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mo' BE staril'ng discovery her house that had Eten enact | a had been her Te life, : been "down 50 unereing ¢ | combined with the that it was actual the myster Dowever, did not toe. me me to waver-in. ald i "to tove| tever suspicion 'arose within my '| mind--and T admit that grave suspicion many-occasions--I aside and fell down to worship ai the shrine of her incomparable beauty. - Miss Well's carriage wee snnounced at lest, and the Irritat'ng Woman, tink- t| ling and jingling, rose with a wearied sigh and took iher leave, expressing her thanks for "a miost delightful evening peressed a hope tha (HELL, Sar Pe y your oom) 5 . that its 'the other way about--that ? Mabel, michevious as a school-girl, pulled a grimace when the muse of the bangles had faded in the hall outside, in. merry chorus, remained ten minutes 4v so longer, then rose, also declaring that it was time we left. manservant Arnold served ws with whisk'es and sodas in the dining-room, and, Mabel having helped me on with my covert-coat, we shook hands with our hostess and her daughter, and left company. Th: night was bright and starlit, and the air refreshing. Turning to the left aller leaving the house, we came im- med ately to a road which to that secluded oval calle: I looked at the name-plate, and saw 'it was named Gilston Road. been at-this corner that I had been knocked down by a passing cab when, on my first adventurous jouiney alone, 1 had wandered so far weslward, 1 turned back, and noliced that from the dining-room window of the house we hed just left any occurrence at the ccrner in question could be distinctly seen. Edna had explaned-that she had witnessed my accident from that win- <ow, and in this particular had appar- ently told me the truth. The renrarkable and unexpecled dis- coveries of that evening had produced a veritable tumult of thoughts within my brain, and as I walked with Hick- man I took no nole of his merry, irre- sponsible gossip, until he femarked-- "You're a bit preoccupied, I think. You're pondering over Mable's good looks, I suppose?" "No," I answered, starting at this re- mark. Then, to excuse myself, I added. "I was thinking of other things. I really .heg ycur pardon." "l was asking your opinion of Mabel, Don't you think her exiremely hand- a work-lable, and atl which we la "Gorlaty not" she responded deoist- vely. "I very son contrive lo give per sons who are bores their conge. Mother accuses me of rudeness to-them some times, but 1 assure you I really can't mo! asked you to dine on Saturday?" you before then?" "No; [ think it is very unlikely. Well have a jolly evening on Saturday." - "But 1 enjoy imwensely those walks across the Park," I blurted forth in des- opin's "Andante 'moment before it became interrupted fe and ¢arpet were worn and t the books were dusty and evi used, and that the nfed an air of neglect, ng whatever in "-gorgeousness of the . "But shan' T see The glasses were, as Mrs, Anson had said, lying beside the Lloiting-pad up-| Pe 'Jon a small rosewood writ:ng-table, took them up, and, having made a teur ] n, was about to 'leave the place, when suddenly, on the top of books upon a shelf close to. the r, 1 capled a small volume. : The curious incident of the birth. bcok oceurred to me; therefore 1 down the little volume and found that it really was a birthda name was inscribed on the litle-page as owner, but there were many names In swift eagerness ! ned to the page of my own birthday strod pondering with the book still y hand. The absence of my name proved one of two things, either § had not signed a birthda g "or, if'1 had; it was not discovered. Now, {here are frequently two birthday-books in one house, {here- . fore 1 resolved, ere I gave the matter © peflection, to pnosecute my tons further and ascertain whether thee not a second book. ith this object | made a second tour around the room, rot'ng ihe position of _'gvery article of furniture, lay scattered beside the piano, and, on turning it over, I found { ol Chopin's "Andante" which had been. Played on th: night of the tragedy. The "eover had been half forn away, but, on , it closély Leneath the light, plainly a small smear of "And I also," she admitted with a *But this week it is utterly impossible'to make any arrange- ments." Mention of the theatre afforded me an opportunity of putting to her a question upon which, 'during the past couple of reflected deeply. "You've, of ojurte, been to the Exhi- bition at Earl's Court, living here in the immediate vicinity," T said. "Ive anly been once," she answered. "Although we've had this house nearly two yesrs, exhibitions don't appeal to I was {here at night, and the gardens were prettily illumin- ated, I thought." } "Yes," I sald. "With the except'on cf the= gardens, there is far too much