The Minister's Wife
By MRS. HENRY WOOD
CFIAPTER XVII.
On the following day Sir Everard call
ed at Eaton place. He saw Mary, and
they went straight to Dr. Dynevor. There,
after shaking hands, ho quietly said that
differences had arisen between himself
nnd Miss Mary, and they had mutually
ngreed to part.
Never, perhaps, was a canon so as
tounded, never did one feel more out
raged, and never was one in a greater
rpasslon. though ho controlled it.
"What was the cause?" he demanded
"The precise cause, ho and Miss Mary
Dynevor had agreed to keep to them
selves," was the answer of the baronet.
""It was sufficient to say that they were
both fully convinced a union between
thera would not conduce to their happl
ess, nnd they had come to the conclu
sion not to carry it out."
"I will know the truth," foamed the
cannon. "Why do you part?"
"Differences," gasped Mary, who had
taken her cue from Sir Everard. "Noth
ing that I can particularly explain. We
found that a marriage between us would
not lead to happiness, and we parted.
"Won't you speak out?" cried he,
bringing down his clerical shoe upon the
"That is all I have to say," she an
su-cred, drooping her head.
"Very well," cried Dr. Dynevor, as he
quitted the room and shut himself into
Ills study. This gave Miss Dynevor and
tthe girls an opportunity of inquiring on
their own account. Question after ques
Cion they poured out on the unhappy
Mary, but they did not succeed in get
ting from her any solution to the mys'
eery; which, of course, bore an ill appear
since.
"I very much fear it is a case of jilt
ing," groaned Aunt Ann. "If the days of
dueling were not past, one of your broth-
rs ought to go out and shoot Everard
Wilmot. Dishonorable craven. Your
father may enter an action against him,
The possibility of concealment was all
over now, as Mary saw; and she dragged
berself in fear and sickness to her facer's
.presence. "Is It true that you have done
it? ' she gasped ; and the subdean was at
ao loss to understand her meaning.
"It soon will be true. The man shall
tx held up a spectacle to the world."
"Oh, papa, you must undo it, you must
undo it! Do not lose a moment. It was
not Sir Everard who broke off the en
aragement; it was I."
The subdean stared at her through his
Tgreat ugly spectacles, for he had been
reading a letter when she interrupted him
She laid her arms upon the back a chair,
and seemed to lean her weight upon it;
lie saw that she was trembling. "The
struth, papa, is that I refused Sir Ever
ard ; so that if an action might be brought
on either side it would be on his. He
-came home to marry me; but I I could
mot marry him ; and he was so kind as to
let it appear to you that it was as much
.'bis fault as mine."
""You broke it off? Of your own ac
cord Your reason? You do not stir
from my presence till you have given it
o me."
"Papa," she breathed, bending her face
-down upon the arm of the chair, I I
liked some one else better than Sir Ever--ard."
"You liked " The canon stopped;
indignation and astonishment overmaster
ed him.
"Who is it?" he demanded, in an awful
tone-
She did not answer. What he could
see of her face looked as crimson as his
own sometimes was. "Who is it, I ask?"
"be repeated, and shrink and shiver as she
-would, there was no evading that reso
lute question.
"Charles Baumgarten."
A enrt letter, couched in the haughti
est of terms, reached Charles Baumgar
ten's chambers in Pump Court, from Dr.
Dynevor, forbidding him all further inter
course with the Dynevor family.
"I know the old boy can do the thing
in style when he brings his mind to it,
Siut this is Buper-extra, Charley," remark
ed Richard Dynevor, who chanced to call
oon after the missive was delivered.
""Cheer up, lad ; things may take a turn."
And a few weeks passed on. Mary
Dynevor was not dying, no one said that ;
Shut every one did say that she was wast
ing away. The subdean, haughty, cold
and implacable, would not see it ; Miss
Dynevor had begun to speak of it com
3lainingly; Itegina and Grrre grieved.
She had a touch of low fever, and seemed
wnable to struggle out of it.
