Newspaper Page Text
m I THE FATAL REQUEST I OR FOUND OUT c ' i i , ' . i By A. L. Harrle Aulhor of "Mlno Own familiar Friend." etc. oTpHTTfjrr, lilt, by 0 ail ill iiMIiAU Company. Copyright, t 0 1, y J I r i .f J m ( A. fl CHAPTER IV. Continued. H "My dear James," Interrupted Mr. H lJurrltt, nastily, "ou must know very M wall that it Isn't tlint. Hut tho truth H of tho matter Is, I've a groat avoralon H to flroarms. Still, It you will ansuro H me that the weapon Isn't loaded, H i'ii " H "I'll assure you of that or anything R ! that will add to your peace of K mind' was tho somewhat equivocal V reply. "At any rate, It Isn't loaded H bow; and, what Is moro, I will also H (tvo you my word thnt 1 will not at- H tempt to blow out my brains during H tho journey or," ho added, as a sort H of afterthought, "anyone else's." H When Mr. Burrltt and his friend ar- H rired at the station, the latter took 1 a considerable amount of trouble to H lasure a separate compartment to H thomBelves In fact, Mr. Burrltt rather H fancied he saw him give something to M the guard, who thoreupon locked the H floor upon thorn, and conslgnod thorn H to solitude. H The carrlago In question, It may bo 1 worth remembering, was tho fourth H from the engine. H "I wonder," thought Mr. Durrltt to B himself as tho train steamed out of H the station, "which Is tho pocket ho H carries the revolver In?" Thon his B thoughts wandored away from the H actual present "I suppose I shall And M them all right at homo. Dear, dear, H anyono would think I had been away H a month. What an old fogoy I'm got- H ting, lly-tho-by, I wonder what James H Is thinking about? ho looks uneom- H tnonly gloomy. I wish he'd say some- H thing Instead of staring out of tho H, window In stony sllcnco. Somehow, H ono doesn't like tho notion of riding H' alono with a man who haa shed H tnothor man's blood, especially when m' he carries a rovolvor. I wonder H- whether ho's thinking of that, or , what?" H' If Mr. Burrltt could lmvo read what H was passing In his companion's mind, " e would bavo boon amaied to And H ttat, tastcad of dwelling upon tho B post, he was merely repeating over B aad over to himself tho words which Hl the former had spoken only a few H bona before "Tho secret Ilea bo- K twcoa ds two! Tho sccrot Hen be- tweon us two!" M CHAPTER V. HM The 4:30 Train. H Dinner at Magnolia I-odgo had boon H ordered for a quartor to eight, In or- H er to suit tho convenience of tho trav- H1 tiers, who were oxpoctcd to arrive at V. about that hour. H As the tlmo drew on, Mrs. Burrltt H i aaddenly becamo troubled again In her B"4 Hind concerning tho soap dish. H "I do wish, after all, I had ordorod H the best Bparo bedroom to bo got H ready, though I've generally consld- H ared the sooond best good onough for H a single gentleman, and I suppose ha HHi I Us a single gentleman. But for all that " H "Hero they are!" suddenly cried her H daughter May, who was watching from V "the window, A' "Well, it's too late to mako any H 4bango bow," sighed her paront, half H relieved at having the matter sum- H aaarlly settled; "and porhapa he won't H aetlce tho crack. I do hopo my cap Is M mi straight I" H The said cap was, as usual, consld- H crably out of the porpendlcular; but H m It happened. Us lack of rectitude H I was, In this Instance, of no particular B aeasequonce, for tho alarm provod V false, and the cab, which had at first H appeared as though about to draw up 1 before the house, resumed Its snail- H tike crawl and gradually disappeared. H I Then camo another spell of waiting. H "They must havo missed their train H at London Bridge," said Ted Burrltt H i "Perhaps the other ono , wi lato. I'vo H looked In 'Bradshaw,' and see that It's H 4e In town at sovon o'clock. If so, H , they ought to be hero by this time." H , The next half-hour slowly ticked & Itself away without bringing any V" change In the position of affairs. j They were all vacantly conscious of an H increasing sense of anxiety and do- H , agression within. Why did they not B' come? Surely, If they had mlssod 1 obs train, there bad boen plenty of H i Usse to catch, the next? Then tho B iio-' chimed tho half-hour, and, at tho 9bB mbh moment, an Interruption took JK, le. Tho message ran; B "It you please, 'ro, cook wanta to M- saow what she Is to do about dinner!" HK M1- Burrltt started nervously. "I'm Hj ? 