paste- board scenic effect. I suppose you notic- ed that serrated line of m-u:tains over the eternal sw.lchback runs? Those self-same mountains, repanted blue, grey, or purple, with tips of snow, have, within my rersonal knowledge, ane duly as the Alps, the Pyrenees, the ockies, and the Atlas, not counting Lalf a dozen other notable ranges." slowly fanning Yerself By 'her reply I had obtained from her own lips a most important fact in the Inquiry I intended now to prosecute, namely, that this house had been her home for nearly {wo years. Therefore it had been in Mrs. Anson's possession at the time of the tragedy. Since the moment whén I had first zed that rcom as I had been present on the night of the mysterious rssassination, the pos- sibilily hcd more than once occurred 10 me that Mrs. An:zon might have unwt- tingly taken it ready furnished afler the ccmmittal cf the crime. Such, however, Mabel had asserted that for nearly two ycars she had lived me very much. splendid pianist, too." Yruly the house was ene of mystery. Ip that room several persons had drunk that memorable night when blind Fate led me thither; in that: room a woman "mans shoyt of alarm, been fo to death, although of this latter fact 1 "was not altogether sure. At any rate, 'however, it was plain that some tragic - event had previously taken place there, as well as in that room beyond where 1 had reclined blind and helpless, was strange also that should remain neglected 'and undusted, as though the -occupants entertained some dislike to {t. But I had been ab- sent long enough, and, returning to the drawing-room with the missing glasses, handed them to Mrs. Anson. Hickman kad, in my absence, crossed ©. 40 Mabel, and was sitling beside her in games conversation, therefore I was compe seat mysell with my hos- tess and the Irritating Woman and chat was nat the fact. Again, even as I sat there at her side, deep in admiration of her magnificent figure in thal striking toilette of coral pink, with its soft garniture of lace and chiffons, I could not help reflecting up- on the curious fact that she should have recognized the dead man's pencil-case. And she had, by her silence, assented to my suggestion that he had been her That litle gold pencil-case that 1 had found in his pocket when he lay dead at that very spot where we were row sitting had been one of her love again to reach the side of the woman m | adored, and to again press her ran appointment, "It is far better for me to write to ou she answered 5 th," "As Tve. told The mystery hourly grew more puz- zling and bewildering. cach hour thal I was at her side I fell deeper and deeper in lenging always. for opportunity {o de- clare fo ber secret of my heart, yot ever fearing. to do-so lest she should turn ou, we have so cards fo leave." tells me that you have "many calls 10 make a heb { Our unexpected meeting at Grosvenor Gate, after 1 had received that leiter from my anonymous co-respondent, "Then you knew them abroad?" "Slightly. We met in a casual sort of | her. way at Pau, on the Riviera, and else- 8 dded Wheat wafer, containing in the mallest bulk all the nutriment an rls of the whole wheat. ~~ ho held my is, aretore 1 cast t Tae grave fave entrance 'The Boltons, It must have "Of course," I answered, try/ng to sup- press my enthusiasm. "She's charm- "It has always been a wonder to me that she has never become eng: "A girl with her charms ought to make an excellent "Has she never been engaged?" I in- quired quickly, eager to learn the truth about her from this man, who was evi- dently an old friend of the family. "Never actually engaged. There have been one or two little love-affairs, I've heard, but none of them was really seri- "He'd be a lucky fellow who married Ler," I remarked, still striving to con- ceal the intense in"erest I felt. "Lucky!" he echoed. "I should rather think so, in many ways. sible for a girl of her beauty and no- bility of character to go about withoul lcts of fellows falling in love with her. Yet I happen to know that she holds them a'oof, without even a flirtation.' 1 smiled at this assertion of his, and congratulated myself that I was the only exception; for had she not expressed pleasure at my companionship on her walks? But recollecling her admission that the victim of the assassin's knife had been her lover, I returned to the subject, in order to learn further facts. "Who were the men with whom she had the minor -Jove-affairs--any one 1 know?" I inquired. "I think not, because it all occurrcd be- fore they returned to live in England," "Both mother and daughter are alike extremely pleasant," 1 said. spirits Mrs. Anson is somelimes almost as juvenile as Mabel." "Quite 80," he laughed. never lelieve that she's nearly sixly. Shé's as vivacious and merry as a wo- man hall her age. [I've myself been at her