have suffered except for food. ’ In the dimness of the strong room thoughts crowded' heavily uj>on him. He found himself remembering many things that he had forgotten in the rush of daily life. J One riling was that Oscar Blare had been discovered dead in the strong room, in this' very spot, perhaps, with an empty pistol in his lifeless hand. > Then the gold deficiency had been discovered. A cold horror took possession of him. Was history going to repeat itself? Was he, Phil Manton, unwittingly guilty of the thefts? Would he, too, be found dead in the strong room? Suddenly he laughed his fears to scorn. “That wretched black pheasant feather business is getting on my nerves,” he muttered. “I wonder if Blare knew the black pheasant?” laughing at his own vague fears and regretting that he had Immured himself in the strong room for the night. Phil made himself comfortable behind the pile sacks, feeling that the president of the Far Eastern bank was lowering his dignity. He had dozed off to sleep when he was suddenly awakenejl by a rush of cold air. / The brick wall back of him seemed to vanish, leaving him tottering on the edge of the floor. He fell—fell down a

'few feet—and dropped to a heap of soft mats in a perfectly strange place. Here all was silence—a vague, ominous silence that oppressed his heart. From a lantern in a far corner there were disclosed the outlines of a long room, with a matted floor and many rich rugs. There were some articles of furniture, teakwood chairs and tables and, many more mats. Phil removed his shoes and crept to a screened corner. From the privacy' of the screen he watched down the length of the room. There was no visible door in the walls. He could not even see an aperture where he had fallen from the strongroom of the bank, but he suspected that the entire back wall of the strong room had pivoted into this st range place and pushed him down. Suddenly a sound smote the silence, the sharp Intake of a Chinaman’s breath when he is surprised. Phil looked from his hiding place. A strange figure was approaching down the length of the room, a human form completely covered with a strange dress of black feathers. It was a small, bent form, and the veil of black feathers hanging before the Invisible face fluttered in and out with the breath of its wearer. In its hand the strange being carried a wicked lookingknife; ‘*Ah,ha!” thought Phil, and his hold on the revolver tightened. “Here is the old Black Pheasant himself! I’m to be unnerved by threats, stirred by thefts, and when I attempt to discover the thefts I am decoyed here and murdered. Well, two can play at that game, my somber bird!” When the Black Pheasant had reached the spot where Phil had carelessly left his shoes he bent over them for a moment, and then, uttering a shrill staccato yell, he turned and began

to search the room. When he pokedhis evil bead around the corner of the screen Phil was ready for him. The pistol spoke, but by a rapid turn of his arm the BJgck Pheasant sent the bullet flying to the ceiling. Phil made a rush for the man and grasped the wrist that held the ugly knife, forcing the hand to the floor. There Phil struck it such a blow with the knurties of his other hand that the knife dropped from the nerveless fingers. Both men n»ade desperate efforts to regain it, but neither could distinguish in the dim light where it was. Phil in grasping the other’s wrist had been made aware that the skin w’as oiled. The feathered man thus had a great advantage over PhiL The latter had the advantage, however, in being a man of herculean strength. He threw himself upon his antagonist, grasping his throat. This, too, was oiled, but Phil managed to get a grip of both hands on the muscles of the neci, including the windpipe. That grip he held till one after another he felt the muscles of the body relax, and he knew the man was dead. Phil crouched there in a listening attitude. Would the dim shadows of the long room give up any more of these grotesque black feathered pheasants? He waited until an eternity appeared to have passed; then Jie crept out cautiously, peering behind screens and searching all the dark corners. The result of his search was a huge chest filled with canvas bags of gold— The gold which had been stolen during Blare's time and the last thefts. It w’as all there Intact. The thief had stolen but was'afraid to spend. Who was the thief that he or they lacked the courage to spend what they had stolen?— Phil went back to the prone figure of the Black Pheasant. He drew’ aside the veiling black feathers and saw the wizened face of old Wong Suong. the night watchman who had been proved of impeccable honesty because he w’as openly so poor! Wong Suong was the Black Phantom. He was the w’riter of the mysterious messages, he was the thief of gold, the murderer of Oscar Blare, the wMild be murderer of Phil Manton. Phil never discovered when the back wall of the Far Eastern had been tampered with, but he suspected that it had been known to Wong Suong for a long time. No one save the officials of the bank ever knew the history of that night. Phil managed to escape and secure help. The gold was returned to the strong room and the rear wall rendered firm. The mysterious room in the rear was taken for a director’s room, and the memory of Oscar Blare was cleared of the stigma of suicide. People say that the Far Eastern bank mast have passed through a financial crisis, for Man ton Jost his worried look and has ever sirice*then been his genial self. • . But Phil smiles and tells himself that the shadow of the Black Pheasant has passed away forever and that the Far Eastern'is as firm as the rock of Gibraltar. i ... But he cherishes a profound respect for old Wong Suong’s powers of ingenuity.

