J
p a U D E T M
OF T iE
P A IÌ.J ’ o n !
( J ’X " '
ETHEL IIUESTQN
I L I U S T R A T F r BY
W .C .T A N N t l
»Copyright.
th* Bobba-Merrill Company.)
IT WAS A LUSCIOIT APPLE THAT GOT OLD MOTHER
EVE INTO TROUBLE. AND APPLES IT IS THAT MAKE
TROUBLE FOR CONNIE AND THE TWINS.
Mr. Starr, a widower Methodist minister, has been assigned to the
congregation at Mount Mark, la. He has five daughters. Prudence, the
eldest, who keeps house; Fairy, Carol and Lark, who are twins, and
Constance. Their advent stirs the curiosity of all Mount Mark, and
members of the Ladies’ Aid lose no time in getting acquainted and
asking a million questions. Prudence, who is nineteen, has her hands
full with the mischievous twins and Connie, but is moved to defend
them valiantly when some of the good ladies of the congregation sug.
gest that an older woman is needed to run the family.
C H APTE R
III— Continued.
j
Carol frowned.
The three girls were at laide when
Connie hastened to modify her tone. Prudence came Into the dining room
"Did they say you might have them?” alone. She Used a tra.v supper quietly
site inquired politely.
und carried It off upstairs. Then site
“ That concerns thee not; ’tls for thee caute back mid sat down by the table.
only to render obedience to the orders But her face bore marks of tears, and
of the Society. Go out through our she had no appetite. The twins had
Held mill sneak under the fence where felt small liking for their food before;
the wires are loose, mid hurry back. now each mouthful seemed to choke
We're awfully hungry. The trees are them. But thcy*durcd not ask a ques­
You reckless men unit women who
near the fence. There Isn’t any dan­ tion.
They were devoutly thankful
are pestered with corns und who have
ger."
when Fairy llnull.v voiced their luloreal. ut leiist once u week Invited mi awful
"But it's stealing.” objected Connie.
“ What is tlie matter? lias Connie j death from lockjaw or blood poison
"What will Prudence— ”
been in mischief?"
ure now told hy u Cincinnati authority
"Damsel i"
And Connie turned to
"it's worse titan that.” faltered I’ru- to use a drug called freotone. which
obey with despair In her heart.
lienee, tears rushing to tier eyes again. the moment u few drops ure applied
“ Bring twelve." Carol called after
“ Why, Prudeiicol Whul in the world to liny corn or cullous tin* soreness Is
relieved und soon the entire corn or
her, "that'll be four apiece. And hurry. lias she done?"
Connie. And see they don’t catch you
“ I may as well tell you, I supposi*— cullous, root und ull, lifts o ff with the
| fingers
you’ll have to know It sooner or later.
while you're about It."
Freczoiu* dries the moment It is up
She—
went
out
Into
Avery's
orchard
A fter she hail gone the twins lay
piled, mid simply shrivels the corn or
hack thoughtfully on the hay and and stole some apples tills afternoon. cullous without liirimnlng or even Ir
stared at the cobwebby roof above I was hack In (lie alley seeing If Mrs. rltatlug the surrounding tissue or
them In silence for a while. Something j Moon could do the washing, and I saw | skin. A small bottle o f froezone will
was hurting them, hut whether It was her from the oilier side. She went cost very little at any of the drug
their fear o f the wrath of Prudence, from tree to tree, nud when she got j stores, but will positively rid one’s
feet of every hurd or soft corn or
or the twinges of tender consciences— through the fence she ran. There’s no i
hardened callous,
if your druggist
who can say?’*
mistake ubout It- she confessed.' The 1 hasn't tiny freeaono he can get it ut
twins
looked
up
In
agony,
but
i'ru-
"She's mi unearthly long time about
any wholesale drug house for you.
Con |
It." exclaimed l.nrk at last. "Do you deuce’s face reassured them.
stance had told no tales. "I have told
He— When I was 4 years old I was
suppose they caught her?"
Tills was an awful thought, and the her site must spend nil o f her llinc tip- left an orphan.
girls were temporarily suffocated. But stnlrs alone for ii week, taking her I Hhe— What did you do with It?—
The Grunge Peel.
they heard the Imrri dis>r swinging be­ meals there, too. She will go to school
of
course,
liut
that
Is
all.
i
want
her
i
neath them, and sighed with relief. It
w h s ( ’outdo|
She climbed the bidder to sec the awftilticss of It. I told her !
skillfully, and poured per golden treas­ I didn’t think we wanted to eat with—
ure before the urch-thleves. Skull und ii thief—Just y e t ! 1 said we must get
used to the Idea of It first. She Is |
Cross bones.
There were eight big. tempting heartbroken, but— I must make her j
see It 1”
apples.
