Newspaper Page Text
FRIDAY. MARCH 20.
: -Ghe DAY OF
April so os* El
14
PROLOGUE.
“It breaks the speed limit to
smithereens.”
That’s a candid opinion about
this story. There may have
been swifter tales, but not re
cently. It's an aeroplane of a
yarn, moving so fast that you
lose your breath while you fol
low it. But you don’t need any
breath, anyway, because you
forget about respiration with
your eyes on reading of this
kind.
Every man has his day of
days. Yours may have come
and you may be swimming in
the full tide of fortune. If so,
read how P. Sybarite found
his. If your own ship is still
in the offing, you will enjoy
learning how the little spunky
red headed bookkeeper won a
fortune and an heiress, foiled
all his enemies and had some
of the most amazing adven
tures ever penned—all in less
time than it takes the hour
hand to round the clock dial
twice.
(Continued from Yesterday).
He won tbe first tall, and, encour
aged by this, began to play extrava
gantly, peppering the board liberally
.with wagers of $25, SSO and SIOO.
Pentield, cool and smiling, confined
his attentions to the wheel. If he felt
any uneasiness or dismay on account
of P. Sybarite's steadily augmented
mountain of chips he betrayed it not
at all overtly.
But abruptly—they had been play
ing less than fifteen minutes—he
paused and, instead of starting the
ball on another race around its ebony
run, dropped It lightly in the depres
sion immediately above tbe axle of the
wheel.
"The game is closed,’' he announced
evenly with a slow smile "Slr*~
directly to P. Sybarite—“a room los
ing $25,000 in one day ceases opera
tions. You are Just $25,000 to the
good. Accept my congratulations.”
Opening the cash drawer, he clear
ed it completely of Its contents, plac
ing before I'. Sybarite a tremendous
aocumulutiou of biih, old and new, of
all denominations, loose and in pack
ages, together with some ten or twelve
golden double eagles.
“I believe you will find that cor
rect,” he observed genially. “After
ward I trust you will do me the honor
of splitting a bottle with me in the
lounge.”
“Delighted!” said P. Sybarite.
Pentield strolled off, exchanged a
few words with an acquaintance or
two and a few more with his em
ployees and went downstairs. The re
maining handful of patrons disappear
ed gradually, yet so quickly that P.
Sybarite was a lonely outsider by the
time be bad finished counting his win
nings and stowing them away about
Ills person.
Presenting the croupier with SSOO.
he recovered his hat at last and de
scended, to find Penfield awaiting him
at the foot of the stairs.
When Pete had placed a plate of
caviar sandwiches between P. Sybarite
and bis host and filled their glasses
from a newly opened bottle he with
drew from the lounge and closed the
door behind him.
Penfleld's eyes promptly lost much
Of their genial glow. Notwithstanding
this, with no loss of manner he lifted
a ceremonious glass to tbe health of
his guest.
“Congratulations!” said he, and
drank as a thirsty man drinks.
“May your shadow never grow less,”
P. Sybarite returned, putting down an
empty glass.
“That’s a perfectly good wish plumb
wasted." said Penfield, refilling both
glasses, his features twisted into the
wryest of grimaces. “Fact is—l don’t
mind telling you—your luck tonight
has. I’m afraid, played the very devil
with me. This house won't open up
again until I raise another bankroll.”
“My sympathy,” said P. Sybarite, sip
ping. “I’m really distressed. And yet
you couldn’t have won against me to
night It could not be done. lam in
vincible. It is-klsmet-my day of
days.”
Penfield laughed discordantly.
“Maybe It looks that way to you
But aren’t you a little premature? You
haven’t banked that wad yet. you
know. Any minute something might
happen to make you think otherwise.”
"Nothing like that is going to hap
pen,” P. Sybarite retorted, with calm
conviction. “The luck's with me.”
