The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

VV‘rvvvvvva. .. . m- «ea-rye} l ovva 3w. 4! . THE MYSTERIOUS CRIME . ' 0N THE‘SS. NEPTUNE WWWâ€" CHARTER X1V.â€"Uoutinued. IHere all extracts from the diary likc- ‘ . h,- to be of any, use to us and, and if .As I have now got all the informa- you will read them carefully. you will filo“ I can Ol‘laln here» I am lfang see that according to the report of im'morl‘owl f0? bngjfln'd: and 1.? POS- Mrs. Dexter, faithfully given, Mrs, sible, will get the stiletto used in the Verschoyle..did not leave’ the house committal 0f the “mm from the Iinquirics: if not, we must turn in an- other direction. on the night of the sailing of the "Nep- anthorltles at Gibraltar- 1 may add I §thut I have obtained a specimen/ of 5Mrs. Versch-oyl-e’s writing to compare iwith the. paper you' gave me; and tune,” so she could not have been on board, and consequently must be inno- cent of the crime. ithough there is asirmilarity, there is Now, of course, it is a debatable, question whether or not Mrs. yer-i schoer really did leave the house. You will perceive that she refused to come down to dinner, and stayed in her own room. After dinner, Mrs. Dexter Went - up to her door, found! it iocked,- and , coal-d get no answer. Now, what was ' easier than for Mrs. \erschoye lo sip out of her reom while all were at. uln- , her, and the servants away in me ; kitchen, lock her door, to Lead to the belief that she was stillrthere, and go off to the ship, commit the Drink), and i come home again; Uniiucki y, M.s. lex- ter went to bed early, or Mrs. Ver-l schoyle’s' return would not have escaped her lynx-eyes; so it shy. «ill go out, as I surmisaâ€"and, min-l you it is only a Surmiseâ€"the bel"iitl.il.~ might have seen her return. I therefore questiOned the servants, but cou u get no satisfactory answers out of lhem, as they could remember notnzng; not even money could sharp-en lirglr \iiis. In this extremity, I bethought myself of boldly asking Mrs. v erscnoyua her- self, and in the drawingâ€"rooan ailler dinner, I' led the conversation round to-thc excellence‘ of =thd'l’. and U. steamers, and asked her ii) she had seen‘ the “Neptune 2" She wincud' and changed color a little, and theul ans; Wered, "No." Mrs. Dexter men be- came my ally, and the was as follows :â€" Mrs. Dexter: Your. sister England in the “Neptune l" Mrs. Versch‘oyle: Yes, and so did my cousingthe Marchese Vassalia, but for all that, I did not see the boat. Myself: \Vhyâ€"did you not board to say g-oodby'l , Mrs. Verschoyle: No; I had a head- ache, and did not leave my room. Mrs. Dexter: Yes, I remember. I knocked at your door. and mural get, no) answer. 'Mrs. Verschoyle, asleep. Myself: It was a pity you did not SL6 the “Neptune”u she is such a magni- ficent vessel. . This closed the conversation, and left things as they were. You See, Mrs. Verschoyle denies that she left the house on that evening; so this is the case, she can prove an mini, and thus (“-011 v' Bl'btl L101] went to go on quickly: I was I .cannot be accused of committing the crime. I, however, am not. satisfied with": her denial; she wihcedfl when I mentioned the “Neptune ;” moreover, ' she: knew that her husband was on board, as she met him during the day; which, by the way ,explains the pass- age in Mrs. Dexter’s diary, that she returned in a rage. To my mind, therefore, the only peo- ple who can definitely say if she were on’ board, are Miss Carine ~g Cronin-r and the Marchese Vussalla; for eVen if she went on board' secretly to see Her husband, she cou‘ld not have os- naped notice by hler sister, and cousin. My advice, therefore, is for you to see either Miss Cotoner or the Marchesc Vassalla, and file out if Mrs, V; r- schoer Were on board l‘eforr~ the “Ne-‘- tune” sailed; if so, we can pursue our "five lsusg also a distinct difference; but then handwriting does ailcr in five or six years, anu the best thing? .vi.i be to submit the papers to air expert, who can easily tell if they were written by this same person. i. will call at. Mr; directly on my arrival in l-lnzlnnd, and Foster’s rooms report more fully. Yours obcriiently, JULIA-N ROPER. CHAPTER XV. After reading ltoper’s letter, Ronald went: to Foster’s chambers and show- ed it to him. The barrister mead _ it in silence, .inl then laying it down on the table, iookel hard :ltMonteith. “You see, I Was right,” he said, tap- ping the letter with his fingers; “Miss Uotoner 15, as I thought, the sister of Mrs. Verschoyle." 