Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 5, 1910, Page 23

¥ @ « American Indian S S— A ., . \ T NO stage of American Indlan civilization have the eviden of education been so pronounced as at the present time and un- der the present system of Indian school supervision and discipline. The Imitative nature of the child 1s cultivated and brought Into ovidence. Obedience ix impressed upon the mind, in the work of dicipline, until the whole being seems to yleld to the will and command of the instructor, The moulding of tho Indian child into an obedient imitative existence to do as come manded, and to ct In harmony with oth- ers in all its movements, plays, sports, Joys and labors. to do as others do, and to not do the things which tcnd to In- civility, coarseness and inhumanity, 18 doing much today to bring the young Ine dlan boys ond girls to a higher plane of clvilized lite. Only a few veurs ago and this would have been thought impossible. work of the Indian school at Rapid City, 8. D., was recontly brought to our attention while attending the annual meet- Ing of the Southwestern Bouth Dakota Cattle Growers' conventlor, which was belng held there. The exhibitions given on the streets of Rapid City by the Indian boys and girls of this school, under the direction and command of the Insirictos ana managers of the school were of a ssiaracter to atiract the attention and re Selve the applause and commendation of all who witnessed them. & Indian Chitd Sot Hilarious. These children in age were from 7' to 17 years old, and werc divided into com panies of forty to fifty, according to age and size; there being about 300 present all of whom took part In the exercises and seemed perfectly at home, quiet, contented, orderly, though in no sense oppresssed nor on the contrary over joyful. The Indlan child is not hilarious, bolstrous and over- THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: Children G JUNE 5, 1910. rowing Up in joyed, meemingly, at what he sees or what he does. He is rather a matter of fact in- dividual, and can perform all his tasky and his gymnasium stunts with the som- ber gravity of an old-time war chief. The military exercises, drilling and maneuvers, though of a quite difficult fofm, were gone through with as much ecase and aceuracy as though these companies had served a term In the regular army. The elevated platform exhibition which was given on the streets with the dumb bells and Indian clubs were without fault. These (Copyright, 1910, by Bobbs-Merrill Co.) CHAPTER XXVIIl—Continued. “‘Mother had a nurse, and I was alone a Breat deal, and they were very kind to me. I-1 saw a lot of them. The brother rather attracted me, partly—partly begause he did not make love to me. He even seemed to avold me, and I was piqued. I had been &polled, I suppose. Most of the other men I knew had—had— “I know that, too,” I said bitterly, and moved away from her a trifle. I was bru- tal, but the whole story was a long tor- ture, I think she knew what I was suffer- ing, for she showed po resentment. “It was early and there were few people eround—none that I cared about. And mother and nurse plaved cribbage eternally, until 1 felt as though the little pegs were driven into my brain. And when Mrs. Cur- tis arranged drives and picnics, I—1 slipped away and went. I suppose you won't be- lleve me, but I had never done that kind of thing before, and I—well, I have paid up, I think.” “What sort of looking chap was Sulli- van?' I demanded. I had got up and was pacing back and forward on the sand. I remember kicking savagely at a bit of water soaked board that lay in my way. ‘“Very handsome—as large as you are, L fair, and even more erect.” ¥ drew my shoulders up sharply. I am straight enough, but 1 was fairly sagging with jealous h “When mother began to get around, somebody told her that I had been going about with Mrs. Curtis and her brother, ard we had a dreadful time. T was dragged home like a bad child, Did anybody ever do that to you?" ‘Nobody ever cared. orphan,” I sald, with a cheerless attempt at levity. *“Go on." “If Mrs. Curtis knew, she never said any- thing. She wrote me charming letters, and in the summer, when they went to Cresson, she asked me to visit her there. I was too proud to let her know that I could not go Were I wished, and so—I sent Polly, my Id, to her aunt's in the country, nre terded to go to Seal Harbor, and reall went th Cresson. You see 1 warned you it would be an unpleasant story ] weut over and stood in front of her. 1 was born an JAll the accumulated jealousy of the last fow weeks had been fired by what she told me. If Bullivan had come across the surds just then, I think I would have strangled him with my hands, out of pure bate. “Did you marry him?" 1 demanded, My wvoice sounded hoarse and strange in