etgenr wrkki y e oetoeetotoe«0*aote»»«eo w toee-e »rxo^oee? . - J - ——X- ■ ------- ~ ■----------- J j Th e oman ¡n the Alcove ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ By ANNA KATHARINE GREEN. ..„bar of "The MUttorawv Oeby"Th. Filter«» Bail.- “Th. A° Hou»* tn the bri*." "The Ansthyit Boe." E<*. 1W>* c O b »* i « mt ' tb 1L_??, bb Í1 mehr ’,' l cbmsany . i d o♦od «« m -e-e » M , v.al.üuid. ‘ flilf tn very seimt»." on leavinz nio. '■’That n for noy tivutHe we may ba mJ “™. shall we go? I asked. "The IfM worn I is L too -- large. In this are forever traveitng la , uij cyos I»-» - ¿«rftoa of the alcove. Don’t r»u ' gime »'tie room ? Oh. »'hit. be want of me?’ sertou* nothing lmpor- JjrfZtereJ my good uncle. "Sotne t \ucD as you can answer In a A little room? Yes, I kDow , . . re, under the stairs. Come, I I ¿d tbe door fl,r You 'Vh-v dltl er wine to this wretched ball?” Ml so answer for this. Why, in eud Itself, "This is not mine, 1 bega», fatter- vats seated within and out of the _ of peering eyes and listening tag hi to stle»«e as I perceived my i M »n<>wed a sigh to escape fatal ttnrle turn and walk a step or twe rt ejptessed the fullness of his away. 'The article we are looking for," PWT- K t dear," be began and stopped. "1 raed the Inspector, "to a patr of long f-bm b* again can* to a pausa— white gloves, supposed to hare Irea ween by Mrs. Falrbrothec when she g; y«n aboukl know"— entered the alcovs. Do you mtad show I managed to ask. •jbat I do not like Mr. Durand and hig me those, a finger of which I see?" I dropped the bag into his hand. tat others do Dot like him.” K It because of something yon knew The room and everything in It was whirling around me. But when I noted •t bln before tonight T' what trouble it was to his ctmnsy k Eide no answer. Dr because he was seen, lfke many fingers to open It my senses returned kt pentiemen, talking with that wo- and. reaching for the ling, 1 pulled it n»>c» time before—a tang tlass bs- epen and snatched out the gloves. iMbe attacked for her dia- They bad t>een hastily roiled up, and some of the fingers wen* showing. si m l murdered T' "list aoe hare them.” he said. Irion tie, my dear, fas was ths With quaking heart and shaking ftn- r w seen talking to her. Bants r: . yet be found who west tn gees I handed over the gtoves. "Mas. Falrbsother's hand was not a .** came out, but as yert he is Mr, Itasisdsll small eno,” be observed as he slowly ic-rei the laet. •«polled them. 'Tours Is. We can rftri'l uie so." n :erencs." I exetataasd soon tell"— But that sentence was never finished. li. fte be. t of my long soi«pressed Aa tlie gloves fell open In bls grasp bo taint 1 am willing to stake tay loj Ills Integrity and honor. No attefd talk to me as he did early % Sewntng with any vile intentions tart He was Interested, no doabt, isiity ethers, In one who liad the Dt of being a captivating 'minan. jswd tn sudden nlerm. A look Icrowad my uncle’s face which as- «1 me that we were no longer n Who could have entered so sl­ ip I d some trepidation I tnrned * A gentleman wua standing In toorwsy, who smiled as I met his this Misa Van Aredale?" fig w I - be «antlr my courage, which had ■traed to leave me, returned and Ito.'' said I. “Are you the tn nor?* .Jgwtnr Dolagli," he explained > i bow, which Inrinded nay unete. bo closed the door. ' bop» [ bave not frightened you." r«t on. approaching me with a ftfawnlr str. “A little matter has * -1 oencemlng which 1 mean to Pufwly frank with you. It may ” to be of trivial Importance; if tot will pardon my disturbing yoa. btand- you know htin?" 1 *n engaged to him.” I declared ** Pw uncle could raise his hand, ta «re engaged to him Well, that “* H dlffleult. and yet, in some re- ' ’ «Mier for me to ask a certain I He uttered • audden, aAarp cjnruloMon. uttered a sudden, »harp edaculatl«« and I a smothered shriek. An object of superlative brilliancy bad roiled out from