Then It occurred to me that 1 might
mouuaie r.ud the latter on hls mantel.
not find It easy to prove my Innoc ence.
resentment T a lc l L orn Ilia mind. T ta r e is merely to help a man from Gales­
There wus suineihlng in tbe face and
Would It not be better to take no
was nothing he won hl uot have given burg who is a long wgy from home and
llgare of tin* girl that charmed him.
steps toward convincing my wife that
to undo what k b road wrath had ac­ down on hls luck."
MORO. O R EG O N .
and he never went into hl» room w ith ­
a mistake had been made until I bad
The cook looked a t him puzzled, and
complished. He must go.
out standing for awhile over her pie«
ferreted out how tbe letter bad been
- Arrest, the band of the law. was us then launched into general gossip
ture. The dog, too. waa a favorite oh*
. .. .
nothing to his conscience and the red about the town which did not Interest
delivered to me? A fter weighing thia
Ject of inspection.
The more Too»
matter till It waa time to rise, remem­
♦ ♦ • • • • • ♦ * * eyed horror that must over stare at Wilson, and personal gosalp about
looked at the dog and studied tbe color
x , him w ith its hideous vaenntness. H e himself that did.
bering that I would have a hit of re­
marlting the more he was Impressed
It seemed that he had longed for a
most find new scenes in which to tor-
venge op Helen by delay. I concluded
with the belief that be was Wad.
change and. relying oh hls ability to
to begin an Investigation, leaving her
i get It.
Quito likely be had been stolen and
to mourn over my presumed unfaith­
I A t the edge of the yards he came get work, had wandered farther than
sold to hla present mistress.
apon a switch shanty. The door was he realized, until the grip of misfor­
fulness till I had fouud a aolution.
One day Tom’s curiosity led him to
open, and the coats and hats of the tune had left him stranded in a strange
After breakfast 1 look the letter to
night shift hung upon its dim walls, city.
the postofflee and showed It to the
paper and Inspect Miss Fleetwood’s
‘‘And you waring»to get back?” In­
inviting him to clothe himself for the
postmaster, who looked In the city
home. Ue fouud It a handsome sto m
’ By DONALD CHAMBERLIN
,
, ...
« < > i Journey. Wilson slipped quickly in. quired Wllsou as the cook’s uarratlve
directory for another person of my
front residence, with costly lace cur»
By F. A. MITCHEL
Lifting a Load of Woe anil
Beige(j one of each, regardless of size ended with the coffee.
name. He fouu(T only m ine Calling
tains In the windows The truth Is,
“
I
certainly
do,
stranger,
for
I
’ve
a
or fit, clothed himself and drifted up
in tbe superintendent of carriers, he
the Price It Cost
be waa as much Interested tn catch*
the main line. j
- -...
' - Job any time I get home, which is more
made Inquiry as to whether any of
I mot Helen Lee at a young people'll lag a glimpse of Miss Fleetwood as
A freight was just pulling out. He than I ’ve been able to get here.’’
I.— H E R STORY.
them delivered mall to any other l»er- gathering on Christmas aYto* Maud of the dog. He saw nothing of either
“Then home you go.” au<l Wilson
By THOMAS GRANT SPRINGER
had no Idea of its destbiation; that
1 well remember those days when son than myself of my name. None Penrose had been giving me encour on that occasion; but. finding that the
C o p y rig h t by F r a n k A. Munsey Co.
was no matter, but it was moving, rose and led the way to the street, “but Philip and I were young— Philip was of them did so I left the ¡»ostotflee
agement to be companionable with her, house was not far out of his way on
moving away from the scene of his you can’t leave for home In those
without confirmation of my theory.
;
twenty-one
and
I
eighteen—and
lived
clothes,”
and
before
tbe
astonished
and I had seen a good deal of her, but going to the business part of the town,
horror. He grasped a door slide as it
1 was much disappointed and began
Wilson glared vl< lously at the cook ran i»ast him, swung in on the rods cook could regain hls senses he Was be­ on adjoining place« lu or rather near I to realize that my chaucee of proving I had no thought of marrying her be­ —he, now lived in the city— he fre­
cause, In the first place, I never looked quently made hla passages by that
with murder in his heart and went on with the ease of long practice and soon ing outfitted from head to toe In a first the lieatitiful village of Glendale. That
my Innocence were uot so good as I
class
men’s
haberdashery,
while
W
ll
was before people bad become com­ bad thought them. All that day the upon her as a possible wife and. In route. On one occasion while paasl ig
sullenly peeling potatoes. The fact the whine of the wheels was droning
he saw the dog standing w ith his form
son calmly paid the bills.