Mary chiefly lay upon the sofa; she
was too weak to sit up throughout the
day. Smarting under the displeasure of
3ier father, obliged to submit to the quer
ulous remarks of- her aunt, who rarely
-ceased to grumble at the rupture of so
desirable a marriage, suffering in a less
degree from the covert reproaches of her
misters, who felt it an a grievance upon
rthem, Mary had a sad time of it. As to
ICharles Baumgarten, he had gone on cir
cuit, and seemed to be done with for
ever. Even Richard never heard from
or of him.
"It is of no use, madam, my coming
mere day after day to see the patient,"
eiomewhat testily explained Dr. Lamb, the
tfamily physician, one day tq Miss Dyne
vor. "The disorder is on the mind ; some
trouble, I believe, is weighing upon her.
It It cannot be set at rest, I can do no
ood."
Miss :Dynevor, now very uneasy, sat
down to write an epistle to the subdean
ail Oldchurch. It had the effect of bring
3ng Dr. Dynevor to town. Though harsh
.and stern with his children, he was fond
of them at heart, and he did not like to
bear that Mary might be in danger of
dying. lie traveled up at night, reach
ing Easton Place In the morning. Break
fast over, he shut himself in with his
-sister.
"And now, Ann, what do you mean by
writing to me as you did?" began he, in
Ills sternest manner.
"I said to you, Ttlchard, what Dr. Lamb
aid to me. And I gave you my opinion
that, she had better be allowed to mar
ry Charles Baumgarten."
"I dare say," exclaimed the haughty
eauon.
"There's not a shade of a chance now
Cor Sir Erer&rd Wilmot," went on Miaa
Dynevor. "It's of no uso thinking of
him. Of courso girls ought not to be glv
en way to under ordinary circumstances.
But when it comes to this point, that tho
girl mny be dying, to give way may bo
nothing less than a duty."
"Let her see him then, and havo done
with It, spoko tho canon sharply.
Miss Dynevor was surprised at tho con
cession, but hastened to repeat it to Mary.
It made her pale and agitated.
'I shall wrlto a short cplstlo to his
chambers In Pump Court nnd let It awnlt
him there," said Miss Dynevor. "No
doubt he will call hero as soon as he
reads it."
"Mind, aunt, I must see him alone,'
said Mary, a strangoly heightened color
lighting her wan .cheek.
"You need not fear that any of us .will
covet to be present; we are not bo fond
of him," retorted Miss Dynevor.
She sent the "epistle" to Pump Court.
It lay there for some little time. Charles'
was on the Home Circuit, and when its
business was over, he turned to Great
Whitton to spend a day or two with his
mother and sister, who were staying nt
Avon House. But he lost no time in
obeying the summons, when ho was back
in London.
Mary received him alone, as she had
wished. She sat back unon tho lanre. old
fashlbned sofa In the drawing room, her
head supported by a pillow. Charles was
shocked to observe the change in her, and
uiought she must be dying.
"No," she said to him after they had
spoken for some time. "I am not dvlne,
They think, at least they say, thot when
once my mind Is at rest, when we shall
have parted for good, suspense exchanged
for certain misery, that I shall begin to
get well again. It may be so."
Her head lay passively upon bis shoul
der; and they had just settled themselves
into this most Interesting position, when
the door opened with a crash, and in
marched the subdean. Marx's head started
back to Its pillow: Charles stood up, fold
ed his arms, and looked fearlessly at the
intruder.
"So you are here again, sir?"
By appointment, Dr. Dynevor. And
I am grieved to see what I do see. She
Is surely dying."
'lou think so, do you?" cried the
canon. Perhaps you imagine you could
save her life?"
"At any rate I would trr to save it. If
I were allowed. 'What is your objection
to me, sir?" he hastily added, his tone
one of sharp demand. "My connections
are unexceptionable; and many a brief
less Damster has risen in time to the
woolsack."
"I am glad you have the modesty to
acknowledge that you are briefless."
1 did not acknowledge it. and I am
not briefless," returned Charles. "I have
begun to get on."
Dr. Dynevor looked at his daughter.
Would you patronize this sort of 'get
ting on?'" asked he.
There was a strange meaning in his
tone, which struck on Mary's ear. She
rose in agitation, her hands clasned.
