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•^Wk\ '> '% S^f Mwm^ i, ILL. m r '•'•.•»».» "iSSI <̂ 1:̂ m+ ̂ h^H"•%* .^j^Cs* •_» • ».*..• V4"i 'J'jslte-V ' ' TF • «$;$•> '$«";* •<•' *1 fe';vi^ :i*T* IAV - ,isr: '* j$--r •tfv^i • »V ? 5*v<£: >.-*Vf.^. .:V iS »•$£: >'••* .-ty/ COP)9M&Z/*a or G£On<FaAK* AtSCV7Qm*r : &***&/%/9/2 0T HO0£>,Sf£A£> &- COM&U1Y She vu wor* 8VNOP8IS. i jpsm ^pr^HvV> ' •ni '•Ja*: NUa ' ^ ' m A Truss! '#•" w t-jvTmw Kxperisnet I Bart a tw Discorwy for in. WtaBMir or Chlldim That W» ICVpCttflf 'V'- f ^ ; £ fj~f; ,<•••». Ch&Uls Wr&nd&ll is found murdered In troad house near Now York. Mrs. Wran-«11 le summoned from the city and Iden­ tifies the body. A young woman who ac­ companied Wrandall to the inn and sub­ sequently disappeared, la suspected, ilrs. Wrandall starts back for New York •n an auto during a blinding snow storm. On the way she meeta a young woman In the road who proves to be the woman Vho killed Wrandall. Feeling that the girl had done her a service In ridding her f the man who though 3he loved him eeply, had caused her great sorrow. Irs. Wrandall determines to shield her tnd takes her to htr own home. Mrs. Vrandall hears th« story of Hetty Cas- . fleton's life, except that portion that re- .'in.tes to Wrandall. This and the story of vlthe tragedy she forbids the girl ever to (Sell. She offers Hetty a home, friendship ^Snd security from peril on account of the tragedy. 3ara Wrandall and Hetty re- •yurn to New York after an absence of a •year In Kurope. Leslie Wrandall. brothar '•f ChalSis, becomes greatly Jnt^rwsted in jctetty. Sara sees in Leslie's infatuation ;®08elb;ijty far revenge on the Wrandalls and reparation for the wrongs she suf­ fered at the hands of Challis Wrandall by JDarrying his murdereat into the family. X*eslie, in corutxuiy with his friend Bran- ion Hooth, an. artist, visits Sara at. her •cuntry place. Iyeslic confesses to Sam tfhat he is madly in love with Hetty. 9-irs •rrsiigres with Booth to paint a picture of Bettv. Booth has a haunting feeling that lie lias seen Hetty before. Looking through a portfolio of pictures by an un­ known English artist he finds one of Betty. He speaks to her about it. Hetty declares It must be a picture of Hetty <Hyrn. an English actress, who resembles fcer veTy much. Much to his chagrin 1<esUe is refused by Hetty. Booth and Betty confess their love for each other, %ut the latter declares that she can never Wiarry as there is an insurmountable bar- Tier in the way. Hetty admits to Sara that she loves Booth. Sara declares that Betty must marry Leslie, who must be wade to pay his brother's debt to the *iri. Hetty again attempts to tell the *eal story of the tragedy and Sara threat- «M to strangle her If she says CHAPTER XIId--Continued. "Not now. Not since I have found cat. The thing I have feared all "1.# : ; :. 1 fc-Us- ' <? *&,*? • • £ • $1*' . *1- •••' *?"*• v- i ^ wi tlUong has come to pass. I am relieved, low that yon show me just where I truly stand. But, I asked: what of "The world la more likely to applaud vnHmn to corae me, Hetty. It likes a Hew sensation. My change of heart *®ill appear quite natural." '•- "Are you sure that the world will aipplaud your real design? Ton hate <he Wrandalls. Will they be charitable "toward you when the truth is given «ut? Will Leslie applaud yoa? Listen, v jlease: I am trying to save you from jcursell, Sara. You will fall in every­ thing you have hoped for. Tou will t %e more accursed than L The world 4 . Will pity me, it may even forgive me. ^ It will listen to my story, which is ' SDore than you will do, and it will be­ lieve me. Ah, I am not afraid now. At first I was In terror. I had no hope to escape. All that Is past. Today 1 _ am ready to take my chances with the lig. generous world. Men will try me. and men are not made of stone and •, ' ateeL They punish but they do not 'J I ' avenge when they sit In Jury boxes. J -c85 - Tbey are not women! Good God, Sara. i Is there a man living today who could aave planned this thing you have cher- fehed all these months? Not one! And all men will curse you for iL even though they send me to prison or to <be--chair. But they will not con- •38-- IW will Iwar ray story d they will set torn free. *«"§ than, hat of you?" Sara stood perfectly rigid, regarding ia earnest reasoner with growing ander. "My dear," she said, "you would bet- be thinking of yourself, not of me." Why, when I tell my story, the s jrorld will hate you, Sara Wrandall. ^jfou have helped me, you have beea ,]$ood to me, no matter what sinister tive you may have had in doing so. t is my turn to help you." ; "To help me!" cried Sara, aston- '4, i Jllshed in spite of herself. -it'," ,-a - "Yes. To save you from execra* r' Jt/i ; a.