1 don't know, Jane." Then, ap- & ' I)inllng to licr huu ' 1 suppose there 'm no niUtnkc about the dn n Your dear father didn't mean to-morrow'" Her son produced the telegram, which he had about Mm, and repeated the contents aloud' "Am returning to-day by the 4:30 trnln. Shall be homo to dinner. Friend aocompanlos me." "Well, I'm sure I don't know what to do about It," exclaimed tho poor lady, almost wringing her hands. "Hadn't you better go and speak to cook yourself?" said her son, making tho proposal without tho slightest comprehension of what It Involved. "I suppose I had," murmured his mother; "very well, Jane, you can say I'm coming" And sho left the room, loavlng the young people togother. "Aren't you tired of standing, May?" asked her brother, addressing the girl, who had scarcely vurled her attitude an Inch In tho last half hour. "Tired!" she exclaimed, halt turn ing round. "What has that got to do with It? I want to bo tho first to seo thorn." Then sho added, "Tell mo what you meant to say, a llttlo while ago, when you began 'I wish,' and stopped." "Why." ho answored gloomily, "I was going to say I wish the governor had novcr started on this Journey; though," ho added, In a hurry, "of course ho's all right missed the train or else there's a block on tho line, or something only " Ho broke off without bringing his sontenco to n conclusion, and asked, "Was that whnt you wished, too?" "II" sho oxclalmod, "I wIbIi that and more. I wish ho had novcr had that letter. I wish his friend, who ever he is had never como back from whero ho was." "Oh. come, now," was tho would-be comforting response, "now you're go ing ahead too far. Of courso, It's vex ing and all that; but, after all, tho only thing that will really suffer will bo tho dinner, and that won't bo fit Hj Startsd to his feet with a cry. to oat, if thoy don't come directly." As If in answer to this remark, Mrs. Burrltt at that momont ro-entorod tho room. She was flushed and agitated, and, as was apporont to tho most ob tuso obsorvor, on tho vergo of toars. "Iteally, cook haa boon most trying," she sighed, as sho sank Into tho near est chair. "Sho almost Intlmatod that I had dono It on purpose. She says, sho has novcr been used to such ways, nnd that flesh and blood won't stand it, lot alone legs of mutton. Sho says sho can glvo us another ton min utes, but no moro." Tho ten minutes passed, as tho pre vious thirty had dono, and at tho end of that ttmo three very dlsplrltod pco plo sat down to their spoilt dinner. May soon noticed that hor brother, whose attention had boon obviously wandering for somo tlmo past, appear od to bo listening to sometnlng from without. At first her heart bounded. Could It bo that thoy had arrived at last? Was It tho click of the goto that ho was straining bis car to catch? or tho sound of footsteps upon tho gravel drlvo without? 8o she, too, listened In her turn, hoping to bo ablo to distinguish ono or tho othor of thoso welcomo but long delayed sig nals. Hut tho only thing Bho could hear was the faint sound of a voice which seemod to be shouting something In the distance May also porcolved that the olco was drawing gradually nowor, and resolving ttsolf Into that a porlpatotlc nowsboy, who was vending his wares and Bhoutlng out tho most sensational headings at the top of his volco. Woh that all? Still, ho was not yet near cnoush for hor to distinguish the sense of tho sounds which caught her car from time to tlmo, as she absently crumbled her bread, and thought to herself over and ovor again, "If only father would como homo!" Mrs. Burrltt, aa though tho thought had set In motion somo electric cur rent which connected tho two brains, romarkod at this Juncture, "I sup pose they are quite cortaln to bo hero somo time to-night?" Almost boforo tho words were out of her lips, her 'ion, who was sitting on her right, started to his feet with n cry. "What Is It? Ob, what Is It?" ask ed his sister, as a sense of something terrible about to happen fell upon htr. Ho made no reply, but, with dilat ing oyea, stood there with overy facul ty absorbed In the one effort. Then be raised cu- hand tho other I ' I clulcheet tho edge of the tablo. "lia ten I" he gasped. And tho volco without, now close to their very gates, mado Itself plainly heard, as It shouted out the latest bul-Ictln- "Fpcclujl hcdlshunl Hevenln' Stand ard! 