THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 22, 1901. 31 NO OTHE-R WAg. STORY OF THRILLING INTEREST. BASED ON THE WORKINGS OF THE ENGLISH PENAL SYSTEM AND DEBTOR PRISON LAST WORK OF SIR WALTER BESANT Synopsis of Preceding Ckapters. Mrs. Isabel Weyland. a -widow. Is threatened with the debtor's prison. Her chief creditor, Mrs. Brymer. euggests a way out of the diffi culty, marriage with an Imprisoned debtor, who, for a paltry sum, will assume Mrs. Wey land's debts also. He proves to be a young lawyer, Macnamara. who, throngh no fault of his own, has fallen Into dire straits. Mrs. Weyland. In pity, pays his small debt, sets him free, and agrees to marry a negro con demned to die in three days. She then retires in poverty to country life, but later falls heir ess to a large fortune and becomes a social queen In London. Here she meets Macnamara, now a flourishing barrister, who pledges him self to her sen-Ice. and Is most attentive to her, to the anger of her brother-in-law. Lord. Stratherrick. Mrs. Weyland takes as secretary Alice Fulton, daughter of a former creditor. CHAPTER IX. For Atonement. For the first few days at the house In St. James's Square, Alice, strange and 111 at ease, followed her patron about with wondering looks. not understanding what the transformation might mean. To Isabel she seemed always on the point of asking. "Who arc you? "Why do you do It? What debts have to be paid?" These were the whispers of an unquiet conscience. The girl knew nothing, about the debt that had to be paid; nor had she been taught to connect her father s trouble with the name of Mr. Weyland. The stately house frightened the girl at first; the lackeys In their livery: the glass coach with the coachman In his handsome cloth and the fine horses; the presence at the dinner table of the brother-in-law who grew daily more proud as he grew poorer, until by the end of the month Lucifer himself was humble by his side; the walk in the park among the beaux and among the fine ladles; the life without anxiety for the morrow's food; her own large and well-furnished room; the dresses which her patron gave her; the unfailing kindness with which she was treated; the absence of her father with his half-drunken mornings and his wholly drunken evenings, all these things togeth er maoe her like unto one who moves In a dream. Shakespeare represents the drunken tinker changed into a gentle man suddenly. In his sleep; I could wish that he had carried that transformation through the entire play, making him the principal actor and the hero of the piece, not a mere spectator. Alice was trans formed into the companion of a gentle woman, not In a dream, but while broad awake. The witch of St. James's Square appeared upon the scene, like the fairy in the story of Cinderella; her rags dropped from her; she emerged habited like a young gentlewoman; her mother's sq,ualld' lodging fit for the abode of a reputable citizen's wife; starvation vanished; she herself was driven away, still Cinderella, in a coach and four to that part of the town where there Is no penury, no starva tion, no awful dread of the morrow, but, In their place a constant cheerfulness in terrupted only by the minor emotions such as toothache, heartache, and other aches and a run of bad luck. Why should it last? Why had it begun? What did it mean?" "Child," said Isabel, "when will you for get the past? I see the memory in your eyes; things will not vanish; the days of misery are gone; you shall have no more suffering you and your mother If I can hinder. What does your mother say? Is she reconciled to your stay with me?" "She cannot believe her own happiness. Oh, madam, she will live. She is already strong. Good food and no more anxiety have made her well." "And you father?" "Except for father," said Alice. "But why except him? Does he ill-treat her?" "Not unless you call drunkenness Ill treatment. Since we have been more com fortable he is more drunken than ever. Mother gives him something every morn ing, and he goes about among his old friends just the same. To get rid of his Importunity they give him drink." "Does your father ask where the money comes from?" "No. It drops from heaven, he thinks as, indeed, madam, it does. He makes no inquiries." "Does he not ask after your "Madam, if he were to hear that I was dead and buried he would make no in quiries. Drink has destroyed his natural affections. So long as he can get drink he cares not how he gets or who pays for It, or what becomes of his wife and daughter." "My dear," said Isabel, "It is a terrible thing for you that your father has become such as he is. 'Honor thy father' how can you honor him?" "Madam, I have been taught how to keep that commandment by my mother. So long as I can remember father has been drinking. My mother says that I must honor him as he ought to be not as he is." "As he ought to be? Yes. But how do you know what he ought to be?" "Mother is pious and well skilled in Holy Writ. She was the daughter of a country clergyman. She says that the Lord has given to every man his own mind as well as his own face. He may ruin his face by an evil life, and will also disfigure and distort his mind in the same way." "True, child. Go on." "She remembers him as he was, a young man, sprightly and comely, eager for work and full of hope; a young man who intended to become a Common Council men, and thought that with good health and hard work he might become an Al derman of