The evening world. Newspaper, February 23, 1916, Page 15

« Seprright, 1916, by Lathrop, Lee & Shepard Co.) STNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS, Re fi New York to ni meRsCse dite Rae Course, The. ay he annocnoee ‘ate stolen. A committer ae Ls aadid of pas @t the changed the CHAPTER VII. (Continued.) ‘ER this nothing especially noteworthy happened, #0 far as Stebbins could see, and, iulled by the soothing motion and the caressing luxury of this chair, he proceeded to fall asleep. His dream of home and the “folks” ‘was broken by the sounds of a plano- forte, which at first had been inter- twined with the strains of the old melodeon at the homestead, Drowsily he perceived that Miss Jennison was playing, and that his master, as he ‘turned the music, was standing very neat the young woman. At the moment of bis return to full consciousness, Marsh came over @nd took a seat near him. Never dyad Stebbins seon this qyeer genius 1m such a loquacious and jovial mood, ‘To be sure, be couldn't understand @ quarter of his linguistic outpour- ings, but he felt an assurance that they must be intended as jokes, and he laughed courteously at the to make a phecy. I predict that before the evening is over, we shall have great news of a declaration of war.” As Stebbins grinned dutifully at this sally, the music ceased and Miss Jennison went away. Brill, no longer charmed by the pianoforte, joined the two, and Stebbins repeated to him ‘the latest jest of Mr. Marsh, Brill the stout man sharply, think just that,” persisted . “Something tells me we shall have news of war before the even- ing’s much older.” <Brill laughed good-naturedly as they started for the smoking room; he was prepared for anything from Wis incorrigible joker. Bat when they were enjoying a ee game of cribbage a little iter, ft. Pennythorpe burst in with hi characteristic miniature cyclone style, and 6 to the smoking room © habitue: “War has been declared—Ruassia of declared war against Great Brit- jad reminds me In an instant the room was in tur- moll. Men dropped their cards, put sewn their plasees of varied bover- ages, and. either clamored for more news, or endeavored to explain that which they already had. Many paled, for fortunes were at stake; others laughed, for fortufles were made. In adi the hubbub Marsh was the coolest of any. “That's what I told your firfend Stebbins,” he observed placidly, “You had seen the message,” re- pied Brill, with @ smile, “UM pledge you my word I had not that is, not the one Pennythorpe 4 By the way, let's go and look at it. ‘The wireless office was closed, but on the bulletin board was the omin- . OW announcement, and a group of ‘passengers was already staring at the few words it contained. When they found room to approach, the two read the despatch, “Guess I'll take a copy of that,” said Marsh, proceeding to write the exact words on one of the company's blanks. “Now come to my room for just about two minutes, Overton, I've @ very interesting little demonstra- tion in physics to show you.” Im the cabin, Marsh carefully ex- anrine’ the despatch and compared it with another sheet of paper that he drew from his pocket. Then he looked at Brill with @ cherubic smile of satisfaction. “Perhaps you'd like to know how T said amiably, “Just compare these two sheets of paper, will you?” “Compare what?" exclaimed the other, “There's nothing on this one.” “Oh, isn't there? And your eyes are nearly « quarter of a century younger than mine. closer.” Holding the apparently blank sheet under an electric light and close to his eyes, Brill was able to make out some faint indentations that seemed like letters, “Let me grasping t have it,” cried Marsh, papor almost rudely. ‘Rte here!” He opened his trunk, took out a tin box labelled “tooth powder,” poured some upon the sheet, Ulted it back and forth for a moment, then dropped the bulk of the powder on the floor. What remained took the white and ghostly outlines of written characters “It doesn’t require an Egyptologist to make out that the same words appear on both sheets,” proclaimed Marsh, ‘May I be excused if Tsay that I baven't the least idea what you're driving at?” returned his friend, still thoroughly puzzled. Marsh came close and dropped his voice, , “Walls may have ears as well as ‘voices on this ship,” he whispered, “Jose Benedict wrote something at the library desk to-night, and when Miss Jennison went for paper, this with which I have experimented was immediately beneath. As he evidently used a hard lead-penctl"— “Jt made an impression on the sheet j; beneath,” cried Brill, “Plain as a pikestaff!” The younger man was thoughtfully silent for a moment; then he gazed at Marsh’s mild blue eyes as if he would penetrate to the active brain beyond. “What's your idea of this?” he asked slowl, “Oh, of ¢ rse this operator may nave told him the