'Orrlhle railway haccldent! Over twenty killed and hlnjured. Tho four ' thirty from Dover wr ?ked by a down I trnln carrjln' potrolou. barrels! The I lino on fire. Horful sc nesl 'Artrcnd In' details!" CH..PTER VI. ,The &' ireh for a Father. What hap, ono'd after this no ono ever know exactly. Ucfora Mrs. Bur rltt had begun to grasp tbo Idea thnt something was wrong, her son had rushed from tho room. After whnt seemed an age of wait ing, but was really a very short time, ho returned. In his band bo he!4 a copy of tho newspaper which ho "Sad Just bought "Mother," ho said, hit ting a strong restraint upon himself, "I am afraid thcro has been an acci dent on tho line. You mustn't be alarmed, for though some people have been Injured, there Is no reason why my father should not have es caped, and very likely the affair has boon greatly oxaggeratod." "Ted," said his slstor, In a volco almost as calm as his own, though her faco had lost every particlo of color, and Hecmod to havo suddenly become years older, "I.et us know tho worst!" And she held out her hand for the paper. 'Tho worst!" he answered, with a sound like a strangled sob In his volco, "Why should there bo any worst? And as for tho paper," crump ling It up In his hand, "you can't place tho slightest dependenco upon that. I'm I'm going up to town by tho noxt train, so as to bo on tho spot, and "Ho may bo hurt In somo way, you know," lie added, slowly, by way of preparing their minds for whatever might be tho result. "Ho may have como off with a broken leg, or some thing of thnt sort. You can hardly expect him to havo got off scot freo. But whatever It Is, 'Im going to find him out and bring him back home. Tako caro of mother" this to 'his sis ter and bo was gone. But boforo he could leave tho house, while his hand was yot upon tho latch, he found himself confronted by tho girl. "Good-bye," sho said, slowly and sadly. "You will do your best but I havo no hope none!" Ho caught a train which was on the very point of starting, and leaped into tho first carrlago ho camo to. Then ho took out tho paper which ho had kopt bo carefully from the sight of thoso others at homo, and began to study moro earnestly tho brief but terrtblo announcement which It con tained. (To bo continued.) As She Understood It Ho was tolling a poker story, but sho only caught this sontenco: "And thon, of course, I called, nnd Sho Interrupted him reproachfully and also with somo asperity. "I've caught you, John Henry," sho cxclnlmcd. "Hero I'vo boon trying tc get you to call on tho Joneses for tho last threo months, and you wouldn't do It said you didn't llko to mako calls, thon ou go out and mako ono by yoursolf, or olso you go calling with someone vise. Yes; that must bo It? What Ib sho, John Henry! Who Is this porson who can get yon to mako calls when you won't make thorn with your wlfo?" John Henry lookod at his masculine friends and winked slyly. "Shall I toll her?" he nskod. "Might as well," they said. "In this caso," ho then told hor, "threo ladlos Induced mo to call." "Threo?" "Yes; but," he hastened to add. "It you camo across thorn In tho pack you would probably call thom queens." It was a great Joko his masculine frionda assurod him of that but he hasn't succeeded In oxplalnlng thi matter to bin wife's satisfaction yet Chicago Post. St. Peter Remembered. A poor son ot Erin died and wot lauded as a very good man by all hb neighbors. Arriving at Tho (lato hi found his way barred by 8alnt Peter "Boforo yo can cntor," says Saint Peter, "will yo tell mo yo nro no guilty of any great sin?" "I um not," Bald Paddy. "Think again," said Saint Petor. "Well," says Paddy, thinking hard "I remombur onco using bad languagi ovor an ould rooster wo had," "That was a groat sin," said 8aln Peter, "and yo can't como In." , Paddy turned sorrowfully away, but boforo ho had gune for Saint Petei recalled him. "I'vo been thinking." said Salnl Petor, "and I think ye must havo hac groat provocation, and that your lsn guago was parlmps excusable. Yocan como In. I remember, I onco bad trouble with tho samo sort or bird myself" The Kitchen Range. A nno housokeoper Bas since paint lug her kitchen ranjo sho has novcr blackened It with stovo polish, livery spring when cleaning hotiso she buys a ran ot enamol from a druggist and paints her stove with It. Tho stovo looks like new, does not rust and needs no cleaning except dusting and wiping oft, French People In Britain. There aro JG.600 French In Great Britain and Iroland, more than three fourtha of tho number balng In Lon don. The business most followed among these Is cookery. As English laundresses are prized in France, French cooks are valued In Kngland. 