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By
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CHAPTER X VI 1. (Continued.)
Tit lawyer's Ill-timed attempt at i
jeke save Mr. Mallett the eppertunlty
he had been longing for, and ha tuned
upon him almost savagely.
"Be good enough to remember that
tkia Is a business Interview," he said,
frigidly, "and reserve your burner for a,
more fitting occasion." The small, shab
by creature shriveled tip at ence, and
Mr. Mallett, with a show ef surface
courtesy, turned to Babette. "And low
madame, I think the rest of this Inter
view can be carried on between us two;
the presence of a third person la unnec
essary, as I conclude the proofs spoken
of by you are In your possession."
"I must speak this once; and I nron't
interrupt again," jerked In Daws. "1
am a partner In this affair I would not
have taken it but on that understanding
and, being a partner, I submit that
you hare no right to shut me out; there
fere I stay."
Mr. Mallett shrugged his shoulders
with an expression of utter indifference.
Babette produced an envelope and took
from it the small photograph of a grave
which she had found In her mistress'
desk. She drew out a small magnifying
glass from her pocket and crossed the
room to the dirty window.
"Come and look," she said.
Mr. Mallett did as requested, and then
looked at her inquiringly.
' "Do you not see the name on the
tomb?" she asked, impatiently, for she
was so Impressed with the truth of her
own belief that she was annoyed when
others did not jump so readily to the
ame conclusion as herself.
Mr. Mallett bent down again In the
doubtful light that found its way through
the dust-grimed panes, and looked care
fully at the photograph. Daws and Ba
bette stood by, anxiously awaiting his
answer.
"I see the name 'Pauline' plainly and
the last letters of the second name
'M-l-n-g.' What ttfen?"
"Do you not remember that your
niece's name Is Pauline, and can you
not see that those letters which are blot
ted out by that mark must be the first
two letters of your own name? If It
were not for that blot, the name would
tand 'Pauline Mailing.' Can you not
understand that you hold In your hand a
photograph of your real niece's grave,
and that this woman at Malllngford Is
nothing but an adventuress?"
"Great heaven!"
He stood staring, first at one, then at
the other, and then, in breathless amaze
ment, he looked at the card In his hand.
Babette felt satisfied as to the success
of her coup. '
"And, if that is not enough I mean
the mere name there is the date, 'May,
IS .' This 'woman who has been
quietly accepted as . the late baronet's
Lelress first come to light In July of the
ame year. It Is all quite plain."
In a dazed fashion Mr. Mallett passed
his hand across his forehead. He could
not yet realize the position la which he
stood; he could not grasp what It meant
for him comfort, position, riches, splen
dor, after twenty years of comparative
privation. His head was in a whirl. -
"Will you not sit? You look over
tome, Sir Geoffrey."
He started on hearing himself ad
dressed by his proper name. Yes, that
was just what It meant to him that he
was, or would soon be, Sir Geoffrey Mal
llngford, of Malllngford Park, Instead
of a hard-working drawing master, doing
his dally round of Instruction at so many
shillings a quarter, and thinking himself
fortunate If, after settling bis bills, he
was able to put away a few pounds at
the end of each term. He dropped into
the chair placed for him by Babette,
wondering If he should' wake up to find
it all a . dream. He listened, without,
however, gathering much of her mean
ing, to the French woman's voluble ex
planation. . j,
'We advertised for you day after day
' in" the Timet, but could get no answer;
and I was In despair, when Providence
sent you down ' to, Mallingford. Mrs.
Perkins saw you and recogulzed you . as
you went out, and told me who you
were. How I prayed that aha was not
.mistaken! I telegraphed to Mr. Daws,
hud he telegraphed to you' this morning.
, I made an absolute necessity of coming
to town for some wedding finery;' and so
here we are!" ,
"And now what is to be done? And
am I to go down to the park and turn
this woman out with a policeman, or
how do you propose to proceed?"
"She must not be interfered with until
our proofs are all prepared," replied Mr.
Daws. "My suggestion Is that Ma'm'selle
Lestrange should give you the address
of the man who took that photograph
which, with a rare foresight, she with
held from me; that you cross over to
Paris by to-night's boat, and from there
, make your way as quickly as you can to
this place In Spain; that, when there, you
get affidavits, or whatever their Spanish
equivalent may be, from eye-witnesses of
your niece's death, also the certificate of
her death, and any other evidence that
may crop up, and that on your return
you place said proofs in my bands; and
before a month has passed you will be in
possession ot Mallingford, and ma'm'selle
and I will be lingering tnat nve thou
and."
