Newspaper Page Text
MARCH 22, 1902
SIXTH <PAGE-
THE SUNNY SOUTH
^ Childerbridfte Mystery
BY GUY BOOTHBY, author of “Dr. Nikola,” “The Beauiful White De\>il,” Etc.
SYNOPSIS OF INSTALLMENTS I TO
—William Standerton, a successful
colonist, and his two grown up children,
have decided to leave Australia and settle
down in the Old Country. Just before their
Etart the son, Jim, is accostid by a
"swagman," who tells him tj inform his
father that Richard Murbridge will meet
him In the morning. When Jim delivers
the message, his father seems greatly
agitated, and although no harm comes of
the meeting with Murbridge, whom Stan-
derton acknowledges having known In
previous years, both Jim and his sister
ere rendered very uneasy. Childerbtidge
IMa.nor becomes the English home o» tne
fitandertons-^an historic mansion with an
army of ghosts. Jim, out driving, runs
over a dog and becomes acquainted wtin
his mistress. Miss Decie, and her guar
dian, Abraham Burstield. The two young
people in time fall in love with one an
other, but Mr. Burstield refuses his con
sent. Jim encounters Richard Murbridge
in the park. He forbids him to see his
father, but the latter, on hearing of it.
Bends for the man and they have a
etormy interview. That evening a faint
ing servant declares she has seen a ghost
and the next morning William Standerton
is found dead in bed, strangled. Suspicion
fastens at once upon Murbridge, who, it
is f-ound, has left for London. "The Black
Dwarf" again appears, frightening the in
mates of the Hall. At the inquest a ver
dict of "murder" is returned against a
person or persons unknown. Jim takes
Helen Decie back to the Dower House,
and is met by Mr. Burstield who angrily
forbids any more communication between
the two and refuses to state his reasons.
Helen writes Jim that whilst she sorrow
fully acquiesces, she will be true to him
to the end. As Scotland Yard fails to
unearth William Standerto-n’s murderer,
ihis son essays the task, aided by Terence
O'Riley, a former servant, who oppor
tunely turns up from Australia. The two
discover several clews, but these prove
fruitless. At last Scotland Yard reports
that Murbridge has sailed for Madeira.
The ?a me evening Jim's hansom nearly
knocks a man down In Piccadilly—and
that man happens to he none other than
Murbridge! Unaided. Jim darts off in
pursuit, but without success, and he has
again to call in the detectives’ aid. He
returns to Childerbridge, in search of a
photo of Murbridge, and meets Helen, who
gives a strange report of her grandfather.
.Tim finds the photo and sees the Black
Dwarf.
*
CHAPTER. NINE
ASTENING round the gal
lery of the Hal'., .Tim en
deavored to discover some
trace of the mysterious vis
itor, specter or human,
whom he had seen. The
corridor, however, leading
to the oldest and western
portion of the house, was
quite empty. Like the re
mainder of the building it
was panelled with dark
oaks some portion of it be
ing curiously, though rich
ly carved. He searched it up and down,
Flopping every now and tlmn to listen,
but save for the wind sighing round the
house, and an occasional burst of laugh
ter ascending from the servant's hall, he
could hear nothing. At the end of the
passage a flight of stone steps led to the
domestic offices below. These he descend
ed, and having reached the servants hall,
called Wilkins, the butler, to him. When
the latter emerged. Jim led him a short
distance down the passage before he
sn ike.
"Wilkins.” he said, "do you remember
the night when you thought you saw the
Black Dwarf on the landing?"
"I shall never forget it. sir." the other
replied. "I can't go along that corridor
now without a shudder. W hat about it,
sir? ”
“Only that T have just seen the figure
•myself.” James replied. "I had been up
to the lumber room, and was descending
the stairs wh-n I saw it pass along the
further side of the gallery, in the direc
tion of the west corridor. Now. Wilkins.
1 have come down to find out whether you
-would he afraid to come up stairs with
me in order that we may discover wheth
er we can come to any understanding of
the mystery.”
