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{he eouid only. wve | naught bout om "either. 'that when she -come to [lover's letters one, the THE THIEF : Higher hanlkerchief; - she said used any of 'em, but kept-'em - {among her treasures as being too So pee, and for that matter the oth {five was found in her box, and hey 1 : ¢ 'had not been used. Her mother took a word aj her oath that Joanna came home, on trusting in Providence, same the night she was sent off from Four and same as my husband alway: ways, by 11 o'clock, and Nat Lucas I believe a time must come swore he'd first caught sight of the Joanna will be cleared." fire through the little window in his = Mrs. Toms, you see, had great p sleeping place at a bit after 10, so and she was Te voi thought upon the time fitted, exactly right, and no- that, despite Joanna's race, rione body in his senses ever dot that turned Away from her mother, fo she'd gone off in her rage and set none but felt only too sure that things fire to the ricks on her way home. It'were as they seemed to be. For if was a mle, Everyday Sort of asso, Joanna had looked to be marie be accor: e law, 'evi "fore long, what more te: € 1K in its place, all very orderly and ac- fore that. ns wanted a little bit' of .| by those who i phenomenon in a temp It generally begins asts ¢ hick BY EDEN PHILLPOTTS. : al : of For som where was Jacob's field--a five-ficre oke., croft under wheat that year--rose up "I'll go," she said. "But I say here'a gréat glare with flame flickering afore you all, and I' swear to it in! through it. The night was still and the name of my dead father, that I;starless and the blaze arose steady never touched one of them things and, out of the dark, | 3; know more than you how they! Farmer got into his boots so quick - got in my box," , {as he could and Susan ran and roused i PART III Then 'she sp "sho : 1d: near the horzon; at others it discovers the distant hills, and again leaves all in darkness, when in am ins "I could wish for your peace and hope of heaven you'd take another line," replied her master, but she only' shook her head. She was calm now and steadfast as a rock. Then she ~-went up to her room, under the roof of Four Ways, took her packet of letters and went straight away out of the farm without another word to any of 'em. = But the night work wasn't done with, for while the girl tramped home, with death in her heart, no doubt, Jhomas Turtle debated on the mat- er, . " To her parents' great astonishment, Susan stuck up for her ruined friend, and despite the glaring facts, vowed that Joanna never could have done it. "Tis beyond her nature," she said. "And I wouldn't believe it if an angel said she'd stole our things. She .gouldn't--she's _not built to do it. There's a. wicked plot hatched against her, for she coul a part. I never kriew such a down- right truthful girl in my life." "Then, if not her, who ?"_asked Mr. Turtle. "Who under this roof would seek to ruin her this way?" But Susan couldn't tell. "Pll never believe it. We've got her word," she answered. "And her word's her bond. And God will right her," she declared. , But Farmer was impatient at this, and who ghall blame Mm? He thought he'd been uncommon Chris. tian about it and gave it as his opin- ion that few would have acted so kindly as he had. They talked to ne urpose and was just going to their s when old Nat Lucas, head man 'at Four Ways, come running in to em from his tallet, where he slept over the stables. He was clad in his trousers and shirt and no more. "God's goodness!" he said. "Us be afire! Tis the new ricks in the cor- ner of Jacob's field, or else 'tis the cow byre down under." They ran to the door and there, sure enough, they see red fire blazing not half a mile off and lighting half the sky. The farm sloped down to Dart vale; and on the edge of the hill, n't tell a lie, or act "her brother, who'd gone to bed, and "Lucas called up another man that dwelt hard by. Then they went down to find the two brave wheat stacks, guly piled a fortnight before, was both alight and burning to the heart. They could do naught, for the fire had got a start of 'em and their buckets of water only turned to a | puff of steam afore they reached the trouble. Indeed, none durst go very near, for the heat was tremendous, and, even so, young Tom got his mus- tache very near burned off and Nat Lucas was singed from his scant thatch to his knee all down one side. I don't think in the full flush of , the fight, nor yet after, that anybody ever connected Joanna with their 'great disaster. Certainly if any heart harbored the thought, it was on no lip till other things happened: but at | cocklight Farmer Turtle went' down ! to his burned-out corn ricks, and Nat Lucas with him, and. it was Nat, pok- ing about in the char, as found what threw a cruel, ugly light on the job. For he come across a piece of paper half burned with writing upon it, and he also picked up a handkercher, and he gave them to Thomas Turtle. Farmer looked at. 