WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:10.119 The Eagle's Claws by Ellis Parker Butler. As Filo Gubb 2 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:13.800 boarded the train for Riverbank. After recovering the silver loving 3 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:17.440 Cup from the interior of the petrified man, he cast 4 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:21.920 a regretful glance backward. It was for Cyrilla. There was 5 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:25.079 half a ton of her pink, white beauty, and her 6 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:29.079 placid cow like expression touched an echoing cord in Philo 7 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:34.679 Gubb's heart. Philo felt, however, that his admiration must be hopeless, 8 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:38.039 for Syrilla must earn a salary in keeping with her size, 9 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:41.439 and his income was too irregular and small to keep 10 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:45.560 even a thin wife. Five hundred dollars was a large 11 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:49.079 reward for a loving cup that cost not over thirty dollars. 12 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:52.679 It is true, but mister Jonas Meadowbrook had afford to 13 00:00:52.759 --> 00:00:55.640 pay what he chose, and as he was passionately fond 14 00:00:55.679 --> 00:00:59.479 of golf and passionately poor at the game, and as 15 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:02.439 this was probably the only golf prize he would ever win, 16 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:06.680 he was justified in paying liberally, especially as this cup 17 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:09.840 was not merely a tankard, but almost large enough to 18 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:13.959 be called a tank. Detective Gub hastened to the home 19 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:17.280 of mister Meadowbrook. But when the door of that palatial 20 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:20.400 house opened, the colored butler told mister Gubb that mister 21 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:24.159 Meadowbrook was at the golf club, attending the annual banquet 22 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:28.200 of the fifty worst Duffers. Mister Gubb started for the 23 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:31.719 golf club. As he walked, he thought of Sorilla, and 24 00:01:31.879 --> 00:01:33.959 he was at the gate of the golf club before 25 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:37.640 he knew it. He walked up the path toward the clubhouse, 26 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:42.599 but when halfway he stopped short. All his detective instincts aroused. 27 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:46.239 The windows of the clubhouse glowed with light, and sounds 28 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:49.400 of merriment issued from them. But the cause of Philo 29 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:52.799 Gub's sudden pause was ahead, silhouetted against one of the 30 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:57.200 glowing windows. As mister Gubb watched, he saw the head 31 00:01:57.239 --> 00:02:00.680 disappear in the gloom below the window. Only two reappear 32 00:02:00.760 --> 00:02:04.760 at another window. Mister Gubb, following the directions as laid 33 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:08.560 down in less than four of the correspondences, Lessons, dropped 34 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:11.439 to his hands and knees and crept silently toward the 35 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:15.080 Paul Prye. When within a few feet of him, mister 36 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:19.759 Gubb seated himself tailor fashion on the grass. As Filo 37 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:22.439 sat on the damp grass, The man at the window 38 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:25.479 turned his head, and mister Gubb noted with surprise that 39 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:28.840 the stranger had none of the marks of a sodden criminal. 40 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:33.039 The face was that of a respectably benevolent old German 41 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:37.800 American gentleman. Kindliness and good nature beamed from its lines, 42 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:41.439 but at the moment the plump little man seemed in trouble. 43 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:46.599 Good evening, said mister Gubb. I presume you are taking 44 00:02:46.599 --> 00:02:49.520 an observation of the dinner party within the inside of 45 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:54.800 the club. The old gentleman turned sharply. Jess, he said, 46 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:58.759 I look at their people's eating and drinking, as I 47 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:03.039 like to see that unsouch good at e thes dot 48 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:06.280 Man mit Der Blackbeard, he vas es splendid e There 49 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:10.280 mister Gubb raised himself to his knees and looked into 50 00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:14.360 the dining room. That he said, is the honorable mister 51 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:20.919 Jonas Meadowbrook, the wealthiest rich man in Riverbank Metterbrook Mehta Krook, 52 00:03:21.639 --> 00:03:26.840 said the old German American. Not Chon's ah not Jones 53 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:30.560 to my present personal knowledge at this time, said Philo Gubb. 54 00:03:31.479 --> 00:03:36.719 Not Chons repeated the plumply benevolent looking German American dot 55 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:41.080 vas strange, you vas sure I vas not Johns. I'm 56 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:45.159 quite almost positive upon that point of knowledge, said Philo Gubb. 57 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:48.120 For I have under my arm a golf cup. I 58 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:51.360 am returning back to mister meadowbrook to receive five hundred 