"Papa, I would risk ir. Oh, papa, if you
would only let me, I would risk it and
trust it"
"If you choose to risk it and trust it
you may do so," responded the subdean,
coolly; "and that is what I have come
in to say. But, recollect, I wash my
hands of the consequences. When you
shall have gathered all kinds of embar
rassments about you," he added, turning
to Charles, "don't expect that you are to
come to me to help you out of them. If
you two wish to make simpletons of your
selves and marry, go and do it. But un
derstand that you will do it with your
eyes open, Mr. Charles Baumgarten."
The subdean strutted out of the room,
and Charles caught the girl to him, for
he thought she was tainting.
"How good he is to us!" gasped the
young man in the revulsion of feeling
which the decision brought him.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Charles Baumgarten sat in his cham
bers enjoying an animated discussion with
hit friend, Jephson, the great chancery
lawyer. About a week had gone by since
Cliarles had come home from the circuit
and held that momentous interview with
Mary Dynevor which had been broken in
upon by the subdean. Mary had now
gone, with some friends, to Brighton for
change of air, and Charles was, so to
say, a bachelor at largo again. The
change from despair to hope had so elated
him that he had somewhat rashly likened
it to Elysium. But now a certain ugly
looking bill for eighty-one pounds, bear
ing Charles' acceptance, had been pre
sented to him for payment.
Charles declined to pay it, on the
ground that he had not accepted it. He
repudiated the bill altogether. It was
held by that eminent legal firm, Godfrey
Herbert Jephson; the latter of whom
had now come to Pump Court in person,
bringing the bill with him.
"I never saw it in my life until to
day," protested Charles Baumgarten.
"You have been Imposed upon."
Mr. Jephson laughed. In days gone
by they had been very Intimate at the
university together, and had there formed
a close friendship; though Herbert Jeph
son was the elder by some years. "Stuff
and nonsense!" quoth he, "would you
deny your own signature? Look at It."
Charles had looked enough at It. but
looked again.
"I don't deny that it's a clover Imita
tion, except in one particular. This Is
signed '0. Baumgarten.' I always sign
Charles' in full. Look over my notes to
you, Jephson, should you have kept any,
and see if I ever signed myself in any
other way,"
If you never did It before, that's no
reason why you might not have done It
on this occasion," was the unanswerable
response.
"How do you say It came into your
hands, Jephson?" be asked.
"We received It from White, the en
graver and jeweler," was the reply. "Some
property White is entitled to got thrown
nto Chancery, and wo have been acting
for him. The expenses are draining him,
and he had some difficulty to pay our last
blil of costs. My brother pressed for It;
one can't work, for nothing; and Mr.
White brought this bill of yours, and aik-
cd If wo would take It In payment. God
frey did bo, and handed Whlto the bal
nncc." "You ought to havo doubted how a
bill of mlno should got Into a jowolor's
hands."
They camo to no satisfactory conclu
sion. And Mr. Jephson departed, taking
the bill with him, declaring to tho last,
In his Idle, joking manner, that tho hill
was undoubtedly Chnrles Bnumgartcn's
nnd might have been nccepted In his sleep.
Chnrles was buiy all day. After
snatching his dinner in tho evening, he
went out to call upon the elder of tho
two Jephsons; for, in spite of his asser
tion that ho Bhould do nothing, tho affair
was giving him concern, nnd he deter
mined to look into It. Godfrey Jephson
was in his dining room, but camo out of
it at once to Mr. Baumgarten.
"It Is incomprehensible to me how you
can deny tho signature," he said, enter
ing upon tho matter nt once. "If you
saw my signature or Herbert's, you would
know them. And wo In tho same way
know yours. I recognized it the moment
I snw it. White is n rcspectnble man;
there's not a more upright tradesman in
the city of London ; ho Is not one to say
you nccepted the bill If you did not. It
la most strange thnt you should disown
It, Mr. Unumgnrtcn."
"Did White tell you I had accepted
It?"
"He told Herbert. I havo not had
time to see him."
"Go with me to him now," suggested
Charles. "He will not say to my face
that I have bought Jewelry of him and
paid him with a bill. I never saw the
man in my life to my knowledge and nev
er was Inside his shop."
