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OR}. A MIDNIGHT CALL E . 'mrfintrmmgmwfinn_ . mm CHAPTER XXXIV.-â€"â€"-(Continucd.) tuteness. You saw his face iust now?” “01’ course. .l’reSently 1 am goingl “ _ . to show you a little more of the; 01,“ 3'05‘ It was a (“39 Stu'dy, "1 comedy. Well, I was on the tei'racegelllot‘mls- If X011 coum find the pretty late when I heard dear Re-' 0930" P‘Ctm‘G-‘f . gliald down the cliff calling for as-' I hope to restore it to you before sistaiice. He pretended that he had I l'heflzf." has passed", slipped down the clill‘ and could not thtm‘c“ applauded' ,genu-V' He get up again. By the aid of a rope was charmed. he said, With the whole that fortunately happened to beacomedy. The first two acts had been dose at hand I saved our dearia brilliant success. If the third was friend's life. I have learnt fl‘Ollli only as 300d he woum regard Miss one of the gardeners just now â€"that.Lee as his benefactor for ever. It {cg‘inald placed the robe there himâ€"| was “0t Often tlfat anybody intellec- Sehmfl most efieetive touch, you tu-ally .amused him; in fact. he must muSL admit-n ‘ ladd Miss Lee to his collection. “Very,” Bell said, drily. “But II “Then .v_0u niust play a part your- Quite fail to see \vliy-"” itself'. CJK‘S 331d. gully. “I am 8‘0- “I am coming to that. Don’t youlmg mtO MOPCton Wells, and Dr. Bell see that if anything happened liegâ€"l‘ccompanics me' Mr- Henson i5 meld could prove that he was no“not to know that we have gone, and heal. the house at the time? iguHhe is not to leave the house for a just before that 1- saw his aeeem_§goo'd hour or.so after our departure mice. come up the elm; indeed, he; What I wantis a fair start and the passed quite close to me on his \vay'l1)r1V1.leg° or bringing a gumt home to the house. Reginald quite over-'to (Ifnncr-H looked this fact in his heed for his . "WET"? , mysterious. and own safety. When I had eil'ected my "‘83" tht‘mc" sal'd~ "Bring the gallant rescue I heard an owl hoot. guest by all means. I will pledge Now, there are he owls about here. [my diplomacy that. you have a long “I guessed what that meaht_itls_tart. Ileally, I don't know when was a. signal of success. Then I}:1 have cnloycd myself SO mlwh- YOU went back to the corridor and thegshall have the big wagonette for Rembrandt was gone. The stays hadlyom‘ journey-n ‘ been out a“.ay_ At first I was! “And join it beyond the lodgeâ€" dreadfully upset, but the more Iiggtcsin Chris Said, thoughtfully- thought ,of it the more sure I was} “DIV BC“, YOU Shall SUCH through that it was an for the best.” the park casually; I will follow as “But you might have raised an Casually late“ on.” alarm and caught the thief, “’110â€"”' A. little later Henson emerged from .“thp would have been DI‘OIDPUY his room dressed evidently for a disclaime'd by Reginald. Let me tell journey. He looked flabby and worâ€" yoti, ear, that I have the thief and ried: there was an expression very the lost Rembrandt in the hollow of like fear in his eyes The corridor my hands. Before the day iS out was deserted as he passed the place I Shall make 800d my boasto Ana where the Rembrandt hung. He there's the breakfast bell.” paused before the picture in a hesita- It looked quite natural seine til-XICltling" fascinated way. His feet later. for the three conspirators t0 belseemed to pull up before it involun- lounging about the gallery when Lari”. Uenson emerged from his bedroom. “What, He appeared bright and smiling, and ed_ most of the bandages had been re- moved from his throat. All the Merritt. could havo played me a trick 5211110 he was 1101? Plea-5‘3d to 500 Ben like that; he would never have darâ€" :h01‘0;(1118f gflzcld. unfasgyttqt the doc‘ ed. Besides, he has too much to or an rein 11m 0 1 iiner. ,‘- .- ,. . . ' “You know Ben," the latter said. Elligvifellowing mv instinctions. I carelessly.‘ “Fag”; 15. there's been ’1 Honson slipped UP to the picture great mistake as a sudden idea came to him. If the Bell offered his hand heartily. It picture had not been removed at all cost him a huge effort, but the slimy the stays would still be intact. 