59 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:56.159 dollars reward from him. For so queried the stranger fife 60 00:03:56.240 --> 00:04:00.759 hundr dollars. Wouldn't it is his cup? It is, said 61 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:03.639 Filo Gubb. He raised the cup in his hand that 62 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:06.680 the stranger might read the inscription, stating that the cup 63 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:10.240 was Jonas Meadowbrooks. The light of the window made the 64 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:13.199 engraving easy to read, but the old German American first 65 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:16.399 drew from his pocket a pair of gold rimmed spectacles 66 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:19.879 and adjusted them carefully on his nose. He then took 67 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:22.399 the cup and moved closer to the window and read 68 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:27.800 the inscription. Jez jesz, he agreed, nodding his head several times, 69 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.600 and then he smiled at mister Gubb, a broadly benevolent smile. 70 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:36.560 Excuse me, he added, and with gentle deliberation, he removed 71 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:41.240 mister Gubb's hat. Just a minute, please, he continued, and 72 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:44.120 with his free hand, he felt gently on the top 73 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:47.839 of mister Gubb's head. He turned mister Gubb's head gently 74 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:53.279 to the right, so he exclaimed, dat vaskuld. He raised 75 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:55.360 the cup above his head and brought it down on 76 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:57.680 top of mister Gubb's head in the exact spot he 77 00:04:57.720 --> 00:05:01.879 had selected. For two moments, mister Gubb made motions with 78 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:04.920 his hands resembling those of a swimmer, and then he 79 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:09.199 collapsed in a heap. The kindly looking old German American gentleman, 80 00:05:09.240 --> 00:05:12.360 seeing he was quite unconscious, tucked the golf cup under 81 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:15.480 his own arm and waddled slowly down the path to 82 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:19.720 the club gates. Ten minutes later, a small automobile drove 83 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:23.720 up and young doctor Anson Briggs hopped out. Mister Gubb 84 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:26.279 was just getting to his feet, feeling the top of 85 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.120 his head with his hand as he did so. Here 86 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:33.279 said doctor Briggs. You must not do that. Why can't 87 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:36.279 I do it? Mister Gubb asked Crossley. It is my 88 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:39.160 own personal head, and if I wish to desire to 89 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:42.000 rub it, you are not concerned in the occasion. Whatever, 90 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:45.639 Oh rub your head if you want to, exclaimed the doctor. 91 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:48.240 I say you must not stand up a man that 92 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:51.600 has just had a fit must not stand up. Who 93 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:57.000 had a fit, asked Filo Gub. You did, said doctor Briggs. 94 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:59.120 I am told you had a very bad fit and 95 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:01.959 fell and knocked your head against the building. You're dazed, 96 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:06.000 lie down. I prefer to wish to stand erect on 97 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:10.439 my feet, said mister Gubb firmly. Where's my cup? What 98 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:14.399 cub who told you I was suffering from the symptoms 99 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:19.000 of a fit, demanded Philo Gubb. Why a short, plump 100 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:21.839 little german did, said the doctor. He sent me here 101 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:24.920 and he gave me this to give to you. The 102 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:28.160 doctor held an envelope toward mister Gubb, and the detective 103 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:30.759 took it and tore it open. By the light of 104 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:35.480 the window, he read received of J. Jones golf cup 105 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:41.519 worth five hundred dollars p H. Schrekenheim. Filo Gubb turned 106 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:45.959 to doctor Briggs. I am much obliged for the hastiness 107 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:48.879 with which you came to relieve one you considered to 108 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:52.480 think in trouble, Doctor, he said, but fits are not 109 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:57.279 in my line of sickness, which mainly is dyspeptic to date. Now, 110 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:01.160 what is all this, asked the doctor. Suspicion. What is 111 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:05.240 that letter anyway? It is a clue, said Filo Gubb, 112 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:08.240 which connected with the bump on the top of the 113 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:11.680 cranium of my skull, will no doubt land somebody into jail. 114 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:15.439 So good evening, doctor. He picked his hat from the 115 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:18.319 lawn and in his most stately manner, walked around the 116 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:22.839 clubhouse and in at the door. Inside the clubhouse, mister 117 