1 BY WHOSE HAND P By EDITH SESSIONS TUPPBR, Author o "Br m lltlr'M Drttdth," ' Tbo Blmtk Diamond,' Etc Cop-flrht. im, br Wlll.fd Fr.cktr ft Co Copjtlfhu 1W0, t- bitMi & Smith. CHAPTER XII. Continued. She never finished tho sentence, for, with a dexterous movement, I caught her freed hand nnd In a trice uer wrists werp onco moro firmly confined. Then with tho long trail ing end of tho scarf, I proceeded to bind her to a chair, Sho did not resist. Sho seemed dazed and bewildered nt this pro ceeding, and did not speak until I was leaving tlio room, "Why why do you leave mo so?" sho stammered, "whero aro you gqlng?" "I am going for tho police, to whom I shall hand you a prisoner, accused of murdering Reginald Dai ry niple." As I closed the door behind mo I saw her wrlthLg llko somo netted animal, and the awful faco turned toward me was llko one that might havo peered from tho portals of hell. CHAPTER XIII. A hurried walk brought mo to the drug store, where Fortune and tho dotectlve were awaiting me. A tew words explained tho situa tion. Tho detective took from his pocket a pair ot hand-cuffs, and crit ically examined them. "I hope theso aro small enough," bo said, with tbo air of a connois seur. "From what you tell mo of the lady.'I Judge I shall neod them." In sllcnco wo hastened to Bojanta's apartment. Tho detective led tho way, and Inserting the key I had brought with me, flung wide the door. As he did so, an exclamation c horror burst from his lips. .lust Heaven! What a sight met our gaze! There, prone upon her fnce on the floor, In tho midst of her tangled black draperies, on which tho golden serpents gleamed with horrid sym bolism, her bands still bound with the yellow scarf, writhing In convul sions, lay Bojanta. Colled nnd twist ed about her distorted form was In- Took unerring aim and fired. forna, tho cobra, Its frightful hooded head erect and hissing defiance. Tho dotcctlvo gave one glance, drow his revolver, took unerring aim and fired. When tho smoko cleared away tho serpent was doad. Ho disentangled the struggling form from Its colls, released tho hands nnd laid Bojanta on tho couch. Her torrlble death throes wero soon over. Tho murder of Reginald Dai ry rn pi o was avenged. It seoms that I had not secured my prizo as firmly as I thought. Sho had struggled desperately at her bonds and succeeded In freeing her body from tho chair. Then, go ing to tho serpent's cago and turning her back to It sho had, with her fet tered bands, contrived to shovo up Uio sliding door, and thus invited ber awfu) destruction. There is only a stop between sor row and Joy, horror and happiness, heaven and hell. When, ten da'n later, I prusentod myself nt tho Dalrymplc place and looked about at tho (lowers, tho ex quisite sky, tho purple sea, I could scarcely bnllcvn that I had really passed through those fearful scenes of which I havo written. Thoy seemed llko a hideous nlghtmnro, from which some kindly hand had roused me. Angolo camo Into the room and sud denly paused, wondering, sho told mo afterwards, nt tho Joy upon my face. "Angolo dnrllng," I cried, "you nro Innocent, neod that," and I held out Bojanta's confession. She read It, and thon swiftly, silently camo to my outstretched arms. I slowly, reverently, laid my lips on hors In tho first, long, bewilder ing kiss of lovo. Only a step from boll to heaven! Aftor a tow moments of such hap piness as seldom cornea to morbus, wo sent for tho Professor and Satano. When they came, I told my sloe, keeping back nothing; not oven my suspicions of tholr complicity, Satano flushed, thon turned very white, but camo to mo and with un speakable grace, held out her hand, saying: "I forgive you. I do not blame you In tho least It was but Just Uat I. who