his ward and even Lord Mayor of London. This is the man she loved, and loves still, not the man whose face Is cov ered with red spots and his nose swollen with drink; not the poor man who falls en the stairs and reels about the room and drinks small ale in the morning before he can even speak. I am. to think of him as mother first knew him, and then, she says, I can pray for his restoration and thank God for giving me a fatlier with so many great gifts and qualities." "Your mother, Alice, is a wise woman. Truly the law must mean something . of that sort, because we cannot honor a crim inal, or a drunkard. Tell me does, he ever speak to you of the the cause of his bankruptcy?" "Ho never speaks to me at all." "Does he never speak to your mother about It?" "Alas, madam, it was the tavern that destroyed him. Always the tavern. What need to speak of what my mother knows too well and of what has pulled him down and kept him down?" Then, by a thousand arts, Isabel sought to win the girl's confidence and affection, as well as her gratitude the latter of less Importance. She found that Alice was fond of reading and gave her books; and of playing the harpsichord she had a light and delicate touch Isabel gave her music; and of singing she had a voice clear and full and of great compass; Isa bel bought songs for her the songs and tnusic of Arne and Purcell and others; she invited Oliver to come and sing with her, as their voices went well together; she Invited her friends to the house and gave them singing instead of cards. She took the girl to the play; to Vauxhall and Marylebone; she took her, with Oliver, up the river in the warm evenings of Au gust, while the moon lay upon the broad now, and the boat quietly floated down the river, which lapped the bows, the young voices of the two rose and fell to gether; she found out things that the girl liked and gave them to her; in a word, she did her. best to make her love the world and rejoice in her youth and j ucauiy ana iorget tne areaaiui past, one watcned the expansion of the blossom, closed up by frosts in the warm, soft airs of affection; she saw how the taste for dress and the love of finery woman's instinctive gifts were born In the girl's mind and quickly grew; how she came to be delighted by a ribbon and rapt by a touch of color; how the benumbing In fluence of her penury dropped from her like the ragged cloak of a mendicant and was forgotten. All women are born for happiness, warmth, plenty and love. A poor girl Is a woman incomplete; a girl who has to work for her livelihood is a woman whose mission in life has failed; she should have been happy in giving hap piness to others. "Some day," Isabel thought, thinking upon her and watch ing her, "Alice will be loved and will fall in love. Then she will become what the Lord meant her to be. Heaven send her a worthy mate!" It was an act of atonement, as I have said, which led Isabel to take possession of the girl; but It was affection which caused her to keep the girl. "Some debts," she said, "must be paid." From time to time she remembered the words of Mrs. Brymer. "The girl," said Mrs. Brymer, "will do you a mischief; for sure and certain she will do you a mis chief. She is bound to do you a mischief." Every woman is a witch; every wom an can foretell the future, though some are not so far-sighted as others, and every woman knows the power of her sex. The words, .when, she, remembered them, gave Isabel a passing uneasiness. Yet she put it aside. How could this girl who loved her do her a mischief? It was impossible. Yet mischief may be done even by those who are all uncon scious of evil either in thought or In deed. No one certainly, after a time, would have believed that the girl was the daugh ter of a drunken, degraded wretch such as her father; no one would have be lieved that she had gone through so ter rible a time of privation and anxiety, that she had been dressed in rags and pinched with hunger. Now, her cheek was touched again with the dainty bloom of youth; her beauty was apparent to all the world; her eyes no longer shone like lights of despair upon a pitiless world; her step was light, her carriage free. She carolled, like a bird, about the house; she ran after Isabel and anticipated all her wishes;, she became her secretary; she kept her household accounts; she became keeper of the wardrobe. Isabel, looking on, every day rejoiced with complacency over the thought of atonement. "Surely, surely," she said to herself, "the debt is paid. The mother Is happy because the girl Is happy, and because she Is safe. As for the father, I did not lead him Into drinking ways, and I cannot cure him. That debt he owes to himself. Yet a little while and the man will be no more. WThat I owe the man I pay to his wife and child." Atonements, however, of this kind, are not always ac cepted, nor are they always effectual. How could the girl do her an Injury? She could not. Isabel looked In her frank eyes and saw that she was to be trusted; the girl was honest through and through, all her thoughts were honest; she seemed not to know that she was beautiful. The eyes of gallants in the park were thrown away upon her. She had, indeed, no thought, except of the affection which be gan with gratitude, of duty which also sprang out of gratitude. Of gratitude it self, which needed no awakening; of the wish to do something In return for so much kindness, and of the natural joy in the moment which Isabel