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J'lIJfl BURLINGTON FREE PRESS: THURSDAY, NOVKMHKK7, mui. 1 'Mm Corjrlchl. iEs). by I ipJeflck A. Slokes Company.) synopsis!. C!IArTi:n l-Sccne of story Is In r.V fork city Time, curly ; nine, I-ihI dnjr Bf vo,r Oahlu tmlll collides Willi cab, throwing to mound cabman mid passeti u.rnl!) itcdoutsldo. Iat tT tllin piou rw ; tlun, Inside tlm rail, body of man shot fluid Is discovered. StuinlK. loporlur, ex amines 1 ib and surroundings. ClIM'TKIt It-I.ntor that evening, nt fttiE 1 ntirr parly. Htnn;Is, In Impromptu in. i uti m ' .i tins rr'llnlilllty of olr i i 1 i v.iIm rr. I 'f. Munlnck, In i t w.r-iTs In r. ply $5,uuo to JU) ti Hi IT t 1 -i , i. Mllv pnpi r h can select an l-.i r ! .! .-' .!,- Likes lift. 11. K "1 ''. r i ' i If '1 Is of two tu I il it .iilrtiiooii In Ivi 1 1 !.i r Ku.k Mm had r , 'i - f. mi i . ink v!th vallo, V n -ills. ;,s ml i -a nt. tniim ui li )- -1 Vall.-c H 11 r-j.- i.r, A ' 1 ' I' ''iP , .1 n fT nlrt- l. . .! ,i ' n.ti n' M-i I- I. i : ''I' , ! ..re. ih I i it:. . tw ri ui,- r-.ttiu. t"ii ,,i - data Of ' " i '' s Mr . n, r 1 W.il 1 ' Tr -n l , 1 llil! UCt t I r- .,.1,1. , ' 'n'i mnoe thereon ,1 m.in 1 i irs u!d rr , s,.,j I,' . I )i r I ( ( II ( nr n ,.Uk. oprr J mh'-v. .1 'il 1 ,,t i lose . .n t.-i -. ii mis! t l lose , .ii t.-i - , -.If ; in -.! , til f t 1 m-rlf ; in --'i til p n.id n t rr,.il in '-all. (,r.l n, i 1 .irm hrnkon by 'r, i.irnt; in .1 (, i .it, mini was r i voting ti, m w ho tsi ip( d ln . til" way In oritur t'lb m.vM. no- d as possible siuucl to b.inlc r i I T It VT- Rturglscalls for Sprnguc, ' frlrtir to (f t hi - company iIiii Hik In or tion t l r.i..l irtktt has iippo!' t ' vv h t.i' filr ..it tor vvltoKO portrait m k" i II U'T'.U VII Amies Murdoek (In rl . s ' oi" 1 , r 1 ith, r's liousohold since hor p, r r In finis lu r fnthrr In his iJ Sh ri reply to n question eo-ecrn-h g .itte- i ma of a Thomas rhatham, 0 v. h r ii -liltii of the porsl'tont suitor. J I r fatl r li tirnates shu shall not he fur th r bo'l trd ITATTi U VIli- Ml Miinlo.-k's llnal uii l ' , f ii'irilt liiduroi aitlit to ak 1 1 r i so t i.tlllnr at lur Ijmi,, which k1u j Lni.ii lii'llhuy rr,itit:H note for a 1 .!n Is road with nvld , nt nnnoy r nr I ho drops It It rom.tlns forirot ton v. j, r s,.o leavea studio. i "TI r"iEH IX -I'romptly at time ncrood p, i j mi" 'a RturKls Itoportrr brKltin 1 nt; j, 1 Trt fid f xmnlnatl',11 In hank. Hi1 v, Ivor In l,,,okkocpcr's desk shows two rir pn c , r ridRCo CHM'TKItX Hxamlnatlon oomplotocl, Rf rrfs fiuostli'n.i banker rrfrardlm; rrlla I il'i 3f Ar' ouabt. head bonlikecprr, thon nnnounc s rboK n-t to ho a drfaultor with ( h Hi'itr ncc , .ntant who has fiotpiontly fyirolnod condition of hooks, ns ncoom- KM c Mossuko Arbogaat font I'hntluim i Irhcred from marks on a blotter, "H PTEIt XI rioportcr has now rom plctod (ItaKram Hhowlni; movomcnts of Arhopast and Chatham and ono othor h, .-,1. Idrntlty Is as yrt complotcly veiled. r'io5ant nt lat moment had found a not which cnused him to suspect his accom pli e He fired woundliiK dm In hand and isahout to Arc Baln when unknown con rilrator rushed In and stru.-k his aim. TI t action resulted In turning weapon and mnlclnc Srhosa't Fhoot hlm?elf. Dunlap Is lTed'iIr jH, hut verllles story In part by j.iur Identlfylne body of Arbofrast at morBUe HAl'TKK XII rtTnkor calls upon Mri. Arhopast, "While with her she receives let ter written by her husband telling of de falcation and expected fllRht. He lias by mistake allowed a depositor to overdraw a pi .i' t Chatham 1ms discovered mlB- tain uH'l for fear of loslnu position Arho. (,-a i' nl w hlmielf to be us"d by Chatham mid a Mr St-ymour Uy falie entries Key. mour has drawn JltO.OJO. Channe In method of hook ,i 'cplng was about to expose the mat'er. Arb, ast tells his wlfu to kIvo 1 rlap c mfesslun as soon as he has es- C,i pell ( UAITLK XIII The afternoon of crime C ! ituam had had occasion to use tele thon Slur?!? learns he had been con n, 'r 1 with the Manhattan C'hemloM com pany mysterious concern not known to e mmercnl oiToneles. At office of chemical con9ern Sturgls places detectives. C II APT Kit XIV. THE l.KTTUH. There is u magic in the refreshing fleop of youth calculated to exorcise 1 e megrims. When Sprague, aris.ing after a good night's rest, found the orld bathed in the sunshine of a crisp January d'ay, lie felt the physical pleasure of living which comes from Mippsi naisi les, from the coursing of a g'herius blood through (he eius, m-i ra the cravings of it healthy appe tite lie remembered the "blue devils" of lciin iiofi.ro, and found it difllcult t o nn mil t for them. lie was in love, cer a i ly lb. t that in itself did not fut n, I a su e,! nt reason for desponden cy It was rumored that the object of 1 is affections wns on the eu of be trothal to another. Hut what depend ri ce can he placed upon a public ru mor,' As n mutter of fact Miss Mur duk wore no rings; in the absence of the had re of the betrothed woman, was ho not ji, Milled in believing her funey fr e 0 In th 't ease, there was a fair field end r.o favor. Why shouhl not he hae as food 'i chat re of winning the prize ns another man'.' No man, of course, 1 wns worthv nf gnes Murdoch. That vas t1 e fiiuc.itiiontal axiom. lint in, vc s'io-e c ,,rs not perch only upon the 1 nnner r,f the worthy. If it did. the. h l',ia i race v ould suun become ex tirr . ! o ir .; man's thoughts ran on. wNit 1 pi i i, e more found a listing lu i 1 1 1 heart. Miis Murdoch was not to pose again, i but Sipruj ur was eng r to work on the portrait, lie was about to Mop into I the studio afier bnahfas.l, when the housiheeiii r announei d a cull from his Jawwr, wiio