them the diamond, the geB which men said was worth a king's ransom and which we ail knew bad just cost a life! I CIIAPTEH in. ITFI benumbed senses and a dis­ mayed heart, I stared at thè Bwt have made it more difficult fallen jewel as at some hateful ’ frr he coed to thing menacing both my life k os* <,0,*tl<’n immediately, but 1 and honor. "I have had nothing to do with tt.” know that Mr. Durand ristted ntrbwither In the alcove a little I vehemently declared "I did not put the gloves in my bag. nor did I know her death F '■’» been told so." the diamond was in them, I tainted **** **“[1 to go In, but I have at the first alarm and”— "There, there. I know!” Interposed W tmjnd any one who saw fatal I net itoubt U m °0O“"1',*ntb- we have been ! the inspector ktadly "I do fix the exact minute when I you in the least; not when there is a Mini Arsdale, you — Van - — — I A im WhKt L _^pob* The®, as I net fats talk to you again, but I will apere ytm »an probably tHI yra that ' all further tapwtnnl^ toolght" I shook my head. It would require 1 sure be wetrid net best n».r» eoorage to leave at that moment Meertag the Inspectors ’* «»k Mm tatsr." wee the than to stay • itor^nse "Meanwbfta. ere eye grroly, 1 qutetty dtotared •*X Mr Durand's good t»irr»e la to i b» “":r” "* that ,,nc* that suffer tn any way, I will not break» » D<* ,n r”"**’ Rto» with a i btm I have eonBdence tn hie lnteg- to keep s„, no> j I rtty, if you haw sot It was not hta a, _/* be iu-niro tn. ' hand, but on» much ax're guilty, which 1 ko ¿*nt d'"IDny. ■" I feti beck * Irrepressible la<}(«Mt><>n I dropped this >wel into the ba<” "Bo so’ Do not be too »ore of that. I an, "r' *“ itameod—weH. we Itttto woman You had better take ,hat luier tt «• aooriter row lee-n nt ones It will he easier • g 111 **arcti ef new. A»e for you. and more wholesome for hlra » might very well , Here be picked up the jewel >te wto’. v1’ ban<1 reells- "Weil, they said tt was a wsodee •trr. doing. Aa tt to be eiclalmed. In his sudden admire 1 • « h ”* ’° flnd th’" *rtw"' tton T am not surprised, now that 1 kb«», '** h* might very «st have seen a great gem. at the fame«* •*•>> ovw to J»* when I stories I have read <* men risking to la th* ball with tt life and honor for their poaseeaion. 18’* toaoturad to ask only no Mood had been shed » b y-T?1* * ' orrset." "I’ncle. nncta’" I wailed aloud in my - ■rWort** fiercely, glnd agony 'to»-,/** * ftoom my very heart It was all my Up" cn'1''1 nfter> but 1 H. L L01* DQtbln< to keep for to uncle tt was enough Speaking I, 'tnW nor - the first time, be asked to bave a pas •*•1 lo°* tn th» h>- ’*’ did he react, oto sage made for os. »nd »ben the a I Twctor moved forward to comply, be threw his arm ahout me. and was en­ deavoring to find fitting words with which to till up the delay, when a short altercation was heard fruui tile door­ way, and Mr. Ihirand came rushing In. followed Immediately by the in- speetor. Ills first look was not at myself, hut at the beg, which still bung from my arm. As I noted thia action, my w hole Inner self seemed to collapse, dragging my bappinMM down wkh h. But my CoBDlMMca remained unchanged, too inuuU ao, k seem*, for when his eye finally roe, •> my faoa. ha found tbore what ulst J» telui recoil »ud turn with souietblHg Bhv ltarva.*«eea roto»tod “Itorfaaps y«a have g.tw fsr'toa- than U—t What brs Imppovsl here? I think I ooght to klitre b , ,, galtotaea. lmtpector Dstewfi; so perfecMy free fnou all oon- ae«tlon with this crime Why have you shut her up lie»», and piled her with «inestiona, ami uinde her look at me with such an axnreaslon. when all you have against me Is just what you have against ooms half doren others— that 1 was weak enough, or unfortu­ nate snotigh, tn spend a few minutes with that nnheppy » .man In the al­ cove before »he died?’ "It might be well If Miss Van Are d^le herself wwtld answer you,” was the inspector’» qttlet retort. "What yon have »a'd rr.sy oonst'tute all that we have against yon, but It Is not all we have a at this Meemlng aecnearion. the motive of which I bo Mors«I myself to Tm4erstand. bwt at the fata slag Mush with which tt WSS received by Mr. Durand. ■MhoI do y»j» mean?' Ke !*•«'»oded with rertata odd bre«ks la hla votes. “WKst y jr.st punishment If you deny me In the future both your sym­ pathy and regard. But you must tet me assure you and three gentlemen also, one of whom can make tt very unpleas­ ant for me. that eonsrideratlon for yon, much more than any lutxerable anntety about myself, lay at the bettraai of what must strike yon all as an ar< of unpardonable cowerdtee •'From the moment I learned of this woman's murder In the alcove, where I find visit ml her. I rea lined that every cue who bad t>eeu aeeu to approach her within a half boor of her death would t>e subjected to a more or lose rigid Investigation, and I feared If h»r gloves were found In my possesstou some special attention might be direct ed my way which would cauiw you un­ merited distress. So, yielding to an Impulse which I now recognize as a most unwise as well aa unworthy one. I took advantage of the buntle a lx, nt ua and of the Insensibility Into which yon had fallen to tuck these miserable gtoves into the tmg I saw lying on the floor at your aide 1 do not ask your pardon. My whole future life shall be devoted to winning that. I simply wish to state a fact.” "Very good!” It wan the Inspector who spoke; I could not bare uttered a word to rave my Ilf». ’Terhaps yon will now feel that you owe it to ttas young lady to add h«w you came to have these gtoves is your possession." "Mrs. Falrbrvxber handed them te BM.” •»IsBdevI them te yea?' "Yes, 1 hardly knew why myetaf. •be asked me tn take cere of them ter her I know that this most strik» yen as a very peculiar etatement It was my realization of the unfavorable ef­ fect tt conM not fall to produce uj»« tbooe who beard It which made me >r»ed any Intevvogatton no the sub j»ct. But I assnre yoa tt was as I sny Hb» pot the glaves into my teaad white 1 was miking to her saying thev tnc< .tivm< *1*d her.” "And you?" "Well. I held them tor a few mta ■toe. then I put them In my pecBet. bnt quite automatically and wltlxtot thinking very mtx h about It. f5e wee a woman arc’ietorred to have her owe way. People seldom questioned it, I jndige" Here the tension about my threat re­ laxed, and I opened my lipa to apeak But the inspector, with a glance of some authority, forestalled me. -Were the gtoves opeu or nulled up when she offered them to youT’ "TT m y were toiled up." "DU! yen oee her tans ttera off?" "Asawedly “ "And roll them tip?" « uri ». THURSDAY. FEBRUARY ■>'. loo« “Certainly.” "After which she passed them over to you?’ "Not Immediately. She let them He In her lap for awhile." "While you talked?” Mr Durand bowed. "And looked at the diamond?* Mr. Durand bowed for the second time. "Had you ever seen so due a diamoud before F* "No." "Yet you deal In precious stooee?’ ’That is my busbies*.” “Awl are r«gar om . 1 hear ” "Malto au annminl ouc.” The iaspsetnr opened his hand. "Is this the article.“ “tjood Hod! Where”— “Don’t you know?’ T do not." The Inspector eyed him gravely 'Then I have a bit of news for you. It was hidden In the gloros you took from Ur». Fairbrother. Miss Van Are­ dale was present at their unrolling” Do we live. move, breathe at rertatn »oineuts? tt hardly se>*ms so. 1 know that 1 was conscious of but one sense, that of soelng. and of but one faculty, teat of judgment Would ho fllaeh. break down, betray guilt, er simply »how astonishment? I chose to be­ lieve tt was the tatter feeling ealy which Informed hla slowly whitening *«.1 dietrvrt’ed feature» Certatnly tt we» a.1 hts wartis oxpresaed^ as hla gtaeoes Sew frrau the steao to the flu'«* and bask sgata to the l.mpeol era face. "1 ramiot beil»«» It I caand ta> B»v» It“ And hte head tlcw wlldty to hls foreltood 'Tet It is tee tSTrik, Mr. Du rea 4, sad •no yeci hav« now to face. Hew will yen ds tfate? By ■»; further erptaas •tens, er l»y what yen may < uas riar a dtecroet »lienee ?' T have nothing to explain—the facte •re ■« 1 have stated." The Inspector csgarrle-t him with an eennratnswa whleb made my heart rink. "Yen <*an fix tbe time of ttrtn visit, I hope; twll m. I mean, just when yen left tite alcove. Yea »mat have eeen •ante eue whe can »peak foe you.” T f»ar not" Why did he took an disturbed and ■nvartelii ? “Tbsre were but few pernees In the halt jk»t then,” ho west on te erptatn. Tt» eoe was altchag ea the ysltaw «van." "Yna know wker» you went, tJwregh? WNooi ven saw »nd wliat yon did be­ fore the alarm ^rewd?’ "1 BOj.1 n-trr. I am qalte encd before mo an unknown vl»ta qalte re­ moved from the surrnuadlng scene, so tt did now, and I beheld again In faint outlines, and yet with the effer't of complete distinctness, a square of light through which appeared au opeu passage jiertly abut off from view by a half lifted curtain and tbe tall figure of a man holding hack thia eur- twin and gazing, er seeming to gese. at Ma own farneot, eo which bo had already Iwtd one qotvertSg fiamv Whet did R meas? !• the »xetto- meet of rtie h-rrtbi» .►crarrrrx'e wbteh had wng r i T orad ne all, I had fnrgnttaa this carteos experience, hwt on teetlwg enow tbe vwgue soaoatton of shock end expectatton which seemed ttw het­ oral arcompanlmoot, I berame erm- •rfcrai of a »’>4tng oa la a ptoeo •ot otherwise with fa the reach ef my vtwtoc. a reflection, tbo importarse of wtiteh I soddMriy realized wtam I re rail at wbat a critical moment tt bad occurred A man tn a state of dread tonktng at hts breast, within five min­ utes of tbe etlr and rush of tbo dread ful event which hod marked thia even toff! | A hope, great ao tbe despair tn wbteh t had J’jet twn sunk, ga«» ma eonrage to drop my bonds an any now which I had not bod ' It tRe opportunity of saying before. I case. by which they can reach the up­ replied with all the passion of a for­ stair» dressing rooms without crossing Is that what you lorn hope that It was only at this tiie main hall. present monu-ut I remembered a fact naea n ?" "Yes. that Is what I mean." which might have a very decided bear­ 1 stHred nt him In wonder. What lay ing on this case; and. detecting evi­ dences, as 1 thought, of relenting on liack of such questions us these? "You catne tn. as others did. by this his part. I backed up this statement by an entreaty for a few word» with him aide entrance," be uow proceeded. apart, as tho matter I bad to tell who "Did you notice, ns you turned to go private and possibly too fanciful for upstairs, an arch opening Into a small pnssuigeway at your l»4’t?" any ear but hla own. “I dM uot" I iwgati. tii’slilfig. for I He kokod as If b» appretiauided some loss of valuaMe tliua, but, touched by thought I undoratoxid blui now. ”1 tbe Involuntary gaeture of appeal with was too «Kigwr to tvacb tbe dresalug which I euppleuieuted my request, tat room to look about me." "Very w»U," lie replied; “I luny want led uw into a earner, where, with just au «ekSHireglMg gieiuiv toward Mr to show you that arch.’’ Durand, who wteuiml »truck dumb by . The owtUae of eu ar»-ti, hawking the my Motion, I told the UutpectMr of toot | ■arwre we weev uu.teu»»»ring to Identi­ uwiutoutary pk-ture wkluli 1 had oeeu i ty. w ■•* a iiNirkvd feuture ki Uie ahe»»-li rvflaMried la whet 1 was sow »eve was I had shewn trim. "V.’lil yoa take a »eat nearby white soma window paae er Lulrroc Tt was at a time MiLuclAent. or very 1 Make a etady of thia matter?” 