news first, and he may have begn writing out the mes- sage for the practice, or to send somebody py, or T may have dreamed it we did the ‘sounds next door. be serious, T think Benedict wrote it for his operator to Gus ba 8 Laie Hide dapyiet ally” The Adventures of a New York Man and a New York Girl Aboard a Treasure Ship t hailed the approach of Marsh as that “What on earth can be bis object?” “I'm not prophet enough to solve that, but be sure he has an object,” said Marsh earnestly. “Jose Benedict doesn’t waste time playing joke: CHAPTER VIII. JHIRISTMAS morning broke over tho wintry sea with littering splendor, and when Brill came out on deck with Stebbins, to be officers and passengers, he felt his heart leap forth to meet the beauty of the day and the spirit of cheer that seemed to be in the very air he breathed. : Surely there was no room in all the exquisite heavens for the black vision of a Mexican face; the vision vanished at the mere thought that She was to be his own special com- rade throughout the day. Happy fates had ordained that they deco- rate the drawing room in the fore- noon—a long, very long, process Brill romised himself it should be—and there was the rehearsal in the after- noon, quite likely to consume much time, and the official concert in the evening, for both of which functions the young man had already consti- tut himself music-turner in ordi- nary to her Majesty, Queen Marion. And there was to be a special supper after the entertainment; they would go in together, probably, and another hour would be his. Ail this was so exceedingly fas- cinating in prospect that Brill sang snatches of sentimental tunes and whistled to fill in the gaps, as he strode back and forth on the deck, dutifully followed by Stebbins, who was ravenously hungry, and who of a deliverer. “Merry Christmas, Overton!" criod the commercial traveller, heartily. “Been hunting you everywhere, Hustle in to breakfast. You're tho last, and we want to get you to the drawing room so the decorating com- mittee can get to work. ‘The rapidity of Brill’s meal dis- concerted Aristides somewhat; he| could have eaten much more, but felt bound to stop when his patron did. In an hour the committee was in the full tide of activity. Next to the irrepressible Marsh, who dominated everything by his marvellous agility, Marion Jennison ruled the affairs of men, She was more ani ed than Brill had yet seen her, and as she bustled about with parted lips and shining eyes, suggesting here, com- manding there, entreating midway, the young man remembered with a smile of approval that Rosseau had aid somewhere that if young women of quality would only become house- maids they would be more fascinat- ing than in any other guise. Certainly this particular girl Was adorable as she dusted the little ever- RTeen trees that Marsh had evolved from some mysterious source, shook out the flags and bunting, and deftly made loops and rosettes in the fabric. Marsh had resized upon Stebbins as a general utility man, and now set him at the task of fastening the festoons of color around the sides of the room. Pennythorpe was impressed as an er- rand boy before he could formulate any sufficiently dignified protest. When he launched forth into a recital of what he did on Christmas Day, 1898, Mareh said solemnly: “Professor, I'm afraid we can't go on without a marlinespike. May I ask if you will be so kind as to go to the fo'castle and get one?” “What do you want a marlinespike for?" asked Brill, after the man of science had departed. “Don't want one. Want to stop Pennythorpe. He's monopolizing the conversation, Reminds me of a whale always blowing.” Aristides found this pecullar Mr. Marsh very envoranle to-day. “Well, Mr. Stebbins, you Yoox quite cheerf said the jovial one, “You are an authority on fish, I remember, so perhaps you can tell me what part of one weighs the most. No? The scales, of course.” ‘The youth felt it in his hoart to forgive him even this, especially since it was Christmas Day, and more expecially since that very trim and piquant-faced Miss Marie was of the party, and between intervals of mak- ing herself useful with needie and thread had regarded him with eyes that seemed to be asking him a ques- tion. He had never seen just this type of woman, unless, perhaps, it was ex- emplified in “La Belle Rosa," a bare- back rider who had charmed him with her bespangled symmetry in @ circus that had once come within driving distance of his native town. When Miss Jennison asked if he would help Marie with the wreaths Stebbins told himself that the reason he responded with such alacrity was because he wanted to get near enough to the girl to see if she were really like “La Belle Rosa;" when he reached her side he found his powers of ob- servation seriously impaired by a tim- idity far beyond his natural supply He dimly realized