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:25.519 Gubb asked one of the waiters to call mister Meadowbrook, 118 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:29.480 and mister Meadobrook immediately appeared. As he came from the 119 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:32.680 dining room rapidly, the napkin he had tucked in his 120 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:36.480 neck fell over his shoulder behind him, and mister Meadowbrook, 121 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:40.000 instead of turning around, bent backwards until he could pick 122 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:43.720 up the napkin with his teeth, after which he resumed 123 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:48.279 his normal upright position. Excuse me, Gub, he said, I 124 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:51.439 didn't think what I was doing. Where's the cup, the 125 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:55.279 detective explained. He handed mister Meaderbrook the receipt that had 126 00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:58.959 been sent by mister Schrekenheim, and the moment mister Meaderbrook's 127 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:03.600 eyes fell upon it, he turned red. That infernal dutchman. 128 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:07.360 He cried, although mister Schrekenheim was not a Dutchman at all, 129 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:12.120 but a German American. I'll jail him for this. He 130 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:17.040 stopped short, Gubb. He said, did that fellow tell you 131 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:21.199 what his business was? He did not, said Filo Gubb. 132 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:25.360 He failed to express any mention of it. That man, 133 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:29.920 said mister Meadowbrook bitterly. Is Schrekenheim the greatest tattoo artist 134 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:32.200 in the world. He is the king of them all, 135 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:36.200 a connoisseur in tattooish art Cantella Schrekenheim as easily as 136 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:40.679 a picture dealer Cantella corot. But no matter, mister Gubb. 137 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:42.879 You are a detective, and I believe what is told 138 00:08:42.919 --> 00:08:48.080 detectives is held inviolable. Yes, you and all Riverbanks see 139 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:52.480 me an ordinary citizen. Wealthy perhaps, but ordinary. As a 140 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:56.159 matter of fact. I was once, he looked cautiously around. 141 00:08:56.679 --> 00:09:01.639 I was once a contortionist. I was once the contortionist, 142 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:05.080 and now I am a wealthy man. My wife left 143 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:07.360 me because she said I was stingy, and she took 144 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:11.279 my child, my only daughter. I have never seen either 145 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:13.919 of them since. I have searched high and low, but 146 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:17.120 I cannot find them. Mister Gubb, I would give the 147 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:19.879 man that finds my daughter, if she is alive, a 148 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.639 thousand dollars. You don't object to my attempting to try, 149 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:29.919 said Filo Gubb. No, said mister Jonas Meadobrook. But that 150 00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:33.559 is not what I wished to explain in my contortion act. 151 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:36.519 Mister Gubb, I was obliged to wear the most expensive 152 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:40.840 silk tights. Wiggling on the floor destroys them rapidly. I 153 00:09:40.919 --> 00:09:44.360 had a happy thought. I was known as the man serpent. 154 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:47.720 Could I not save all expenses of tights by having 155 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:51.919 myself tattooed so that my skin would represent scales? Look, 156 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:56.039 mister Meadowbrook pulled up his cuff and showed mister Gubb 157 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:59.879 his arm. It was beautifully tattooed in red and blue, 158 00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:04.279 like the scales of a cobra. The cost continued, mister 159 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:09.080 Meadowbrook was great. Herr Schreckenheim worked continuously on me, and 160 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:12.120 when he reached my manly chest, I had a brilliant 161 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:15.799 thought I would have tattooed upon it an American eagle. 162 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:19.360 Imagine the enthusiasm of an audience when I stood straight, 163 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:22.440 spread my arms and showed that noble emblem of our 164 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:26.360 nation's strength and freedom. I told Herr Schreckenheim, and he 165 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:30.240 set to work. When and the contract price, by the way, 166 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:33.120 for doing that eagle was five hundred dollars. When the 167 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:37.120 eagle was about completed, I said to Herr Schreckenheim, of 168 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:41.919 course you will do no more eagles. More eagles, he said, 169 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:45.720 questioningly on other men. I said, I want to be 170 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:49.159 the only man with an eagle on my chest. I 171 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:52.120 am doing an eagle on another man now, he said. 172 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:56.080 I was angry at once. I jumped from the table 173 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:59.960 and threw on my clothes cheater. I cried, not another 174 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:03.480 spot or dot shall you make on me? Go? I 175 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:07.279 will never pay you a cent. He was very angry. 