In
hls
ears
as
the
train
rocked
and
mercialized,
before those who were In­ matter ran through my brain like flow­ the second place. 1 was not In a PoM*
thnt there were social conditions In
The cook’s lone eye gleamed with
tion to marry any one. At that Christ­ paws on a window sill looking out
swayed along in the night, bearing him
tellectual were divided Into groups, as ing water. I came to no conclusion
the lower world Into which 111 fortune
mas merrymaking It was revealed to wistfully ns If he desired to be free.
away, away, away. But still he could satisfaction as he surveyed himself In
had cast him did not occur to him. not shut out the red stare df the sights tbe long mirror when they turned they are now, -the scientists formlag . and at bedtime returned to my lonely me with certainty that ahe considered Tom could not divert himself of tiie
H e did not know that a dishwasher less socket that seemed to haunt him. again Into the street where a taxicab one group, tbe musicians another, she home. I made no Inquiry os to where me her own.
belief that he was Wed. Presently
my w ife and children had gone, for I
had no more right to give himself airs a hideous ghost of the living conse­ stood wniting Wilson’s telephoned or­ literary people number Then refined
When I had danced twice w ith Helen this belief was confirmed. The d »g
had no explanation to offer as to the to once with Maud Penrose, Maud caught sight of Tom and straightway
der. As tbe two were being whirled to persons took some Interest lo all these
than a common seaman had to put quences of a mad Impulse.
accusing letter.- I studied the hand­ showed by a flash In her eye as ahe began to quiver w ith excitement, rob­
I t was this Incident more than any­
himself on the same social footing
branches.
writing, but was not conscious of ever passed me in Helen’» company that bing hip nose on the windowpane as
thing else that put an end to Wilson’s
True, individuals had lhelr favorites.
with a cai4aiu.
having seen It before. A t lost It oc­ something was wrong. Aa soon as 1 If be would force bis way through.
H e waa not a dishwasher by choice, vagabondage and humbled bis foolish
Philip and I were devoted to poetry.
curred to me to place It In the hands was relieved of Helen ( sought Maud Tom stood looking tiU he feared hls
pride until a t length he sat before the
but of necessity, bis empty stomach
Philip had a naturally refined taste
of a detective end bid him make an and asked her what was the trouble. presence would be noticed; then he
parental board where the real had
having driven him to accept food in been kept hot for him. *■
for poetry and did much to form my
She reproached me bitterly for what went on.
investigation.
recompense for his unskilled labor.
taste/ He loved tbe pure and simple
A year, two years passed, and aa tbe
He spent' an hour with me, asking she called deserting her. I was young.
What should he do? It was probable
The cook was In no wise to blame, for dust of each respectable day aettled
questlous with a view to assisting him high strung and Inexperienced with that tbe lady had become poaeeesed of
poets, 11 k t Wordsworth and Burna
Wilson was Indeed a poor dishwasher. down upon hls disreputable past hls
in his work. They were so mauy and women. I coolly Informed her that 1 the dog by purchase. Wad having been
Tennyson was In bis prime at that
could not have deserted her, tor »be
The fa c t’’ that, his awkwardness had life ns a knight of the road hid itself
bo varied that when he had fluished
stolen. Should Tom claim him? He
time At Christmas time Phil had glv
bad never had any more right to me
exasperated the cook almost beyond under the pleasant gray coating and be
I
could
not
see
that
be
had
elicited
felt rather like making the dog the
en me a blue and gold ‘bound edition
endurance had not occurred to Wilson. camo a dim and dingy memory until
anything to give him the remotest than any other girL Thlfi, to my aur means of an Introduction to hla mlo-
of his works with a steel engraved
prise,
seemed
to
give
her
greet
pain,
all
its
tawdry
details
faded
into
He did not take into account, as the
clew. While be was at work I was
but since I did not consider myself
frontispiece portrait of the author as a
cook did, the broken crockery, the care­ misty hulk which the kindly ashes of
living alone at my home, taking my
Tom Anally determined on a course
bound to Her simply because we bed
young man. and he was very hand­
less slopping and the colossal awk­ time covered with oblivion.
meals at my club. I learned that my
to pursue. H aring looked Into the oc­
been
a
good
deal
In
each
other's
com­
But
one
thing
stared
and
glared
at
some.