made so pleas ant. "The girl," said Mrs. Brymer, a proph etess, like all her sex, "will do you a mis chief. For sure, she will do you a mis chief." Isabel remembered the prophecy. It was absurd. What mischief could this girl such a girl do her? Yet the mischief was begun already; the poor child knew nothing of It and sus pected nothing. Yet the mischief was be gun. CHAPTER X. Lord Stratherrick, In his lodgings the lodgings provided for him by his sister-in-law awoke that morning in a singu larly bad temper. He had spent the ev ening as usual, and with bad luck. This morning he was In a villainous temper because he had lost steadily and without a gleam of luck; because It was still early in the month, and because he had written to Isabel a request for money and knew that he would be refused. It was n hot morning, too, and the air of the lodg ings was stifling and confined. He looked George Ades In a Prairie Hamlet, far from the mad ding Department Store, where arrogant Wealth did not flaunt Itself before the Humble, and where the people were so Primitive that they did not know how to get Money except by working for it, they were making large Preparations to tear Things wide open at Christmas. All through the abbreviated Commu nity, the Women Folks were feverishly popping Corn and cracking Hickory-Nuts on a Fiat-Iron and making home-made Candy. The Unmarried Kind were se cretively working on Yarn Mittens. There was to be. a Tree at the Church, and preceding the Distribution of Pres ents there was to be a Show, alias a Methodist Vaudeville, which consists of ! Pieces, Responsive Readings and the best J that the Choir can do. The Druggist In i this village had laid in what he called an Elegant Assortment of Holiday Goods, j He had all of Will Carleton's Poems and j a Counter covered with fragile Toys that I smelled of the Paint, also an attractive J Line of Perfumeries and some Toilet J Sets. One of these Toilet Sets was the Prize Exhibit of his Stock. The Comb and Brushes were of Celluloid, the Amber and White being scrambled In a very ef fective Manner. The Druggist was willing to give a guarantee that the Bristles were Real. This Toilet Set reposed In a puck ered Nest of Yellow Satin. The Box was of Blue Plush with a neat Clasp, and on the Lid was the Following, In, Silver Let ters: "Merry X-Mas." Every Girl in Town came into the Drug Store and leaned on the Show-Case and gazed longingly at the Work of Art It was evident that the local Beau who loos ened up for 55 50 and eave that Toilet Set to his regular Sunday Night Dulclana would win in a Canter. But there was I general Doubt as to whether any one would be so Reckless as to fork over $6 50 just for Foolishness. All who went into the Drug Store and stood in Solemn Silence, admiring the Blue Plush, the Yellow Satin and the gleaming Celluloid, conceded that the Outfit was Purty, but they allowed It was too Fine fpr Actual Use. It was supposed that the Box alone would come to $3. Some said the Letters on the Lid were genuine Silver. Others contended that they were merely Plated. " around the room, and remembered the spacious apartments of his town house before the money lenders had gotten their life Interest in It; and he rcallzed-a thing which happened every day, the depths of his fall. In his hand was his purse, nearly empty; the sight of it mide him comprehend still more vividly the depth of his fall. One who has been rich and lived in a noble house docs not always trouble himself about the heavy chang or he would go mad. Mostly he rubs along, eating and drinking, contented with the day's food and the day's drink, without remembering too much. But the memory rises before him from time to time. He sat in a loose gown with slippers on his feet and a nightcap on his head; be fore him was a tankard of ale on which he made his breakfast. The room con tained no books of any kind, nor any thing by which a dull day might be got through. Lord Stratherrick had but one, recreation, one occupation, one amuse ment. He would willingly have gambled all day and all night and always. He would have looked forward to Heaven Itself a place which such as he regard as provided tor men of rank, but dull with pleasure had It been provided with a hazard table. Presently the door opened and Mr. Pin der appeared. "I beg your lordship's pardon. May I have speech with your lordship?" "What do you mean. Pinder?" he re plied peevishly, "by interrupting? Can't you see that I am Just out of bed and that I am engaged with the morning draft?" "I will look In again, my lord." "No. Now you are here, stay. Pinder, I had the most infernal luck last night." "Dear! Dear!" the ex-valet murmured softly. "I am sorry to hear it" 'You know the miserable allowance that my sister-in-law makes me. It Js only the second week of the month. Pin der, I lost very nearly the whole of It last night." "The whole of it . . . the whole of it . . . dear me . . -'tls sad. Per haps her ladyship, Mrs. Weyland. . . ." "You are a fool, Pinder. I have told you over and over again, of her infer nal stinginess. She will do nothing." "If only your lordship had any se curity." "Again, Pinder, you are a fool. Well, What do you want with me?" "I have come upon a business of more Importance, my lord, than an evening's run of luck." "What can be more important than an empty purse? Where are your senses gono this morning?" "Much more important. If your lord ship will give me your attention. It