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IF** * \*?,*w.~rv**TTO^uc*"&$rVn y ^ » % , * * * * • < * , * » ' " " " BTHENRY PLAINDEALER, M'HENRY. ILL. The Exploits of Elaine A Detective Novel and a Motion Picture Drama 1 By ARTHUR B. REEVE The Weil-Known Novelist anJ the Creator of the "Craig Kennedy" Stories IPrescnted In Collaboration With the Pathe Player# and the Eclectic Film Compeay Copyright, 1914. by the 3t*r Company All Foreign Rights Reserved SYNOPSIS. The New York police are mystified by & •eiiea of murder* and other crimes. The firinclpal clue to the criminal Is the wani­ng letter which Is sent the victims, signed with a "clutching hand." The lat­ est victim of the mysterious assassin Is Taylor Dodjre, the Insurance president. His daughter. Klaine, employs Craig Ken­ nedy, the famous scientific detective, to try to unravel the mystery. What Ken­ nedy accomplishes is told by his friend Jatnes. a newspaper man. By an Ingen­ ious ruse Clutching Hand smuggles into Elaine's home a flask of liquid air which •he supposes to be a package of valuable papers. It blows open the safe in which ft ia placed, but Kennedy arrives in time to prevent the robbery. The detective narrowly misses death in his apartment where Clutching Hand has placed a shot pin so That it is-.fired by the ^I^ctrics.! connection formed when Kennedy places his hands on a framed photograph of Elaine. FIFTH EPISODE The Poisoned Room. Elaine and Craig were much togeth­ er during the next few days. Some­ how or other, it seemed that the chase of the Clutching Hand involved long conferences in the Dodge library, and even, in fact, extended to excursions Into the notoriously crime-infested neighborhood of Riverside drive, with Its fashionable procession of automo­ biles and go-carts--as far north, in­ deed, as that desperate haunt known as Grant's tomb. But to return to the more serious side of the affair. Kennedy and Elaine had scarcely come out of the house and descended the steps, one afternoon, when a sinis­ ter face appeared in a basement area- way near by. It was the Clutching Hand. He wore a telephone inspector's hat and coat and carried a bag slung by a strap over his shoulder. For once he bad left ofT h£s mask, but. in place of it, his face *as covered by a scraggy black beard. The disguise was effec­ tive. He saw Kennedy and Miss Dodge and slunk unobtrusively against a railing, with his head turned £way. Laughing and chatting, they passed. Then he turned in the other direc­ tion and, going up the steps of the Dodge house, rang the bell. "Telephone inspector," he said in a loud tone as Michael, ia Jennings' place for the afternoon, opened the door. He accompanied the words with the sign,. and Michael admitted him. AB it happened, Aunt Josephine was upstairs in Elaine's room. She was fixing flowers in a vase on the dress­ ing table -of ber idolized niece. Mean­ while, Rusty, the collie, lay, half blink­ ing, on the floor. "Who is this?" she asked, as Mi­ chael led the bogua telephone inspec­ tor into the room. "A man from the telephone com­ pany," he answeredt deferentially. Aunt Josephine, unsophisticated, al­ lowed them to enter without a further question. Quickly, like a good workman, Clutching Hand went to the telephone instrument and by dint of keeping his finger on the hook and his back to •unt Josephine succeeded in convey­ ing the illusion that he was examining It No sooner was the door shut than the Clutching Hand hastily opened his bag a*frd from it drew a small powder- spraying outfit, such as I have seen used for spraying bug powder. He then took out a sort of muzzle with an elastic band on it and slipped it over his head so that the muzzle pro­ tected his nose and mouth. He seemed to work a sort of pump­ ing attachment and from the nozzle of th£ spraying instrument blew out a cloud of powder which he directed at the wall. Meanwhile, Michael, in the hallway, .on guard to see that no one bothered the Clutching Hand at his work, was overcome by cuiiuollj to sec what his paster was doing. He opened the door a little bit and gazed stealthily through the crack into the room. Clutching Hand was now spraying the rug close to the dressing table of Elaine and was standing near the mir­ ier. He stooped down to examine the rug. Then, as he raised his head, he happened to look into the mirror. In It he could see the full reflection of Michael behind him, gazing into the room. "The scoundrel!" muttered Clutch­ ing Hand, with repressed fury at the discovery. He rose quickly and shut ofT the spraying Instrument, stuffing it into the bag. He took a step or two toward the door. Micnael drew back, fear­ fully, pretending now to be on guard. Clutching Hand opened the door