T,(konicles of
tm
J3vR T FIYHFP lnRlNfkN
GhAuAorMAfi.GmtnDoye of
MR CORAN'S ELECTION
Ten o'clock! Big Ben left no doubt
about It; for the giant clock In the
tower of the house of parliament la a
noisy neighbor. The last stroke thun
dered out as I climbed the stairs that
led to the modest lodging of Inspector
Addington Peace, and Bilence had
fallen as I knocked at his door. I wag
alone that night and In the mood
when a man escapes from himself to
seek a friend.
I found the little detective at his
open window, staring across the tum
bled roofs to where the abbey towers
rose under the summer moon. The
evening breeze that came creeping up
with the tide blew gratefully after
the heat of the July day. He glanced
at me oVer his shoulder with a short
nod of welcome.
"Even the police grow sentimental
on such a night," I suggested.
"Or philosophic."
"'The reflections of Diogenes the
detective, or the Aristotle of Scotland
Yard " I laughed. "May I inquire as
to the cause of such profound
thought?"
He held out a slip of paper, which I
took and carried to the central lamp.
It was an old newspaper clipping,
stained and blurred, relating In six
lines how James Coran, described as
a student, had been charged at the
Bow street police court with drunken
ness, followed by an aggravated as
sault on the constable who arrested
Mm. He was fined three pounds or
even days. That was all.
"Not a subject of earth-shaking Im
portance," I said.
"No; but it has proved a sufficient
excuse for blackmail."
"Then the victim Is a fool," I an
swered hotly. "Why, from the look of
the paper the affair must have taken
place a dozen years ago."
"Thirty-two years this month."
"Which means that the riotous stu
dent Is now a man of over fifty. If
James Coran has gone down the hill,
the past can't hurt him now; if he has
led a respectable life, surely he can
afford to neglect the scamp who
threatens to rake up so mild a scan
dal. Blackmail for a spree back In
the seventies It's ridiculous, inspec
tor." The little man stood with his hands
behind him and his head on one side,
watching me with benevolent amuse
ment. When he spoke it was In the
ponderous manner which he some
times assumed, a manner that always
reminded me of a university profes
sor explaining their deplorable errors
to his class.
"Mr. James Coran Is a respectable
middle-class widower who lives with
his sister Rebecca and two daughters
in the little town of Brendon, twenty
four miles from London. He arrives
at the 'Fashionable Clothing company'
his London establishment In Oxford
street at ten o'clock In the morning,
leaving for home by the 6:18. In his
spare time he performs a variety of
public duties at Brendon. He Is a
recognized authority on drains, and
has produced a pamphlet on dust
carts. .As a temperance orator his lo
cal reputation is great, and his labors
In the cause of various benevolent as
sociations have been suitably commem
orated by a presentation clock, three
Inkstands, and a sliver tankard. His
Interests are limited to Brendon and
Oxford street; of world movements he
thinks no more than the caterpillar on
a leaf considers the general welfare
of the cabbage patch. Please remem
ber the facts, Mr. Phillips, In consid
eration of his case.
"Six months ago an envelope ar
rived at his house with two lnclosures.
One was the newspaper clipping you
hold; the other a letter denouncing
him as a hypocrite, and warning him
that unless the sum of twenty pounds
was placed In the locker of a. little
summer house at the end of his gar
den the writer would expose him to
all Brendon in his true character aa
a convicted drunkard.
"Coran was in despair. He had Ima
gined his unfortunate spree long for
gotten. Not even his own relatives
were aware of It He was trying for
a seat on the county council; the elec
tion was due in a month, and he re
lied for his success on the support of
the temperance party. As an election
weapon the old scandal could be used
with striking effect So he paid aa
many a better man has been fool
enough to do under like circumstan
ces. "In three days on Saturday, that la
the election takes place. This
tnornlng be received a letter, similar
TZeflowHjcfAe&aiAervMvtt
to the first save that the demand waa
for a hundred pounds. He had Just
sense enough to see that If he al
lowed himself to be blackmailed again
It would merely encourage further at
tempt at .extortion. So when he ar
rived In town, he took a cab to Scot
land Yard. I heard his story, and
caught the next train down to Bren
don. I did not call at the house, but
gathered a few details concerning
him and his family. In all particulars
he seemB to have spoken the truth,"
"Must the hundred pounds be placed
In the summer house tonight?"
"No. The blackmailer gave him a
day to collect the money. It must be
In the locker tomorrow night by eleven
o'clock."
"Which means that you will watch
the place and pull out the fish aa he
takes the bait It seems simple
enough, anyhow."