that he was a) more than usually awkward when he tried to mop his face with @ wreath and bung bis handkerchief on an electrolier, But by and by his hand touched that of Marie, and with that thrill- ing contact all his ditfidence vanished, Under Marsh's promptings the ship's now finished the stag: was safely deposited upon it “Hooray!” oried the buoyant old fellow, leaping solidly upon the plat- form to test its strength, “Now you, Stebbins, go wnd get the green stuff and tack it along the edges while indefatigable wrpenters had and the piano ‘He snatched the stool from the floor, threw it before the piano, sat down, and struck a few chords, with a rippling ascent to the highest part of the keyboard, It was the work of @ clever pianist, as Marion Jennison recognizer “Go on, Mr, Marsh; please do,” she cried, dropping the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes with shameless disregard, and clapping her hands vivaciously, Marsh paused a mo- ment, then began the compellin measures of « Strauss waltz, Brill the girl. his eyes asked, and Yes, if” THE LATEST in NEW YORK FLATS PRIVATE BATH FOR AL aoe man put an eager hand upon her waist, and they seemed to have been swaying and swirling to this intoxt- cating music all their lives. She danced divinely, but that was not the cause of his rapture, Other women had danced as well, but—— Suddenly the wicked Marsh crashed into an absurd English clog, the most unpoetic antipode from the suave siren-song of Strauss; yet Brill danced on, deat to any change in rhythm, knowing only that his arm was tight- ening around that bit of heaven made manifest op earth. But the girl stop- ped and disengaged herself gently. “I really cannot dance to that tune,” she said half merrily, half ruefully, Then she laughed as she caught sight of Marsh's mischievous face, and ran to her favorite corner of the room and dropped into @ chair, breathless. Brill followed; he would have fol- lowed her anywhere at this moment. As he approached, the young woman saw in his gaze something new and strange, and a wave of deeper color swept over her cheeks. “Oh, Mr, Overton,” she exclaimed, “you don't know how we are to end the programme. This morning we learned that there was a little string band among the steerage paesengers— guitars and mandolins—some of Mr. Benedi people, you know.” ‘That name! ‘It was enough to quench the fire that blazed in Brill's heart, and he descended to mere com- monplaces until Marion rejoined her maid and Stebbins, Then he walked over to Marsh, cheerleysly. The keen- eyed man gave him @ penotrating glance, “Come on, Overton,” he cried heartily, “let's take @ turn on deck, I want a cigar, I've been working ‘too blamed hard. Your friend Steb- ‘ins can take care of the ladios.” As they paced up and down, smok- ing and chatting, they noted far astern the smoke of a steamer, To Brill it seemed typical of his love— he owned to the word vallantly, As that dark cloud from the fires be- neath was dissipated in the immen- sity of space, so his ardent affection seemed destined to lose itself in nothingness, He was very silent and grave, and Marsh wag glad when luncheon time arrived. After the meal they came to the deck again with their cigars. Ther they found Prof. Pennythorpe, armed with a marine glass which had os- caped the violaters of his cabin, He was looking ut the craft astern, which seemed to Brill to have drawn a little nearer, and explaining to one or two curious listeners that the course of the stranger was oy no means unusual in the winter months, At the rehearsal Miss Jennison was alluringly bright and cheery, and Brill turned her music as faithfully as the Inevitable straying of his eyes allowed, Little dissensions as to Precedence and the number of selec- tions were smoothed away with con- summate tact by Marsh, and every- thing promised that the Christmas concert would be an event in trans- atlantic history. When Benedict's band of guitar and mandolin players arrived, esourt- ed by Benedict himself, Brill's sun- shine began to cloud. The Mexican was for coming in with his party, but to this Marion Jennison de- murred, “No, no,” she laughed, putting up both hands in mock barrier against further advance, ‘not even you. The committees voted to admit no one but. performers, 80 you see you are taboo.” Although Brill would Mexican @ discondant nole, he have felt the wes MOTHER FLAT TAXI ww EVERY FLAT The Evening “World Daily Magazine, not altogether pleased; the method of expulsion seemed a bit too HM millar, He would have amended phrase “not even you;" and memory made too vivid a picture of those pretty palms in such close proximity to Benedict's breast. But the rehearsal was now over, and the performers separated to pre- Pare for the Marion went, too, after a final ap- proving glance at the decorations, and Brill and Marsh drifted out