i
The Firm of
Girdlestone i!
A C O N A N DOYLE
A ********* ****************
a
£ _
h
} _ 3 ^
O H A P T E R X V 11.— ( ContInued.)
This last apical o f Kate's was in an-
twrr to an exprexsion o f incredulity ami
donlit which had passed over the face of
the lady below. It was aucceaafnl in its
object, for the ring o f truth with which
she »|K>ke and the look of auxlety and ter
ror upon her face were too genuine to be
mistaken. The lady drew her rein ao as
to bring the carriage as near the wall
as was possible without losing sight of
Kate a fate.
"M y dear," she said, "you may safely
tell me everything. Whatever I can do to
help you shall be done, anti where I am
jKjwerletw there are others who are my
friends and may bo o f assistance. Scully
is my name— Mrs. l.avinia Scully of Isin-
don. Don't cry, my |>oor girl, but tell me
all about it, and let us see how we can
put matters right."
Ill us encouraged, Kate wiped away the
tears which had l>een brought to her eyes
by the unwonted sound o f a friendly voice,
lean ing forward as far as she could, and
preventing herself from falliug by pass
ing her arm round a great branch which
shot across the top o f the ahed, she gave
in as few words as she could a detailed
acctnint of all that had befallen her. She
described her guardian's anxiety that she
should marry his son, her refusal, their
sudden departure from l/ondon, her life
si the Priory, the manner in which she
was cut off from all human aid, and the
reasons which made her believe that an
atte ,pt would be made upon her life. In
conclusion, she narrated the scene which
had occurred that very morning, when her
gi.ardian had tempted her to commit sui
cide. The only incident which she omit
ted from her story was that which had
occurred the night before, for she felt that
ii might put too severe a tax upon Mrs.
Niully's credulity.
Indeed, looking back
at it she almost |>ersuaded herself that
the sight which she had aeon might be
some phantom conjured up by her own
imagination, weakened as she was in
mind and in body.
Having concluded her narrative, she
wound up by imploring her new-found
friend to assist her by letting her friends
in Ixindon know what had become of her
ami where she was. Mrs. Scully listened
with a face which expressed alternately
the most profound pity and the most
burning indignation.
When Kate had
finished she sat silent for a minute or
more entirely alisorbed in her own
thoughts. She switched her whip up and
down viciously, and her usually placid
countenance assumed an expression so
t ie r « that Kate, looking down at her,
feared that she had given her offense.
When she looked up at last, however, she
siniled so pleasantly that the [xxir girl
was reassured, and felt instinctively that
► he had really found a true aud effective
friend at last.
“ We must act promptly,” she said, “ for
we don't know what they may be aliout,
or what their plans are for the future.
Who did you say your friends were?"
"D r. Dimsdale, of Phillituore Gardens.
Kensington.”
“ Hasn't he got a grown-up son';”
"y es ,” said Kate, with a slight Hush on
her pole cheeks.
“ Ah !” cried the good lady, with a very
roguish smile. “ I see how the land lies.
O f course, o f course, why shouldn't it -;
I remember hearing about that young
man. I have heard about the Girdlestones
also. African merchants they were in
the city. You see 1 know all aiiout you.”
“ You know Tom';” Kate cried in as
tonishment.
“ Oh, don't let us get talking of Tom,'
said Mrs. Scully, good-humoredly. “ When
girls get on a subject o f that sort there's
an end to everything. What I want to
know is business. lu the first place, I
►hall drive down to Bedsworth and I shall
send to Isrndon. But not to Phillirnore
Gardens. Hot-headed young men do fool
ish things under such circumstances as
these. This is a case that wants careful
management.
1 know a gentleman in
London who is just the man, and who I
know would be only too provd to help a
lady in distress. He is a retired officer,
and his name is Major Clutterbuck— Ma-
ior Tobias Clutterbuck.”
“ Oh, I know him very well, and I have
lit-ard o f you, too," said Kafe with a
smile. “ I reinernlier your name now in
connection with his.”
It was Mrs. Scully's turn to blush now.
“ Never mind that,” she said.
" I can
trust the major, and I know he will be
down here at a word from me. I shall
let him have the facts, and he can tell
the Dimsdnles if he thiuks it best. Good-
by, dear, don't lie unhappy any more, but
remember that you have friends outside
v ho will very quickly set all right. Good-
b y !” and waving her hand in encourage
ment, the good widow woke up the pony,
which had fallen fast asleep, and rattled
away down the lane in the direction from
which she had come.
C H A PT E R X V III,
At four o'clock Mr. Girdlestone stepped
Into the Bedsworth telegraph office and
wired hia short message.
