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“Mm-Imme aw:v_‘.-~.‘_.;.. n;- a" é :JIV‘;'.\1“: :4 am ma- g». 4‘ imamva I-‘I-tmvovrâ€"«vl:‘w ,. a[figure of a young girl walking close' wet in his suing. to the river wall far on in front of\d1ne1 a sovereign, and disappeared ' " .5:- r l at: 2:11;; r' F ‘2 7‘ s WZEL'EJS'SLW :.21$21;.:le£‘ ‘ifit;k:‘;t€d§£ljlfli~3$3§ 5221‘; $3.35)“ marl-smug»? LL maamseMxma-msww ' as officer and other in inufti. 1511c obeyed at once, quietly and dex- ltcrously, crouching on the carpet with the little naked feet, pure and chill as white marble, in her lap. Up and down, up and down the limp arms moved a score of times E :5 g int least in a minute and a half, and \still the girl lay to all seeming other in a moment, {soldier know each auWimW Sri‘kilNQElilliAif hEAlii @QQQQORQQ’QXvQQv A RANSOMED-v LlFE 1 figmfi WWWE’MW WMQWMWWfiMGâ€"Gfié CHAPTER I. “Mad from Life’s history, , Glad to” Death’s mystery Swift to be hurled, Anywhere, anywhere Out of the world.” As he glided on swift, smooth wheels along the bro‘ad Embankment from Westminster towards the City his eyes lit for a 'moment on the assesses 68W MKBW 989§88€$§W dead. But the doctor’s quick eye saw a change. His head went down ._ close to her left side, and his ear, iliejall‘lt 13:15:11lfifgtpligf‘igg:e men and sensitive as a hunted hare’s, rather women lazily breakfasting, chatting, £2211 mfg??? 121mm; pmsauon . lounginrr or smoking in the shady' , .q _ ‘ “on ' a: Steadin they worked on, those verandah Ever-v eye was turned on t . . , , . ' v . . wo in Silent )atient conflict W1th the hansom that charged furiously lll ’ ’ I that and Jullcd u) shar , with a scramâ€" ’ ble cind scuflie of ighcels and hoofs, the dofitohds .Watih at the hotel door. em “1 t e a tall man leap out with a girl dripping He tossed the threatening death, so silently the ticking of was the room. Then his finger-tips touched the girl’s slim wrist, and he broke the silence at last,â€" “The brandy, nurse.” With his lingers still on her pulse he let a dozen drops of the strong spirit trickle from the spoon through the blue lips. Yes! the threadlike quiver was more perceptible, and a faint glow like the flickering rose tint in the heart of an opal showed waveringly in the white cheek. Hospital discipline had hitherto kept the nurse silent, but now the woman in her conquered the nurse. "Is she dead, doctor?” she asked, with a. gasp of intense eagerness. "No; nor like to die, I hope. Get her to bed now as quickly as you can; light the fire in the room and set the hotâ€"water bottle at her feet. I will return in twenty minutes. Will that give you time enough?” “Plenty, sir; a quarter of an hour will do.” He paced up and down the corridor impatiently, and was back in the room sharp at the appointed time. A warm fire blazed cheerin in the room and the girl was in bed, the nurse standing beside it. . "Conscious yet?” he asked abruptâ€" ly. ‘ "No, doctor; life.” Again he let the brandy trickle slowly through her lips. The faint rose tint grew steadicr on her cheek and the pulse beat more evenly at his fingerâ€"tips. As he bent over her the eyelids raised without warning, and eyes blue as forget-me-nots lookâ€" ed straight into his own; vaguely at first; but remembrance and misery dawned slowly in their translucent depths and her whole body quivered as though with pain. The pain in her face shadOWed the dark eyes that gazed upon her, so keen was his sympathy. A faint pitiful moan was heard, and her lips moved in vain attempt to speak. Then his face suddenly took on a look of command. Once, twice, three times his hands moved in rapid passes before her eyes. Rememâ€" brance and pain died at once out of her face; softly the lids began to droop till the long dark lashes rest- ed on the white cheeks and she lay placid and motionless. “Sleep!” he said softly, with his lips close to the shell-like ear that pooped from the thick clusters of yellow hair. “Sleep!” and the an-' swer came back faint and far-away from the mystic region of dreamsâ€"~ “I sleep.” “Forget your sorrows,” he whispâ€" ered back. “Sleep a rest'ful sleep till I tell you to awake.” She breathed a gentle, placid little sigh and nestled her cheek cosily to the yielding pillow; her breath came soft and slow, and her sweet lips parted in a happy smile. Pity, keen almost to pain, was in Vivian Ardel’s heart as he gazed on her. only sound They saw dripping wet into the hotel. Yet not so fast but he was recognized by the fashionable crowd’that clustered in the veran- dah or loitered round the door. “It’s Dr. Vivian Ardel," said an American, clean-shaved and long- who was dawdling over his verandah to the “The smart» gives him. It was a casual, almost an unconscious glance. She caught his eye because She was so strangely out of keeping with the glad June morn- ing. The sky blue. air was brisk and the