Evening Star Newspaper, December 5, 1896, Page 21

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, ‘DECEMBER 5, 1896-24 PAGES. or so id BY JOHN J. A~ BEOKET. (Copsright, 1896, The S. 8. McClure Co.) PPLGISLLLGSLLLGS SSELNSUS Written for The Evening Sta The girl had fainted. The Lexington avenue cable car was at 23d street and Broadway when this occurred. There was nothing extraordinary in the mere fact. The morning papers reported that three or four policetnen had succumbed the day be- fore. This was a young girl of slight phy- sique and exceeding delicacy of constitu- tion, if her color told the truth. She was also peculiarly attractive, though that has nothing to do with her fainting. It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the sixth day of this merciless persecution of the sun. New York city had gasped under it, writhed under it, fainted under It, died under it, for In scores cf cases the vital flame was quenched by the insufferable heat. Even on the shady side of Broadway and in relatively cool spots where at times blessed little puffs of wind came as fleeting, but welcome visitants, the thermometric tube inhumanly registered 96 degrees. In the “better done” portions of the city it Yranged at record-breaking heights. Small wonder that this slender girl should faint. She had been showing symptoms of dis- tress all the way up town, but had fought hard to hold out until she reached her des- tination. A young man next to her in the car had regarded her closely now and then over the corner of his paper. When “In my frenzy over his treatment of me, I took these documents away this morning, after he had left his rooms to go down town. I knew that their loss would ruin him. I left a note for him.that I had been called out of town by a telegram from my sister. Why I should have done this, when I meant never to return to him, I do not know. But it was a providence, for it gives me a chance to rectify my fatal mis- take, if you will assist me. I have discov- ered that my belief was wholly wrong, and that I have done a terrible’’—the girl put her hand to her eyes, and seemed over- come at the thought for a moment—“a ter- rible injustice to one of the finest men that ever lived.” It was nsturally a very trying confession for a devoted wife to make, and that she should feel the greatest reluctance to it was to be expected. Her narrative was full of pauses, hesitations and difficulty. But when she would master this repug- nance she went on quickly, and her speech Was not only fluent but full of feeling. The young man respectfully waited in silence till she could recover her control, though considerably affected by her emotion. I know him better than any one living,” she resumed. “If he were to find out what I have done, even if I returned with the box of documents, showed the hatefully specious grounds for my suspicions, con- fessed my fault and plead for forgiveness, he would drive me from him, and never look at or speak to me again. He is one of those stern, unyielding men who cannot ee an injustice, too good to forgive a is where you can be of assistance to me ihen T'ever dreamed mortal could. If I can get that box back to the very place from which I took it fore he returns tonight, he will never know it has been touched. Tomorrow L come back after this visit, apparently. to my sisier, and all will go on as before. He has no idea that I ever entertained a doubt of him. I dare not take it back myseif for fear, In some way, he should discover what I have done.” If his distrust were aroused in the slightest degree, he would ‘get the whole thing out of me, despite my- self. And this worry and Prostration from the heat would make me afraid to attempt it, lest I should be overcome again. I am not strong, and this strain has quite un- nerved me. You must see with what ef- fort I am letting you know the situation. After ruin had fallen on him, I meant to declare myself, his wronged wife, as its author. Oh, it was a h'deous wrong. You must despise me almost as much as I de- spise myself. The only excuse is that it Was the mad act of a woman who loved her husband to distraction and felt that she had been cruelly wronged by himn. But, as I say, you can make this dreadful state of things right once more. You can pre- vent my sife from being one of constant misery. Will you do this? Heaven has thrown you in my way, as if for this very purpose. I assure you solemnly, it involves ho peril for you. Will you save me?” She spoke the words with intense feeling, turning her brilliant, greenish eyes on him with the look of « hunted fawn. The young a felt the grasp of their magnetic inten- “If I can do arything to relieve you 1 certainly will,” he replied, a little nervous- ly. “But you must see that I can not promise absolut it was mot the heat that made me faint.” she collapsed, he supported her until the car was sto; Then the policeman at | me to d the crossing, who, in obedience to nature’s; ‘“‘Simply this,”” returned the young woman