It ran thus:
"Case hopeless. Come on to-morrow with
A doctor.” On receipt of thia be knew
by their agreement that Ills son would broken because none of Iter friends know
come down. There was nothing for it where site is, slid she fears that they may
M r s ,” grow led old Roxlcy, "M abel's
now but thnt his ward should die. I f he imagine that she bus willingly deserted lover Interviewed mo last night. Stupid
delayed longer the crash might come lie- tin in.
O f course. h\ her friends she fellow ; iio senxe lit all.”
Is a constitutional dlecaso originating In
fore her money was mailable, aud then liH'iins that i irly headed Mr. Diui'wlule
!
“ A h t” exclaim ed Aaetiin, “ then you Impure blood sud requiring »institutional
how vain all regrets would Is*.
that you spoke of. The (xxir girl is in a
won’t h a w him fo r a son-in-law?"
treatment acting through and purifying tha
It seemed to him that there was very very low, nervous state, and told me over
“ I? What have I to do with It? The
little risk in the matter. The girl hud the wall of the purk that she feared her
M o o d for Its radical and permanent t urn
had uo comuuiuicat’ n with any one. Kven guardian had designs on her life. I ran bleu o f Ills coining to ask me when the Ths greatest constitutional remedy Is
It
of those around her Mrs. Jorrocks was in hardly believe that, hut I do think that girl and her mother are satisfied.
her dotage, Rebecca Taylforth was stanch she is far from well, and that it is enough he had any sense lie'll know that set
and true, and Stevens knew nothing. Ev t> drive her mad to »atop her up like that. I tied It."— Philadelphia Press.
In usual liquid form or lu rhtxxdated
ery one on the country side had heard of W e must get her out somehow or another.
tablets known as S a r a a t a b s . lOOdoaasfl.
the invalid young lady at the l'riory. Who I suppose that her gusrdiun is within his
Nasal and other hx-al forms of catarrh
would be surprised to hear that she bad rights, and that It is not a isiltce matter.
“ Lll. you Just ought to have heard
passed awayT He dare not call iu any You must consider what must lie doue, bow Miss Oxpaieuin talked the other day are relieved by C'atarrlets, which allay In
local medical man, but his inveutive brain aud let young (Hinsdale know if you think when she was real mad. You don’t know flammation and deodorlte discharge. bOo.
had overcome the difficulty, and had hit lieat. He will want to come down to see what you miased."
upon a device by which he might defy her, no doubt, aud if Toby were to come,
"W h at did »he say. Jen?”
rax u n r
r t f X ILLIB
both doctors and coroner. I f all weut as too, I should not lie sorry.
"Gracious! You don't expect me to say
4
M in ty « «11 i l l «
h< had planned it, it was difficult to see
“ I should have telegraphed about It, but the dreadful things she said, do you?”
fllM »m l klurtli
any chance of detection. In the case of I could not explain myself sufficiently. 1
««irafnrt U> * *#ry
liitnia In d ln ln «
a poorer man the fact that the girl's assure you that the poor girl is iu a very
rt-'iw.
K a l e r l a g a U e w iu rrrr.
riNMu
«m l tMcr?
money reverted to him might arouse suapi- bad way, and we can’t be too energetic
"Talk alxiut the superiority of mind
l»|*<«» w lie r* flit *
»rtt I niulylRMtat«
ciou, but he rightly argued that with his in what we do. It was very sad to hear ' over m atter!” said
the argumentative
01 MM. HtMii
great reputation no one would ever dream the positive manner in which she declared 1 boarder. " It 's Just the other wsy.
If
« I I I nol » i l l o f
Injur* Mttylhln«
that such a consideration could
have that her guardian would murder her, you waut to he sure not to forget a thing J r-.lh.tiii «tit.* «ittl you will nrtttr It««
without thatiu.
weight with him.
though she did not attempt to give any you dou't trust it to your memory. You it not kr|» Itjr u aalan, M*nt |»rr|>»i4 for Jir.
MASOLO flOMISfl. M i D .ftaib A « « . , B raa llffi, V T.