1 turned with alacrity to obey. There nearly coincident, with th« perpetrs- tk>n of the crime you are now investi­ was something tn hla air and manner gating.” I concluded. "Within fivr wbteb made u>u almost buoyant. Had uiluutee afterward cauie itw shout mv fenetful Interpretation of what I which roused us all to what had hup tuvd »oen I'ouclxsl him with the eon* (Mined in the alcove I do not kuow vI m tkoi It tied me? If so. there was wbat passage I saw or what dour or tioiH» ho[»e for the man I loved, who even wbat figure, but the latter. I am had gone In and »»nt lietween curtains sure, whs that of tbe guilty wau. aud not through any arch such ns 1 m > Something of tbe outline taafi it waa hed. 1 tbe outline only I could catch) ex j I’rovlilence was working for me. pressed an emotion trn'oraprebeualble sow It In the way the men u»»lirienln* which I might re* l when, a f*w minutes later. 1 wu» ogufns If I saw tt. t enant that •(«« asked to reevet myoelfOTi my old pliwe tug tie found, and may tt net piv» ■ i at the ao[»per tabte Itxi take another riew to tbe man I aew »katkkeg took tn that etlgtitly deflected giasa 1 thfough it wtte terror a ad remorse k bte heart?* "Was thia Bgnre when yra saw It tur!HKl toward yon sr away?" th» la ■[lector Inquired, with aneipeered In terest 'Turned partly a »ray He waa going from mo." "And yon eat where?’ ’•Shall I »how yen?’ The Inspector bowed, then with a tow word of rantteu Famed to iuy uncle. "I am going to take thio young lady Into tbo hall far a room«nt at her owe reqoest. May I a»k you and Mr. Du­ rand to await me here?' Without paesfng ter reply b" threw o|>ca the door, and peeeently we wove partog the deserted rapper rooa» seek Ing the pbire where I h»d set I fownd tt al moot by a miracle, every th tag be Ing la great dteoeder Grilled t»y a»? bonqaot. wbleb I had left hehtnd me tn my eeuaipe free» tka tabte, I laid koto of the etietr before wMch tt ley and declared ijsilto cnaBdately to the taspeetor: "Thbi la where I rat.” Naturally his ria nee and in toe Imtk few to tbe periri* wall A wtndew was before no nt aa nanewel site aed make, rnllko any which had ever t-efore conie undec my eheervntton, tt swung on a pivot and, though shut at the present moment, might very easliv when opened present Its hups pane at an angle capable of catching reflecttmie front some of the many mirrors dec­ orating the reception room situated dtapnnally acrons tbe hall. Aa all the doorways oa this lower floor were of unusual width, an open path was offer ed. as It were, for theso reflections te pass, making it possible for nrewea te I* Imaged here which to tbs persons involved would neetn ao eafe frewi any ene's acrutlny aa If they wee» taking place tn tbe adjotnlog house As we realised this a took passed fact ween us of mors than ordinary st* atflcance. Totnttng to the window, the Inspector tnrned te a gronp of waiters watching im frew the ottwr side of tbe room and asked if it had been opraed that evening. The answer cam« quickly. "Yes. sir—just t»efore tbe—the”— T nndtautand,” hrofce la the tnapeck- or. and. leaning over me, be whispered, 'Tell me again exactly what yon thought yon »aw." Bnt I could add tittle to my former description. ’Terhnps you can ten me this," be kindly persisted. "Waa the ptetwra, when you saw ft, on a level with your eye or did you bare to lift your bead In order to aee It?’ "It was high up—In tbo air. as It were That seemed Its oddest feature." The lnapector's mouth took n satisfied •urve. ’Tosalbly I might Identify the door and paaaage If I aaw them,” I sag tested "t'ertalnly, certainly,” waa hla rtieer fnl rejoinder, and, summoning oka of hla Ben. he w»« a I »out te «•*» some or dec when lile Impulse «h«»pf this paseage and tbe door My heart waa beating violently, and ttie pencil alieok la my band, hot 1 know ttrtt It would not da toe aae to show any heel tat ton la Rah»« for all eyee what, imaceonatatey to mye»tf, continued to be perfeetty plain to By own Bo I endea cored to do as tie bode me ami surx-eeded to aome extent, for be uttered a sll^rt ejaculation at on» of its features and. white duly ex press log hla thanks, honored me with a