Ills
“
Lo'
ksley
H
all"
was
then
wardness with which his associate had
wife had gone with the children to her
cupancy of the houses opposite Mias
a favorite, and every one with any
lo contend. Viewed in his own light him out of tbe past—the sightless
motberia I did not communicate with pany I did not see what I could do to Fleetwood’s, be found that lodgings
make her feel any better. Indeed. I
the cook was a m artyr to his own socket that was more of an eMl eye
poetic tasto at nil was reading IL
her. having resolved that I would not
was Impressed with the Importance of were to be had In one of them and en­
charity in putting up w ith Wilson for than any sorcerer of fable possessed.
do so until I was vindicated and conld
Philip and 1 used to read together,
breaking off our association at once. gaged a room overlooking the street
»he three days' inconvenience that had The material success that awaited, him
show her how unjustly she had treat
and since I owned n copy of Teunysoa
He usually occupied it shoot the time
Thia I did.
t
marked what he considered Ills service. on hls homecoming was not bright
ed me.
and there were In it some gems on
My meeting with Helen was followed a lady would be likely to go out In tbe
enough
to
dim
that
grewsome
memory.
The cook, as lord of his own domln
One day my detective came to tne
which Philip mid I agreed the book
by something very different from what morning or the afternoon. He saw
Ion. had every right to reprimand an The more hls fortunes improved the
and told me that while questioning me.
had been between me and Maud. I Miss Fleetwood go out frequently,
wum at the time a port of our Intel­
awkward scullion in whatever lan­ more Insistent became its gax».
when he took the case, from what I
fell In love with her. 1 soon heard that sometimes in an anto. which she drove
No
murderer
was
more
persistently
lectual
lives
My
lin
k
blue
and
gold
guage he cboee. and the fact that that
had told him as to my trouble with
Maud was accusing me of having treat­ beraelf, but nothing of Wad. He u»1
edition—blue cover and gilt edge-was
language had been chosen from a vo­ haunted by tbe ghost b rills victim than
Maud Penrose before my marriage he ed her badly, and I waa received cold­ ally went to hi» point of observation
very pretty, but I f«hvy now It was
cabulary that was scarcely conducive was Wilson by this living specter. It
had no doubt ahe had written the let­ ly by some of her friends. 1 never In hls own auto, leaving It standing
peered into hls privacy. It leered at
to palatable pleasure in an utmosphere
the association th.it gave It Its beauty
ter or. rather, had employed some one asked any of them tor the reason of by the curb while on watch.
him when be surroui.de 1 himself with
of culinary preparation had not oc­
for me. And Is it not often tbe a «so
to do so for revenge. But be waa un­ their coolneee^or entered any defense
One crisp cold morning be saw Mias
society. Always lie knew tliat some
curred to the cook. He was used to
able to* prove tbe charge. Thia bad oc­ whatever In tbe mutter of Maud’s ac­ Fleetwood come out of hla house, lead­
elation tliut makes certain bits of lib
living man was carrying about the
bad scullions. Wilson was not used to
curred to me. but 1 had dismissed It cusations A man 1* powerless against ing the dog by a leash to her auto,
erature esjiecially dear to us?
thing he had •kllled—that that man was
bad cooks, at any rate not in such In ­
There w as one poem fbnt Philip and - at once because I did not consider It a woman In such a matter, for hls lips and. placing him In the seat beside her,
the walking tomb of a darkness, that
timate relation as he had lately found he. Wilson, had created la red wrttth.
reasonable to suppose that any edu­ are sealed, and she Is likely to secure she drove «way. In a Jiffy Tom was
I considered the gem of the whole
cated and refined womau could possi­ the sympathy of those to whom she down and ooL Springing Into bis car,
book, and I have since seeu it men
himself.
I.ove came to him. but could not
Therefore he resented the cook's blind him to tbe horror of tbe past.
bly commit such a base act. This had tells her story.
tinned by litterateur^ as one of the
be turned on the power and followed
most effective poems' ever written
treatment of him and under the abuse He feared to accept the sweet promise
no effect on the detective, who said
Helen knew of aU thia. She believed the lady. She was evidently ont for
and Indignation heaped upon him that a woman modestly held out to him
Tills is the first stanzl:
that not all criminals were to be found my story, but told me that I should
spin, for site proceeded on a road
smoldered a fire against humanity la for fear that their very union might
Tears. Idle te a r» —•
In the lower classes. 1 did not con­ not have become involved with any leading to tbe open country. Present­
,
1
know
not
w
h
a
t
th
ey
mean.