wished to consult him nboiit hone Important matters. The tntire triornlivr wus thus eoiisumeil in nice -ary net tedions business, and it was tot until after luncheon that the urtist was at la. t free to set lo work, rneovering the portrait, he stood off to examine it. As he did so, MimcthiiiGr white uiion the floor caught his eye. He stooped to pleh it up, It was u let ter in a beautifully regular masculine hand, Mechanicalh he turned it over and unfolded it. ills ryes carelessly t.wept the written page; then In a tlasli lie realized what it was, and hr Hung it violently from him. Only n few words had left their im press upon his retina a few scattered words and a signature. Hut these were branded deep upon his brain for all t me, in letters of lire which burned their way to his very soul. For he hail recognized the letter which had been delivered by the messenger to Mis, Murdoch Die day hei.re, and he had teen enough lo huovv tl it it was I couched in words of passionate love. In that instant was (pnichcd the last ray 4Ktecto EDGAR MORETTE, of hope which had lnrhnl within his heart. (Hrnvhclinpil with a .sense of utter desolation, lie sunk hark upon a divan, and for a Ion.!; lime remained lost in hitter vellrctions. Ifllt Sprane, in s.pile of his dllet tantelhiii, mis a man of rit when oe eahion ealled for it. .Siiniiiionlnj; nt leiiKth his fortitude and his pride, he proceeded to carry out what he eon cehed to he the fluty of a jeiit Icnian tin der the eifeuinRtanrr.s. l'irUini.' up tlie Irt tor apain. he placed it unread in ati enudopc, into which i.r shpp"d hi- card, with a brief ex planation of tl.r lindinj; of the paper, Then. Ml' i r nddrcsinu the rim lope, he lartrd in. t to mail it hiin.M'If. '"I honini- t liatham!'' hr uiiiMd, as he uer.t down the stair1-; "Thomas ( hat -ham! Why, he is Hie man who took such pains to ,n I or in mo Unit MihS Mur doch was lietrotlietl, or on the point of beiiif,' lirt rothrd t hr liashlh dressed yoiinp; man wilh red liair who is so rrpulur an attrudatit at the Murdochs' infonual receptions, and who lieer neins to he initi,on state occasions: tin insignificant and conceited jiiipjiy. Poor tfirl, what a pity that i-ho should throw herself away upon such a man. I'ut, if he marries her, he shall make her happy, or else " The balance of his thought was not put into word.-; hut his face became set in stern lines and his hands ch nched in jriini determination. Sprufrtic, with the letter for Miss .Murdoch in his hand, hurried to the. nearest letter box, raised the lid of the drop, inserltd the let tcr in the slot and then tijihtincd his prasp of it and be gan to think. The letter, if mailed, mipht perhaps not reach its destination until the fol lowing morning. It iniifht be of impor tance, Kline it had been sent by mes senger and to the studio insleadof to Miss Murdoch's house, llesides. Miss Murdoek would probably he worried when she discovered that she had lost it. It ought therefore to be returned to her at one. The letter, by this time, had been withdrawn from the. slot of the letter box. Yes. it ought to be returned liy mes tenger instead of by mail. J!v niesseu- flash in: nr.wi.iznt) what IT WAS. ger? It was about half a mile to the nearest district messenger ollice. The Murdochs' house was not much further. Why not delivei the letter himself'.' Why not, indeed'.' 'I he human heart has unfathomable depths. Why should a hopeless lover pine for a mere sight of the woman w hose p' rsi nee only add. lo his misery'.' Kxpluin that who can. Spragur carefully placed the letter in his I 'east poehet and started nil again, this time directing his slept toward the Murdochs' home. CHAI'TKI! XV. TWO I.OVUItS. Miss Mm dock w as seated at the piano In the drawing-room, her shapely lin gers wandering dreamily over the keys, when a servani knocked at the door. "A gintlinian to see ycr, miss," said the maid. "A caller!" exclaimed Agnes, in sur prise. "At this time of day? Did he give you his curd?" "No, misr. .Nor his name, nayther." "Well, then, Mary," said Agues, with u mixture of amusement and bovrrity, "why do you announce hiiu? i think yon would better keep nu eye on thi hat-rack." "lie ain't no thnfe, iniss," a!d the maid, posit ivcl.v ; "he do be dressed up too loiue fur ll.nt, HesoiiU'S, Oi've sane him here befoie. A hansuin youui Idler wid rid hair Mister Mistei ( ha ( hapninn," "Chatham!" suggested Agnes, with sudden ,.i rlouniess. "Vis, miss; il do be the same," "I cannot nceive him," said Miss Murdoch, in frigid tones. "I am sur prised l hat John should have admitted him, after the explicit instructions I gave him yrslonlav . Hereafter 1 Km never at louur to Mr. Chiithaiu." "Your butler is not at fault in this instance," said a voice from the hall wa.v. and before either of the women i.iulil recover from her surprise, n llashily dressed young man with in irnsoiy red hair entered I lie room, lie carried his left arm in a sling. Ills face was pale; his eyes glittered with a feverish light; Ids voice (pilveml with repressed excitement, "1 was waiting for your father in his o!',re. whin I hi .ml your maid go by ai. l I a hed 1 rr to annoii'iee me. I hoped for but f (in, hardly say I expected, a more hi, pitahlc r-cep. Hon " Miss Murdoih, after th first shock Stir M l.N A of surprise, had drawn up her grace ful llgure to its full height, ant stood looking at the young liiaii with undis guised contempt in her Hashing eyes. Chatham paused ns if expecting it reply; and thru: "Shall 1 explain the objoet of my visit before your servant?" he ashed, bil terly. "You may leave, Mary, until I ring for you," said the young girl, turning to the maid. The woman reluctantly left the