"I have no money to meet the ex-
oenses of such a journey."
"I thought of that the minute I re-
calved ma'm'selle s telegram, and I rais
::
VTfc's Secret,
OR A BITTER RECKONING t
CHARLOTTE M. BRAEMB
- ....,....1L...1... ... ... t .. ............ I
.d fll'ty pounds at a big sacrifice this
morning. Sign this bill for seventy-five
it three months, and the fifty is yours."
Mr. Mallett's lip curled with contempt
at the shamelses extortion.
"Yeu must feel very sure of this
game," he remarked, "to be so generous,
ihall we call it?"
Daws listened to the Innuendo with
placid unconcern.
"Well, I do feel sure of It, and I'll
tell you why. Miss Mailing 'called upon
me the very first day our advertisement
f your address appeared, and she was
n such an awful state of fright about it
that I saw In a minute she was afraid
f you for some reason or other. Put
ting ffhat I observed and ma'm'selle's
theory about that photo together, I con
cluded that we were on the right track
that your niece is dead died six years
ago and this woman is nothing but an
impostor."
"Oh, yes, It Is sure enough," Inter
posed Babette. "But let us waste no
more1 time. I must get back to my fine
madame, and you, Sir Geoffrey, will
have to say good-by to the charming lady,
your daughter, and make arrangements
for your absence. Here is the address
of the photographer who took the pic
ture. That ends the arrangements so far
as I am concerned at present; the rest
remains with you and Monsieur Daws;
he will let me know how you go on In
your search. Good afternoon!"
Daws looked after her In surprise.
She had not spoken a word about the
rfeed for haste if the marriage was to
be prevented; he had been expecting It all
through the interview, and she had gone
without once Introducing the subject.
Perhaps she had altered her mind; any
way, that part of the business had noth
ing to do with him. Once more he open
ed his desk.
"Here is the money, Sir Geoffrey, and
here is the bill ready stamped to sign.
You will send me an occasional tele
gram, If you come across any news; and
if you find another fifty necessary you
can have it on the same terms. ' I wish
you a successful search, air, and a speedy
return."
"I shall wire If necessary, not unless;
and you may depend upon my earliest
possible return." -
He put his name to the bill, took up
the small roll of notes, bade the lawyer
good day and left the room without see
ing his extended hand.
"As proud aa Lucifer!" muttered
Daws, not a bit abashed. "Never mind,
the plainer and simpler the better."
Mr. Mallett reached the noisy, bustling
street and looked about him for a cab;
time was getting precious, if he meant
to start to-night; and he would like to
do so, If possible for an intolerable rest
lessness had come to him, and he felt
that he could not spend a moment in
peace until he knew everything.
To his surprise, as be looked up and
down the long street, Babette glided
from the shadow of a doorway and beck
oned to him.
"I want to say a dozen words to yon
that I do not care that . littl eman to
hear," she said, as he reached her sidt.
"I have only two minutes to spare, and
I was afraid you would not leave in
time. If you find out that your niece la
dead, and that this woman Is an Im
postor soon enough let me have a tele
gram to1 that effect by Wednesday morn
ing. I will not ask for my half of that
five thousand pounds."
Here was another complication.
"Why by Wednesday?" asked Mr.
Mallett, In surprise.
"Because she Is going to marry Mr.
Dornton at Bishopgate church at 11
o'clock on Wednesday next all in secret,
you know and I would not only give up
the money, but the best years of my life
to prevent It!" ,
"Married to Dornton on Wednesday
the very day after her birthday at a
busy city church! Great heavens, what
does it all mean?" asked Mr. Mallett,' In
perplexity... j-v '
"It means she is fond of that young,
man and will marry him in spite of ev
ery one1 if you do not - prevent , .it I
must fly lor my , train do what you
can." ' ' ' ' " ' r
He stood for a moment looking after
tier retreating figure, 'tried to make out
what the news meant; then gave It up Itf
despair , and. bestowed , hia thoughts ex
clusively on the arrangements for hid ab
sence. ' .. . ' ;
: CHAPTER XVIII.