"Yes, sir, of course T will come with
you.” said Wilkins. “At the same time I
•am not going to say that I am not afraid,
for it would not be the truth. How
ever, sir, I am not going to let you go
alone.”
"Come along, then.” said Jim, "and
bring a candle with you.”
Wilkins did as he was ordered, and,
having procured a candle, they ascended
to the floor above. As they reached the
corridor Jim turned and caught a glimpse
of his companion’s face. It looked very
•white and frightened in the sickly candle
light.
“Cheer up. my man," said h=*. "if it’s a
ghost it won't hurt you, and if it's a hu
man being we should he more than a
match for him."
As he said this he 'opened the door of
The first room on the corridor. It was
empty- and quite devoid of either the
natural or the supernatural.
“Nothing here,” said Jim, as they
passed out into the passage, and into the
adjoining room. This was used as a sew
ing room for the female servants, and
was furnished with a long table and half
a dozen chairs. They explored it th.*r-
ough’.y, and having don" so. voted it above
suspicion. The next room was a bed room,
and had only been once used since the
Stanflertons had come into possession of
the house. The wadis were panelled, and
there was a curious reces3 on the side
‘Good gracious/ tbhat on earth does this mean?” said Jtm to himself as he gazed
upon the scene of confusion
opposite the door. Jim overhauled each
panel, and carefully examined both re
cesses. but without discovering anything
•suspicious. Thus they proceeded from
room to room, searching every nook and
cranny, and endeavoring in every
possible way to account for the creaking
noise which had first attracted Jim's at
tention. The carving of The coTridor itself
was carefully examined, every panel of
the wainscoting was tested, until at last,
having reached the gallery of the hall,
they were compelled to own themselves
beaten. The fact that they had not
to make trouble, as you describe it,” she
replied, looking at him with startled eyes
as she spoke.
“I also sincerely hope not,” he con
tinued. "Now I nm gofiig to see Terence
about the matter.”
He thereupon left her and went to his
study, and rang the bell. On the butler
making his appearance he instructed him
j to bring O’Riley to him at once. A few
minutes later Terence made his appe.ir-
i ance.
“Wilkins had better remain, too.” said
•Tim. "Just close the door behind vou.
been able to discover anything only added ' ; n ca sp anyone should chance to over'll
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to Wilkins' belief in the supernatural
agency of the Dwarf. Jim, how- ver, had
the recollection of that creaking hinge, be
fore mentioned, continually before him.
There might be ghostly bodies, ho argued,
but he had never hea'rd of ghostly hinges.
“Well, it doesn't appear as if we are
destined to capture him tonight.” said
Jim. when they had finished their la
bors. "Now one word of advice; jhst keep'
the fact of his appearance do yourself,
Wilkins. If the maidservants come to
here of it we shall have no end of trou
ble.”
Wilkins promised that he would say
notiiing about it. and then returned to
the servants' hall, leaving Jim stand
ing on the gallery rumniating on the be
havior of the figure he had seen.
“One thing is quite certain, and that is
the fact that he disappeared in the corri
dor.” he said to himself refleetingly.
“Now T wonder where he came from.”
The only room on that side of the gal
lery then in use was Alice’s bed room, and
to this Jim forthwith made his way. It
Was a strange scene that met his eyes
when lie opened the door. As he had
good reason to know. Alice was alwi>»s
a most methodical and neat young lady;
now everything was in confusion. The
drawers of the dressing table stood op' n
and their contents were strewn upon the
table and the floor. The writing table in
tlie further corner of the room was In
much the same condition, while the ward
robe doors were open, and the dresses,
which usually hung upon the pegs, were
piled in a heap up >n the floor.
"Good gracious! what on earth does this
mean?” said Jim to himself, as he gazed
upon the scene of confusion. "Has Alice
gone mad or has the Glack Dwarf been
trying to see bow untidy he can make the
place? She must not see it ir. this condi
tion or it may frighten her."
Thereupon he placed the eandle up n
the table and did bis best to reduce the
room to something like order. His task
at length accomplished, he went down
stairs to the drawing room, where he
found bis fSster seated beside the fire
reading.
"You have been a long time upstairs,"
she remarked. "1 hope you found what
you wanted?"
