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4;‘}J.’.4‘-- a. 9L-v=.f*=y"‘?="r.» «\er .1' .r 'w‘v’W’r-‘y‘ ,- HIV-glut;- a, n, v: o “.1 ,. w y ‘J_L.l CHAPTER XLVIII. Lord Littimer was greatly interest- ed in all that Chris had to say. The whole story was confided to him af-l ter dinner. Over his coffee on thei terrace he offered many shrewd sugâ€" gestions. “There is one thing wherein you have made a mistake," he said. “And that is in your idea that Hen- son changed those cigar-cases after Miss Gates laid your votive offering on Steel's doorstep.” “How- else could it be done?” Chris said. “My dear, the thing is quite ob- Vious. You have already told me that Henson was quite aware what you were going to doâ€"at least that he knew you were going to Consult Steel. Also he knew that you were going to make Steel a present, and by a little judicious eavesdropping he contrived to glean all about the' Cigar-case. The fellow has already: admitted to your sister that he lisâ€" tened. How long was that before you bought the cigarâ€"case?" "I should say it might have been a week. We had inquiries to make, you know. In the first instance we: never dreamt of offering Mr. Steel money. I blush to think of that folly.” “Well, blush a little later on when you have more time. Then HensonI had a week to work out his little! scheme. He knows all_about thei cigarcase; he knows where it is go-, ing to be bought. Then he goes to: Lockhart’s and purchases some trillef in the shape of a cigarâ€"case; he has,5 it packed up, yellow string and 8.11.: __._._.____ râ€" “mfgâ€"“mm 11E Thancc of Liberty l OR, A MIDNIGHT CALL JE 1’Ir'1â€"I'I'HIHHHIL ______.___ becomes 'obvious. The American didn't want a. cigarucase at all. “But he subsequently purchased’the one returned to Lockhart's shop. "That remark does not. suggest your usual acumen. The American was preparing the ground for Van Sneck to purchase with a VleW to a subsequent exchange. You haye not fully grasped the vileness of this plot yet. I went to Lo‘ckhart's and suc« ceeded in discoveringthat the pur- chaser of the returned case was a. tall American, quite of the pattern I exâ€" pected. Then I managed to get on to the trail at the Metropole here. They recollected when I could des- cribe the man; they also recollected the lax-geness‘ of his tips. Then I traced my man to the Lion at Moreton Wells, where he had obâ€" viously gone to see Reginald Henson. From the Lion our friend went to the Royal at Scarsdale Sands, where he is staying at present." “Under the name of John Smith?" “I suppose so, seeing that all the inquiries under that name were sucâ€" cessful. If you 'would like me to come up and interview the man for I) youâ€"-â€" _ “I should like you to do nothing of the kind," Chris said. “You are more useful in Brighton, and I am going to interview Mr. John Smith Rawlins for myself. Good-bye. Just one moment. For the next few days my address will be the Royal Hotel Scarsdale Sands.” Chris countermanded the dog-cart she had ordered and repaired to the library, where Littimer was tying some troutâ€"flies behind a. cloud of This is his dummy. By keeping hisicigaret'te smoke. eyes open he gets the chance he is: waiting for. Ruth Gates hadn’t the faintest idea that he knew anything when she left that case the day she bought it within reach of Henson” He gets her out of the way for a minute or two, he unties the parcel,, and places the Van Sneck case in it. No, by Jove, he needn’t have bought anything from Lockhart’s at all. only thought of that to account for the yellow string and the stamped paper that Lockhart’s people use.l He first takes one case out of the! parcel and replaces it with another, and there you are. You may depend upon it that was the way in whichl it was done.” 1 The more Chris thought over the matter the more certain she felt, that such was the case. Like most apparently wonderful things, the exâ€" planation was absurdly simple. A conjurcr’s most. marvellous tricks are generally the easiest. “li'lOW foolish of us not to have though of this before,” Chris said, thoughtfully. "At any rate, we know all about it now. And we know who bought the cigarâ€"case so promptly returned to Lockhart's by Henson. I should like to see this Rawlins." “You have got to find him first,” said Littimer. , “I’m going into Moreton Wells again to-morrow to make inquiries," said Chris. , But she was saved the trouble. Once more the ever-blessed telephones stood her in good stead. She was just on the point of starting for Moreton Wells when