**00--^ «v®n 'worse." few?'--i ti'hi. ~ \ 4'̂ "There 18 110 ®oral wrong In mar- Leslie Wrandall," said returning to her own project. x ' j." tit, "No moral wrong!" cried Hetty, iSJk 'i^M:hast. "No, I suppose not," she went s;ipa, a moment later. "It is something »|euch deeper, much blacker than moral : Wong. There is no word for it And jit I marry him, what then? Wherein es your triumph? You can't mean .that--God in heaven! You would not o to them with the truth when it was late for him to--to cast me off!" :f "I am no such fool as that The Secret would be forever safe in that /terent My triumph, as you call it, •Sve will not discuss." ^ , .54. •• ( "How you must hate nie. to be will-, . fsiSj-Jing to do such an Infamous thing to ^ .%•- :'.pne!" . ' ----• . > "j do not hate you, Hetty." .yZT.- v "1° heaven's name, what do yoa call . "JstcHfl.-oHrtw T <nfAH 4* ^.y,^v VU XUt) OOV. •v;!r l am saying this for your good sense to seise and appreciate. Would It be ^jiight in me to allow you to marry any .'"(Other man, knowing all that I know? (..There is but one man you can in Just­ ice marry: the one who can repair the |,rwreck that his own blood created. Not gjBrandon Booth, nor any man save Les- ^randall. He is the man who must ,.^pay." "I do not intend v "Enough!" **You wrong me vilely! let me--" 1 have an excellent jnemory, and It serves me well." Hetty suddenly threw herself upon the couch and buried her face lit her arms. Great sobs shook her deader frame. 8ara stood over her and watched for a long time with pitiless eyes. Then a queer, uneasy, wondering light be­ gan to develop In those dark, ominous eyes. She leaned forward the better to liBten to the choked, inarticulate words that were pouring from the girl's lips. At last, moved by some power she could 'not have accounted for, she knelt beside the Quivering body, and laid her band, almost tim­ orously, upon the girl's shoulder. "Hetty--Hetty, if I have wronged you in--in thinking that of you--I-- I--" she began brokenly. Then she lift­ ed her eyea, and the harsh light tried to steal back into them. "No, no! What am I saying? What a fool I am to give way--" "You have wronged me--terribly, terribly!" came In smothered tones from the cushions. "I did not dream yon thought that of me." "What was I to think?"1. Hetty lifted her head and cried out: "You would not let me speak! Yoa refused to hear my story. You hare been thinking this of me all along, holding it against me, damning me with it, and I have been closer to you than-- My God, what manner of woman are yoa?" Sara seized her hands and held them In a fierce, tense grip. Her eyes were glowing with a strange fire. "Tell me--tell me now, on yoar soal, Hetty were you--were you--" "No! No! On my eoul, no!" "Look into my eyes!" The girl's eyes did not falter. She met the dark, penetrating gate of the other and, though dimmed by tears, her blue eyes were steadfast and reso­ lute. Sara seemed to be searching the very soul of her, the soul that laid itself bare, denuded of every vestige of guile. "I--I think I believe yon," came slowly from the lips of the searcher. "You are looking the truth. I can see it. Hetty, I--I don't understand myself. Is is so--so overwhelming, so tre­ mendous. It Is so incredible. Am I really believing you? Is it possible that I have been wrong in--" "Let me tell you everything," cried the girl, suddenly throwing her arms about her. "Not now! Walt! Give nk« time to think. Go away now. I want to be alone." She arose and poshed, the girl toward the door. Her eyes were fixed on her in a wondering, puzzled sort of way, and she was