Fir a moment Jim had forgotten the i
important discovery he had made. in |
us. This is what X have to say to you.
Doubtless. Terence, since yon have been
in the neighborhood, you have heard cer
tain stories connect d with this house.
T suppose you have been to!d that it
has the reputation of being haunted."
“Lor’ bless you. sir,” said Terence. “I've
heard all sorts of yarns about it. There's
folks down in the township yonder as
would no m re think of coming up here
afte-r dark than they would of lying down
In front of the train and having their
heads cut off ”
“You're not a believer in ghosts. T sup
pose
I "Not as T knows on,” said Terence
I candidly. "Though T don’t mind saying
| as how there are things as have never
j b -en explained to my satisfaction. 'Twas
; said, as you may remember, sir. as how
there wa= a ghost of an o'al man to be
seen some nights in the year, waiting to
•get oyer at the Thirty Mile Crossing
up the river. Then there was th° ghost
outside Sidney that used to sit on the
fence beside the road and ask everybody
who would listen to him to have him prop
erly burled."
Jim kn r w that the man before him
was as brave as a lion. Tie was the
possessor of nerves of iron, and did not
know the meaning of the word fear.
“Well." he went on after a moment's
pause, “the long and the short of the
matter is. Terenc . some ’ittle litre ago
a maid servant saw what she th ought to
be the ghost of the Little Black Dwarf
up in the gallery outside. Wilkins here
was the next to see it. I thought at the
time he must lie mistaken, but this even
ing T know that he was not. for I have
-een it myself.”
"You don't mean that, sir?" said Ter
ence. while Wilkins plainly showed the
triumph lie felt. “And what may he have
be^n like, sir?”
"I had no time to see that," Jim an
swered. "He disappeared into the west
ern corridor almost as soon as I caught
sight of him. At the same time I heard
the sound of a creaking binge. What
would you think of that?”
“I should say that it was no ghost, sir,”
said Ttrence. “I’ve been told that this
old house is full of secret passages, and
if you ask me, I should say it was some
body playing a game with you."
Wilkins stared disdainfully at him. He
the dining room, and she would not be
likely to leave it—”
"To leave It in an untidy state?” said
Jim.
“Of course, she would not, sir,” the
other replied. “She would hear of it from
the housekeeper if she did. No, she’s a
nice, steady girl, sir, and I’m told she
d s her work to the best of her ability.”
“Well, it seems curious that when I en
tered the room after you had left me, I
found it in a state of the wildest con
fusion. The contents of the drawers of
the dressing table were lying scattered
upon the floor, as were the dresses in the
wardrobe. Now I feel quite certain in
my own mind that the figure I saw came
from the direction of my sister's bed
room. I am equally sure of one thing,
and that is that it is no ghost," and
he added this with a smile, "no respecta
ble ghost, of course, would dream of play
ing such tricks with a lady’s wearing ap
parel.”
"Then, sir. whom do you suspect?” Wil
kins inquired. "I can assure you that
non" of the staff would dare to take such
a llbcrti’."
“I am quite sure of that,” Jim replied.
"Yet the fact remains that somebody
must be, and is responsible for it. Now
what I intend to do Is to lay myself
cut to capture that somebody
and to make an example of him
when I have got him. For that
reason. Ter-nce, I’m going to ask you to
sleep in the house, in the mom next to
that occupied by Miss Alice. It will go
hard, then, if between us, we cannot lay
our hands upon the gentleman, whoever
he may be, who is playing these tricks
upon us.”
Terence willingly agreed to the proposal,
an.l occupied the room in question. His
watchfulness availed him nothing, how
ever. for no further sign of the Black
Dwarf was seen* that night.
Next morning Robins received the pho
tograph of Murbridge, and from that mo
ment Jim waited news from him in a
fever of expectation. Day after day. how
ever, went by and still no good news came
to reward his patience. The only consola
tion he derived was from sundry myste
rious interviews which he had with Helen
in a wooded corner of the park. With the
cunning of lovers they had arranged a
plan -,f meeting, and those little tete-a-
tetes were to Jim as the breath of life. No
•sioner was one at an end than he hun
gered for the next. But he was destined
ere long to receive a fright, such as
he had never received in his life before.