“Believe me,” insisted the other with
convincing simplicity. "I'm such a bum
loser. I'm willing to stake my lasi
SSOO
DAYS
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
C#pyri*ht. IVI2, by tb« Frank A. Muasty Ca
leave thi* houna a dollnr richer than
you entered It.”
"Done!" an Id P. Sybnrlte instantly
"If I get away with It you pay me
SSOO. U that right?”
"Exactly."
"nut—where shall we meet to settle
the wager?”
Penflehl smiled cheerfully. "Dine
with me at the Bizarre this evening
at 7."
"If I lose, with pleasure. Other
wise. you are to be my guest”
"it’s a bargain. I'm curious to know
how you came to butt In here on my
personal card of Introduction. Where
did you get It?"
“Found It In a hat left In my pos
session by a gentleman In a grout
hurry, whom I much desired to see
again and therefore—presuming him to
be Mr. Builey Penfleld—came here to
find.”
"The gentleman was unknown to
you?”
"Entirely—a tall young man with
an ugly mouth; rather fancies him
self, I should say; a bit of a bounder
You recognize this sketch?"
“Perhaps.” I’enlield murmured
thoughtfully.
“His name?"
"Perhaps he wouldn't thank me for
telling you thnt.”
“Very well. Now, why and how are
you going to so pa rate me from tnj
winnings?”
“By force.” said Mr. Penfleld. with
engaging candor. "It desolates me to
descend to rough neck methods, but I
am a larger, stronger man than you
Mr.”—
“Sybarite.” said the little man flush
Ing. “P.—by the grace of God—Sylia
rite!”
"Delighted to make your acquaint
ance, Mr. Sybarite. But before we lose
our tempers, what do you say to a fail
proposition. Leave with me what you
have won tonight, and I’ll pay it back
to the last cent with interest within
six months.”
“I have every confidence In your pro
fesslonal honor,” P. Sybarite replied
blandly, “up to the certain point to
which we have attained tonight But
the truth Is—l need the money."
“You’re unwise.” said the other nnd
sighed profoundly. “I’m sorry. You
oblige me to go the limit.”
“Not I. On the contrary. 1 advise
you against any such dangerous
course."
"Dangerous?”
“If yon interfere with me I’ll go to
the police."
“The police?" Penfield elaborated an
inflection of derision. “I keep this pre
clnct in my vest pocket.”
“Possibly—so far as concerns your
maintenance of this gambling bouse
But murder—that’s another matter.”
Again the gambler sighed. “What
must be must,” said he, rising. Mut
ing to tbe wall, he pressed a call but
ton and simultaneously whipped n re
volver Into view. “I hope you’re not
armed,” he protested sincerely. !t
would only make things messy. And
then I hate to have my employees run
any risk”—
“You are summoning a posse, I take
it?” Inquired P. Sybarite, likewise on
his feet
“Half a dozen huskies,” assented the
other. “If you know your little book
you’ll come through nt once and save
yourself a manhandling.’’
“It’s too bad,” P. Sybarite regretted
pensively, and cast a desperate glance
round the room.
But exactly at the moment when de
spair entered into the heart of the lit
tle man—dispossessing altogether his
cool assumption of confidence in his
star—there rung through the house u
crash so heavy that its muffled thun
der penetrated even through the closed
door to the lounge. Another followed
it instantly and at deliberate Intervals
a third and fourth.
Instantly the door was thrown open,
and,' with the Instantaneous effect of
a Jack in the box, Pete showed a dirty
gray face of fright on the threshold.
“Good Lord, boss!” be yelled. “Run
for yo’ life! We’s raided!”
He vanished.
With an oath Penfield started to
ward the door, and instantly P. Syba
rite shot at his gun hand like a terrier
at the throat of a rat. Momentarily
the shock of the assault staggered the
gambler, and as he gave ground, reel
ing, P. Sybarite closed one set of
sinewy fingers tight round his right
wrist and with the other seized and
wrested the revolver away.