my eats. “That's all I want to know. Did You marry him?" == HERE are in the Empire State 80,000 miles of roads, greater mileage of Which Is improved highway than all of the other eastern states put together, not excluding Massachusetts, There now 2000 miles of state roads more under construction. There are macadam roads totalling in mileage 2400 miles,, constructed by towns. There are more (ilw 40,00 miles of earth roads, praperly shaped and crowned, stones picked and removed, depressions tilled, cul- verts and bridges repaired. Towns have constructed 8,000 miles of gravel roads, in flst-olass condition, To keep these roads in navigable, so to shape means work, systematic, un- labor on the part of a great corps of people. The state is divided into nine districts, with Frank D. Lyon, deputy commissioner of the state highway de ment, In actual charge of thes Each district has a superintendent, an assistant to Mr. Lyon, Then the state is again sub- divided into fifty-four counties under the supervision of fifty-four superintendents, who ia turn are answerable to the nine assistants to Mr. Lyon. Then it is further subdivided Into 934 towns under 934 town super dents. By this system Commis- sloner can reach within twenty-four hours r notification any road in the . need of repalr, Good Roads in Empire State exercises were directed by Chief Disciplin- arlan Prof. W. H. Balmer, who by taps and signs made the Indian clubs keep pe fect time with the performers, which w also observed In every moveinent under @irection of the music by the Indlan boys' brass band of a dozen Instruments. These exercises were of a very high order in matter of perfectness in drill and train- ing. Prof. Balmer speaks in strong praise of the Indian boys and girls In his depart- ment of the work. “‘They are orderly, quiet and try to imitate. There is no foolishness or silly, impulsive nonsense with these noys and girls,” remarked the professor. Sev- eral small boys and girls near by were called by Prof. Balmer and introduced to the writer, as an illustration of their train. ing and civility in meeting strangers. Location of Sehool. The Rapid City Indian school is situated two miles west of the city, in & beautitul little valley on a governmert farm or ré- serve of 1,30 acres of rich agricultural lands. Several hundred acres are under cilltfvation, devoted to raising all the ori, - nary fagm crops usual in this section of the country, wheat, oats, barley, rye, corn, potatoes, garden crops, etc. Tame hays are being started, alfalfa is the main hay crop, which is growing successtully «and makes the main dependence for winter feed. The equipment of this farm and its educational work is quite modern and up- to-date. Thére are eighteen buildings in all, used for the various purposes and demands of the school. The present capacity for handling students is 300 boys and girls. Additional acity Improvementa are planned for and Increased the near future ys' and girls' dormatories are provided, and every attention Is given that perfect order and system be observed In each de- partment of the work. The main principle in discipline exercised is to keep the child busy at all tlmes, but not tire it at any one thing. Part of the day is devoted to study, a part to work and a part to play, by this means the thind is kept alive, the physical condition healthy and the child happy Boys are taught farming by actual labor with teams and machinery, blacksmithing, carpenter work, the manual training de- partment teaches the use of tools of ail kinds. Engineering, the operation of steam engines, In fact all manner of mechanics and trades are taught. There are twenty- slght Instructors, busy all the time in training and teaching. Dalrying Is taught with all fts improved mcthods and ap pliances for industry successfully carrying on this There are 130 milk cows kept on the farm, a large barn for housing them and a separate creamery bullding for tak ing care of the milk, butter and cheese products which are manutactured, and used mainly on the farm in feeding the students and operating force of the school The girls' departments are fully and com- pletely provided with every convenience for their instruction. They are taught sewing, mending and the making of garments. Washing, ironing, cooking, housekeeping, dairying for family; in fact. everything that could be classed as domestic science or household economics. The girls are at all times required to observe neatness, cleanliness and general tidiness in their dress and person. When the girl leaves this school she is equipped in every ac- quired qualification for making & good home. The live stock on the farm consists of cattle, mainly the milk cows, mentioned, I drew a long breath. “You—cared about him?" She hesitated. “No,”" she sald finally. about