first law cf self-preservation, had unbut- | auickly, but in low, excited tones. “Take toned his coat; despite the fact that he | back that box for me. Listen! He will not thereby revealed a wilted calico shirt and a | return before 10 this evening. We live on rotund but unwilted stomach, came for- | the top floor of No. -- East street. My ward and the suffering girl was taken into | husband's tame is Wheeler—William a chemist's shop hard by. Wheeler. There 1s no one else in the house It was a haven of refreshment after the burning outer air, for it was shady and cool. A thin, shiny black cat sprawled with abandon on the mosaic floor in the ef- fort to expose as much of her frame as possible to its cool contact. There were no electric fans in the shop, but two ccunters were entirely devoted to soda and miner water fountains, and the quantity of crack- ed ice in use at them had a salutary in- fluence on the temperature They put the poor th na chair at the farthest, and hence coolest, end of the shop. and two clerks began devoting them- selves to her relief. Towels wet with ice at present. The care-taker comes in the morning and leaves at 7 in the evening, when the private watchman comes on duty. It is only the tear that somebody might see me with the box and it would reach his ears that keeps me from going. I will give you my latch key. Go there at 38, open the door with it, and go at once to his rooms. In his bed room is a tall, up- right folding bed. Take the box—you will have to get in a chair to do it—and put it on the shelf made by the foot of the bed when it is turned up, about two feet from the right hand side, and with the lock turned to the wall. That is exactly where water were applied to her head and | it was taken from, and it was placed in wrists. The policeman had sunk on one | that way. If you knew how keen an ob- knee by her side and looked the picture of | server my husband is you would understand municipal benevoler But the scrap of y I am so particular about these petty paper and lead pencil in his hands showed | details. {t will not take you ten min- ng for a chance to get thé|utes to do it. Then bring me back the ame and address in c: of a fatal | There is no danger. To secure you perfectly against even | the remote po st ity of it, I will give you a letter saying had m summoned from ew York Hospital. But when it ar-| I asked you to undertake an important J, the girl refused to go in it, with a | © jon for me to my husband. But but decided gesture of repugnanc go at the time I say, it is the eatly dressed in some light sum- | mer fabric, and looked more than respect- likeliest thing in the world that there will be any need of it. able. “oh, | know what a favor I am asking The young man had remained close at | of a perfect stranger, aimed the young <nd. @ sympathetic looker-on rather than | wife with great But I am work- ssistant in the charitable endeavor toj|ing for my life's happiness, and yeu are bring the girl around. Possibly because | securing it for me, if you have the noble others se 1 to know perfectly what to | generosity to aid me in this way. If you do, while like many another, had only j refuse, you who could pity a strange wo- a wi rt and ignorant han is in an|man who was only suffering from sun- emergenc stroke, to whom can I look for help? I do The girl, in raising her heavy eyelids, | not want to appeal to anything but your may have recognized the young man as | heart, but I swear to you that If you re- her neighbor on the car. He had a win- | fuse I will kill myself sooner than face the ning, kindly expression. At last, the girl | consequence of my own reckless act. Oh, moved to rise ing, in he that she felt well"enough to go. to her feet, her hand went forth, and un- thinkingly she gasped the young fellow's arm. He crooked it firmly that she might feel its stout support, and they walked slowly to the door. A’hansom had drawn up in front of the shop with a view to the likely need of its services. “De you mind coming with me in that cab to my home?" the girl said to the weak voice, will you not do this, for the love of heaven, in getting for a helpless, distracted woman?” She bent her eyes imploringly upon him, grave, clear eyes, strange, compelling, fas- cinating eyes. It was the absurdity of the thing which the young man had most in his mind. But the woman's precautions would secure him, if worst came to worst. It seemed cruel not to render the assistance to a frail, sweet woman, nervous to the brink of frostration over the impending young man, in a low voice, but wistfully, | loss of her life's happiness. The final threat diffidently. “I am afraid to 30 alone, and | of self-destruction, moreover, had such a @ policeman in the cab would iook too bad- | ring of determined purpose that it decided ly. Iam sorry to trouble you so much, but | him to accept this strange commission at T fear I may faiat ag can trust 5 that you are a gentleman. The young man, who was not without a leaven of Good