a “Stone said g WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE GARRETT FULSOM is stabbed to Ocean death ‘Town, N.J. swimming at MES. partner and CARME LITA. VALDON. ANASTASIA FOLSOM, and masterful sister of a a n was a pichag, jiental on the boardw It 4 sensed that one CROYDON S is a fancier of curious weap- He admits buying two knives ons. bat not the pichag. Paprerceryee engages TITUS RIGGS, hitect to work on the case DAN ELT ‘ON, the dead man's ne ph- intrigued _by ‘ol- ew, arrives and is some surtous French dolls in som's room. Croydon Sears sends for ING STONE, famous detective. tells him inquest but was innocer t Store comes upon Carniclita Val- have suspicious actions don, whose 4 determines involved her, and question her. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY. CHAPTER XLIV “Not going in this morning?” Stone said, ufter Pelton, wh h her, had made introductione. don told him. today Then you've time for a chair ride on my lone- The chairs fascinate me and I hate to go ” with me. Do take pity liness and come for a_ ride. alone was not the habit of Carmelita Valdon to turn down anything in the shape of attention from any present- leming Stone was able man, And F decidedly a So ‘Carmelita amiled on him declared she'd love to go. ee you.when I come back, Dan,’ y to Pelton, art, er he wanted or not “Be good to her,’ then glanced at Carmelita. “T fancy everybody is good subtle flattery and yet 4 she sald slowly, body but Fate." ‘““And Fate is cruel? They were slowly eiting along the en- the boardwalk, the sun not ould ‘hear t Stone,” grave to 3 woman.” “Oh, what a sweeping don’t mean that—you nature can bestow—"’ “Never mind that éort And it is we who ha nature's gifts, looks, charm all the feminine arts, who get cruel blows from Fate, none the less terrible because of Without appearing to do mo, scrutinized her keenly woman was all Mies Folsom painted her, and she was deliberately him, or Pel- ton was right and she wae troubled. con- getting out to fascinate but not by reason of a_ guilty —_e ae Folsom’ 8 murder. “It nk, Mrs. Valdon,”’ he geaid gently, “it would be better if we talked plainly. You know, I dare gay, that Iam down here to investi- gate the death of Garrett Folsom. ‘There are reasons why I should ask ‘you some questions and I have chos- thinking it en thie way to do it, would be the least annoying to you. Carmelita thanked him with of her best smiles. “You are. good,” she “rr ring of eincerity in her us ~ plainly then. a ‘the . I did not kill Mr. Folsom.’ ut you ot ae he Is She ga re im 4 startled glance. “ Thate to put it so badly,’ said, as it thinking cdthis over, 1 well, Iam not really sorry. Or, t come néarer the truth, I'm glad only for one reason. Otherwise I wish the Than were still alive.’ “You're glad he’s dead se a 's bathing companions had ROGER N ntti a_ business | : BARNABY eccentric dead é akes command. At the inquest it is learned that the PCA PO: in ife, a it had bane boughit FLEM- He Folsom had been biack- mailing him and he had led at the So was * Carmelita Val- “About noon, I think, that gave you opportunity to Te- trieve your lettere which hse held.” “You must have been told that.” she said, looking straight at him. y could have told you but that so long as, Garrett Foisom was alive oe Meet ae re eunepected, in some Yuarters, of rah A Lage him in order to accomplish th “Some quarters, meaning ‘i sis- ter, I suppos Does any one else suspect me, Mr, Stone? “That I don’t enow.. But it would not be out of the question for Miss Folsom to spread such a suapicion.” “I know it wouldn't. She hates me. J. wonder why? scause you twa 60 , opposed in character pe and partly because she real- ly think $ “7% killed Bet brother.” “My dear Mr. Sto I ¢o ouldn’t kill anybody. I ay couldn't. Mise Folsom might; she’s the killer sort, Mrs. Val- with the steely, ad eo often struck terror heart of a wrongdoer. “Ont” Carmelita gave a gasp. “You mean—" “That some one else could have done it—at your bidding. the man with the white mustache?” At once Stone saw he had drawn blank Purposely he had sprung this ques- tion suddenly, felling sure he could tell by her reaction she low, hard voice that to the little a was a differ: ¢| ment ‘on from the sad- Had confessed to rs and had ad- t the death of Fol- aced woma, stealing her ow: mitted her relic som Now her eyes shining, her red lips emiling, her whole being full of viv- acity and charm, she leaned closer to him and whispered: “Don't shoot any more arrows at me. I haven’t done anything wrong.” “But you know who has!” he said erate. 