room, casting curious glances upon her young mistress and her unwel come guest as she went. Chatham made a motion ns if to take a chair; but Agnes remained sig nificantly standing. "Perhaps," she said, coldly, "you will he good enough to explain ns briefly as possible, your object in forc ing your presence upon me in this tin gentlemanly way?" "1 suppose my conduct, docs strike you as ungentlcmanly," said the yotingman.pitcotisly; "hut what could I do? I love you devotedly, madly, n ml you will not allow me even to tell you so. You Instruct your serv ants to turn me away from the door like n beggar. Ts it a crime to love you?" "Xo, Mr. Chatham," said the girl, more gently, "it is not a crime to love a woman; but it is at least a serious blunder to adopt the method you have, selected of showing your affection, and il is certainly not generous to force ii upon her as you are doing." "Miat else can I do?" he repented, doggedly. "Here am I suddenly obliged to leave New York for a long time perhaps forever- and unable to get a single word with you. 1 called yesterday morning and was informed that ,vuu were at that artist fellow's studio. Then I wrote you a letter, ashing for an interview, and 1 left It there for you myself. The only notice you took of it was to give instructions to your butler not to admit mc if I called again. 1 cannot go away like that, without a ray of hope to lighten my exile, and to leave you here sur rounded by a lot of men who nre anxious to marry you," The tender-hearted girl felt a grow ing pity for the awkward and vulgar young man in whom she began vague ly to discern a genuine sulTering. "1 am sorry, Mr, Chatham." she raid, "more sorry than I can say. lint what can 1 do? I do not care for you in the way you wish, and af fection is not to be coerced. 1 have done the best 1 could to discourage you, because " "1 know you have," interrupted Chatham; "you have avoided me, and snubbed inc. and taken every way you could to show that you do not like me." "It would have been mistaken kind ness to do otherwise," said Agnes, gently. "Xo, it wouldn't," exclaimed the ac countant; "1 don't ask you to love me; not at once, at any rate. l!ut give me a show; give me time; give mc a little hope " "I cannot do that," said the girl, in a low tone. "Why can't yon?" urged the young man excitedly. "1 have sarritin d ev erything for you; I have given up all I had; 1 have lost my position; 1 have risked my life " "1 don't understand you," said Miss Murdoch, looking at him in astonish ment. "Your huskily; thU; he father would," he replied, "it was he egged me on to promised me that "on would have me "My father promised " "Yes, your father; and, by (i " Chatham, w ho was growing more and more excited, brought down his clenched fist upon a table near which he itood, and witli an evident effort re pressed the oath which rose to his lips. Miss .Murdoch, startled and bew ildered observed him in speechless amayeinent. After a momentary struggle, the a countant suddenly broke forth in pite ous pleading: "I don't ask much now. Tell me only one thing and I shall go away content for the present. Say that nootherman has any better chance with you than I have. Say that jou do not love anyone lse." The young girl tried hard to avoid his ardent gaze. "Say it!" he commanded, in sudden sternness. Agnes drew herself up proudly then. "I don't know by what right you pre sume to citcehise or to command mc," she said, coldly, nt the.same time mak ing a motion as if to touch tlie button of the electric bell, Chatham saw the motion and prang before her to intercept it. Ah! that is the way of it, i& it?" he exclaimed, with passionate jealousy, "You are in love witli another man!" The words seemed to choke him in the utterance. The blood rushed to his head; the veins on his temples .stood out in purple vividness, and, as he clutched spasmodically at his collar, a wild light came into his eyes. Agnes cauglil their mad glitter arid shrank back in sudden terror. "1 have ben duped!" he shouted, frantically. "1 have been a cat's-paw, and now that I have done all that was wanted of me 1 am to be turned oft" like a dog. with a hick. The dirty work is done, is it? We'll see about that; we'll see w hat your father has to say, Mul, at any rate, you can he sure of one thing." Ills voice sank to n hoarse whisper and the words fell with imprcbshe dis tinctness; "If I don't marry you, no one ever thall!" As he spoke he leaned forward upon the table which utood near him, and his lingers closed nervously upon the handle of a jeweled paper knife. There, was minder in his eye at that moment, and tin frightened girl quailed be fore it. Suddenly her ear caught the sound of footsteps in tlie hallway. She opened her lips to cal' for help, but before she could titter ii sound tlie door opened, re vealing tlie anxious face of tlie house maid, wiio had heard enough to realize t lint It was time to interrupt the tete-a-tete without further ceremony , "Mr. Sprague, miss," she an nounced, with a comforting nod at her young mistress, whose pale face and frightened eyci. had not escaped her ut- trillion, Sprague stood on the threshold In evident embarrassment, looking from . Agnes to Chntham, and unccrtiiln how , to m ti "Yes," replird Stnrgis, "I was observ ing that. Have you a duplicate of this that you can spare?" "Yes; keep t lint one if you wish." "Thank you; I am very glad'to hnve it. Ditl you succeed In extracting the bullet?" "i have not tried yet. 1 had to devel op the photograph first." "(Jf course. When do you expect the red-halrcd young man to return?" "lie promised to come back yester day, but lie failed to do so," replied Dr, Thurston, Then, suddenly: "Hut who said anything about It Im being young or red-haired?" "Xot you, certainly, old man," re plied Sturgls, smiling, "Don't worry; you have not voluntarily hetrajed'nny professional secret. Hut, for all that, your patient is wanted by the police, lie was hound to fall into their hands before long. Tlie only ctycet of this discovery will be to hasten the denoue ment, I had traced him to your house, and J knew how he was wounded; so that I recognized! him an soon as you mentioned his ease." "Who is lie?" asked Thurston. "1 am sure I hnveseen him somewhere before, but I cannot remember where." Whereupon the reporter related the story of Chatham's connection with the Knickerbocker bank case. CIIAPTKlt XVII the QiwnnY. Half an hour later Sturgls was walk ing briskly down Hroadway, with his usual air of aliseiit-niinded concentra tion. Presently he turned into a side Mrcot and at once slackened his pace, lie now sauntered along like a lounger nt a loss how to hill a long, idle day. The show window of a bric-a-brac shop arrested his attention, lie stopped to examine its contents. A little farther up the street was a liquor saloon, outside of which stood a group of boisterous young rowdies. An older man, evidently in his cups, was seated on an adjoining stoop, wherewith maudlin gravily, he seemed to be communing with himself. On I he oppo; itc side of the way stood a low, dilapidated brick house, A painted sign over tin windows of the ground Hour bore the name: "MAN J! .VI TAX ( HKM1CAI, CO." The drunken man rose unsteadily to his feet and approached bturgis with outstretched hand. "Say, Jimmy, get on tcr his nibs strihin' dc bloke fur a nickel tcr git ined'eiup fur his sick inudder!" ex claimed one of the young rutlians. The wretched-looking individual thu ilesignated seemed hardly aide tostam. tin he steadied himself against an iron railing; but the eyes lie turned upon Kturgis were b.'ight witli intelligence find the words he spoke were uttered in i low, firm voice: "He's been hero been here twice." "Twice?" echoed SUirgis, surprised, '"Where is 1 v now?" "1 don't know " "You don't know ?" "Xo, sir; but 1 guesu Conklin does. This is how it was: It wns my watch yesterday afternoon, when Chatham came the first time. He went into the Manhattan company's place through the basement, nt a quarter after live. So I just settled myself out here and w aited. Well, I waited and waited, but there wasn't any sign of Chatham, and when Flagler came along to relieve me nt ten o'clock Chatham hadn't come out yet. Flagler he spotted the place until six this morning, and then Conk lin took his turn again until two o'clock, when 1 came on for my watch, Just as Conhlin was telling me how things stood, who should come down the street but Chatham himtelf, large as life." "Down the street?" exclaimed Stur gls. "Yes, sir. And up he goes, as if noth ing had happened, and into the Man hattan Chemical company's place again," "He had ptrt up t he bach-door game on you," said the reporter, j "Yes, sir; just what 1 said to Conk lin, So, quick as a wink, 1 sent him around the block to keep his eye peeled on tlie next street, and I waited here. And' here I've been ever since. If Conhlin isn't on tlie block above, it must be because ( liatham has niauu tracks again, and he after hiin." "I'll go and find out," said Sturgis. "lias anyone else called at the Man hattan Chemical company's office since you have been on watch?" "No, sir; but a couple of hours ago an express wagon came along and de livered a long-wooden box; might lime been chemicals for the wholesale de partment, fi.r it was lowered to the cel lar by the hoist in the areaway. The. blond young man receipted for tlie box." "Very well, Shrady, Hang on a little while longer, and 1 shall have you re lieved just as soon as 1 possibly can." So saying, the. reporter, who liiid burn pretending to look through his pockets for a coin, ostentatiously slipped a nickel into tlie outstretched palm before him. The light seemed to die out of the sharp eyes of the detect ive, and it was the miserable drunkard who staggered back to his place on the stoop next to the station, unmindful of the gibes of the y ouug rowdies congre gated there. Sturgis walked up to the next street, where he found a second detective on duty. "Anything new, Conklin?" lie asked, "No, sir; he's been lying 'ow ; looks like lie knew lie was spotted this time." "(iood. Stay here until 1 can notify the police that we have run down tlie quarry. It vvlll be necessary to obtain a search warrant for the Manhattan Chemical company's place, In the meantime, if Chatham shouhl attempt to make tracks, hang on to him like his shadow and scud back word here us soon as you can." "All right, sir." Sturgis, after leaving Conklin, walked along the street which the de tective was watching and caiefully In spected every house on the block. Al most all won huge ollleo buildings; but here and I here an old-fashioned brown Mono front stood out conspicuously against the broad expanse, of brick walls and iron columns. Half-way down the street one of these old houses stood well back from the street Hue behind u small garden. The reporter stood near mis and read the numbers ; n l- l ing bill dings , ,11,rri,,,1.v 1)ut'k "f 'M"n- , hnttan Chemical company s ollice," ho mused, "I wonder who lives here, It "I fear I am intruding, Miss Mur- dock," he said nt last; "your maid told me she thought you could re- eclve mc. Perhaps 1 would better call again." "No, no, Mr. Kprngtie," replied the. young girl, effusively, coining toward him with outstretched hands; "I am so glad to sec you." And then, ohserv- ing his inquiring glance toward Chntham, "I