"H um ! E igh t!” said Carol steruly.
"I said twelve."
If you were in Prudence's
Flush your kidneys occasionally
es, hut I was afraid someone was
place would you turn in and give
coming. I heard such a noise through
if you cat meat
Connie and the twins each a
the grapevines, so I got what I could
regularly.
sound spanking— at the most
and ran for It. There's three apiece
effective sort of punishment?
for you. and two for me,” said Connie,
sitting down sociably beside tin-in on
No man or woman who eats meat
the hay.
f regularly cun make u mistake by
»T o I IK CONTINUED»
flushing the kidneys occasionally, says
But Carol rose. “ Damsel, begone,”
u well-known authority. Mont form s
she ordered. “ When Skull and Cross- I
bones feast, thou eanst not yet share BETRAYED BY FURTIVE SNORE uric acid which clogs tlie kidney pores
so they sluggishly filter or strain only
the festive board.
Rise thee, and
part of the waste and poisons from
speed."
Burglar's Misfortune Was That He the blood, then you get sick. Nearly
Fell Asleep in Home He Had
Connie rose, and walked soberly
ull rheumatism, hendaeheu. liver trou­
Intended to Rob.
toward the ladder. But before she dis­
ble, nervousness, constipation, dizzi­
ness. sleeplessness, bladder disorders
appeared she tins) this parting shot.
Conviction of Walter Jones, n one- coins from sluggish kidneys.
I don't want any of them. Stolen
The moment you feel a dull nche in
apples don’t taste very good, I reckon." i legged burglar. In (lie rrliulnui court
Carol and Lark Imd the grace to ! here, brought out mi unusual incident tho kidneys or your buck hurts, or if
the urine Is cloudy, offensive, full of
flusii a little ut lids, but howevi r the j of
house breaking,
a
Birmingham sediment, Irregular of passage or at­
stolen apples tasted, the twins had no I f Ain.) correspondent o f the New York tended hy n sensation of scalding, get
I World snys.
about four ounces of Jail Halts from
The story o f the burglary and cap- any reliable pharmacy und take a
ttire, as told by tin* evidence, showed tablespoonful In a glass of water be
that Jones, in Ids effort to roll the foro breakfast for a few days and
home o f Mr. and Mrs. K. P. Vtnnom, your kidneys will then act fine. 'I his
an old couple of tlie suburbs, crawled , famous salts Is made from the acid of
grapes and lemon Jnlee, combined
under tlie lied and waited for them to with llllila und has been used for
retire.
generations to flush clogged kidtioya
The burglar himself fell asleep, and and stimulate them to activity, also
Ids snoring arousisl Mr. Vennmu, who to neutralize the acids in urine so It
undertook to light u lamp, which ex­ no longer causes Irritation, thus end
ploded. This uwoke the burglar, who j tng bladder disorders.
threatened Mrs. Vetinoiii with death if ' Jad Halts is inexpensive nnd can
not Injun*; makes u delightful offer
she gave the alarm.
veocent lithia water drink whirh all
Just then Mr. Vennoin grappled with regular meat eaters should tnko now
the burglar, who leaped out of ii win and then to keep tho kidneys clean
dmv. Tlie burglar Itad left ills wooden j and the Mood pure, thereby avoiding
serious kidney complications.
leg under the bed.
By followin’* single foot-tracks the
"Thnt man Is In a grave rovery."
police pursued tlie peg-legged robber j
to Ids refuge. With the assistance of ! “ Yes; I noticed he was burled In
thought."— Baltimore American.
a pal. Jones made another wooden !
leg. with which lie went to his shanty j
In the woods. Suddenly the police ur- '
rived and Jones dived through the rear '
window.
In tlie hark yard tlie mud was deep. 1
and the wooden leg sank so far In Hie
mire it stuck firm. Jones hobbled on !
desperately without it, hut was over­
taken while hopping on one foot.
Both tlie original and second wood­
en legs were exliibltud as evidence.
And Connie's soul burned with de­
sire. She felt that this secret society
“ Indeed they are not." cried I’ ru- | was threatening not only her happi­
dence loyally. “They are young, lively, ness. but also her health, for she could
mischievous, I know— and I am glad of not sleep for horrid dreams of Skulls
it. But 1 have Uved with them ever and Crosshones at night, and could not
since they were born, and I ought to eat for envying the twins their secret
know them. They are unselfish, they and mysterious Joys; Finally she ap­
are sympathetic, they are always gen­ plied to Prudence, and received assist-
erous. They do foolish and Irritating a nee.
things— but never tilings that are hate­
I he afternoon mall brought to the
ful and mean. They are all right at parsonage an envelope addressed to
heart, and that is all that .counts. They "Misses Carol and l.ark Starr, the
are not bad girls! What have they Methodist Parsonage, Mount Mark
done today? They were exasperating. \ Iowa.” and in the lower left-hand eor-
nnd humiliating, too. but what did they j tier was a suggestive drawing of a
do that was really mean? They em­ Skull and Cross bones. The eyes o f the
barrassed and m inified me, but not mischievous twins twinkled with lo-
intentionally! I can’t punish them for light when they saw it. and they car­
the effect on me. you know! Would ried it to tin- horn for prompt perusal.
that be just or fair? At heart, they It read as follow s:
meant no harm.”