shaking her head as if trying to discredit the new emo­ tion that had come to displace the one created ages ago. Slowly Hetty Castleton retreated toward the door. With her hand on the knob, she paused. "After what has happened, Sara, you most not expect me to stay with yoa any longer. I cannot You may give me up to the law, but--" Some one wae tapping gently at the door. "Shall I sae who It Is?" asked the girl, after a long petted of silence. "Yes." It was Murray. "Mr. Leslie has ra< turned, Miss Castleton, and asks if, he may see you at once. He says It is very important. "Tell him I will be down In a few minutes, Murray." After the door closed, she waited until the footman's steps died away on the stairs. "I shall say no to him, Sara, and I shall say to him that you will tell him £^%.jHetty. to marry," said :Wait! • •• :i i" It "But Leslie will marry some one, ( aed I Intend that it shall be you. He r f ^ '^shall marry the ex-chorus girl, the iartisfS model, the--the prostitute! Don't fly at me like that! assume that look of virtuous TLet me say what I have to IB^ "; • say' 111118 much of your ^ry shall W:,>' *'•?••> '" they know, and no more. They will be proud of you!" Hetty's eyes Were biasing. "You use that name--you q*U me that--and yet you have kissed me, caressed me-- <loved me!" she cried hoarae with pas- s. sion. 4 "He will ask you tonight for the , second tiine. Yon will accept him That is all." ' -- • "*ou muBt take back what you Just said to me--of me--Sara *';"*>%> •4^Wrandall. You must unsay It! - You " 1rri.»u»t beg my pardon for that!" "I draw no line l)£tvee» mlfutfsss a n d p r o s t i t u t e , " ' . ^ . < ; k . » ' vv ' • wait; 7 ; §£.'•;••• ^ ̂horror! I I 'Tell Mi -Tell Me, Now--on 8oul, Hettyt--" Your why I cannot be his wife. Do you understand? Are you listening to me?" Sara turned away without a word or look of response. Hetty qiUatly opened the door and went out J Lf-', ; :,V;.- CHAPTER XIII. The Second Encounter. Booth trudged rapidly homeward after leaving Hetty at the lodge. He was throbbing all over with the love of her. The thrill of conquest was In his blood. She had raised a mysteri­ ous barrier; all the more zest to the"* inevitable victory that woul^ be his. He would delight In overcoming ob­ stacles--the bigger the better--for his heart was valiant and the prize no smaller than those which the ancient knights went out to battlu fo» lists of love. It was enough for the know that she loved him. What it she were He What if she had been model? The look be had soul of her through tb - . , vri&e-i, eyes was all-convincing. thy of the noblest love. After luncheon--served with BOSS* exasperation by Patrick an hour and a half later than usual--he smoked his pipe on the porch and stared reminis- cently at the shifting clouds above the tree tope. He did not see the Wrandall motor at his garden gate until a lusty voice brought him down from the clouds into the range of earthly sounds. Then he dashed 6ut to the gate, bareheaded and coatJess, forgetting that he had been Bitting In the obscurity of trailing vines and purple blossoms this while he thought of ber. Leslie was sitting on the wide seat between his mother and si star. "Glad to see you back, old man," said Booth, reaching In to shake hands with him. "Day early, aren't you? Good afternoon, Mrs. Wrandall. Wont you coma in?" He looked at Vivian as he gave the invitation. "No, thanks," she replied. "Won't you come to dinner this evening?" He hesitated. "I'm not quite sure whether I can, Vivian. I've got a half­ way sort of--" "Oh, do, old chap," cut in Leslie more as a command than an entreaty. "Sorry I cant be there myself, but you'll fare quite as well without me. I'm dining at Sara's. Wants my pri­ vate ear about one thing and another-- see what I mean?" "We shall expect you, Brandon," said Mrs. Wrandall, fixing him with her lorgnette. Til come, thank you," said he. 7He felt disgustingly transparent un­ der that inquisitive glass. Wrandall stepped out of the car. "Ill stop off for a chat with Brandy, mother." "Shall I send the car back, dear?" "Never mind. Ill walk down." The two men turned in at the gate as the car sped away/ "Well," said Booth, "It's good to see yon. Pat!" He called through a base­ ment window. "Come up and take the gentleman's order." , "No drink for me, Brandy. I've been in the temperance state of Maine for two weeks. One week more of it and I'd have been completely pickled. I shall always remember Maine." Booth sat down on the porch rail, hooked hie toes In the' supports and proceeded to fill his pipe. Then he struck a match and applied it Leslie watching him with moody eyes. "How do you like the portrait, old mdn?" he Inquired between punctu­ ating puffs. "It's bully. Sargent never dM any- thing finer. Ripping." "I owe it all to you. Lea." • • "To me?" "You induced her to sit to me." "So I did," said Leslie sourly. "I was Mr. Fix-It sure enough." He al­ lowed a short Interval to elapse be­ fore taking the plunge. "I suppose, old chap, if I should happen to need your valuable services as best mun in the near fuaire, you'd not disap­ point me?" Booth eyed hta qulxzlcally. "I trust you're not thawing yourself away. Lies," he said rally. "I mean to say, on some one---ivell, some one not quite up to tht» mark." Leslie regarded him with some se­ verity. "Of tgrarse not, old chap. What the devtL put that into your head?" "I thought that possibly you'd been making a chump of yourself up In the Maine woods." "Piffle! Don't be an ass. What's the sense pretending you don't know who she la?" "I suppose lt'e Hetty Castleton," said Booth, puffing away at his pipe. "Who else?" "Think she'll hare you, old man?" asked Booth, after a moment. "I don't know," replied the other, a bit dashed. "You might wish me luck, though." * Booth knocked the burnt tobacco from the bowl of his pipe. A serious line appeared between his eyes. He was a fair-minded fellow, without guile, without a single treacherous instinct "I can't wish you luck. Las," he said slowly. "You see I'm--I'm In love with'her myself." "The devil!" Leslie sat holt ui? right and glared at him. "I might have known! And--and Is she in love with you?" "My dear fellow, you reveal con­ siderable lack of tact in asking that question." "What I want to know Is this," ex­ claimed Wrandall, very pale but very hot: "Is she going to marry you?" Booth smiled. "Ill be perfectly frank with you. She Bays she wont" Leslie gulped*' *% yoiTVi* asked her?" • - \ ; Obviously." •%"' And she said she wouldn't? She refused you? Turned you down?" His little mustache shot up at the ends and a Joyous, triumphant laugh broke from his Hps. "Oh, this Is rich! Ha. ha! Turned you down, eh? Poor old Brandy! You're my best friend, and dammit I'm sorry. I mean to say," he went on in some embarrassment "I'm sorry for you. Of course, you can hardly expect me to--er--" "Certainly not" accepted Booth amiably. "I quite understand." "Then, since she's refused you* you might wish me better luck." "That would m^an giving up hope." "Hope?" exclaimed Leslie quickly. "You den't mean to say yOull annoy her with your--" "No, I shall not annoy ber," replied his friend, shaking his head. "Wfrll, T hIiouIi! lioi'j not," ftnid Leslie with a scowl. "Turned you down, eh? 'Pon my soul!" He ap­ peared to be relishing the idea of It "Sorry, old chap, but I suppose you understand Just what that means." Booth'a lips hardened for an In­ stant then relaxed into a queer, al> most pitying smlla. 'And you want me to be your best man?" he said reflectively. Leslie Mosa His chest seemed to swell a little; assuredly he was breath­ ing much easiej. He assumed aa air of compassion. "I shan't Insist old fellow, if you feel you'd rather not--er-- See what I mean?" It then occurred to him to utter a word or two of kindly advice. "I shouldn't go on moping if I were you, Brandy. 'Pon my BOUI, I shouldn't Take it like a man. I know it hurts, but-- Pooh! What's the use aggra­ vating the pain by butting against a stone wall?" His companion looked out ov^r the tree tops, his hands in his trofesers pockets, and It must be confessed that his manner was not that of one who is oppressed by despair. 1 think I'm taking it 21k» a man, '?&<>•, j.'