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Standard Bank of Canada. DEERING Binders. Mowers. Rakrw and Twines. Wilkinson’s Plow~ Land 801' MS and Diamond Smooth ing Harrows. McGill Turnip Sowers. Dowsel 1’s Chums. \Vashers and \Vrinwexs, U S Cream Separators, Gammon Dunn Hay Forks. Inter-es: ailowed on Savings Bunkde- posits x-f $1 and upwards. Prompt attention and every facility aflorded customers living: as a. distance. A general Banking business trans- SCted. Bx‘aflxp iS9ued and coiiections made on all points. Deposits w.- ceivad and interesc allowed at cur- rent races. DUB Hm JACOB KRESS. Snowball and Chatham Wagons. Palmerston Buggies and Democrats. Also Grier Buggies,Londou. on hand. 0mm RT AKIN a PRICESfiCU'!‘ Also a Number of Horses for Sale. S. P. SA UNDERS Wool . . Wanted A Agencies in all principal points in un- tario, Quebec, Manitoba, United States and England. A LARGE assortment of Tweeds, Yarns. Blankets and Flannels al- ways in stock. Ready-made Cloth- ing of the latest design kept in stock. Custom Carding and Spin: Fresh Groceries always in stock at the Lowest Prices. Capital Authorized. . $2,000,000 Paid Up ............ 1.000.000 Reserve Fund ........ 6530.000 Wagons, Buggies, Etc. Farm _. . . DURHAM AGENCY. JOHN CLARK line of general repairs con- stantly kept on hand here. PLOW" POINT.” and a. full Machine Oil, Harness ()3. :. Axle Grease and Raw; Ointment, go to That 35 eure r.» plea 'cL'K‘\"A__\'S I": purchased Mao a First Class Hearse always in connection. Eu;- balming a Speciaity. THE SAVINGS BANK. The highest price in Cash or Tnade for any quantity. . ning promptly a'ttended t6 and satisfaction guaranteed. . KELLY, Agent. cmmvmw - .c; K. The Harnessmak: . DURHAM, ONT pleas» mu ONTARIO ONT. “Ye must be a stranger around these parts indeed if ye don’t know [vhat ye ask me." he continued. with a shrug of the shoulder in reply to my questions. “I wouldn't be a-tellin’ it to every one. but seein’ ye’re goin’ to be one or the family I don’t mind speakin’ plain- like to ye.” “Now ye’re goin’ too fast; I didn’t say they was engaged. did I? And if they ain’t engaged I couldn’t say when they’re goin’ to be married. could I? Some say they’re engaged, an’ others say they ain’t. How do I know Who’s right ‘2” He puffed noisily upon his black pipe. sending the smoke upward in dense clouds. His name was John, and he claimed to be an Irish American; but. while he had lost much of his brogue, he still retained all the loquacity of his first ancestors. - “Mr. Goddard comes from one of the oldest families of this country. an’ old Dr. Stetsonâ€"God bless him. he was a good man in his dayâ€"wasn’t a bit behitd the Goddards. I’ve often heerd the old folks arguin' about their an- cestors. The doctor always said he came over in the Mayflower. I don’t know much about the Mayflower, ex~ cept what I’ve heerd the old doctor say. but she must have been a pretty tine ship. She brought the doctor overâ€"no, the doctor‘s grandfather or great- grandfather. I don’t just remember whichâ€"an" he always said that was enough glory for any man. But old Mr. Goddard would rile the doctor by sayin’ that he thought bein’ a gentle- man of France under King Louis was a greater honor an" that his ancestors descended direct from kings an’ em- perors. They couldn’t agree noway, an’ they just made up long enough to pick a new quarrel. I’ve hecrd tell how they’d talk peaceful-like about the politics of the country till the ' got to goin’ about ancestors. an‘ then in five minutes they’d be shakin’ their sticks in each other’s faces an’ callin’ one another liars. “You mean the lady he’s engaged to,” I replied, “the one who lives over in the mansion that was robbed the other night?” “Exactly! Miss Belle Stetson, the only lady that’s worthy such a man as my master.” “How long have they been engaged and when are they to be married ‘3” The man was only waiting to reveal more of the relationship between the two young people. and I catered to his natural weakness by encouraging him to proceed. “An easy man he is to get along with,” my informant volunteered. “There ain’t the likes of him anywhere else in the country. An’ the sweet mis- sus is jest as good. She’s an angel. my wife says, if there ever was one.” man would permit. “But this didn’t seem to make no di’iewuce with their children. They jest [11:1 yed together like brothers 1111’ Site1s. When they was :10 l1i;.-;:;'er’n up to 111v knee t1: 0 1 (.1 talk about lovin’ one another 1111 about gtttizi‘ married. The old doctor and .\i1'. Goddard laughed at this :111’ tergot to q: 1:11'rel sonwtimes about the? aneestms jest to see the little ones makin’ love. "They 5011111011 to [unborn fur each other. 