Samaritanism, at once as- sented, and after gently helping her into the cab climbed in h.mself. When he asked the girl where he should tell the driver to s0, she answered in a weak voice: “Teli him to-drive up to Central Park and take a turn in there first. The air may help me, and then I will give my home <3. During the drive uptown t nd I feel that I | any cost “I wiil do it,” he safa, with a delibera- tion that argued better for the accomplish- ment of the task than a prompter, more enthusiastic assent. “Then, if you will tell the cabman to drive to No, — Lexington avenue, I can tell you anything else on the way,” she said with a deep s'gh of relief. “I cannot repay you for your kindness, but God may. fe girl On their way to the number indicated ee ly aaa ae tne she asked the young man to call at the b and remained | exingt avenue house at quarter of S soon after they had entered | }exington avenue : that evening and she would have the latch- key, the letter and the box ready for lim. It was the residence, she explained. of one of her most intimate woman friend: Be- and the air cireled about them she sat up. Then she began to ¥ companion in a firmer voice and with great earnestness. There was a aumabacte How. fore they arrived at the house, which singularly soft, moving quality in her| proved to be one of the respectable, non- voice, and it was exquisitely modulated.! Committed brick ones aboundii in that Delicats, earnest, oddly fascinating, she! section of Lexington avenue, she slipped a $5 bill into his hand to pay the calbman with when he had set him down where he wished to go. She also begged him to give this address to the cabman before they ar- rived at the house and to nid him drive on at once #3 soon as she got out, since her friend knew all of her men acquaintances and might make curious inquiries if she ‘aw her drive up with a stranger. Of course, her coming back in a hansom would excite no comment. All of which was very reasonable and most b-comingly circum- spect. so that he readily did It. When the “ecabby” had taken him to his club he paid him for his part of the drive. He dined at his club, fortifying himself for his mission of the evening by a bottle of champagne. At the appointed time he presented himself at the Lexington ayenue house. The lady answered the bell herself, did not invite him im, but gave him at once the latehkey, the letter and the box of dccuments. She told him she would open | the door for him on his return, and begged him to hurry back as soon as ne had re- stored the dox to its place. A rubber-tired cab steod at the door, which she had pro- vided to facilitate h's ceurse. The box was of black morocco, about fourteen inches long by five inches wide. ‘The young fellow felt no special interest in it outside ofits importance to a woman’s lifelong peace. The cabman drove his horse at a walk, and when urged to go faster said his horse had gone lame and he didn't like to tax him tco much. He had been paid by the lady. who evidently shrank from placing herself under any money ob- ligation to her: friendly assistant, as a lady naturally would. ‘Wher he got to the house the young man told the cabman he could go, but the fel- low said the lady had paid him for the re- affected the young fellow pathetically. “I know something of human nature,” she said, “and I feel that you are a kind, honorable, self-confident man. You have pity for the suffering. At all events, I am going to tell you something, and am gomg to ask you something. But you must Promise me never to betray what I shall say, whether you grant my request or not. That you can do without hesitation. Will you?” “Certainly,” replied the young man, sym- pathetically. “I should respect any’ confi- dence you repose in me, without a given Promise. And if I can help you, I shall be glad to do so.” The girl heaved a long sigh of relief, and her eyes slowly closed again, as if the ef- fort of making her communication was ‘powering her at the start. Then, with sick compression of her lips, she began. “tt was not the heat which made me faint. At least, not that alone. It was the mental strain T have been going through for the past ten hours. I have done a great wrong to my husband. You need not ask my motive ip this. You may guess it. It was a mad thing to do, and unless it is repcired this very night my happiness for life is ruined. He is an executor, with two others, for the estate of a very wealthy woman. There is to be a meeting at his rooms tomorrow of the executors and the heirs of the estate in regard to the dispo- sition of certain things of vast importance. Necessary documents relating to this transaction were taken out of the safe de- posit vaults yesterday by my husband and the other two executors, and my husband took them to his rooms. He is a lawyer, and he had to study out two or three points = these documents close at hand to re- T to. ¢ iy ull I know what you oe ‘turn trip, saying the gent wae in a hurry and wouldn't want to look around for an- other