176 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:10.440 It is a contract, he cried, five hundred dollars you 177 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:13.399 owe me. I owe it to you when the job 178 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:17.039 is complete. I declared that was the contract. Is this 179 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:21.720 job complete? Where are the eagle's claws? I'll never pay 180 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:25.399 you a cent. We had a lot of angry words. 181 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:27.519 He demanded that I give him a chance to put 182 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:30.759 the claws on the eagle. I refused. I said I 183 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:33.000 would never pay. He said he would follow me to 184 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:35.480 the end of the world and collect He said he 185 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:38.159 would do those eagle claws if he had to do 186 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:42.240 them on my infant daughter. I dared him to touch 187 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:46.200 the child. And now, said mister Meadowbrook, he has taken 188 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:49.039 the golf cup I value at five hundred dollars. He 189 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:53.440 has won. At the mention of the threat regarding the child, 190 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:58.679 Filo Gubb's eyes opened wide, but he kept silent. Gubb 191 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:02.039 said mister Meadobrook. Suddenly, I'll give you one thousand dollars 192 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:06.960 if you can recover my poor child. The detecative profession 193 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:10.919 is full of complicity of detail, said mister Gubb. And 194 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:14.519 the impossible is quite possible when put in the right hands. 195 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:19.279 The cub bother the cup, said mister Meadowbrook carelessly. I 196 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.679 want my child. I'll give ten thousand dollars for my child. 197 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:27.960 Gub with difficulty, could Filo Gub restrain his eagerness to depart. 198 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:32.600 He had a clue. Ordinarily, mister Gubb would have taken 199 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:35.320 any disguise that seemed to him best suited for the 200 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:38.559 work in hand. But now he was going to see 201 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:43.519 and be seen by Sorilla. Mister Gub ran down the 202 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:48.399 list number seven card sharp number nine Minister of the 203 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:53.960 Gospel number twelve, Butcher number sixteen, Negro hack driver number seventeen, 204 00:12:54.120 --> 00:13:01.440 Chinese laundryman number twenty. Cowboy Filo Gub paused he would 205 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:07.080 be a cowboy, for it was a jaunty disguise. Chaps, sombrero, spurs, 206 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:12.519 buckskin gloves, holsters and pistols, blue shirt, yellow hair, stubby mustache. 207 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:16.559 He donned the complete disguise, put his street garments in 208 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:19.600 a suit case, and viewed himself in his small mirror. 209 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:24.399 He highly approved of the disguise. He touched his cheeks 210 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:28.840 with red to give himself a healthy outdoor appearance. Early 211 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:32.320 the next morning, before the earliest merchants had opened their shops, 212 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:35.960 Filo Gubb boarded the train for West Higgins, for it 213 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:39.519 was there the world's greatest combined shows were to appear. 214 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:44.360 The few sleepy passengers did not open their eyes. The conductor, 215 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:47.639 as he took mister Gubb's ticket, merely remarked joining the 216 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:52.320 show at West Higgins and passed on. Boys were already 217 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:55.480 gathering on the West Higgins station platform when the train 218 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:58.679 pulled in, and they cheered mister Gubb, thinking him part 219 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:02.360 of the show. This greatly increased the difficulty of mister 220 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:06.279 Gubb's detective work. He had hoped to steal unobserved, to 221 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:09.799 the circus grounds, but a dozen small boys immediately attached 222 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:13.519 themselves to him, running before him and whooping with joy. 223 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:18.559 Boys said mister Gubb sternly, I wish you to run 224 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:21.639 away and play elsewhere than in front of me, continuously 225 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:25.360 all the time, and they cheered because he had spoken. 