Soldiers to Read Browning.

The Boston Browning society is preparing a booklet of selections from the poet’s writings for use in American military camps and in the trenches. Men of action, according to' the officers of the society, like poetry, an& this contention is backed by a quotation from the London Chronicle in relation to the trip of Sir Ernest Shackleton to the Antarctic: “The library of the Endurance went down with her. Only a few personal volumes survived. Among them were two Brownings. Sir Ernest had one and JMr. McNich, the carpenter, had the other.” F. Herbert Stead thus comments: “The commander and the carpenter both found Browning the indispensable companion a£ their ihost perilous voyage.”

THE EVENING RENSSELAER. IND.

CAPTAIN HEINIE MILLER, WHO IS LEADING PENNSYLVANIA’S FOOTBALL SQUAD THIS FALL

The only football star available at the University of Pennsylvania this year is Capt. Henry Miller, who tried twice to enlist, but was rejected on account of defective eyesight and bad teeth.

FRAZEE WILL CHANGE RED SOX NEXT SEASON

It is understood that President Frazee of the Red Sox contemplates several changes for next season. During the recent Cincinnati draft meeting Frazee put in a claim for Jack Bentley, first baseman of the Baltimore club, who batted .370 in the International league this year. Bentley is a left-handed batsman and thrower. He once pitched for the Washingtons, but his arm went back on him so that he decided to become an infielder. Inasmuch as Dick Hoblltzel’s stick work hasn’t come up to that of former campaigns, it is said that Bentley may succeed him in 1918. Bentley was the only player drafted by Frazee, but the latter paid a fancy price for Jimmy Cooney, the Providence shortstop. The Red Sox developed a fine young third baseman in McNally and a cracking good outfielder in Shorten. Looks as if several veterans are doomed.

MAULBETSCH MAKES BIG HIT

Former Michigan Star Footballer Has Charge of Husky Athletes at Phillips University. Johnny Maulbetsch, the famous Michigan football star, who has been engaged to act Jis coach -for- Phillips university during the next two years, Is attracting much interest in Oklahoma sporting circles, and Enid foot-

Johnny Maulbetsch.

bait fans are leaving their work every afternoon to watch him and his husky Oklahoma youths Work /out on the campus. ; V ' J'<•

NOTED SWIMMER IS KILLED

Cecil Healy, Australian Champlon L Meets Death In France—-Was Also Remarkable Runner. News has reached here that Cecil Healy, the swimming champion, who was adjutant in the forces, was killed recently at Messines. He was holder of the 150-yard record for open water. At Stockholm, in the Olympic games of 1912, he was captain of the Australian team which beat the American team in an opeii relay. Healy was a remarkable runner 1 and boxer, and he was equally well-known as a journalist. - ■ <