'And scoundrel had to be fought with if they were intact Merrit was likely his own weapons. Henson Shook to have a bad quarter of an hour his head with the air of a man cx- later on. 1t would be proof thatâ€" tmrding a large and generous need of But the stays were not intact, The allurâ€" does it mean?" he mutter- “What in the name of fate has happened? It is impossible that forgiveness, He sought in vain to heads had been shaved oil with some read Bell’s eyes, but there’was a cutting instrument; the half of‘the‘ steady, almost boyish. gleamed like silver in the them," morningr light. -’And yet the Reap “I indeed rejoice," he said, unctuâ€" ously. "I indeed rejoiceâ€"rejoiceâ€" rejoice!’ ’ ' He repeated the last word helpâ€" liessly; he seemed to have lost all his backbone, and lapsed into a flab- by, jellified mass of quivering white- hunianity. His vacant, fishy eyes were fixed upon the Rembrandt in a kind of dull, sleepy terror. “I'm not well,” he gasped. “Not so strong as I imagined. I'llâ€"I’ll go brandt was there. The more Henson dwelt upon it the more he was puz- zled. He began to wonder whether some deep trap was being laid for him. But. no, he had seen no signs of it. In some way or another Bell had managed to ingratiate himself with Littinier again, but not. necessarily for long, Henson told himself, with a vicious grin. Nor was Littimer the kind of man who ever troubled smile in l Stays and lie down again. Later on I himself to restrain his feelings. If shall want a dogcart to drive me to he had got to the bottom of the Moreeon wells.» 1â€".” whole business he would have had He paused again, glanced at the Henson kicked out of the house picture, and passed heavily to his without delay. room. Littinier smiled. But Littiiner suspected nothinn‘. “Splendid,” he said. “It Wits -I-is greeting just now showed that Worth thousands Just to see his Bell suspected nothing. because he face." had shaken hands in' the heartiest “All the same,” Chris said quietly; manner possible. And as for Miss “1111 the‘ same, that ma“ is “0t t0.1900, she was no more than a smart leave for Moreton Wells till I've hadl Yankee girl, and absolutolv an outâ€" a clear hour’s start of him. Dr. BellI sidpr. ' J - will you'accompany me?" ' Still, it was dreadfully puzzling. And it was not nice to be puzzled at CHAPTER XXXVI. a time when the arcliâ€"conspirator Lord Littimcr polished his rarely “"531”; to, know ever." mm”? 0f the game. Therefore it became necesâ€" used eye carefully and favoredI ‘ ‘ . Chris with a long, admiring staredsm.v 10 {:0 into Moreton Wells and At the same time he was wonderinglsmo Merritt without delay. As Henâ€" crossed the hall the cheerful why the girl should have taken such! 30‘} . _ ' Hensonl V‘HCr‘ of Littimer hailed him. (I .' c For some yearsI “William.” 110 dried, “I a vivid interest in Reginald I.V01H‘ assistance and advice." and his 'doings. past it had been Littimer's whim to With a muttered curse Henson enâ€" Littimer was held up Ilenson before everybody as his successor, so far as the castlex tered the library. went. He liked to see Henson’s mod. seated at a table, with a cigarette est smirk and beautiful selfâ€"abase-j in his mouth, his brows drawn over ment, for in sooth has lordship had! a mass of papcts. a pretty contempt for the man who “Sit down and have a cigar,” he hoped to succeed him. lint the wilLsnid. “The fact is I am setting my made some time ago by Littimer affairs in orderâ€"â€"l'am going to make would have come as a painful shock a fresh will. If you hnndn't come to the philanthropist. down last night I should probably “It is a very pretty tangle as it-i have sent for you. stands,” he said. “Miss Lee. let I compliment, you upon your astute-l “Shall we be long?" Henson ask- iiess in this matter. Onlv don't tallied, anxioiiSly. me you S'.'ll(‘~llled your wriv here. and Littiiner tartly hoped that Henson that you are a lady duteclive. I readi could spare him an hour. it