and, still wearing the muzzle, beck­ oned to Michael. Michael could scarcely control his fears. But he obeyed, entering Elaine's room after the Clutching Hand, who locked the door. "Were you watching me?" demand­ ed the master criminal, with rage. Michael, trembling all over, shook his head. For a moment Clutching Hand looked him over disdainfully at the clumsy lie. Then he brutally struck Michael in the face, knock&g him down. An un­ governable, almost Insane fury seemed to possess the man as he stood over the prostrate footman, cursing. "Get up!" he ordered. Michael obeyed, thoroughly bowed. "Take me to the cellar, now," he demanded. Michael led the way from the room without a protest, the master criminal following him closely. Down into the cellar, by a back way, they went, Clutching Hand still wearing his muzzle and Michael say­ ing not a word. Suddenly Clutching Hand turned on him and seized him by the collar. "Now, go upstairs, you," he mut­ tered, shaking him until his teeth fairly chattered, "and if you watch me again--I'll kill you!" • He thrust Michael away, and the footman, overcome by fear, hurried upstairs. Still trembling and fearful, Michael paused in the hallway. He put his hand on his face where the Clutching Hand had struck him. Then he waited, muttering to himself. As he thought it over, anger took the place of fear. He slowly turned in the direction of the cellar. Meanwhile, Clutching Hand was standing by the electric meter. He; examined it carefully, feeling where the wires entered and left it, and starting to trace them out. At last he came to a point where it seemed suitable to make a connection for some purpose he had in mind. Quickly he took some wire from his bag and connected it with the electric light wires. Next, he led these wires, concealed, of course, along the cellar floor, in the direction of the furnace. The furnace was one of the old hot air heaters and he paused before it as though seeking something. Then he bent down beside it and uncovered a little tank. Doctor Hayward had arrived and had just finished taking the patient's pulse and temperature as our cab pulled up. Elaine was quite ill indeed. "Oh! Tm so glad to see you," she breathed with an air of relief as Ken­ nedy advanced. "Why--what is the matter?" asked Craig anxiously. Doctor Hayward shook his head du­ biously, but Kennedy did not notice him, for, aB he approached Elaine, she drew from the covers where she had concealed it a letter and handed It to him. Craig took It and read: "You are sick this morning. To­ morrow you will be worse. The next day you will die unless you discharge Craig Kennedy." At the signature of the Clutching Hand he frowned, then, noticing Doc­ tor Hayward, turned to him and re­ peated his question, "What is the mat­ ter?" Doctor Hayward continued shaking his head. "I cannot diagnose her symptoms," he shrugged. There seemed to be a faint odor, al­ most as If of garlic, in the room. It was unmistakable and Craig looked about him curiously, but said nothing. As he sniffed, he moved impatiently and his foot touched Rusty, under the bed. Rusty whined and moved back lazily. Craig bent over and looked at him. "What's the matter with Rusty?" he asked. "Is he sick, too?" "Why, yes," answered Elaine, fol­ lowing Craig with her deep eyes. Craig reached down and gently pulled the collie out into the room. Rusty crouched down close to the floor. His nose was hot and dry and feverish. He was plainly ill. "How long has Rusty been in the room?" asked Craig. "All night," answered Elaine. "I wouldn't think of being without him now." "May I take Rusty along with me?" Craig asked finally. Elaine hesitated. "Surely," she said at length, "only be gentle with him." "Of course," he said simply. "I thought that I might be able to dis­ cover the trouble from studying him." We stayed only a few minuteB longer, for Kennedy seemed to realize the necessity of doing something im­ mediately, and even Doctor Hayward was fighting in the dark. Back in the laboratory, Kennedy set to work immediately, brushing every­ thing else aside. He began by draw- "Well," added Craig, "you see, Mi­ chael has become infuriated by the treatment he received from the Clutch* lng Hand* I believe he cuffed him in the face yesterday. Anyway, he says he has determined to get even and be­ tray him." I did not like the looks of the thing, and said so. "Craig," I objected vehemently, "don't go to meet him. It Is a trap." Kennedy had evidently considered my objection already. "It may be a trap," he replied slow­ ly, "but Elaine 'is dying and we've got to see this thing through." As he spoke, he took an automatic from a drawer of a cabinet and thrust It Into his pocket Then he went to another