-V Leslie 8at Belt Uprloht and Glared at Him. Les," ha said. "I only hope youll take It as nicely If she says nay to you." . An uneasy look leaped Into Leslie's face. He seemed noticeably less cor­ pulent about the chest He wondered it Booth knew anything about his initial venture. A question rose to his lips, but he thought quickly and held it back. Instead, he glanced at his watch. "I must be off. Sae you tomorrow, I hope." "So long,'; said Booth, stopping at the top of the steps while his visitor skipped down to the gate with a nlmbleness that suggested the forma­ tion of a sudden resolve. Leslie did not waste time In part­ ing Inanities he strode off briskly In the direction of home, but not without a furtive glance out of the tall of his eye as he disappeared beyond the hedgerow at the end of Booth's gar­ den. That gentleman was standing where he bad left him, and was filling his pipe once more. Th? day -=a» -Arm, and Leslie was in a dripping perspiration when he reached home. He did not enter the house but made his way direct to the garage. "Get out the car at once. Brown," waB his order. , Three minutes later he was being driven over the lower road toward Southlook, taking good care to avoid Booth's place by the matter of a mile or more. He was in a fever of hope and eagerness It was very plain to him why she had refused Booth. The iron was hot He didn't Intend to lose any time In striking. And now we know why he came ag&ig to Sara's In the middle of a blazing afternoon. Instead of waiting until the more seductive shades of night had fallen, when the modn sat serene in the seat of the Mighty. • • • • * « * fie didn't have to wait long for Het­ ty. Up to the Instant of her appear­ ance In the door, he had reveled In the thought that the way was now paved with roses. But with her en­ trance, he felt his confidence and courage slipping. ^Perhaps that may explain the abruptness with which he proceeded to go about the business in hand. "I couldn't wait till tonight." he ex- -plained as she came slowly across the room toward him. She was half­ way to him before he awoke to the fact that he was standing perfectly stlL. Then he started forward, some- hov Impelled to meet her at least hali-way. "You'll forgive me, Hetty, If 1 have disturbed you." "T was not lying down, Mr. Wran­ dall," Bhe said quietly. There was nothing ominous in the words, but he experienced a sudden sensation of cold. "Won't you sit down? Or would you rather go out to the terrace?" "It's much more comfortable here. If you don't mind. I--I suppose jrou' know what It Is I want to say to you. You--•" "Yes," she interrupted wearily; "and knowing as much, Mr. Wrandall, It would not be fair of me to let you go on." "Not fair?" he said. In honest am si*- ment "But my dear, I--" "Please, Mr. Wrandall," she ex­ claimed, with a pleading little smile that would have touched the heart of anyone but Leslie. "Please don't go on. It Is quite as Impossible now as It was before. I have not changed." He could only say, mechanically: "Yoja haven't?" . "No. I am sorry if you have thought that I might cothe to>--" "Think, for heaven's sake, think what you are doing!" he cried, feeling for the edge of the table with a sup­ port-seeking hand. "I--I had Sara's word that you were not--" "Unfortunately Sara cannot speak for me in a matter of this kind. Thank you for the honor you would--" "Honor be hanged!" he blurted out. losing his temper. "I love you! It's i a purely selfish thing with me, and I'm bfewed If I consider It an honor to be refused by any woman. I--" "Mr. WrandaH!" sbs crlsdf fixing him with her flashing, indignant eyes. "You are forgetting yourself." She was standing very straight and slim and imperious before him. He quailed. "I--I hag your pardon. I--I--" "There Is nothing more to be said," she went on Icily. "Goodby." "Would you mind telling me wheth­ er there is anyone else?" he asked, as he turned toward the door. "Do you really feel that yon have the right to ask that question, Mr. Wrandall r He wet his lips with his tongue. "Then, there Is some one!" he cried, rapping the table with his knuckle**. He didn't realise till afterward how vigorously he rapped. "Some con­ founded English nobody, I suppose." She smiled, not unkindly. "There is no English