to- gether. “Come along on deck,” said Marsh. “Il want a drink—of ozone.” They paced together for some time without many words; was dreaming over again that wondrous waltz, and his companion was softly whistling the English clog that had put an end to it. But Marsh kept his eye on the horizon astern, whenever their promenade was in that direc- tion, “You can see that other steamer plainly,” he observed once, “She'll be pretty nearly up with us by night. Must ‘be a fast one. ri did not reply. The speed of the steamer interested him not at all, even though he ordinarily loved a race of any sort. After a little he excused himself, found Stebbins, and went to his stateroom to make herolo attempts to look more than usually dressed for the evening. CHAPTER IX. HE Christmas dinner was a feast of true English solid- | | ity and length, appropriate to the degree that included the boar’a head and biasing plum pudding, Even with the ab- sence of Capt. Humphries, who was @gain indisposed, there was jollity in plenty; for the doctor, who sat in the seat of the mighty, was a witty dog and a capable master of ceremonies. Much punch was consumed, and cheers for the English sovereign and the American President were both hearty and mellow in consequence. Brill and Marah were of rather than with the merrymakers, Neither in- dulged in any of the potent beverages, the younger man because of his part in the concert and his companion for reasons best known to himself, They lingered over their nuts and raisins until Prof, Pennythorpe arose to make & speech, then fled with common accord, Brill could not have written a very jiluminating account of the way in which he passed the hour between their escape froin the booming bore- dom of the professor and the time for the concert, He knew that Marsh and he had the smoking room almost to themselves, and that they puffed their perfectos in stolid silence, He remembered that about half way of his long wait Marsh had offered a conjecture whether the steamer be- hind them had gained on the Olympiad since afternogn, but he had no views on the subject. He recalled most vividly the moment when his rotund friend pulled out bis watch and declared that it was ‘time to sneak for the show.” The drawing room with its lights, its wreaths, its bunting and its green- ery was a very pleasant sight. The passengers had begun to arrive and already there was that murmuring drone that precedes every entertain- ment where people know one another, ‘The performers were seated at the aides of the @tage, and thither Brill evening’s festivities, °), betook himself. Stebbins, whom he had left at the door, discovered that there was an empty seat next to the one occupied by Marie, and with a self possession that absolutely alarmed him he walked calmly down and took it. Benedict was well in front, with a watchful eye on his ten «Mexicans, whom Marlon Jennison d put on the programme as tho ipanish Troubadours.”” As an appropriate beginning these same Mexicans, with their mandolins and guitars, gave @ light overure. Then came a sentimental song a gaunt and funereal tenor, who scowled flercely as he praised his beloved one's alabaster neck. Brill had to turn the music for Miss Jennison at the piano- forte; he flattered himself that he read the notes well enough to know when to act, although it was really the little nods from the player that kept him from misfortune. “Your masterre, Meestaire Overton —¢s a ver--wat you call eet—han’- somely man,” observed Marie to Aris- tides in the interim that followed the «aunt tenor’s final bleat in B flat, alt, “My—my what did you say, miss?” stammered Stebbins, very much sur- prised at his apparent knowledge of the situation. “Have I ze meestake? Are you not hees man, hees valet? queried the rirl, The youth could not lie, and he would not tell the truth; he therefore said nothing. “Eet L have xe wrong,” continued Marie, “I have not ze right to sit here wiz you, to talk to you like ze equatle.” ‘This alarmed Aristides. He did not care to lose wuch charming compan- fonship et the very beginning of the evening; he would compromise with hhis_consctence. “You see I used to be a valet, miss,” he said with @ gukp, “but I'm study- ing now, and Mr. Br—Mr, Overton's taking me across," “Ptudiant! Oh, how can I make 80 bold wir you?” “Fut I'm Mkely to be a valet again very soon,” was the reassuring reply. The girl's eyes danced. "Ah," she eried, "#o zat 1 was sure wiz myself zat I cou have ze meestake, Jennison ao.” That silenced Stebbins effectun|! He recalled how emphatically he been ordered to give no hume an inkling of the true state between them, and here ihe was c! tering in the ‘very quarter w shouldn't, He: fidgeted, but cessity of saying anything was obvi ated by the beginning of more music This time it was a plano sol Lizst Hungarian rhapsody. a small, roly-poly