,r^ !f?„lf„°n8,anC* starr h’m,b|y «nd re
It must be confessed that there were .rectrul.j crave»» admittance Into the An
H on ° ™ b U
O rgan isation
of
many serious faces among the Lathes. fc kuJI n a a n ,W
d C ro jsb u iie a .
Some cheeks were Hushed, some eyes
1 he twins pondered long on a tilting
were downcast, some lips were com­ reply, and the next afternoon the |>ost-
pressed and some were trembling. Ev­
m.in brought a letter for Connie, wait­
ery mother there was asking in her
ing impatiently for It. She had ap­
heart. “ Did I punish my children Just proached the twins about it at noon
fo r the effect on me? Did I judge, my that day.
children by what was in their hearts,
“ Did you get my application?” sbe
or just by the trouble they made me?’ had whispered nervously.
And the silence lasted so long that
But the twins had stared her out of
it became awkward. Finally Mrs. Pren­ countenance, and Connie realized that
tiss crossed the room and stood by she had corandtted a serious breach of
Prudence's side. She laid a hand ten­ secret society etiquette.
derly on the young girl’s arm, and said
But here was the letter! Her lin­
in a voice that was slightly tremulous; gers trembled ns site opened It. It was
“ I believe you are right, my dear. It decorated lavishly with skulls and
is what girls are at heart that really crosshones, splashed with red Ink. suje
counts. I believe your sisters are all posedly blood. and written In the same !
you say they are. And one thing I am suggestive color.
very sure o f—they are happy girls to
Skull and Crosshones, great In merry
have a sister so patient and loving and and In condescension, has listened graci­
just. Not all real mothers have as ously to the prayer of Constance, tl e
Seeker. H<ar the will of the Great Spirit!
much to their credit!”
If the Seeker will, for the length ot two
weeks, submit herself to the will of Skull
C H APTE R IV.
and Crosshones, she shall be admitted In
to the Ancient and Honorable Order.
The week that followed was n gala
A Secret Society.
Carol and Lurk, in keeping with one for the twins of Skull and Cross-
their twinshlp, were the dearest chums bones. Constance swept their room,
and comrades. T o them the great, made their bed, washed their dishes,
rambling barn back of the parsonage did their chores, ami in every way be­
was a most delightful place. It had a haved as a model pledge of the ancient
big cowshed on one side, and horse and honorable. The twins were gra­
stalls on the other, with a “ heavenly" cious but Arm. There was no arguing
haymow over all. and with “ chutes” for und no faltering. “ It is the will of
Skull and Crossbones that the damsel
the descent o f hay— and tw ins!
Now the twins had a secret society— do this," they would soy. And the
o f which they were the founders, the damsel diii 11
Prudence did not feel It was n case
officers and the membership body. Its
"I Get What I Could and Ran.”
name was Skull and Crossbones. Lark that called for her Interference. So
furnished the brain power for the or­ she sat back und watched, while the ’’ ifficulty In disposing o f them. Then,
ganization, but her sister was an en­ twins told stories, read and frolicked, full almost beyond the point o f com­
fort. they slid down the liny chutes,
thusiastic and energetic second. Car­ and Constance did their daily tasks.
A week passed, ten days, and twelve. went out the back wny, turned the cor­
ol’s club name was Lady Gwendolyn,
and Lark's was Sir Alfred Angelcourt Then came a golden October afternoon ner, and came quietly In through the
ordinarily, although subject to frequent when the twins sat in the haymow front door of the parsonage.
change. The old barn saw stirring looking out upon a mellow world. Con­
Prudence was In the kitchen prepar­
times after the coming o f the new par­ stance was in the yard, reading n fuiry ing the evening meal. Fairy was in
story. The situation was u tense one, the sitting room, busy with her hooks.
sonage family.
“ Hark ! Hark !” sounded a hissing for the twins were hungry, und time The twins set the talde conscientiously,
whisper from the corncrib, and Connie, was heavy on their hands.
filled the woodbox. and In every wny
“ The apple trees in A very’s orchard labored Irreproachably. But Prudence
eavesdropping outside the burn, shiv­
are Just loaded." said Lark.
"And had no word of praise for then» that
ered sympathetically.