The beautiful world looked its best. In the gardens to the left children spo’rted, and "sparrows chirped, and flowers bloomed; on the right the bright river rippled and smiled in the sunshine. But in every line of that dropping figure nlisery made itself felt. She was, in appearanCe, little more than a, child. The shabby black dress clung close to her slender form, and a thick coil of. yellow hair hung disordered over her shoulder. She walked swiftly, yet falteringly, with sudden stops and quick glances at the water. All this the keen, dark eyes of the man noticed halfâ€"consciously as he closed in on her at the rate of ten yards a second. Ten seconds more arid he had gone faced, breakfast in the right of the entrance. est man in London, I reckon; our Edison fits.” "And the richest,” added his placâ€" id, commonplace wife. "They say he’s worth as many millions as he can count on his fingers." “And the handsomest,” cried the dainty daughter, sparkling with vivacity. “I saw him last week, when he’d what you call ‘carried his bat’ at Lords. The people were cheering like mad, and he looked just too fetching in flannels.” Meanwhile Dr. Vivian Ardel, care- less of comment, with his helpless burthenwont up the broad, shallow by, and she in the same moment had steps of the great marble staircase med; on 50 Slight a thing life hangs- tw0 at a time. At the second land- Bllt' Suadeni)’. just us he Was Closexing he came face to face with the behmd» the gh'l swung herself 0"01‘ headâ€"chambermaid, a stout, middle- thC 10‘V “'31). 0f the Embankment, ‘agod \Vonlan, who stared in open- and Went down With a Splash into 'eyed bewilderment at the dripping the water- . man and the dripping woman in his He dropped off behind his bicycle {ill-ms. at tl‘ spot where she had vanished; “Show me to a vacant bedroom,“ his 9» nnins pedal grated harshly on pm said, in that clear, low tone the kerbstmle, and he was over the which begets obedience; “get hot- Embankment Wall SO SWh'Uy after water bottles and flannels, and at her that it seemed but one plunge. flask of brandy. Quick, woman! it's He saw the dark outline far down a matter of life or death!” dimly through the Water and struck Very sofuy' he laid his burthcn out 101‘ The 'figure down on the deep velvety carpet of lightly 1'0 his tOUCh as he weI1t"the room. The water streamed from I l showed no sign of plunging up to the surface of the her in little ponds and rivulets, or river. Luckily the tide set strongly, stood out in bright round beads on and a dozen strong strokes with the the thick tufts of the carpet. As qpick current carried him to the she lay there, with the damp garâ€" landingâ€"stage of the steamboatsliments clinging to her, motionless 61050 at hand. \form, to an inexperienced eye she A human cargo had just been land- was (lune . dead- 1101' bOdy and ed there; and a cheer broke out as he limbs Were limp as ‘1 neWIY'ShOt reached the stage with his btythen, bird’s. Iler‘face wore death’s color; and a score of wining hands were there was no breath from her lips or stretched to help him. But he needâ€" motion at her heart. - Lime as a cat he But Dr. Ardel did not despair. In c1ambered'on to the stage, making his dark eyes there was a resolute nothing of his burthen. With confidence of one who has often bat- strength and dexterity combined he “ed at 01050 quarters With death; pushed or edged his‘ way rapidly and won. He plucked a plump vel- through the crowd, still carrying the vet cushion from the couch and set limp, light form, from which the it under the girl’s shoulders, so that water dripped, the body lay in a slight slope on the A crowd had ahead); gathered out- floor. Then he put back the thick side, and there was another cheer dank Cons Of dead 8‘01d hail‘ that as he came Upon the footway, His fell across her face, and pressed the tall figure showing clear over the white cheeks gently with his finger- throng, he raised his hand and tips till the small blue lips opened, beckoned to a passing hansom. In,the dOUbic row '0!" narrow White an instant it dashed smoothly up to 'tceth unclenched, and the tongues the kerbstone beside him, scattering til) Showed. Leaning OVL‘J' the DOGY. the crowd recklessly to right and be firmly pressed her elbows to her left. sides, and slowly raised her arms till "To the hospital, sir?” said theithey were extended at full length river, as the unconscious girl waSIOVOI‘ hcl‘ head. Again and again, lifted to the seat, smoothly and slowly, the motion “No; the Cecil note], as fast as was repeated with patient persistâ€" you can drive.” ence. He stepped‘in beside his charge, The chambermaid came softly into and they were whirled away, the the' room, laden with hot-water bot- crowd still cheering, and the inevit- 1510, “31111015, and brandyâ€"flask able policeman showing in the dis~ “Take Oil her boots and chafe her tameâ€"late, feet,” Dr. Ardel ordered, without The hansom dashed headlong from ceasing a second from his work. the busy street into a quiet coui-tâ€" The woman had been a nurse in her yard, an oasis of rest in the very time. With the quick freemasonry ed no help. To prove to you that Dr. 3 . Chase‘s Ointmentis accrtain 5 and absolute cure for each v and every form of itching, bleedingand protruding piles, the manufacturershave guaranteed it. See tes- timonials in the daily press and ask yourneizh- bars what they think ofit. Yourcan use it. and get your monev back if not cured. 