think," she added, eoid- "that this gentleman has said all that he has to say to me," Chatham's excitement had subsided; in tin reaction, he. seemed ill nntl weak and he nervously clenched his tremulous right, hand. 1 will wait to see Dr. Murdoek," lie said, doggedly, in a low voice "As you please," replied Agnes, nfl er a slight hesitation, "Mary, show Mr. Chatham lo the doctor's study." As the accountant followed the scrv nut, from the room, blank despair waa stamped in every feature, mid It sernicd to Sprague, ns the door closed, that he heard something like a con vulsive sob. I'neonscloiisly Agnes had clung to Sprncuc's, hand. Now, as the sense of danger disappeared, she became aware of what she was doing; and, in sudden embarrassment, she withdrew- lu:r hand from his reassuring clasp. The artist, recalling the object of his visit, at once became grave and formal. "I nni rorry to intrude upon you nt this unconventional hour, Miss Mur doch, but I found this letter in my studio to-day. It was evidently dropped by you yesterday; and, thinking it might be important, I" "A letter? What letter?" ashed Agnes, pulod. Sprague held out the sealed envel ope. The young girl tore it open and I cast a hurried glance at its contents. Then suddenly understanding, she ' tore the paper to shreds and threw i these angrily into the fire which liurnod brightly iu the large open , fireplace. I "Oh, that!" she exclaimed, con- I temptuously. And then after a pause: "Do you mean lo say you thought " She stopped short, seized by a sud- , den shyness. I "What else could I think?" said Sprague, softly, i He was watching the fragments of 1 paper as they flared upon the hearth. The flame which consumed them seemed to shed a radiant glow upon his heart. "Then," he added, presently, and mil more softly, "if there is nothing betwien you and and him perhaps perhaps I may hope Miss Murdoch Agues -" His hand sought hers and fount! it. Hut the reaction had come at last, and the brave girl who had been able to control herself in the presence of a threatening madman now gavn way to a fit of hysterical weeping. Sprague. not being a medical man, coul I hardly have known what reme k'esio employ in an emergency of this i. nd. All he did was to whisper sooth iig words in the young girl's car and t'. Kiss the tears from her eyes. Hut a'jiarently that wns enough. " Evident ly for a layman he must have possessed eo.siderable medical intuition; for, rJtr sobbing awhile upon Ids shoul der Agnes quirted down gradually and ren lined contentedly nestling in his arm, while the artist, doubtless fear ful f a relapse, continued, for per hap an unnecessarily long time, to ply the rcatmont whose effect had pro dued upon his patient so marked, so rapi. and so satisfactory a result. Tb attention of the medical profes- sionis respectfully called to a treat- men which, though empirical, may posjjly possess specific virtues. CIIAPTICIi XVI. THE I.UENTUI.N HATS. "I rll you, Sturgis, it is a wonderful Hscoery. I don't know w hat npplica tionsniay nlt'mately be made of it in athet branches of science, but I am convneed that If is bound to enmse a re vo.it ion in sttrgieill di 'gnosis," laid Dr. Thurston, untlmsiaslicaUy. "Ys," replied Sturgis, "1 havi no 3oub that Roentgen's rnya will be of great assistance to the surgeon in the f Nnninatioii ot features and is the lo- oatioi of foreign bodies which cannot )t- rcschetf by the probe." "Asa proof of that, I must show you i beaitiful photograph which 1 have nst nade, After leaving you on Xcw rent's morning, I found a patient slccj) in niy ollice. He had been wait- ng st-ernl hours, It was the usual ise ol a pistol u the hands of a fool lend', who did not know it was load- I; niu.of course with the usual result -a bulla wound in my patient." Sturgis was listening in an absent-, nidedwny while his friend spoke. 1 'Tlie wound' was not nwere; no lues li-ohen. The bullet had entered ti pain of the left hand and had j.sed u i into the forearm." sutlilen light came into the report- e eyes; but he maintained his list- h attitude. 1-..1, , , , rii. sir, prone as i wouiii, i wa.s V A( M iii'iNonits ri.osnn nkuvousi.v ON THK HANDLE. I coudod to try the Roentgen rays, ....ere. Is the result. It is as pretty sl.iw photograph ns I have yet paying, Dr. Thurston handed the ret it a photograph, which the lat 4 r ill ,1 1,1.1 in ', f ii 1 1 1. 1,. .11.., i W u i . ",(""""" Itice how clearly you can see tho pear shape into which the bullet ...run flattened," sni.Hhe physician, j looks like a respectable plan enough, One could obtain u good view of the renr of tlie Manhattan Chemical eoin- pany's ofllcc from the back windows, H'm " lie stood thoughtfully considering what pretext, he could use to gain ad- mission to the house, when suddenly he. became aware of the presence of n man who had approached with noiseless stops. "Ah. is tlml you. Mr. Sturgls?" sni.l . . . . T. ' the calm, snrdonlcal voice, of Dr. Mur dock, The reporter started Inwardly, but. gave no outward sign of surprise. Were you about to do mc I lie honor of calling?" continued tlie eliineist. "Yes," said Sturgis, deliberately; ' "I was about to seek an interview with you. Can you r.pare u few min utes?" i "Who Is it tlint asks for the Inter view?" inquired Murdoek, with quiet sarcasm. "Is il Mr. Sturgis, gentle man; Mr. Sturgls, reporter, or " Sturgis met a cold gleam from Mur- i dock's inscrutable eves. "Or Mr. Sturgis, the famous de tective?" continued the. chemist with an imperceptible sneer, "I represent the Tempest," replied the reporter, quietly, Murdoek glanced carelessly up and down the street. 