general, and the cook in particular.
vince him that he was wrong, nor did
woman I did not Intend to marry. She ly Tom gave » signal that be was
culminate In a terror more persistent
T e a rs fro m the depth
I t was small wonder, then, as the than the one he lived in. He could see "ARD YOU WANT TO GBT BACK?’’ INQUIRED
be convince me that bis charge whs had no acquaintance with Maud and about to pas» her. mid "be gave him
O f some dfvtne despair
. WSnOSV'- ■' '
“ :
cook came by and observed that, eveD hls child born with that aw ful badge
— lim e In th e h e a rt
u n s u p p o r t a b l e __
bad no idea of what “a woman room.
tbe depot the cook turned to Wilson
A nd g a th e r In th e eyes
with mechanical aid, Wilson was mak
A year passed, during which 1 whs scorned" may be capable. When Maud
U e ^ a d scarcely drawn up beside
of* hls mental vision materialized In a and Bpoke as one would »|>eak to a
In
looking
on
th
e
lug a huge blunder of his task, he baby face branded nt blr^h with a
called upon to make a long trip on sent her word tliat she In turn would her when Wad gave a succession of
H
a
p
p
y
a
u
tu
m
n
fields.
Kheuld give vent to his acorn In a per sightless socket to pen»etuate hls pun­ dream vlslpn he was afraid of dissi­
business and wns for months travel­ suffer from my |»erUdy It troubled her. joyful barks, and, before his mistress
A nd th in k in g on th e days
T h a t are no morxt
sonal analysis of Wilson that began ishment. That was the tinal pressure pating with hls voire.
ing The estrangement between me But she bad the loyalty to me to re­ could interfere with bis movements,
“See
here,
stranger,
this
all
seems
with his ancestors, disparaged his pres on hls crown of thorns.
One morniug 1 was in the conserva­
and my wife continued. I being too frain from telling me of tbe message.
be Jumped from her side and ran tw-
like it’s on the square, but how am I tory gathering some flowers to deco­
ent estate and painted in lurid huei
proud to attempt a reconciliation w ith­
Again tbe wanderlust stirred In him. going to repay yon?”
Since Helen and I had met on a ‘ftoe tbe passing car, barking vocifer­
his probable eternal future. There was and he packed hls grip, arranged his
out proof of my Innocence, she being Christmas eveulng we came to value ously. Tom for awbils pretended not
rate the living room mantel
Philip
By going back to Galesburg and be­
convinced that my silence was proof that anniversary. The first Christmas
a iiosalbUlty that even this would not letters of credit and once more took to
came in without ringing, as was his
to notice him, then looked down ax him
of m ^ g u llt A mutual friend told me after our marriage we Invited our in ti­
have loosened the floodgates of W il­ tbe road, this time fortified by a bank ing happy,” said Wilson earnestly.
custom. Up to that moment it had
with no appearance of especial Inter­
“I
’ll
do
that,”
the
cook
replied,
“bat
son's wrath if the discourse had not account and with the excuse of a wider
that she remembered Maud Penrose's mate friends to dinner and a dance.
not occurred to me that this period of
est, while tbe lady’s interest was pro­
«-Vi twins ted in the cook's emphasising field for the success that he had made. I want your name and address so I happy youth would ever end Indeed,
warning that she woo Id In time dis­ When our first child was two years
nounced. She motioned for Tom to
ean Send ydu w hat you’ve given me
his remarks by bringing a frying pan
cover my true character to her cost old we brought him to tbe table on slow up He did so, and both came to _
I 1 had not reullaed hot# delightful It
And so the eye became a restless as soon as I can earn it."
In violent contact w ith the offender's goad, drlviug him hither and thither'
This indicated to me that 1 had no Christmas day, and as other children a stop
“Never mind that now. Here we are. wns. Phil brought me news that it
chance to effect a reconciliation w ith­ came we added them to our family
^head.
w ltlr’lts evil ray that seemed like the and it lacks but a few minutes of train had passed (orever. Ue had l>een of­
“ I would like to get my dog beck
out proof, and I began to despair of
Wilson arose blind with dirty water light of a red star traveling through
fered
a
[Kwition
in
a
westdkn
city
and
circle around the board.
time,” and Wilson hurried him to the
Into my car,’’ she said.
and wrath, wiped the one'^from hls time. From city to city he wandered, ticket office, bought hls ticket and Pull­ was to take bis departure immediately.
ever being reunited to my family.