Steel called‘her up. Chris recognised him with a thrill of eager pleasure. “You need not he afraid,” she said. “You can speak quite freely. How is Van Speck?” "Very queer,” David responded. “llell hoped to have operated upon him before this, but such a course has not been deemed quite prudent. The day after toâ€"morrow it will be. I expect. Henson has found out, where Van Sneck is.” l “Indeed. Has he been to see yon?" I “He has been here more than oncel on all kinds of ingenious pretences.1 But I didn’t call you no to tell you} this. ,We have been making inquiriesf at \l'alen's, Marley and myself. The; time has come now to let Marleyl behind the scenes 3, hit.” 3 “Did Walen’s people know anything about the tall American?”, “Oh, yes. A tall American with .1; thin b'eard and a faint suggestion of, smallâ€"pox Called about a week before: the great adventure, and asked to see some gunâ€"metal diamondâ€"mounted; cigar-cascsâ€"like the one in Lock-i hart’s window.” “Did he really volunteer that re- mark?” “He did, saying also that hart's were too dear. Lockâ€" which meant that they the same wholesale house as hart and get some similar As a matter of fact, one of Walen's assistants was sent round to .study the case innLockhart's window.“ The Cases were procured on the chance of a sale, butflthe American" never. turn- ed up again. No notice was taken of this, because such things often happen to shopkeepers." , L, g. “And this (Was about a week be- fore the nightof the great-adven- tum?" ~ “Yes. Wait a b'itt‘ul have Lock- quite finished yet. Nowkonce I hadisingularly pretty, refined girl, ascertained this, an important fact! quire Lle grsnd air. H. is an nil‘ih-y hasn't even got that." - is. And ,v:hat Walen’s hadn’t} got what‘he wanted, but they pro-l mised to get some cases out of stock, I would go tOl and of l cases. i l not I “Thought you had gone to Moreton Wells,” he said. “Been at the teleâ€" phone again? A pretty nice bill I shall have to pay for all those long messages of yours." I. “Mr. Steel pays this time," Chris said, gaily. ‘ He has just given me some information that obviates the necessity of going into the town. My dear uncle, you want a change. You look tired and languidâ€"" “Depression of spirits and a disinâ€" clination to exercise after food. Also a morbid craving for seven to eight hours’ sleep every night. What’s the I little game‘?’ ’ “Bracing air," Chris laughed. “Lord Littimer and his secretary, Miss Lee, are going to spend a. few days at Scarsdale Sands, Royal Hotel, to recuperate after their liter- ary labors.” “The air here being so poor and enervat’ing," Liltimer said, cynically. “In other words, I suppose you have traced liawlius to Scarsdale Sands?" “How clever you are,” said Chris, admiringly. “Walen's American and Lockhart's American, with the modâ€" est pseudonym of John Smith, are what Mrs. Malaprop would call three single gentlemen rolled into one. We are going to make the vauaintance of John Smith Rawllns.” “Oh, indeed, and when 'do We start, may I ask?” . Chris responded coolly that she hoped to get away in the course of the day. With a great show of vir- tuous resignation Lord Littimel‘ con- sented. “I have always been the jest of fortune," he said, plaintively; “but I never expected to be dragged all over the place at my time of life by a girl who is anxious to make me acquainted with the choicest blackâ€" guardism in the kingdom. I leave my happy home, my cook, and my cellar for at least a week of hotel. living; Well, one can only die once.” Chris 'bustled away to make the necessary arrangements. Some few hours later Lord Littimer was look- ing out from his luxurious private sittingâ€"room with the assumption of being a martyr. He and Chris were dressed for dinner; they were waiting for the bell to summon them to the diningâ€"room. When they got down at length they found quite a large number of guests already seated at the many small tables. “Your man here?” Littimer asked, languidly. Chris indicated two people seated in a widow opposite. “There!” she whispered. There he a pretty girl with him!” CHAPTER X L [X . Littimer put up his glass and gazâ€" ed with apparent vacauCy in the dir- ection of the Window. lle saw a manmost. immaculately '(ll‘eSSOdE litiimcr smiled at. this 'sangdihei distinctly (listingulshed ap-l cxlj{.(:{t11i0']' ' . pearance. Littlmer was 1am to ad-‘a “'1: sincerely hope you will," he, mit that he would have taken for a that more education seldom gives; but it seems to have done so in yon- der case. And how fond they seem to be of one another! Depend upon it. Chris, whatever that man may be his daughter knows nothing of it. 