him." 1 sat down on the edge of the boat and mopped my hot face. I was heartily ashamed of myself, and mingled with my abesement was & great rellef. If sbe and had not eared nothing else was of any im- “1 did not care him, Pportance. “I was sorry, of course, the moment the traln had started, but I had wired I wi coming, and I could not go back, and then when I got there, the place was charming: There were no neighbors, but we fished and rode and motored, and—it was moon- light, like thi I put my hand over both of hers, clasped in her lap. "I know,” I acknowledged re- pentantly, ‘“and—people do queer things when it s moonlight. The moon has got me tonight, Alison. If I am a boor, re- member that, won't you?" Her fingers lay qulet under mine. £0," she went on with a little sigh, began to think perhaps I cared. But all the time I\felt that there was something not quite right, Now and then Mrs. Curtis would say or do something that gave mo a queer start, as If she had dropoed a mask for a moment. And there was trouble with the servants; they were almost inso- lent. I couldn't understand. 1 don’t know when it dawned on me that the old Baron Cavaleanti_had been right when he sald they were not my kind of people. But I wanted to get away, wanted It desper- ately.” Of course, they were not your kind,” 1 cried. “The man was married. The girl Jennle, a housemaid, was a spy In Mrs. Sullivan's employ. If he had pretended to marry you I would have killed him. Not only that, but the man be murdered, Har- rington, was his wife's father, And I'll sce him hang by the neck yet If it takes every energy and every penny I possess. I could have told her s0 much more gently, have broken the shock for her; I have never been proud of that evening on the sand. I was alternately a boor and a rufflan—like a hurt youngster who passes the blow that has hurt him on to his pla; mate, that both may bawl together. And now Alison sat, white and cold, without speech. “Married!" she said finally, In a small volce. “Why, I don't think it is possible, is 1t? I-I was on my way to Baltimore to marry him myself, when the wreck came.” “But yon sald you didn’t care for him!" 1 protested, my heavy masculine mind un- able to jump the gaps in her story. And then, without the slightest warning. I real- “‘And Work of construction and repair is now at its height, and Mr. Lyon's report of recent date showed that on one particular day there were 26,000 men and teams on the roads of the state. he on upkeep of motor ca says Mr. “will this year be reduced 40 per cent, in my mind, on account of repairs to highways being made.” Towns are this year raising by taxes for hway improvement the sum of $2,504, 616.28. The ate Is turning over to the towns lo ald them In this work $1,598,07 Bridge work in 1910 is to cost $628,414.63. The amount to be pald out for new ma- chinery s $180,011.25. Special road improve- ment in towns of the state Is to cost §219,- 106.22, making In all $5,186.577.38 to be ex- pended by towns this year. The state is to bond Itself for $10,000,000 for the constyuction of state roads. Towns and counties are to be cailed upon to pro- vide as their share $5,000,000 The state legislature has appropriated §1,800,00 for the maintenance of state roads already constructed. The sum of $21,98,677.33 1s to be expended in one year, this year, for road construc- tion and Improvement throughout the great Empire State; that ls, this amount is avall- able for the work and in all probability will be utllized by the state department of highways.~Empire State Motorist, hi ized that she was crying. She shook off my hand and fumbled for her handker- chief, and failing to find it, she accepted the one I thrust into her wet fingers. Then, iittle by little, she told me from the handkerchief, a sordid story of a motor trip in tbe mountains without Mrs. Curtis, of a lost road and a broken rar, and a raioy night when they—she and Sul- livan, tramped eternally and did not get home. And of Mrs. Curtis, when they got home at dawn, suddenly grown conven- tloral and deeply shocked. Of her own proud, half-disdainful consent to make pos- sible the hackneyed compromising situation by marrying the rascal,vand then—of his disappearance from the train. It s0 terrible to her, such a heaven-sent rellef to me, inspite of my rage against Sulli- van, that I laughed aloud. At which she looked at me over the handkerchief. “I know it's funny," she sald, with a catch in her breath. “When I think that 1 rearly marrled a murderer—and didn't— I cry for sheer joy.” Then she burled her face and cried again. “Please don't,” 1 protested “I won't be responsible if you keep on erying llke that. I may forget that I have a capital charge hanging over my head, and that I may be arrested at any moment.” That brought her out of the