226 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:29.080 Only the glad news that the circus trains had reached 227 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:33.879 town finally dragged them reluctantly away. Detective Gub hurried to 228 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:36.879 the circus grounds. The cook tent was already up and 229 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:40.480 the grub tent was being put up presently, the side 230 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:43.960 show tent was up and the big top rising. It 231 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:46.639 was not until nine o'clock, however, that the side show 232 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:50.200 ladies and gentlemen began to appear. And when they arrived, 233 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:53.039 they went at once to the grub tent and seated 234 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:55.919 themselves at the table. From a corner of the big 235 00:14:55.960 --> 00:15:00.679 top's side wall, Detective Gub watched them. Look there, deary, 236 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:05.399 said Marilla suddenly to Princess Zozo. Don't that cowboy look 237 00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:08.120 like mister Gubb that was at Bardville and got the 238 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:12.000 golf cup. It don't look like him, said Princess Zozo. 239 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:14.679 It is him. Why don't you ask him to come 240 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:17.480 over and help at the eats? You seem to like 241 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:22.879 him yesterday. I thought he was a real gentlemanly gentleman, dearie, 242 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:26.679 if that's what you mean, said Sorilla, and raising her voice, 243 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:30.440 she called to mister Gobb. For a moment, he hesitated, 244 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:33.720 and then he came forward. We knowed you the minute 245 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:36.639 we seen you. Mister Gubb, Come and sit in beside 246 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:39.480 me and have some breakfast. If you ain't dined, I 247 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:42.200 thought you went home last night. You ain't after no 248 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:47.120 more criminals, are you. There are variously many ends to 249 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:51.159 the detecative business, said mister Gubb, as he seated himself 250 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:55.039 beside Sorilla. I'm upon a most important case at the 251 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:59.679 present time. Sorilla reached for her fifth boiled potato, and 252 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:02.840 as her her arm past mister Gubb's face, he thrilled 253 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:06.960 he had not been mistaken. Upon that arm was a 254 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:11.840 pair of eagle's claws tattooed in red and blue. How 255 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:14.879 little these had meant to him before, and how much 256 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:19.559 they meant now? I presume you don't hardly ever long 257 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:22.600 for a home in one place, miss Sorilla. He began, 258 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:26.080 with his eye fixed on her arm, just above the elbow. 259 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:31.200 Well believe me, dearie, said Sorilla. You don't want to 260 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:33.559 think that just because I travel with a side show, 261 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:36.240 I don't long for the refinements of a true home 262 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:39.840 just like other folks. Some folks think I'm easy to 263 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:43.200 see through and that I ain't nothin but fat and appetite. 264 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:46.720 But they've got me down wrong, mister Gubb. I was 265 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:49.600 unfortunate in getting lost from my father and mother when 266 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:52.840 a babe. But many as the time I've said to Zozo, 267 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:57.320 I've got a refined strain in my nature, haven't i? Zozo? 268 00:16:58.360 --> 00:17:00.519 You say it every time we begin to rag you 269 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.960 about falling in love with every new thin man you see, 270 00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:07.480 said Princess Zozo. You said it last night when we 271 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:11.759 was joshing you about mister Gubb. Here, Sorilla colored, but 272 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:17.200 mister Gubb thrilled joyously just the same, Deary Sorilla said 273 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:21.000 to Princess Zozo, I've got myself listed right when I 274 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:24.359 say I got a refined nature, I've got all the 275 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:28.000 instincts of a real society lady, and sometimes it irks 276 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:30.400 me awful not to be able to let myself loose 277 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:36.240 and bant like pant, asked mister Gubb. Bant was the 278 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:40.359 word I used, mister Gubb, Sorilla replied, maybe you wouldn't 279 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:43.599 guess it looking at me shovelin' in the etibles this way. 280 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:46.599 But eating food is the cruelest thing I have to do. 281 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:51.240 It charged me something terrible, yes, dearie. What I longed 282 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:53.599 for day and night is a chance to take my 283 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:56.759 place in the social stratums I was born for and 284 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:59.799 bant off the fat like other social ladies, is to 285 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:03.400 ride along. I don't eat food because i'd like it, 286 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:06.440 mister Gubb, but because a lady in a profession like 287 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:10.079 