drawer and took out several sections of thin tubing, which seemed to be made to fasten together as a fishing pole is fastened, but were now separate, as If ready for traveling. Then he went out I followed, still arguing. "If you go, I go," I capitulated. "That's all there is to It." Following the directions that Mi­ chael had given over the telephone, Craig led me into one of the toughest parts of the lower West side. "Here's the place," he announced, stopping across the street from a dingy Raines law hotel. "Pretty tough," I objected. "Are you sure?" "Quite," replied Kennedy, consulting his notebook again. Reluctantly I followed and we en­ tered the place. "I want, a room," asked Craig as we were accosted by the proprietor, comfortably clad ln ft loud checked suit and striped shirt sleeves. "I had one here once before--forty-nine, I think." "fifty--" I began to correct. Kennedy trod hard on my toes. "Yes, forty-nine," he repeated. The proprietor called a stout negro porter, waiter and bell-hop all com­ bined in one, who led us upstairs. "Forty-nine, sah," he pointed out, as Kennedy dropped a dime into his ready palm. The negro left us, and as Craig started to enter, I objected. "But, Craig, it was fifty-nine, not forty-nine. This is the wrong roopi." "I know it," he replied. "I had it written in the book. But I want forty- nine--now. Just follow me, Walter." Nervously I followed him Into the room. "Don't you understand?" he went on. "Room forty-nine is probably just H§ thrust his hand gingerly into it bringing it out quickly. The tank was nearly full of water. Next from his Capacious bag he took two metal poles, or electrodes, and fastened them carefully to the ends of the wires, placing them at op­ posite ends of the tank in the water. For several moments he watched. The water inside the tank seemed the same as before, only on each elec­ trode there appeared bubbles, on one bubbles of oxygen, on the other of hydrogen. The water was decompos­ ing under the current by electrolysis. Another moment he surveyed his work to see that he had left no loose ends. Then he quietly let himself out of the house. The next morning Rusty, who had been Elaine's constant companion since the trouble had begun, awakened his mistress by licking her hand as It hung limply over the side of her bed. She awakened with a start and put her hand to her bead. She felt ill. "Poor old fellow," she murmured, half dazedly. Rusty moved away again, wagging his tail listlessly. The collie, too, felt ill. "Why, Miss Elaine--what ees. ze mattair? You are so pale!" exclaimed the maid, Marie, as she entered the room a moment later with the morn­ ing's mall on a salver. "I don't feel well, Marie," she re­ plied, trying with her slender white hand to brush the cobwebs from her brain. "I--I wish you'd tell Aunt Jo­ sephine to telephone Doctor Hay­ ward." "Yes, mademoiselle," answered Marie. Languidly Elaine took the letters one by one off the Balver. Finally she selected one and slow­ ly tore it open. It had no superscrip­ tion, but it at once arrested her at­ tention and transfixed her with ter­ ror. It reau: * "You are sick this morning. To­ morrow you will be worse. The next day you will die unless you discharge Craig Kennedy." It was signed with the mystic trade­ mark of the fearsome Clutching Hand! Elaine drew back into the pillows, horror stricken. Quickly Bhe called to Marie;. "Go --get Aunt Josephine--right away! ' And Marie almdst flew down the hall. Elaine Beized the telephone and called Kennedy's number. Kennedy, in his stained laboratory apron, was at work before his table, while I was watching him with inter­ est, when the telephone rang. Without a word he answered the call, and I could see a look of per­ turbation cross his face. I knew it was from Elaine, but could tell noth­ ing about the nature of the message. An Instant later he almost tore off the apron and threw on his hat and coat. I followed him as he dashed out of the laboratory. "This is terrible--terrible," be mut­ tered, as he hurried across the campus of the university to a taxlcab stand. A few minutes later, when we ar rived at the Dodge mansion, we found Aunt Josephine and Marie doing all they could under the circumstances. I Craig Reached Down and Gently Pulled the Collie Into the Boom. ing off a little df Rusty's blood in a tube, very carefully. "Here, Walter," he said, pointing to the little Incision he had made, "will you take care of him?" Quickly Craig made one test after another. As he did so I 6nlffed. """here was an unmistakable odor of garlic in the air which made me think of what I had already noticed In Elaine's room. 