handker- chief at once. “I meant to be so helpful,” she said, “and I've thought of nothing but myself! There were some things I wanted to tell you. It Jennie was—what you say, then I understand why she came to me Just before I loft. She had been packing my things and she must have scen what condition I was in, for she came over to me when I was getting my wraps on, to leave, and sald, ‘Don’t do it, Miss West, 1 beg you won't do it; you'll be sorry ever after’ And just then Mrs. Curtis came in and Jennle slipped out." “That was all!" “No. As we went through the station the telegraph operator gave Har—Mr. Sul- livan a message. He read it on -the plat- form, and it excited him terribly. He took his sister aside and they talked together. He was white with either fear or anger— 1 don't know which. Then, when we boarded the train, a woman in black, with beautiful hair, who was standing on the car platform, touched him on the arm and then drew back. He looked at her and #lanced away again, but she reeled as it he had struck her." “Then what?" ing clearer. L] “Mrs. Curtls and I had the drawing room. I had a dreadful night, just sleep- ing a little now and then. T dreaded to see dawn come. It was to be my wedding day. When we found Harry had disappeared in the night, Mrs, Curtls was In a frenzy. Then—I saw his clgarette case in your hand. I had given it to him. You wore his clothes. The murder was discovered and you were accused of it! What could I do? And then, afterward, when I saw tim asleep at the farm house, I—I was panic-stricken. I locked him in and ran I don't hnow why he Jid it, but—he had killed & man." Some one was calling Alison through a megaphone, from the veranda. It sounded like Sam. “All-ee,” he called. “All-ec! I'm going to have some anchovics on toa: All-ge!” Nelther of us heard. “I wonder,” I reflected, “if you would be willing to repeat & part of that story— just from the telegram on—to & couple of detectives. »ay on Monday. If you wou'd tell that, and—how the end of your mecl: lace got Into the sealskin bag—' My necklace!" she repeated. Rut isn't mine. 1 picked It up In the car “All-ee!" Sam again. ‘I see you down there, I'm making a julep! Allson turned and callea through hands. *“Coming in a moment, Sam." said, and rose. “It ‘must be very Sam is home. We would better g to the house.' “Don't," I begged her. Juleps and Sam will go forever, and | have you such a little time. I suppose 1 am only one of a dozen or 0. but—you the only girl In the world. You know 1 love you, don't you, dear?" Sam was whistling, an irritating bird unsteadily. The situation was grow- it her she late back ‘Anchovies and call, over and over. She pursed her red llps and answered him in kind. It was more than I could endure. “'Sam or ro Sam.” I said firmly, “I am going to kiss you!" Ways of the White Man twenty head of work horses, swine and poultry, all of which become an educational asset to the farm and school, as every thing becomes a feature of study In some relation. The study of grains, seeds, their sowing, planting, cultivation, harvesting, storage, etc., wre all given attention from an educational view point One of the main features of improvement for this year is the construction of & water system to irrigate the tillable lands and supply the bulldings and grounds with' all the needed water. This will be Installed in view of getting the best and most date equipment now in usc. It Is plain to the visitor that this institution s located right, and has now the evidence of its ts that are (o make it one of the est educational institutions for the Indlan boy founded and girl that the country has -— From Wh do the: Whence Come These Childrent are theso boys and girls and where from? This question natur- ally arises in the mind of the observer and come his own answer would be, “They are all of one tribe or nation, so like in feature, man- ner and general characteristics.” This is practically true, they are the descendants of the Sfoux warriors, possibly the strong- est bred nation of ved men that America has ever known, and in times of early set- tlement the most dangerous and eruel in thelr conflicts with the white settler or other warring tribes of Indians. These children are brought to the school by their parents and aro clothed, fed and educated by the government. They repre- sent the following tribes or present-day Indian reservations: Plne Ridge, Rose Buds and Yanktons of South Dakota; Cheyenne River, Tongue River, The Crows, Port Peck and Fort Bellknap of Montans, and the Santee Sioux of north Nebraska. But Sam’s volce came strident through the megaphone. “Be good, you two,” he bellowed, “I've got the binoculars!” And 80, under fire, we walked sedately back to the house. My pulses were throbbing. the little swish of her dress beside me on