very sharp look. Ta this your first visit to this tamoe’" be asked "No I have been here before" Tn the evening ar In tiie afternoon?" "Ia the afternoon." T am told that the main entrance Is not In use tonight.” "No. A »Me door la provided for oc­ casions like the [»resent tlnoata enter­ ing there dud a epe<-tal hell and stair­ ' ! IVlri» a quick fnrk ha bxrrvri Ma ahlrt tat»w that my effort had nari with IB rowant and that for the secood time I waa to receive the linprooatoa of a place new Indelibly Imprinted on my ennaetonsruwo. "la not that It?” asked the loapeetnr, polnttag at tbe glara with a Inst took at tha Impeafect »ketch I had mntle him and which he still held In hla hand. "Yea,” I eagerly te man. II» whom» figure I see there is another person rati rely; I see ne remorso or even fear In his lottks.” "Of cowrso not. You are looking at th» reflection of one of my man. Miss Van Aredale, do you recognise the plaoa now under your eye?’ "I do not. Yon spoke of an arch tn the hall, at the left of the carriage en­ trance, and I see au arch In the win­ dew paae 1»ese reflected Image you saw both entered and left the alcove. It Is an Important fact to establish, and we feel very much obliged to you for tbe aid you have given us lu thia matter." Then, an I continued to stare nt him In iny elation und surprise, be lidded, In quick explanation; "Tiie lights In the alcove and lu the several parlors are all hung with shades, as you muat perceive, but tbe one In the hall, beyond the arch, la very bright, which accounts fjr the dlstlnctne«» of tills double refiertlon Another thing—and It la a very inter- anting point—It wieild have twra tin [Ms»»lble for this reflectiou to be not tee at»le from where yoa »it If tha level of the alcove flooring had not bran «Hwlderably hlgtier tliau that nt t!»o mala floor. Bnt for thia freak of tbo archttecg the owillnual ¡»aestog to and fro of peopl»* would ten prevented tlte reflertluu In Its pneeage from surface to »nrface Mtas Van Aredale, It would seem that by one of th<«H ■baocra which liatarai bt>< once or twice In a lifetime every loixlrtton ws« [»capttloua at ’he naomrat te make tlila refiertlon a possible occurreuee even the tova tlon and width of t)»e several doorways sad the HiH-t [xrint at which rite por­ tiere wa» draws aside from tbo rn- trance to tbe atoove." Tt la wonderful.” I cried, ’wonder fnl!” Then, to tils astontahment por- haps. I asked if there waa not a ama'I door of communiration tie tween the passageway bock of the alcove and tbe large i-ratral hall. ”Yea.” be replied. "It opens Just he yond the fireplace Three small steps lead to It” "I thought so.” I murmured, but more to myself than to him. In iny mind 1 was thinking how a man. If be so wished, could pass from the very heart o( thia a seem triage Into tbe quiet pra- ■ageway, and so on Into the alcova, without attracting very much atteu- tb»n from his fellow guests. I forgot that there was another way of ap­ proach even less noticeable—that by til»’ small staircase running up beyond the arch illnx-tly to the dressing rooms. ”Aml Mr. Durand?' I stammered as I followed the Uis[»ector back to tbe room where he had left that gentle­ man "You will bdlleve his statement uow and look fur this second Intruder with the guiltily hanging head and frightened uiien?’ "Yea." he replied, stopping me on the threshold of the door und taking my luitxl kindly In hla. "It—don't start, my dear; life 1» full of trouble for youtri and okl. and yoath is the lieat Unie to face a nail experteuce—If be te uot himself the man you saw staring in frlghtoaed horror at hla breast. Have you not noticed that he Is not dresred lu all respects like the other gentlemen present that, though he bus uot donned Ills overcoat, he has put on, somewhat prematurely, one might say, the large silk handkerchief he presumably weuni under it? Have you uot noticed this and asked your­ self w