'And yet. you tell me that the polico “Well, never mind the police, now. We can. get Mr. Steel to tell Marley all about ‘John Smith’ if We can’t contrive to force his hand without. But with that pretty girl before my eyes I shouldn’t like to do anything harsh. Up till now I_have always Pictured the typical educated scounâ€" drel asra man who was utterly (10‘ void of feelings of any kind.” Dinner proceeded quietly enough, Chris having eyes for hardly any- thing else beyond the couple in the window. She rose presently, with a little gasp, air! hastily lifted a tanâ€" kard of iced water from the table. The girl opposite her had turned pale and her‘ dark head had droopcd forward. “I hope it is not serious," said Chris. “Drink a little of this; it is iced.” “And they told me they had no ice in the house,” the man Rawlins mut- tered. “'A little of this, Grace. It is one of her old fainting fits. Ah, that is better.” The man Rawlins spoke with the tenderest solicitnde. The look of positive relief 'on his face as his daughter smiled at him told of a .deep devotion and affection for the girl. Chris, looking on, was wonderâ€" ing vaguely whether or not she had made a mistake. “Lord Littimer obtained our ice, she said. “Pray keep this. Oh, yes, that is Lord Littimer over there. I am his secretary.” , Littimer strolled across himself and murmured his Condolences. A little time later and the four of them were outside in the veranda taking ices together. Rawlins might have been, and no doubt was, a finished scoun- drel, but there was no question as to his faseinating manner and his brilliant qualities as a conversationaâ€" list. A man of nerve, too, and full of resources. All the same, Littlâ€" mer was asking himself and wonder- ing who the man really was. By birth he must have been a gentle- man, Littimer did not doubt for a moment. But there was one soft spot in the man, and that was his love for his daughter. For her sake hc'had been travelling all over the world for years; for years he had despaier of seeing her live to womanhood. But she was gradually growing better: indeed, if she had not walked so rar to-day nothing would have happened. All the time that Rawlins was talk- ing his eyes were resting tenderly on his daughter. The hard, steely look seemed to have ’ gone out of them altogether. Altogether a charming and many- sided rascal, Littimer thought. He was fond, as he called it, of collect- ing types of humanity, and here was a new and fascinating specimen. The two men talked together till long after dark, and Rawlins never beâ€" trayed himsr-lf. He might have been an Ambassador or Cabinet Minister unbending after a long period of heavy labor. Meanwhile Chris had drawn Grace Rawlins apart from the others. The girl was quiet and self-contained, ‘but evidently a lady. She seemed to have but few enthusiasms, but one of them was for her father. He was the most wonderful man in the world the most kind and considerate. He was very rich; indeed, it was a good thing, or she Would never have been able to see so much of the world. He had given up nearly the whole of his life to her, and now she was nearly as strong as other girls. Chris listened in a dazed, confused kind of way. She had not expected anything fike this; and when did RaW1ins find time for those brilliant predatory schemes that she had heard of? “Well, what 'do you think of them?” Littimer asked, when at length he and Chris were alone. “I suppose it iSn’t possible that you and I have made a mistake?” “I’m afraid not,” Chris said, half sadly. “But what a strange case alâ€" together." “Passing strange. that'man is born and bredagcntleâ€" ll man; and, what is more, he is no more of an American than I am. I kept on forgetting from time to time what he was and taking him for one of our own class. And, final- ly, I capped my folly by asking him ato bring his daughter for a drive to- morrow and a lunch on the Gap- stone. “Splendid,” (i‘hris said, “Nothing could be better. .bc good enough to exercise all your coolly. | lins loâ€"morrow, and leave her father to 1110. ,._. , mml Said, (irilfr. gentleman under ‘any Circum- Eliave to carry matters with a iigh ; hand, ,Mri’taulins ‘lhl‘ough his. daughtqr. j row night.” “fiut I, doubt it _\‘ery lmucb, inch-ed. stances. 