OF DOUBT ILL . *ARRISH' ***' Fire", doPTRKSHty'UIWOail^ SYNOPSIS. Major Lawrence, son of Judge Law- pence of Virginia, whose wife was a L«e, to «ent on a perilous mission by G«n. Washington, Just after the winter at Val ley Foig-e. Disguised in a British uni form Lawrence arrives within the enemy s lines. The Major attends a great fet« And saves the "Lady of the Blended Rose" from mob. He later meets tho gin at a brilliant balL Trouble Is started over a waltz, and Lawrence is urged by hit partner. Mistress Mortimer (The Lady of the Blended Hose), to make his escapa, Lawrence Is detected as a spy by Captain <3rant of the British Army, who agTees to a duel. The duel is stopped by Grant's friends and the spy makes a dash for liberty, swimming a river following a nar row escape. The Major arrives at the shop of a blacksmith, who Is friendly, and knows the Ladv of the Blended Rose. Captain Grant and rangers search black smith shop in vain for the spy. Law rence joins the minute men. Grant and his train are captured by the minute men. Lawrence Is made prisoner by an Indian and two white men. who lock him in a strong cell. Peter advises Lawrence not to attempt to escape as "some one" would send for him. Grant's appearance adds mystery to the combination of cir cumstances. CHAPTER XIV. Again the Lady. I must think rapidly, and act as quickly. Yet, if what Grant had said was true, that he had already posted guards on each side the house, then escape by daylight wu practically im possible. From all I could see there was no concealment close at hand, and while the fellows were without arms, yet their numbers were sufficient to make any attempt at running their lines extra hazardous. And I had much at risk, for if taken it would be as a spy, and not a mere prisoner of war. There was no place for concealment in the library, but there might be up stairs, in the attic, or on the roof. The chance was worth the trial, and there could be no better time for such an experiment than while the three offi cers were at breakfast Whatever servants remained about the house •would be busily employed also, and probably I should have the entire up per portion to myself. Deciding to make the venture I had my hand on the knob of the door, when it was opened quietly from without, and I was startled by the sudden appearance of Peter. Whatever excitement may have prevailed among the other mem bers of this peculiar household this model servitor remained with dignity unruffled. He surveyed me calmly. Tubbing his bald head with one hand. "You will pardon the delay, Bir," he. •aid calmly. "But circumstances have arisen changing the original plans. Will you kindly accompany me?" "But where, Peter? I don't wish to be seen by these new arrivals." "Have no fear, sir," condescending ly, and with an authoritative wave of the hand. "The* officers are at table, and will know nothing of our move ments." I followed meekly enough, and he led the way up the broad stairs to the second story, turning to the left in the upper hall, and coming to a pause be fore a partially opened door. A glimpse within made me deem it a music room, although I could see merely along one wall. "You will enter, sir, while I return to the guests below." With one glance into this perfectly expressionless countenance, half sus picious of some new trick, I stepped across the threshold. The curtains were dra^i, and the room seemed dark after the sun-glare of the hall. I advanced a step or two, almost con vinced the apartment was unoccupied, when a voice addressed me. "Under more favorable conditions. Major Lawrence, It would give me pleasure to welcome you to the hospi talities of Elmhurst." I swung about as on a pivot and saw her standing with one hand upon the high back of a chair, her blue eyes smiling merrily. I felt the hot rush of blood to my cheeks, the quick throb of pulse, with which I recognized her 1 waB BO surprised that, for the instant, the words I sought to utter choked in my throat. 'You have not suspected?" she asked. "You did not know this was my home?" tb^°Sin.KT WB8 farther from my thoughts. I exclaimed hastily "All I y0Ur home wae it was « somewhere- ln lhe jcrsey8 But wait perhaps 1 begin to understand-- the lieutenant who brought me here* hi® voice belt been ^ehnir* * all night in familiarity. ' u! f*™ near relative of yours "Oh, you have know y- He 1r some this Eric?" °verheard? You the name through hearing Ca^ tain Grant speak?" g ap" "YCB; 1 couM not very vvoii v, Ing bo. P«t«*r Lad etatloned ^ bul there waB !SK5r10 -*•« -pS m. to be tb. Heiuen- "Why should I not? The voioe waB *hci same; at least PUfflciently SmS" you m a way to arouse my susDicimia 8s your brother named Eric?" "Yes; I told you, did i not thBt - < £ £ £ 7 h e p h ! " " c a l - Oet««en »s i9 very strong; no doubt *ur Voices soun^ nlike also, or would 'to a comparative stranger, will you not be Beated. Major? we shall not ve long to converse, and