mine has got to keep fat it up. My outside 288 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:12.720 may be fat, mister Gubb, but I got a soul 289 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:15.759 inside of me as skinny as any fashionable lady would 290 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:18.720 care to have. And as soon as possible, I'm going 291 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:21.400 to quit the road and bant off six or seven 292 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:24.559 hundred pounds. Would you believe it possible that I ain't 293 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:27.319 dared to eat a pickle for over seven years because 294 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:30.799 it might start me on the thin word road. I 295 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:35.720 presume to suppose, said mister Gubb politely, that if you 296 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:38.839 was to be offered a home that was rich with wealth, 297 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:41.160 and I was to take you there and place you 298 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:46.839 beside your parental father, would you refuse. Mister Gubb awaited 299 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:49.839 the reply with eagerness. He tried to remain calm, but 300 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:54.319 in spite of himself, he was nervous. Watch me, said Marilla, 301 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:56.839 if you could show me a nook like that, you 302 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:59.079 couldn't hold me in this show business with a tense 303 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:03.480 steak and a bull. But that's a rosy dream. You 304 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:06.480 ain't got a locket with the photo of your mother's 305 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:11.720 picture into it, asked mister Gubb. No, said Marilla. My 306 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:15.240 pa Ma was unknown to me. I dare say they 307 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:17.519 got sick of hearin me ball and left me on 308 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:20.359 a doorstep. The first I knew of things was that 309 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:23.720 I was travelin with a show representing a new born 310 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:27.599 babe in an incubator machine. I was incubated up to 311 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:29.960 the time I was five years old and got too 312 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:33.759 long to go into the glass case. But some one 313 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:37.519 was your guardian in charge of you, no doubt, asked Gub. 314 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:42.000 I had forty of them, deary, said Sorilla. Whenever money 315 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:44.640 run low, they quit because they couldn't get paid on 316 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:49.359 Saturday night. Huh, said mister Gubb. And does the name 317 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:53.799 Jones bring back the memory of any remembrance to you? No, 318 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:58.039 mister Gubb, said Sorilla, regretfully, seeing how eager he was. 319 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:02.279 It don't in that state of the case of things, 320 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:04.359 said mister Gubb. I've got to go over to that 321 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:07.920 wagon pole and sit down and think. Awhile, I've got 322 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:10.680 a certain clue. I've got to think over and make 323 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:13.400 sure it leads right, and if it does, I'll have 324 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:17.319 something important to say to you. The wagon pole in 325 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:20.599 question was attached to a canvas wagon near by, and 326 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:24.359 Detective Gub seated himself on it and thought the side 327 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:27.759 show ladies and gentlemen, having finished, entered the side show tent, 328 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:31.400 with the exception of Sorilla, who remained to finish her meal. 329 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:35.240 She ate a great deal at meals. Before meals and 330 00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:39.559 after meals, Mister Gubb, from his seat on the wagon pole, 331 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:43.480 looked at Sorilla thoughtfully. He had not the least doubt 332 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:47.920 that Sorilla was the lost daughter of mister Jones, or Meadowbrook, 333 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:51.759 as he now called himself. The German American tattoo artist 334 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:54.640 had sworn to complete the eagle by putting its claws 335 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:58.240 on mister Jones's daughter if need be, And here were 336 00:20:58.279 --> 00:21:01.720 the claws on Marilla's arm. But just as it is 337 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:04.920 desirable at times to have a handwriting expert identify a 338 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:07.960 bit of writing, mister Gubb felt that if he could 339 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:10.960 prove that the claws tattooed on Marilla's arm where the 340 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:15.119 work of mister Schrekenheim, his case would be complete. He 341 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:19.000 longed for mister Schreckenheim's presence, but lacking that, he had 342 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:23.279 a happy idea. Mister Enderberry, the tattooed man of the 343 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:26.480 side show, should be a connoisseur and would perhaps be 344 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:31.359 able to identify the eagle's claws. Leaving Marilla still