Sunday at Malllngford Park. - The
house was full of visitors. Small attics
on the top story which had never been
slept in since the great doings of thirty
nine years before, when the late Sir
Paul came of age, were all occupied
now, for Liord Summers having express
ed a wish that Miss Mailing's majority
should be marked by fitting festivities,
that lady had thrown herself heartily
Into the project.
It was a close, stifling day,' and there
was a faint, white mist on the park
lands, and an Intense stillness In the air,
which proved very trying to the majority
of Miss Mailing's guests after luncheon.
They sauntered out ' of the reception
rooms by twos and threes, and sought
the quiet of their own apartments until
the ground floor looked quite deserted. '
Pauline's health was generally good;
but she, too, felt a breathless languor
to-day and determined to enjoy the after
noon in her own rooms. She removed
the gorgeous toilet which had fladdea
ed the eyea of the villager! m church
that morning, and replaced it by a light
cashmere gown.
"The last Sunday that I shall be
known to the world as Miss Mailing,"
she mused. "Before this time next week
Jack and I will be away from here,
happy in each otner's society, and in
die certainty that nothing on earth can
ever separate us. Most young women
would have numberless love tokens to
destroy before their marriage; I have ab
solutely nothing that I fear my hus
band's seeing. Circumstances have been
ngainst my cultivating lovers as aa
i;uisement, and I am spared the farce of
destroying the evidences of my " past
foly."
When she had taken two or three
turns up and down the room, she stopped
in front of her desk and looked at It
thoughtfully.
"I suppose I mav as wall destroy it."
h aaid, absently. "It can do me ne
good to keep it, and It might possibly
do me harm In the future. That must
have been In my mind all the time."
She unlocked the small bronze box on
the toilet table with a key that hung
from a gold chain round her neck, and
took from It a bunch of keys. Then
drawing up a chair to the desk she un
locked that also, and went alowly
through the contents.
She came upon one or two letters that
interested her slightly and drew her
thoughts away from her original purpose
to search the desk, and It was not until
both sides were quite empty that she
discovered with a sudden heart-quaking
fear the absence of that for which ahe
wa searching.
A look of wild despair flashed from
her eyes and her breath came In short,
sharp gasps, as she turned to the heaps
of odds and ends which she had already
gone through, with a hope that In her
absence of mind she might have passed
what she sought without noticing it.
Her quick, nervous fingers turned over
the papers until the pile had once more
been thoroughly searched; and then Pau
line Mailing sank back in her chair with
her hand to her head and a look of de
spair In her eyes. Horrible thoughts
chased each other through her aching
brain; and, when 5 o'clock at last struck,
she had arrived at only one definite con
clusion, that the person who had posses
sion of the missing article and the one
who had advertised for the address of
Sir Geoffrey Mailing were one and the
same.
When she rose and relocked the desk,
she was haggard and pale, and she look
ed at herself wistfully in the glass; and
nn Instinctive prayer went up from her
heart that her beauty might not leave
her until she was Jack Dornton's wife.
In the midst of all that threatened her
loss of name, wealth, position it was
almost touching to note how this worldly
woman counted everything as nothing ,
compared with her love for Jack.
' Lord Summers was one of the guests
at Mallingford. He was staying "over
the seventeenth," and the fussy, kindly
old man waa slightly concerned at the
existing state of affairs. He arrived only
on the Saturday evening, and he was '
surprised to find Jack still at the Park.
"And when are my pictures to be
completed, Mr. Dornton?" he asked.
This very question had been a point
of disagreement between Jack and Pau
line. He had wished to carry out the
commission for those six pictures, and
he had urgsd the unfitness of his earn
ing another penny by bis painting after
their marriage. So he hesitated a little
before he answered.
"Are you anxious to have them soon?
I am anticipating a winter In Rome this
year, and I should like, If possible, to
devote myself while there to a close
study of the old masters., But, If yqu
are particular as to time, I will ' finish'
your commission before I touch any other
work, of course." , .
"No, I don't thlnit I am exactly In a
hurry, If you are not," and as his lord
ship spoke he thought of the avidity
with which Jack had accepted the offer
when it was originally made, and his
voluntary promise to complete the series
by the end of the year. "So you mean
to winter in Rome? he said, pleasant
ly. "And how does Miss Ethel Mallett
like the prospect of so long a separa
tion?" Jack reddened suddenly, and he hated
himself for it., .....