The incident was history in a twin
kling. P. Sybarite sprang back, arm
ed, the situation reversed.
Recovering, Penfield threw him a cry
of envenomed spite and in one stride
left the room. He was turning up the
stairs, three steps and an oath at a
bound, by the time P. Sybarite gained
the threshold and sped his departing
host with a reminder superfluously
Ironic:
“The Bizarre at 7 this evening.
Don’t forget”
A breathless imprecation dropped to
him Jroin the head of the staircase.
And he chuckled-but cut the chuckle
short when a heavy nnd metallic clang
followed the disappearance of the
gambler. The Iron door upstairs had
closed, shutting off the second floor
from the lower part of the house and
st the same time consigning P. Syba
rite to the mercies of the police as soon
as they succeeded In battering down
the front door.
At his feet. Immediately to the left
of the lounge door, yawned the well of
the basement stairway. And one
chance was no more foolhardy than
another. Like a shot down thnt dark
hole he dropped—and brought up with
a bang against n closed door at the
bottom.
Happily, It wasn't locked. Turning
the handle, he stumbled tflrough, re
closed the door and Intelligently bolt
ed It
He was now in a narrow and odor
ous corridor, running from front to
rear of the basement Ono or two
doors open or ajar furnished all Its
light. Trying the first at a venture. P.
Sybarite discovered what seemed a
servant’s bedroom, untenanted.
The other door Introduced him to a
kitchen of generous proportions and
Jnborate appointments —ln absolute
order with the exception of the cen
tral table, where sat a man asleep
with his head pillowed on arms folded
amid a disorder of plates, bottles nnd
glasses—asleep and snoring lustily.
He was In police uniform, and a cap
hung on the back of his chair.
Wrinkling a perplexed nose, P. Syb
arite swiftly considered the situation.
Here was the policeman on the heat
one of those creatures of Penfleld’s
vaunted vest pocket collection. “Glad
I’m not In Ills shoes!" mused P. Syba
rite.
And yes. Urgent second thought
changed the tenor of hts temper to
ward the sleeper. Better far to be In
his shoes thnn In those of P. Sybarite.
Just then.
Remembering Penfleld’s revolver, he
made sure It was safe and handy In
his pocket, then strode In and dropped
an imperative hand on the policeman’s
shoulder.
“Get up—pull yourself together!” P.
Sybarite ordered sternly. "You’re li
able to be broke for this!"
"Broke? Where’s Jimmy? Who’re
you ?”
“Never mind him Look to yourself.
This place is being raided.”
"Raided!" Tne man leaped to h!s
feet with a cry. ‘G’wan! It ain’t
possible!”
“Listen, if you don’t believe me.”
The crashing of the axes and the
grumble of the curious crowd assem
bled in the street were distinctly audl
ble. The officer needed no other con
firmation, and vet—instant by instant—
It became more clearly apparent that
he had drunk too heavily to be able to
think for himself.
“My Gawd!” he cried. “I’m done
for!”
“Nonsense! Off with your coat!”
“What’s tbat?”
“I aay, off with your coat, man. and
look sharp! Get it off, and I’ll hide it
•while you slip Into one of those wait
ers’ Jackets over there. Then, if they
find us here, we can pretend to be em
ployees. You understand?”
“We’ll get pinched ail the same,” the
man objected stupidly.
“Well, if we do it only means a trip
to the night court and a fine of $5 or
$lO. You’ll be up tomorrow for ab
sence from post, of course, but that’s
better than being caught half drunk in
the basement of a gambling bouse on
your bent”
Impressed, the officer started to un
button his tunic, but hesitated.
“S’pose some of the boys recognize
me?”
“Where are your wits?” demanded
P. Sybarite in exasperation. “This isn’t
a precinct raid! You ought to know
that. Tjf.s is Whitman, going over
everybody's bead.”
Several white Jackets hung from
hooks on the wall near the door. Seiz
ing one of these, the policeman had it
on in a Jiffy.