sprightliness often and Again and again I endeavored lo"turn the conversation back to the identity of Mabel's former lover; but he either did not know or purposely refused to tell Li me, . He -spoke now and then with an intentional vagueness, as to the Ansons prevented him P from betraying any confidences reposed him as a friend of the family. Indeed, is cautiousness showed him to be a trustworthy man, 'and his cheracler be in my esli- aintance I had in- With a wild cry I streiched forth both hands to steady myself, but, staggering, only clutched the air, en a strange and utterly unaccount- able thing happened to me--stranger than hes ever happened to-any other (To be Continued.) ments msl THE CANADIAN ORDER OF FORES [ERS THE TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL SES- SION OF HIGH COURT. The, Most Prosperous Year for the Order in Its History -- A Large Dele- gation in Attendance. The twenty-ninth an the High Court of the of Foresters opened in the city ara Falls on June 9, 1908, mber in attendance, including rt officers and delegates repre- subordinate courts of every Province of the Dominion. After the usual opening ceremonies and the appoinimen nual session of Canadian Order passed from the Fulham Road into the King's Road, Chelsea, and at that moment he halted suddenly at the corner of a street of high, regularly built houses, most of which were in darkness, saying-- , "I live down here. a final whisky and soda with me; then you can take a cab back to the Strand. There are cabs all night on the rank in Sq "I fear it's too t glancing at my watch, and finding wv Fast one o'clock. "No, no, my dear Come in and have the High Court of- their reports, which showed the order to be in a most flour- The progress made the past year far ficers submitted ishing condition. by the order during fellow, come along," surpassed that of any previ + * ' "You'll want a drink before you get home;" and, thus persuaded, I accompanied him up lhe street to one of (he high houses, each exactly similar to ils neighbor, with a flight of hearth- leading up to its front decor, and a deep, grimy basement pro- tected by a few yards of iron railings. In the hall, although the gas had been extinguished, there small hand-'amp alight, evidently placed This he took, and ccnducted me to a front room, upon what the landlady of such a residence wculd term her "drawing-room floor." The house smelled close and stuffy; the furniture of the sitting-room was cover: plush which had once been crimson, but which was now sadly worn and badly moth-caten; carpet had been perforated in many paces by hot cigareite-ends carelessly thrown down, and there was a general ai~ of disorder about the place which scemed Incongruous with my frend' smart air and general demeanour. believed him to be a gentleman, yet fcund thal he lived in a not over-clean To the practical Londoner, live in "diggings, The High Chief Ranger, J. A. Stew- Perth, Ont., after extending a hearty welcome lo the representatives present, submitted his report, which was replete with facts and figures relat- ing to the growth and extension of the order during the past year. On the 1st of January, 1907, the order had a membership of 64.055, and there were initiated during new members, being an increase of 771 over the previous year. 2.134 members lapsed and 409 died, leav- ing a net membership at the close of the year of 68,424. The increase in the insurance reserve the year amounted nuary 1st, 1907, the amount on hand In this branch was $2,- 174 872.45, and at the close of lhe year 82 426,600.87. The amount paid in death claims was $413,326.24. The Sick and Funeral Benefit Deparl- ment is also in a flourishing condition. During the year no less a sum than $134,418.44, covering 5,903 claims, was anch. The amount to the fund at the close of the year was $112,864.48. The High Chief Ranger, in concluding his address, expressed the hope that the meeting would be a pleasant one for {he members and a profitable one for the order, and felt that if ever here was a time in the history of the order when the members should all with hope and confidence in the future of Canadian Forestry, that time was the In an inspiring address he he representatives to doalil lay to make 1908 the ban- ner year of the order. Geo. Faulkner, High Secretary, covering the general work of the society, was next in order, and showed in detail the business transacted office at Brantford. the.e for his use. of the order durin whose fate it is to apartments in the neighborhood of the King's Road are notable as being both He threw off his overcoat, tossed his ha! aside, and pulled up a long, com- fcrtable wicker-chair for me, opened the buffet, and took therefrom a battle of whiskey and a couple of sodas, | with which he proceeded to mix the drinks, his cigar-stump