gentleman whose iron-fisted strength belied his size. He had been discovered in the second eabin at last moment, and he might ‘nnison of the duty of playing paniments, but that he sterniy refused to belittle Aimself with any such trivialities. “My dear madam,” the deep votce of Prof. Pennythorpe was heard to say to Mrs. Blucher-Ward, who was awake, as the final crashing chords dled away, “those strange noises you ‘hear from that instrument of percus- sion are overtones, They are caused by a property of acoustics which’ But all further elucidation of a mat- ter in which Mrs, Blucher-Ward took not the slightest interest was drowned by the storm of applause that greeted the pianist’ Hd net 1 declare to Mees a played by Another vocal selection was now due, and as Brill arose to take his place at the left of the piano he noted that Marsh was oo longer in the room, Wednesda PNEUMATIC Tue SERVICE IN EVERY ROOM — een cet? , NO THANK You MRS HOSTESS AND DINNER GUEST AND 23 CLOTHES Closets SIX KITCHENS . 15 DUMB-WAITERS SKATING RING CPOLF COURSE TENNIS COURT BATH CABARET SHOW. RENTS 65750, SOCIAL REFERENCES, REQuIRED . WHY BE HOMELESS 2 “Couldn't stand what be was respon- | If a girl wer her—— primitive fashion, sir, and wants to know if you e him right away.” can Brill had no mind just then for the Jokes or the vagaries of Christopher C. Marsh, but, on reflection he de- cided not to offend his friend, and started to find him, Just outside his own door he saw the stout commer- clal traveller advancing on the double-quick. “Come said quietly, Brill asked no ques- tion; he believed he knew what tl request meant, Once inside the stateroom Marsh motioned toward the connecting door, and Brill put hts ear to the wall, This time he distinctly heard sounds as of smothered cries, “Hear anything?” whispered the host. * Hrill nodded slowly, and Marsh took him by the arm and led him into the corridor, They stopped befors the first stateroom door; slight but pe- cullar sounds were heard; then at thirty-five, and the noises were more audible, Marsh smiled grimly and signalled his friend to follow. Cu- riously enough he went straight to Hrill's stateroom, and when both were inside locked the door behind them, | \ to break the stlence, for ho had ‘his own problem to straighten, Theories chased one an- other through his head with great rapidity, but none was 60 satisfactory as that Benedict had sold or given the ruby trinket to Andrew Jenmison so that the latter might make @ Christmas gift to his daughter. At last Marsh arose, opened a port- hole, and projected his great, round head through the aperture with some difficulty. Then he opened the door to the corridor and looked out cau- tiously; closing it again very softly, he thrust a fat thumb in the direc, tion of the inner stateroom, “Your friend? In there?" he asked. “Aseep—with his clothes on,” re- plied Brill, looking in, “He's done it before.” “See here, Overton,” said the com- mercial man, drawing nearer, “I'm neither young nor given to the oreeps, CHAPTER X. |ARSH sat down and chewed vigorously at an unlighted cigar, Brill had no desire sible for,” he thought, with a simile, but there are ene aboard this ship et rtemt.”” then admitted that he himself wi but for a certain member of the com mittee now playing the openin chords of « duet in which the gaunt tenor and a plump, blond contralt assured each other a dozen times at least that their two hearts were in- terchanged and “never was a bette bargain driven.” Bill's gaze wandered from tli printed pages on the rack to th eautiful head so near to hii crowned with its wealth of dark hat und made exquisite with a profile of cameo purity; then, false to his trust through the eye-service of love, failed to turn a page, The girl reached to take the sheet and her loose slecv fell back; on her wrist gleamed th: ruby bracelet Brill bad pawned t Benedict! Out of his day dream in an in stant, tt seemed to Brill that th platform beneath his feet was crum bling. What could it mean? Wha else than that the Mexican had madi Mins she had accepted it! He glance, part anger, part envy, Ben edict, and met the glistening of th unfathomable lenses, How did the fellow, with all his icy assurance, dare to give away prop erty not his own? And yet what wai there to dare, after all? He himsel certainly could make no protest unt he was ready to redeem the pledge. But it was not the converting of hi wld that ares have had little interest In the affair = “I fennison a Christanas gift? And jhot a nm he room near yours, you mean?” “Yes, that and—other things. I left the concert to-night, hoping that those responsible among Benedict's people might be off thelr guard.” “Benedict's people? I thought that Ca o r they “That they occupied only as far as e hree?" interrupted Marsh. “So @ at first, But when [ saw one of ‘em come out