was want a good many‘ novels, and I don’t' not usual. he said, for a tcstator to like them," he refused assistance from the chief will. l'Tenson “You may be easy on that score."l lH‘f-Oi'ut‘for under his Chris: laughed. “I am not a lady de-_ 111‘l()l0_e;iI/.o£l, with n sickly smile. lie, tective. All the same. 1 have defeat-l had important business of a philan- nd Mr. Reginald Henson." thropic kind in Moreton Wells, but. “You think he is at the bottom of he had no doubt that it. could wait {so that the servants could not hear rprove it. He would be pretty sure | l me: bankâ€"book and check those figures." I I was loaning OVCX' L110 terrace ! I l apossibly“ see me. I jerked my head} {back suddenly and my diamond star: i l pocket. 1 was going to call out, but I v v - I ' l dadn ll. 1 had a sudden iuca. Ilr.’ llcil~~l had an idea that almost' the mystery of the other '{em- for an hour. And then for the best brandt?” part of the morning he sat fumingi “i am certain of it; unless you politely, whilst Littimcr clinttercd in‘ like to believe in Henson charming scheme to give you a les- had rarely seen him in son, as he called it. 'As a matter of mend. it was quite obvious that fact. Mr. Henson discovered the exâ€" he suspected nothing. llleanv.‘llilu istenco of the other print: be dis- Chris and llell were bowling covered that Dr. Bell possessed if.â€" the rcst I leave to your own as- | l the truth of hisI the most amiable fashion. towards Morcton lNeils. l a better i l 'l'hev Fertile the future. The man hm; well back in the roomy “'ag‘oncttg, itlic thing am] 1 “313 m a heeluen to name ucw', them. Chris regarded Bell with a brilliant smile on her face. “Confess,” she said, “confess that you are consumed with curiosity.” “It, would be just as well to acâ€" knowledge it at once,” Bell admitt- ed. "In the happy old days your sister Enid always said that you were the clever and audacious one of the family. She said you would do or dare anything." "‘T. used to imagine so," Chris said, more quietly. “But the life of the'last few years tried one’s nerves terribly. Still. the change has done me a deal of goodâ€"the change and the knowledge that Reginald Henson regards me as dead. But you want to know how I am going to get the Rembrandt?’ ' “That is what is consuming me at present,” Bell said. “Well, we are going to see the man who has it," Chris explained, coolly. “I have his address in More- ton Wells at the present moment, and for the rest he is called the Rev. James Merritt. Between ourselves he is no more a reverend than you are." “And if the gentleman is shy or refuses to see us?" “Then he will be arrested on a charge of theft." “My dear young lady, before you can get a warrant for that kind of thing you have to preve the theft, you have to swear an information to the effect that you believe the pro- perty is in the possession of the thief, and that is not easy." “There is nothing easier. I am prepared to swear that cheerfully." “That you actually know that the property is in the possession of the thief?” . “Certainly I do.“ I saw him put it in his pocket." llell loo..ed at the speaker with blank surprise. If sue-h was the fact. then Chris’s present statement was exactly opposed to all that she had said before. She sat opposite to Bell with a little gleam of mis- chief in' her lovely eyes. “You saw that man steal the Româ€" brandt?" Bell gasped. “ lertainly not. But I did see him steal my big diamond star and put it in his pocket. And I can swear an information on that." “I see that you have something interesting to tell me," Bell said. “Oh, indeed, I have. We will hark bank now to the night before last. when Reginald Henson made his per- sonal attempt to obtain the brandt and. then played the trick u!)