"I did not know you took enough In
terest In my private affairs to be led
into investigating them," be answered,
"Nor do I. You are mistaken; . It is
Miss Mallett's affairs I am Interested
In. I beg you will hot credit me with
Trying into your personal, affairs at all.
As I have spoken on the matter, and
as you seem to resent the liberty which,
believe me, was not Intended as such
I must explain how things are. I met
an old friend of mine, with his daiigh-1
ter, at the Exhibition of the Royal Acad
emy one day last season. I had known
him In years past aa an enthusiast In
art, and I was delighted to meet so con
genial a companion." Lord Summers
paused a moment, and looked carefully
round the table; seeing everybody occu
pied In conversation, he went on, In a
slightly lowered voice. "My friend has
had many reverses In life, which has ne
cessitated his taking the name of 'Mr.
Mallett,' and have driven him to earn
a living for himself and his family by
giving lessons In drawing., I see you be
gin to understand now" In answer to
Jack's start of surprise. "Well, we went
through the rooms together and he came
to a picture of yours. Miss Mallett's
delight at its position on the line "Was
eloquent of many things. I looked the
question I did not dare to ask, and Mr.
Mallett told me of the engagement be
tween his daughter and you, and ex
pressed his wish that she should remain
In the same class of society that she had
been brought up In, In answer to my
suggestion that she should come to us
for a season out of town. Now,, perhaps,
you will understand my motive in seek
ing you ont to excuse my seemingly im
pertinent curiosity." ...
(To be continued -
m. m . t J a- r- m mm
The Kind You Have Alwavs
ture of Clias. II. Fletcher, and lias been made under his
personal supervision for over 30 years. Allow no one
to deceive you in this. Counterfeits, Imitations and
Just-as-gnod " are but Experiments, and endanper tho
health of Children Experience against Experiment.
What is CASTOR I A
Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare
goric, Drops and Soothintr Syrups. It is Pleasant. It
contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotl
substance. Its afro is its guarantee. It destroys "Worms
and allays Fcverishncss. It cures Diarrhoea and Wind
Colic. It relieves Tccthii.fr Troubles, cures Constipation
and Flatulency. It assimilates tho Food, regulates the
Stomach and Dowels, giving healthy and natural sleep.
The Children's Panacea Tho Mother's Friend.
The Kind You Have Always Bought
Bears the
In Use For
THI eiHTAUn OOMMNT. TT
Lincoln the Farmer.
Matters toon reached a crisis which
drove the Junior partner out into the
fields again, where- he undertook all
sorts of rough farm labor, from split
ting raila to plowing. As a man-of-all
work, however, Lincoln did not prove
altogether satisfactory to his employers,
He was too fond of mounting stumps
in the field and "practicing polemics"
on the other farm hands, and there was
something uncomfortable about a plow
man who read as he followed the team,
no matter how straight his furrows ran.
Such practices were irritating, if not
presumptuous, and there is a well
known story about a farmer who found
"the hired man" lying in a field be
side the road, dressed in his not too
immaculate farm clothes, with a book
instead of a pitchfork in his hand.
"What are you reading?" inquired
the old gentleman.
"I'm mt reading; I'm studying,"
answered Lincoln his wonderful eyes
still on the pages of his book.
"Studying what?"
"Law sir."
The old man stared at the speaker
for a moment in utter amaxment.
"Great God Almighty!" he mut
tered as he passed on shaking his head.
From Frederick Tievor Hill's "Lin
coln the Lawyer" in the January Cen
tury. Aa Early Reformer.
"I am looking," said Diogenes, "for
an honest man."
"And when you find him, what are
you going to do?"
"S-shI I'm not going to find him.
That would spoil the joke." Washing
ton Star.