Godfrey Jephson, his interest and cu
riosity aroused, agreed to the proposal ;
and they proceeded in the dusk of the
evening to the jeweler's, In one of tho
leading thoroughfares.
"You go' forward first," whispered
Charles, "and enter upon it. I should
like to watch his countenance. I'll come
and confront him at the right time."
A smilo that caused Charles to knit
his brow crossed Mr. Jephson's face as
he advanced to tho joweler. Tho shop
was brilliant with gas. 'Charles sat down
near the entrance, as if to wait for his
friend.
"This bill," began Godfrey Jephson,
taking it from his pocketbook, "was due
to-day, and presented for poyment. Mr.
Baumgarten refuses to take it up. He
says it Is a forgery."
"But how can Mr. Baumgarten say
that?" returned the jeweler. "Ho ac
cepted the bill In my presence."
"Mr. Baumgarten says that he does
not know you, and that he never was In
your shop to his recollection,'r continued
the lawyer.
Charles Baumgarten walked slowly for
ward, and the jeweler's eyes fell upon
him. "Why, that that is Mr. Baum
garten!" he uttered,, though in a tone of
hesitation.
les; I am Charles Baumgarten
CHAPTER XVIII. (Continued.)
rri, 1.1,,-nlnp mmimrod mystified, ler'
falnly Chnrlues Bnumgarten did not look
llko a man who would uony ms
-..,.oii,iiift. . MHKmr. the young bnrrls
liln rhnrnctor was well
known. Yet Mr. Whlto know that ho
l,,1 omn In ntiil bniieht tllO JOWClry.
"It Is altogether absurd," nnld Chnrles.
"You must bo mistaking mo for some ono
else. Had I bought Jowelry, I hiiouiu
have paid for It In cash, I tell you; not
"What shall you do?" nsked Mr. Jopu
inn.
"I shnll sleep upon it; nnd perhaps
have a quiet word with n geuticman
liwtlvn "
As ho cnined Pump Court, having
wished Godfrey Jephson good evening,
and turning into It In a brown study,
a whistle high up greoted him. Gazing
upward, Charles perceived tho face nnd
whiskers of a friend of his looking out
from tho window of some chambers not
far from his own.
"HI, Baumgarten ! Coino up."
"Can't. Have some work to do."
"Then take the consequences."
A shower of something liquid wns In
nrennrntlon of descent. Charles Bnum
garten made a clash, nnd disappeared up
the stairs. Peter Chester a grant.suu
of thnt old Mr. Chester who was once
rector of Great Whitton, received Charles
whh n lmHln of hot soui) In his hand.
"You'd hnve caught It nicely, Charley,
basin nnd nil ! Just look at the precious
stuff she concocts for n fellow, dying,
Drettv near, of on Inflamed throat I I
told her beef tea, and she goes and makes
this."
Charley knew of tho storms thnt Peter
Chester, who, llko himself, lived In his
chambers for economy's sake, and hi old
laundress had together. "I your throat
no better?" he asked.
"Much you care whether It's better or
worse!" retorted Peter Chester, a siignt
young man, with a delicate face and
blue eye. "I'd never go from my word.
Baumgarten. You promised to come In
and sit with a fellow last night, but
deuce a bit came you."
"I added 'if I could.' Peter."
"Well, If you could not that's to say,
an you did not you might have sent Joe
In to tell me so. Just get III yourself,
and sec how lively your evenings would
be with your throat In flannel, expecting
a fellow who never comes !"
"I was coming In at eight o'clock, when
old Tompkins called In, nnd talked over
old times. Evcrv ouarter of an hour I
There's some mistake here, Mr. White, thought he'd go ; Instead of which he
that I cannot understand", now Is it that stuck on till eleven o'clock."
k The Minister's Wife 4
WJ By MRS. HENRY WOOD W
you told Mr. Jephson we have had deal
ings together?''
"You'll shine at the bar, Charley,
when you can Invent a white lie nfter
"Because we have had them," returned thnt rnnhl fashion, nnd stare a man In
the jeweler. "The question Is, how Is It , the face as you tell t."
that you deny it? I recognize you fully
now, sir. You purchased several articles
of jewelry of me and" paid me with this
bill."
