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Show 1 Kismet and the Ealy Orchid 1 , By FRANK LOVELL NELSON I Carlton Clarke, Telepatho - Deductive Solver of Criminal Mysteries, Tries 1 His Hand at a New Sort of Puzzle, Receiving Reward, Hon. I Bertie Hoppington Coming Into His Own and Chief I Shipp Getting the Credit for the Feat. ns HN looking over my rather rath-er meager notes I ofton find It difficult to select among tho countless cases In which I have been associated with Carlton Clnrko tho ono that will best mako a r story. At tho time of which this story deals his fame as an untnnglcr of mysteries had gono far nnd wide and our Onk Btrcot quarters often presented n regular procession of clients ns early and as lato as Clnrko was willing to rccolvo them. Many of my renders doubtless will recall when the city was shocked by tho mysterious murder of tho Honorable Honor-able Algernon Sydnoy Hoppington. Such was tho sensation at tho time that It scorns almost unnecessary now to go Into tho details, Tho crlmo, for crlmo It was upon the face, was discovered dis-covered about four o'clock In tho morning, nnd so groat was tho flguro that tho Honorable Algernon Sydnoy had cut during his thrco years' residence resi-dence In Chicago, whero ho had come from Kngland to claim tho fortune running well Into tho millions graciously gra-ciously founded thero by n great-undo, great-undo, that tho nowspapors hold on tholr entire mcchnnlcal forco for n double-column extra. I openod tho door to admit our old friend, lato Inspector, now Chlof, Shlpp. It was not his first call nt our humble quarters, for ho had long Blnco discovered whero to come for a quiet tip that demanded none of tho official credit In return, nnd many a stubborn ensa had he laid bctoro Clnrko, Wo had him back Into tho dining room. Clarko merely nodded nnd continued con-tinued to sip his coffee nnd puff at his clgarotto, whllo he watched the chief and waited for him to speak. "Well, Mr. Wlrard, I supposo you know whut I'm hero for beforo I toll you," began tho chief. "Yes, I should say It Is tho Hoppington Hop-pington case, I am afraid I will have to rnvlso tho estimate of tho affair I wns Just delivering to Mr. Sexton, horo. Not so simple ns It looked then. Tell us about It, Haven't tho servants put you on tho right track t" "Not within n thousand miles of the track. They don't know anything. Hoppington was writing In his library at elovon o'clock. Ho called tho but-lor, but-lor, Itimn, to got him a bottlo of wine. Half an hour lator ho came out to tho dining room, where Illffln was with Dryson, the other matt servant, and handed them the bottlo ono-fourth full and told them to finish It. They did and that Is tho last they remember. Drugged, I supposo. I have tho bottlo with tho few drops that were left and will have them analyzed. The thrco maids had boon entertaining company, some of my men, it appears, In the kitchen. They had just lot them out the bnck way fend had gone Into tho butler's pantry to get n bite to eat before be-fore going up to bed when the door slammed and they heard the bolt shot and they wero locked In. About an hour afterward, as near as I can gather from their hysterical memory of what happened, they heard n piercing pierc-ing female scream ring through the house' "And look hero! Found it on tho lowor stop of the stoop," and the chief drew from his pocket a bundle and on unrclllng It displayed a tiny white rutin slipper, it 'No. 1 A. It was lltnr-ally lltnr-ally sotkod In blood. "A voman's work, you think?' queried Clarko. At tho Hoppington number we found ono of those squnre red stone mansions man-sions typical of the period immediately immediate-ly following tho Are. "Ah, he was a fancier of orchids, I see," remarked Clarke. "Humph I" snorted the chief. "I'm sure I don't know what you are talking talk-ing about, but If you're looking for clews thero aro the knife and the slipper, slip-per, that are worth inoro than all your old orchids put together for my purposes." pur-poses." Oiice out of tho house Clarko exclaimed: ex-claimed: "Quick, Sexton, a cab. We'll beat the chlof at that little gamo." I hailed a passing hansom and Clarke directed tho driver to gt to the Auditorium hotel In tho quickest possible pos-sible time. "And can you really lay your hands on the couple within an hour7" "Oh, of course It is always well to make these things strong when talking talk-ing to one of thu clitofs caliber, but here Is the case us I seo It It may need several revlslngs before we cotno to the end, I admit, whon confronted with the evidence of the knife through the table, the blood-stained slipper und the mysterious telephone call, to saj nothing of tho drugged wine and the sorvants carefully rendered hors de combat, I couldn't see a ray ol light from them. It was evident Hopping, ton hod been entertaining a man and a woman; that either bo disposed of I the servants himself In order to carry out somo