Alas. If the first Christmas annlver
"Suppose you call him?" repllel
eyes and allowed enough of the other always away from the scene of hls man reservation and rushed him
One day my detective came to me aaries of our married life were the
n o w I strove to 'avoid showing the
Tom.
to d rift out of hls optics until they evil adventure, until nt last he walked through the gate, A b they stood on shock tbe announcement gave met I t
and said .that for 81.000 he could se­
happiest there was oue. that waa the
Tbe girl opened tbe car door and call­
cure information as to the writer of mo«t miserable. That one I cannot to
tbe thoroughfare of a city divided by the platform he pulled out a roll of seemed that I could feel the bjood lenv-
ed to the dog to come to her. Instead,
the
letter.
I
gave
him
a
check
for
the
this day think of without a shudder
a continent from hls Nemesis, as he bllla and, peeling off two twenties, said, tng my cheeks. Tears, so beautifully
he tried to climb Into Tom’s car.
amount and told him that if he could
described in the poem 1 have quoted,
Wheu tbe fifth Christmas after our
thought
And then fate confronted “Here are your traveling expenses.
“W lll you kindly tell me," said Tom.
give
me
the
proof
I
required
before
rose
In
my
heart
and
gathered
in
my
marriage approached I waa away from "how you came by that dog?"
The cook turned t-hem over in hls
ldm. ,
the next Christmas, which was ap
hand,
and
a
mist
dimmed
his
good
eye.
eyes."
But
lest
Philip
should/ee
them
home, but promised to return In time
Faultlessly dressed, radiating an a t­
“I bought him.”
prosehlng. I would add a handsome to celebrate, the .day. «■ usual. A win
I don’t know what to say to all ( turned away from him.
mosphere of material prosperity, be
“ Well, you bought stolen property.
bonus
for
himself.
The
day
before
There
were
but
a
few
minutes
for
ter storm delayed my coming, and I He baa been my dog for many years.
was strolling aimlessly, seeking dis­ this,” and hls voire was husky, “bat
the
anniversary
be
came
to
me
with
a
the
parting.
We
had
not
been
lover»—
reached my home only at the hoqr aet He was a Christmas present to me
traction in tbe passing crowd, when this Is the happiest moment of my life,
specimen of penmanship identical with
at least if we were wc bad not known
for the dinner. What was my aur-
suddenly his eye « aught the profile of and you’ve got to give me your name
that of the incriminating letter I seiz­ prtse to see the bouse dark! Instead when be was a puppy."
U. PhD put out hl« hand to a plant
the cook's face. He waa on the left and address and tell me why you did
The young lady demurred. “Come,
beside him. plucked a rose that had
■ ■ '
fc_
'
ed it greedily.
of the lights that I had expected In Beauty.” she said; “that’s a good dog;
Aide, and the socket was tilled with a all this.”
Just
passed
from
bud
to
bloom
and
Wilson took hls arm and led him to
“Who Is the writer?” I asked.
every room not one appeared, in
come."
<lass eye glaring with a deed, un
hls car. I t lacked but a minute of train handed it to me. He said no*word, but
“I don’t know.” he replied. .Ttot 1 wondering terror I opened the doer,
w inking, unforgiving stare.
Beauty, as she called him, paid no
I
kuew
that
be
meant
It
to
be
expres­
do know that she was simply an aman
entered tbe hall and. turning on an attention to her. He waa sitting on
The cook had altered sadly. Fortune tlme> “M y friend, don’t yon know my sive of his regard for me My hand
nensia.
I
can
get
an
affidavit
from
her
face?”
he
asked
slowly.
,
electric
switch,
listened
for
a
sound.
hud evidently laid u heavy hand upou
hls haunches looking wistfully up at
The cook gazed at him searchlngly. was pressed by bis. and he was gone,
giving the name of her principal if The boose wns surely deserted. /
him. for hls bovine bulk had shruuk
Tom and wigging hls ta li
“There’s something fam iliar about It. back to the house whence he had come,
you w ill sign an agreemept not to in­
Going up to my wife’s bedroom,
with the reducing flesh until hls shab­
"He is a perfect witness.” said Tom,
and reappearing with hls belongings he
but—no, I don’t know you."
quire as to the identity of the aman­ saw evidence of a hasty <toi»nrture
by clothes hung limply upon hls form
“to tbe truth of my story. . 1 am not
“Once you had a dishwasher who entered a carriage standing at the gate
uensis or to prosecute.“'
On the mantel was an envelope ad going to take him away from yon, but
as upon a rack. Wllsou noted that hls
threw a pote*w Knife that tore out your and rode away.