Is important to understand the whole case. You know something of It already." "What is" Tho ex-valet whispered there was no need for lowering his voice, but some men think to show Importance by a whisper. "I've got the draper the man about whom I told your lordship the man who was made bankrupt by the Hon. Mrs. Weyland, widow of your lordship's broth er, the Hon. Ronald. He is in my house. I can bring him to your lordship In a few minutes." "Oh, that person! We know his story. Besides, I've got no money to give him." "I have told him that your lordship will give him neither money nor drink." "I understand you to say that the man Is a pauper," "Your lordship had better see him. It Is really Important. I have made him promise to tell your lordship the whole history. I shall pay him with a drink. He Is always satisfied with a drink. Ho Is one of the kind who for a drink will do anything and say anything." "I don't know why I want to see the man." said his lordship peevishly. "If your lordship will not see him there Is nothing to be said. But you may pre vent a terrible family scandal." "Pinder, again, you are a fool! I told you before that I care nothing about scandals. How many scandals have you known in my family, and am I one penny the worse for It? Have you not learned by this time that In our rank we are not in the least injured by family scandals? It Is the tradesman, the lawyer, the clergy man, the physician, who Is injured by scandal. Poor devils! It kills them, I am told. It deprives them of clients and pa tients and customers a family scandal crushes them. But as for us why, Pin der, you ought to know you really ought to know after 15 years with me." "I beg your lordship's pardon. I shou:a have remembered. I have seen a good many scandals In your lordship's life. As you say, they have not hurt you. There was the scandal about the lady" "You need not begin to remember things. Christmas Fable In every Household the Toilet Set was a fruitful Topic The general Verdict ap peared to be that, in all probability, tho Druggist would either have to knock off something on the Price or else be Stuck. There had been one or two Offers of $5 for the Pieco de Resistance, but the Druggist claimed that he had paid more than that for It, Wholesale. Three Days before Christmas there ap peared on the Yellow Satin a Card marked "Sold." The News spread like Wildfire that some one had blown him self to the Limit There was but one Question agitating the whole Village for the next two Days, "Who will get the Toilet Set for Christmas?" Speculation ran rife, and every Girl who kept Com pany was hoping against Hope, even though her cold Judgment told her that. In all likelihood, her Fellow had not seen $6 50 In six long Months. The Druggist had been pledged to Se crecy and It became evident that the Pop ulace would have to wait until Christmas to have Its Curiosity appeased. So it waited with a lot of Impatience. The Village Wag, whose name was Amos, had been one of Several who looked at the Toilet Set and counted their Money and passed out He loved a Girl named Luella, but he had a Frugal Mind. It seemed to him that It would be more Sensible to save his Money and make a First Payment on a Home. Besides, tho Poultry Business had been a little Slack and he couldn't see himself giving up JS 50 for a dosh-burned Gimcrack that was no Account except to look at. So he gave up CO cents for an Autograph Album and let It go at that He would have gone ahead and bought something tor a Dollar, only Amos thought he had a Cinch. His only Rival for the Hand of Luella was Tallmadge N. Crockett, proprietor of the Livery and Feed Stable. Amos was so much more Comic and Con versational than Tallmadge and had such a Taking Way that he wasn't for a min ute afraid of being Cut Out by Tall madge. Being the recognized Village Wag, Amos was called upon to impersonate Santa Claus at the--Christmas Tree En tertainment Amos was a born Romp, and the Congregation was sure of many a Hearty Laugh when he came in as Santy and began to cut Didoes. Amos borrowed a Buffalo robe, a Strand of Bells and a Fur Cap. He rigged up a set of Cotton Whiskers and The lady has long since rejoined her fam ily." "To be sure. And there was the scandal about the faro table" "I say, Pinder, that you need not re call old stories." "And the case of the young fellow who blew out his brains" "A young fool! If he had only waited a day or two." "As your lordship says these family scandals do no harm to persons of your quality." Perhaps his lordship exaggerated the power of rank in making family scandals of no effect. Certainly, the family scan dal of being ruined, of having raised money on everything by the sale of pic tures, books, plate and furniture; by the cutting down of woods, by selling his lite Interest in estates, had been so favorably received by the world that his lorflsnip had not a single friend left, that he was not received In any coffee-house or tavern fre quented by his social equals; that he was no longer received in any club of gentle men, and that no one In London was mora universally shunned tlian himself. Yet he declared that family scandals could do him no harm. "What can this shopkeeper do?" he asked. "What can he say? ito whom can he say it?" "As your lordship says he can do noth ing. No family scandal could hurt the Honorable Mrs. Weyland. Her ladyship would not even be annoyed, I suppose. The man comes to my house; he Is