“Now what’ll I do?” he pursued as
P. Sybarite, the blue coat over bis arm,
grabbed the police cap and atarted for
the door.
“Do? How do I know? Use your
own head for awhile.”
With this tbe little man shot out into
the hallway, slammed the door behind
him and darted Into the adjoining
room. Once there he lost no time
changing coat*—not forgetting to shift
bis money as well—cocked the hat
Jauntily on one side of his head (a bit
too large, It fitted better tbat way,
anyhow), buttoned up and left the
room on the run. For by this time
the front doors had fallen in and the
upper floor was echoing with deep, ex
cited voices and heavy, hurrying foot
steps. In another moment or so they
would be down in the basement search
ing for fugitives.
CHAPTER VI.
Burglary Under Arms.
Hii doubled suddenly to tbe back
door, flung it open and threw
Itimnelf out into the black
strangeness of the night and
at tbe same time into the arms of two
burly plain clothes men.
Strong arms clipping him, he strug
gled violently for an Instant
“Here!” a voice warned him roughly.
“It ain’t gotn' to do you no good"
Another Interrupted with an accent
of deep disgust. "Hanged If it ain't a
patrolman!" in patent recognition of
bis borrowed plumage.
"Why didn’t you say so?" demanded
the first as P. Sybarite fell hack, re
leased.
"Didn't—have—time,” panted the lat
ter. “Here.’' he added quickly, "gim
me a leg over litis fence, will you?"
(To Be Continued Tomorrow.)
CHE AUGUSTA HERALD. AUGUSTA. GA.
■■ 1 """ \ (NO T-‘ \
L- / \ I I SHOOJ-D
s ®§s\ (*?) m *
Y U—ir // . < A / W
r- 11 /p S j((
5W )iQu, wW?' x **** i Ay
THE LITTLE LAMP
One momltiß, arriving at Villa dea
"Lilas, the gnrdncr discovers that one of
the windows on the ground floor Ik
open. A window pane has been broken
and an entrance has been made that
way.
The owners occupy the villa, only dur
ing week-ends. The gardener himself
does not live there, so throughout the
whole week the house stands empty all
night. an»i burglars have taken advant
age of this.
AH the costly bric-a-brac —the silver
ware and jewelry is gone, every drawer
and closet has been searched and
emptied and everything of value carried
off.
The burglary stirs up the whole vil
lage. which contains only two imposing
buildings, the chateau and Villa dos
Lilas. The g€?ndarmes scour the whole
neighborhood. The thieves cannot ho
far away. All tramps for ten miles
around are rounded up, arrested and ex
amined, but each of them is able to
prove an alibi.
At last on the second day, a suspic
ious looking man was caught. Ills pa
pers were of little value and he was un
able to say where he had been during
the night of the burglary. He pretend
ed to have slept in the open air near
the road and Haid he lived by making
brooms which he sold to the house
wives. His name, he said, was Laco
que. He was dressed in rags and he
was 1/rown with exposure to wind and
sun. His vicious small eyes were bare
ly visible under shaggy eyebrows and
the rest of his face, with the exception
of the noHo, was hidden by his unk< mpt
hair and long whiskers. He spoke with
considerable fluency and "hen the ac
cusation was made, he protested violent
ly.
In the village Lacoque was recognizee
by nearly everybody. The evening be
fore the burglary he had been seen
prowling around near the villa. It was
tvhe enough, however, that ho had been
selling brooms, hut that of course was
merely a pretense. No money was found
on him, hut of course, he might have
accomplices or have hidden his booty
somewhere. He was held for trial.
When the case came up for trial
Maitre Couturier was appointed to de
fend the accused. He was a young,
smart and ambitious criminal lawyer for
whom everybody prophesied a very suc
cessful career. He willingly accepted
the task, as he saw a good chance of
having the man acquitted, the evidence
against him being merely that he had
been seen in the village and that he
could prove no alibi.