'Arseniuretted hydrogen," he an­ swered, still engaged in verifying his tests. "This is the Marsh test for arsenic." "Arsenic!" I repeated, In horror. I had scarcely recovered from the surprise of Kennedy's startling reve­ lation when the telephone rang again. Kennedy seized the receiver, thinking evidently that the message might be sfrom or about Elaine. But from the look on his face and from his manner, I could gather that, although it was not from Elaine her^ self, it was about something that in­ terested him greatly. "Good!" I heard him say finally. "I shall keep the appointment--abso­ lutely." "What was it?" I asked, eagerly. "It was Elaine's footman, Michael," he replied, thoughtfully. "As I BUS pected, he says that he 1b a cbnfeder ate of the Clutching Hand, and if we will protect him he will tell us the trouble with Elaine." I considered a moment "How's that?" I queried. the same as fifty-nine, except perhaps the pictures and furniture, only it Is on the floor below." He gazed about kfecnly. Then he took a few steps to the window and threw it open. As. he stood there he took the parts of the rods he had been carrying and fitted them together un­ til he had a pole some eight or ten feet long. At one end was a curious arrangement that seemed to contain lenses and a mirror. At the other end was an eye-piece, as nearly as I could make out. "What is that?" I asked as he com­ pleted his work. "That? That Is an instrument something on the order of a miniature periscope," Craig replied, : still at work. I watched him, fascinated at his re­ sourcefulness. He stealthily thrust the mirror end of the periscope out of the window and up toward the cor­ responding window upstairs. Then he gazed eagerly through the eye-piece. "Walter--look!" he exclaimed to me. I did. There, sure enough, was Mi­ chael, pacing up and down the loom. As I looked at him nervously walk­ ing to and fro, I could not help ad­ mitting that things looked safe enough and all right to me. Kennedy folded the periscope up and we left our room, mounting the remaining flight of stairs. In fifty-nine we could hear the measured steps of the footman. Craig knocked. The footsteps ceased. Then the door opened slowly and I could see a cold blue automatic. "It's all right Michael," reassured Craig calmly. "All right Walter," he added to me. The gun dropped back Into the foot­ man's pocket We entered and Mi­ chael again locked the door. Not a word had been spoken by him so far. Next Michael moved to the center of the room and, as I realized later, brought himself In direct line with the open window. He seemed to be over­ come with fear at his betrayal and stood there breathing heavily. "Professor Kennedy," he began, "I have been so mistreated that I have made up my mind to tell you all I know about this Clutching--" Suddenly he drew a sharp breath and both his hands clutched at his own breast He did not stagger and fall In the ordinary manner, but seemed to bend at the knees and waist and literally crumple down on his face. We ran to him. Craig turned him over gently on his back and examined him. He called. No answer. Michael was almost pulseless. Quickly Craig tore off his collar and bared his breast, for the man seemed to be struggling for breath. As he did BO he drew from Michael's throat a small, sharp-pointed dart. "What's that?" I ejaculated, horror stricken. "A poisoned blowgun dart, such as is used by the South American In­ dians on the upper Orinoco," he said slowly. He examined it carefully . "What Is the poison?" I asked. "Curarl," he replied simply. "It acts on the respiratory muscles, paralyzing them and causing asphyxiation." The dart seemed to have been made of a quill with a very sharp point, hol­ low, and containing the deadly poison in the sharpened end. "Look out!" I cautioned, as he handled It "Oh, that's all right," he answered casually. "If I don't scratch myself, I am safe enough. I could swallow the stuff and it wouldn't hurt me--unless I had an abrasion of the lips or some internal cut." Kennedy continued to examine the dart until Buddehly I heard a low ex­ clamation of surprise from him. In­ side the hollow quill was a thin sheet of tissue paper, tightly rolled. He drew it out and read: "To know me Is Death. "Kennedy--Take Warning." Underneath was the inevitable. Clutching Hand sign. We jumped to our feet. Kennedy rushed to the window and slammed It shut, while I seized the key from Mi­ chael's pocket opened the door and called for help. A moment before, on the roof of a building across the street, one might have seen • a bent skulking figure. His face was copper colored and on his head was a thick thatch of mat­ ted hair. He looked like a South American Indian, in a very dilapidated suit of cast-off American clothes. He had slipped out through a door­ way leading to a flight of steps from the roof to the hallway of the tene­ ment, and, like one of his native ven­ omous serpents, worked his way down the stairs again. My outcry brought a veritable bat­ talion of aid. The hotel proprietor, the negro waiter and several others dashed upstairs, followed shortly by a portly policeman. Craig took the policeman Into his confidence, showing him the dart and explaining about the poison. The offi­ cer stared blankly. "I must get away, too," hurried on Craig. "Officer, I will leave you to take charge here. You can depend on me for the inquest." The officer noddefl. "Come on, Walter," whispered Craig, eager to get away, then addAnjr the one word, "Elaine!" I followed hastfly, not slow to un­ derstand his fear for her. Nor were Craig's fears groundless. In spite of all that could be done for her, Elaine was still in bed, much weaker now than before. More than that, the Clutching Hand had not neglected the opportunity, either. Suddenly, Just before our return, a stone had come hurtling through the window, without warning of any kind, and had landed on Elaine's bed. Below, as-we learned some time aft­ erwards, a car had drawn up hastily and the evil-faced crook whom the Clutching Hand had used to rid him­ self of the informer, "Unvpy Red," had leaped out and hastily hurled the stone through the window, as quick­ ly leaping back into the car .and whisking away. Around the stone was wrapped piece of paper on which was the om­ inous warning, signed as usual by the Hand: "Michael Is dead. "Tomorrow, you. "Then Kennedy. "Stop before It is too late." Elaine had sunk back Into her pil­ lows, paler than ever from this sec­ ond shock. It was just then that Kennedy and I arrived and were admitted. "Oh, Mr. Kennedy," cried Elaine, handing him the note. Craig took it and read. "Miss Dodge," he said, as he held the note out to me, "you are suffering from ar­ senic poisoning--but I don't know yet how it is being administered." He gazed about keenly. Meanwhile, I had taken the crumpled note from him and was reading it. Somehow, I had leaned against the wall. As I turned, Craig happened to glance at me. "For heaven's sake, Walter," I heard "What yon htm exclaim. up againBt?" He fairly leaped at me and I felt him examining my shoulder where I had heen leaning on the wall. Some­ thing on the paper had come off and left a mark on my shoulder. Craig1 looked puzzled from me at the wall* "Arsenic!" he cried. Re whipped out a pocket lens audi looked at the paper. "This heavy,1 fuzzy paper Is fairly loaded with powdered," he reported. Kennedy paced the room. 8udde» ly, pausing by the register, an idea seemed to strike him. " "Walter," he whispered, "come down cellar with me." "Oh! Be careful!" cried Blaine, anx­ ious for him. "I will," he called back. As he flashed his pocket bull's-eye about, his gaze fell on the electric meter. He paused before it. In *! mm. g^:-::Wv Kennedy Discovers the Secret of the Poisoned Room. Stop That Backache! There's nothing more discouraging than a constant backache. You are lame when you awake. Pains pierce yon when you bend or lift. It's hard to rest and next day it's the same old story. Pain in the back is nature's warning of kidney ills. Neglect may pave the war to dropsy, gravel, or other serious kid­ ney sickness. Don't delay--begin using Doan's Kidney Piils--the remedy that has been curing backache and kidney trouble for over fifty years. An Iowa Case Mrs. M. Clinker, N. State St., Tama, Iowa, says: "My b a c k w a s w e a k a n d p a i n f u l and the pains ex­ tended up Into my arms and Bhoul- ders. I had to have help in getting up mornings and my back was so lama and stiff I "could h a r d l y d r e s s . Doan' s K i d n e y Pills acted wonder- fully, restoring me to good health. The cure has lasted." Gat Doan'a at Am? Staem, BOe m In DOAN'S "VKiV roSTGRMLBURN CO* BUFFALO, W. T. spite of the fact that it was broad daylight, it was running. His face puckered. They are using no current at pres­ ent in the house," he ruminated, "yet the meter is running." He continued to examine the meter. Then he began to follow the electric wires along. At last he discovered a place where they had been tampered with and tapped by other wires. "The work of" the Clutching Hand!" he muttered. Eagerly he followed the wires to the furnace and around to the back. There they lgd right into a little water tank. Kennedy yanked them out. As he did so he pulled some­ thing with them. Two electrodes the villain placed there," he exclaimed, holding them up triumphantly for me to see. T-yes," I replied, dubiously, "but what does it all mean?" Why, don't you see? Under the in­ fluence of the electric current the wa­ ter was