1111' cveryhoxly said they’d get married some 1111 v hut when Mr. God (111111 (1.111 somebody said his son l1:1d inherited his 0.1911511 :111 that he wasn ’t 10 1011.; fur this 11 01111 Nobody seemed to know jest what tl1¢ disease was, but they said it was incurable an’ some- thing not to be spoken lightly of. “ tut 'about that disease of Mr. Charles Goddard I ain't so sure. Old Dr. Stetson was quite riled about it, an’ he said he wouldn’t let his daugh- ter marry any man that had it in his system. Mr. Charles got angry an’ went away. He was gone for five years. an’ folks hereabouts said the match was broken off. It did look that way fur a time. “But when the doctor died Mr. Charles turned up ag’in an’ lived in the old house jest as if nothin’ had ever happened. He made up with the doc- tor’s daughter, an’ they’ve been comin’ an’ goin’ together ever since. There was hopes for a time that they’d make a match after all. But there ain’t no comin’ home. He was pale an’ quiet- like, jest as it that disease was a-de: velopin’ an’ takin’ hold of him. ‘ g. "v “1"“ “He brought a doctor back with him honorable a to look after his health. He’d met the him accordi man ‘somewhere when he was travehn’ “Yes, sir; â€"in Paris. I thinkâ€"an’ this fellow jmt a little.” watches Mr. Charlestall the time. Be “Well, Jot lives over there in that old brown stallion to t house. It’s haunted, people round here hitch up the say, an’ spirits come an’ go every Miss Stetsm night. But young Dr. Squires don’t . “Yes, sir. mind that. He laughs at spirits an’ ‘ He hesit: says he ain’t afraid of ’em. Besides. Wt at he likes such a place, tnr then people meaning. Won’t be botherin’ 111313 in. 3:11.18 stasi- “I can mu CHAPTER' III. .. HAT night I spent on the place of Charles Goddard and made myself as familiar with his family his- tory as systematic pumping of the coach- les. He don’t like 'to have folks run- nin’ after him. He’s been studyin’ Mr. Charles’ disease an’ is writin’ a book that will astonish the world. Then he always said he was poor an’ couldn’t afford to rent a good house. He got that house fur nothin’, an’ I guess Mr. Charles pays him well enough to live without starvin’. “I ain’t makin’ no criticism of Dr. Squires. fur he’s a smart man an’ does Mr. Charles plenty of good, but he shouldn’t have gone on so with Miss Stetson. He’s good lookin’, 311’ he ain’t good lookin’. He’s too dark an’ furrin lookin’ to suit my tastes, but he makes an impression on the ladies. I suppose they likes a man that don’t look like other men: “I ain’t certain but Miss Stetson likes him better now than she does Mr. Charles. He's always so polite an’ at- tentive to her. an‘ he’s got an air of mystery ’bout him that seems to charm her. Mr. Charles ain’t blind to things either. He' knows which way the wind is a-blowin’. but he don’t do nothin’. If he’d go in an’ try to get her. 1 think he’d win. But he don’t, an’ the doctor docs. Mr. Charles seems to he standin’ aside While this furrin friend of his gets the girl an’ all her money. Mebbe it’s because of that old disease. He’s waitin’ fur the doctor to cure him of it afore he asks her to marry him. “But there ain’t no harm of expressin’ an opinion between us. Dr. Squires won’t cure him until he’s married Miss Stetson. an’ then it will be too late.” CHAPTER IV. Vi Y new master was in- ‘ ‘ dulgent to a degree, and my duties were not at all irksome. I showed some ignOo ra-nce in grooming the horses, but John took pleasure in exhibiting his superior knowledge by showing me just what to do. I must have been an apt pupil, for he nodded approval every time I attempted to do the work ac- cording to his directions. But I was not cut out for menial labor. It was the anticipation of finding out more about Charles Goddard. my new mas~ ter and companion in crime, that had first tempted me to accept such a posi- tion as groom. With this Wise conclusion my new friend the coachman finished his story and puffed away full ten minutes in agitated silence. I soon found out. however, that he had skillfully banished me from his presence. He never appeared around the burn, and so far as seeing him was concerned I might as well have been a hundred miles away. He went out riding every day. but.John hitched up the horses and drove up to the front of the house, where shrubhery and trees hid them from View. I stayed in my place five days with- out catchix .2, a glimpse of my master n- of Miss Stetson. and I was on the disgust when events took a different turn. On the morning of the sixth day, Mr. Goddard appeared at the stable door where I was grooming his best trotter and took me by surprise. “William, are you accustomed to driving?” he asked me before I had a finance to greet him with a good morn- g. It was the first time we had met alone since that eventful night when we had robbed the Stetson mansion, and I was a little concerned to see it he would show any sign of recognition. His parting injunction had been that we should not know each othelj again unless we met under conditions similai' to our first encounter. A glance at his face showed that he was still deter- mined upon pursuing the same course even when we were alone. I would not be outdone in keeping an honorable agreement, and I answered him accordingly. “Yes, sir; I have driven good horses 3 little.” “Well, John is going to take the gray stallion tothe city, and I want you to hitch up the team and drive me over to Miss Stetson’s