“ What is it ! Oh. what Is It?” wailed there ure lots on the ground, too. 1 evening. She hardly seemed to know
saw them when I was out in the tield they were about the place. She went
the unfortunate lady.
“ Look! Look! Bun for your life t” this morning.”
about her work with a pale face, and
Carol gazed down Into the ynrd never a smile to he seen.
Then while Connie clutched the barn
door in a frenzy, there was a sound of where Constance was absorbed In her
Supper was nearly ready when (.’on-
rattling corn as the twins scrambled book. “ Constance oughtn’t to read as tile sauntered in from the barn. After
upwurd, a silence, a low thud, and an much ns she does,” she urgued. “ It's leaving the haymow, she had found a
unromantic “ Ouch!” as Carol bumped so bad for the eyes.”
cozy corner In the corncrib, with two
“ Yes, and w fiat’s more, she’s been heavy Inprobes discarded by the twins
her head and stumbled.
“ Are you nssuulted?” shouted the getting off too easy for the last few In their flight from wolves, and liud
bold Sir Alfred, and Connie heard a days. The time is nearlyVip.”
settled down there to finish her story.
“ That's so,” said Lurk. “ Let’s call As she stepped into the kitchen Pru­
wild scuffle ns he rescued his compan­
ion from the clutches of the old hulter her up here.” This was done at once, dence turned to tier with sueli a sorry,
on which she had stumbled. Up the and the unfortunate Constance stood ropronchful gaze that Connie was
haymow ladder they hurried, and then before them respectfully, as they had frightened.
slid recklessly down the hay chntes. Instructed her to stand. The twins
“ Are you sick, Pruo?” she gasped.
Presently the barn door was flung hesitated, each secretly hoping the
Prudence did ntit answer. She wont
«open, and the “ society” knocked Con­ other would voice the order. But Lark, to the door and called Fairy. “ Finish
nie flying backward, ran madly around as usual, was obliged to be the spokes­ getting supper, will you. Fairy? And
the barn a few times, and scurried un­ man.
when you are all ready, you nnd the
der the fence and into the chicken
“ Damsel,” she said, “ it Is the will of twins go right on eating. Don’t wait
coop.
Skull and Crossbones that you hie ye for father— he Isn’t coming home until
A little later Connie, assailed with to yonder orchard— A very’s I mean— evening. Come upstairs with me, Con­
shots of corncobs, ran bitterly toward and bring hither some o f the golden nie; I want to talk to you.”
the house. “ Peeking” was strictly for­ apples basking In the sun.”
Connie followed her sister soberly,
bidden when the twins were engaged
“ What I" ejaculated Connie, startled and the twins flushed nt each other
In Skull and Crossbones activities.
out o f her respect
startling and questioning looks.
With the Fingers!
Says Corns Lift Out
Without Any Pain
IF
BEGIN ON SALTS
— ► TO OBTAIN THE ◄ —
HIGHEST DEGREE
OF EFFICIENCY
Pleasure in Well-Doing.
Pleasure lias a wny of coming Indi­
rectly— where leust you look for her
mid when least you expect her. She
lurks in tiie happiness of work well
done. Site lingers In the consciousness
of honest bookkeeping with life, und
sin* uiwuys Is to be found In the Joy
of growth nnd progress. In ull these
ways honest pleasure Is to be found.
This Isn’t meant, to be a dull preach­
ment against anything but work. But
It does menu to sny that happiness lies
in doing and tlie consciousness of well­
doing.
Special attention must be
paid to the diet, and reg­
ularity must be promo­
ted in the stomach,
Live r and Bowels.
You can help Nature
wonderfully by trying
OSTETTER’S
Stomach Bitters
H
Missouri’s Lead Output.
The demand from Europe la Itilfi for
lend to be used for war purposes
caused the output o f Missouri mines
to break all previous records In the
quantity of lend ore placed on the mar­
“ A perfect wife never nags,” says a
ket that year, the amount being 11 ».',,. writer in an exchange. That’s true.
fk’(4 tons In smelted or refined shape, And a perfect husband never gives
which was worth $lH,.’l.sy,f»!Ml, or Just cause for nagging.— Baltimore Star.
nltoiit enough to build and equip art
up-to-date dreudnuught for the United
Htutcs navy.
Force of H abit
"I Judge our new acquaintance tins
been married for some time.”
"W hat makes you think so?”
“ He Is such n good listener and as­
sents to everything you say.”
No Allurement
"Some day you’ll be rich enough to
retire from business.”
“ Give up my nice pleasant offices
and stay home?” rejoined Mr. Growcb-
er. “I should say not 1”
Allcock
. PLASTERS
Til World'§ G m t t t t
'
Exltrnal Ktmtdy.
P a i n In S id e ,
R h e u m a t is m ,
B ackache,
—A n y L o c a l
P a in .