'Ycas,’ Ronald, quickly; "but she has nothing in common with lye-r.” "All! you think notâ€"let me see ;" taking up the letter and giancing over it: “they both have tempers.” "Anyl woman would show temper, living with such a fiend as Mrs. Ver- schoyl-e," retoried Roland, defending Carmela. ".t‘hey both .oveii (he meanln-g' 'v erschoyle.” "Rut Carnlcla’s love for him; was only a girlish fancy, as she says her- self in Mrs. Dexter s diary." “in short, ’ said lz‘oster, replacing the letter on the table; "you are so much! in love with her that you] can- not see her imperfections.” ' “I am not blind to them, .if that’s what you mean," retorted Ron- ald, doggedly;“hut all I‘know is, I love her, and intend to’ ask her to be my wife.” “ When i" “All! well,-'as soon as this mystery is cleared up." "I understand,” said Foster, rising from his chair, and walking to and fro; "but, judging from this letter of Rop~ er s, the elucidation seems as far off as ever." “I don’t see thatâ€"for, taking all things into consideration, Lam in- clined to think Mrs. Verschoyle is tellâ€" ing alie." / “Oh! so you believe she was on board the "Neptune‘ that night?" Ronald nodded. "There’s no proof." "Certainly, not any actual proof," said Ronald, quietly; “but I think it is very probable that Roper’s theory is correct, and she did leave her bedroom, lock the door. and then' return with- out anyonie seeing her." “\Vell, the whole affair is easily set- tledâ€"go and see Miss Cotoner, or Vas- salla, and "ask them if Mrs. Verschoyle boardâ€"they will certainly . it‘xp‘l el same manâ€"- came on know." . “I don’t believe Miss Coloner knows anything about it," said Ronald. angri- ly; "if they quarrelled before leaving the house, you may be certain that Mrs Versnlmyle never came near her on the boat." fictive flier “lime. l When youth shows infirmity, when' old age creeps in before its tilne,when the days that should be the best of, manhood and womanhood are burden- : ed with aches, pain and weakness, we know that the nervous system is wear- ing out and that there is imminent danger of nervous prostration, para-4‘ lysis, locomotor ataxia or insanity. [low we admire the old in yearsâ€"i crowned with silvered hair, yet erect; in stature, faculties retained with vi-' gor necessary to the declining years â€"â€"chcerful, bright, grand old age. How lamentable is youthful infirmity,1 middle-aged enfeeblement, parting of the ways too soon, told by restlessness, starting up violently during sleep, morning languor, tired, fagged, worn- out; trembling limbs, worried brain, - mind aimless and depressed. \Vhateve‘r the indirect cause, they :onditicn is lack of News Forceâ€"nerve i waste has not been repaired. It won’t repair itself. Dr. A. \V. Chase’s Nerve Food furnishes in condensed pill-form the nerve nutriment which repairs nerve waste. There rests the secret of :the wonderful cur-cs made by this great nerveâ€"build ing medicine. Mr. A. ’I‘. P. Lala'me, railway agent at Clel‘enceville, Que"., writes: “For twelve years I have, been run down with? nervous debility . I suffered much, and consulted doc ore, and used medicines in vain. Some months ago I heard of Dr. Chase's Nerve Food, used two boxes, and my health improved so rapidly that I ordered twelve more. “I can say frankly that this treatâ€" ment has no equal in the medical world. While using Dr. Chase’s Nerve Food I could feel my system being built up until now I am strong and healthy. I cannot recommend it too highly for Weak, nervous people." Is prepared in condensed pill form trait and signature of Dr. A. \V. GOcts, a box, at all dealers or Edmanson : " Chase’s Nerve Food. and on every box is found th‘e por- Chase. Insist on having the genuine. Bates & Co. Toronto. .va"... my «a -..uâ€",-mw.-~hâ€"r.~w "But Miss Onion-er might have seen her sister.