His speech for the defence was a mas
terpiece. even the young lawyer’s rivals
admitted. In turn he was pathetic, sar
castic, human and stern.
“The present law against vagrants’
he said, “is a crying injustice, because
It bjoks with suspicion upon every per
son who cannot pay for his lodging and
It thus makes poverty a crime. Isn’t it
[kossible for a mar 4 to be honest even if
he has no roof over Ids head?
“Because In the daytime a man sells
brooms that he makes with his own
hands, have we tiny right to supose that
he still steel the next night?
“Prosecutr/rs often have too easy a
time. Justice demanded that a guilt?
person he found. It failed to find any
body, so it threw out its dragnet and the
poorest, tiie humblest, the most miser*
able were caught In their meshes.
“Poor Lacoque, the man of simple
habits, who asked for no more In this
world than « bed of moss to sleep on, a
few leaves to cover himself up with,
must naturally be a thief, because he
wants so little.
“But what has he done with the treas
ures he stole? Whore did he conceal
them? It is no easy thing to hide a
small wagon load of brle-a-trt-.ic, statu
ary, rugs, silverware and jewelry. In
the absence of proof 1 ant confident that
the Jury, composed ns It Is of unusually
Intelligent and fair-minded men, will re
fuse to convict a man whose only crime
is that he Is poor and satisfied to live .
primitive Ife."
The rising enthusiasm which the
young lawyer put Into his speech made
an irresistible Impression on the mem
bers of the Jury and the accused man
was acquitted after a few moments de
liberation.
Laccque himself was deeply moved
and there were tears in his eyes ns he
shok this lawyer's hand and wild he was
sorry his poverty prevented him from
A TOUCH OF SPRING
rewarding him for his services, hut I-«-
couturler cut him short nnd wild the
knowledge of having wived an Innocent
man wan reward enough
Ono night, however, a ilttle over >
week later the young lawyer received n
visit from lAcoque, who brought him a
email parcel wrapped in paper. He
opened It and found a Hmall bronze
Limp.
“Monsieur,” Wild Irficoque, “I told you
the other day that 1 should never he
able to pay you, but I want to give you
this small souvenir. You pleaded my
AS PREXY WILSON AND HIS
JOKING LITTLE FRIEND SEE IT
f Vj '|f 11 ||| ' I
/ Top - They look. J j, j I f I: j |
|
cause so well that at Inst even I my
self began to feel convinced that I was
Innocent. I did not dare contradict you
then. Today however. nothing pre
vents me from confessing. I did have
something to do with that affair.
Though I did not actuslly commit the
burglary. It was 1 who found and point
ed out the house. This Is a time of
specialists in all professions, and I am a
specialist. In tills case. the others
cheated ine. They gave me hftrdly any
of the plunder, so It is almost a« If l
were not mixed up In the matter at all.
without your assistance, I should have
found myself In a hole. This Is why 1
have brought you tills little lamp. There
is no better means to keep burglars
away than a light. You may keep dogs,
but they are easily poisoned, and be
sides, many persons are not afraid of
FIVE
anlmttle A anuill lamp kept Immlng
all nlKlit Ih far hotter. When hurßltirs
see il they Imastnc the houne Ih In
hablteil (lien they leave It alone. When
you become a rlrli man, anil a brilliant
lawyer, an you miint In become n rleh
man, you will nurely have a country
bonne where you will npenil your week •
cihlh anil Ili.-n >uti will keep tlitn lltt e
lamp biirnliiK ali night. !» will protect
you. It will he elninnt :ih If I nivnelf
were guarding lb* man who .ttayed me
front a prison cell,
Vlsllhtß Philanthropist—flood morn.
I hr, madam; I ant collectinß for the
iirunkardn' Home.
Mm. Patrick Sure, I'm glad of It,
nor If you eonte around tunlßhl you
can have my hunbund— Hucceeeful Farm
ing.