hansom. “The beast has been rested up and I can take yer back at a better gait, sir,” he said cheerfully, with a grin. Goodenough first rang the bell. He was willing to help the lady as far as he could without certainly compromising himself. but he did not intend to run unnecessary risks. If any one came, he would ask’ if Mr. Wheeler was at home, and if he was not, would then ask to go to his room and write a note for him. After a time, as no one responded, he pretended to discover his key with some surprise and boldly let him- self in. He found the rooms without any difficulty from the directions Mrs. Wheeler had given to him, and they exactly answered her de- scription of them. He got a chair and Placed the box carefully on the top of the folding bed, just as she had asked him to. He nearly dropped it while doing this, ow- irg to a pardonable nervousness. Greatly relieved, he went back to the other house. The “gabby” was as good as his word and drove Wack rapidly, the horse showing no disposition to be ‘dazy” on any one of his legs. The lady opened the door at once, received back her key and unused letter and wrung his hands with warm feeling. “T cannot thank you enough. This must be a life secret between us. But if you will give me your card I shall be glad to make your acquaintance after I get back to my husband. I beg you to accept this small token of a woman's gratitude to- ward a generous man.” The young man had given her his card, “Mr. Goddard Goddenough,” with his club acdress in the corner. As she said these last words she drew an opal scarf pin from her corsake. It was a stone that seemed to burn like a coal, and it was surrounded with tiny but brilliant diamonds. In vain Gcodénough sought to escape such a costly present. She forced it upon him and he tock. his leave, followed by her ardent therks and low-voiced blessing. Somehoweafter it was all over, Goddard Goodenough had more time to reflect on the strarge proceeding. The quality of one’s thought upon a deed is so different according to which side of it the thinker is on. He began to feel an odd restiveness, not unlike solicitude. He could not rest easy at his club, despite the aid of two or three drinks absorbed with a view to Breater composure. He determined to go rourd by Mr. Wheeler’s rooms a little after ten to see if there was any evidence of his having returred. But as_ his restless- ness kecame more pronounced, he decided to first go up to the Lexington avenue house and reconnoiter there. This, with no definite alm ir. his mind. When he had got within a short distance af the house, on the other side of the street, he was surprised to see a coupe in front of it, with a steamer trunk on the box. As he halted in the shadow, wonder- ing what this meant, the door opened and a tall, spare man, with a close-trimmed black beard, came down the steps and opened the coupe door. He then saw Mrs. Wheeler come down the steps, the two entered the carriage, and it rolled swiftly dewn the avenue. Goodenough was thoroughly aroused now. Of course, it could have been the lady's brother, or some male relative. But the men’s appearance had not been as con- vincing an indorsement of character as the lady's. With a sudden resolve, the worried young man crossed over, mounted the steps and tugged at the bell. The house was per- fectly dark. He got no answer to his ring nor to the others wiich he gave. Leaving the house, still more perturbed in his feel- ings, he encountered the policeman whose “heat” it was, and inquired of him who lived in the house. “The cook across the way,” said the po- liceman, “says it’s a foreigner and his wife. They've only been there about a a to feel that he was in for an adventure. He was not absolutely corifortable. The young man came back, stood in front of him, and letting his Be t hand swing round toward his hip et, remarked with great deliberation: ‘I have nothing to do with any estate, I have never been an executor and know mathing whatever of the subject of which you speak.” “Perhaps,” returned Goodenough, a little lamely, but acting on the inspiration of the moment, “it may have your wife who is the person interested.” The young man's exprdbsion showed a trace of irritation, but his/coolness did not forsake him. “I have no wife, and never had one. Will you please fo state at once, who the devil you are, an@:what the devil you are after?” - These questions were pit savagely, and were rendered unduly, or at least unpleas- ingly emphatic by his drawing a small “six-shooter” from his pocket with a busi- ness-I!ke manner. He held it with his finger on the trigger. “Iam afraid,” said Goodenough, feeling @ movement of temper himself, but striv- ing to retain his comrosure, “that I am a tremendous fool. You may help to con- vince me of it. But first, do you object to telling me what that box of documents is doing-on top of your folding bed?” He was so confident that Mr. Wheeler had seen the box, from the fact that It had been moved, that he hoped to force