'em, then put em in his pocket and stood like a 'stone man staring at the rising sun. He could hardly believe his own eyes; but there weren't a shadow of doubt, and; after he'd sent Nat off to Lower Town for the police, he 'went to his house place and caled his" wife and put the handkercher in her hand. "Who's be that?" he asked. - - She looked at. it and answered: "One belonging to Joanna Toms. There's 'J. T. worked in the corner. Susan gave her six for her birthday last July." | "And read what be on this serap of paper, mother, please." Mrs. Turtle took the burned sheet and read so much as was left to read. "'My darling Jo: I may get home a bit after Christmas and then with luck it's----"" "Turn over," said Mr, Turtle. His wife done so and read: "'No more sea for me then, but Merchants Bank of Canada Reports Record Progress/ Marked Expansion in Assistance Trade and Commerce. Saving The close association established by The 'Merchants Bank of Canada * with the -expansgion of the business and industry of the Dominion is 1 ly shown by the semi-annual statement of the Bank, to October ; 1 The Merchants Bank, with its com- Pete organization throughout the minion, is known for the special assistance to growing and expanding inesses and the report now issued shows that it has been particularly 'active in this direction during the ~ past year. This is reflected by the increase in current 'loans and dis counts to customers to $120,515,408, a8 Sompated with $102,346,514, a gain of $18,168,889. : Increase in Capital With a view of increasing its facilities to "the farmers and mer- ~ chants and the manufacturers of the "country, the Bank has provided for an Jictease in capital and a a: I sult paid-up cap now s it $9,955,970, an increase to date of idsdy ae the game. lime De reserve: has n increa: ] - "and now stands at 400,000: these amounts will: be. further i -- k Has Given to Canadian Deposits Show Large Increase. A, further substantial gain in sav- ings deposits indicates that the Cana- dian people are practising habits of thrift. ring the year the savings deposits of the banks' have been drawn on heavily to meet payments for the Tagt Victory Loan campaign. Nots withstanding this development, the Bank shows a gain in savings de- posits of $4,628,040 and total deposits now stand at $170,634,061, up from $166,006,015. Assets at New High Level As a result of the expansion, the total assets established a new high record by crossing the $200,000,000 mark. They now total $209,450,448, against $198,606,5672, ' Shareholders will take. particular ride in the steady expansion shown by the Bank, This development hds been the result entirely of the round- ing out of its organization and ser- vice throughout the country. With more active trade conditions, the Bank is now in a position to reflect the benefit of the complete organization which has b gradually built up over the entire Dominion, e general statement of assel by ing. previous year, shows as fol- lows: : SE Hs Si 1920 Cie © $30,630,351.00 § 25.642,1 au 00:00 | Sh otns - 212149 ; 8,831.377.14 . bd 4,179,236. 656 120815468.00 Th her |and liabilities, with comparisons with} the instalments still] th : cording to human nature and no mys-' tery anywhere. 'But arson is a ve serious business,.as the culrrit found,| for she got three years and no sym- pathy from anybody on earth but her m and Susan Turtle, The poor girl® vanished according- ly, and when Bob Truscott came home from sea after the New Year and went first thing to the lodge where Mrs. Toms still dwelt, he didn't sur- prise her by no means so much as she surprised him. Twas a very cruel shock for the poor chap when he listened tp the girl's downfall and heard she was put away for three mortal years. He was a good sort of man and wouldn't believe a word. In truth, he properly raved about it and didn't rest, hand or foot, till he'd got. permission to see Joanna. And he did see her, with two policewomen in the room, and" found her ealm and stead- fast, but thin and" long ways less beautiful than when I#st he'd. said good-bye. = She told him she was innocent, and darkness that he believed it, and swore he'd wait for her and leave no stone unturned meantime to- Fight her against the world, = oo A and took work on So he left hep the Jand not ra om burton; but fe no doubt 'twas- a great light in her! mone; ainst her young man's re- turn Be took this wicked way to come by it? : (To be continued.) det Revealed Her Ignorance: She impressed upon all her friends how much she adored true literature. To Mr. Author, whose name she would reappears in vi flashes "and exhibits the nearest jects in all the brightness of day. During atstant | thunder never: ceases to roll and fs only silenced by some nearer peal! which bursts on the ear with such a sudden and tremendous crash as can' and successiv all. this time 'tne