SELLS MANY PLAYERS

Manager Dunn of Baltimore Has Developed Various Stars. In Twelve Years $150,000 in Cash and Players Has Been Turned Over to . Him—Turner Barber Is Latest Player Boid. Johnny Dunn, president and manager of the Baltimore Orioles of..th<L_ International league, formerly of the Brooklyn Nationals, is in a class by himself when it comes to picking out ball players, developing them and then disposing of them to major league clubs. In the 12 years that Dunn has managed the teams of Providence and Baltimore $150,000 has been turned over to him in cash and players for the 23 he has sent to the big show. His recent sale of Turner Barber, formerly of the Washington Americans, to the Chicago Cubs for $15,000 is the highest price Dunn has ever received for a single chattel. Of the many record sales transacted by Dunn the *most noteworthy is the case of George Twombly. Fresh from a high school team just outside of Boston, Twombly reported to IJunn about six years ago. He was a shortstop, and about as rank a one as could be found. Dunn saw a chance of development and hung on to the lad. Later In the season he tried three times to farm Twombly, but each time he was returned. The next year Dunn succeeded in getting TwOmbly a job in a small league, and he made good. A third year found him In the New York State league and the fourth he was a star for Baltimore. When the Federal league Invaded Baltimore Dunn sold Twombly to Cincinnati for $5,000. The Reds didn’t like him, and they gave him back to Baltimore with the understanding that Dunn could have him If he wduld live up to the contract Twombly had signed in Redland. Back with Baltimore Twombly hit well over .300, and last winter Dunn sold him again. The Baston) Braves were the purchasers this time, and $2,500 was the amount they gave up. Now Twombly Is back in the International league with Providence. Here are some of the players the Oriole leader has sold in the last 12 years: Ira Thomas, $3,000; James Morgan, SI,OOO, draft; Fred Burchell, $6,000; Bill O’Hara, $3,000; Jack knight, $6,000; “Lefty” Russell. sll,000; Allen Russell, $4,000; “Rube” Meadows, $5,500; Fritz Maisel, $12,000; Charles Schmidt, $3,000; Claude Derrick, $10,000; George Twombly, $5,000; Ben Egan, $-7,000; “Babe” Ruth, $12,000; EFnle Shore, $12,000; Dave Danforth, $3,000; “Birdie” Crfce. $5,000; Bert Daniels, $4,000; Morris Roth, SI,OOO, draft; Wilbur Good, sl,000, draft; Bill Kopf, $4,000; Turner Barber; $15,000; George Twombly, $2,500. ,

STALLINGS PICKS UP CRACK

Shortstop Schreiber, Considered Finest In Eastern League, Signed by Boston Club. -u. George Stallings is said to have picked’ up a sensation in Shortstop Schreiber, who is considered the Eastern league’s finest shortstop and hardest hitter. This is the league which sent Maranville to the majors. Critics say he Is the nearest approach to Rabbit Maranville In fielding and, a hitter of far more power and precision. Mr. Schreiber will always find a meal ticket in big company if he approaches anyway near the remarkable ability at the Rabbit.

WESTERN GIRL IS A GREAT ATHLETE

Qualified to Compete for AllRqur(T Honors. WIZARD AT PLAY.Nfi TENNIS Also Stars at Baseball, Basket Bail, Hockey and Football —&jrformances in Many Lines Brand Her as Marvel. On the Pacific coast they say that Miss Mayme McDonald ts the greatest woman athlete In the United States. That is some title; still a glance at the record of she young woman leads cftie to believe that she has an excellent claim to the honor. Miss McDonald is a student at the University of Washington, and her 'performance in a dozen branches of sport brand her as an athletic marvel. Tipping the scale's at a bare 115 pounds, she has established herself as the best all-round girl athlete ever developed in the Northwest, i. Won Tennis Finals. The Seattle tniss won the finals of the Northwest tennis championships at Tacoma recently, and yet tennis is but a small part of the athletic life of the university champion. Miss McDonald has yet to try her skill at any sport in which she cannot shatter some kind of a record. She is a wizard at the net game, but also stars at baseball, basketball, hockey, track and — she admitted rather bashfully—footbait Miss McDonald holds ’so many records at the University of (Washington that she does not remember them all. She started In to win “W’s” in her freshman year, and has been doing it ever since. She was the first freshman to win a numeral and started in breaking records riiht and left before advancing to her second year. The Seattle girl can take a regulation league baseball and with a regular Hank Gowdy windup can send the horseshoe on a Journey of some 190 feet. Recently she donned her track togs and, while Washington Coach VanderVeerheld the watch, she stepped off 100 yards in 12 seconds flat. She hung up a mark in the 50ynrd hnrdlea nf seconds: can send the eight-pound shot 31 feet, and throw the javelin 85 yards. Football Has No Terrors. Miss McDonald can take a hockey stick and zigzag down the ice like Hobey Baker. She can shoot a ringer with the baskeetball five times out of ten, and hits .300 on the baseball team. She swims, dives, hunts and fishes. The football field has no terrors for this young Seattle girl, and she can boot the pigskin for a perfect spiral. “I began to play baseball and the rest of the things,” explains Miss McDonald, ‘‘when I was old enough to walk. 4 I took part in every kind of athletics with the youngsters on the back lots, and they came so natural with me that I just kept right on. I liked nothing better than a game of ball, a race or any kind of a match when I was a youngster, and I do not know but that I have the same opinion of sports now.” : :—-===■ —

PRESENTS FOR PLAYERS.