bat) luspected this wronged, innocent woman of such an infamous deed, should be myself sus pected. Let us bo friends." I took her hand In both of mlno nnd pressed It warmly. Then, turn ing to Angele, she said: "My little Angele, onco before, with hatred In my heart, I falsely said, 'I hopo you will bo very happy.' Now, my slstor, with only lovo and tender ness and regret, I say It sincerely and honestly. You bellovo me, do you not?" For reply, Angele threw her arms about tho stately Miss Capcl and kissed her with tears and smiles. Then, without one word or look for tho Professor, Satano quietly left tho room. After ho had congratulated us, ho followed her. Turning to me, Angele said: "I hope they will bo as hnppy as we are." This I echoed with all my heart, though I added, as I drew her to my breast: "My llttlo love, can any two human belngH bo so supremely happy as wo nro? Think of tho black night through which wo have como to tho morning of peace and Joy and lovo." CHAPTER XIV. Miss Capel Resumes Her Story. I. havo left my sister to enjoy tho now-found happiness, which, by right, belongs to hor. By rlgnt, I say. Yes, for every human being has a right to a certain share of happi ness. Angclo has long been defraud ed of her portion. Now it bos como rushing upon her llko a torrent from tno mountain heights, sweeping away overy evil and baleful memory, and bringing the pure, limpid waters pf a noblo lovo. God bless her and glvo her peace after all ber cruel trials. For myself, what is there? Nothing, nothing. And yet I am still young and beau- tiful. I am a woman capablo ot In- tenso lovo. Though on tho altar of my heart the ashos llo thick, undor neath smouldora tho flro. Whoso hand will Btlr thoso ashes and fan tho flro to a glowing blaze Henri's? I love hlra. Yos, why not confess It to myself? It Is with shnmS that I am forced to acknowledge that I again lovo a man who does not love mo. Reginald Dalrymplo novcr loved mo. What ho loved was the passion of love and thq satisfaction of con quest. Thcro lurks In the nature of many men a vestlgo of barbarism. Women nro their lawful prey, and had they lived in tbo Orient thoy would havo bought and sold them, or seized them as booty, to bocomo tho sport and toy of their lolsuro slaves of their fancy and dcslro. But bo Ing, by chance, of the Western world, thoy aro forcod to confine tholr love of conquest to tho subjugation of woman's will nnd nature. To seo her ylold her personality Inch by Inch, until It Is absorbed In his; to mako hor tho cnptlvo of his whims tho slave of his caprlco; to causo hor to bow hor head and kiss tho hand of her master, as ho locks on her flowery fetters this Is tho attitude of men llko Itcx toward women. When ho hud succooded in cnt'iralllng ono woman's hoart, straightway he sighed, llko Alexan der, for now realms to conquer. But Honrl! ab, ho Is qulto differ ent. Not that ho Is not strong and masterful In nnother sense. Ho Is by no means weak of, will, but ono to respect and look toward with a do greo of awe. One would oboy him as a soldier an adored commander, not as a slave her despot. I bad written thus far when a band stolo over my shoulder and qulotly took possession of my manuscript. It was Henri's! I sprang to my feet and confronted blm. "Henri!" I cried in genuine agony, "do not read It I beg, Implore, com mand you you shall not" "Did I hear you nrlght?" ho said with a mocking bow, "command Miss Capcl, did you say command?" "Yes," I answered, "I should wot have used such a word. I beg your pardon." "Cajnmand Is a bad word at all ' times,"' ho gravely said, "It shouM be carefully used. I am not going to i read your manuscript, child. I only wished to tcaso you. Hero It Is, my fair accomplice," and he returned It to me. Then sitting down by mo ho con- , tinned, "How do you enjoy knowing you havo been Buspcctcd of murder?" I confess It was to mo dnow sensa tion." "Mr. Scvcrancn Is-not the only ono who has suspected mo," I roturaod proudly, t "Satano,' ho cried earnestly, thdt Is what I wish to talk to you about My dear cousin, can you ovor for give me. I was blinded to your noblo qualities. I Raw only tho woods In your heart's garden. You havo root ed them out. I have watched the process. Day by day havo you gar dened there, and In placo ot all