ad mitted because he is a cousin of a mem ber of the company; he drinks; his tongue is loosened, and. he talks." "But the story is talked about In your parlor. What does that atter?" "Oh, my lord. Pardon me my parlor Is the Royal Exchnge for news of the nobil ity, aiy people, those w"ho use my parlor, are not only valets; they are also footmen and coachmen; anything that is done is known to them. Do you suppose that a great lady can go anywhere, do anything, without its being known to all her serv ants? I could tell you where one great lady goes twice, a week in the afternoon, and why she goes there. I can tell you where a noble Lord keeps a bird In a cage, so to speak without his lady wife knowing anything about it. These things are talked about, I say, first in my par lor, where there Is something new re lated everj' day, something surprising your Lordship would be astonished." "Well, If the stories are confined to your parlor." "They are not; they go from my par lor to the servants' hall. There they are discussed In full,""with additions. Soma of my people have a very happy knack of making things weem out to seem more Important than they are In reality. And then I beg your Lordship's attention to this point while the gentlemen do not, as a rule, talk to their valets, they treat them, for the most part, like dirt be neath their feet, the ladles do talk to their ladles' maids. Oh, yes; they ask all the news, and the lady's maid knows it all, and while she dresses her mistress she keeps her In good temper by telling her the newest scandal. Your Lordship follows me?" "I think you are infernally long-winded. -But go on." "Very well. This draper will tell his story. Then it will fly abroad to every servants' hall; it will be known there, how the Honorable Mrs. "Weyland got rid of her debts and liabilities by mar rying a prisoner sentenced to death in Newgate. Then the lady's maid will tell her mistress, and all the world will know it" "Well, and what If they do?" "As your Lordship says, a family scan dal cannot harm persons of your quality. Still, her Ladyship would perhaps be better pleased if tho thing could be kept secret." "Perhaps perhaps. . . . Hark you, Pinder I can give the man no money, but it might be worth while to keep him quiet." "i think ao myself, my Lord. That is why I am here this morning." "And what will keep him quiet?" "He wants little or nothing but drink. Something has happened to him. An un expected good fortune has come to him. He boasts that an old friend has placed his wife in a good and comfortable lodg ing and gives her an allowance. He himself takes all he can get out of that allowance and sallies forth every morn ing to drink It When he has spent his day's allowance he goes about and begs for more. He Is no longer In rags, and he abstains from selling his new broad cloth because it is much easier for one well dressed to get a drink than for one In rags. Now, my Lord, all he wants Is the run of the beer cellar, the wine bins and the rum at the Grapes Tavern. I warrant to keep him quiet with that bribe." "Very good do so." "I will. Meantime, my Lord, I very well understand your Lordship will make money out of Khis job." "I must arrange with my sister-in-law for the permanent silence of tho man. Is he vindictive?" "Very vindictive. Well, my Lord let us understand each other." "Ah!" His Lordship looked up slowly, as if the thing mattered little. "How much, Pinder?" The man held out his hand. "Halves, my lord." Lord Stratherrick eat up with a sudden show of wounded dignity. "You forgt your position, Pinder." "Not at all. L know my position. Your lordship will excuse me if I remind you CUT-UP VHO, AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR, TURNED DEFEAT INTO VICTORY. prepared to be even Funnier than usual. Oiv Christmas Eve the Church put them in the Aisles, so great was the Interest in the Tree. The Superintendent of the Sunday School, looking unusually pale and scrubbed-up -and smelling of Bay Rum, stood up In front of the Tree and made an Address that was Facetious", from his Point of View. The Choir sang one of its hardest Anthems and after two or three other Stunts, Amos, the Merry Andrew, came In as Santa Claus and did some of his best Comedy Actlrtg. He galloped up and down the Aisles and scared several Children In Arms into Con vulsions. Then he went up to the tree to nssl3t the droll Superintendent In dis tributing the Presents. As a Team they were expected to spring a great many timely Quips, right on the Spur of the Moment While standing by the Tree, waiting for the Infant Class to conclude a Carol, Amos saw on a Table the magnificent Toilet Set with the $6 50 Mark still on it He drew nearer to read the attached Card and almost fnlntad with Horror when he saw the Name of Luella In the well-known Hand-Writing of Tallmadge N. Crockett The Shock was so great that everything Swam before his Gaze, the same as In a Natatorlum. He could not see anything except his own Finish. When Luella came to compare the su perb Toilet Set and the 60-cent Autograph Album, ho knew he would not be One-Two-Seven. He was inspired to a Des perate action. He happened to remem ber that Celluloid contains Gun Cotton and Camphor and other high Explosives. The Infant Class stood between him and the Congregation. Stealthily he plucked a lighted Candle from the Tree and dropped it on the Toilet Set Then he leaped over the Rail. There was a ter rific Report, a