the grass was pain and ecstasy. I had but to put out my hand to touch her, and 1 dared not. Sam, armed with a megaphone and field glasses, bent over the rall and watched us with gleeful malignity. “Home early, aren’t ,vou?' Alison called, when we reached the steps, “Led a club when my partner had doubled no-trumps, and she fainted. Damn the heart convention!” he said cheertully. “The others are not here yet." Three hours later I went up to bed. I had not seen Alison alone again. The nolte was at its height below, and I glanced down Into the garden, still bright in the moon light. Leaning against a tree, and staring interestedly into the bil- liard room, was Johnson. CHAPTER XXIX. IN THE DINING ROOM. That was Saturday night, two weeks after the wreck., The previous five days had been full of swift-following event: the woman In the house next door, the ple- ture in the theater of a man about to leap from the doomed train, the dinner at the Dallases, and Richey's discovery that Ali- son was the girl in the case. In quick succession had come our visit to the Car- ter place, the finding of the rest of the telegram, my seeing Alison there, and the strange interview with Mrs. Conway. The Crespon_ trip stood out in my memory for its serio-comic horrors and its one real thrill. Then—the discovery by the polica of the sealskin bag and the bit of chaln; Hotchkiss producing trlumphantly Stuart for Sullivan and his subsequent dfscom- titure; McKnight at the station with Ali- #on, and later the confession that he was out of the running. And yet, when I thought it all over, the entire week and its events were two sides of a trlangle that was narrowing rapidly to an apex, a point. And the said apex was at that moment in the drive below my window, resting his long legs by -sitting on a carriage block, and smoking a pipe tkat made the night hideous. The sense of the ridiculous is very close to the sense of tragedy. I opened my screen and whis- tled, and Johnson looked up and grinned. ‘We sald nothing. I held up a handful of cigars, he extended his hat, and when I tivally went to sleep, it was t6 a soothing breeze that wafted in salt air and a faint #roma of good tobacco. I was thoroughly tired, but I slept restlessly, dreaming of two detectives with Pittsburg warrants being held up by Hotchkiss at the point of a splint, while Alison fastened their hands with a chain that was broken and much too short. I w roused about dawn by a light rap at 'the door, and, opening it, 1 found Forbes, in a pair of trousers and a pyjama coat. He was as pleasant as most flesty people ars when they have to get up at night, and he said the telephone had been ringing for an hour, and he didn’t know why somebody else in the blankety-blank house couldn't have heard it. ITe wouldn't get to sleep until noon. As he was palpably asleep on his feet, T left him grumbling and went to the tele- phone. It proved to be Richey, who had found me by the simplo expedient of trac- ing Alison, and he was jubliant. “You'll have to come back’ he “Got a railroad schedule there?” “I don't slcep with one in my pocket,” T retorted, “but if you'll hold the line I'll call out the window to Johnson. He's probably got one. “Johnson!” I could hear the laugh with which McKnight comprehended the situa- tion. He was still chuckling when I came back. “Train to said. Richmond at 6:30 a. m., sald. “What time i3 it now?" “Four. Listen, Lollle. We've got him Do you hear? Through the woman at Fal- timore. Then—the other woman, the lady of the restaurant”—he was dbviousiy avoid- 1 ing names—‘"she is playing our cards for us. No—I don't know why, and I don't care. But you be at the Incubator tonight at 8 o'clock. If you can't shake Johnson, bring him, bless him." To this day I believe the Sam Forbeses have not recovered from the surprise of my unexpected arrival, my one appearance at dinner In Granger's clothes, and the note on my dreser which informed them the next morning that I had folded my tents like the Arabs and silently stolen away. For at 5:30 Johnson and I’ the former as uninquisitive as ever, were on our way through the dust to the station, three miles away, and by 4 that afternoon we were in Washington. The journey had bekn uneventful. Johnson relaxed under the influence of my tobacco. and spoke at some length on the latest tmprovements ir gallows, dllating on the absurdity of cut- ing out the former free passes to see the atfair in operation. I remember, too, that he mentioned the curlous anomaly that PErmits & man about to be hanged to eat & hearty meal. 1 did not enjoy my dinner that night Before we got Into Washington I had made an arrangement with Johnson to sur- render myself at 2 the following afternnon, Also, I had wired to Alison, asking her if she would carry out the contract she had made. The