still mouth, even though he talked all the time, recounting some amusing stories which caused me to laugh. I could not quite make him out. The remarks he let fall while, over our cof- fee, we had discussed the chances at rculette led me to the susploign that he was a practised gambler, and here in his rooms I detected evidence that he was fond of sport, of other games of hazard. We had lit fresh cigars from h's own box, and as he sat in his b'g arm chair ha lifted his glass to me merrily, ex- pressing pleasure at our meeting. hope," he added. "that we shall But take my tip, my dear fellow, and don't fall in love with ed," he rsonal large volume of through the head insurance premiums received during the ycar was $575.916.20, account made (he total receip branch $665,149.96. Jealh claims paid, amounting to $413,- 321.54, leaving he sum of $251818.42 to cerry to the reserve fund, which at the close of the year was $2,426,690.87. The Sick and Funeral Benefit Branch 5! the order also showed a marked ad- of fces received during the year was $151,650.01, and in- receipts were It is impos- meet very often. Why he should emphasize this warn: ing just as Channing had done struck me as very curious. course, that he was in himself, and regarded me as a pussible rival. This, indeed, was the impression conveyed to me by his words, and it aroused within fhe a vague feeling of That quick sinster glance when I had been introduced still ling- ered fn my memory. "I can't think why you should so re- peatedly warn me," 1 remarked, laugh- ing with affected amusement. "It really isn't likely that I shall fall in love with It might be, of amounted to $153,849.82. 5.903 claims paid, amounting to $134 .- 415.44, leaving $19,431.38 lo carry lo the reserve fund, which at the close of the year amounted to $112 864.48. There were 68,424 members standing at the close of the year, carry- Ing $69,053,500.00 insurance. from the High Secrelary's office 8,064 insurance certifl- cates and 7.965 membership certificates, or a 10'al of 16,029, and in addition (here were endorsements made on 1,455 insur- ance certificates. The report of Robert Elliott, High Treasurer, showed the funds of the or- der to be in a most salisfactory con- the several $665,149.96; fund, on 01 the back without stepping on an- in good He made no response. He only puffed sicwly at hls cigar, and smiled cynical ly through the veil of smoke he created. I replaced my cigar in my mouth -- for my friend was evidently a connois- seur of Havanas, and this was an ex- cellent one--but at tongue, as I twisted it came in contact with the cut end of the weed, and 1 felt pricked as if by some Quickly I removed it and examined it closely, exclaiming-- "Do they wrap up needles in your And I passed it across te him, indicating where, protruding from the end, which 1 had chopped off with the cutter on my watchguard, was the tiny point of either a needle or a in, "Extraordinary!" he ejaculated, taking it from my hand and examining it care- 'In high were: -- Insurance, sick and funeral fund, $91,669.93; receipts, $910,669.71. The total expendi- ture in these funds amounted to $642,- The surplus income over ex- penditure amounted to $26 The surplus insurance funds are in- vested as follows: -- Municipal and school deben- $2,187,339 59 -. 150,000 00 "One would {UPES cers oven seve annnens Dominion of Canada stock . Deposits in chartered banks 20,000 00 Current accounts in char- though his 60,351 28 $2,426,690 87 | 0cOked?" The total assets of the Oe hg + to $2,587,037.70, a i abilities uctions. $ over ldabilities, slructions But ere a few moments had elapsed I felt a sirange sensation creeping up- on me; a curicus chillness ran down spine, my tongue seemed swelling led my mouth, and my brain [58 Ls lod!" 1 cried, springing to my feet + "Why, I believe I'm poison- - 'Nansense!" he: laughed. His voice sound afar off, and his dogs courts in the Province of Oniarie, 1 in Quebec; 59 in Nova Scolis, 70 in New! Brunswick, 15 in Prince Edward jstand} 107 in Manitoba, 56 in Saska! an, 30; in Alberta and 17 in British ogg Among those in aifendance are i following: J. A. Stewart, High Chief anger, Perth; D. Allan, High Vice- Chiet Ranger, Grimsby; Geo. Faulk- ner, High refary, Brantford; Robt) Elliott, High Treasurer, Brantforu; pr. U. M. Stanley, Chairman Medical Board, Brantford; M. D. Carroll) Montreal; C, E. Britton, P.H.C,R., Gan- anoque; L. P. D. Tilley, St. John; J. A. A. Brodeur, Montreal; Mark Mundy, Galt, members of the Executive Com- miltee. W. L. Roberis, High Auditor, Brantford; J. P. Hoag, High Auditor, Rrantford; W. Walker, High Registrar, Mantreal; Rev. W. J. West, High Chaplain, Bluevale; W. G. Strong, Superintendent of Organization, Brant ford; Lyman Lee, High Court Solicitor, Hamilton; Hon. Colin H. Campbell, High Court