Having sent the telegram off and so reason why he should column such a ter take a pencil eml a slip of paper au I
taken a final step, John Girdlestone felt rible crime. W e snw u horrid one-eyed dinke s memorsndilhi of It."
more at his ease. He was proud o f his man at the gate who appeared to lie on
I’hs colonies of Great Britain bava
own energy and decision. As he walked guard to prevent any oue from coming out
K u r e l s s an d llon te a llp .
nearly Its » times mors ares than ths
very pompously and gravely down the or in. On our way to Itedworth we met
Ills W ife (re a d in g )
I s e e they hud mother country. K ram « eighteen times
village street his heart glowed within him no less a person than the great Mr. Uir* a bread riot lu Spain recently.
and Germany flv# times.
at the thought of the long struggle which dleetone himself, sud we actually drove
H er Hushaml Yea; nnd we’ ll have
C I T O **• Y 'tu s f » . n e e « n il a ll N e r v in a Iiteesess
he had maintained agaiust misfortune. He so clumsily that we splashed him all over
one at home soon If there Isn’t ait Im 1 1 1 Ò p e rm a n sati)* cured b y I ’ r. K lin e 's i m a
passed over in his mind all the successive with mud. Wasn't that a very sad and
.N erv» fir « t o r e r . * « n « l fo r F l l r . K f'Jtr'-vi b o tile » d <|
provement In your biscuits.
irrn lU n . J*r. It. i f . Kiln* » 1*1.,«31 A rc h NL,
hoi rowings and speculations and make uunccouutnhle thing? I fancy 1 see Toby
shifts and ruses which the firm bad resort smiling over that. Ever yours,
ed to.
“ L A V 1N iA S t’ I 'L L Y . ”
Yet in spite of every danger and diffl-
The major called u cab ami rattled
tulty it still held up its head with the away to 1‘ hillimore Gardens and thence
Ix-st, and would weather the storm at last. to the office, without tieiug able to find
He reflected proudly that there was no the man of whom lie was iu search, lie
other man in the city who would have had then rushed down the Strand as quickly
the dogged tenacity and the grim resolu as he could, intending to catch the next
tion which he had displayed during the train aud go alone, hut on his way to
I here is tin evaporation from the Ixxiy going on continually, «lay aud
last twelve months.
“ I f ever any one Waterloo station lie fell in with Tom
This is nature’s way of
should put it all in a book,” he said to Dimsdale. us recorded iu a preceding night, through the pores nnd glands of the skin.
maintaining the proper temperature of our systems aud ptraerving the soft
himself, "there are few who would believe ehapter.
it (stssible. It is not by my own strength
'Hie letter was u thunderbolt to Tom. ness aud flexibility of the skin, and so long us the hhxxl is free from im pur
that I have done it.”
lit his worst dreams be bail never imag ities no trouble will result. W hen, however, the hhxxl from any cause
When he was half way to the Priory ined anything so dark as this. He hur becomes infected with humors and acids, these t«x> must be expelled, and
he met a small pony carriage which was ried tiack to the station at such a pace coming in contact with the delicate fibres and tissues with which the skin ia
rattling towards Bedsworth at a great that the poor major was reduced to a so abundantly supplied they produce irritation and inflammation, and the
im «, driven by a gisxl looking middle-aged most astlunntical and wbeexy condition. effect is shown by Eczema, Acne, letter, and skin affections of various kinds,
lady with a small page by her side. The He trotted along pluckily, however, and
These impurities and humors get into the blood through a deranged or
u.rrchant encountered this equipage in n as he went heard the account of Tom ’s inactive condition of the system ; the members whose duty it is to carry off
narrow country lane without a footpath, adventures in the morning, and of the de the waste and refuse matter of the body fail to properly perform their work,
and as it approached him he could not parture of Exra Girdlestone and of his
and this impure, fermenting matter is left in the system to be absorbed by
help observing that the lady wore an in- red-lieurded conqianioti. The major's face
the blood.
I he skin is not only affected by poisons generated within the
diiHiaut and gloomy look upon her fea g n w more anxious still when he heard
system, but poisons from without,
tures which was out o f keeping with their of it. "P ra y heaven we may not be too
such as poison Oak, Poison Ivy,
general contour. Her forehead was con la te !” he panted.
I have used jrour S. S. S . »prin t and fall,
Nettle Rash, etc., enter through the
for ths p u l tw o yvere, with tbs r x u ll that It
tracted into a very decided frown, and her
C IIA IT E lt X IX .
open pores nnd glands, and so thor
• nllrely relieved m* of a forni of E o t m i
lips were gathered into what might be de
When Kate bail made a clean breast
which rap doctor v i a unsblv to curv.