thoaa a noxious growths there aro only fair, - " , sweet flowers. Satano, dearest, I love you. Will you bo my wlfo?" I do not qulto recall what hap pened next He had his arms about mo and was looking down at me with those wonderful eyes. Ho was so gentle and kind. There was no trace of tho authoritative air ho had as sumed toward mo that evening In his " I room. Ho was only a sweet, court o- A ous lover. sj "You will let me read what you wore writing, will you not?" ho ten derly asked, "I feel suro It Is some thing about mo, Satano." I hesitated one moment thon I gave It to blm and ho read 'It through. Turning, he claBped mo again In his arms. "Dearest, you arc right I do not , . , - wish a slave, but rather a soldier; a ) soldier who has bravely fought and vanquished her worst enemy; a sol dier who will bear and enduro all tho fatigues, tho hardships, tho forced marches of llfo, for tho lovo sho bears her shall I say comman der darling? Is this a case whore ono may bo pardoned tho uso ot that obnoxious word?" And as be lifted my faco to his I know that for his kiss, his pralso, hts love, I would follow him through ev ery changing fortune, overy forlorn hopo, on to victory or to death. THE END. EDITOR WHO IS USEFUL Versatile Journalist a Power In the Community. As proof that the editor Is some body In his community wo point to Prof. John Bcckloy of tho editorial staff of tho Connecticut Wostom News at Canaan, a Jo""allst whom his fellow citizens deli to honor. Ho Is n veritable syndic jf public offlcos, his titles run tho gamut from registrar of voters up to JtiBtlco ot the peace; ho has attqndod various political conventions ns dclogatn; he Is an actor, a poet, a musician and dancing master, and thcro Is no ovl donco that ho Is not sklltiill and suc cessful In each and every avonuo of f his varied avocations, notwitlistand- I tng Uio seeming Incongruity of tho 1 dancing professor reporting a dog I fight for his paper, tho editor holding court and weighing out Justlco to as sault and battery culprits and tho Judgo teaching tho fancy steps of Uio latest dances. A further proof of Brother Beck ley's versatility Is rccordod in tho lat est lssuo of his own paper. In his capacity as Judgo, ho presldoil ovor tho trial ot Julia McCarty Alton's husband for assaulting his wlfo. Tho Judge's printed report statoa that "as nolthcr side was represented by coun sel, Justlco Beckloy conducted the enso for both." Happily, too, ho won ' It During tho trial Julia "appcalod to Justlco Becklcy to glvo her a legal separation from her husband," never dreaming that thero woh a limit to ' tho powers vested In tho editor, and she refused to bo comforted wbonlho sadly informed her that divorces wore out of his line. New Haven Palladium. QUNS OF ANCIENT TIMES. Cannon Used by British In France In 1847. In 1427, whon the English In Nor mandy mado their last assault on Mont St. Michel undor Lord Scales, v thoy attacked It with "sovoral power- O tul engines nnd certntn machines of wnr." Says an old. writer: "Thoy tralnod a battory so furiously against tho walls that they mado a breach." Among thoso formidable woapona wero two enormous wrought-lron guuB, which they were compelled to leave j behind on bolng obliged to raise the Blcgo. They aro still on exhibition with somo of their projectiles In a railed Inclosuro Just Insldo tho main ontranco to tho town. Tho guns are of tho kind formerly cnllod "bom bards" and are of different sizos. The larger ono ha a caliber of nlnoteou Inches, 30U Inches being tho greatest external diameter and 12 foot the total longth, of which about 3 feet 4 Inches belongs to tho smallor pow der chamber In tho roar. It weighs very nearly six tons. Tho othor gun weighs about a coupVo of tons loss, Is j ot IS Inches caliber and 11 feet 9 Inches long. Theso weapons are not cast, but "built up" guns, bolng form od of longitudinal bars about throe ' Inches wide, arranged llko tho stavea of a cask and bound round closely " 4 with wrought-oron hoops. The "Mlche lots," as they are called, aro most j likely ot Flemish workmanship. Their projoctlles aro made ot hown granite j and these for the larger gun have j boen estimated to weigh 300 pounds I apiece. Tho powder chamber Is cap- 2 able of holding about forty pounds of explosive. I