nobody, if that answers your question." "Then, will you he kind enough to offer a reason for not giving me a fair chance In a clear field? I think it's due--" "Can't you see how you are dis­ tressing me? Must I again go through that horrid- scene In the garden? Can't you take a plain no for an an­ swer?" "Good Lord!" he gasped, and In those two words,he revealed the com­ plete overturning of a lifelong esti­ mate of himself. It seemed to take, more than his breath away. \ "Goodby," she said with finality. He stared at the door through which she disappeared, his hopes, his con­ ceit, his self-regard trailing after her with shameless disloyalty to the standards he had set for them, and then, with a rather ghastly smile of self-commiseration on his lips, he slipped out of the house, jumped into the motor car, and gave a brief but explicit command to the chauffeur, who lost no time in assisting his mas­ ter to turn tail in ignominious flight Hetty was gloomily but resolutely employed in laying out certain of her personal belongings, preparatory to packing them for departure, when Sara entered her room. They regarded each other steadily, questlonlngly for a short space of time. "Leslie has just called up to ask 'what the devil' I meant by letting him make a fool of himself," said Sara, with a peculiar little twisted smile on her Hps. Hetty offered no comment, but after a moment gravely and rather wistfully called attention to her present occu­ pation by a significant flaunt of her band and a saddened smile. "I see," said Sara, without emotion. "If you choose to go, Hetty, I shall not oppose you." "My position hsre is a fslse one, Sara. I prefer to go." "This morning I should hare held a sword over your head." "It Is very ulmc-uU fur to realise all that has happened." "You are free to depart You are free in every sense of the word. Your future rests with yourself, my dear." "It hurts me more than I can tell to feel that you have been me all these months." "It hurts me--now," Hetty walked to the window and looked out. "What are your plans?" Sara In­ quired, after an interval. "I shall seek employment--and wait for you to act" "I? You mean?" "I shall not run away, Sara, Npr do I Intend to reveal myself to the au­ thorities. I am not morally guilty of crime. A year ago I feared the con­ sequences of my deed, but I have learned much since th^n. I was a stranger in a new world. In England we have been led to believe that you lynch women here as readily as you Ivnnh mfin T haw * •*%# w cuivrr uctvci that From you alone I learned my greatest leseon. You revealed to me the true meaning of human kindness. You shielded me who should not Even now I believe that your first impulse was a tender one. I shall not forget it, Sara. You will live to tegret the baser thought that came later on. I have loved you--yes, al­ most as a good dog loves his master. It is not for me to tell the story of that night and all these months to the world. I would net be betraying myself, but you. You would be called upon to explain, not L And you would be the one to suffer. When you met me on the road that night I waa on my way back to the inn to giv« my­ self into custody. You have made It impossible for me, to do so now. My lips are seated. It rests with yoa, Sara." ' Sara Joined Iter In the broad win­ dow. There was a strangely exalted look in her face. A gilded birdcage hung suspended in the casement With­ out a word, she threw open the win­ dow screen. The gay little canary in the gilded cage cocked his head and watched her with alert eyes. Then she reached up and gently removed the cage from its fastenings. Putting it down upon the window sill, ehe opened the tiny door. The bird hopped about his prison In a state of great excitement ' Hetty looked on, fascinated. * At last a yellow streak shot out through the open door and an instant later resolved itself into the bobbing, fluttering dicky-bird that had lived in a cage all Its life without an hour of freedom. For a few seconds it circled over the tree tope and then alighted on one of the branches. ~ One might well have imagined that he could hear its tiny heart beating with terror. Its wings