decomposed and gave off oxy­ gen and hydrogen. The free hydrogen passed up the furnace pipe and com­ bining with the arsenic in the wall paper formed the deadly arseniuretted hydrogen." He cast the whole improvised elec­ trolysis apparatus on the floor and daBhed up the cellar steps. I've found it!" he cried, hurrying into Elaine's room. "It's in this room a deadly gas--arseniuretted hydro­ gen." He tore open the windows. "Have her moved," he shouted to Aunt Josephine. "Then have a vac­ uum cleaner go over every Inch of wall, carpet and upholstery." Standing beside her, he breathless­ ly explained his discovery. "That wall paper has been loaded down with arsenic, probably parts green or Schweinfurth gtfeen, which is acetoar- senite of copper. Every minute you are here you are breathing arseniuret­ ted hydrogen. •This Clutching Hand is a diabolical genius. Think of it- poisoned wall paper!" No one said a word. Kennedy reached down and took the two Clutching Hand messages Blaine had received. "I shall want to study these notes, more, too," he said, hold­ ing them up to the wall at the head of the bed as he flashed his pocket lens a£ them. "You see, Elaine, I may be able to get something from study­ ing the ink, the paper, the hand writ­ ing--" Suddenly both leaped back, with a cry. Their faces had been several Indies apart. Something had whizzed between them and literally Impaled the two notes on the wall. Down the street, on the roof of a carriage house, back of a neighbor's, might have been seen the uncouth fig­ ure of the shabby South American In­ dian crouching behind a chimney and gazing intently at the Dodge house. As Craig had thrown open Elaine's window and turned to Elaine the figure had crouched closer to the chimney. Then with an uncanny determina­ tion, he slowly raised the blowgun to his lips. I Jumped forward, followed by Doc­ tor Hayward, Aunt Josephine and Marie. Kennedy had a peculiar look as he pulled out from the wall a blow­ gun dart similar In every way to that which had killed Michael. "Craig!" gasped Elaine, reaching up and laying her soft, white hand on his arm In undisguised fear for him, "you --you muBt give up this chase for the Clutching Hand!" "Give up the chase for the Clutch­ ing Hand?" he repeated In surprise. "Never! Not until either he or I Is dead!" There was both fear and admiration mingled in her look, as he reached down and patted her dsft&y. shoulder encouragingly. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Make the Liver Do its Duty Nine times in ten when the liver ia right the stomach and bowels are right CARTER'S LITTLE LIVER PILLS gently butfirmly com­ pel a lazy liver toi do its duty. Cures Con­ stipation, Iiy digestion. Sick Headache* and Distress After Eating. SMALL PILL, SMALL DOSE, SMALL PRICK. Genuine must bear Signature rz£ CARTER* ITTLE BLACK LOSSES SORELY PREVENTED tar CatUr** Bl*eklt( Pill*. Low-Srlced. frash. relUbls: preferred by "WwtarD itockraen, MeauM "i where etk*r ytMliM for booklet and teiUmooiil^ SlMklif Pill* fl.00 »kf* SlUklH PUIS 4.00 TJco an? Injector, bat Cuttu*s tilt The superiority of Cutter products Is due to ores 0 yesre of specializing in vmeelnet and esmiM snty. Insiei on Cuttcr'o. If unobtainable, order (HtnL Yds Cutter LalxwKtorsre. Berfceiqr, Gftl.? f t CfclMK, IA . _ the* « a «roteet where ether VMelset fall. • B- M ^ writ* for booklet and teitimooiab LL\i sir* $1- PARKER'S HAIR BALSAM A toilet preparation of merlfc Helps to eradicate dandruti For Restoring Color and Beauty to Gray or Faded Hair. 60c. and $L00 at Druggist*. FACTS ABOUT THE MORTGAGE For One Thing, as a Tireless Worker It May Be 8aid to Hold the Record. A mortgage makes a man rustle and it keeps him poor. It is a strong incentive to action, and a wholesale reminder of the fleeting months and years. It is fully as symbolical in its meaning as the hour-glass and scythe, that mean death. A mortgage represents industry, be­ cause it is never idle, night or day. It is like a bosom friend, because the greater the adversity the closer It sticks to a fellow. It is like a brave soldier, for i t never hesitates at charges, nor fears to close in on the enemy. It Is like the sandbag of the thug--silent in application, but dead­ ly in effect. It is like the hand of Providence--it spreads all over crea­ tion, and its influence is everywhere visible. It is like the grasp of the devil-fish--the longer it holds the greater its strength. It will exercise feeble energies and lend activity to sluggish brain, but no matter how debtors work the mortgage works harder still. A mortgage is a good thing to have in a family--provided, always, it is in somebody else's fam­ ily.