1 here was no one " , , Oh. very well, he said, taking out his latchkey and leading the way to me nouse; "come into my study and in me near wnat l can do lor the , Tempest." j On entering the house Murdoek mn I tinned Sturgis to tlie door leading from the hall into the drawing-room. "If you will step into the parlor for a few minutes, I shall be with you di rectly," said he. Sturgis nodded acquiescence, and while Murdoek walked towrrd his study, which was at the extreme rear of the hall, the reporter opened the drawing-room door. He did not open it very wide, however. iiither did lie enter; for alt hough the room was rather dark, his quick eye caught a passing glimpse of a feminine head cosily nestled upon a distinctly mas culine shoulder, the owner of which had his bach turned to him. liach flor cynic though he was. Sturgis had not. the heart to interrupt so inter- ssting a situation; and. as the couple were so absorbed that they had not noticed the intrusion upon their tete-a-tete, he discreetly retreated and foftly closed the door. Hy this time Murdoek had passed into his study, r,o that Sturgis found himself alone in the hall. He was glad of a short respite during which he might collect his thoughts; for, having been taken by surprise, lie had not had time to select a plausible .,.,c i.ir u,e interview wiucii ne nun solicited from Murdoek. Xot know ' -...( .I.. . ( i i i , , ing that tlie house was that of the! chemist, his sole object had been to . . . .1.1 V , kiii iiuiuiLiaiiui;, su null lie UHlillL uo, able to observe the Manhattan Chem- leal company s others from the rear, and it possible to ascertain how Chat- ham had managed to give the detec tives the slip the first time he ap peared to them. Xow that he was in the house the reporter was confronted with the ne cessity of explaining his presence there without betraying his true pur pose. This would not have been a difficult matter had the inmates of tlie house been total strangers; but he felt that it would be by no means so easy to offer an explanation which would be satisfactory to a man of Murdoch's keen perception. And Mur dock wa.s the last person to whom he would have confided the true reason of his visit; not only because the chemist, as his opponent in tlie wager concerning the Knickerbocker bank mystery, was interested in thwarting rather than in aiding his investiga tion, but chielly because he felt a strong instinctive distrust of the man. As these thoughts were passing through the reporter's mind, he slow ly paced the long hall, back nnd forth, with his hands behind his back. In so doing, he passed a door which was slightly ajar and caught a glimpse of long rows of bookshelves loaded with beautifully bound edi- t ions. The place as evidently the library. It occurred to him that a library is a public room nnd that, he would be more comfortable in there, than in the hall. He pushed open the door and looked in, The room was empty. Ho cn- tered. The library occupied a space be- tween the parlor and tho rear room into which Murdoek had entered, and it was separated from each of these rooms by folding-doors over which hung hravy portieres. Sturgis 'was a lover of books; his interest wa.s at ouee aroused ill the collection before him. It wa.s ad mirably selected from the standpoint of a philosopher and a man of sci- ence. Kverv department of history, of iihilosoiih v and of science hml its section in which the. volumes wore i .... . classified and arranged with intelli gent care. Hut curiously enough, po etry and art were but mcagcrly rep resented. One section specially attracted Stur-sis attention. It was devoted en tirely to the history of crime in all its phase and in all nges. Criminal statistics, criminal jurisprudence and the psychology of crime, ns well as the biographies of nil the noted crim inals of ancient and modern times, were completely reprefintcd, Almost the only works of fiction in the col lection were in this section, and In cluded every book imaginable con cerning criminals and their deeds. Many rare and curious volumes were there some of them so rare, that they could be found in only a few of the great libraries of the world. Hero Sturgls was in Ills clement. lie luiu lilmselt collected a valuable library on the subjects kindred to his profession; but. here were books many of which none but a Croesus could ever hope to own. He was soon ab sorbed In an examination of some rare, volumes which he had often longed to possess. While thus engaged he became awnri, of tho mxmr of volei.s mm ill II rt.fi t'H-Vtl A a 4ltn Sf- t-iJ p, ot ' " j,t ...,., . h.n '. , ' tM,rw,.,1 ...... 1.... t- ...,. ,.,,.ll, lull in nil-Hi, uill, , etlnetlvely, he noted that one of the ,.ntL ..., i i ,t i : Zrt 1 , U' ",8 r.?,.n'n",.':,te!:'"?.'?. f. i"'"'1".' ! hpe''C'': modulations were unknown to him, betrayed the repressed excitement of the speaker. It boon became evident that Mur tloek's Interlocutor was fast losing control of himself; for he, gradually pitched his voice in a higher key, un til occasional words began to reach S.turgls' ears. The reporter wa.s not the man to wantonly play the part , V.,. t t V i 1 'i "7 " , ?" i the. Isolated won s wh eh reached Mm I brought no connected .sense, he judged tlml it was time to move out of earshot of the coiivcrsat ion to whleli he was becoming uti involun tary listener. Keplaeing upon Its shelf the book which he had been ex amining, he started toward the hall door. As he did so, he heard the now thoroughly excited individual ex claim in loud tours: "I don't care a damn for the money. 