were half-raised and fluttering, Its head Jerking from side to side In wild perturbation. Taking courage, Master Dicky hopped timo­ rously to a nearby twig, and then ven­ tured a flight to a tree top nearer the window casement Perched in its top­ most branches he cheeped shrilly, as if there wae fear in his little breast In silence the two women in thh window watched the agitated move­ ments of the bird. The same thought was in the mind of each, the same question, the same intense wish. A brown thrush sped through the air, close by the timid eanary. Like a flash it dropped to the twigs lower down, its wings palpitating in violent alarm. "Dlckyr called Sara Wrandall, and then cheeped between her teeth. A moment later Dicky was fluttering about the eaves; his circles grew smaller, his winging less rhythmical, till at last with a nervous little flutter he perched on the top of the window shutter, so near that they might have reached, to him with their hands. Hs sat there with his head cocked to one side. "Dicky!" called Sara again. This time she held out her finger. For some time he regarded it with indifference, not to say disfavor. Then he took one more flight, but much shorter than the first, bringing up again at the shutter- top. A second later hs Lopped down and his little talons gripped Sara's finger with an earnestness that loft no room for doubt She lowered her hand untfi It was *ven with the open door of the glided cage. He shot inBide with a whir that suggested a scramble. With his wings folded, he^ sat on his little trapees and cheeped. She closed and fastened the door, and then turned to Hetty. "My symbol," she said softly. There were tears In Hetty's eyes. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Owts Y<ra Roodac To Tiy ft, ant ww>aH| «mm m is instant rellsf wbn iu oth#n f&Ji luMaoMhrM.BoluuiMM.^uS 11 I mb4 ob trtal to pion (k, t -- -- vmv'" are Xb» Jadg* and <£u» ham..^ £rkMk22 0N* *l*o mi nil OM - < fTM Coupon below arU mall today. i„ well wotS- yoir time whether you try my dLoorery or not. A&i FREK INFORMATION COUPON C. a BBOOKS, 1»1 SUto Street, ManhaU, Mtak. VPP" Ml btnwiaif • I & 0$ 0 PUBLIC DINNER A NUISANCE? New York Newspaper Says It Is, Both on Account of Poor Food aitd Poor Speakers. It has long been the agreeable habit of friendly organizations, from the Sons of St. Patrick to tiie ttew iiing- land society, the Ohio, the Southern and others, to give occasional dinners at which they may refresh their spir­ its with the familiar dialect which is grateful In the ears long unused to it and by reminding each other of what a good place the old home was, and Is, remarks the New York Evening Sun. But the old custom has long since become a bore beyond descrip­ tion because of the Inordinate atten­ tion required of the diners to a long array of speakers, none of whom has anything in particular to say, and at the same time because of the very indifferent quality of the dinner pro­ vided. It is no doubt true that the great majority of persons who go to these dinners do not know or care what they eat and therefore gobble the usually very indifferent food let before them and wait, helplessly, for "the speakers." Their own Indiffer­ ence is much to blame for the general stodglness. It is encouraging, of course, to observe that the disgust with such silliness as this has finally resulted In an explosion which would do away entirely with the public din­ ner. The private dinner, of course, chosen carefully and served to a small and congenial company. Is one of the most honorable and sacred so­ cial rites in the civilized world; men and women will always stand up t6 jjefenl and maintain it But the great machine-made dinner Is a fool- lsh anomaly to begin with; nobody but the hotelkeepers, who charge enough to pay for a much more tempt­ ing dinner than they serve, feels any tenderness for It Pie, the Nstlonsl Dish. Three years ago a pie-eating eon- test was held for the championship of New Jersey, relates the London Chronicle.