"Oh, yes," be said. "But It Is tne
faulty sense of proportion In Coran
which provides the Interest In the
case. Even at the time the scandal
was no very serious matter. What
must be his frame of mind .that It
should terrorize him after all these
years?"
When I left him half an hour later
It was with the promise that I should
have first news of the comedy's con
clusionfor a tragedy It certainly was
not, save for the blackmailer. If Peace
should catch him.
The following afternoon I was sit
ting In my studio with the cigarette
that comes so pleasantly after tea and
buttered toast between my lips, when
my servant, Jacob Hendry, thrust In
his head to announce visitors. They
came hard upon his heels a long,
gray-whiskered man In the lead, and
the Inspector trotting behind. As they
cleared the door the little detective
twisted round his companion and
waved an Introductory hand.
"This Is Mr. James Coran," he said.
"We want your assistance, Mr. Phil
lips." The long man stood staring at me
and screwing his hands together In
evident agitation. He had a hollow,
melancholy face, a weak mouth, and
eyes of an Indecisive gray. From his
square-toed shoes to the bald patch on
the top of his head he was extremely,
almost flagrantly, respectable.
"I am taking a great liberty, sir,"
he said humbly, "but you are, as It
were, a straw to one who is sinking
beneath the waters of affliction. Do
you, by chance, know the town of
Brendon?"
"I have never been so fortunate as
to visit It," I told him.
"I understand from the police offi
cer here that you have traveled
abroad. Accustomed, therefore, to
the corruption that taints the muni
cipal life of other cities, you can
scarcely comprehend the whole-souled
enthusiasm with which we of Brendon
approach the duUes, may I say the
sacred trust, of administering to the
sanitary and moral welfare of our
county. Those whom we select must
be of unstained reputation. From a
place on the sports committee of the
flower show I myself have risen
through successive grades until even
the houses of parliament seemed
within the limit of legitimate ambi
tion. But now, sir, now it seems that
through a boyish indiscretion when a
student at the Regent's street poly
technic, I may be denounced in my ad
vancing years as a roysterer, a tippler
almost a convicted criminal. They
would not hesitate. Mark my words,
sir, If Horledge and Panton my opjx
nent's chief supporters in Saturdays
election are informed of these facta,
they will mention them on platforms!
they may even display them on hoard-'
lngs."
He paused, sighed deeply, aad
wiped his face with a large silk pock
et handkerchief. The situation waa
ridiculous enough, yet not without a
certain pathos underlying the humor,
for the man was sincerely In earnest '
"If I can help you, Mr. Coran, I am
at your disposal," I told him.
"It Is a matter of considerable deli
cacy," he said. "My younger daugh
ter, Emily, has formed an attachment
which is most disagreeable to me."
"Indeed," I murmured.
"The young man, Thomas Appieton
by name, Is of more than doubtful
character. Miss Rebecca, my sister
has seen him boating on the Thames
In the company of ladles whose ar
pearance was er distinctly theatrl-
"You surprise me."
"He has been known to visit muslo
halls."
"Did Miss Rebecca see him there
too?" . '
"Certainly not sir;' but she has it
from a sure source. It was obviously
my duty to forbid him the house. 1
performed that duty, and extorted a
promise from my daughter that she
would cease to communicate with him.
In my belief. It is he who has discov
ered the scandal to which I need not
again refer, and. In revenge. Is levy
ing this blackmail. The law shall
strike him, if there Is Justice left In
England."
"And where do I come In?" I asked,
for he had paused in a flurry of Indig
nation. "Perhaps I had better explain,"
Peace Interposed. "Owing to this un
fortunate love affair. It Is plain that
no member of Mr. Coran's family must
learn that this young man Is suspect
ed or that steps are being taken for
his arrest It would not be unreason
able to fear that he might be warned.
I am staying with Mr. Coran tonight
but I do not want to go alone. I
might take an assistant from the Yard,
but it is hard to pick a man who has
not 'criminal Investigation depart
ment' stamped upon him. You look
Innocent enough, Mr. Phillips. Will
you come with us, and lend me a
hand?"
I agreed at once. It could not fall
to be an amusing adventure. After
some discussion, It was arranged that
Peace and I should be introduced as
business friends of Mr. Coran, who
had asked us down to Brendon on a
sudden Invitation. A telegram was
sent off to that effect.
For the first fifteen minutes of the
train we shared a crowded compart
ment Gradually, however, our com
panions dropped away until we were
left to ourselves. Mr. Coran was In
evident hesitation of mind. He shifted
about, screwing his hands together
with a most doleful countenance.
When he commenced to speak he
leant forward as If afraid that tne
very cushions might overhear him.