I signed the agreement and tbe next dressed to me. but 1 perceived a t a
shoes were dilapidated and hls whole
if you are willing that be should re­
1
can
see
him
now.
^bougb
half
a
left eye,” said Wilson slowly.
day received the statement written In glance that it wns not In my wife’»
appearance that of one who waa tread­
turn to me I w ill reimburse you for
“Now I know yon,” and a wide grin century has elapsed, waving his hand
the hand of tbs'* writer of the incrim­ handwriting. I took it gp and fonnd
your pecuniary loss.”
ing bard ways
overspread the cook’s fare. “Why. to me aa he passed out of sight
inating letter. That was two days be­ that it had been opened. Taking out
He walked close to him. hoping he sure,” he said. “I wondered why you
It was finally decided between the
The dearest thing In the worm next
fore Christmas. , I sent a messenger its contents. I read a letter nddresaed-
was mistaken, but there was no deny­ skipped.”
tvo that they should return to tbe
to Phil was now the rose he had given
to
Helen
that
if
she
would
return
to
to me couched tn loving terras, indi­ lady’s home. Tom put Wad into her
ing the fam iliarity of the features
me. I kept it for a short time in wa­
“But the eye?” demanded Wilson
our home at once I would meet her cating that I was living a donble life,
stamjied ro indelibly upon hls memory
car, but he wouldn’t' stay there, and
“Oh, It didn’t break.” laughed trie ter, then put it into my Tennyson, pin
there with undleputable proof that she dividing my affections between my
lie had fled from fate, and it had pur rook; “this .« tbe same one. I ’ve worn nlng the stem to a flyleaf on which my
she finally consented that he should
had been deceived and victimized. 8he wife and the writer.
name appeared aa the owner of« the
sued him, for the fixed stare of the a r­ it ever since I was a boy.”
ride with Tom. When they reached
replied that she would go home., at
Here was an-explanation of tbe con­ their destination Tom and tbe girl and
tificial -substitute that coucealed hls
The conductor shouted “AH aboard.” book and P hil’s aa the giver on Chrtkt
once
and
if
I
could
convince
her
of
dition
in
which
I
had
found
my
home.
ghostly horror seemed to hypnotise the porter rushed the cook up the steps, mas day. with the date. Under It I
the dog went Into tbe boose, where
my innocence I would make her the The letter bad come duriflg my ab­ Tom offered to give np hla claim. But
him into following.
and the train moved off, leaving W il­ wrote the number of a page in the
sence. Helen had opened it and. con­ Miss Fleetwood, convinced that he be­
happiest woman in the world.
book. On that page was the poem that
He crossed behind to the cook’s right son staring after It.
We met on the morning of the day
vinced of my perfidy, bad taken the longed to Tom, relinquished the right
side and came close beside him. The
But as he turned to buy hls own Phil and 1 had agr<-ed was our first
before Christmas. Wlthont a word I
dftldren and gone away, that she might to him, refusing compensation, and
good eye regarded the well dressed ticket home the price be had paid f e t favorite, beginning “Tear», idle tears."
handed her an envelope containing the not meet me on my return.
These words 1 underscored.
stranger with curiosity, but no recog­ his peMce-seemed all too cheap.
Tom took him borne with him. Tom
evidence I had received. When she
But the letter. It mast have been not only regained hla property, but
All this may seem very lackadaisical
nition,
but
Wilson
was
certain
that
<3
written to one of tbe same name as formed an acquaintance on which be
to those who are engaged In the hum­ came 4 0 the name of the perpetrator
this waa tbe man.
A Figure Trio»«..
of the accusation. Maud Penrose, she myself and reached the wrong person. had set his h eart H e also in time
Get some one to put down a row of drum of life, but to me, evep though I
“ I beg your, pardon,” he said, “but
old woman With snow white
I certainly knew no snch woman as won the girl.
stood transfixed.
didn’t yoff cook In « restaurant in figures, to add them up and subtract sn^an 01
memory of my
THE COOK NBOOGHT THE FM ISO FAN IK
" I suspected thia." she ssid. “but the writer, who signed herself Alice.
hair,
it
la
the
tend
Wad lived to a very old age. In
the total— thus:
vioi . knt contact * i i n n ia offkmd - Galesburg some years ago I"
wonder If the
your silence convinced me that my sus­ OlXnclng again at tbe nddress, I saw fact he lived to be given at Christmas
long life. I someti
08.214
The cook regarded him With amaze­
JOt'a HEAD
|
resent
generation,
now
that
tbe
per
picion
waa
wrong.