there U much to be said before those down stairs complete'their rather frugal meal--Peter has promised to delay serving as much as possible, but, as our larder is not extensive, at best it will nod be long. You overheard Cap tain Grant's threat?" "To search the house for your broth er--yes." "He will carry it out," quietly, her eyes, no longer smiling, on my face. "There has never been friendship be tween those two, and of late my own relations with Captain Grant have be come very unpleasant. I think he is almost glad of an opportunity to thus exercise some authority over me. He is the kind of a man who must either rule or ruin. Convinoed that Eric is concealed here, he will search the house as much to spite me as for any other reason. I should only laugh at him, but for your presence." "Then your brother is not here?" "Certainly not; Eric is in no danger --but, Major Lawrence, you are." The earnestness with which she spoke made my heart leap. Whatever the girl's political sentiments might be, she was plainly desirous of serving me, of once again exposing herself in my defense. Yet her words, the frank expression of her #yes, gave no sug gestion of sentiment--she was but a friend, an ally, performing a woman's part in the war game. "But I fail to understand--" "You mean me? Oh, well, you are not the first; and no doubt it is best so. The less you understand, the bet ter we shall get along. Major; the only question being, will you obey my orders ?" "Had I inclination otherwise I fear I should find it impossible." "I hardly know whether that remark be complimentary or not. You might mean that no other course was left you." "Which I suspect Is true, although If it proved so I should willingly trust myself to your guidance, because of my faith in you." "That is much better," her eyes laughing, yet as 6wiftly sobering again. "But it is foolish of us to waste time in such silly speeches. There is too milch waiting attention. Fortunately this house is not without its secrets, for when built by my grandfather this was the frontier." "But does not Grant know?" I asked soberly. "I understood he played here as a boy, and there is not much a lad fails to learn." 'Tie is not without knowledge, surely, but here is something he never discovered. I would never have trustr ed him with the secret, and yet, short a time as I have known you, I have no hesitancy. Isn't that a frank confession, sir?" One I mean you shall never re gret." I am sure of that; yet I shall not betray everything even to you. Please faoe about with eyes to the front win dow. Yes, so; now do not look around until I tell you." I heard her cross the room, her skirts rustling slightly, and then the faint clicking of some delicately ad justed mechanism. As this sound ceased, her voice again spoke. "Now, Major, the way is opened for a safe retreat. Behold what has been accomplished by the genii of the lamp." She was standing at one side of what had been the fireplace, but now the entire lower portion of the great chimney had been swung aside, reveal ing an opening amply large enough for the entrance of a man. I took one step forward to where I could perceive the beginning of a narrow winding stair leading down Into intense black ness. Then I glanced aside into her eyes. "The concealment was perfect," I exclaimed in admiration. "Where does the staircase lead?" "To a very comfortable room under ground. It had not been used for a generation until this war began. Eric and I learned of its existence by acci dent, while rummaging over some of our grandfather's old papers. I was about sixteen then, and shall never forget our first exploration. We found nothing down there then but a rough bunk, an old lanthorn, and the leath ern .scabbard of a sword. But since then Eric has been compelled to hide there twice to escape capture, and we have made the room below more com fortable. You will be obliged to grope your way down the stairs, but at the bottom will discover flint and steti, and a lantern with ample supply of candles. Peter will bring you food. If you need remain there for long!" "Peter! Then he is in the soeret?" "Peter is ln all secrets," she con fessed. "From him nothing Is hid, at least so far as may concern the Morti mer family. You have yet to learn the deep subtlety of Peter, Major Law rence. He sees all things, retains all things, and reveals nothing." "A discovery already made." "No, barely glimpsed; no short ac quaintance such as yours has been could ever serve to reveal the char acter of Peter. Since babyhood Be has been my monitor and guide, and still he remains to me a silent mystery." "An old servant?" serving before him. There is no doubt ln my mind but what he knew of this secret passage before Eric and I were born. Not that he has ever confessed as much, yet I am convinced our dis covery of it brought no surprise to Peter. What do you suppose his age to be?" My mind reverted to that expres sionless