Secret of The KU Catacombs

By Napoleon Crews

For the last 140 years, the tunnels have been called the catacombs by the students and faculty. Designed to carry steam-heat, electric lines, and water from one campus building to another, they were found to carry much more. The investigative skills of Sam Jeans, Lawrence, Kansas’ real-life Negro assistant police chief, are also featured in this tale.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Napoleon Crews
• Release date: Feb 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310792618

Napoleon Crews

Napoleon Crews began writing his first manuscript, for publication, in 1990. He was told often throughout his life, that he had a special way with words and empathy. The gift of writing culminated in Napoleon penning 9 completed manuscripts, some of which are short stories and others are longer novel-length works. In addition, he has written and produced 3 dramatic plays of an historical bent. Unable to find a national publisher for other of his works, Napoleon self-published and distributed them throughout the Midwest, where they have been popular. The driving force behind the first published manuscript, The Emancipation of Nate Bynum, was Napoleon’s desire to tell the unknown stories about the integral part that Blacks played in the American Civil War and the Wild West, and to right the wrongs of early historical writers who depicted Blacks, women, and other minorities as inept, weak-minded, and inferior to their white counterparts. Napoleon poured his experience as a cowboy, rodeo team roper, private investigator, martial artist, bodyguard, and trial lawyer into the building of his characters. He used family legends and oral and written history to form his plots. When he describes the way a horse moves, a steer bolts, or a punch is thrown, he’s rode the move, headed off the bolt, and threw the punch. His experience as a practicing trial lawyer is used to craft the many legal and ethical dilemmas in which his characters find themselves. Napoleon resides with his wife and family in Lawrence, Kansas, the seed-bed in which the buddings of the American Civil War were sewn. He still practices law 50 to 60 hours per week, and many of his nights are reserved for writing and polishing his manuscripts with a view for future publication.

Book preview

SECRET OF THE KU CATACOMBS

By Napoleon Crews

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2004 Napoleon Crews

The year: 1895

Monday - 1:13 a.m.

Lawrence, Kansas

Sam Jeans’ tired eyes lifted from the page at the knock on the door. The clock on the bookshelf next to the chair told him that it was 1:14 a.m. It was too early in the morning to be a social guest, so the knock must mean trouble. He put down the dime novel and rose from the easy chair. Lamplight cast a golden glow throughout the room, contributing to the homey feel. When he eased open the door, and much to his surprise, Chief Monroe stood on his porch.

Hello, Sam, the chief said. I didn’t know whether you’d be up or not.

Chief Monroe’s emotions usually lodged in his steel-blue eyes, and Sam read fear. Sam’s heartbeat quickened because the chief was not one to fear man or beast.

Was just readin’, Sam said.

The chief gazed nervously up and down Mississippi Street. Sam lived at 842. During Sam’s five years on the Lawrence Police Department, this was the first time that he had read real fear in the chief’s eyes.

Mind if I come in? Chief Monroe asked.

Sam moved aside.

What’s the novel about? the chief picked up the dime novel from the arm of the easy chair. Deadwood Dick?

He’s a cowboy and a crack shot with a rifle, Sam said.

Chief Monroe studied the novel’s cover picture and chuckled. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a nigger cowboy.

Sam shook his head.

Damnit I forgot, the chief said. You’ve got to give me credit for not saying that word as much as I used to.

I do overlook it, Sam said. ‘Cause I still call white folks ‘crackers’, from time to time.

Chief Monroe tossed the dime novel back onto the arm of the chair, and then he sat opposite Sam in the other chair.

You have any whiskey? the chief said. I could use a drink.

Sam’s concern for the chief heightened because he hadn’t known him to take a drink in the last four years.

Don’t keep no liquor around here, Sam said. Why don’t you just go on and tell me what’s bothering you.

Chief Monroe locked eyes with Sam and then chuckled nervously. You read me pretty well—but then you always could. He swallowed and then licked his lips.

Sam got up and poured him a drink of water from the pitcher on the table. The chief gulped a swig, and then held the cup resting on his knee.

You know, Chief Monroe said, when the mayor asked me to make you assistant chief, I was all for it.

You kinda had a funny way of showing it at the time, Sam said.

Sure I raised hell at first, Chief Monroe said. But I came around, didn’t I?

Guess I got to give you that, Sam said.

Chief Monroe eyes took Sam in for a long moment. Can I trust you, Sam?

You wouldn’t have come here if you didn’t already know the answer to that, Sam said.

The chief’s top lip quivered. Do you believe in ghosts and demons?

The Bible says they exist, Sam said. And I believe the Bible.

I didn’t believe in them until tonight, the chief said.

Sam felt the hair rising on the back of his neck. The chief was not a man to believe in anything that he couldn’t see, taste, smell, and touch. He got up from the chair and went to the cupboard. He grabbed two glasses and the bottle of whiskey.

When Sam returned to the chair, the chief did a double-take at the bottle Sam held and his eyes momentarily fumed. The chief set the glass of water on the floor, and then held out his hand for a glass of whiskey. Sam poured them each three fingers, then he handed the chief one of the glasses and sat down with the other.

Time to get to the point, Sam said.

Chief Monroe took a long drink from the whiskey and closed his eyes, savoring the taste.

Two nights ago on Saturday, Chief Monroe said, "Chancellor Snowdon from the university summoned