“ "She might; but I won‘t ask, her." "Well, my dear boy," said Foster rather annoyed at this sentimental obstinacy; "go and see Vassalla." .“Yes, I‘ll do thatâ€"he’ll be able to tell me whether she was; 'on boardl or not.” I “No doubtâ€"if it suits him‘ to acâ€" knowledge it," rel‘orted Foster, dryly. "What do you mean '1” asked. the Australian, impatiently; "you thinkâ€"â€""I ,9 "1 mean nothingâ€"I think nothing,” replied the other, quickly; "go and see the Marchese Vassalla, and then‘ tell me what you discover." “And thenâ€"â€"" “Well, then, it depends on his ans« wers regarding our next move." I 'Ilonnld put on his hat} and gloves, 'lhcn, taking his leave, went outside into the roar and bustle! of Fleet Street. Through an archway he could not help contrasting their solitariness and charm with the turmoil on the pavements. “Hang it !" he said to .‘himself, as he watched the busy crowds rus‘hi‘n-g lpast, “everyone here seems to‘ live avith their watches in their hands; I should not like to sleep; here, but I suppose Iill have to stop till I find out all about Verschoyle‘s death ;" and this' last reflection putting him, in mind of his engagement,he stepped into a ‘hanso‘m, and drove off to the Langh'am Hotel to see Vassalla. Vassalla was upstairs, in a private, sitting-room, enjoying his breakfast, when Monteith’s card was sent up to him. Carmela had gene out with Sir Mark and his daughter, so the Marchese felt perfectly secure against the chance of Ronald meeting her. He dreaded the meeting, because disagree- able explanations might be made which would reconcile the lovers, and ruin‘ all his carefully prepared schemes. .As he looked at the card thoughtfully, he was rapidly running over in his mind the reasons which might make Ronald thus seek him. No feasible one, however, presenting itself to him, he told the waiter to show, the gentleman; up, and quietly went on ,with his breakfast. l “He has some reason for coming," he anuttered, quietly; "and I’ll find it out; don’t trouble yourself, Mr. Mon- teithâ€"friend or enemy, I’m equal to either.” 1 He arosefrom his seat Iwith an enigâ€" lmatical smile on his face as the AlllS- tralian entered, and held out his hand. The other it took it with a slight rc- luctance, which was noticed by the clever Maltese gentleman. “Hum!” be friendly, I see." lRonald'tock a eoffcr of breakfast, E talk. l thought ; seat, declined the and prepared to "Miss (‘otoner is out," he said, cold-. 1y. “Yes, with Sir Mark Trevor and his charming daughter,” replied Vassalla. "Do you wish to see her 9 ’ “No; I want to see you.” “Me?” the foreigner’s eyebrows went up. "Well, I am at. your dis- - posal." “It is about that murder that took place on bound the ‘Neptune,’ ” said Ronald, going straight to the point. “Ah, indeed!” said the Marchese, quietly; "a most interesting sub- ject, Have you discovered anything yet?” “Yes, many things.” “Such as will lead to the detection of the assassin, I presume?” "I don’t know,“ aswered Ronald shortly. “That’s apity; any way?” “I think you can.” “Then you may command my ser- vices," replied the Marc-hose, polite- ly. ‘ “Thank you; I will take advantage of your offer,” said Ronald, glancing at the impassive face before him. Vassalla bmved,folded his arms, and Leaning back in his chair, prepared to listen. “In the first place,” said Ronald. “you knew him?" .Vassalla shook his head. “No; I had not the honor of Mr. Ventin’s acquaintance". “His name was not Ventin.” "Indeed!" “No; it was Leopold Ve‘rschoyle.” "Leopold V'cirsclhoyle,“ repeated the Marchese, looking at him sharply; “that was the name of the man‘ who married my cousin.” “Yes, and from whom he was after- wards divorced.” ' “Exactly,” said Va-ssalla. “I see you know the whole story; so he is the man who was killed?” “He was, and I want to find out who killed him." ‘ The eyebrows / cr-ed ulously. ‘I hope you will succeed,“ said Vas- can I assist you’ in went up again in- ~.I‘WÂ¥Wsw-«x~m-\.lmkuuo w~.M_x___-â€"Wn_..