detective saw me home, and left me there. Mre, Klopton recelved me with dignified reserve. The very tone in which she asked me when I would dine told me that some- thing was wrong. “Now—what is it, Mrs. Klopton?' I de- manded finally, when she had informed me, in & patient and long sutfering tone, that she felt worn out and thought she needed a rest. “When I lived 'with Mr. Justico Springer,” he began acidly, her mending basket in her hands, “it was an orderly, well conducted household. You can ask any of the nelghbors. Meals were cooked a1d, what's more, they were eaten; there was none of this ‘here one day and gone the next' busine “Nonsense,” I observed. “You're tired, that's all, Mrs. Klopton. And I wish you would go out; I want to bathe.” “That's not all," she said with dignity, from the doorw “Women coming and going here, women whose shoes I am not fit—I mean, Women who are dot fit to touch my shoes—coming here as insolent as you please, and asking for you." ‘Good heavens!" I exclalmed. “What did you tell them—her, whichever It was?" “Told her you were sick In & hospital and wouldn't be out for a year!” she said triumphantly. “And when she said she thought she'd come in and" wait for you, I slammed the door on her.” “What time was she here?" “Late last night. And she had a light- halred man across the street. If she thought I didn’t see him, she don't know me.” Then she closed the door and left me to my bath and my reflections. At five minutes before 8 I was at the Incubator, where I found Hotchkiss and MoKnight. They were bending over a table, on which lay McKnight's total arma. ment—a pair of pistols, an elephant gun and an old cavalry saber. “Draw up a chair and help yourself to ple.”” he said, pointing to the arsenal. “Thig is for the benefit of our friend Hotchkisa here, who says he fs a small man and fond of lite." Hotchklss, who had been trying to get the wrong end of a cartridge into the bar- rel of one of the revolvers, straightened himself and mopped his face. “We have desperate people to handle,” he sald pompously, *and we may nced desperate means. “Hotchkiss s like the small boy whose one ambitlon is to have people grow ashen end tremble at the mention of his name," McKnight jibed. But they were seriou enough, both of them, under it all, and when they had told me what they planned, 1 was serious, too.” ZYou're ¢ompounding a felony,” I re- monstrated, when they had explained. “I'm not eager to be locked away, but, by jove, to offer her the stolen notes in cx- change for Bullivan!" ‘We haven't' got either of them, you know,” McKnight remonstrated, “and we won't have, if we don't s Come along, Fido," to Hotehkiss. The plan was simplicity itself. Accord- ing to Hotehkiss, Sullivan.was to meet Brenson at Mrs. Conway's apartment, at 8:30 that night, with the notes. He was to be pald therc and the papers destroyed. “But just before that interesting finale," McKnight ended, “we will walk in. take the notes, grab Sullivan, and give the police a jolt that will put them out of the count.” I suppose not one of us, slewing around corners in the machine that night, had the faintest doubt that we were on the right track, or that fate, scurvy enough betore, was playing into our hands at last. Little Hotchkiss was in a state of fever; ha alternately twitched and examined the re- volver, and a fear that the two movements might be synchronous kept me uneasy. He produced and dilated on the scrap of pl- low slip from the wreck, and showed me the stiletto, with its point in cotton bat- ting for safekeeping. And in the Intervals he implored Richey not to make such fine- caleulations at the corner: We were all grave enough and very quiet, however, when we reached the lar bull¢ing where Mrs. Conway had her apart- ment. McKnight left the power on, In case we might want to make & quick get-away, and Hotchkiss gave a final look at his re- volyer. 1 had no weapon. Somehow it seemed melodramatic to the verge of farce. In the doorway Hotchkiss was & half dozen feet ahead; Richey fell back beslde me. He dropped his affectation of gayety, and I thought he looked tired. “Same old Sam, I suppose?’ he asked ame, only more of him." ‘I suppose Allson was there? How is she?" he inquired irrelevantly. “Very well. 1 id not see her this morn- 1ng." Hotchkiss was waiting near the ele- ¥ator., Meknight put his hand on my arm. Now, look here, old man.” he sald, “I've 8oL two arms and a revolver, and yon've 80t one arm and & splint. 