- on you that was so very near to be: ing a. brilliant success." “It 'would have been best for you," Bell murmured. “Well, really I am inclined to think. so. And perhaps Lord Litti- nier would have given you in custoâ€" dy on a second charge of theft. If he had done so it would have gone hard with you to prove your inno- cence. But I am wandering from the point. Henson failed. But he was going to try again. I watched him carefully yesterday and managed to his letters and telegrams. Then I found that he had telegraphed to James Merritt, whose address in Moreton Wells I carefully noted down. It did not require much in- tellect to grasp the fact that this Merritt was to be the accomplice in the new effort to steal the picture. Mr. Mlerritt came over and saw his chief, with whom he had a long conâ€" the grounds. I also on Mr. Merritt's no- versation in forced myself tice. “He was introduced to me as a brand plucked from the burning, a converted thief who had taken or- ders of some kind. He is a sorry- looking scoundrel, and ,I took partiâ€" cular note of him, especially the hor- rible smashed thumb.” “The what!" Bell exclaimed. “A thumb like a snake's head with a little pink nail on it?" The same man. So you met him.” “We met on our way here,” Bell said, (lrily. “The rascal sent the dogcart away from the station so that I should have to walk home, and he attacked me in the road. But I had expected something of the kind and I was ready for him. And he was the man with the thumb. I should have told you this before, but I had forgotten it. in watching your fascinating diplomacy. When the atâ€" tack was defeated the rascal bolted in the direction of the cliffs. Of course, he was oil to tell Ilenson of the failure of the scheme and to go getting the If he had stolen my Rembrandt then the other would have remained. I couldn’t have turned up with a cock-andâ€"bull story of having started with the picture and being robbed of it by a total stranger in the roadâ€"-â€" But I am inâ€" terrupting you.” “Well, I marked that thumb care- fully. I have already told you that the thief passed me on his way to h ave on with the plot for other picture. Now take my 5 the house when he came up the cliff. when I saw him emerge into a band of light caused by the big arc in the castle tower. I forget. that I was in deep shadow and that he could not fill out and dropped almost at the feet of the intruder. Then he vumount‘ed to an inspirniioii.” (.‘liris paused for a moment and lzer eyes .‘Hll'lilt‘ll. llell was watching 'ier with the deepest. interest and adâ€" miratioi'i “1 let the man keep it," Chris I alonegwcut on, more slowly. "with an eve stolen Rem- ' saw . iii, chuckled over it.»-'{.~lnced it in his to pawn the starâ€"he probably has done so by this time, and therefore we have him in our power. We have only to discover where the diamonds have been ‘plantcd'â€"is that the cor- rect cxpression?-â€"â€"I can swear an inâ€" formation, and the police will subse-l quently search the fellow's lodgings. LAWS FROM‘OTHER LANDS $500 FOR OFFERING- A FRIEND A CIGARETTE. Norway’s Sensible Law â€" married--’ Men Have a Double Vote in Belgium. The Bill which is before the British Parliament for the prevention of juvenile smoking cannot well be con- sidered severe in its proposals by those who are faimiliar with similar legislation in other countries. In Arkansas, for instance, so scâ€" verely is smoking frowned upon by the law that the penalty for selling cigarettes even to an adult cannot be less than $500, and may be as much as $5,000; while similar fines hang over the head of a man who in inn oblivious moment offers a cigar- When the seacrh is made the missing Rembrandt will be found there. Mr. Merritt would hardly dare to pawn that.” “Even if he know its real which I value, doubt," Bell said, thoughtâ€" fully. “.l-Ienson would not tell his tool too much. Let me congratuâ€" late you upon your idea, Miss Chris. That diamond star of yours is a poworful factor in our hands, and you always have the consciousness of knowing that you can get it back again. Now, what are we going to do next?” ' “Going to call upon Mr. Merritt, of course,” Chris said, promptly. “You forget that I have his address. I am deeply interested in the welfare of the criminal classes, and you are also an enthusiast. I've