faoe without a wrinkle in it, to that totally bald head, and my an swer was the merest guess. "Oh, possibly fifty." "I told you you were far from know ing Peter," she laughed. "He is seven ty-two, and, would you believe it, until this war came, was never ten miles from this spot." "And since?" recalling the events of the night before. "He has made it his duty to attend me; he has become my shadow. From the humdrum experience of a respect able house servant he has become the very spirit of reckless adventure--he has Journeyed to New York, to Tren ton, to Philadelphia, to--" "Night riding with Hessian for agers," I broke in, "disguised in • a Ranger's uniform." "Well, yes," she dimpled quietly,, "even that." I waited for something more, some explanation of what all this concealed. "You trust me with so much," I ven tured, when she continued silent, "It would seem as if you might tell me even more." "I cannot perceive whereby any further confession would serve you. Yet I have not refused to answer any question surely. It is hardly safe for us to remain here so long, and yet if there be something you wish tb ask--" "You could scarcely expect me to be entirely without curiosity. I have been captured on the highway, brought here a prisoner, and held under guard all night I supposed myself In Brit- I cased Into her eyes, her hatidi still in mine, conscious that her cheeks were flushing. It was impossible for me .to conoeive of her, performing an unwomanly action. "I prefer to ask nothing," I said frankly, "although I should n«t«r mis construe anything you might care to say." * "I think you suspect already, and I should far rather tell you the truth myself than have you learn it in some other way. The lieutenant ot Light Dragoons who attacked you last night was not my brother." "Was not Brief And yet you knew him?" "Very well, Indeed," her eyes falling, "because it was myself." CHAPTER XV. Entombed. I had not suspected it; however ob vious it may appear, now to those who read this tale, the possibility that she had been masquerading in an officer's uniform, indulging In warlike deeds, had never once occurred to me. She was so thoroughly feminine that her acknowledgment came as a distinct shock. I had, It Is true, seen suffi cient of life to be of charitable mind, and yet there was that within me which instantly revolted. She read all this ln my faoe, but fronted me with out the quiver of an eyelash, firmly withdrawing her hand. "It is easy to perceive your disap proval," she said more coldly, "but I have no further explanation to make. am sorry to have you think ill of me, but I felt that perhaps you might realize my action %as justified." "It is not that," I hastened to ex plain, ashamed of myself, "I have not lost faith in you. But I was brought up in a strict school; my mother was almost puritanical ln her rules of con duct, and I have never entirely out grown her conception of feminine lim itations. I am sure you have only done what is right and womanly. Do not permit my first surprise t& end our friendship." "That is for you to determine. Major Lawrence. I have confessed, and thus cleared my conscience of deceit. Some day you may also learn the cause of my action, but ln the meantime it must bear your disapproval. However, we need discuss the matter no longer--" She sprang to the door, and glanced out into the hall, stepping back once more as Peter appeared. His eyes swept the room in silent observation. "Captain Grant and the two officers with him have concluded their meal. Mistress Claire," he announced calm ly, "and one 6f~them has gone for a file of soldiers to begin the search of the house." "Very well, Peter; go back and as sist them. I will see to the safe con cealment of Major Lawrence/' He bowed graciously, and disap peared. "You have not given me your par don," I implored as our eyes again met. "There is nothing to pardon to my knowledge. I respect you because of m s % l t v "You Have Not Suspected?" 8ha Asked. "You My Home?" Old Not Know This Was lsh hands, only to discover that you have again intervened to save me. Surely there must be a key to all this mystery. If, as I suspect, it was your brother, Eric, who led the attack on me, having mistaken me for another, then what was his purpose? And what has become of Eric?" She wrinkled her brows ln perplex ity, her hands nervously clasping the back of a chair. "It is like being cross-examined by a lawyer. Perhaps if the secret was all my own I might freely confide it to you. 1 do not promise I would, but I might. As it is, I do not yet know you quite well enough. I believe you to be_Major Lawrence, that you are all you represent yourself, but I am pledged to silence, and the lives ot others depend upon my keeping faith. You cannot urge me to do what 1 deem wrong?" "No; I shall always believe In you." "I thank you tor that," and her hand was extended frankly; "I would reveal one of the mysteries of last night if I was not fearful it might cost me your respect." "How could that be possible?