'In manner, style and spccc‘xll clcverpgt, men in 'lCuropc to deal with. he’ left nothing to he desired. “That chap has a fortune in his said. "'Pon my word,- he is a chance ac-. quaintance that one would ask to without .the slighest hesita- face and accent," Liltimer dinner tion. And the girlâ€"â€"” "Is his daughter," The likncss is very strong." “It is." Chris said. ,5 less than a $.30 dole. Liltimor admitted. “A1 Goodâ€"night.” " 'til‘o he Continued.) \. , . Mr..- / NO LNG. “ lroI-IL-lcy must be getting rich. lle llorroug'hs he hadn't. nun-thing: ltoltl n "' 'hnl's lilo :-implc truth. I'll go ball that 'You have one of the What do you think of that?" Victionf You willilong." l powers of fascination on Miss liaW-éof all our choices. I thought of a little plan toâ€"rtvhc work of the grace of God. 'night which I believe will succeed; admirably. At first I expected LOlkccping his wit to himself. [Wt “‘“V I am S'Uing' t0 igeiipcml on the misery of earth. I . .af'shall know all i' want to by tor-mor- tall man w1th a, grey beard and hair 4.. ‘ ' 'sinna-rs. ‘ a regular traffic in the. selling I u A l'("11.l.l"jlul}inn; of human slain. “"‘hl H “'55 “‘5'” u 5:7” “Medial”! "1")!‘1‘5‘Elln- Lonrlon hospitals have on their ;(~al'll1 to actresses 30., of Ganada, FOR THE YEAR l904. , INCOME. DISBI RSEMENTS. fife?“th ------------------ --.$1.373,364 69 Death cum ...... .. .......'..s 220,304. 50 68 and rents ...... . 3o1,9‘14 21 Llatrred Endowments ..... 160.053 00 Purchased Policies ......... 52,394 54 Surplus ......................... 88.183 40 Annuities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,679 90 Expenses, Taxes, etc. ..... 300,807 00 Balance ......................... 899,886 56 $1,725,308 90 $1,725,308 90 a ' "'“"“ o t ASSETS. LIABILITIES. yr gages ..................... $3,760,617 53 Reserve, 4-, 3 and 3 er chontures and 'Bonds 2,897,496 4-2 cent ......... ............. g...$7,355,172 2-1 Loens on I‘OllClCS ......... 888,492 41 Reserve on. lapsed Polici- LPMS 0n ,btgcks 7,000 00 es liable to receive or lens on Iolicics 31,161 25 surrender ..................... 1 967 10 Real Estate Cash in Banks 28’066 00 68,285 53 Death Claims unadjusted 136,728 03 Present value of Death Dash at Head Office - 4 317 18 Claims 8. able in. in- Duc and Deferred Premlâ€" ' stalmentg ................... 31,122 82 in?!” (1101') .................... 266,713 94- Premiums paid. in advance 15,023 96 Great due and accrued 159,718 16 Amount due for medical fees ............................. 5,8d7 50 Credit Ledger Balances 11,257 96 Net. surplus over all liaâ€" bllities on Company's Valuation Standard 772,072 87 M $8,220,530 45 # Not Surplus over all Llahllmas on navarnment standard of Valuaflon......... ..... $1,049,400.11 Audited and found correct. J. M. SCULLY, F.C.A., Auditor. GEO. WEGENAST, Manager. DIRECTORS’ REPORT. Your Directors have pleasure in submitting their 35th Annual Report showing the transactions for the year, and the Financial standing of the Company as at December 3lst, 1904. :The business of 1904 was most gratifying in all respects, large gains having been made in Income, As- sets and Surplus. INSURANCE ACCOUNT.-â€"-The volume of new business exceeds that of any former year. being 3,452 Policies for $5,048,168, all of which, exâ€" cept $30,000, was written within the Dominion. The total assurance now in force is $40,476,970.58 under 27,742 policies, the net addition for the year being $2,889,419. While many of our native Companies are seeking business abroad, some of them in distant parts of the world. it is thought by our Directors that good Canadian business is preferable to foreign business, which is secured with less certainty as to its quality, and at excessive cost. INC()'.'l[.lt‘.â€"â€"'Dhe total‘ income was $1,725,308.90, being $1,373,364.69 for premiums, and $351,944.21. for interest. The gain over 1903 was $164,238.87. ' ' ’DISBURSEMENTS.â€"Tho payments to I’olicyholdcrs amounted to $524,615.34, and consisted of Death Claims, $220,304.50; Endowments, $160,053; Purchased l-‘olicies, $52,394.54; Surplus, $83,183.40, and Anâ€" nuities, $8,679.90. The claims by death were exceptionally light, being $51,404- l'ess then last year, and only 41 per cent. of the amount expected. THE EXPENSES AND TAXES Were $300,807, being 17.4; per cent. of the total income, or about 1 per cent. less than in 1903. ASSETS.â€"â€"The cash assets are $7,794,098.35. and the total assets $8,220,530.45, showing gains of $905,450. 