at 10 o’clock sharp.” “Yes, sir. I’ll be there on time.” He hesitated a moment. looking straight at my clothes. I divined his rergn .. I was grooming his best flatter. of throwing up the position in “We’re abb’uf the sani‘e olzé. and they “All right. That will solve the prob- lem. I will depend on you to be there in time.” _He walked hurriedly out of the ban. seeking the dust. from his neatly nttlns trousers with a riding whip. His figure was almost as perfect as the setting of his face, and I unintentionally tell“ to admiring it. He was every inch a gen- tleman. and the mystery of his strange double life was intensified. What rea- son had he to rob a house in the dead of night and that house belonging to a woman he loved? Then it occurred to me that he had been searching for some papers or arti- cles that concerned his welfare and that the robbery or the silverware was only an incidental feature of the night’s work. The goods were probably taken out to cover up his tracks. to give the impression that some ordinary burglar had done the work. Satisfied with this solution of the mystery. I de- termined to stay in my position as groom for some time longer, hoping that events might reveal more to me and give me a chance in time 01’ assist- ing Mr. Goddard in his trouble. for the truth was I had taken a strong liking to him and wished to be near him. I liked the new duties assigned to me and looked forward with considerable interest to the outcome of the ride. I would at least have an opportunity to study the two together.. mead. Then the two took their seats, 4nd I drove them down the old country wad in the opposite direction from the Jity. Promptly at 10 o’clock I rattled up to the house with the team and waited for my master (I did not consider it lowering to call him that). who soon appeared on the piazza dressed with immaculate taste. His face was a tri- fle paler than I had ever seen it before. but otherwise he was unchanged. Miss Stetson appeared more beauti- ful than ever that morning. confirm- g my first impression. She noticed me with a slight inclination of the He dismounted at the front door or the Stetson house and lightly ran up the steps, taking two at a time. He was gone about fifteen minutes, during which time I studied the house and the various windows which opened apon rooms in which I must have been. ‘- “I wish Dr. Squires would leave that Md haunted house,” Miss Stetson was tying. “It makes me feel cold and 1mmy every time I pass it, and what niust it be to live in it all the time!" For a time they remained silent, but :fter we had covered a mile they be- gan to converse in monosyllables. This .11 time yielded to more animated eon~ eersation. conducted in an undertone mat made hearing very diflicult. I have always prided myself upon my good hearing. and it is due to the acuteness 91' this sense that I caught any of the ,miversation. As they became wrapped 3p in their talk they unconsciously Raised their voices a trifle. As near as g could hear the important part of their gaversation was as follows: The use of Scott’s Emulsion at once, has, in thousands of cases, turned the balance in favor of health. “Probably very disagreeable, espe. cially to one of your temperament." Mr. Goddard replied quietly. “Or to one of your nature.” she an- swered. with a rising intonation of her voice. At the faintest suspicion of consumption get a bottle of Scott’s Emulsion and begin regular doses. Neglected consumption does not exist where Scott's.Em_u1- sion is. Prompt use of Scott’s Emul- sion checks the disease while 1t can be checked “What are his studies and im'ostigt - tions? He is so mysterious about them that my curiosity is excited.” People are learning that con- sumption. is a curable disease. It is neglected consumption that is so often incurable. “But Dr. Squires does not seem to mind it.” he added. unmoved. "I have offered to let him bav ‘ a room in my house. but he prefers to stay where he is. He says he cannot pursue his in- vestigations so well anywhere else.” . The only kind of consump- tion to fear is “neglected consumption.” “1 have. but he always puts me off-â€" mus me to 11': it until some day when he is ready to announce his discox cry to the world. Then he W1 111 tell me the first one." “A great honor to you. I am sure, but 1 should demand to be let into the secret now.” There was a little irony in his voice which no one could mistake. "Why do you not aspire to the same honor?" she asked in sharp. piqued toms, “I understand that you are just as iggzmrnnt of his secrets as I am.” “Ask him. and he will probably tell you." “Yes. 1 am. I know nothing about his studies. He never lets me go be- yond his: otfice, wnich is on the ground floor in front, but then there is no spe- Send for free sample. ' SCOT! BOWNE, Chemists. soc. «$1»qu "f r ' agar fic.