criminal design of his own or elso that ho was trlckod Into doing It ns a part of the plot that was his undoing. un-doing. "Tho knife thrust through tho table seems to suggest cither pure bravado or an excess of murderous passion that Is not borne out by nny other ovl-denco ovl-denco of strugglo In tho room. Tho sntln slipper and tho telephone call aro tho points of ovldcnco added by tho woman, Sho may havo stepped Into tho blood and shaken off tho slipper, not to avoid being tracked, for sho thereby left a dangerous clow, but bo-canto bo-canto It would bo easier to explain a lost slipper than ono soaked with blood. Hut hero I was faced by a stono wnll and I could go no further." "Absolutely nothing," I Bald blnnkly. "Of courso not; but read this and see If It throws nny light on It I clipped It from this morning's paper" It wasjtn Item from tho personal Intelligence In-telligence column and It said. "Capt. Fltzhugh Graham, tho famous Kngllsh orchid hunter, nrrlvcd In the city yesterday yes-terday nftor a six months stay In tho Philippines and Is registered nt tho Auditorium Annex." "Capt. Fltzhugh Graham," said Clarko to tho clork at tho desk, tendering ten-dering our cards. Tho captain hastily cleared two chairs for us. "Mr. Clarko I understand under-stand then la a fancier of orchids," ho said as Ills eyes wandered Inquiringly from ono to tho othor of us. Tho captain hung over the bnck of his chair with boredom written on his faco. There was no flaw In his acting, if acting It was, as ho carelessly replied: re-plied: "You have been well Informed, Mr. Clarke, but I regret to say that the Odontoglossum stood tho trip badly, as you know they nearly always do. It was not such a specimen as I would care to offor. In fact I had determined deter-mined not to spoil Hopplngton's collection col-lection with It, even If he had not been murdered, and this morning I had the alavoy throw It out. If that Is all you will kindly cxruso me nnd I will continue con-tinue my packing as I am leaving for London this nftornoon." Clarke glanced quickly from Oraham to me, and I thought I detected warn-Inc warn-Inc In his eyes. Tho captain watched him with apparent nonchnlanco, but thoro was something in his attltudo which suggested the crouch of a tlgor ready for the loap. "And so the servants threw tho Odontoglossum out? How sad. I do not bellovo thero are two specimens In Chicago." Clarko suddenly reached over and throw open the door of tho humidor. Within thore was nn orchid of surpassing sur-passing beauty. "Yes, thero aro threo, and Captain Graham, you havo lied." Tho metamorphosis to the tiger was suddon nnd complete. Full half the length of the room tho cnptaln lenpod. knocking over two chairs In his night through the nlr, while his long slnowy lingers closed around the throat of Clarke. It was so suddon that 1 scarce, ly seemed able to gather tho thought necessary to bring my nnger to the trigger or tho revolver In my pocket. As soon ns I saw Clarke's hand go up and encircle tho captain's straining wrist I recognized ono of Clarke's favorite fa-vorite tricks of Jlu JItsue. A look of Intenso pain crossed the captain's face, the arm became nerveless and In a moment more his huge bulk of a body swuug around and Clnrko boro It easily and gently to tho floor, then reaching for tho othor hand, clicked on the beautiful llttlo pair of nlckel-stoel handcuffs, dainty as a lady's bracelet, that ho always carried In his hip pocket. Then the coming of the chlof relieved re-lieved a situation that was becoming tense. Captain Graham stood haughtily at tho door waiting the chlors will. Whatever battle had been raging Id his mind ovldently had ended In mastery, for ho quietly tuterprosed: "Mr. Clarke, I ask that you take no further steps. It Is useloss. I alono am guilty. At tho proper time I will tell all." "Clarke, Clarke, I've got her," I almost al-most shouted, thrusting tho paper at him. Tho Item was under the head of Socloty Notes and road; "Among the occupants of tho boxes at the performance perform-ance or Alda by the Metropolitan Grand Opora company at tho Auditorium Auditor-ium last night wero Captain Fltzhugh Graham and Countess Evelyn Scryra-gour Scryra-gour of London." "Quick, a telephone," ordered Clarke, I and the obsequious waiter set an Instrument In-strument on the tablo and cc inectod It with tho wall switch. Ho soon had my old newspaper office and asked fcr tho Boclety editor. "Horo," he said, handing mo the receiver. re-ceiver. "Ask her whore the couutoss Is staying." "The Victorian. J believe," came tho answer. It was only a step away and we paid our bill and hurried out. It was plain as day. At the opera together at olevon, to Hopplngton's by cab bo-tween bo-tween that hour and midnight. Tho countess, whoevor sho might be, was too ctoaely connected with tho action of tho night before not to know something some-thing at least. When we reached tho Victorian we wore awaro of unwontod