eating, 345 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:35.960 mister Gubb entered the side show tent. Mister Enderberry, seated 346 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:38.799 on a blue property case, was engaged in biting the 347 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:42.319 entire row of finger nails on his right hand, and 348 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:46.240 a frown creased his brow. He was enwrapped by a 349 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:50.559 long purple bathrobe which tied closely about his neck. As 350 00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:53.480 he caught sight of mister Gubb. He started slightly and 351 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:56.680 doubled his hand into a fist, but he immediately calmed 352 00:21:56.759 --> 00:22:01.119 himself and assumed a nonchalant air. As a matter of fact, 353 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:05.200 mister Endburry led a dog's life for years. He had 354 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:08.640 loved Sorilla devotedly, but he was so bashful he had 355 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:11.400 never dared to confess his love to her. And year 356 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:14.759 after year he saw her smile upon one thin man 357 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:19.279 after another. Now it was mister Lonardon. Again it was 358 00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:22.920 mister Winterbury, or it was mister Gubb, or Smith, or 359 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:26.960 Jones or Doe. But for mister Enderberry, she seemed to 360 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:31.160 have nothing but contempt. Mister Enderberry had first seen her 361 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:34.599 when she was posing in the infant incubator, and had 362 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:37.799 loved her even then, For he was twenty when she 363 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:41.880 was but five. The coming of a new rival always 364 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:45.000 affected him, as the coming of mister Gubb had, But 365 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:48.480 for good reason. He hated mister Gubb worse than any 366 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:53.359 of the others. Excuse me for begging your pardon, said 367 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:57.039 mister Gubb. But in the detecative business, questions have to 368 00:22:57.079 --> 00:23:00.440 be asked. Have you ever chanced to happen to notice 369 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:03.440 some tattoo work upon the arm of Miss Sorilla of 370 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:09.119 the side show, I have, said mister Edinbury. Shortly a 371 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:12.920 pair of eagle's claws, said mister Gubb. Can you tell me, 372 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:16.119 from your knowledge and belief if the work they're done 373 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:20.400 was the work of mister Harrer Schreckenheim. I can tell 374 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:23.559 you if I want to, said mister Enderburry. What do 375 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:26.880 you want to know for? If those claws are the 376 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:30.839 work of mister Harrer Schreckenheim, said mister Gubb. I am 377 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:34.240 prepared to offer to miss Sorilla her daughterly place in 378 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:37.960 a home of wealth at Riverbank, Iowa. If those claws 379 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:41.480 are Schrekenheim clause, Miss Sorilla is the daughter of mister 380 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:45.240 Jonas Meadowbrook of the said Bergh. Beyond the question of 381 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:49.720 a particle of doubt. Mister Enderburry looked at mister Gubb 382 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:56.039 with surprise. That's not he began. And if Schrekenheim did 383 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:59.240 those claws, You'll take Sorilla away from this show forever, 384 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:03.559 he asked. Asked, I will, said Filo Gubb. If she 385 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:07.319 desires to wish to go, then I have nothing whatever 386 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:11.279 to say, said mister Enderburry. And he shut his mouth firmly, 387 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:15.839 nor would he say more. Do you desire to wish 388 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:18.240 me to understand that they are not the work of 389 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:23.960 mister Herr Schreckenheim persisted mister Gubb, I have nothing to say, 390 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:29.359 said mister Enderberry. I consider that conclusive, circumstantial evidence that 391 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:33.039 they are, said Detective Gubb, and he clanked out of 392 00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:37.400 the side show. Marilla was still seated at the grub table, 393 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:41.359 finishing her meal, and mister Gubb seated himself opposite her. 394 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:45.480 As delicately as he could, he told of Jonas Meadowbrook 395 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:48.480 and his lost daughter, of the home of wealth that 396 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:52.240 awaited that daughter, and finally, of his belief that Cyrilla 397 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:55.960 was that daughter. It was clear that Marilla was quite 398 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:58.799 willing to take up a life of refinement and dieting 399 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:01.319 if she was given an oper tunity such as mister 400 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:04.440 Gubb was able to offer in the name of Jonas Meadowbrook. 401 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:09.359