flash of Fire, an odor of Camphor and the Air was full of Infant Class. A panic ensued. Throwing off his Disguise of White Cotton Whisker3, Amos gathered Luella In his Arms and carried her to a Place of Safety. She called him "Preserver" and refused to let go of him. When Quiet was restored, there was nothing left of the Toilet Set except tho Clasp and the letters spelling "Merry X-Mas." MORAL: True Love will prevail against the Vulgar Bank Roll even at Christmas Time. (Copyright, 190L by Robert Howard Rus-selL) of it You have not a sixpence except what Mrs. Weyland gives you. Every body knows that The servants' hall dis cussed that a long time ago. The whole company In the park know It You are going to buy the silence of this man. That means that you will give him a small sum and that you will obtain from her ladyship a large sum. I shall be able to find out oh, the thing Is quite easy what you get for buying the man's sl dence and what you give. And If I am to give him meantime, the run of my cel lars, I must be paid for the drink and I must go halves with your lordship for tho rest" "Suppose I refuse." "Oh, then, my lord, you will have to find some other person to make these little advances and to find out these places where your lordship can advertise for half crowns, Instead of playing for rou leaux of guineas, which was your former practice. Indeed your lordship will find It difficult indeed to get on without me." Lord Stratherrick was silent awhile. Then he 'said, quietly and without any show of resentment, "Pinder, you may bring mo this man." Pinder retired quietly. It was not many minutes' walk to Jer myn street The landlord of the Grapes returned, bringing with him. the unfor tunate bankrupt He was not a pleasant man to look at, being short and squat In figure, with legs not only short, but crooked. His face was Impaired with strong drink, his nose was painted with those flowers of experience called by sailors blossoms, his lips were thick and tremulous, his eyes were shot with red veins, his cheek was purple, his neck was thick. He was dressed, as Mr. Pinder said. In good broadcloth, recently acquired stout brown cloth, such as a substantial tradesman might wear. "Lord Stratherrick," said Pinder, softly and with the greatest deference to his lordship "has heard something of your story. His lordship Is a nobleman of the most philanthropic character. Tell him everything." "I understand, sir." His lordship raised his head and looked down, without ris ing from his chair. He was lower than his visitor, yet he looked down upon him. The thing Is done by lowering the eyes. "I understand, sir, that you have a his tory of of Borne kind of misfortune to communicate. I do not promise to offer any relief, understand, though I consent to hear your story." "His lordship will be satisfied with the truth, the complete truth of your story." Pinder whispered. "Oh, hundreds of stories are brought to him dally, but he receives them all for examination. 'TIs the most benevolent heart." It was Indeed, and It shows what an ex cellent valet was lost to the world below stairs when Pinder exchanged the ser vants' hall for the white apron of the Innkeeper of Jermyn street. The draper hemmed; tho draper hemmed a second time. "Well, my lord," he be gan In a rusty voice. "I have had great misfortune." "Go on," Pinder whispered. "Tell him everything who you were what you were. If you don't tell him everything, how are you to be helped?" "I was a'draper, my lord. In Ludgate Hill. A draper In a very large way of business. A member of the Drapers' Company. So large was my business and so extraordinary that I was commonly re puted to bo In the wholesale line. In fact, I expected to become a member" of tho court of my company, and to wear a fine gown like all the members of that most honorable court. But my hopes were blasted" Pinder whispered, "Who by?" "By a woman, a gentlewoman, a lady' of quality. She owed me a large sum of money, 500, more or less." It will be seen that tho fact was viewed by the worthy man through spectacles of imag ination. , "Can a great merchant," aeked his lord ship, "be ruined for tho want of 500?" "No, my lord, not as a rule. But there are times when certain calls have been met and certain other calls have to be met when 500 makes all the difference. 1 counted on this 500; It was intended to meet the charge of a certain Habllitlty. I relied on the lady entirely; she was a lady of rank, by marriage, though by birth and education nothing more than a daughter of a London citizen. As the money was overdue, I went to call upon her; I represented the dreadful situation I should be in If she did not pay me. She did not warn me of her intentions" "Otherwise." Pinder suggested, "I be lieve that you would have clapped her on the King's bench." "I should I wish I had done so. I have always regretted that I did not. But, we aro fools, we great merchants: I trusted her because she was a gentlewoman." "It is reported," Pinder again suggested, "that you yourself had fallen Into diffi culties owing to your habit of drink." "The story Is quite false wicked, as well. My lord. I never drink." He caught a smile on PInder's face. "That Is. I never used to drink In the day of pros perity. To be sure, the tavern Is the na tural place for the conduct of business. If I was a good deal in the tavern, it was not to drink. The fact only proves the magnitude of my transactions." "The magnitude of