of thirty-three with the blood streaming from an ugly cut in his forehead and # scared look face, I began to think all over hat was from thirty-three, you say,” persisted the younger man, He fancied his stout friend 60 wholly given over to the study of the un- usual as to Invest anything, even commonplace sounds, with suspicion, ‘To be sure, there were the smothered cy a o o - crles, but’ they might have thotr t origin In some peculiar acoustic prop- lo erty of the ship. “Yes,” replied Marsh, after opening the door again and peering out, “but T had seen him into thirty-three ten minutes before with a plate of food, unlocking the door and locking it behind him. Oh, yes,” he continued - more rapidly, as he noted the smile 9 on Brill’s face, “you'll say he wos f caring for a sick friend. But @ {lL man in the Benedict crowd, except that one, was out of the staterooms, I'm no Sherlock Holmes, but I know property that troubled Brill; 1t was a man when I see him the giving--and the accepting—of a “But thirty-five and thirty-seven costly piece of jewelry, What right are the only rooms from which sounds had the Mexican to bestow thom flashing gems, and why did the girl find it proper to accept them? Ther was the possibility of an engagement, but he rejected it at once. All his in tultion cried out against a hypothes! that would match @ satyr with nymph; it might have been permit ted in the days of mythology, but not now, No matter what the circum stantial evidence, he would not yield to the thought, strayed through the All these fantasies of feeling, and young © could reach yours, You've said that.” “Ind 1? Well, they come from somewhere, Besides, T haven't denied, have I, that they come from one of those rooms?" Brill bad never prided himself on the possession of an especially logical mind, but here he thought he had caught his investigating companion napping. "In that case the Benedict people could not be concerned,” he sald trl- 6 8 a tly, * replied the unruffled Marsh. ian's mind as the concert proceeded Ky suppose you, und rstand that al to Itaend. He heard lttle, and when {ho roome In that asction can be for the finalo the Benedict trouba- town into @ single sult dours played a sensuous Spanish . No, L didn't It's often #0, how- holero, t music that apparently inv enltn i 1 ee © in this case. 1 all others was to him dis-; «tut they—the Benedict people- dant and nerve racking. Havant thekarat As Miss Jennison did not care to ‘the man of travel gave him @ look joln in the post-musical supper, plead- of commiseration ing that she must go back to hb “My dear young friend,”*he said fathe wh had re wined in ” ntly, “neither did I have my trunk roe Brill had no interest in the key Benedict's mechanics may be as function. Although strongly urged clever asx Stebbins, ‘The cries don't to attend by Prof, Pennythorpe, who amount to much, however. I'm going assured him that he had reserved a y for facts.” place next to himself for “Mr, Over- "Shall you ask for an official ton,” with whom he wished to have search?" quer Brill, rather mali- a confidential chat, the tempting bait ciously declin was and the young mar turned his steps dejectedly toward his stateroom, Stebbins was nowhere to he seen, which was rather odd, Brill thought n Marsh Jaughed with supreme good nature, id that once, didn't 1?" he sald. , “Guess I'll try a new lead. If you'll + come with me, I'll go to thirty-three Hut he soon appeared, so evidently and knock, There's some one there perturbed that his patron wondered now.” and sympathized, despite his own What if you get no reply?” distress of mind, thinking that per h been too great @ strain for him tunately for Stebbins, he did no! the day's reminders of home had For- = hen I'll know wrong.” “And if the door is opened?" “Lil ask for Benedict, apologize for there's something t know that in Aristides's soul lay the mistaking room, and if 1 see nsciousness of guilt in having nothing uway as big a fool as oo much, ‘Phe youth did not Overton,” le rest en him: honest though he was, and on Brill's shoulder tt wa tixe not to volun- and purnestly, for & man teer unnecessa pasant who talk: much as 1 do, I hear formation He message, and see a good deal. ft know though, of a different “Mr. Marah has been looking for stand; Benedict hay made his boasts.’ certain things that cern She would find herself in the strange predicament of the heroine of. Beyond the Frontier By Randall Parrish (Author of “The Red Mist,” &c.) This wilt be k’s Complete Nov “BEYOND THE FRONTIER” is a story of Colonial days, when men in this country of ours lived and fought and loved in Don’t miss the first instalment on Monday, Feb. 28, to my room, please,” he us | in The Evening World The young man's hands clenched angrily, for the reference was clear, ‘The contemptible Mexican had made Marion Jennison the subject of talk; its nature he could easily conjecture. “I know,” continued Sarehe “that if. we can prove Henedict up to some of his dirty business, it will mot grieve you.” it be better if one of “Wouldn't “Went to my room and Itstened while the other storms the Benedict eltadel?” interrupted Marsh, “I'd thought of that. But if there's any- thing to see, there must be more than one witness. Now if he”—indicating his meaning by a jerk of the head coward the inner room—"could go “Stebbins?” “Yes. Tell him ‘hothing' except to | listen and report. Then he'll have no imagination to atd him.” r Brill summoned Aristides from the realms of dreams, and the youth came forth, blinking his eyes and stam- mering sleepy apologies for his dere- liction in lying down with his clothes } on—a home habit, he explained, } Stebbins’s duties in the expedition / were presented to him with Spartan severity, and the party set out for the | region around Marsh's stateroom. | Into this cabin Aristides was thrust ‘moontinently, and the door locked | upon him. Then Marsh went to i thirty-three and knocked. j At onee the knob turned and there appeared a dark, thick-set fellow, whose heavy mustache wholly con- coated his mouth. Brill hatt seen. before, and had heard that he was Benedict's chief electrician. “What can I do for you, Mr, Marsh?” he asked almost genially, “Come right in.” This was certainly a “jolt,” as Marsh afterward expressed it, but ‘he was undased thereby. “Rather late for a call," said he, coolly, “but I've dropped my state- room key somewhere and wanted to . baad yours on the chance it might Brill moved out of the bar of light that came from the stateroom; he had no desire to meet the man who had thus surprised them, and preferred to watch Marsh's tactics from ‘They were very simple. The stout man fumbled once more ; In his pockets. . | “By Goorge, here's my key now,” he said pleasantly. “Thought Td looked tn al! my pockets. Thank you, Good night.” ‘ “I'm just gaing to turn ip myself.” replied the Mexican, with icy sum . “T've been talking over. plans for our new telephone exchange with my electrician.” As the swarthy promoter followed Marsh from the door, he caught efght of Brill, and his mouth hardened/ “Is it’ Mr, — Mr. Overton?” he asked: with a covert sneer. “Oh, yes, May I speak with you a moment?” Marsh had gone on to unlock Bi door, and the young man was wn- decided whether to follow or Maten. Benedict made the choice, for he stepped to his side with one long ewing and hissed in hie ear: “Do you buy ruby bracelew at wholesale, sir, or shall I fing that your pledge to me has been redeemed without my knowledge? I ‘shall not warn you again about my friends.” He evidently wanted no reply, for he turned on his heel and entered hin cabin, shutting the door quietly. see did the Kea] A saa “Ruby racelets at wholesale?” senpes like the maundering of a Took, Benedict was certainly not that. Brill could only suspect that the Mexl not wishing him to know that he appropriated the ruby band, hi to make him believe Marion Jerni- n's possession of such a bracelet coincidence. Rather a» clumsy a method, he concluded, as he regained Marsh's cabin He found that energetic gentleman standing in the middle of the room intently watching Stebbins, whose head was in close contact with the door in the partition. A’ moment later the youth turned away, and at gn from Marsh the three left the abin quietly and returned to Srill’a domain, “Hear anything?” asked Marsh, “Yes. A few here was acry, Then yea! What was it? Could you make it out?’ Marsh's volee thrilled now, and he rolled his great watch chain between his fingers. “I heard plain enough,” reptied, Btebing, “but they weren't words now.” “Can you repeat them—give some iden what they were Iike? “l think so, pretty near, There re only two, One of ‘em was ike ba.” that's to be expected. It sounded like Stebbina nodded. moments ago callacy.” "Callacy, callacy?” repeated Margh earnestly; then he dropped into Me former careless tone, “But you're slvepy, Mr. Stebbins. Don't let keep you up. I've had disagreeabl neighbors, Wanted to find out vething about them, i anation was wasted on Arte- into his drowsy brain there had no desire to know anything doings of the queer Mr, Marsh. Bed was his prime object, and, having been dismissed by a look from his patron, he sought that haven with alacrity, Left together, the two men looked at one another a ment in silence, Marsh was the Qrst to speak, + “Do you know Spanis come about the nocturnal “rll own up to the ‘carramba,’” rned Brill with a smile. “The lacy’ is just a few steps ahead of me." “What that man said.” observed Marsh, “was ‘Carramba, ealleae’ ‘curse you, hold your tongue! dbas- ne it was the fellow with the eut orehead: for although T saw him go into thirty-three @gain he wasa’t, there when I went in.” (To Be Contlaued.)