My
scribed ns a negative smile. Girdlestone oT all her troubles to the Widow Scully, oughly do they become rooted in the
arm», lowvr lim b», and. is fset. th » Ixggeet
blood
that
they
are
ever
present,
stood aside to let her pass, but the lady nnd had secured thnt gisxl woman's co-op-
portion o f mp whole M p w u effected. and
when I flr»t began S. S 9. th » Itching, etc ,
by a sudden twitch of her right hand rein ■’m tfon, a great weight seemed to have or return at certain seasons of each
* • • v o r w , hot | continued th» rem edy with
hrought the wheels across in so sudden a Ix-en lifted from her heart, and she sprang 1 year to torment the sufferer. Salves,
th* r»»u lt that tha dry, itching eruption en
washes,
lotions,
etc.,
cannot
cure
skin
manner that they were within an ace of from the shed a different woman.
It I
tirely disappeared
I think a grant deal of
True, such treatment re
going over his toes. He only saved him v ould soon be like a dream, all these diseases.
your medicine, and have recommended It to
others
with
good
result»
It it the best blood
self by springing hack into a gap of the dreary weeks in the grim old bouse. With- lieves some of the itching and dis
medicine made, and I can coneclentiouely
hedge. As it wns. he found on looking
comfort,
and
aids
in
keeping
the
skin
n a day she was sure that either Tom
recommend It for the cure o f ell blood and
down that his pearl-grey trousers were o f the major would And means of com clean, but it does not reach the real
akin affections
C1IA9 UOR STM AN .
covered with flakes of wet mud. W hat municating with her. The thought made cause, and at best can be only palli
W heeling. W Vs-
made the incident more perplexing was her ro happy that the color stole tiack ating and soothing.
A thorough
that both the middle-aged lady and the into her cheeks, and she sang for very cleansing of the blo*xl is the only certain cure for skin diseases. S. S. S.,
page laughed very Heartily as they rattled lightness of heart as she made her way a gentle acting, safe blood purifier, made entirely of vegetable ingredients
away to the village. The merchant pro back to the Priory.
of the forest and field, is the proper treatment. S. S. S. goes down into the
ceeded on his way marveling In his heart
Mre. Jorrocks and Iteheera observed the circulation, and neutralizes the acids and humors, thoroughly cleansing and
at the uncharitahleness and innate wick change which hail come over her, and mar- j
purifying the blood, and curing skin affections of every kind. It supplies
edness of unregenerated human nature.
veled at it. Kate attempted to aid the j
Good Mrs. Scully little dreamed of the former in her household work, but the old to the blood the fresh, nutritive qualities necessary to sustain the skin and
urgency o f the case. Had she seen the crone refused her assistance, and repulsed j all other parts of the body, and rids the blood of any and all fxiisons. S. S. S.
tf leg ram which John Girdlestone had just he» harshly. Her maid, too, answered her ! cures Eczema, Tetter, Acne, Salt Rheum, Poison Oak and Ivy, Nettle Rash,
dispatched, it is conceivable that she curtly when she addressed her. and eyed and all other skin troubles, and cures them permanently b y removing every
trace of the cause from the blfxxl. Special Ixxik on Skin Diseases and any
might have read between the words, and her in anything but a friendly manner.
medical
advice desired furnished free to all who write
by acting more promptly have prevented a
She amused herself that morning by
terrible crime. As a matter of fact, with rtikotiing up in her mind what the se
THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO.. ATLANTA. GA.
all her sympathy the worthy woman had quence of events would be in Ixindon, and
taken a large |>art o f Kate's story with bow long it would lx* before she beard
the proverbial grain o f salt. It seemed fiom Iter friends.
I f Mrs. Scully bad
to her to be incredible and impossible that telegraphed, news would have reached
in this nineteenth century such n thing them last night. Probably she would
deliberate and carefully planned mur write as well, giving all the pnrthnilnrs
der should occur in t'hristian England. I'lxuit her. The post enrne iu alxiut nine
That these things occur in the abstract o'clock, she thought.
Then some time
w e are ready to admit, but we find it very would elapse before the major could find
difficult to realise that they may come lorn. A fter that, no doubt they would
within the horizon o f our own experi have to consider what had lx*st lx- done,
ence. H e n « Mrs. Scully set no imixjr- anil perhaps would go nnd consult with
rnnee upon Kate's fenrs for her life, sod Dr. Dimsdale. That would occupy the
,ut them down to the excited state o f the morning and part of the nft*‘rmx>n. Hiey
girl’s imagination. She did consider it. could hardly reach the
l'riory
before
Out-of-Town People
however, to tx- a very iniquitous and un nightfall.
justifiable thing that a young girl should
Ezra would lie down by that time. ( )n
W o can do your entire Crown,
(»■ cooped tip and separated from all the the Saturday before be bad arrived lx»- j
Bridge and Plate Work in a
world in such a very dreary p l a « of se tween five and six. A great dread filled
day,
if necessary. Positively
clusion as the l ’riory. This consideration her soul at the thought of meeting the
Painless Extracting Free when
and nothing more serious had set that young merchant again. It was merely the
Plates or Bridges are ordered.
look o f wrath upon her pleasant face, and natural instinct of n lady shrinking fiom
had stirred her up to frustrate Girdle- whatever ia rough and coarse and antag
Sensitive Teeth and Roots re
stone and to communicate with Kate's onistic.