600 a box, at all dealers or EDMAnseN,BA'rss $5 Co.,Tomnto, Dr. Ghase’s Ointment ‘-'Poor child!” he said softly; “so . rm- . a TH E R Q I J E E R young, so beautiful, with life stretch- of 3 iii. 8 H AS E: S Eli E RV E: FQQ Q 1ifaiyel°éifimi§iffo1152.31335infill: lly! Stay with her, nurse,” he said . _ to the woman who stood b silent] . illustrated In the Case of tire. Turner, Who Was Thoroughly 39- “Let 1,0,. have a mug film-1k cvei’y stored By the Use of This Great Food euro. halfâ€"hour till I return. She will take it without waking. Above all “For some months past I found tlfings_ she needs rest.” certain elements, such as iron, pot- myself growing very nervous, and “But doctor,” the woman protest- ash, lime, soda, magnesia, etc., and .gradually becoming a victim of ca, “1 must first.â€"_” nature replaces wasted cells and tis- islceplessncss and subject to frequent "I will see to that, the doctor sues by extracting these elements attacks of nervous headache. About interposed. “I am going straight from the food we eat. Consequently six weeks ago I began using Dr. to the manager.” . errors in diet, insufficiency of food or Chase’s Nerve Food and cannot Without a word more the nurse failure of the digestive organs to tspcak too highly of this medicine. I set busily, obediently to her task. properly perform their Work are .can sleep .well now. the headaches There was much whispering and among the most usual causes of disâ€" ihaVC entirely disappeared, and I be‘ turning of heads in the great hall of ‘eascl lieve that my system generally has the hotel as he walked through to ~ Once the system is weak, run down been much improved by the use of the manager’s room. Even in the ,or exhausted the natural process of Ithis treatment.” biggest hotel in Europe, Dr. Vivian . econstruction is tediously slow, usuâ€" Nervous prostration and exhaue- Ardel was a personage, and a vague hlly slower than the wasting pro- tion, headaches, dyspepsia, dizzy and version'of the rescue had already ’cess, and the end can only be physiâ€" fainting spells, paralysis, locomotor been buzzed about the place. :11 bankruptcy and collapse. ataxia, feelings of weakness, depres~ “Certainly, rIt is just at this point that Dr. ision and despondency are readilyfsaid courteously, in reply to Dr. Chase's Nerve Food proves its Won- overcome by this treatment, workw ,Ardel's explanation and request. "It herful power as an assistant to naâ€" ing, as it does, hand in hand withishall be exactly as you desire. - I lure. This great food cure contains nature. Though gradual, the results'will see to it myself.” In condensed pill form the very eleâ€" email the more certain and lastiu ,i “Can you telephone to my place ,mcnts required by nature to revitalâ€" and by noting your increase {Mat once for a change of clothes, and ize and build up the system. These Weight you can prove to your sortie-inane them sent up to whatever immediately enter the blood stream, faction that new, firm flesh and tisâ€"-bathâ€"roo'm they give me?” p and through the medium of the cirâ€" sue’ '18 being added. Dr. Chase'gi "I’ll have it done at oncerDo you culation of the blood and the nervâ€" Nerve Food fifty cents a DOX, Sixiknow; your bicycle has just come in. Dug system carry strength and vigor boxes for $2.50. At. all dealers, or The cabby went back for it." to each and every organ of the body. Edmanson, Bates 8:. 00.; Toronto. “I’m glad of that. There was a M'rs_ F. Turner, 836 Aylmer Street, To protect you against imitations, little device of my own_ attached getcrborough, Out... and whose hus- the portrait and signature of Dr. A.,. which I should not like to lose. Will The human body is composed of n and is employed at the Hamilton W. Chase, the famous recipt book ,you kindly have it put by carefully, ounc’iry, states“ author, are on every b x. doctor,” the manager of the hospital these twa knew each SOvereign. I will stay on here for a AFTER little to look after my patient. I OTHER HELP FAILED ._._â€" canlaveabed'om- ‘ ' â€"‘ . . 