"I have mentioned my sister Re
becca," he said. "She Is a woman of
remarkable character."
"Indeed," I murmured, for he chose
to address me more directly.
"We have differed lately on several
points of er local Interest It Is
very Important that she should not
learn the cause of my appeal to .the
police. Anything that aroused her
Busplcions might lead to consequences
very disagreeable to myself."
"I will be discreet"
"My daughters will er benefit
largely under her will. She would cut
them out of it without hesitation If
she learnt that their father had been
connected with so er disgraceful a
MUST HAVE HAD BUSY LIFE
Boer Woman Surely Holds the World's
Record for Her Many and Varied
Marriage Ventures.
The world's record In matrimonial
ventures Is probably held by Mrs.
Thella M. de Beer, a widow, seventy-
eight years of age, residing at Pre
toria, Transvaal. At the age of eight
een she married Petrus Jacobus
Lubbe, who died, leaving her with one
child. Ten months later she took an
other husband, a widower with three
children. A year and five months
afterwards he also, died, leaving her
with four children. Within five months
she married for the third time, an
other widower, this time with seven
children. With him she lived for
eleven years, and had seven children,
when he also died. After five yearB'
widowhood she married for the fourth
time, on this occasion a widower with
eight children. With him she had four
children, and after eleven years, he,
too. died. Five years later she mar
ried a man named Hendrlk Klopper.
Another eleven years elapsed, and then
her fifth husband died, leaving her
with ten children. In two years' time
she contracted another marriage with
Hendrlk Van Wyk, a widower, who
brought five children to swell the fam
ily. Another eleven years passed, and
he, too, went the way of his five pre
decessors, his death' occurring only re
cently. Mrs. de Beer is now the
mother and stepmother of 49 children
and the grandmother of 270.
8teel Tie Easily Best
The potentialities of the steel tie
appear to have been demonstrated
convincingly by the experience of the
Bessemer and Lake Erie railroad in
using them during a period covering
eight years. The Carnegie steel tie
Is a simple symmetrical I-beam sec
tion and weighs 180 pounds for the
standard length of eight feet six
inches. About 1,600,000 of these ties
are now In use, and because of the
density of the traffic of the road
where the steel ties are used the
service of the ties In question is
regarded by railway men generally
as very instructive.
scandal. You understand the situ
Uon?"
"Perfectly. It must render your po
sition additionally unpleasant"
He sighed and relapsed Into a mel
ancholy silence, in which the train
drew up at Brendon station. A cab
was In waiting. Into which we climbed.
A couple of .turns, a short descent
and we drew up at a gate In a long
wall of flaming brick.
As we walked up the drive I looked
carefully about me. The house waa
also of red brick and of mixed archi
tecture. I believe the architect had
Intended It for the Tudor period, with
variations suggested by modern sani
tary requirements. The garden before
the windows was of considerable size,
with laurels and quick-growing shrubs
lining the edge or a lawn and several
winding walks. At the farther end a
thatched roof, rising amongst the
young trees, showed the position of
the Bummer house which played so
Important a part in the story we had
beard.
It was striking six as we entered
the hall. Our host led us straight to
our rooms on the first floor. We had
been told not to bring dress clothes,
so that ten minutes later we were
ready to descend to the drawing
room.
Mr. Coran's daughters, a pair of
pretty, bright-faced girls, were seated
In those careless attitudes which de
note the expected - appearance of
strangers. Miss Rebecca, a tall, spec
tacled female, whose sixty years had
changed curves for acute angles, re
posed In the window, reading a vol
ume of majestic size. She laid It
down with s thump, removed her
glasses and received us with great
modesty and decorum. The Inspector
and a fox terrier, that set up a bark
ing as we entered, were the only mem
bers of the party that seemed natural
and at ease.
I found the dinner pass pleasantly
enough, despite the gloom that radi
ated from the brother and sister.
Emily, the victim of the "unfortu
nate attachment" quite captured my
fancy, though I am not a ladies' man.
Twice we dared to laugh, though the
reproving eyes of the elders were con.
stantly upon us. In the intervals of
my talk with her I obtained the keen
est enjoyment from listening to the
conversation of Peace and Miss Re
becca. The lady cross-examined him
very much as If he were a prisoner ac
cused of various grave and monstrous
offenses. Upon the question of antl
vivisection she was especially urgent
'CHRONICLES TO BE CONTINUED.)
FORCE OF FEMININE POLICE
Norwegian Women, With Official Posl
tion, Are Given Appropriate Duties
to Perform.
The appointment of another police
woman at Christlanla now brings the
feminine police force In Nnrwav nr.
seven, three of whom are in Chrla-
tiama, two at Bergen, one in Stavan
ger, and one in Christiansand.