** "Because it might appear to you that I had been unwomanly. My own con science is clear, for my purpose exon erates me, but this you might fail to understand unless 1 made fuller ex planation than is now possible. I havo Yes, born to the position, his father i a duty which cannot .bo betrayed." your sense of propriety, but we cannot talk longer now. You must enter the passage at once." 'You will give me your hand first?" 'Gladly," and I felt its firm pres sure, her face brightened by a smile, "Now let jus remember rather the danger, the necessity of concealment, and not delay too long. Wait a mo ment, major; 1« It true yott absolutely trust me?" . "It certainly Is." "I am going to put that to the teat To« have papers you desire to give at once into the hands of General Washington. You mayN be detained here some time, but I hare with me an Indian who could take them across the Delaware tonight. It is not the first time he has made that journey. Will you confide them to me?" Our eyes were looking directly Into each other. 1 may have hesitated an instant, confused by the unexpected request, yet there was something in the expression of the girl's face .which swept doubt swiftly aside. Without a word I took them from an inner pock et, and gave them to her. The red lips smiled, the blue eyes brightening. "Tonepah shall leave within the hour," she promised, thrusting the small packet into the bosom of her dress. "Now step within, major, and I will close the door." I did as she requested, hearing the click of the lock behind me, and be ing as Instantly plunged into dark ness. I waited a mc«nent, my foot upon the first narrow stair, listening. No sound reached me from without, and, with her animated face still before me ln memory, I began to . slowly feel my way down the circular staircase. There was nothing dangerous about the pas sage, but with only the bare stone wall to touch with the hand I was obliged to grope along blindly. The huge chimney had evidently been erected merely for concealment, and I mar veled at the Ingenuity of its construc tion. I failed to count the steps, but I went around and around so many times, pressed against the smooth wall, that I knew I must be well below the basement of the house before 1 finally stood at the bottom. I groped forward in the intense darkness, feel ing with outstretched hands. The first object encountered was a rough table, the surface of which I explored, dis covering thereon a candlestick with flint and steel beside it. With relief I struck a spark, and a yellow flame revealed my surroundings. What I saw was a low room sonft fifteen feet square, the walls and roof apparently of stone securely mortared, the only exit the narrow circular stairs. The floor was of earth. Op posite me was a bunk slightly elevat ed, containing a blanket or two, and a fairly comfortable chair built from a barrel. An old coat and hat hung from a nail at the head of the bunk. On a shelf near by was an earthen crock, and two candles, and beneath this, on the floor, was a sawed-off gun and two pistols, with a Bmall supply of powder and • balls, the former wrapped in an oiled cloth. It was in truth a gloomy, desolate hole, al though dry enough. For want of som» thing better to do I went over and picked up the pistols; the lock of one was broken, but the other seemed serviceable, and, after snapping the flint, T loaded the weapon, and slipped it into my pocket. Somehow its pos session yielded me a new measure of courage, although I had no reason to suppose I would be ealled upon to use the ancient relic. There was little to examine, but I tramped about nervously, tapping the walls, and convincing myself of their solidity, and, finally, tired by this use less exercise, seated myself ln tfce chair. tomb, strained ears, but at last the spirit ot depression vanished, and my mind be gan to grapple with the problems con fronting me. A Heaven alone knows how^fcogl re mained there motionless, mind elsewhere, drifting idly backward to the old home, reviewing the years of war that had transformed me from boy to man as though by some magic. (TO BE CONTINUED.) It was like being buried In a not a sound reaching my Brutality of the Crusaders. Few cities are said to have been be sieged and taken so many times as Constantinople. Since the middle of the Bixth century it has undergone 26 sieges and has been captured eight times. But its worst experience was in 1204, when It was captured by. the Crusaders. The city was given up to pillage, and the so-called Christian warriors are said to have acted more barbarously than Turkish Invaders have ever done. In the Interests of Art. "How ugly those railway coaches are!" exclaimed the critical young woman. "Couldn't you adopt some suitable color scheme?" "Well," replied the railway official; "so long as we are compelled to op- erate on jlm