.
I
t
seemed
a
con­
that
there
was
no
street
and
no
num­
These figures added together make
to Tom’s oldest son. aged four, but
ment. “Sure," he replied, “but I don’t
could make out the m isty bulk o f hls
vadlng sentimeut of that period, or at
ber on i t It had been delivered for me died that nig h t the boy having given
fession of g u ilt”
know you, and you don’t look much 10. Subtract thia 10 from tbe original
torm euter shaking w ith laughter at the
least the almost universal, love for a
without this, I being well known to him an overfeeding of plum pudding.
The next day we spent tbe happiest
number and you get 03,198.
like any one who ever ate there.**
the carrier.
.
tutfrhap.
Now ask them to cross out any one beautiful poem, has died sway, feel aa Christmas of our llvee.
Never mind that,” Interrupted WU
deeply as we did then. The human
U e realized th a t, th ough be dropped
<1 waa much chagrined at this break­
The Entrancs Hall.
figure,
total
them
up
again
and
tell
«on. “I thought you cooked there.”
Story of a Bunch of Keys.
heart la the same, but baa not the com­
hls reaso n , he still re tain ed th e p o tato
ing np of my Christmas through a
In planning tor the entrance ball a r­
I wish I did now.” And the cook’s you tbe total. Thus, say, they cross mercial spirit of the age blunted bu-
After
Mary,
queen
of
Scots,
had
suc­
peeler, and v.’.k’» r 'i o.r.’u !:c hurled it
mere mistake, and I waa angry with range for plenty of lig h t H ave a t
out the 0, the total becomes 21. They
one expressed regret.
ceeded In effecting her escape from the
BniB-sensibilities?
straight at the coo*.» head. Tile cj-:’.r
my wife for not having given me an least ofie window of ample size. Do
tell
you
thia,
and
without
looking
at
“ W h y I” demanded Wilson.
grim old fortress of Lochleven her de­
Though Philip and I were far from
did not have tim e to dodge com pletely,
opportunity to rectify it. Where she not depend npon the light admitted
“ Well, wheu I looked I was sure of the sum you can give the value of the each other, never saw each other,-he
liverer,
William
Douglas,
threw
the
o w in g to the unexpectedness of the at­
had gone 1 knew not. but could doubt­ through a small pane of glass placed
figure which has been crossed out.
keys
which
had
brought
bdr
her
free­
'
. .
-
tack and the fact thaV hls bulk w as uot eating."
less find out through members of her In thj. top of an ugly »0 called “mis­
You do this trick by subtracting the waa in my heart and as much to me
dom Into tbe waters of the lake. There
“And now you aie not?”
conducive to sw ift movem ent.
total from the next multiple of 9. "The absent ns present It never occurred
IfyH my Christmas had been sion" door. The entrance hall may
they lay till the parching summer of family
" I ’m out of a Job and a long way total.” says your friend, “Is 21.” The to me that 1 could love any one else,
Wilson was frozen with horror to
spoiled There w»s no time to mend be made a very Important factor la
1803,
when
a
boy
named
William
see the sharp point of the iieeler catch from home.” And there was a finality nearest multiple of 9 above 21 1s 27. and 1 never did. Others came and
1 would go to my d a b carrying out the general character of
Honeyman, while strolling on Its the matter
the cook's left eye, gouge It from the in hls tone as if it had all been said.
with the su­
'You subtract 21 from 27, and that w ent Some honored
and get my dinner, then won Id take tbe home, and It need» the light equal­
banka,
picked
ap
a
bunch
of
five
keys
You had better come and dine w ith leaves a To your friend you say in a preme compliment a nann may pay a
socket arid cfcrrr it away as it sj>ed on.
ly with any other room in the bouse.
of antique workmanship fastened by steps toward obtaining an explanation
leaving Wm »taring with awful fasci me." proposed Wilson, “and then you dignified tone. ’"The figure you crossed woman, but found no response in me.
Another mistake often made la In de­
from
my
wife.
*
an Iron ring. These the boy carried,
can tell me how you came to leave out was 6.”
nation at the yawning red cavity!