4 “aaa at hingself for being swayed i her beauty and lure. ‘And then, with another of her audden changes, she became wistful, even pathetic, and tears actually ap- peared in hoon eyes. “Na. erely a faint, slight pOs- sibility. wetiias that I can tell you, “Ve well, Mrs. Valdon,” and Stone gave hi mself & mental shake. “T take that statement asa true‘one, and I shali say nothing more to you about it, until—until I, too, diecover that same slight possibility.” And et that he had the eatisfac- jon of seeing her look very perpilex- of ed indeed. They returned to the hotel, as it was the bathing hour, Carmel ita hurried away to keep an appoint- a: himself to think things over a result’ of his cogitations went up to Dan Pelton’s suite. ss, the valet — had tnheri- ted from Folsom as just leaving the rooms, having finished his work Who was| there “Going in the surf?" ——- , sir,”’ Ross returned. “I can’t ‘tin to bear the sight of the ocean since—Mr. Folsom-——” Yes, I know,"’ Stone said under- cere that the daactive was forced to believe her. ‘Th man with the white musé- and! who watch- uncertain wheth-| oné to interview her} hastened to get your letters? he called out, as|I had of it! a warning to the detective, who ans wered with a smile and a nod, and to you,” he eaid’in his gentle wee, so full of impersonal, | “every- negro pushing pos utterly fo aly a if in- dee fonversa-| and Carmelita countenance to hie “Fate is nearly alwrys cruel | assertion! And what an untrue one! aural = e| which would be of world at your feet—with all the gifts talk ve—as you say . power, oftenest that are un-| one with e ne. “Let first dead,” ehe “but. because tache I've not the slightest idea. But most certainly was no agent of mine! And I tell you, Mr. Stone |1 had no hand in Garrett Folsom’e *} death. Either directly or indirect- | ly. “But as soon as he was dead you I did idneed! And a I subsidized’ servants; I begged keys from friends; I tried every way I cou t en of—and I finally got them I they are burned up, and ‘tt the pare accuse me of the murder because of it they will have to prove it. But they can’t get the lettere! Her smile of triumph went fur- ther toward convincing Stone of her innocence regarding the fhurder than any asseverations could have done. To his mind it was clear that she was so anxious to get her letters and so relieved at having got them that the thought of a more serious ac- cusation had not yet sunk very deep- y fnto her mind. And this, of course or the reason that she had no guilty knowledge of the crime itse he lettere were so very ; Import- ant then?” he asked, casuaily ortant to me because of their dsecleeure of some life which I wish kept secret. small interest to hard time enough importance Folsom a hold over me that he never let me forget. Now they are dee- turned to him, with a realy lovely smile, and said, “My soul couldn’t be at peace if I had killed him, could it? “No, Mrs. Valdon."’ Stone said, giving her a keen look, “I think it could not. I'm not prepared to eay I can tell a criminal by looking at one but I will say that I think I can tel! by talking to one. And my judgment. my experience and my instinct al! shout to me your ipmocence in the matter of Folsom’s Meath. Now the question of those letters need never be brought up, never be even men- tioned, did police want; that’s all I want—to learn the identi- ty of the murderer. No one has any justifiable concern with your letters or their import if you are not con- nected with the crime.’ hat are you leading up she asked gravely. “Just this. You know—probably m some evidence you ran across while getting your own letterse—you know something you have not yet told. I want 7 to tell it to me.” CH Carmelita Valdon atared at Flem- ing Stone. Her bade dark eyes seemed te row ous W ear, and then|& they bas aa sphinx-like and inecrut- able. “y ou startled me.” she said with a slight laugh. ‘‘I thought you meant ““T did mean it—I do mean it..You learned something that you have kept to yourself. Yo | yh something that leads you a defin- ite suspicion. This thing) you must tell, or you will find youghelf in @er- fous trouble,” “Oh, n0,-not so bad as that.” Carmelita Valdon was again mis- tress si Fath Her instant of fear had p ; she had come through the Pacers Me Stone her letters, anc It'had cansed her no alarm Mrs. on.” All at once Stone found. himself.on the losing side, of the argument. “‘Yes, serious ie he ended up, a little lame- * she looked at him and smiled. “Shot all your arrows, have you, Mr. Stone?” she tered. “Well what next?’’ Btone eye be shake her. Never hefore had he Med by woman's wit. ig he ee: too, that she ever: sieht, that: learn, tor” b knev the n ot. standingly. a2 wish we could get at Clearly she did not. For her un-| the truth, comprehending look and her sur “ft wish 50, 0, sir, but it is all sc rised voice were so indubitably sin t had Been on land, no That’ 6 just it. A murder on land gives at least eome chance of clues left on the scene, but in the ocean— not a showin “Not a showing, sir. —no suspicions, sir?’ “No. I say Ross, have you?” He looked at the man closely. But he saw nothing gave the Im- mobile face of the servant, with sad look in the-eyes that told him only of a natural grief at the death of a respected master 2 “T wish I 1 suspect him, Stone — whimsically. “It would help alon lot. “Wa a minute, Ross,” he said, -_ and the man pause ou know a heap about. your late ata private affairs, an you — hesitate to speak out before me, Is there anybody you know™vf who could have had reason to do this job? I mean do you know of any one over whom Mr. Folsom had a strong enough hold. to make a mo- tive for murder?" “That's a big question, sir,” Ross Said, speaking very serfoualy. “Too g for me to answer. By which ! mean that, though I saw a few thinge now and then, or heard a few words now and then, I haven't enough reai knowledge or real reason for what you might call suspicion. If I had I should have told of it at firet, sir." that’s right. I say, Rose you don't think an was one of his lady friends did “Killed him?” oss looked amaz- ed. ‘Good Lord, no, sir! Why there wasn't any of ‘em down here “Oh, you mean his chorus gir! friends I suppose he had lots ol those but now and then Mr. Not so many, one . “ee Was no saint, Folsom 7aen “No, was.’ “She does that, Folsom thinks Mr. = a Puritan, though his sister thinke he Mr. Stone. Miss Garrett was al- and—he wasn’t. UNO " agreed Stone. “Weil, I see you can’t help me down for some ire water, . and tell them to send that fat child with it.” ubby? Yes, sir.” ‘ieee did Stone's bidding and de- parted, and shortly the rotund bell- boy appeared with the water. “You anted me special, Mr Stone?” he asked, with the air of importance that he loyed to assume. hat I'm getting at is this, Tub- the detective said, straightfor- wardly. “I want to get all the side- ghte I can on Mr, Garrett Folsom. I’ve learned a lot his friends and from the police and all that. But there may be some bit of information you can give id _that nobo lge could. Think “I wish I an, sir, but I’m darn- ” ed if I can think of anything. Got anything —"s in mind “No, I'm ust floundering. Dia you see Mr, Folsom when he arrived here? When he first came in?” “Yes, sir, I did. I was near the" desk and I seen him arrive. Oh, yes, he came in very important like—” “Swaggering?” “Not fool swaggering, sir. ust like a man. who’s Db ag knows it. No shoddy work. And his mtn, Rose, you know, race after everything quiet rt prope = mean he made ar onivanies such as one of the best pec- 0 do. ne. kn pei entrances; I’ve seen thous- "Tabb ¥ stood waiting, hoping he could tell something of peperenee’, but utterly at a losa to . well. knowing that nothing fotitions would gO with this man. “Well, that’s ao Stone in- formed him, ‘Did he look about af ved oops before he weak up-to his eve aid just that,’? and Tubby chance, - “He. stood ite a tow St qu ¢ ceietion looking at the crowds. in the a mies e In some ted." some we binge 7 ve worlds to : But it 80 | ‘ely. fmu- ond nt Stone sat on the deck by] p4, he|> Stone said} c You have no w al; eming was Folsom's favorii gets shock. Read the next chapter. elebete teeth bh t * . ; + ate > “MIRACLE” WHEAT AGAIN + a a ee ( aR Farms Note.) has appeared recently in a article Tut's eat Grown in r The article refers to certain results ob- tained by a. Soldier Settler aying near Edmonton, Alberta.,. and give the finfression that the wheat i question was discovered in 1922 in th ie tomb of King Tut-ankh-amen. As a matter of factthe records ehow that this wheat was ‘known as far 1840, whén one enterprising gentleman Offered heads at each. The above variety belongs to the Poulard subapecies of wheat being a mewhat intermediate. between the ommon and durum wheats, It has a ens the most common which a Egyptian, Eldorado. Many hesdad, Miracle, Mummy, Sev- n headed and Alaska, ‘It has -al- waye been easy to interest people in this wheat owing to ite ranched If an unbranched head will jeld so much surely a branched