MEUMATIS
BODY RACKED WITH PAIN
No other bodily suffering is equal to that produced by the pain of Rhettt
tnatism. When the poisons and acids, which cause this disease, become in
trenched in the blood there is hardly any part of the body that is not af
fected. The muscles become sore and drawn, the nerves twitch and sting,
the joints inflame and swell, the bones ache, every movement is one oj
agony, and the entire body is racked with pain. Rheumatism is brought on
by indigestion, stomach troubles, torpid Liver, weak Kidneys and a general
inactive state of the system. The refuse matter instead of passing off
through, nature's avenues is left to sour and form uric acid, and other acrid,
poisons which are absorbed into the blood. Rheumatism does not affect
tui nunc, in some cases it lanes a
wandering form ; it may be in the
arms or legs one day and in the
Bhoulders, feet, hands, back or other
parts of the body the next. Others
suffer more seriously, and are never
free from pain. The uric acid and
other irritating substances find odge -
ment in the muscles and joints and
as these deposits increase the mo.
eta 'become stiff and the joints
locked and immovable. It matters
faot m what form the disease may be'
tne Cause is always the same a sour,
acid condition of the blood. This
vital stream lias lost its purity and
freshness, and instead of nourish
ing and feeding the different parts
with health-giving properties, it fills them with the acids and salts of this
painful and far-reaching disease. The cold and dampness of Winter always
intensify the pains of Rheumatism, and the sufferer to get relief from the
agony, rubs the affected parts with liniments, oils, lotions, etc., or uses
Plasters and other home remedies. These are desirable because they give
temporary ease and comfort but have no effect on the real trouble which is in
me Diooa ana Deyona we reacn ot such
PURELY VEGETABLE.
ro 1
M
excited tierves, reduces the inflammation, dissolves the deposits in the joints
relieves all pain and completely cures this distressing disease. S. S. S. is a
certain cure for Rheumatism in any form ; Muscular, Inflammatory, Articu.
lar or Sciatic. Special book on the disease and any medical advice without
charge, to all who write. JjJ SWIFT SPECIFIC CO.. ATLANTA. GaI
Itouirht lias borne the sitrna-
Signature of
Over 30 Years.
MUMMY THirr, NtWVOKII OITV.
Past ncaaacltaUon.
In the days of the first settlers In the)
Chickasaw country, when Davy Crock
ett still frequented the IJIjr II a toll I e,
"Old Man Glddlns" was a prosperous
citizen of the Forked leer settlement.
One day be started on a trip to Ar
kansas, and thenceforth for several
years Forked iJeer knew hjra no more.
As travel In Arkansas was danger
ous, and ns nothing was heard of Gld
dlns, be was officially declared dead
by the court, and bis estate divided
among his heirs. A year or so later,
however, he turned up, and tried t
get possession of bis property again.
He was promptly seized and taken Into
court.
"What do you mean by coming
round here, trying to take this proper
ty?" roared the court at him.
"It's my property," asserted Old
dins. "Everybody knows It's mine."
"Not at all!" replied the Judge. "I'll
admit your case seems a hard one, but
It can't be helped now. This court
has decided that you are extinetus de
functus, which Is Latin for dead. Thla
court cannot err. Dead you are. If
you want any property round here you
must take another name and set to
work to earn It. Mr. Sheriff, adjoura
this court, and we will all go and see
that wrestling match you spoke of."
Mara More to the Point.
"Ef yer real Interested," said Deacea
Skinner, "I'll tell ye what I want fur
thet horse."
"Oh, I wouldn't be interested In know
in' thet," replied Farmer Shrnde, "but
I wouldn't mind knowiii' what ye'd
take." Philadelphia Ledger.
A Vnfc AM..- -r i a
attack of Rheumatism end could not
work with any satisfaction. My legs
were badly swollen and drawn so I
could soaroely walk. J tried many rem.
edies but could ret no reliet. I was fin
ally recommended to try S. S. S. and it
soon cured me sound and well. I am
now 74 years old and have never had
' " " " ' ,
Box 10JSEPH rE0ME HAAWLE
Box 104- Auror' I1L
and between my shoulders was so in-
u"A.?oul2 1 IS! or. "p. d
everything' but nothing: did me any srood
till I heard of and took S. S. S. This
moaicine ourea me sound and well, It
purified my blood and made me feel Ilka .
a new man.
CONRAD LOHB,
Anderson, Ind. 123 E. 19th St.
treatment. S. S. S. is the best rem
edy for Rheumatism, It goes into the
blood and attacks the disease at its head,'
and by neutralizing and driving out the
acids and building-up the thin, sour
blood it cures the disease permanently.
While cleansing the blood S. S. S. tones
up the stomach, digestion and every
other part of the svstpm cnnttia v,i
M
X