his hand by showing thus abruptly his own knowledge of it. Despite the young man’s control, his countenance betrayed the most utter surprise. Recovering himself quickiy, he raised the revolver, covered Goodenough with it, and said sternly: “Take the key out of my pocket and open that bed room door. Take down the box and bring it here. If you make the slightest move- ment except to do this I promise you I ‘wil shoot, and there will be great likeli- hood of my killing you. That would be highly disagreeable at this hour of the night, and here. Especially as I am more than half disposed to take you at your word and believe that you are only a fool.” “I can assure you that I have no doubt on the subject now,” replied Goodenough, with conviction. “But if you will allow me to explain” “I shall assuredly do that,” the other re- plied, emphatically. “But later. First, this box. How came you to know it was there?” “I put it there myself,” blurted out Good- enough, shecpishly. He had opened the door, and as he glanced at the box, which scemed to his excited visicn even nearer the edge than when he had first seen it, he said, boldly: “You must know that it is there, for it is much closer to the side than where I put it.” The young msn glanced quickly at the box. His nostrils flared, and though he re- tained his astounding coolness, the color in his cheeks grew fainter. We will discuss that later,” hé said, in- vely. “Since you put it there you cam take it down and throw it into the street through the bed room window. You havi as much interest as I in handling it care- fully. Goodenough got the chair, climbed up and possessed himself of the box. Impressed as he was by the other man’s manner, he was not without a distinct sense of foolish- ness. The box was nearly a foot nearer the side of the footboard. Of course it could rot have traveled there by its It might all be a splendid bluff on the part of this cool young man, for some reason best known to himself. He took the box carefully, however, being as much concerned with carrying out th second explicit directions as to {ts disposi- tion as he had been the first. As he took it he felt a little crawling movement under his fingers, which were grasping the bottom of the bo: o In his wound-up condition it w imost enough to make him drop it: but the set, white face of the young féeliow and the month. The house was unrerted when they He's a tail, black feller. But his "ta bad look: e's delicate like, but she's got a pair s in her head! She can ase ‘em, you bet The pol ung grirrred, lady him a gian : “Black eyes, [ suppe encegh, as a feeler. “Black nothing the officer. “Gieen. Green, hk: 's, and they've got a grip to “em, too, like a cat’s claws. Friends of yours?” me “No,” replied Goodenough, hastily. “I probably mistook the number of the house. I never heard of this coupie. Good night, officer.”” He turned and pretty well rattled now, and his confidence in Mrs. Wheeler was thoroughly shaken. He had recognized her beyond the possi- his locust and had vouchsafed * ventured Good- to he knew vot what. n Wheeler's rooms. There was a light in the wir.dows cn the top floor. He must have come home about the time she had said. Th's looked a_ little better. But Good- enough was still troubled enough to act en a plan he had thought out on his way, rather eredital le to so quict and con with a sense that he was getting pretty well mixed ur in other people's affairs. After time encugh to admit of some one comirg from the top floor the door was flung open. A tall, handsome young man of about thirty, modishly but quietiy dres: ed, stood regardirg Goodenough with clear, penetrating gaze. He had to Good- enovgh a foreign-American look. “Is Mr. Wheeler in?” asked Goodenough, briskly. “Yes; I am he,” replied the other terse- ly. This was encouraging. Mr. Wheeler had materialized all right. Goodenough pro- ceeded on the lines he had mapped out. “I am from the -——,” he said, with some assurance, mentioning one of the leading daily papers, “and would like to see you for a few minutes, if convenient.” The young man had the air of not under- standing the reascn of this, and was not particularly cordial. But he evidently made up his mind quickly, for he replied, with hardly any hesitation, “Very well.’ Will you come upstairs to my toom? Though I don't see what the — can want of me.” He led the way to his sitting room ana invited the “reporter” to be seated. Good- enough selected a chair which commanded a view of the bed room and the bed. In a swift glance he saw that the box was there, and also saw that it must have been remarked and moved by Mr. Wheeler, for it was several inches nearer the side of the footboard than he had left it. He breathed more freely. It was probably all right, and he was half sorry he had come. He must not “queer” the poor wife and spoil all he had done in her behalf by any false move. “Mr. Wheeler,” he said with the ea: somewhat familiar alr he imagined a porter would assume, “there has been a report handed in at the oftice that some | important move is meditated by a large estate of which you are one of the execu- tors. Can you give any details about the matter for publication?” ‘The other young man had sat perfectly mo- tionless, his eyes fixed on Goodenough un- waveringly. He kept them still more stead- ily, in fact, rather plercingly, fixed on him as he replied, with some decision: “You will have to be more specific. I haven't the least idea to what you refer.” “The report was that you and the other two executors had withdrawn important documents from the safety vault, and were to arrange the details of this transaction with the heirs very Soon,” returned Good- enough, trying to meet the other’s scrutiny with nonchalance. The young man had taken in his visitor in every detail. Before answering him, he quickly arose, stepped to the door of his apartment and locked it; then locked the walked away. He was | He went round by j ticral a young man. He rang the bell, ; OODENOUGH SPRANG FORWARD AND GRASPED HIS UPLIE | night sD HAND—” fidelity with d kept him covered with the pistol we: is to i 5 “Hold it as steadily as you can, and don't let it drop. Pitch it out of the window, but put your arms through first! Do not throw it from the inside of the rcom,” said host. Heartened by whic! bling, with exc the windo retched well out ana ile the box into the A frightful de fellowed. “companied the crash of si in the neighbcring s crackle as the fragments the sidewalk. The w t's apartment tled wiih the n, but were not broken, With a face as white as a + legs so weak he could tottered to i sharp dropped t Mr. W! his Goodenough and fell Into it speechie: bility of a doubt. He had been accessory , young man with an ox hardly stand, the nearest seat regarding the ion of The other still kept the pi him, but seemed much more if relieved notably. “You will not objec probably, after t to my searching you, al this little episode, which apparently,” he laid a stress on the word “bas been more of a surprise to you than to me. You must admit that [ have reason for mistrusting a stranger who kindly pro- ided me with such a companion for the as that little box! Do not be alarmed,” he continued lightly. “Tam nearly certain that you were only a dupe. But one must take ordinary precautions.” He quickly went through Goodenough’s pockets with his ieft hand, while he kept the cceked revolver aimed’ at him all the time with his right. Naturally, the pockets revealed nothing more dangerous than a ch safe and a pocket knife. Goodenough had kept his arms stretched straight up all the time with the most earnest spirit of co- operation, “Yes. You are only a feol, I think,” the other remarked, when he had satisfied him- self as to the contents of the cther’s pock- ets. Even that unflattering remark may have to be qualified when [ hear your ex- planation. If you are not criminally in- volved in this attempt on my life, I should ‘uppose you would be as eager to make it s Tam to hear it. Where did you get that arfpin?” he asked cuddenty. That,” replied Goodenough sarcastically —he was getting his wind-néw—“was given me by your wife through gratitude for my kindness in restoring the bo¥ of documents, SO necessary to you as executor of this great estate. Her life's happiness depended on my getting It back heforp you had no- ticed its absence, “ang patting It just where you had left it.” 1.‘ “Olga!” exclaimed the’ young man, nod- ding his head. ““I was sure it was she. 1am not surprised that shé fooled you. I must already apologize ¥or guoting you so literally against. yoursetf, Gome into the other room and let rge fear how she worked her little game. “What a wo Z I certainly want to fell fou the whole thing, and you can doubtiess throw some ight on my dark end of the story,” replied Goodenough, as he follosved,his host, who had pocketed his pistol and; preceded him into the sitting room. The young man poured brandy and soda into two long gizsses, and presented one to Goodenough, who accepted it with ala@rity and took a big draught from it. The younz man, who had not lost his sang froid throughcut, was now the debona'r host. as much at case as if he were entertaining an agreeable and hebitual evening caller. He Frshed a tray of Russian cigarettes as Targe as ore’s little firger toward ! 