"I never bought a shilling's worth of
jewelry of you in my life," replied Charles
"Toinkins was In my chambers."
"Tomklns might be. But you were
not."
"What do you mean, Peter?"
Peter Chester was looking at him, and
laughing in a most provoking manner.
T . UP... I T T -1 . '""k""1
, , ,., , . '. ,7.. .. I don t see why you should make n
mystery of it, Baumgarten," he said. "If
have been likely to pay you by a bill. If
I had bought jewelry, I should pay you
in cash for it."
you did choose to go out and enjoy your
self, instead of passing the evening with
'And that is what you were going to' 8ick cllUD1( trc. no KaHOa w ytu
do, sir " returned Mr. White. lou ask- bj)ouj(j not Bdmlt It. 0nly you might
ed me to make the account out. and I did haye d d me ,m, a who
?L aUtflrhri?.UJlkld.a hVh MT Come. Charley; confession's
sum total, it was so much more than
you had thought for; and you took out
your pocketbook nnd counted the bank
notes in it, and then said you had not
mucn more man nau enougn with you
and the shortest way would be to draw a
good for the conscience."
"Tell me what you want me to con
fess, and perhaps I may do it. I'm all
in the dark."
"Oh, of course," mockingly returned
rAH ru. !... . . i . I
Cs' : "Lt7, " 7 :nl " m lioW fellow," ho added In a different tone,
from my desk, drew out the
you accepted it at this very counter."
"It s all news to me," replied Charles,
"I repeat to you, Mr. White, that I never
was in this shop before to-night. I never
signed or saw the bill ; I never bought
any jewelry here whatever.""
(To be continued.)
bill, and., wn .,. in,,v'
Who
A Iutentetl Plant.
"One plant at least hns been patent
ed," Bald an Inventor. "It la the Abrus
precatorius, alias paternoster pea. alias
weather plant. John Nowack took out
tle patent The weather plant Is st'll
believed by many persons to foretell
the weather. John Nowack was sure It
did so, and be put It on the market
along with an Indicating apparatus,
guaranteeing It to foretell for forty
eight hours In advance nnd for fifty
miles around fog, rain. snow. hall.
irthquake and depressions likely to
rcnuso explosions of lire damp. Alas
for poor Nowack! The experts of the
bureau' of agriculture took up his pat
ented plant. They proved that the
movements of the leaves to the right
foretelling rain, to tho left foretelling
drought were not caused by tha
weather, but by the light. And they
proved that the plant's famous down
ward movement, which was supposed
to foretell earthquake, was caused by
an Insect thnt punctured the stem, caus
ing the leaf, naturally, to droop. Thnt
Is the only patented plant I know of,
and Nowack lost money on It"
ISmbarraaalnir Attention.
MA dog," said meandering Mike, "Is
one 0' tho few animals dat'll foller a
man."
Plodding Peto seemed to consider this
statement for a moment, says tho
Washington Star, and then answered :
"That's bo. One was following mo
yesterday so fast I could hardly keep
ahead of him."
For every ton of genuine Ivory Im
ported Into Great Britain Ihero are Im
ported three tons of vegetable Ivory.
The latter comes chiefly from tho re
public of Colombia, In South America.
It Is obtained from tho seeds of tho
Ivory-nut palm.
Paraffin oil Is about to be tried as
the motive power for herring fishing
boats on the Moray flrtb.
"What lady?"
"That you escorted last night to the
naymarket. Grand tier; first row."
"I was not at the Haymarkct last
night," returned Charles.
"Oh, but you were," answered Peter
Chester, with an emphasis that unmis
takably pronounced his own belief n It.
"Hear me a minute, Chester," quietly
returned Charles. "I have this evening
been pretty nearly persunded out of my
own identity, and I don't care to enter
upon another discussion of a slmluor na
ture. I have told you that Tomklns
was with me last night until elueven
o'clock, and I told you the truth. I did
not stir out of my chambers, and by a
quarter past eleven I was in bed."