And your wondering Indeed. I wondered what had led them
At the club I took a table by my­ priving the entrance of h eat Certain­
to
the
pariah
schoolmaster,
who
for-
•
Then hls horror gave way to terri there."'
ly the impression conveyed by
cold
friend believe« you to be possessed of to suppose I* would respond.
lw arded them to the Karl of Morton, self and dined alone. The more I
You mean It?” And the cook look­ occult powers.
fled activity. Unmindful of hls api»ear-
entrance ball in winter la not a pleas­
Father’s death made a great change
—
thought
about
m.v
wife’s
going
away
hereditary keeper of Lochleven caatle,
ance. be rushed madly from the place ed him over with surprise.
I t doesn’t mutter what figures are tor ns. nts Income depending npon
ing onp and does not suggest the «Rlrit
near Edinburgh, where they still re­ en account of old age, perhaps hod fin­ of rest that, we have laid so much
“ I certainly do." And Wilson led originally put down, the answer al­ tn this fashion tbe more disgruntled I
and was eoeu running wildly down t’.»e
ished
him.
main.
They
are
without
doubt
the
alleys the gathering night Cloaking hr* the way Into a fashionable restaurant. ways comes <-orrect? .
was. When I had eateu a mere apol­ old keys which W illiam Douglas threw
One morning Tbm was looking over stress upon. Not only thia, but in win­
While the cook followed somewhat
eacai>e with Its sw ift folthig shadows.
ogy for a dinner I went to my^fieso- Into the loch on tbe eventful night the pictures of fashionable women In ter weather cold drafts of air are cer­
x
Co«Ileus, hatless, breathleas. lie made doubtfully,
R em iniscent.
late home, sat dow» ju the library and when tbe queen escaped, only to be a newspaper, and hla attention waa ar­ tain to enter the room through the
W hen the 111 nssorted pair w ere Beat"
hls way from one darkened section to
opening of doors and through the cracks
Thinking of the fugit of teropus. thought. My wife's action by this time
token again and consigned to life long rested by a picture of a pretty girl around the door. I t w ill mean much
another- until hls queonsclons feet ed nt a quiet table the cook’s embar­ when have you read about anybody
appeared
to
me
little
better
than
a
standing beside a dog. Underneath
brought h ln at length to the outskirts rassment faded under the soothing in­ being killed by »be sudden flip up of ciime. 1 was tempted to let her alone captivity.
was printed. "Miss Irene Fleetwood and to the comfort of the living rooms If
of the railroad yards. The sight of fluence of the first course», which were the foldlug bed that used to ba In for awhile, that *!»•
this air has the chill removed from it
discover
Her
Prize Winner.“
the racing switch engines awoke hls too far above any o f hls own culinary vogue?
before entering the general circulation
herself
the
wrong
«be
bad
committed
“I f that isn’t Wad,” remarked Tom
Women.
Bombed senses to one certain fact— »kill to attempt anything but their dis­
-Good Health.
Yet again, you don’t remember when The long evening Qnally passed with
to
himself,
“it
mast
be
hls
brother.
It
“Women
are
dreams,”
murmured
the
patch.
ba m ost get out o f town!
you ever read or beard about the old, out ray coming to any declslou. and 1 sentimentalist, gating on a group o f seems thgt If 1 should call b lti be
“Straugcr," be remarked, fixing W il­ stiffened towel that hung tn (he coun­
The red gisro of the cook’s »scant
Fortable »
would Jump tor me.”
them tn aiik attire.
went to bed.
\
socket haunted him and bade him flee son with bis one good eye, “I ’d like to try printing office
I
landed 1 took the car tor »
“When
“You
bet
th
ej
are.“
the
practicelist
There
was
a
abort
paragraph
4
boot
I
did
not
vx|>e
t
much
sleep.
*»<*
1
from retribution- Tbe fact that he had know what your name is and what
And you oever bear any more of the
" hen day snapped beck at tbe murmurous one, Mlaa Fleetwood end her dog, giving hotel."
, bo money and no dotbes only added your little game Is.”
pions grendrootVer. who. without the wiiM lint dlsapftainted
“Whet a singular mistake."-Boston
“M y name would do you no good and aid of specs, reads th» Bit»»«.—Rich dawned I was nwuke *nd vonCtreed “and dreams go by contraries, all her address. Tom cot It oat. with the
to h»« desire to put miles between him
right.”-Jodge.
»r
In
bis
porte-
ptetor^
placing
the
a y uuuidag. X W
^nd the
kls.dfod». Ail
nothing to you, and my
Time»- Dispatch
- - -e
<
»
. »4
’l l»«* O b s e rv e r
i One Eye
On
TWICE
Story of a Repeated
- Christmas Present
A SCHEME
TO RUIN
A Story For
Christmas