distant | 'By George H. Locke, Chief Librarian, Toronto fain take, was the story of her. de- votion to works of noble writing told with emphasis. a . "Then!" he exclaimed-one day, "you must worship Sir Walter Scott--his 'Lady of the Lake,' most wondrous of books." "I do! "And Scott's' 'Marmion' and 'Peveril of the Peak'?" he continued. , "Yes, yes," she avowed, joyfully. "Scott's Emulsion, too?" he inquired, enthusiastically. . "That she cried, "is the: best of the lot!" AR rr Arne Acadia was the part of Eastern Canada now known as Nova Scotia. Acadians was the name given to -the | French-settlers when Acadia was part). of New France. brs as for'righting he or doing anything to clear, up the business at Four '#lnard's Linfment For Burns, Eta A- Skirt from a Coat. ~ Cut-away coats for ladies were a Lfeature of 1916's fashion season. The sport skirt, serviceable and practical, with its companion, the knitted or filet sweater, is one of the boons of 1920. The busy woman of village or rural community feels the need of such a skirt--to be worn on the weekly trip to 'town, the hike or to the Women's Institute meeting. . Nearly every 'Woman owns one of Wool collie with round- trasting color--perhaps a plaid. Such a coat may be converted.into just the skirt of the season, one. with con- venient pockets, buttons down the back, jaunty belt and individuality of design, First, wash the coat and remove any stains. Remove collar, sleeves and pockets; old safety razor blades are excellent for ripping. Then press the material on the side which is to be the wrong gide when the skirt is made, If the inside of the coat is plaid, consider advisability of using plaid for the skirt. Measure up from the bottom of the coat the required length of the skirt, not allowing for hem. Cut on that line parallel to the hem, making a straight skirt... Next, cut down the coat pockets to a con- venient size. The pocket with rounded front is pretty and matches the rounded bot« tom-back of skirt. Use the collar to make the belt. If the over-lapping end of the belt be rounded it makes a stylish closing at the back; one in keeping with the whole scheme. The button-holes | the right side and fi The front of the coat forms the sh be worked over and] nea 'to close the skirt. | TT SUS RYH AR LD -- astrakan cloth coat with the padded lining! When she rips thé lining away she will find a materfal which resembles that much-favored wool jersey. Here .is the material for a warm skirt that will suit any lady of the finest taste! The beauty of the make-over is that it does not look 'as though it had to be made that way. It has the appearance. of being just as the wearer planned it--and, it is! : ¢ 4 Apple Butter. Brass should never be used 'as a cooking utensil. ,~An iron kettle or a copper 'kettle is ull right for mak- ing apple butter. To make, peel and' slice the apples. Use half as much boiled cider as apples, that is, if you have five gallons of apples use two and one-half gallons of cider. Good' apple butter is only possible if it is cooked a long time, about six hours, over a slow fire, and stirred constant- ly. "Add the sugar when the cook- ing is. well over, after three and a half hours. A pound of sugar to a gdllon of butter is a good allowance. When it is finished add one-half tea- spoon each of cloves, cinnamon and once in hot sterilized jars. pte Discoveries, places.on her husband's shirt to wear out are the collar and cuffs. I find that, at the cost shirting is now, it pays-to sit down and rip the collar and cuffs out of their respective places and turn the inside of each out to BUY "DIAMOND DYES" Fach package of "Diamond tains direct woman can: streaking, fading I do!" she cried, ecstatically. pas color card--T allspice for each gallon; and seal at{" 'Every wife knows that the first] ; | Beautifully llustrated, $1.50 DON'T RISK MATERIAL Money refunded if not satisfied. ions 80, sim at any dine a 0 At All Booksellers or Fe J. M. DENT & SONS, Ltd., Pubs. 3 sna ake no . cA gift ° he will appreciate OQ matter what kind of a razor a man uses now, he will welcome and enjoy the chean shaves he will get from his AutoStrop Razor. He will like the self-stropping ing it apart; above all, he will be apt to boast of the way in which the AutoStrop blade re- moves his' tough, barbed-wire beard (and he's secretly proud of that, you know) without the | device t gives him a fresh te ro Nhe thos, 2 Be berpad oF Sn Bavetisten to be get Tor "that enables him ro Sh he "cious hus am 5 AutoStrop Razor without tak- ughtfulness. a : --sharpens itself % LE : On sale at all drug, jewelry and hardware stores, the AutoStrop blade. Soil brags and ovespwhone Sih means oa 4 AUTOSTROP SAFETY RAZOR CO. LIMITED = + : : AUTOSTROP BUILDING, TORONTO, CANADA On Razors; Str "Valet" ina &enuine alr mumgscuwed by uae gh ats the trade mark products of the AutoSirap Saftey Rasor Co., Rh -ndic that t Lied, Toon, Cont ten back to the| = [B look |