It pays to be with a pennantwinning club. Members of the Indianapolis team, which won the American association flag, were presented with enough wearing apparel to last them all winter. Fifty-nine silk shirts, four suits of clothes and 18 hats were some of the donations of Indianapolis merchants. Wickland and Cosy Dolan got ten silk shirts apiece. Jack Hendricks, manager of th|£ club; Steve Yerkes, the leading batter; Cosy Dolan, the leading base stealer, and Jake Northrop, who won 21 games, got the suits.

ACT OF CADDIE DISQUALIFIED

Fearing Golfer Would Lose Through His Carelessness, He Surreptitiously Dropped Ball. Golfers in the West are talking of the way a dishonest caddie brought disqualification to John Black, the Claremont professional, in the Pacific Northwest championship recently played. Black’s caddie failed to keep his eye on the ball and when the gallery began looking for it the caddie fefiring that Black would lose through his carelessness, surreptitiously propped a new' ball without notifying the player of his action, and Black played the rest of the round with it. /When through the caddie’s boasting of his act the circumstance became known, the tournament officials felt they could do nothing but disqualify Black, .who-“took his medicine” in a true, sportsmanlike spirit.

Eddie Aaron Goes to Front

Eddie Aaron, who played the infield for the Muskegon Central league team the past season, has been called to the National army, and will appear no niore on the ball field. Aaron came fresh from the lots of Chicago and made good in a Class B league his first year out.

Home Town Helps

CONCRETE SURFACE IN TASTE Types of Architecture May Be Considered That Could Be Attained Through No Other Medium. Tn building permanently it I* advisable to select a type of architecture that will not only aval! Itself of the natural qualify of the building material, but will at the same time, be best adapted to an economical development. Simplicity of architectural lines rarely falls to give the quality of beauty. The dignified colonial houses of early New England and the Georgian houses of New York and Virginia offer models that may be easily followed in permanent materiats. So, too, are those pecullarly -American adaptations of the Spanish, the California and mission types susceptible to the same construction. Flat wall surfaces of soft gray concrete bring out the proportion and placing of doors and windows. White stucco on a fireproof wall will give the same effect as painted woodwork, with all the peculiar charm of an old Pennsylvania country house with its Time-washed walls. Tn fact there la no real limitation incurred by the selection of a permanent construction; the choice is really widened and types of architecture may be considered that could be successfully attained through no other medium. It would be possible to continue almost indefinitely a discussion of the suitability of concrete surfaces, finished as rough cast or as finely-tooled stone for interior wall surfaces, and of its particular adaptability for fireplace construction, and other interior ('etails. At much less cost than if the designs were cut in natural stone, artistic ornamented work may be molded for exterior and Interior decoration. At small expense a limitless range of colors and textures is available.

HOW TO MAKE BIRD HOUSES

They Must Be Made to Look Old and Weather-Beaten —Hole Should Be Near the Top. Here are a few suggestions that will prove helpful to anyone planning to build bird houses: Martins and sparrows are the only birds that build their nests in colonies. Martins are all too rare, and sparrows are all too numerous; so unless you have a large place and many birdhouses do pot build a house with room for more than one nest. Make the house of weather-worn boards, or if you must use new lumber, stain or

Types of Bird Houses.

paint it brown or green and throw a little dry earth on ft before the paint Is quite dry. It must be made to look as old and weather-beaten as possible. Make your box deeper than it is wide and put the hole nearer the top than the bottom. Slope the roof from the back to the front, and let it project far enough to prevent sun, rain and cats from reaching the hole. It is much better to hinge the roof, as then you can dean the house out at the end of the season, which must be done or the birds will not return. It is wise to dust out the inside of an old birdhouse thoroughly with sulphur. Be sure you set the houses out pf reach of cats, as they are the nestlings’ worst enemies. •

Trees of Biblical Note.

There are in the Scriptures many memorable trees. From the earliest times groves are mentioned in connection with religious worship. Among these trees are mentioned the palm and cedar (Psalms 92:12, 13), the olive (Psalms,s2:B), the oak (Joshua, 24:26; Judges, 11:6), the tamarack in Gibeah (I Samuel, 22:28), the terebinth in Sheckem (Joshua, 24:26), the palm tree of Deborah (Judges 4:5), the terebinth of enchantments (Judges, (9:37). the terebinth of wanderers (Judges, 4:11) and others Iff I Samuel, 14:2 and W:3.