‘ M”. ‘51 wrench Why he would take me Into “Isn’t he a friend of yours. and didn’t you bring him here?" “I brought him here, but not as a friend. I understood that he was skilled in certain lines, and I brought him here as a medical adviser. I am responsible for nothing more than “You talk very diterently from what you did six months ago. There was nothing too good tor you to say about “I’m saying nothing against him now. I merely disclaim responsibility for him except as a medical adviser." “I do not think he needs you as a sponsor for his character,” was the sharp rejoinder. “Probably not." The quietness of the reply added- fuel to the fire, and the silence which followed was no indication of their feelings. I dropped the whip purposely on the seat back «at me, and in turning to pick it up I caught a momentary glimpse of their faces. They were both pale, and they were gazing intently at the scenery on opposite sides of the carriage. During the rest of the ride very little conversation was carried on between them, and I had ample time to think and reflect. The result of my cogita- tions was that I determined to pay Dr. Squires a visit and see what I could discover of his secret studies and in vestigations. Following the natural bent of my mind, I of course decidwl to make the visit in the dead or night and unannounced. Soxmfilng more than ghosts and spirits would he ran quired to keep me off the premises Where there was any chum-v of making a good haul or of disrmvring any secrets that might be turned to good account later. The only advantage I obtained from this was a clearer idea or the most vulnerable points of the house and also the way to escape from the premises in the event ot'an alarm. I saw the serv- 'antgo about his duties. and later I se- cured mnfirstglimpse of the doctor.. He was a dark bearded. thiokset, well While yet some distance from the house I climbed up into the leafy branches of one of the large trees and, pulling the foliage to one side, scanned the house intently through a pair of strong fieldglasses. By their aid I could note everything that was going on outside the house and could almost see objects inside the windows. John always sent me of! to exercise the horses on the few days when Mr. Goddard did not use them. and I em- ployed these spare moments to ac- quaint myself with the surroundin: country. I passed Dr. Squires’ house several times in the course of the next few days, examining the premises with a critical eye. I found that the house was located some distance back from the main highway and that it was nearly con- cealed from view by shade and fruit trees. A small grove of woods backed up to it on one side and an open pas- ture field bordered it on two other sides. The easiest and safest approach to it. I conceived, was from the wood side. The house itself was an old fashioned fiat roofed mansion sadly in need of paint and general repairs. It was gloomy enough to drive almost any- body away from it after dusk. and 1 did not wonder that strange stories of ghosts and spirits had been gossiped around by the country people. If I had been a superstitious person. 1 should have selected the house as the last one to rob. It was probably this idea that had influenced the doctor in taking it for his workshop. He was pretty safe in assuming that nobody would disturb him in that lonely retreat. He was a sort of faithful watchdog. I judged. Whom the doctor had be friended and who would in conse- quence give up his life for him if nec- essary. I had met such zealous man- servants before, and my experience had always been that they are exceed- ingly troublesome. I therefore used extra precaution. T was neang a week after this ride before I could decide upon a night favorable for a visit to Dr. Squires. It is a poor burglar who fails to make careful preparations before attempting to enter a house, and long experience in my business has made me extrenwly cautious. I never undertake a job with- out due consideration of all details. A sneak thief may go around from house to house in an aimless sort of manner and enter the first one that is not prop- erly barred, but not so with a pro- tessional. As I approached the edge of the woods I moved with great caution. I did not know how many servants the doctor had, although John had assured me that he had only one. a copper col- ored Indian who was more foreign looking than his master. This servant never associated with anybody else and was either deaf and dumb or uno able to speak English. Two miles down the road I found that I was perfectly concealed from View of every house. and I quietly slip- ped over the fence into the woods. This piece of woods I knew backed up to Dr. Squires’ house. I concealed the bundle, which I pretended that I want- ed to take to the city with me, taking enough tools from it first to answer all my present purposes. About 4 o’clock I left the barn and started presumably to walk to the city. John offered to drive me half way down if 1 would wait until after sup- per. but the afternoon was so fine 1 preferred the walk. I obtained have to go to the city on Friday afternoon. and I told John not to worry if I did not appmr until the following morning. I had friends “in the city who might detain me over night. CHAPTER V. Poor man! He can’t help li.