When we assert a thing In good faith,
It Is somewhat annoying to find the as
sertion received doubtftilluy. Peter dies
ter stared at Charles. He know him to bo
truthful ; hut he did not believe him now
and Charles saw he didn't.
Charles stayed with him until ten
o'clock, and then went home to his cham
bers, letting himself In with bis latch
key.
' CHAPTER XIX.
Early the following morning, while
Charles was at his breakfast, otid before
the arrival of his clerk, ho wns surprised
by a visit from the Bishop of Denham.
The bishop opened his business stand
ing, saying ho had no time to ait, It
appeared that ho was trustee for some
thing or other, n very trivial offalr, but
it touched tho rights of the church, as ho
solemnly worded It, and an action at law
was unavoidable ; If his young friend felt
sufficient confldenco In himself to do
them Justice, he would seo thnt ho wns
appointed leading counsel ; It might bo a
lift to him In his profession.
"Of course all this is sub rosa," re
marked the prelate. "You will receive
particulars from the solicitors, together
with tho brief. I'll write down one or
two points, If you will give me pen and
Ink, to which your attention must be
chiefly directed, and then If you think
you can master them, I'll mention you to
the soliclors."
"If your lordship will be, a the troubl
of alttlng to my desk, you will find nil
.you require nt hnnd," said Charles, rls-
iug 10 puot mm to it,
Down sat the bishop, and wrote rap
Idly for five minutes. "Have you some
blotting paper?" ho asked,
"The blotting paper Is undor the pnper
you are writing upon," explained Charles,
nnd the bishop drew It out,
Bending bis bead, he stared at It
through his spectacles. Then, turning his
severe face to Chnrles, ho spoko In a touo
thnt ought to linvo nnnlhllntcil him.
"Do you glvo this to mo to uso, sir?"
Charles ndvnuced quickly, looked nnd
stood confounded with voxntlon. On tho
blotting pnd, whlto nnd clean, for tho
top sheet must hnvo been taken off, wns a
fancy drnwlng In pon nnd Ink, bold, clonr
nnd well done, of n half dozen b.illot girls
In very nlry costumes. Tho color flow
to Charles' fnco; ho know wlint tho
bishop wns. What on earth, would ho
judge, must bo his prlvnto pastimes, If
he could ndorn his professional (l-sk with
such sketches, nnd set n bishop down to
regnlo his eyes with them?
Charles tore off the shoot In a heat.
"I nsiuro you, my lord, on my word of
honor, thnt I know not how those thoso
things cninn there. Some ono must hnvo
been hero Inst night unknown to mo, nnd
taken tho liberty (o Icavo a rcmombranca
behind him."
"Allow mo to recommend you to burn
It, sir," snld the scandalized dlvlno.
"Yes, but I will lirat of nil endeavor
to Identify tho offender," wns Chnrles'
nnswer.
Up roso tho bishop, his head orect.
Chnrles attended him downstairs, but his
lordship did not shake hands with him.
Bnck tore Charley, two stairs nt n time.
Joo'a mother, who lived near nt hnnd,
nnd enmo In to nttund to tho work nt
stated times, was then removing tho break
fast things.
"Were you here last night whllo Joe
wn out, Mrs. Tuff?"
"Yes, sir. I had somo cleaning "
"Who enmo In?" Interrupted Chnrles.
"Nobody enmo, sir; not a single soul."
"Who 1ms bt'cn Into this room this
morning?" continued Chnrles. v
"Only in, sir, to put It to rights."
"Did you do this, then?" nsked Mr.
Bauingnrten, pushing tho sheet of blot
ting paper under her eyes.
"Me!" cried Mrs. Tuff, who wns n
shnrp-fneed little woman In n neat stuff
gown and white cap. "You must bo Jok
ing, sir. Wheti I snw it there In dusting,
I thought what odd-looking lndlen they
wns, And I put tho writing, paper upou
'em to cover Vm up tt, bit."
Chnrles reflected. "Joe wouldn't do
It?" he remarked.
"Joe!" snld Mrs. Tuff In astonish
ment. "Why, sir, Joe would not dare do
such n thing as thnt. Ho couldn't, either.