1f Hotchkiss is right, and there is & row, you eraw! under a table.” ““The deuce 1 wi I declared scorn tully P We crowded out of the elevetor at the fourth floor, and found ourselves In a rather theatrical hallway of draperies and armor. It was very quiet; we stood un- certalnly after the car had gone, and looked at the two or three doors In sight They were heavy, coversd with metal, and sound proof. From somewhere above came the metalllc accuracy of a player plano, and through the open window we could hear—or feel—the throb of the ball's engine. “Well, Sherlock,” McKnight said, “what's the next move In the game? Is it our Jump, or theirs? You brought us here.” None of us knew just what to do next. No sound of conversation penetrated the heavy doors. We waited uneasily for some minutes, and Hotchkiss looked at his watch. Then he put it to his cars. “Good graclous!” he exclaimed, his head cocked on one side, “I belleve it has stopped. I'm afrald we are late.” We were late. My watch and Hotchkiss' agreed at 9 o'clock, and, with the discovery that our man might have come and gone, our gest in the adventure began to fag. McKnight motioned us away from the door and rang the bell. There was no response, no sound within. He rang it twice, the last time long and vigorous, without re- sult. Then he turned and looked at us. “I don't half like this,” he sald. “That woman s in; you heard me ask the eleva- tor boy. For 2 cents I'd I had seen It when he did. The door was ajar about an inch. and a narrow, wedge of rose-colored light showed beyond. I pushed the door a little and listened. Then, with both men at my heels, I stepped Into the private corridor of the apartment and looked around. It was a square reception hall, with rugs on the floor, a tall mahogany rack for and a couple of chairs. A lantern of ro olored glass and a desk light over a writing table across made the room bright and cheerful. It was empty. None of us was comfortable. The place was full of feminine trifles that made us feel the weakness of our position. Some such instinct made McKnight suggest di- vision, ““We look like an invading army,” he said. “If she's here alone, we will startle her into a spasm. One of us could take a look around and—" “What was that? Didn't you hear somo- thing?" The sound, whatever it had been, was not repeated. We went awkwardly out into the hall, very uncomfortable, all of us, and flipped a coin. The choice fell to me, which was right enough, for the affair was mine, primarily. “Walt just inside the door,” I directed, “and if Sullivan comes, or anybody that enswers his description, grab him without ceremony and ask him questions after- wards:" The apartment, save in the hallway, was unlighted. By one of those freaks of ar- rangement possible only in a modern flat, I found the kitchen first, and was struck a smart and unexpected blow by a swing- ing door. I carried a handful of matches, and by the time I had passed through & butler's pantry and the refrigerator room 1 was completely lost in the darkness. Until then the situation had been merely, un- comfortable; suddenly it became grisly. From somewhere near came & long-sus- tained groan, followed almost instantly hy the crash of something—glass or china—on the tloor. I struck a fresh match, and found myselt in a narrow rear hallway. Behind me was the door by which 1 must have coma: with & keen desire to get back to the plase 1 had started from, 1 opened the door and attempted to cross the room. I thought 1 had kept my sense of direction, but 1 crashed without warning into what, from the resulting jangle, was the dining table, probably laid for dinmer. I cursed my stupldity in getting into such a situa- tlon, and I cursed my nerves for making G. W. HERVEY, — ] Cannon- my hend shake when I tried to strike a mateh. The groan had not been repeated. 1 braced myself against the table and struck the match sharply against the sole of my! shoe. It flickered fraintly and went out. And then, without the slightest warn- ing, another dish went off the table. It fell with a thousand splinterings; the very air seemed broken into crashing waves of sound. 1 stood still, braced against the table, holding the red end of the dyving match, and listened. I\ had not long to wait; the groan came again, and I recog- nized it, the cry of a dog In straits. I breathed again. ““Come, old fello 1 sald. “Come on, old man. Let's have a look at you." T could hear the thud of his tall on the floor, but he did not move. He only whim- pered. There is something companionable in the presence of a dog, and I fancied this dog in trouble. Slowly I began. to work my way around the table toward him. “Good boy,” I sald, as he whimpered. “We'll find the light, which ought to ba somewhere or other around here, and then—" I stumbled over something, and I drew back my foot almost instantly. “Dia I step on you, old man? I exclaimed, and bent to pat him. I remember stralghtening suddenly and hearing the dog pad softly to- ward me around the table. I recall even that I had put the matches down and could not find them. Then, with a bursting horror of the room and its contents, of