1 10' ‘md Slttmg loom Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills Restore o I suppose?" “Of course. Your usual rooms.” Dr. Ardel emerged radiant from his bath, every nerve tingling, every vein warm with picture of vigorous manhood. The cold plunge into the Thames, the long wait in his wet clothes, had not hurt him in the least. The waiter showed him his sitting- room, and he hastily penciled a luncheon menu, at once choice and substantial. Then, when the man left the room, he plunged into a huge easyâ€"chair at the bow window, and looked out on the Thames, lost in thought. ‘ “Why did she do it?” he pondered; "how could she do it? She must have suffered terribly; that, at least, is plain, when she went to grim, black death for relief. She had got these two most precious thingsâ€"life and youthâ€"and she tried to fling both away. A. dozen seconds more and it was all over; her young life had gone out like the flame of a quenched candle, lost for ever in blank darkness, leaving no trace be~ hind. Yet she cannot be more than sixteen years of age. She had the l‘e‘sf; of her youth, the best of her life before her, and she freely for- feited both. I have given her both back by the stretching out of my handâ€"how 1 wish 1 could do as much for myself!" The thought seemed to sting him to sudden impatience; he.leaped up from his seat and paced the floor rapidly a dozen times, and paused abruptly before a great mirror that almost filled one wall of the room from floor to ceiling. » “I look the same,” he said. “There is not a grey hair or a. wrinkle. Yet the best of my life is gone for eVer. The intoxicating, exâ€" uberant delight of youth is lost to me, and old age creeps on, with inâ€" evitable death behind. But gloomy thoughts won’t help or hinder. Let me enjoy life as it goes, for death ends all.” The soft-footed waiter stole into the room, and noiselessly as the genie in an Eastern story set the lunch on the table. It was an exquisite lunchâ€"exquisâ€" itely cooked and served. Vivian Ar- del enjoyed the dainty viands and delicate wines with the keen appeâ€" tite of health and the fastidious pal- ate of the epicure. He threw up the Window, lit cigar, and dropped again into easy-chair. less and the sunshine bright on the river. The summer air breathed softâ€" ly into the room. I-Iis thoughts ran in the same current as before. What a pleasant, beautiful world it is! how happy is our life in it! how full of varying delight, if it could only last! So his thoughts ran incessant- ly on the two great problemsâ€"~life and death. An hour later he found the girl still sleeping and the nurse reading at the window. She rose and stood before him demuredly with folded hands ' as he entered. “I shall not require you for half an hour, nurse,” he said, and she left the room, glad of the respite. As the door closed behind her he turned to the bed with a purpose in his eyes. Yet he paused for a mo- ment or two irresolute. "Is it fair?” he asked himself, "to capture the secrets of her life while she lies there helpless and uncon- scious? To unveil her soul as the pcnitent’s before the priest?” 11c looked again at the sleeping gitl. "An innocent young face,” he mused, “that speaks of life and heart innocent and pure. Sorrow, not shame, has brought her to this pass. It will be less pain to tell her story thus, and I must know all, that I may help her as I wish' to help her.” He touched her forehead lightly with his finger-tips, and a slight quiver passed through her body at his touch. “Do you hear me?” he asked, in clear, low voice; and the answer came back clear and low, “I hear.” "Tell me your name and age?:’ "Lucy Ray; not quite sixteen.” “Where have you lived before came to London?” “In Kent, close to Canterbury.” “Tell me of your life?” “My father was a doctor. We were very happy in our little home, but he died last year of a fever caught from a poor patient. His death left us lonely and very poor, and we came to London, mother and I, to earn our own bread. We want- ed to teach music, for we could both play and sing, but no one would hire us. It was a heartâ€"breaking failure. Our little stock of money slowly drained away. Mother grew white and worn. At last I got a place as governess, and the people were pleased and kind to me at first, and said I was clever and taught well, and life looked a little brighter. "But after six months there was a. change. The only son came back from college. 'He was very gay and pleasant-spoken, and for a while the house was brighter for his presence. Above all things, he loved to come to the nursery or school-room to play with his little sisters. ,But one day his ,mother found him there, and was strangely angry. She turned him out of the room, and then said things, ; of which I only vaguely guessed the..meaning, that made me hot with shame. I went back to mother and told her, and she was angricr than I Was, and pitied me, you ‘and give the man who brought it a and cried over me, a. .-.l we were alâ€" _a for help or hope. _ hlsllived in the house, a young woman, The Sky “’35 Stlu Cloud“ came to me and whispered vile thing: Young Lady to Full E0933 and Strength. Doctors and nurses recommend Dr.