~._ .._ ._ . . salla, politely, “but in what way can I help you?" “Do you know. anyone who desired his death?” “No.” "Not even hisâ€"wife?” Vifssalla rose to his feet with a bound, and looked fiercely at Ronald. “This is an insutt, sir,” he hissed out between his teeth. “Do you dare to accuse. my cousin of the murder?" "I accuse no one,” retiorted Ronald, .cIoolly. “I merely asked you if his wife would have been sorry at his silence, but first thoughtfully glanc- ed at the writing. It Certainly re- sembled thatin the letter written five or six years ago, but he could visit recollect it with sufficient clearness to satisfy himself. “You are convinced?” said Va-ssalâ€" 1a, as he placed the letter in his pocketi-ibook, “Yes,” answered Ronald, “I am convinced; goodwby, and thank you for your kindness in answering my questions." “A pleasure," said the Marchese, deat .” . Vassalla threw himself back in his. chair, with a short, angryllaugh. and b-oiwed his visitor out with smiles, which, however, faded as the door chose-d. "not ’quite . sir," he said, cold- ly, “I hardly recognrize your right to speak to me about such a thing; but as you seem so bent on knowing, I think she would have beenâ€"very sorry indeed." “Oh! Then she still loved him?” Vassalla cast his fine eves up to the ceiling. “Passionately? "That is curious,” said Ronald, sa'rdonivcally, “as I have ladocument in my possession, wrrit'ten five or six years ago, in which she threatens to kill him." ‘ “Indeed, and how did you obtain such a dlcculnen'tza" ' “I found it among some papers left by Verso-hoyle-wiith his sister, Mrs. Taunton.” “Ah!” Vassalla thought amoment; so this was the reason Monteith was with Mrs. 'l‘aunton; it was business, -no.t love, that brought them together; EWeiil, at all events, he would not let gCarmela knrow. After a ,moment’s de- itiberation, he faced his adversary with a clear brow. "Very likely it was written in her lfirst outburst of jealous, anger at be- iing so betrayed by her husband; but 31 assure you she loved her husband deeply, in spite of the way he wrong- ed her, and often spoke of him with affection." Judging,fr'om the story told to him by Versch-clyle, and the extracts from Mrs. Dexter’s diary, Ronald lthc'ught this doubtful, but restrain- ed his desire to give an opinion on that point. I “Did Mrs. Versohloyle come on board, the night the ‘Neptune’ left “Upon my soul, Vass-alla glanced keenly at him. “VVh.y shoqu shes?” "To see you and Miss Cotoner 'off." “Suppose $1116 did some on boardi" "She might have seen her husband.” “Impossibbel She did not know he was on board.” "Yes, she'did; Verschcylle told me be met her in Valetta on that day." Vassalla drummed quickly in an annoyed manner on the table with his fingers, then answered abrupt- 13!; “She did not come on board." “Oh!” Ronald was disappointed; “No; sihre was confined to her room I tried' Other doctors, This statement, as Ronald knew, condition- “Curse that meddling fool," he mut- tered to himself, “why can’t he mind his own business? but I’ve baffled him this time, and PM baffle him again if he interferes.‘.' Tol be Continued. liars Banned. THE STORY or A WOMAN’S RESCUE FROM GREAT SUFFERING. For Years Hm- mfe \Vns One of “Meryâ€" lilcl" Feel. and Limbs Would Swell Ell-:glnfully and Slu- Became Unable to do llcr Household Work. From‘ the Enterprise, Bri-dgewater,. NMS. It is aipipaling to think of the num- ber. of women throughout the 'counâ€" !try who day after day live a life ‘al- most of martyrdom; suffering but too :frequently in , silent, almost hOpveless delapair. To such sufferers the story of- Mrs. Joshua Wile, will come as a beacon~ of hlope. Mrs. Wile lives ,about two miles from the town of lBri-dgewa‘oer, N. S. ,and is respected and esteemed by all who know her. While in one of the local drug stores not long ago, Mrs. Wile’ noticed a inu-mber of boxes of Dr. Williams’ lPinka Pills in the show, case, and re- marked by the proprietor “If ever there was a friend to woman, it is ,those pills.” She was asked why she spoke so strongly about the pills, lwrbi'ch they had rescued her. The druggist suggested that she should make known her cure for the benefit lof the thou-sands of similar sufferers. IMrs. \Vile replied that while averse to publicity, yet she would