looked up the names of one or two people in the directory who go in for that kind of thing, and I’m going to get up a bazaar at Littimer Castle for the benefit of the predatory classes who have turned over a. new leaf. I am particularly anxious for Mr. Merritt to give us an address. Don't you think that will do?" “I should think it would do well indeed," Bell said. (To be Continued.) ctte to a friend. In Norway the sale of tobacco in any form to boys under sixteen is absolutely forbidden under heavy penalties; and the stranger who offers a cigarette to a boy, and the boy who accepts it, are equally liable to punishment. In l-Ieligoland no boy under the age of sixteen may enter a public- house for any purpose whatever; and in the City of Roanoke, in Virginia, woe to the boy or girl under that age who is seen in the streets alone after nine o'clock in the evening in summerâ€"time and eight o'clock in winter; unless they have a written permission from their parents or are going in search of a doctor they will be arrested, and the parents must expect to pay A HEAVY FINE. NorWay has recently passed a very sensible lawâ€"which might well be countriesâ€"to the very *â€" KAISER TAKES CREDIT. But Other Men Are the Authors of His Productions. “Ho has talents, undoubtedly, but they are creative only in giving work to others, the product passng /for adopted by other his own in the end. As Herrcn Von effect that any woman who wishes Moltke and Philip Eulenberg are thelto wed must first present to the real authors of his ‘Song to 'Aegir," authorities a certificate showing that SO Professor KHRCMUSS. ill CaSSOI. she is skilled in the arts of cooking, 0011190505 his CW'LOOUS. though beingisewing, knitting, and embroidery; CWdthd only With their tecnnicalsand until she can satisfy them that CXCFuuon- . ‘ she is an adept in these domestic “l‘he late Court Chaplin“ I‘rom' arts she may, metaphorically, “whis- mel used to write the Imperial ser- “en fer a hushahg No wonder the mons delivered With so much ec'lat young. men of Norway. are jubilant. 0“ the deck 0f the WP?” HOhenzOI” Lucerne has upon its statuteâ€"book lern; oflicers ofhthe military houseâ€" a law. by no means beloved of how P‘I‘imm ‘Wllhal'ns locmf'ffi' valldlladies. which forbids the wearing of EIEdZEESE “L5 hls hats more than eighteen inches in This remarkable passage from ,a dl‘ainélm’ am} foreign fefu’hfrs an? book lately published will cauSe a alumna “O‘PG’S' wmle 0V0“ 0.WCM ribbons of Silk and gauze a license good deal of unkind rrOSSi) in the Sapitel of the Kaiser D I of forty pence a year must. be taken Written by a ladydmwaitihg' ,uThe out. Germany has an excellent inc» private Lives of William II. and thod of her own. for dealing With brutes who beat their wives. They his Consort,” professes to give the inner history of the German court are “0t, 33 1101'01 Sent to W'lson f0” up to the present day, - a. consecutive term, in which case the Their Majesties intensely dislike wife and family must lose their seeing servants about the palace, means of subsistence. In Germany Here is a sidelightzâ€" they are arrested on Saturday, at . Her Majesty being so fastidious.tlie end of their week's work, and kept in durance until Monday, when they are set free to begin work about manâ€"servants, 'she is now obâ€" again. And this weekâ€"end incarCDr- lig‘ed to make her own fire in theIation is continued until tlie’sentenCe grate 0“ Chilly morning‘s “1010V0P\s completed, the man's earnings be" about. girls in her room (when the Kaiser is present) as William is her husband is at home- What a ing handed over parody on royal state tingâ€"the Elin- INTACT TO“HIS “,IFE' .9 ' - , Y bin 11 in er “nin‘it~ . , , igf'ssagldetili c‘gld pand damp, D to In [ilelglulll' If a man 'fvanf’s t‘o light her own» me! verily, truth pose. as a lull-blowii votei, he lit-lle is stranger by far than fiction. qualify for the _DI‘1V11<{ge by taking to hiinseli a Wife. be long as he remains single he is only entitled to a single vote, but from the day he makes a trip to