- In the "United States pie is a national dish, and the variety with which the competitors had to struggle consisted of a layer of pastry a quarter of an inch thick, spread with canned fruit; the average weight being half a pound. Accord­ ing to the report of a local journal, "amid enthusiasm, thirty-five young men, trained to the minute, entertrd the contest for the championship. The state record of twenty-si* pies in half an hour fell during the battle. Walter Tappin of Tilsomfleld, N. J., was the winner. He managed to put himself on the outside of twenty- seven pies In the allotted time. For this he received the "championship belt" It should have been an elastic ona, , • w . Georgia invasion. "It's been the dteam of the old man's life to see Wash'ton," said the BillTillo matron, "an* now he's a-goin' thar. an' I'm a-goln' with him. 'I won't be unknown thar,' he sayY 'fer I've been a member of six Georgia tegiala'uiUT.. mi* any one ot 'o.ui f..uld beat congress a-raisin" of the place whar Satan lives at an' a-doin' of nuthin!' But what we want to see most is the place whar they make the money, an' find out how come an' why we don't git our share of tt."---At­ lanta Constitution. IN NO POSITION TO PREACHf^ Stranger Lost the Confidence of Truth ̂, ful Fishermen When He Made y/S\ . .. His Inquiry. \ "v « Representative Frank £&**,•' T- resentative Howard of Georgia, and'T^f? Superintendent George W. Hess of|;'-: the botanic gardens, were having friendly argument at Washington. V "Howard," said Clark, banteringly, j • "I just want to illustrate to you in a story how little you know about this. There is In my district In Flor­ ida an attractive village taamed Cal­ lahan. "One day a stranger walking along^ . a road In the country near a _creek%-. saw a youth fishing. ' '"Young mai^,' said the ministerial-fee looking Individual, 'can you tell me;V^ •, the way to Callahan?' •*;,-^S " 'Yes,' replied the boy, 'taks tha^i| first road to your right.' "Instead of proceeding on his jour^-y il ney, the stranger g&xed intently at:,; the boy a few moments and said: 'My /I young friend don't ybu know you are wasting your time in a way that Is dreadful to contemplate? You are fishing, just fishing, when you ought to be a-studyln' of books to prepare yourself for life's struggle. My boy, you're sure on the road to perdition.' "'Road to perdition,' replied the ln-'-' p dlgnant youth. 'What In blazes do you know about roadB? You don't «r«fc JH)$w the road to Callahan.' " . ^ Tanga in Cftardi. - llot^er; like countless other moth-^• ers, had been doing much tangoing and hesitating of late. She had taken dancing lessons. She practiced the-* ^ various steps at home with father. Lit-^ tie Frances had heard much of the^^ lingo that goes with the tango, and the^ V hesitation. She knew all of the.|^ phrases. A few days ago Frances went to church with her mother. Frances had- not learned all of the ceremonials ot this church for, after the mother knelt outside the pew, Frances 4ooked up at her and whispered: "Mother, what did you do the dip for?"--Indianapolis News. . Carelessness Cause of Fires. More than fifty per cent of all fires are caused by simple carelessness, which is unnecessary and criminal. Repairs to dilapidated buildings, the removal of all fire breeding material, care in burning weeds and rubbish, the placing of engines at a safe dis­ tance from buildings, the removal of oily waste, proper ventilation--in brief, plain common sense, will mini­ mise the danger from this claps Of firea* t .1* r* 'X These June Brides*, "Ma'am, here's a man at the door with a parcel for you." •'What is It, Bridget?" "It's a fish, ma'am, and It's marked C. O. D." :. S "Then make the man take It straight /£: back to the dealer I ordered tCPuL", ' ••-Kansas City Star. . A Mere Toy. Silas--That city fellow follows his vocation closely and yet he spends all of his time at play. Hex--How does he manage that? Silas--He leads a string orcTiOTtra. ft" jfcxpensive Business or social en­ gagement--jpst a few minutes for lunch--can't wait for service. What can be had r r x - ' i f ' ' '"""JesT**, Order. • •r- -b&jtf-z, Toasties with fresh berries or fruit and cream. They will be served immediately, they f.r- and taste mighty good, too. Sold by Grocer* --weryw m. k y X , vr--* s&5 Pi Ki - $$ fc;• , m ki'-.v-A* iicfcM-:'