05 and $937,372.05, respec- tively. The funds are being invested in the same classes of securities as heretofore, principally in Mortgage loans on farms and city properties, Bonds and Municipal Debentures. The latter are taken into account at their book value or cost, which is considerably below their market value. The demand for‘ money was active during the year, at better rates than- for some years past, resulting in a slight advance in the rate of inter4 est earned, viz., 5.09 per cent. Payments 011 Mortgages for interest and instalments of principal were well met, though in the case of our Mani- toba. loans they were not quite as satisfactory as in former years, due to the partial failure of the wheat crop. The interest and rents overdue at the close, of the year were rbut a small portion of the receipts, being only $13,740.19, most of which has since been paid. LIABILITIES.â€"â€"The liabilities were again computed on the Combined Experience Table with 4 per cent. interest for all business up to January 1st. 1900. From that date to January 1st, 1903, on the Institute of Actuaries" Table with 3%} per cent., and thereafter on the same Table with 3 per cent. ' SURPLUSâ€"After making provision for all liabilities the surplus on. our own standard is $772,072.87, being an increase of $170,920.20 over 1908, and this after distributing amongst Policyholders $83,133.40.~ 'On the Government standard of reserves, namely, 4!; per cent. for business to January 1st, .1900, and 33- per cent. thereafter, our Surpth is $1,049,- 400.71. The earnings for the year were $254,103.60. On behalf of the Board. ROBERT MELVIN,‘ President. The various reports having been adopted, the retiring directors, Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, A. I-I'oskin, Esq., K.C., Hon. Mr. Justice Gar- row and E. I-'. Clement, Esq., K.C., were unanimously rte-elected. After a number of able and thoughtful addresses had been 'made by members of the Board, prominent Policyholders, 'the Manager, the agents and others, the meeting adjourned. ' The Directors met subsequently entire-elected Mr. Robert Melvin Pre- sident; Mr. Alfred Hoskin, IC.C., First Viceâ€"President; and the lion. Mr. Justice Brittan, Second Viceâ€"President of the'Company for the ensuing year. (Booklets containing full report. comprising lists of death and en- dowment claims-paid, of securities held, and other interesting and in- structive particulars are being issued and will in due course be dis-tribu- ted among policyholders and intending insurants.) Waterloo,‘ March 2, 1905. W. H. RIIJDELL, ' ‘ Secretary. SENTENCE SERMONS. No passion, no powu‘. Grip is better than graft. Love increases by labor. It is the goals we miss that make us. You cannothonvince without con- 'mon and women on whom they can rely for several square inches cf cu- ticle when the necessity arises. These patients, if one may call them so, are bv no means among the poor and destitute. - â€"__+_____ ’l‘oo ulflny- read “Charity chpcth MUCH MORE POWERFUL" Charachfl. is 31mph, the product] on natural philosophy, and in the course 0f~ his experiments he intro- duced a most powerful magnet, with which he attracted a block 0f iron A man often shows his wisdom by “9m 5" (“Sta-nae 0f 2ft” _ ' f‘Can any of you conCeive. a great- cr‘attractive power?” demanded the lecturer, with an air of triumph. “I can,” answered a voice from the audience. ' " ” ' ‘ The gift of the gab will not do The music of heaven does not de- The long winded prayer often goes -'with a broken winded practice ., . ' " 7, ~ - N .v . ,.. ., .~ on It takes more than molasses on the avg: fin‘lfitfl‘f‘} tumsumlwmuwt‘ lips to make honey in the heart. The‘ ' ‘ L ' 'l-‘iely is not a penance paid on . . Ch'lllell"'l.‘(l th n wi ‘ Durchasic property mi ‘ E’ c m“ 10 had “poke” to name the article. rl‘hcn up rose old Johnny Sowcrhy. Said he: “I will give you facts. professor, and you can judge for yourself. - _ ,. “when lqwas a young man, there was a little picco (if natural magnet done up in a neat colton dress as ‘ ‘ V _ , I V _ _ ,was called Betsy M'm'in. She could 'UiAl'FHf “‘l HUMAN Ski-LV- iulraw me fourteen miles on Sunday 'lln-re is at. tho prez-tonl lime quite , over ploughed land, no matter what and | wind or wcmhor there was. There smog-.11 m‘iwns no rcsistin' her. That magnet 0' your“ is pretty good, but it of won't draw so far as Betsy Marla!" _ h raw-n . I Lies may be the poorest hens we have, but they always cmnc llOllllO .to roost. ' I The only one who lived above all isln was the one who lived for .1111 w~+ ._- x K a I l l y ilnzoizs the names and addresses $8,220,530 45_ Pl‘ofeSSor Smith was once lecturing. , lécfiur‘pm: -. ., somewhat puzzled. . . _. -.â€"wâ€"» . vafi... ~_. .