gladly .tell of her cure if it would benefit .anyone else, and gave the follow- I‘ing statement with permission for l I ' its publication :â€"- "My life for some years was one of ’ weakness, .p’ain and misery, until I obtained relief through the'use of Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills. From some lcause, I know not_ what exactly, I lbecame so afflicted with uterine trou- blelthat I was obliged. to undergo two operations. A part only of the. trouble was removed, and a terrible weakness and miserable, nervous con- dition ensued, which the physician told, meI would never get clear of. but all with the same resultâ€"n0 betterment of my The pains finally attacked and, in neiply told of the misery from~ My legs and he felt that, after an, it might be feet became frightfully swollen, and the truth, and that Mrs. Verschoyle I cannot describe the tired, sinking. had not been on board; in which case deathly lie/613108 that at times came --who was the assassin}? over [my whole body. I became un- Vassalla saw the expression of disâ€" able to (10' my househom Work, and belief flitting across Ronald’s expres- lost all hope of s-ive face, and arose to his feet. "In order to convince you," he said, recovery. Before this stage in my illness I had been advised to try Dr. \Villiams‘ Pink quickly, “I will show you the letter Pills, but like thousands of other wo- I recuired from nay-cousin.” men, thought there could be no good “Th-ere is no need,” be an Ronald in using them when the medical men I; 1 but Vassalla interrupted him. “Pardon me, there is," he said, cold- ly; “I wish you to be thoroughly conâ€" Vinced, that Mrs. Verschoyle‘ was not faith in the result. on board, and could not have either seen her husband or have had any- thing to do with his death.” "I did not say she had," interrupt- ed Ronald, hastily. “No, but you thought so,” retort- ed the Marchese, as he left the room Ronald arose to his feet, and walk- ed hast.in to and fro. He was wrong. then; Mrs. Verschioyle was innocen. of her husband's death. \Vho, then. was the assassin, for no one else ap~ peared to have had any reason t. wish him evil. Vassalla himself}? in. it. could not be he, because he had n motive. The theory of Mrs. Ver sch-oyle’s criminality having been thus effectually disposed of, there appear ed to be absolutelynla clue to the pee petrator of the crime. Vassatla return-old with the lcttl-. and handed it to Rona-Id, showin him at the same time the passage he alluded to. “I was so sorry,” said the leLL--: “not to have been able to come (low. and see you and Carmela away by th. boat, but I had a very bid h_-adach..- and was shut up all the evening ' my room." Ronald handed back the letter in wore all his suspicions groundless, af-- ter all? - all the evening with aheadache." tallied with Mrs: Dexter’s diary, and my 1":le and kidneys- wer-e unable to cure me. At last in desperation I made up my mind to try them, but without any To my great sur- prise I obtained some benefit from the first box. I then bought six boxes more, which I took according to di- rections, and am happy to say was raised up by them from a Weak, sick despondent, useless condition, to my present state of health, and happiâ€" ness. Every year now in the spring and fall I take a box or two, and film] them an excellent thing at the change of the season. Othelr beneâ€" fits, I might mention, but suffice it to say I would strongly recommend Dr, \Villiamsi Pink Pills to ailing wo- :nen.” ' Dr. \Villiams’ Pink Pills surpass all other medicines as a cure for the trou- xlcs that afflict womankin-d. They gulckly correct suppressions and all )i'mS of Weakness. They enrich the load, strengthen the nerves and re- .tore the glow of health to pallid -ilecks. Sold by all dealers in medicine, sent postpaid at 59 cents a box, really six bases for $2.50, by addressing be Dr. Williams Medicine 00., Brock- vllle, Ont. - . u_ . Alany aman with but little judg- zlmt has slot of them entered against him in court l i l v‘.’\/‘~"v‘\/r."-,‘W\Wd ., .. .-, ‘L_ _ .. 2.;4.‘ ,4 !- . . _‘- “~*‘wm‘w"v'wpflrww.vwxs,m i . :1 x.’ < .v.‘.Â¥\r.\..._. ‘W4:fi\vul<v . 3