- Vltahty’ a superb 1 Williams’ Pink Pills because they W have seen their wonderful power to make new, rich, red blood, and to cure all diseases due to poor blood or weak nerves. Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills are not a comman medicine. They do not purge and weaken. They contain no poisonous drugs. They are safe, sure, simple, stimu- lating and scientific. That is why these pills should be taken by all who are weak, bloodless, nerveles-i. and sickly. Here is a bit of very positive proof of the wonderful pow- er to conquer disease which Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills possess; Miss Esther E. Lewis, Lynn, N. S., says: ‘ "At the age of sixteen my health failed me completely. At that tirm I was attacked by 1a grippe, which was followed by measles, from Uh! after effects of which I was left in a deplorable condition. V I became very pale, suffered from headaches, dizzi‘ ness and want of appetite. I tried several medicines, but they did me no good; on the contrary I Was growing weaker and finally became sovbad that I would take spells of unconsciousness lasting from fifteen minutes to an hour at a time, and I had become so weak that I Could hardly move about. At-this stag1 I was advised to try Dr. Williams'- Pink Pills, and I have good reason to bless the day I began their use. I had only taken them a few weeks when I began to recover and under their continued use for some time longer I fully regained my former good health. I will be glad if my exlperience will be of benefit to somq other poor sufferer.” When buying the Pills see that th( full name. "Dr. W'illiam's’ Pink Pill: for Pale People," is printed on thl wrapper around each box. Sold by all dealers or sent by mail at 50 cents a. box or six boxes for $2.50 by writing the Dr. Williams’ Medi- cine Co., Brockville, On't. __________._.__â€"â€"-â€"â€"â€"--â€"-â€"-- most happy together. But the mon- ey I had earned slipped away, and I could earn no more; and we had very little food, and mother faded slowly, growing every day’paler and thinner. Yesterday she died. “Then I was very lonely and,mis- erable, and had no one to turn tr. A woman who of her own life, and frightened me. I had no means to live. I had no wish to live. I was longing to be with mother and father, at rest. At most it Was only a few days more life, a few days of misery; and I thought the good God would pardon me, I had suffered so much. I was half mad with grief and hunger when I went down to the river. I had heard it. was an easy death, but ] was frightened at v the look of the water, and I walked a little way by the riversidetrembling. Then all at once courage came to me, and I climbed over and leaped in. “I remember the rush through the air. I remember the chill touch of the water. I remember no more till I opened my eyes for a momentâ€"it seemed in a strange, large, handsome room. A man was hanging over me w iose eyes seemed ” But now the clear, commanding whisper broke in on her wordsâ€"â€" “Sleep,” and the half‘finished sen- tence died upon her lips, and with a contented little sigh she passed again into a deep, drealnless, hyp- notic slumber. . He took the little hand in his own. The soft, warm touch of it told its story of reviving health and strength, and the pulse beat easily and steadily in the slim blueâ€"Veined wrist. Just then a tap came to the door and the nurse entered. “I hope I have not stayed too long away, sir?” i “You are in good time, nurse. She will sleep all night as she sleep: now, and I will see her early in the morning. You can take your own rest without fear.” (To be'continued.) +â€"â€"-..._.. SATISFIED' MTOTHER S . When sales are large and increas- ing, when customers are satisfied to the extent of continuing to buy tin flame reme'dy, then it must be ad« mitted that the remedy has real merit. Baby's Own Tablets occupy this enviable position. Motherf having once tried them seldom fail to duplicate the order â€"â€" no othei remedy for children can truly clain: as much. Concerning the Tablets Mr. C. W._ Stradford, (general deal- er),' North “filliamsburg, Ont.I writes: “Baby’s Own Tablets haw a large sale, and every purchaser is more than satisfied. We use them for our baby and have found them all that is claimed for them." Baby’s Own Tablets cure colic, indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea, simple fevers and all the min-or ill: of little ones.’ They make baby bright, active and happr and a joy to the home. Sold by druggists or will be sent by mail at 25 cents a box by writing the Dr. Williams‘ Medicine Co., Brockville. Ont. +__._.._._ "Well, I got rid of that life insur- ance agent in short order,” savage ly remarked Mr. Illiggswon‘thy. "Yov ‘ ... .. di‘d‘n't insult him, did you?” asked his wife. “Insult him? No! I grow him my application for a policy, blame him;