your transactions allowed you to fall for the want of 500," said Lord Stratherrick, quickly. "Stick to the truth stick to the truth, man," whispered Pinder. "No man In a large way was ever bankrupt for tho sum of 500." "Well," he went on, grumbling. "No matter what the magnitude of my trans actions or the business carried on at the tavern. The lady owed me 500 and did not pay." Said Pinder: "When she would not or could not pay, what did you do?" "I was expecting her money. I knew that If she did not pay I must bo bank rupt And then there came to see me x Of health has no uniformed guardians of its peace. If it had there would be arrests innumerable in every restaurant every day of the year. Both in the quantity and quality of the food they eat and in the manned of its consump tion men ana women sin each day against the laws of health. Those who will not heed Nature's warnings can- &. ifSSSSll lshments, and dys- -ftSiSyjtassTg pepsia- or stomach !5 tt trmiMi " i5 th in va riable penalty of care less eating. There is no other medicine for diseases of the stomach and allied organs of di gestion and nutrition which can compare with Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Dis covery. It cures these diseases perfect Jy and permanently, and enables the build ine up of the whole body into vigorous health. "I took two bottles of Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery for stomach trouble." writes Clarence Carries. sq.,of Tavlorstown. Loudoun Co.. Va. "It did me so much good that 1 didn't take any more. I can eat most anything now. I am so well pleased with it I hardly know how to thank yon for your kind information. I tried a whole lot of things before I wrote to you. There was a gentleman told me about your medicine, how it had aired his wife. I thought I would try a bottle of it I am glad I did. for I don't know what I would have done if it had not been for Dr. Pierce's Golden Med. leal Discovery.' Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets cure constipation. 5S52Src4 j5s?3 woman named Mrs. Brymer, a dress maker of Monmouth, street, a woman with whom I had done business. 'Mr. Fulton,' she said, or 'Mr. Joseph Fulton,' I forget which, I come to you from your debtor. She owes you 500 she cannot pay It 'Why, madam,' I said, 'If she cannot pay It she shall go to prison and shall there He till she can pay It.' 'Never not so,' said Mrs. Brymer, 'for the lady has transferred the debt, having been this day married In Newgate to a prison er named Adolphus Truxo. who Is sen tenced to death and will be hanged on Monday.' At this blow I was. as you may say, fairly knocked over. It was, how ever, true the marriage had taken place. I went to Newgate and learned that it was true." "And then," sa!d Lord Stratherrick. "the lady married, the man was hanged, and you became bankrupt. Is that all?" "Then I became bankrupt. My stock was seized; my furniture was seized. I lost everything I had In the world and I was turned Into the street with my wife and children, penniless." "Your creditors did not, then, as is usual, lock you up?" "No; there was some talk of It, but I had nothing. I should never have any thing. I had no relatives who could help me; my wife was the daughter of a coun try parson who could not help me at all. So they let me go." "And how have you been living since?" "It was three years ago. We have been living on the charity of our friends. I have been unable to get employment Every day I have gone out In search of "work and have been dependent on my old friends for food and a trifle of drink. If your Lordship can help me" (To be continued.) Last year 363 tons of cigarettes valued at $1,737,000, or fully five times as many as 10 years ago, were consumed In Ger many. These cigarettes came from France, Austria-Hungary, Russia. Tur key, Egypt, Algeria and the United States, GO per cent coming from Egypt. TRAVELERS GUIDE. All tiis oi Travel on Trains of The Best Way East. All Thro' Train from North Pacific Coast connect with Trains of this Line IN UNION DEPOT, ST. PAUL. The North-Western Limited IS THE FINEST TRAIN ENTERING CHICAGO. Call or -ivrltc for information to W II. MEAD, Gen'l Ast.. :MS Alder St., Portland, Or. The Folder Tells We have recently issued a second edition of our "St. Louis Special" folder. It is intended to give AND IT DOES GIVE a great deal of useful information about the best way to reach Omaha, Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis and everywhere beyond. Ask the ticket agent for a copy. It will help you decide about your, route show you why you should take the Burlington what sort of cars the St. Louis Special carries, and how It happens that you go through without change. TICKET OFf ICE: Cor. Third and Stark Si. R. W. Foster. Ticket Agont. Pacific Coast Steamship Co. For South-Eastern Alaska LEAVE SEATTLE: Steamships Cottage City. City of Seattle, or City of Topeka, at a P. jr. about every llfth day. For further information obtain compan's folder. The Company reicrve3 the right to change BUamera. tailing 1 ites and hours of sailing, without iirex I0U3 notice. AGENTS X. rOSTON. 249 Washington St,, Portland. Or. F. W. CARLETON. X. P. R. R. Deck. Ta coma; Ticket Olllcc. 