5 and, having lit one himself, listened most attentively withcut interrupting him once, while Goodenough, who began by giving his full name and address, recounted the whole stery of his connection with the box. “I can kardy blame you,” he said when Goodenough was through. “You were sim- ply too Quixotically kind to a fascinating and helpless woman. Itwas a manly in- stinct, generously obeyéd. A clever wo- man, that. She must have made up most of her story while she was with you in the 2 door to the bed room. Ggodenough began | cab. Everything, yourself included, played os Ss ; ; H : : : J =3 @ @ @ ace Ins and Outs of It. If you get best wear out of a coat best work must have gone into it. You can’t get good bread out of poor flour. s Moral: You can’t get the best out of anything unless the best is in it; and the best has to be put in before it can be taken out. Now, we have a rule to test those sarsaparillas with a big “best” on the bottle. “Tell us what’s put in you and we'll de- cide for ourselves about the best.” That’s fair. But these modest sarsaparillas say: “Oh! we can’t tell. It’s a secret. Have faith in the label.” . . . Stop! There’s one exception; one sarsaparilla that has no secret to hide. It’s Ayer’s. If you want to know what goes into Ayer’s Sarsaparilia, ask your doc- tor to write for the formula. Then you can sat- = isfy yourself that you get the best of the sarsapa- rilla argument when you get Ayer’s. Any doubt left? Get the “Curebook.” /DOOGHOS SOS 9OHTG (D> SOSOSHSO SOS OSOSESOOSO6GGQ It kills doubts but cures doubters. Address: J. C. Ayer Co., Lowell, Mass. SbSOOSECES The story. under the cir- {| discharged her. cumstances, was plausible enough. If she | showed bad not got you to do it she would Ears got some one else, or have done it_hers : So don’t feei too bad over it. No harm done. eenhae se man with her is undoubtedly | ene of th Russian nihtlists, who are skilled in making explesives and infernal She made » no trace of dissatisf: d for a letter of recommendation. Was probably to see if I would betray a disinclination to vouch for which would, of course, have shown that I knew more of her than I had let on. I gave | her a most flattering letter. She “anded and into her hand. demur said Prince Malatofsky, smiling geni- i He is lying in there, weless site nod t “with an undigested bullet in his s: | limagined he might be a friend of O This is her field day. The beggar died in great pain, 1am happy to say, and cursing | me in a very impoli e Was nota me spontaneously the key of the apartment | thoroughbred like We found a machines. It was an excellent braai he | and went her way. Of course she nad tad | ticket on him for Mo She is prob- selected on this cecasion. And the devilish | another key made before this, and that is | abiy on hy vay ther will wait for craftiness of making the little box so that | the one she gave you. There may be more | him in that city, if she gets there. [le it would run along on its own legs! All it) out. I had better have the lock © d. | must have wished to assure himself of the wanted was a start in life. If it had drop- | “Well,” concluded the prince, blowing of your endeavors in behalf of tivat ped from the top of the bed to the floor, carefully another 1 cloud of smoke When he saw that they had failed ne | | ft certainly would have done had you not | from his mouth, “I have not seen the fair s reckless coup. How pl called, the infernal thing would have ex-| Olga since I eng: one of the kee i will bx learns tha plo: without a doubt. It made quite a | Getectives T could get to shadow her i ‘ceded in blowing me to nice hole strect and damaged plenty | stantly and report to me every evening at j atoms nd that this begrar of windows « will probably be | 12 o'clock, first, that he should not be ob- | Would me except for your up here soon to know !f we can give any | served, and sccondiy, that this little devil, | frlcndty information about it. I suppose you will | who is more cunning than a dozen detec- 2ut now, dear fellow,’ allow the whole truth to come out. The | tiy might not work some game latc. | Malatofsk business-like cabman will probably tell what he knows, | Cons ing what he must have observed | “I have to £0 to police <3 although I'm not sure how far he was in| . | am surprised that he should not e, to Send a | ters with the officer out th himself. These nihilists are wondirful | have been here before t Now we have | Vices along the route to have my active beings. I fancy it was consideration for | got something definite to hold her on. A | © woman arrested at the tir pint me more than for you that made her select | Clear case, in fact. Lam anxious to see him an grab her. L shall try ¢ Pat f the rubber-tired cab and order the cabby | to find out the promptest way of getting her | Czn prevent our passing the night ina cla to drive here slowly. She didn't want the | arrested. But ot ts only I o'clock. ‘There | Ucn house. It if too bad thar sour kouk » bomb ‘to waste its sweetness on the | he is now, I fancy,” he exclaimed, with | should have led you into such a mu desert air’ by only annibilating you and} more animation than he had yet shown, as | di€, but, of course, I cannot regret it too the cab in the street. a knock was heard at the door. “Vil tell | u are too good to do “But you are probably curious to know | you. Go inside the bed room there and | * ai . "he said, with a the why and wherefore of th's attempt on | stand just out of sight. I would like to see | Zenuine look of merriment, as he held we tfe,” continued the young man, after | how he will tell the story of today as com- the dain the fair Olga’s aking a pull at his brandy and soda. He} pared