excitement In tho neighborhood of that usually qutct hostelry. A police ambulance and a patrol wagon wero at the door discharging their load of blue-coats. Sovoral active young men whom I Immediately Im-mediately spotted us reporters were hurrying Into the lobby. One of them whom I know, Nevlns of tho Globe, I gripped by tho shouldor nnd asked for an explanation. "Countess of Scrymgour or something some-thing committed sulcldo In her room. Como on with mo." Thero across tho bed lay tho woman of whoso oxlstonco we had learned not tlvo minutes beforo und with whom wo had hoped to bo in conversation nt that vory moment, Sho was fully dressed, about thirty years of age, and beautiful oven In death, with her deep ollro complexion, her foatvrcs of tho most delicate patrician mold, her Hps, which the blood had not yet deserted, as red as coral, and her silky black hair, ono loose strand of which strayed over the temple and half concealed tho round red spot whero death had eutered. And this form but a few moments mo-ments before had been Instinct and quivering with Ufa and love and passion, pas-sion, A Jeweled revolver of small caliber, ntter for a lady's toy than for an Instrument of tragody, rested in the nerveless Angora on tho white laco covering of the bed, Novlna was prowling around making his Investigations Independently of the police. I kopt my eyes on him and watched him abstract a letter from the open secretary. He glanced at the address and put It carefully In his pocket, I drew him into a corner. "Look here, Nevlns," 1 said, "let me seo the letter and I'll let you In on the biggest story you ever pulled off. Trust mo and you'll go Into the office with the full story of tho Hoppington murder." This was bait enough and ho took the letter from his pocket. I glanced at tho address. It was "Captain Fltx-liugh Fltx-liugh araham." "Wo'vo got it. Quick! Out of here," I whispered, catching Clurko's oyo and boottonlng him to follow, A few minutes later wo wore at central cen-tral station and with the chief In Ora-ham's Ora-ham's cell. Clarko handed him the lottor. Ills face blanched as ho glanced at the address, but he pulled himself together, to-gether, broko the seal nnd read the contents. Then, but for Clarko catching catch-ing him, he would have fallen lifeless to the coll noor. We laid him on tho bunk and tho Jail attendants rushed In nnd applied the usual restoratives, The chief had picked up tho lottor which had fallen from Graham's lingers, lin-gers, He read It and passed It to us, I give It verbatim: "Ilelovedi Klamrt Is tuo strnnK for us, Tlicrn Is tint on way out and I shall tuke It. The blood of 'thn bcaat,' Is on my hand and your love could nevor wah ttirm clean. Tell, all and av yourself. When you read this I ahull be dead by tbe llttlft weapon you save me. Forgive ine for the tuln of your life. You only have I loved. I klsa your mouth. "KVRLYN " For wcokB we despaired of ever hearing Graham's story while he lay In brain fever, the result of the shock to bis already overwrought nervous system. At last, however. Clarke, the chief and I, who, despite the fact that we wero tho instruments of his undoing, undo-ing, he regnrded as his closest friends, sat by his bedilde and heard the pitiful piti-ful tale. I will abridge it to give the reader only the points In tho story which remained a mystery to us and must bo equally so to anyone following theso Hues. Captain Graham first met the Countess Count-ess Evelyn Scrymgour at a house party In Warwickshire. Ha had fallen BBKaaaBBBBBBisBa deeply In love' with her at nr'st sight and he laid siege to her heart as persistently per-sistently as ever he followed a rare specimen of orchid. That sho returned his love ho was sure, but thore was a restraint In her relations with him that he could not fathom, Finally when riding to hounds they found themselves far from the pack. Night was coming on, a beautiful moonlit night that no lover could resist. As they Jogged their horses side by side along the brldlo path ho took her In his arms across the saddle. She struggled strug-gled feebly, yielded and tholr Hps met In ono long, passionate kiss. At last she freed herself and told her pitiful story. Sho could not marry him. Sho could not In honor say that she loved him, She was already the wife of another, an-other, wedded before the registrar, although she did not toll him this man was the Hon, Algernon Sidney Hop-plngtou. Hop-plngtou. Tho marriage must be kept secret becauso ir Hoppington married mar-ried ngainst the wishes or without the knowledge and consent or the great-unclo In America he forfeited all right to his vast estate. Yes, she had thought sho loved him, but now but she might not say; honor sealed her lips. This honor Oraham respected, and ho ncccpted his fate like a man and sought to forget her In long journeys nttondant upon his chosen vocation. Hut Kismet was too strong for1 them Hoppington came Into his fortune and left England to claim It. Then en-sued en-sued a long silence In which his wife know nothing of his movements but what, she saw in the papers. Had Graham returned to Kngland then a divorce and a Mppler marriage might have followed, but ho was far oft In the Philippines, At last anger and a woman's curiosity to know what was going on got the better of her. and sho determined to go to Chicago openly, and, ir necessary, "nght it out hero to the conclusion of a recognl-tlon recognl-tlon of her rights or an absolute divorce. 