.Too haven't no tnlcnt thnt wny. When
he wns a little one, I'd glvo him a pencil
nnd piece of pnpor nnd tell him to drnw
tho cat, but it would come out more like
a pump."
"Thnt Just brings us round to my ar
gument, thnt some one else hns been In
tho room," snld Chnrles. "Now I want
to find out who thnt Is."
"It must havo been dono In tho day
time yesterday, sir."
"The Inst thing, lfore dinner yester
day evening, after Mr. Clay left, I wrolc
a note nt the table and used this blot
ting pnd," returned Mr. Baumgarten;
"nnd I left It ns I used it, much mnrked
with ink. Did Mr. Clay come hi last
night for any purpose?"
"No, sir. And If he hnd, he'd not
hnve left them disrespectful things behind
him."
That was true enough. But Mr. Clny,
joint clerk to Charles nnd another young
barrister, might have let some one In who
had no amused himself; aouio lawyer's
clerk with n hnsty brief, who possessed
more skill than discretion. However, tho
woman persisted that no person whntever
hnd entered, and Charles Baumgarten
thought ft a mystery which necmed, for
tho moment, Incapable of solution.
Sitting down to his desk, ho began to
look over some papers. A fow minutes
later, and Charles had occasion to open
one of the deep drawers on either side
the desk. Ho took hln bunch of keys
from his pocket and fitted one Into the
lock. But It would not open. Tho lock
had evidently been tampered with and
he had left It in perfect condition tho
previous evening. Mrs. Tuff was called
In again.
"Will you believe now that some one
has been at mischlof In tho room?" de
manded her master. "They havo been at
the drawers; I cannot unlock them."
Sho stood, somewhat Incredulous; and
Mr. Baumgarten, taking another koy, tried
tho opposite drawer. It opened readily,
hut he gnzed at It as If transfixed. "Look
here I" lie sharply uttered. ,
Tho woman advanced and stood behind
his chair. It was full of pnpors and
parchments, all In a mass of Inextricable
confusion.
"Now, listen, Mrs. Tuff. Yesterday
evening, after I had written tho note I
spoko of, before I senlcd It, I opened this
drawer to put n pnrchment In; nt thnt
time It wns In perfect order, nnd I locked
It and left it so. There la some mystery
in nil this." .
Mrs. Tuff could dispute facts no long
er; she had to glvo In to tho cvldcnco of
her own eyes. "Sir," sho anld, "what n
good thing It Is that I was here last
night Instead of young Joo. Wo might
havo accused him of doing It for nils
chief." "I don't know that It la a good thing,"
significantly retorted her master, "Tho
fact must bo that you dropped asleep last
night and let somo ono got In."
The woman was Indignant at tho Insin
uation. "Sir," returned alio, "I'd rather
you accused mo of doing It myaolf than
nay thnt. I don't think I as much as ant
down Inst night, for I thought It a good
opportunity to clean out tho cupboards;
and that's what I was doing tho whole
evening. Somo rogue must havo got In
last night through your leaving tho key
In the pasaage door,
"Through what, do you. say?" naked
her master.
"The latch key, sir. You left It In the
door when you went out tho second time."
"I don't know what you mean, Mr.
Tuff. I did not leave my key In tho door
last night or any othor night,"
"Why, yes, air, you did," was her an
swer, spoken In a tone of remonstrance.
"Klso how could I have got In?"
"What are you dreaming of now7
You hnvo your own key."
"But you took mine from mo last
night, sir. Don't you remember?" "lie
ndded, aeelng Mr, Baumgarten appeared
not to compTchTr
H'ouRht It not a ".'''or J
Chnrles ltni.m "Wniin
irr 111
' w'lat she wns ,.! for ot i
i, sir, I I,,,,, .,
"omollmes ,,t nl h; ,
' that I reuff n " ' '
' V own inaafer" k rt
A Hlloiico cni,,,C(i .
"! It In .taS J ,Ta
her to rctir. An a,1(
ho carried It atoftlStf"1'
J3- Into uTJSS?