crow lines, maybe it would be neat and appropriate to paint them black and white.' ' Complete Failure. "I understand Dubley failed -n busi ness yesterday for the fourth or fifth time." "Haven't you heard the later news? He shot himself this mornng." "Suicide?" "An attempt, but he failed even at that"--Catholic Standard #md Timea. Saw His Opportunity k The first field-glasses brought to the New Hebrides sorely puzzled the sim- pie-minded natives, who of course thought them the product of wizardry. In "Islands of Enchantment" Florence Coombs tells how one ot the mission clergy was walking along the shore, when a native at his side pointed out a tiny finger in the distance. "There goes one of my enemies," said he. The white man, drawing out his field- glasses, and adjusting the focus, hand ed fbem to his companion, who, gazing through them in excited amassemaat, beheld his foe apparently close at hand. Dropping the glasses, he selaseu his arrows and looked again. The enemy was as far away as at first Once more he snatched the magic glasses, once more exchauged them for his arrows, and once more was baf fled. To loBe such an opportunity was hard indeed. A bright thought sud denly occurred to him. "You hold the glasses to my eyes," said he to the missionary, "and I can shoot him."--Youth's Companion. Clever Parisian Thlevea. • clever theft was operated recent ly In Paris. Three men stood talking in front of a jeweler's shop Window, grouped together ln such a manner as to hide the lower part ot the window as much as possible. Behind them was a fourth, who pushed a long pleoo of steel wire through a ventilator, hocked a diamond pin worth $200 and drew it out The group then dis persed. A pedestrian passing at the moment saw the whole operation, but astonishment completely petrified him, and by the time he awakened and in formed a poftoeman the thieves had disappeared. Their Strong Suit. "Do you think the n?ngi»tf» suf fragettes have a*y chance to win?" "I think they have a «g*H«ig chance." 60ES TO DIE IN TP DEAD'S HOUSE '•** ' California Lawyer Kills Himsell in Undertaking Rooms After Careful Preparation. Ifjos Angeles, Cal.--Determined that Ids body should be sent to the right place with as little trouble as possi ble, Chester Guy Smith, an attorney having offices at No. 129 West Second street, walked Into the reception room of an undertaking room late the other afternoon and shot himself through the head. Although mortally wounded, the lawyer was still breathing when dis covered by an attendant, and was hurried to the Receiving hospital, where an examination showed that the bullet had penetrated the brain and that death was a matter of but a short time. After lingering on the verge of the grave for more than an hour, the patient gradually grew weaker and ilieiill Shot Himself Through the Head. died without recovering conscious ness. That the act was one of delib eration was Indicated by a note found in his pocket which gave his name and requested that Dr. W. P. Millspaugh of No. 427 Loughlln building be notified. Despite a careful investigation on the part of the police ho motive for the suicide could be discovered, al though members of the family de clared that the attorney had been working unusually hard of late and that his health had been undermined by financial worries. With his wife, the attorney lived at the home of his father, C- H. Smith. No. 2317 Pasadena avenue'. In speak ing of the tragic end of her hus band Mrs. Smith said that she had no ticed that he appeared worried dur ing the last few weeks, apparently on account of financial difficulties, but he had never hinted that he in tended to take his own life. The lawyer was about forty years old and came to this city from Buf falo ten years ago and at once be gan the practice of his profession. He was married about six years ago but had no children. PARSON-STUDENT IS DUCKED Refusal to Join Hazers In Nightshirt Parade Is Taken as Grave Offense. Waynesburg, Pa.--As a punishment for his failure to take part in the an nual nightshirt parade of Waynesburg college students, Frank Weaver, a preacher with a local charge and a student at the college, was ducked ln the lake in college park the other night in the presence of a big crowd. Weaver was spending the evening with a young woman friend when the nlghtshlrted students, to the number of 150, appeared at the house. With drums beating and hundreds of resi dents along the route of parade, Weaver w%s marched to the lhke and ducked. He is a member of the junior class, and when the annual nightshirt pa rade was announced, he declined to Join in the festivities, and the stu dents, after parading the streets, marched to the young woman's home and forcibly took the young preacher away. At the conclusion of the ducking. Weaver scampered across the campus, his wet clothing clinging to him. WHEN HUNGRY TAKE A SHOCK French Scientist Says Electriciay Is a Substitute for Food--High Cost of Living Solved at Las^. Paris.