1ST Klsmot brought Capt Graham to Chicago nt tho somo tlmo to 8t to Hoppington tho baby orchid. Kismet placed them in hotels but a block apart and Kismot engineered their meeting on Michigan boulovard, ' Would sho sharo his box at Its opera that night? Yes, sho had nothltj to conceal, nothing to bo ashnmiid ot, and a neglected wlfa's right to don,-sho don,-sho pleased. If her husband war awaro or her presenco In tho city, b had not Intimated It. Over tho supper t table after tho theater sho told Ma all. ovon tho nnino of the man wbt' had ruined her llfo. "Hang It, let's havo It over with t : night!" tho captain blurted. "I'll gt '. out there with you. Henstly hour U call, but I havo tho orchid, and thai t will, bo sufficient excuso for my visit. So sho yielded to his plan and the) , took a carriage and drove out to Hop plngton's home, laying their plana ci tho way. They drovo past tho hooK 1 onco before stopping, as thero alrctd was a cnrrlago at tho door As the) did so they saw tho door open tM Hoppington In tho light bidding it . over affectionate good night to a rata or flashily dressed young woman, win then new down tho stops, Jumped Intt tho cab, and was driven quickly away. ; "And that," Lady Evolyn had laid, ' laying her hand on Capt. Graham'i arm, "Is why I am cast off." "And that," again Interrupted ' Clarke, "Is why ho drugged his serf ants and locked up bis maids." Then they executed their coop., Capt. Graham went In first, leaflet' tho countess In tho enrfjago and gaining gain-ing easy admittanco through the potency po-tency ot the name ot tho baby orchid. They bargained for nwhllo, and thes tho captain got Hoppington out of the room for a moment whllo ho signaled and admitted the countoss. When Hoppington returned ho found himself face to faco with his wife. The orchil Beller was gone. High words followed after his first surprlso was over, bitter words that coupled tho namo of tho countess with that or tho captain In n way that made 1 Graham clench his lists and grit hit teeth to keep from dashing from tha dark corner behind tho stairway when sho had his promise to remain no mat. " ter what happened short ot actual violence. vio-lence. Then sho charged him with thl ' woman they had seen leaving tha door. "And you know that, you she derlV ho shouted, rushing upon her with uplifted up-lifted fist. He failed to notico that sho wai toying with a keen-pointed huntltf knife, an ornament to bis library tabla. The captain rushed out, but he wai too late. Involuntnrlly, Graham maintained, nnd for the sake of tha dead and the Inability to disprove It let us believe so, sho had raised tha knife, tho whole forco oUhls bodf enmo against It, and it sank Into hla heart. Tho countess gave a piercing scream, and then tho houso was still, Ther wero alono with the dead. When tha horror ot the dood had lifted Bufflclent-ly Bufflclent-ly for them to think of tho future, Oraham drow the knlfo from the wound, and, lifting It high over th tablo, brought It down with all th power of his muscular right arm. Tha blade sank through the wood up ta the hilt. "There," he said, "no matter what comos, darling, no woman's bait did It." Though Innocent In everything, the-vory the-vory manner of their being in houso was against them. They planned! to return to tholr hotels, keep clow for a day to avoid tho suspicion of quick doparturo, and then leave Chicago Chi-cago with Its mystery unsolved. Ba tho lost slipper on tho stoop, the bahf orchid and Kismet willed otherwl- And who sent tho tolephone m sage to the police? Was It the woman wom-an they had seen who lator returned' and discovered tho crime? Was It tha countess who shuddered to think of the man Bhe once thought she. lT( and whose namo she had a right ta bear, lying there dead and alone? Or ham did not know, nnd wo did not nnd out. I have no doubt but that araham'a story, told us we heard It to tbo cbp oner's Jury would havo ct him free. Dut some complication, soo fevor doubtless that he bad picked In the tropics, sot In and proved to much, for his weakened body TM law had no cbanco to correct the err of hla arrest, Hon. Hertlo Hoppington came n his own. Chief Shlpp got the credl for the solution of tho mystery, CIfM got the reward, at least so I suppo for ho Is uniformly silent on thoM matters, and I, well I got tho storfi-and storfi-and now you have that, (Copyright, im. by. W. a, Chapro) tfopyrttht In Great Britain.) |