the altar his politi- cal value is doubled. In Madagasv car you take your choice between being father of a family and paying a substantial tax. If, at the age of twentyâ€"five, a. man is unmarried or _ . . or the childless he must make up his mind He to“? his pOSItlon acutely! Ito pay $3.75 a year for his default; and kept as Ill-“Ch as “055mm With'] wuile every girl who remains single in (10"1'5- 0 without chick, after passing her W'I'IY 11E FAILED. lie was an older 01' a chapel in a little Clamorganshire town. He was also a. tradesman, and he fell upon evil days. His creditors pressed him and he was forced to file his petition in bankruptcy. flrlis failure was town. the talk Then the brethren decided to hold twentwfeurth veer, must Dav an a meeting, and the unworthy elder annual tax of $1.12. ‘ I ' " - v . u o “’35 5‘1mm0‘md t0 atm‘ld- _1h° 1335 In Western Australia the minimum tor spoke first. I-Ie urged his people penalty for serving (he-uh on a] Sum to be consulcrate and tender. day is $250, and the keeper of an He was muowed by a man who inn or hotel must not absent himself made an eloquent speech on honesty from his house for more than fem. in trade, and concluded by movmg Weeks in the veal. without Special that the elder. be suspended fizom permission “hem e' Stihehduhy magis_ office for a period to give him time mate In Austria any actor whO to purge himself of his ,heinousness. wears a military 01. ecclesiastical 005_ A seconder and supporter Spoke t“ tume on the stage is liable to a ,.. . . . the same CAN-mt: . heavy line, while in Germany such The brethren looked severe. their costumes are permitted on the Stage, countenanccs were set Will“ tho- but woe to the wearer if they are sternueSS Of a righteous “’1‘an ‘1 lnot correct down to a button. deep silence pervaded the room. ~,__.,,_,t,__,,-,__w Slowlv and humbly the elder arose. AN AWFUL REVELATION_ “I want," he murmured indeckly. “to “I “ish sou hamlet 1 I u } . . r - r ' nu vo r iair sat a few thinrrs based on my led- ' . . ‘y ‘ ‘ ° ‘ cut so short, Ilaroldl' exclaimed ger. The mover of the resolution owes me £16. I offered him three weeks ago to settle it for £12. 10 save myself from. my present posiâ€" tion. The seconder owes me .813. I [told him I would accept; £10 to pre-‘ the young woman, turning from him involuntarily. “What difference does dearest?” asked Harold, der ai'ixiety. "Youâ€"you have destroyed an illu- it make, with ten- vent this exposure. The supporter : siehvn she Sighew “.1.th is a” u of the I'OSOIUt'lOH is i'l'dd’ted to “mi “You didn't think I was ‘1. poet _ . . . , . I! . to the amount of .89. I idld yelh Clem, heemlse 1 were my A brief pause. “And now. With huh. long?» [your -perm-ission"-turning to the “NO; 1 never mmpmqled you of be- 5pnsl.or~â€"-”I will read out the sums lug a poet.” ,tbe others present owe me.” "Nor an artist?" [ {In road them out, calmly and doâ€" "No." ilibi-rntely, but long ero be. had iinâ€" “Then what illusion have I (les- éisbod the brethren had fled. troyed‘?" he 'den'ianded. ' “Perhaps l. should say. Harold,”- "”"""’“:"w‘" she answoi‘ctl, with tears in her .mfl L THAT (“huh-S TOBACCO“ voice, “that you have unconsciously i _ Jez'ealed a fact I never suspected, ’l'he (loiikry who Was a connoxsseur (103,-. your Cal-3 don‘t match!" -in tobacco must look to his laurels. ...¢___ ."ln Aden,” says a eoi‘rcspon'dcnt, “l BOTH “011111331313. once saw a young :SOllllall bull that “he neighbor leaned upon her gar, lighted Cigarettes, ileii-~i'a.kc and called over the fence. :not only cheu’ed but also washed his meal down with u] noticed a light in your house ‘ ihalf a pint of neat rum. Tommy (the last night, Mn lihnley’n She said. {bull‘s name) was the property of Capt. Craig. the skipper of the local Esteamer Falcim. lie was liked on “Don't know how much they're ‘iboard and was, despite his dissipntâ€" bothering him," he answered, short-i ed habits, a great favorite with the ]y; “but, they're bothering the um out of me.’5 “Are your baby's teeth bothering him again?" 1 -~,-