The special duty of the chief police
woman in cnristiania, Sergeant Osen
Is to keep under surveillance girls
and women suspected of living Im
moral lives and female beggars, while
her two colleagues interrogate women
tramps, and, if deserving, render them
help, look after the children and see
that they are. kept off the street as
vendors and beggars. .
The policewomen all perform occa
sional night duty and patrol some of
the worst quarters of the city. With
the exception of the policewomen at
Christiansand, who wear a complete
official uniform, the women are
dressed In plain clothes, only wearing
green capes bearing a small medallion
stamped with the crown and lion of
Norway, to distinguish them from
ordinary citizens.
Boy's Good Guess.
The story is told of Judge McCan
less of Wichita, who has the distinc
tion of being the leanest nlan In the
state, that he was one day walking
along a street In Kansas City when he
noticed that a hound dog was following
him.
After he had gone a block and the
dog was still trailing him, he turned
to a street gamin and asked: "Boy,
what do you suppose that dog Is fol
lowing me for?"
"Well, mister." said the hnv n h.
looked the Judge over from head to
foot, "I dunno exactly, but my Idea
Is that he takes you for a bone." Tn.
peka Capital.
No Doubt.
Visitor "What lovely furniture!"
Little Tommy "Yes; I think the
man we bought It from Is sorry now
he sold It; anyway, he's always call-,
la-"
Something
LittixOnes
RURAL SCHOOL HAS MISSION
Where One Bushel of Corn Grew Be
fore Two Are Now Secured by Meth
ods Just Brought Out
(By RAT P. SPEAR.)
The training of country children to
grow two bushels of corn where one
bushel grew before Is a commendable
thing. To bring this about many
changes may be made In the pro
grams of most country schools. Arith
metic problems may be worked out in
terms of corn and potatoes and cows.
Reading may be largely confined to
the subjects of Interest to country
boys and girls. Essays on farm top
ics may be written in place of the
usual parsing and other grammar
work. This will lay a foundation for
much practical work In the later
years of school life.
Older students trained In the ele
mentary principles of agriculture
could conduct germination tests of
corn and grain. Herds could be test
ed, rations could be worked out for
live stock, records could be kept of
poultry, garments could be made for
home, and the art of cooking could be
cultivated. These and many other
practical things could be worked out
with the school house as a center.
Added to this Is the social pleasure
that could be obtained by everyone In
the community when a permanent in
terest In the school was established.
Basket socials, evening entertain
ments, picnics, school house fairs, lec
tures, and moving pictures would
make the rural school a real factor
in the social Improvement of the
school district The country school
has a mission which should not be
neglected.
TELEPHONE TEACHES A BIRD
Most Original Method of Instructing
Parrots In Art of Elocution Em
ployed In London.
London has a school of elocution for
birds. Trained parrots are made
teachers of other parrots by being
placed near the pupils' cages. While
whistles and various musical Instru
ments are used In giving Instructions,
one of the most original methods of
Parrot Listening.
teaching 1b by the employment of the
telephone, says the Popular Electri
city. With the feathered pupil perched
upon a Stick In the instructor's hnnri-
a telephone Is held In such a position
tnat Polly may readily distinguish the
words or Bounds emitted, and whether
from the oddity of the thing or from
some other cause the bird Invariably
pays strict attention.
: Booklets, i
Bennle was looking over his broth
er's shoulder at the pictures In a new
geography.
"What are those mon with tha
bushy hair?" he asked.
"Those are Australian aborleinea ."
replied Ben.
"Don't they wear any more clothes
than that?"
"That's about all."
"Dear me!" exclaimed tha little
brother, "what In the world do they
bang up on Christmas V
A Good Loser.
A Rhode Island politician who waa
a prominent candidate in the late
election came home one day much pro
voked at some misdemeanor which
hlB son, aged ten, had committed.
"Frank," he said, sternly, "do yon
know, sir, that you are a candidate
for a whipping?"
"I hope I'll be defeated, father."
was young Frank's reply, as he looked
up playfully at his father. Harper's
Bazar.
Not Unlikely.
"Well, my boy." said the visit- i
Bobby. "I Buppose some dav vnn ...
pect to step Into your father's shoes."
wfli suppose bo, said Bobby,
gloomily. "I've been warn-in' nn
everythln' else he wears since mother
teamed now 10 cut em down for
me."
Wise Brother.
"What's a stonbrother?" Hutu litti.
Mabel of her six-year-old brother.
"A stepbrother." ha renllnil h
sitting on the front step. ' ,