by ?" I had noticed it. I hud noticed It from the moment I recovered from my fuintlug tit. but I had uot thought it a matter of suttklent Interest to ask. even of myself, his reason for thus nullug his shirt frout. Now 1 could not. My faculties were too confused, my heart too deeply ahakau by tbe suggestion which tbe Inspector's words conveyed, for me to l»e eonsclous of anything but the devouriag question ns to what 1 should do If, by my own mistaken aval. 1 had auoewded in pRioatnc tbe mnu I loved yet deeper hito th» tells in w hk'ii he bad t>eeotB» enmeshed. Tbe lnspe»*tor toft me uo time for tbe settlement of this question. Ushering me back Into tbe room where Mr. I>t>- raitd and my uncle awaited our return In apparently unrelieved silence, he dosed tbe door upon the curious eyea of the various persons still lingering In tbe hall and abruptly said to Mr. Du­ rand: ‘The exptannttons you have been pleased to give of the manner In which this diamond came ink» your possession are uot too fauclful for credence. If you oan satisfy us on another point which has awakened some doubt In the nrtnd of one uf my men. Mr. Durand, yon appear to have prepared yourself for deysriure somewhat prenwitnrely. Do you uilntl removing that handkerchief Dor a inoanent? My reason far eo pecul­ iar a i*qe*"t W'H presently appear.” Alas, for my last fond hope! Mr. Du­ rand, wttb s face as white as the back- grnuad nt snow framed by the uncur­ tained window against which be lean­ ed. lifted fate hand ns If to oomply with the tuspeolnr'a request, then tet It fall again with a grating laugh. ”1 are that 1 am not likely to escape any of tt»« results of my Imprudence,” be cried, and with a quick Jerk bared his «lifrt front. A splash of red defiled Ita otherwise uniform whiteness! That It was the red of heart's blood waa proved by the shrinking look he unconsciously cast at It. CHAPTER IV. Y love for Anson Durand died at sight of that crimson 4>laab— or 1 thought It did. In this »pot of blood ou tiie breast ef btm to whom I had given my heart I conM read but one woul guilt—hein­ ous guilt, guilt denied a tri now brought to ligtrt tn language that could be seen and read by all men. Why should I stay In swh a presence? Had not tbe ln«i>e<-tor hlmatilf advised ma to go? Yas, bnt another voice bode ma re­ main. Just as I reached the door An­ son Durand found hla voire, and I heard, tn tbo full, sweet tones I loved so well: "Walt! I am not to be jiriged Ilka this. I will explain?' But here tbe Inspector Interposed. "Do you think tt wise to make any such attempt without the advice of counsel, Mr. Durand?’ The Indignation with which Mr. Du­ rand wheeled toward him raised in mo a faint hope. (Continued Next Weak.) JUNCTION CITY' NOTKH It may not be generally known that Junction City has ad’orchestra, although ot recent origin, its mem­ bers are making rapid progress and will soon be able to furnish flrst- rlaas music for any and all occasions. Membership and Instrumentation are as follows: L. IS. Cook. leader and Instructor, 1st violin; William Pear­ man, solo B-flat cornet; Richard Thom, trombone; W. 8. McKee, clari­ net, R C. Roberts, second B-flat cor­ net; H. E. Leppert, piano; L. W, Clark, drum. In The Guard contest which haa been absorbing local attention for several weeks past, closed Saturday evening There were six candidates in District No. 3, and Miss Hattie Cook won first place with 588,170 votes. This will entitle her to a free trip to bo« Angeles. For the grand prize Miss Cook held second place. Miss Hattie Is an excellent young lady and her standing In the community id well exemplified by her very flatter­ ing vote. She warked faithfully to secure thia splendid trip, and we cer­ tainly congratulate her in her succsso- ful effort. It Is not stated when the California trip will be made.—Times. CASTOR IA For Infaata »xd Ch.xdrea. Thl Kind Yoi» jtp Ah'iyt Boug^r Bears the 8!