1 only went into tlie scheme because you promised she'd have me; and, bv Ciod. if I don't get her, I'll give, the whole cursed tiling away," Sturgls, who had reached the hall :lnor, pricked tip his detective's cars at these words. Hut in another see Mid he heard the knobs of the fold ng doors rattle, as though some one had placed his hands upon them. Quick ns thought he opened the :! and glided out into the hallway IIp al nt time to pull the door qulln to behind him when the folding doors opened and he heard Murdoek . jay in his ralm. frigid tones: I -r'l-ips you have done that nl Jeadv wilh your dulret voire." Had Munlork seen him? The. re port -r ashed himself the question. Probably not; for he heard the fold ing doors close once more. (TO Bi: CONTIN'UKD.) A CHANGED MAN. t'tlllmllnn of n rhonocrnpli Dnrlnu the I'erloil of Courtship. "Xo, I never have a hit of trouble with my husband," icmarhi-l the frail littlo won an with tile iuirllitfrtit fare. "In fin t. I have him right under my thumb." "You don't look verv sttong," doubt fully commented the engaged uirh "Yrm mistake me, my di iir. It's a men tal, not a physical subjection." "Would ymi mind telling me how" "Nut a hit! Always glad to help any one steer clear of the rorks. First of K'' "11 must know t lint a man in love Is the blugest sort of a fool nnd snys things tlint makes him almost wild when he hears 'em in after life. I realized it and from the very beginning of our court ship I kept a phonograph in my room, ami every speech he made was duly re corded. Xow whenever my husband gets a little hit obstreperous I just turn on a record or two. Heavens, how he does rave! Hut he can't deny it. They always will, though, if you don't have proof posi tive." liank you," gratefully murmured the ongaged girl. "I'll gut a phonograph this very day." Why He Kept Silence. V, ,,,., llt, U feVII til Jlltlll IL'iat- .! n,l,-.,nliirn ! 'n, l,rt 1,,1 l,.. the principal actor, and. seeing utmi'.stak- able shadows of doubt on the faces of his Hearers, lie appealed to a friend who was present and who had witnessed the cir cumstances to corroborate his statement. To his titter confusion his friend denied all knowledge of the affair. Meeting some time afterward tho sus pected Ananias said: "Is it possible that you can have forgot ten the circumstance to which I referred at Mrs. A.'s party the other night?" "Certainly not, my dear fellow," replied his friend, "but I could sec that every one present looked upon you as nn incorrigi ble linr. and I b.i 1 too much regard for my character to risk bring taken for an other." Rrnnohmnn nnd the Mllltmnn, "You use lots of milk, don't you?" querier the milkman as he peered through tho screen and saw Mr. Grouch man at the breakfast table, "Yes," growled that individual; "I eat lots of bread and mills." "Well," said thp milkman, trying hard to bo pl-anant, "it's pretty healthy, I guess." "Yes," answered Oroucbman, "and there's another thing in Its favor. It al fords tne such tin elegunt opportunity to cast my bread upon the waters." lu dlumipolis Sun. Another VVrnni; lllkrhted. "Xo," said old Mi. Rockingham, after his daughter had put in her plea fur Charley, "1 can't give my consent, I like him well enough personally, and he's good hearted and all that, but ho ain't steady. He ain't" "Why, pit," she interrupted, "how can you say he isn't steady? lie hasn't missed n single night in the past four months." Chicago Hecord-Herald. Homir. i:ven. She You know, John, you promised me n sealskin wrap, and- He And yo.i promised to keep my Mm kings dallied, end you haven't dona it. She Well, you don't mean to say you'll break your pruinis on that account? He Well, it's jui-t this: You don't give n darn, and I don't give a wrap. 1'hiladelphla Press. Some sinhu Nut For iter, "I've come to town." said tho old farm "to see all that's worth seeing nil ik.t'. !.... ;., " that's interesting.' "You have?" returned his rapid city nephew inquiringly. "You bet 1 have." "In that case," nld the city nephew, "you ought to have left your wife ut home." Chicago l'ost. Ills rnillnu. "Mr. I.itevvatc, have you any objection to my joining n mililiiry company?" "I dunno us I have. Hut I'll tell you one thing, I'm nfrnni you'll be is poor a soldier as yon are a grocery clerk." "In what way, sir?" "Xo can lily good at taking orders." Cleveland l'lain Dealer, .11 oiler n I r eit I'll iin, Bunday School Teacher Xow, children, what did l'liarnoh say to Mo.cs? Children We don't know. Teacher- Oh, yes, you do. He told Moses to go and do something. Xow, what did he say? Class Go way back and sit down! Haltiniore American. Ilrr SiiBKr(lin. Mrs. Gusher- I've written some verses to Miss Ann Tech, but I hardly know wha't lo call thrill, "Ode ou Aim's I'aeo" expresses the Idea, but that doesn't bound right. Miss I'epprey Why not make it "Lines on Aim's Kii 'i'?" Philadelphia Press, Su Uelliclit fully Modern. your now rector an agreeabli) "is man?' "Indeed ho is- real nice; plays golf and sijuasl owns a naphtha launch and an- i i . i... ,-..' - i.i. ....it. II llllllV. till I I'C- , GODS FOH PLAYTHINCS. The StrniiKe SlKlilllennre of Dolll -tin on If the VI oi nl Imllnlis. It Is a curious feature of the religion of the Montii Indians, the "snake dancers" of Xtvv Mexico, that during one of their fnmou.s danced dolls representing hat cinns or gods are distributed to all the village rhildieii. Ill tho I'eabody museum t Harvard university then; Is a collet tioti of nearly 100 of these grotesque Idols which were once the playthings of children, hut now form an exhibit of peruiiar mteirst to the student of eth nology. Tin- dolls, although they appear to he of all sorts ami sines, are iievertlnk k shaped and painted according to nn uu vurjihg rule applicable to that pnrtu alar one of the (JO ur 70 katcinas which ep, h is intended to represent. On them are drpii