11.1 James st.. Seattle, II. TALBOT. Comni'l Agt.. C. V. MILLER. Asst. Gen'l Agt.. Ocean Dock. Seattle. GOODALL, PERKIXS & CO . Gen'l Agts.. San Francisco. WHITE COLLAR LINE STK. TAHOMA, DALLES ROUTE. Winter nchedule Leaves foot Alder street every Tuesday. Thursday and Saturday morn Ins. T A. M. Leaves The Dalles every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday morning, 7 a. M. Stops at all ay landings lor both freight and passengers. ASTORIA ROUTE. STR. BAILEY GATZERT (Alder-St. Dock). Leaves Portland dally every morning at 7 o'clock, except Sunday. Returning, leaves As toria every night at 7 o'clock, except Sunday. Oregon phone Main 331. Columbia phone 351. SoSSlS; Special Annoenccmcitt! Tb Sr Olnntls TiSn Blwm COSttlOMWEAl-TH." 13JXO too. BJ (Mtlofif.sad "M!W uj.w luw ua. t ut lonr. wtU Mil Irom Bom V COnltar. Allr. ". '?' "d Alimlrlt, fopt. u foUm: "Oocjmoe wuBfc." Jm- "el"" Jp. Si. 1 02t "Conmonnh r. 1 . I SOS. PtrfotrrtoaleaWi, ?pl Tr"-1" Cook A Boa. P. C. Ga-1 Agenta. CI iiukst t 6. T CU. Hfipflr' Ha " r 1 Wm 2) wmmmm I' ' , i 52 TIJAVELEKS' GUIDE. 4EEj!tGS II32EQON s&sEp um UHJLCW &ACIHK AKD THREE TRAINS DAILY FOR ALL POINTS EAST UXIOX DEPOT. Leave. CHICAGO-PORTLAND SPECIAL. For the East via Hunt ington. 0:00 A. M. Dally. 4:30 P. M. Daily. SPOKANE FLYER. For Eastern Washing ton. Walla Walla. L-.v-Iston. Coeur d'Alene and Gt. Xorthern Points. 0:15 P. M. Dally. 7:00 A. M. Dally. ATLANTIC EXPRESS. For the East via Hunt . "nston. S-50 P. M. Dally. ;8:10 A. M. Dolly. OCEAX A.D IilVER SCHEDULE. FOR SAX FRAN CISCO. SS. Columbia Dec. 8. 18. 23. SS. Geo. W. Elder Dec. 3. 13. 23. From Alnsworth Dock. S:0O P. M. 5:00 P.M. OR ASTORIA andl8:COP. M. 5:00 P. M. Dally, ex. Sun. ""' pomis, connecting, Dally ex. x- .v.st for. "waco and.Sunday. North Beach, str. Has ealo. Ash-street Dock. Sat. 10 P. M. ?.?VALLIS and C.45 A. M. way points, str. RUTH. Mon.. Aah-streot Dock. Ved.. G:00 P.M. Tues.. Thurs., Sat. i.uie. permminsr.) iFrl. FR DAYTOX. Oregon7:00 A. M. City and Yamhill RH- Tues.. r points, str. Modoe.'Thurs., Ash-streetDock. Sat 3:00 P. M. Mon.. Wed.. Frt. vuter permitting.) TICKET OFFICE7 Third and Washington. iejepnone. Main 712. PORTLAND & ASIATIC STEAMSHIP CO. Trfifr ,okohana and Hong Kong, calling at Kobe Nagasaki and Shanghai, taking freight t con"elnj steamers for Manila. Port Ar thur and Vladlvostock. KNIGHT COMPAXIOX SAILS DEC. 2S. For rates and full Information call on or ad dress omcials or agents of O. R. & N. Co. Leave Depot Fifth nnd I Street. Arrive OVERLAND EX PRESS TRAINS, for Salem. Roae- :30 P. M. :30 A. M 7:45 A. M. burg. Ashland. Sac ra m e u to. Ogden. Snn Francisco, Mo Jave. Loa Angeles, :00 P.M. El Paso. New Or leans and the East. At W o o d b urn (dally except Sun day), morning train connects with train for Mt. Angel. Sll--erton. Browns ville. Springfield. and Xatron. and Albany Local for Mt. Ansel and SI1 verton. Albany passenger ... Corvallls passenger. :00 P.M. :no A. M. 10:10 A. M. 5:50 P. M. H4:50 P.M. iSherldan passenger. 8:25 A. M. Dally. !I3ally except Sunday. Rebate tickets on sale between Portland. Sacramento and San Francisco. Net rate $17 GO first class and $14 second class. Second class Includes sleeper; first class does not. Rates and ticket to Eastern points and Eu rope. Also JAPAX. CHINA. HOXOLULU and AUSTRALIA. Can be obtained from V. A. Schilling. Ticket Agent. 254 cor. Washington and Third. i YAMHILL DrVISIOX. Passenger Depot, foot of Jefferson street. Leave for Oswego dally at 7.20. U.40 A. M.; 12:30. 1.55. 3-25. 4:40. (i:25. S:S0. 11:S0 P. M.; and 0:00 A. M. on Sundays only. Arrive ac Portland dally at '15:35. 8.30. 10:50 A. M.: 1:35. 3:10. 4:30. 0:15. 7:40. 10:00 P. M.: 12:40 A. M. dally, except Monday, 8:30 and lu:o5 A M. on Sundays only. Leave for Dallas dally, except Sunday, at 5:05 P. M. Arrive at Portland a: 0:30 A. M. Passenger train leaves Dallas for Alrlle Mon days. Wednesdays and Fridays at 1 51) P. M. Returns Tuesdays. Thursday and Saturdays. Except Sunday. R. KOEHLER. Manager. R. B. MILLER. Gn. Frt. & Pas. Agt. 1 1 INC UKU OF TRAINS PORTLAND Leaves. .00 P. M. Arrives. 00 A. M. Overland Express Twin City. St. Louis & Kan. City Special 11:30 P.M. 7:45 P. M, Puget Sound Limited, for South Berd. Gray'a Harbor. 01 mpla. Ta coma and Seat:ie S:35 A. M. 5:20 P.M. Two trains dally to Spokane. Butte. Helena, Minneapolis. St- Paul and the East. A. D. CHARLTON. Asst. General Pas. Agt.. 255 Morrison street. Portland. Or. EAST via i0Bk O 0GDEN4 SHASTA -i) SOUTH THN ov-S; dsHBREATNOKTHEBHJ Ticket Office 122 Third SI. Phone 63D LEAVE .The Fljer. daily to and ARRIVE No. 4 'from St. Paul. Mlnne-I No. 3 COOP. M. apolls. Duluth. Chicago 7:00 A. M. and all points East. Through Palace and Tourist Sleepers, Dining and Buffet Smoklng-Llbrary Cam. JAPAN - AMERICAN LINE STEAMSHIP TOSA MARU For Japan, China and all Asiatic points will leave Seattle About December 31st. Astoria -Columbia River Railroad Co. Depot Fifth nml ! Street. ARRIVES For Maygers. Rainier. Cluti-kanie. Westport, Clifton. Astoria, War renton. Flavel. Ham mond. Fort Stevens. Gearhart Pk.. Seaside. Astoria and Seashore Express. Dally. Astoria Express. Daily. 8:00 A. M. 11:10 A. M. ::00 P. M. 0:40 P. M. Ticket office 255 Morrison st. and Union Depot. J C. MaYO. Gen. Pa3s. Agt.. Astoria. Or. Salem, Albany, Corvallis, Ore gon City and Davton. Steamer Pomona, for Corvallls, leaves 6:45 A. M. Tuesday. Thursday and Saturday. Steamer Alwna. for Dayton, leaves 7 A. M. Monday. Wednesday and Friday. Steamer Leona. for Oregon City, dally (ex. Sunday). 9 A. M.. 12:30. 4 P. M. Leaves Ore gon City 7:30 A. M., 11 A. M.. 2:30 P. M. Round trip. 25c OREGON CITY TRANSPORTATION CO.. Ofllce and dock, foot Taylor st. Phone 40.