‘ He ts hillous. He needs a q_ liver pillâ€"Ayer’s Pills. hey act directly' on the liver, cure biliousness. ’-°- .23 proportioned man. Ema one 'who would prove a bold and powerful antagonist. More than this I could not say until I found myself at closer quarters with him. I remained in my treetop position until well after dark, watching every- thing that occurred around the house. Then I descended to the ground. ate a few pieces of cold meat and bread, drank a little wine and threw myself on the dry leaves to sleep. There was no danger of being discovered in the woods, and I needed the rest and sleep to prepare me for the night’s work. The blood seemed to rush to my he: and for an instant I thought of deaf I had never been cornered quite completely before. I gathered up I strength for a final effort and clear the fence with a bound, but as I leap upward the foremost Dane made a mendous lope and cleared the top of the fence in fine style. Wehoth Won the other This question flashed through my mind, but I could not answer it. 1 al- ready heard their feet behind me. strik- ing the ground with heavy putters as they loped rapidly across the interven- ing space. .1 I had thought of dogs. but had failed to see any around in the afternoon through my glasses. However. to make sure of it I imitated the cry and snarl of a cat-a noise that always brings watchdogs away from their post or duty. If the dogs were inside the house, I would find that out later. But I really saw no reason why dogs should be kept on the place. As it by instinct they rushed upon the piazza, catching the scent almost immediately. But in that instant I had turned and fled toward the woods. my only place of safety. Could I reach the woods and climb a tree before they caught up to me? It was shortly after midnight when I Opened my eyes again. Habit had made it a second nature with me to awaken at this hour. and I had no fear of over~ sleeping myself when I first closed my eyes. I crawled through the under- brush toward the fence which divided the doctor’s land from the grove. and then waited and listened. The house was perfectly dark. and everything was calm and peaceful. Want your moustacheorbanl} abeantltulbrownorflchblldt? Us. But I changed my mind a moment later when I heard the quick patter 0: steps that I knew did not belong to human beings. Two black objects came rushing down the lawn from the barn, and in the semldarkness I made out two enormous Dane hounds. The object of the burglar alarm flashed across my mind in an instant. The electric wire that had started the bells to ringing had also released the watchdogs. and they were now upon With a diamond cutter I took a piece of the glass pane out. making an oven- mg large enough to insert the hand. I worked so carefully that the diamond point scarcely made any of the grating noise so common when one operates with cheap cutters. This one had been made specially for me. and it was per- fect in every detail. Satisfied that the coast was clear. 1 made my way toward the house. keep- ing well in the shadow of the trees. Then I made a close examination of the windows and doors. They were locked with old fashioned catches and re-enforced with nails. 1 selected the doctor’s study as the place least likely to be occupied. As I took the piece or glass out and deposited it on the floor of tho piazza I listened intently for :1 few moments to See if my operations had disturbed anybody. Then 1 applied my car to the hole in the pane to catch the breathing of any watchdog. I made another mistake. Instead of seeking safety in the woods as fast as my legs would carry me I waited to see further developments. Would the doc- tor and his servant come out and search for me? I laughed softly to myself at the idea. Certainly thex could not expect assistance from an- other house inside ot half an hour. Then what was the burglar alarm for? To frighten robbers away; that was all, I concluded. Nothing could be heard 01’ an alarm- ing character, and so I proceeded to unfasten the window and to open it. Now, if I had been in the city or the house had been a modern one. I should. never have thought of Opening that window Without searching for a but- glar alarm. but out in the country, miles away from any assistance and in such an :mtiq no 11'3'180. I did not see the value 01 :1 [mi-:13; alarm and eon- sequently never once gave it consider- ation. ll KINGHAM’S I] I discovered my mistake in an in- stant, however. I had not raised the window half an inch when there were a ringing of bells and an electric buzz- ing all through the house that made me turn pale. An amateur might have thought that all the ghosts and spirits of the dead had suddenly come to life again, but I was too fiamiliar with that sound to be deceived. I was off the piazza in half a minute. Quick as I was, however, a flash of light in the Windows of the house beat me. The alarm had lighted every elec- tric light in the rooms, and the old mansion was in a brilliant blaze. Even at this critical moment, when all my faculties should have been a_lert, r088!