the gib- bering dark around me, I turned and made for the door by which I had entered. T could not find it. I felt along the end- less wainscoting, past miles of wall. The dog was beside me, I think, but he was part and parcel now, to my excited mind, with the thing under the table. And when, after aeons of search, I found & knob and stumbled into the reception hall, T was as nearly in a panic as any man could be. * T was myself again in a second, and by the light from the hall I led the way back to the tragedy I had stumbled on. Bronson still sat at the table, his elbows propped onit, his clgarette still lighted, burning a hole in the cloth. Partly under the table lay Mrs. Conway, face down. The dog stood over her and wagged his tall. McKnight pointed silently copper ash tray, filled charred bits of paper. “‘The notes, probably,” he said ruefully, “He got them after all, and burned them before her. It was more than she could stand. Stabbed him first and then her- self."” Hotchkiss got up and took off his hat. “They are dead,” he announced solemnly, and took his note book out of his hat band. McKnight and I did the only things we could think of—drove Hotchkiss and the dog out of the room, and closed and locked the door. *It's a matter for the police,” McKnight asserted. “I suppose you've got an officer tied to you, somewhere, Law- rence? You usually have.” We left Hotchkiss in charge and went downstairs. It was McKnight who first saw Johnson, leaning against a park rail- Ing across the street, and called him over, We told him in a few words what we had found, and he grinned at me cheerfully. “After while, in a few weeks or months, Mr. Blakeley,” he sald, “when you get tired of monkeying around with the blood-stain and finger print spectalist upstairs, you come to me. I've had that fellow you want under surveillance for ten days!" to a large with ashes and (To be Continued.) Go It as You Please N OLD colored woman at Brazll, Ind.—the word old Is used ad- visedly, for she is 98—attributes her long life and good health to the fact that she has, as she expresses it, “always done jest What 1 wants to.” She is the oldest resident of town and county, and no one disputes her claim .to that often elusive title “the oldest inhabitant” According to & correspondent of the Indlanapolis News, “she Is strong and robust, has per fect bearing, guou eyesight, and a clear, bright mind." She has chewed and smoked since she was a child and finds tobacco ‘“de great comfert” of her de clining vears The public is not advised as to how not many miles she is able to walk in & day, how many cows she is capable of milking before breakfast, or how many handsprings she can turn in swift suc- cesslon, It Is probable she can do all these things and perform many other feats besides, including the popular cen- tenarian pastime of leaping up in the alr and cracking her heels together three times She Is not a Christian Sclentist, nor a pagan ntist, nor any other k ol scientls Ehe is oblivious to the theories of new thought and to” the fads of new medicine and no If she hus & subconsclous mind she is not aware of it, and she has pondered no problems more serious than the re- lation between supply and demand as ap- plied to bacon and corn meal; the when- ceness and wnerewithal of next Sun- day's dinner, the distance from barn to medicine. tobacco bag, and the inadequacy of latin dry revenues to meet the increased ex pense of chicken and chitlings. Brazil's oldest inhabitant wouldn' recognize a rule of health if she me: it in the road. € wouldn't know a san itatlon bulletin from & Sunday school tract. The English alphabet is as un. intelligible to her as Sanskrit. She has practiced no scheme of physical culture more elaborate than is involved In mani- curing & pair of black hands on the seamy side of a washboard. Doubtless she has consumed c#ffee in large quanti- ties and has indulged in mething sronger at times. In short, she prob- ably has vidiated every regulation of right living that has been formulated from the days of Hippocrates to the dute of Dr. Woods-Hutchinson's latest magazine article. She has always “done Jest what she wants to'—and she is 95 and “that is going some.” Senator Jacob Gallinger of New Huampshire, said recently that hTs ob- tcrvation had been that almost every man in this country, who hud been & “erank” on the matter of correct Mving had dled young. T'he senator ix some. e In the seventics, and it will be conceded that hie has had some oppor- tunities for observation. What a jolt is there for living by rule of threes or thirty-three! Physicians, dietitians, and dlagnosticlans dy & young and the poor houses filled with centenarians, who haven't bathed since they were bables In the Immortal language of the Georgl congressman, ‘‘Where are we at?”