" VWH nu, much ip: .'u 1
tin r sit it.. 1 11 . - v vuariftv
had returned M i le
1.. . iuhl UH. IT... ,
nmtod, the maid, ho ..7
nttflldml M,. '. n0. h,d. U
"lou nre back .1 . "i .
answered, nn.i ... ,r."""i
reason. The fT..'0"
-... it j mil' inn n ki...
fin t r n -... - III.. . WW
rirtm t. t . -en
""Mi mm lift 1 1 tn J .1 i..
'I.,,r..n,n"n..wK'fcrl5
something wns amis,
"Then It Is Mr. r.ru. t,.
no cxciauniH , as f hi. .h...
u n uoudi. -when tho butler
ed your name. I ini.i Mm l
' - "lu, lie mn
MKCU. .Mny I nnnlr. ik. .
your visit, sirj"
Charles lnnrhixl n.. tv
subject to chsnno nt .i '
out no urn not let them trouble
more than the boys and rlrli
Cntne In InVn ! ...lit. ..
... .V lu 'uu ,or
lima iivtiflcn, An.i t r l.
. .. ........ . . mu .mi i T uai
i nenr, was the nruwer.
"Yes; she has returned,"
IKnded Mia Ihnovnr "tu.
IWt ft ! HA ilia I I . I
tsu l ft n ll l it ft 1 1 il l ii l iinr ftnn
eclve you this evenln(r."
Chfirli.it 1wiVfv.l 1... L..
MllMf. Ii lu.. ...I . I. .
...... , ... uci tuiiT. uKr mannf
i. . .
nnu never met Miore, and
! 1 I ...I.L .
"Or nt nnv fiitnm tlm."-
Chnrles to do so.
have I done?"
M' - . ,, t .
lull kiiii.iuL icniii urvii I
unnnes unuincanen. and it
you, said she.
"Nevertheless, I mnit preu
- ti - ( t rt . tit
Hiin drew hprlf tin! th
npfrifv! tn ttrlntlt. "I utr tt
nntlnn. ilr. the nlfht be for
at ill i t l t
nrii'n iiiitnivnifi fin inn hi
horn I nvow to you, lir, and
t f nmi n r n ni xnin iuiiici
j
nieces to sntisiy mem iuu
Murk sheen. Since Mrj
o 1 1 rm ho will eive rou UP."
Charles had lUtened to her
viavv " r
I IVnnl'iir U'llPrP 1 II LI auiM Wli
Mm 'situation' mlsbt ber ae
. .
BUU 1IHU lUHHIIHlHi
"Vnii r tru V bO d tO II
Haumgarlcn," he reiortea.
..1-.. I i-iwrt? No. l!
muuicaiiuii ii
an end, sir."
(To be fonllooed.)
JIuriMK Hitm
Tiir.i nr nften nurcBased
..,Pir. nt r.ucltnow. India. I
Ixj set free again. iui"
dooa as a work of merit
liammtHlnns after certain r
been performed ns an toi
Imitation of the JcffUn !
iu .onHiii that a iM m
, v.....-. -
tmrpOHO Hhould dc inu
ttWay; but thnt doe. not
.1....1..-U rVml toe
refrain from illiiocai'Yl
. 1. 1.... H.iilr PCI.
..!. in VOM Of Wi
overjii.. -J" ,h00!
leave the cumou.er - .
bird, If hoc.mi.nu-. - ,
. nnniuir lie '" i
setting a bird free linjtj
...... u simnosed
lBrw meagre rom U t.
m lu (irifillfllllU "l 1
demand nnd iiw regular
old for turn pun'""'
...i.llrc
NO : ,
i iu-o anu
Duncan, .B- . tw
been nniiKi" .w - j
tied him in '""' "V-tbeci
therefor ono "j;-!
was qiiuu ui,
wl.yhovn8t.i.-iTnim0ini
..father," rep - -
..uinv finger nt 1B.m" J
-,-it uuriir seu
Wnllle v-
4 .vmrfio
"inn " - .
n great ae .
aomcbody eUo
Dealer.
"ot K farmer-.
At! fll'IUIl . .tfrl
. ui "
of you toncceu-
Dealer.
cent
L
. r n
Eleven l' tntcS (a
to the Un ' " y,
rTinfl
ibout
Each year
lo.t without recoro.
100