Salicitor, Winnipeg; D. E. McKinnon, District High Secrelary, Winnipeg; R. G. Affleck, P.D.H.C.R., Winnipeg, and R. H. Shanks, P.D.H.C, R., Winnipeg. --_---- SAVING THE LEADER. Explorers Have a Desperate Fight With Walrus. In 1818 went out the first British ex- pediton prepared to w'nter as near the noth pole as possib'e. The vessels were the Dorothea and Trent, the first under tho oxmmand of David Buchan, the other under that of John Franklin. Neither officer, writes Mr. W. J. Gordon in "Round About the North Pole," had been in the arctc region before; but Bu- chan had cone excellent service in sur- vey.ng Newfoundland, and Franklin had been marked for special duty owing to h's work in Australiin scas. Thy were instructed to proceed to the north jole, thence to continue on to Ber- ing Strait direct, or by the best routa they could find, to make their way to th Sandwich Islands or New Albion, end thence to come back through Bering Strait eastward, keeping in sight ana' approaching the coast of America when- ever the ice would permit them to do SO A nice lit'le program. But they start- «d too early in a bad season. They made accurate surveys and other ob- servations; in exploration they did lit tle, but they had many adventures. Olf Cloven Cliff there was a walrus- fight, begun by the seamen and ocon- tinued by the walruses when they found themselves more at home in the water than on the ice. They ros> in numbers about the boats, rushing at them, snorting with rage, endeavoring to up- set them or stave them in by hooking their tusks on the gunwales, or butting at them with the r heads, "It was the opinion of our people," says Boechey, "that in this assault tha waliuses wre led ¢n by one animal in' pardcular, a much larger and more for-! midahle beast than any of the o'hers; and they directed their efforts more par-' ticularly toward him, but he withstood all ths blows of their tomahawks with- cut flinching, and his tough hide resist- ed the entry of the whale-lanors, which were, unfortunately, not very sharp, and fo n lent double, ' "The herd was 80 numerous and ther attacks so incessant that there was not time to load a musket, whch, indeed, was the only effectual mode of serichsly imjuring them. "The purs r, forluna'ely, had his gun loated, ard the whole now being nearly' exhnust-d with chopping and slicking al their assailants, he snatched il up, and thrusting the muzzle down the throat of the leader, fired into him. "The wound proved mortal, and the animal fell back amongst his compan- ions, who immediately des's'ed from th 4r at'ack, rssembled round h'm, and in a moment quitted the boat swimming away as hard as they could with their lender whom they actually bore up with tier tusks, and assiduously preserved fron sink ng." --3 TRITE SAYINGS. It is nol age but poverty, thal nowa- cays steals worhen's looks away. It is rather hard luck for a man with fusomnia to marry a girl who snores. In writing a love letter, bear conslant- ly in mind that it may some day appear in print. By the time you are old enuogh to real- ize your ignorance you are too old to let it worry you. An engaged girl's greatest happiness is in talking it over wilh a girl who is neither engaged nor likely to be. The modern world of business is so overcrowded that you can't pat one man other man's toes to do it. Even more agreeable than he who will let you talk all the time about yourself is he who is always telling you the good things .he has heard people say about you. -- A HINT FOR HOUSEWIVES. .... Norah, the "green" ccok, poked her head in at the dining-rcom door. "S'ick a knife into it," said the young housewife, rcealling i.e co kery-book in- clean, the pudding is ready to serve." "Yis, ma'am." - - The report of Dr. U. M, Stanley, who| « , bos eon Chairman of the Medica'| sand, oh, Norah! Beard since the inception of the order, thought. shows that the death rate during the A Fr ably low death Tale 107 his is a rem y low rate for Bx J an order mow doing business for up-| the pudding! "If the knife does come out clean, you "Please, ma'am," sh» asked, "an' how will I be knowin' when the puddin' is "If the knife comes out The young mistress had had am after might stick all the rest of the kn'ves in. {during the year 90,874 applications, of d- whl 9.84 ver sco and the re- 5 g 90 rejected. The He or Po wards of 28 years, and still more re- markable is the fact that, com 8 the last hall of the 28 years with the first half, the death rale is in proportion of 5.17 to 5.07 per thousand. There were submitied to the Medical Board rh of W. G. Strong, Superin- repo porta there His Wife--"Are you going to ask thal and his fiancee to our house party?" Husband--*Not much." "You dislike him, don't yout" "Yes, but not enough for that." psi. THE EARLY. BIRD. I Tike to sniff the vernal air the sun kiss