hoe: will: yield much more! While head for head this may be true, yet a eetinante have not shown that it holds good acre for acre. This wheat was probably introduced into North an ” A ‘Colonial days. the Philadelphia Society for promot- ing Agriculture in 1807, since which time it has appeared periodically un- der one name or another. In 1908 the United States Depart- sive investigation which investigation continued ecg 3 years. -.In e meantime it has been tried by farmers all over the United States but it Is not now commercial is a good indication of ite inferiority. Promoters however resurrect it per- jodically and, owing to ite striking and upusual appearance, manage to sell it to the unsuspecting farmer at exorbitant prices. The essential facte concerning Al- aska wheat haye been summed up very nicely in a bulletin published by the United ietior ao of Ag riculture—Bullet in ? 35 1916. 27—at the coweidaion of extensive ests wanderen ae many points in the U. S., as follo (1) That it. has been used in this country very often as a means of de- ceiving people and very seldom as a farm crop (2) ‘That it has failed to produce even fair yields when tried in many parts of the country, and has. hever been known to produce extraordin- ary yféiiie. (3) That it js not a, good milling wheat. (4) That the branched head is not a sign of superior dang power. L. H. Dominion Caredit’. Central rpotireniat Farm. Ottawa. Don't worry if the kid isn't good at mathematics. Maybe he's going to be the boes Instead of the book-keep- Friend—Well, how do you’ like be- You were always la- much better, miserable at home when I went out, and only miserable at home. 7 a Hen Come Ra Rose and Valerie afe gators. say they 23 and t “reapectiy * now I am oa ages. ¥ they are both very many but the wonder in they, are here at all, for just a f oy were admitted, victims of the ravages 3 consumption. They are hap ner ae because they are eaining wees ta and an ou, wh never lost your heal at & Somhersat differ- they ; esene path leads to cons Would FoR § not itis to contribute to this hegre ork? depends at mtions . A. Char! eereck Toronto 2, On —_—— BANNER ADS: PAY cate a a Re i ] he number of leading g agriculture papers} d “Kin 2) When she was killed. f dr acription te be made. fe for a baby only twelve months old, man” she “you needna A London Weekly eae est t isgust, be sae scrimped! It’s ur a pair, mitherless bairn.*” ing something new and delight beautiful in toile pig perfumes, ay th creams, fairy oonens soothing lotions, Fath salts and soa nmi ia compare—truly, these Mi tions RETURN ENGAGEMENT SOLOS Ye Olde TymeV illage Quaritette QUARTETTES _#flear Tom Hamilton, the Scotch Comedian McDONALD’S HALL Wednesday, November 16th Admission 50c plus tax All seats reserved--Plan at Creighton’s Drug Store open Nov. 12 DUETS Face Powder Compacts Potatoes ! Canada. Potatoes ! Be al Car of Prince Edward Island White Grade A Potatoes will |arrive next week. Considered best Potatoes grown in Secure your winter supply from thecar. 1.75 mes Phone 72 R. A. CLIMIE Listowel Shaving Bath Salts Tooth Paste Toilet Soaps “ and Perfumes For Sale by N. A. Gibson Listowel Ontario M2 | QUINTE GOLD MINES KIRKLAND LAKE * DISTRICT mage? as to the a. tles of this rich Property oe investment. This ose is not a prospect but “ iy proven ore property ot high ‘nasa It will = wane your while to investigate even if it is m ly for comparigon’s sake with your present holding of secur- ities. SINCLAIR ADOLPH Local Correspondent ERNEST S. HILL. Member Montrea ining Ex- change, 512 Molpetites Bldg. Schinbein’s Block Listowel. COUNTS Canada’s we Retail Grocers operating over SOO stores IALITY COUNTA Extra se” Raisins 2b. 23° Special ice Values Santa Clare Prunes 2 lbs. 23° een gee, Dates 2 lbs. TQS > Of @ @) @ @f @ @F @ 8] © Gj] ¢* > @te @ te @ i@ © ie@ @ te @ Fé Drie d Fruits Natural Natural Pigs 2 ibs. 19° e Sure of having Good Butter ThisWeek Fax Table Figs %:19° BG macs ea We recommend and antee our Braeside Brand to be ite finest Butter to be proc: Heinz Tomato Ketchup - - /27¢ Grated Horseradish - lS —_ Potted sited Meats - Say inte Besta (Reaetod) - = 2 If you cannot come to the office Telephone your Want Ads. to the— LI STOWEL BANNER | girs 61 : Christie’s Club House Re Assorted Olives Biscuits Bosh ee. 1-Ib. pkg. SSC hat week we sold OVER 150,000 Tbs! poe Picnic Hames. 190,000 150,000 cans tate 250,000 fe benephbe & Mistakes $06,000. Cakes of P kG. Sean. Many remarkable valees.are offered every wenk Come shere in geome Ngeske Bones Z val