--New York World. NEVER MEANT AS STIMULANT Books, Music and Art Seem to Have Been Wrongly Applied for Some ! Little Time. For a considerable time we have seen growing a contempt for the old- fashioned idea that it was a function of books, music and art to provide a solace from the exacerbation of life, comments the Springfield Repub­ lican. The new fashion, bred during a Ions peace agitated only by reform movements, has been to regard life itself as an unwholesome sedative the dulling effect of which the artistB and writers must do their best to overcome by applying a stimulant of one sort or another. We have had cubist pictures resembling the hal­ lucinations that follow a late debauch in green tea; futurist compositions for piano or orchestra that sound like a toothache set to music, and lit­ erary and dramatic productions frank­ ly meant to agitata, to Irritate, t* In­ flame. Nuw, to anyone who takes a long look at the history of the world this sunt seem a topsy-turvy condition of affairs. Life has not usually been regarded *s a feather bed, so drowsy and luxurious that for a counter- irritant men needed all the discom­ forts which disagreeable books, plays, music and pictures can be made t© yield. Cicero, a soft-flbered man In a hard age, who ran many hazards and came to a violent end, wrote fit the consolations of philosophy and of | friendship. The horrors of civil war gave a melancholy beauty to the lines of the gentle Virgil. Much great art has been produced in times of storm and stress, but it has been for con­ solation, net for stimulus. Cold 8toraa« on Liners. Marine cold Btorage plants, apart from the strict e6dnomy of space, are not unlike thone erected anywhwe else. In most cases carbonic add s*s is the refrigerating agent employed, mainly because In the event of wreck­ age it is odorless. The machines used are of two types, brine and cold air. In the former the chilled brine Is pumped through coils surrounding the walls of chambers usually amidships and running pretty well the depths of all the holds, the various *oods being frozen before leading and packed In one on top of another. Frozen meats are packed in cases of varying sizes bound with withes to prevent their bursting In the slings. Cold air is supplied to fruit and cheese storage and rarely used at a temperature be­ low freezing. larger In deck area and have lower ceilings, the packages stored there be­ ing more liable to damage if piled too high. The walls of all the chambers are usually insulated with mineral wool or cork board. Greatness. "What to josr idea of a great au­ thor?" "A great author," replied Miss Cay­ enne, "is one whose works you have to pretend you have read. These chambeflji are< they bore you or not.** Advancement. 'Have you been makifig any prog­ ress since my last visit to Crimson Gulch?" asked the serious stranger. 'Yes. Ever since some whist play­ ers struck the town we have been more refined. They didn't last long, but their influence lingers. Every time a player says he can open a Jackpot everybody around the table says, 'Pray do.'" A FOOD DRINK Which Brings Daily Enjoyment A lady doctor writes: "Though busy hourly with my own afTairs, I will not deny myself the pleasure of taking a few minutes to tell of the enjoyment obtained dally from my morning cup of Postum. It Is a food beverage, not a stimulant like coffee. "I began to use Postum 8 years ago; not because I wanted to, but because coffee, which I dearly loved, made my nights long, weary periods to be dread­ ed and unfitting me for business dur­ ing the day. "On advice of a friend, I first trteo Postum, making it carefully as sug­ gested on the package. As I had al­ ways used 'cream and no sugar,* 1 mixed my Postum so. It looked good, was clear and fragrant, and it was a pleasure to see the cream color it as my Kentucky friend always wanted her coffee to look, 'like a new saddle.' "Then I tasted it critically, for I had tried many 'substitutes' for coffee. I was pleased, yes, satisfied with my Postum in taste and effect, and am yet, being a constant user of It all these years. "I continually assure my friends and acquaintances that they will like Pos­ tum In place of coffee, and receive benefit from Its use. I have gained weight, can sleep and am not nerv­ ous." Name given by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Mich. Read "The Road to Well, ville." in pkgs. Postum comes in two forms: Regular Postum -- must be well boiled. 15c and 25c packages. imianv puituiTi--Is £ soluble po*f- der. A teaspoonful dissolves quickly In a cup of hot water, and with cream and sugar makes a delicious beverage instantly. 30c and 50c tins. Both kinds are equally delicious and cost per cup about the same. "There's a Reason" for Postum. --sola by Grocers* i v »