She had no conception o f the
moved without the least pain.
friends.
impending danger, or o f what hia coining
Ten chairs. Only the most sci
Her intention had Imen to telegraph to might menn to her.
entific and careful work.
Idindon. but as she drove to Bedsworth
Mr. Girdlextone was more gracious t®
she bethought her how imtsissible It would Iter than usual that morning at breakfast.
he for her within the limits o f a telegram He seemed anxious to efface the remem
20 Years in Portland
to explain to her satisfaction all that she brance of his fierce and threatening words
wanted to express. A letter, she reflected, the day before.
Rebec*-a, who waited
would, if posted now, reach the major by upon them, was astonished to hear ths
the first post on Saturday morning. It way in which he spoke. His whole man
would simply mean a few hours' delay In ner was less heavy and ungainly than
the taking of ste|>s to relieve Kate, and usual, for now that the time of action
w hat difference could a few hours more or was at hand be felt braced and invig
less make to the girl? She determined, orated. as energetic inen do.
th -refore, that she would write to the ma
“ You should study botHny while yon
jor, explaining all the circumstances and are down here,” be said, blandly. "D e
8 A. M. to 8 P. M.; Sundays 9 to 12. Painless Extraction 50c; Plates,
leave it to him what course o f action pend upon it. one cannot learn too many
$5.00. Both Phones, A and Main 2021*.
should be pursued.
tilings in one's youth. Besides a knowl
Mrs. Sctili.v was well known at the post- edge of natural science teaches us ths
harmony
wrhich
prevails
office. and they quickly accommodated marvelous
her with the requisites for correspond throughout the universe, hik I so enlarges
ence. Within a quarter of an hour she our mind.”
had written, scaled, stamped and posted
“ I should very much like to know some
thing o f it." answered Kate. "M y only
the following epistle;
"Dearest Toby— Who do yon think I fear Is thnt I should not he clever enough
have come across down here? No less a to learn it.”
"T h e wood here is full o f wonders. Ths
person than that Miss Harston who was
Girdlestone's ward.
You used to talk tiniest mushroom is ns extraordinary and
about her. I remember, and indeed you as worthy of stuiTy as the largest oak.
_ SH O ES A T ALL
were a great admirer of Iters. You would Your father was fond of plnnts and ani
.
P R IC E S , POR EVERY
be surprised if you saw her now, so thin mals.”
M EM BER O E T H E fA M IL V .
M EN, B O Y S , W OM EN, M IS S E S AND CH ILOREN.
"Yes. I ran remember thnt,” said Kata,
and worn and pale. Still her face la very
I t f * W. L . D o u g ja a makes a n d am II a more
s
sweet and pretty, so I won’t deny your her fa c e growing «ad as her mind trav
"¡a n a 9 2 .h O . $ a -0 0 a n d 93.B O ahoam
good taste— how could I after you have eled hark to years gone by. What would
«tn , th a n a n y a lh a r m a n u f a c tu r e r In th a ___
ata rltf, baaauam I h o y h o ld I h a ir T jA
paid your addresses to me?
that same father have thought, she won
ah a mm. f/f naffer, srear fonper, a n d
“ Her guardian has brought her down dered. had he known how this man oppo
ftpg- YfToZa
- m -d
* * a mn
---------- 2Tf"*f"
-i f ha w r- o V"
r ld ' U
to
y . a n y o th a r ^
-,
here and has locked her up in a great site to her had treated her? What did it
Jt rrltnttrlg.
bleak house called the Priory. She has matter now though, when she would so
W. L. Douglas $4 and $5 Gilt Edgi Sho** Cinnot B« Equalled At Anj Price
no one to speak fo, and is not allowed to soon bs out of his power?
a S T h e ^ im i^ î/ îiîiil
**" v A s n a w s » " d Prie» I» «tem ped on bottom. T n h e R . R w h a t lt w «* .
writs letters. Sht seemed to be heart
(To bs continued.)
Catarrh
Hood’«* Sarsaparilla
CURES
SKIN DISEASES
Teeth With or
Without Plates
And Associates
Painless Dentists
Failing Bldg., Third and W ashington Sts.
W . A. W I S E
VGLAS
¡aur,wh"
Hbo- —u i r