with your version. I've never had a | has most appropri heapea’ to teviy blew a fragrant puff of-Latakia from his | chance to test him thoroughly before you. For she can't il nd stretched out more com-| Goodenough felt that another disagree- | Ward you. her ir. ble role, that of cavesdropper, was be as long as you coulc Serge Malatopsky, a Rus- | assigned him, and on i It was proven later that she hadn't any sian. | have been in this country | led him to accept it. considerati ill-will toward him, fer when that fragil months. Here T assumed the name of Wii- | >a man whem you have ne: mod igned Siberia Kam Wheeler, feeling that with my income, | or a lite ul 2 small o and my manner of lif fe had barely placed himself out of s me of tle would only be in the w Malatofsky unlocked th ore she lish so we y open a tall, sp swift £ im with t throat in hi pul a aw flung kim vy eatest fury, chu At the sa ists. O} leader, to the 1 of the nuy sound ga Baranoff, your riend of the cab, were engazed ed. I have learned lately that life at 8 have the olemuly swore to have my a joimt with . nd to ni m and herself fer het lov- | ¢ = |b peice Tne 2 fon. his own befor i Sdade ‘es leerind In “About a month ago,” continued the] ‘The dark man, who te prince, “I needed a secretary for some | perate, foiled in his attempt, iz to his sworn to the dark man, her work [ had in hand. This young woman | fert like a cat and finding that he covid not | £ », whom she hr 1 cver kept at arm's presented herself. T had never seen her be-| wrench his right hand the other's | ! h he was m in love with fore. I must admit that she filled the hold, fet @rive a serrific blow with. his le — admirably. Prompt, neat, quiet, and never | which caught Goodenough straight between <4 a mistake! Naturaily, she got to know my | the eye . habits thoroughly. As a matter of fact. am as methodical as an old virgin, and i ‘ | I) It knocked him senseless, At the same | moment there was the sharp crack of a | y respects as regular as a clock. I in- : {Pr a variably return home about 10, for in- he came to, he found hims who does not take it at all all th stance, and retire at 12. stretched on the bed’ with Prince Mala- | fond of we: his opal “She was a fascinating woman,” said | tofsky at his side calmly applying a towel | ‘ h also presecves Olma Bara Prince Malatopsky, thoughtfully and with | wet with ice water to his head. He 1 as a rem’n the most exci a faint smile. plivatingly proper. With | around, dazed, trying to recall the | evening of his life. In the beginning a child-like insensibility to conventivaali- | which had preceded his lapse of co’ @ feel shat be ought to heck an in- ties, she was, on the other hand, sv modest sation to think with pits ff the po that she woulda not allow me to touch her ood,” sald the prince tn his cool, en- | Hedy; tut tay r. be deli rerately: admitte ungloved hand. I did not know thea what | couraging voice. “You will be all right | this feeling of compassion for her a r- an aching hatred for me helped to fortify | now. No greater harm than a big | petual inmate of his heart. This a ie her in this maiden!y reserve. In_ subtle | between your eyes and I have sent a mes- | due to his kindness, without doubt. s, she was wonderfully alluring. 1] senger boy dowr to Delmonico’s with a es — think it was very natural for you to meet | note to the chef to kindly send me a raw in SGM Wondering. her wishes in the cab. During the day 1| steak! That will help to mend your c cn m out a great deal and it was my own| tenance.”” He passed a small vinai = uggestion that she should have a key to] such as women use, under Goode ally fooked the way t:cr the apartment end come in and do the| nose while saying this, and the p: luoks in the newepape s writing at any Ume. salts helped to clear his head. “W a “hn GO je brake “A fortmght ago I received a letter from | pleasant evening this has } for y i ‘tei St. Petersburg telling me that Olga Bara- | noff had gone to America, and that she had sworn not to return to Russia tu he had seem to be the favorite of une t and you the victim. Thank you for saving my life just now. That may be some c “But in that same connection it occ sent me to my forefathers. I afraid your previous cfforts in my | me.” Le continued, “that if 1 look now, thanks to you, that she will not keep | ou all right?” my picture in a : that oath. A minute description of the wo- es," said Goodenough, though he ¥ wok it woul man was given and 1 recognized my 1n-| feeling all wrong, his brain throbbing ar round if Iw valuable secretary at once. {a wull pain in his head. “But the—¢ r {and commit “A week ago I told her that the work | man! Where is he? That was the fe : was done, and with some pretty compli- | who was with her tonight. Look out = . Teant help y raents on her efficiency and regrets that 1 | him.” why it is that the art no longer had any need of ner services, 1{ “My dear fellow, I have looked out for | fav is way. A voor BALL TEAM OF THE FUTURE. From Life.