ted a groat variety of arbitrary sig.ci indicating, fur example, the lightning ,r the tliundoribiiiil or the hall or the rain storm or some animal. Oftea tho rain bow is enrred over their head", and many of them hear a curious headdress in tlie form of n thin tablet of wood, which It cut in an archaic hut syinmetiii al pat tern of much elaboration and oinaiiieii'ed with eagles' nnd owls' feathers. Most of tlie special symboli-m is to be looked for in the mivliig and making if the masked iinids, while the bodii- be long to mote or less general types. Some times they are painted on botli sides alike and sometimes differently. Some of them are naked and some of them wear blan kets or the dnuee hilts. Most of them vary in height from six inches to a foot nnd a half. Hut thete are several in the Harvard collection which nre nearer" four feet. One of the-e latter is n cnu. poslte figure, one doll benriug annt', on its head, with a third above tic second. Not only does the religion of the Mnqui appear in the univeisal mashing of tho dolls, but also in the selection of the tree from which they are made, tho cotton wood being sacred since it grows along the water courses, the tnobt precious pos session of the Indians. Tlie dolls are; carved from the root, which Is veiy Hglit and so soft that it may be cut with tin; greatest ease. The dolls are now wh tied out with jackknives, hut in the , ' 1 days before the white man cnino stone knives were used, ami even now tho smoothing and polishing of the dolls ii mainly done with a piece of sandstone. On account of their religious slgnificnu, o tiny are treated more respectfully taati most dolls, and doubtless the liltl Moqui girl would ofttn bo glad of a leas solemn toy for her plaything. WHAT MONEY IS. The dusts that blinds all eyes. Ammunition for the battle of life. , -A tangible expression of fickle fortune' smile. Mrs. Grundy's standard of respecta hility. The "mint" sauco which suits every palate. The honey pot thnt has all tho world for liies. A sign language that holds good throughout the world. A "curse" which everybody is most happy to be blessed with. That which it is man's mission to git nnd woman's mission to spend. A commodity the value of which is beit nPI'''cciaUHl b' tho'5U haven't K"t " That which every one desires to obtain In order to have the pleasu.e of pan ins with it. A most useful commodity, capable ot transmitting to its fortunate possessor everything but health and happiness. Money to a man is like water to a plan, only useful us long as it promotes .v, 1 facilitates growth; like water in the f :u taiu or water in the tank, keep it flow .ng and it blesses, keep it stagnant and it injures. An Obedient THtlent. An old doctor, whose memory was be ginning to fail him, was called in tu see a young man who was ill. On arnvmz nt the notice be found his patient in he. I with nothing the matter with him but a slight cold. After prescribing tho usual remedies, he said: "Xow, my dear sir, you must stay in bed till I come aain." lie went away and forgot all about his patient. The time flew by. One day tho doctor came across the young mail's mother in the street. Tho sight of Mrs, Jones brought his patient to his truuj, and with a start he said: "Hy the bye, how is your son getting on?" To his amazement Mrs, Jones replied that he was still in bed, obedient to his cemmaads. IIu had been there threa Weeks I THE LIMIT REACHED. Jlnttrra Unit CJone Too Vnr and Hfl Wanted n Divorce ut Once. "Xow, then." said the attorney to thrt witness who wanted tho divorce, "please tell the euurt just what the trouble be tween you and the defendant was.'' "Well," 'he unfortunate man replied. "I built nn addition to my house so that her mother in-ild come there and live at my expense; I paid the private detectives she hired to shadow me while sho was away during the summer; I took a smaller ollice so as to be able to let her join a golf club; I gave up horseback rid ing for my health in order to make it pos sible for her to entertain musical celebri ties who came to town; I gave up smok ing and quit eating lunch at my club so that she could Keep a footman. I did ail these things without a word of complaint. I won't deny tlit I sometimes considered it rather tough to have to make such sa -rilices, b.it I hail taken her for better or for worse, nnd I didn't want to weaken on the contract if I could help it." "Yes; go on. What was the thing that finally brought you here?" "When she put niv new sill: lined fall overcoat on hor confounded old rubber plant because the weather man had pre dicted fiost and left it out all night I made up tnj mind that worst had come to worst, and heie I am," Chicago llecord He. aid. Tlio.f V!e Children A en In. George is five years old, and his father read him tin Impressive story of Geotgo Washington and the cherry tree and tho subsequent frank admission. Noticing the look of astonishment on the child's face, his father asked, "Don't you th.-il; ho was a very good boy?" "Good, p.ipa?" said George iiiciedulously. "Why, , f course he knew hi. father had got wise llll.VuOW." That reminds us of the story of the. mother who, after reading "Casablanca" to her little daughter, remarked, "Xovv, wasn't he a uood little bov?" "Yes," sighed the child, "ITe wns nw fully good, hut ho wasn't one bit bmart." Xew York Sun. Without Knnndatlon. Towne 1 hear Jenkins had a fight wltlti another follow yesterday. Hrawni Impossible! I was with him for an hour today, and I didn't notice a mark on Ii ni. Towne- Hut the story gor that he sim ply wiped the ground up with the other fellow Hrowne Still more impossible. Didn't I tell you I was with him for an hour and ivver herd