--Hunger is shortly to be abolished by electricity. Such' is the prophecy of Prof. Bergonie, who has explained the method to the Congress of the Society for the Advancement of Science, now in session at Nimes. Bergonie recalled the experiments of Prof. Berthelot, who said that with in a generation steaks and other foods would be replaced by small pills containing the necessary chemical constituents to sustain life. Bergonie added that what chemistry had not accomplished electricity will achieve through "high frequency treatment." Therefore, we may shortly be order ing five electric currents at intervals of seven seconds Instead of soup. Lemonade at Church. Plalnfield, N. J.--As a means of in creasing the attendance at the mid week prayer meetings In his church. Rev. Charles L. Goodrich of the Con gregational church conceived the Idea of serving ice cold lemonade at these servioes. This innovation was tried the other night for the first time and proved a grand success, there being a marked Increase In the attendance. Dragged by Bull. Lisbon, O.--Hugh Farmer, thirty, was dragged across ® ten-acre field by an infuriated bull, l1 armer keeping his grip with the fingers '"of one hand on the bull's n<fse. MAST TREES FOR THE CROWN irk df the Plaootf on PMlss In tHo Plym- out Colony. .gj In the provincial charter of 1G91, which the Plymouth colony and the province of -Maine were united with Massachusetts, it was provided that all trees of the diameter of 24 inches and upward of 12 inches from the ground, growing upon land not heretofore granted to any private per son, should be^reserved to the crown for the furnishing of masts, for the royal navy. Harper's Weekly ob serves. A surveyor general of woods was ap pointed to see that this provision of the charter was carried Into effect Near the coast all white pines of suit' able dimensions were marked with the "broad arrow"--three cuts through tho bark with an ax, like the track of a crow. This was the king's mark. Long after the revolution had oblit erated the royal authority men who had been taught in boyhood to re- spect the king's mark hesitated to cut such trees. In felling • a tree It was necessary to "bed it" to prevent its breaking. This was done by cutting the small growth and placing small trees across the hollow, so that there should be no strain upon one section more than upon another when the monster plno struck ground. Thfj mast' was haulejl out of the woods on one strong sled, whether ln winter or summer, and so many oxen were required that the hind pair were often choked ln crossing a hollow, be ing hung up in their yoke by the pull ing of those ahead of them. A mast hauling was a great event -sip SupusM. ujqijM. jCpoq^iaAa pu* tance came to see it. HANDS CRACKED AND BLED St Clair, Mo.--"My trouble began about fifteen years ago. It was what some claimed eczema. The form the disease worked under was a breaking out with watery blisters on my hands which would then dry and scale, and then would follow the trouble of. cracking and bleeding, also itching and hurting. My hands were disfig ured at the time, and sore. The trou ble was very annoying, and disturbed my sleep. This last February It was ever so much worse than before. I did not do all my work on account of the condition of my hands. I could not put them in water without mak ing them worse. I tried a lot of home remedies, also salves and liniments that claimed 4© be a cure for the trouble, but I did not obtain a «ure. "At last I saw the advertisement for Cutlcura Soap and Ointment. I sent for a sample. I thought they would cure, so I sent for a fifty-cent box of Cutlcura Ointment and some Cutl cura Soap. A doctor advised me to keep ahead with the Cutlcura Soap and Ointment and they cured me com pletely. No trace of the trouble re mains." (Signed) Mrs. Mary Taylor, Mar. 29, 1912. Cutlcura Soap and Ointment sold throughout the world. Sample of each free, with 32-p. Skin Book. Address post-card "Cutlcura, Dept. L* Boston." a_-----> - UNKIND COMMENT. Madge-rGeorge says he always loses lpis head when he goes in the water. Jklaude--I should think that would be the only part of him that would keep him afloat. The Cannibals Need Food." An officer of the French colonial army brought a letter from the chief of a group of missionaries "in the southern islands of the Pacific not long ago, which winds jap as follows: "1 regret to tell you that our little company can do little against the fa naticism of these poor wretches. More over, famine is ravaging the country, for the harvest has been destroyed. Therefore the dispatch of more mis sionaries has become urgent. '--La Pe tite Republique. A Large Package Of Enjoyment-- t Toasties Served with cream, milk or fruit--fresh or cooked Crisp, golden-brown bits of white corn -- delicious and wholesome -- . A flavour dial appeals to young and'old. "The Memory Lingers*' SoM by Grocer*.