Winter, as I have said, was fast ap
proaching, and the afternoons drew in
quickly. When he reached the rendezvous
on this occasion It was nearly 5 o'clock
and almost dark. Helen had arrived be
fore him, aJid he discovered h°r pacing
up and down the little glade, in what was
plainly an agitated frame of mind.
“Oh, I am so thankful that you have
come. Jim dear." she said as she came
forward to greet him. “I have beerf count
ing the minutes until I should see you.”
“Why, what on earth is the /natter?"
he asked, placing his arm around her
waist and drawing her to him. “You are
excited about something. Tell me, dear,
what it is."
"Something so dreadful that it has up
set me terribly," she answered. "I
scarcely know how to tell you.”
He led her toward a fallen tree upon
which they had often seated themselves
on previous occasions.
"Now tell me everything from the be
ginning to the end." tie said.
She looked about over her shoulder in a
frightened way. Then she began almost
in a whisper:
"Jim, what I have to say to ^ou con
cerns my grandfather. I can only say
that 1 am very much frightened about
him.”
"Why. what has the old gentleman
done?" Jim asked. "I hope he has not
been making himself disagreeable to you
agij.in on my account. Tf so, I think I
shall have to call upon him.”
‘‘Hush, hush," she said, "do not speak
so loud, you do not know who may be
listening."
“I will be all discretion, dear; now go
reply he withdrew the photograph from j was quite convinced in his own mind of
his pocket and handed it to her.. She i the supernatural nature of the mysterious
took it with what was aimo’st a shudder.
Somewhat to Jim's surprise, she made no
comment upon it. He replaced it in his
pocket, also without a word, and then
st od before the flee, wondering how he
should tell her of the other matter he had
discovered. He did not want to frighten
her, yet he did not quite see how he was
to make her understand the importance
of TEe communication without doing so.
“Alice," he said at last, “do you make
a point of locking your bed room door at
night?”
"No,” she replied, “why should I?”
"I can't exactly say why you should,"
he answered, “but I want you to do so
for the future. This is a big, lonely
house, and we have to remember thoAO-'ou
and I are the only two folk on this side.
1 wish my room was nearer yours, but as
it is not. I think it would be safer if
you were to lock your door.”
"But what makes you say this to
night?" she asked. "What is it, or who
is it. you suspect?"
“I suspect nobody.” he replied. “You
must not think that. But there are such
people as burglars, and it would only
be an ordinary act of common sense to
make yourself safe, while you arc permit
ted the opportunity. Ever since that ter
rible night I have been nervous about
you, and for that reason I have decided
j upon something which at first you may
think strange.”
"What is it?” she inquired.
“For the future,” he answered, “I in
tend that Terence shall sleep in the room
next to that which was our poor father's.
Then, if anyone makes trouble, and help
were needed, we should have a su're ally
within call.”
“But I hope no one will ever attempt
visitor.
"I am inclined to agree with you, Ter
ence,” Jim replied. “The more so as,
since I parted with you, Wilkins, I have
made a curious discovery. At what time
was Miss Alice’s room made tidy?”
“While you were at dinner, sir, accord
ing to custom,” replied the butler. “I
saw the maid coming out just as 1 left
TOOK THE HINT.
Change
His
Friend Told Him To
Food.
Once in a while one can serve a frie id
and win a life-long obligation by a lit
tle food advice. This is worth while.
"Very thankful was I to a friend for his
advice when he told me about Grape-
Nuts Breakfast Food at the time I was
suffering. My stomach trouble originally
came from iwglect of colds which caused
catarrh of the stomach, thin fol'owe.i
misery from dyspepsia, headache, loss
of vitalitv and flesh.
"Last August a friend in discussing my
health said if I would change my food
and take Grape-Nuts i'.sbail of any
other food -or medicine for one week lie
would guarantee that I would be greatly
improved and feel like a new man.
“He was so positive that I concluded to
try it and, as I said, I am exceedingly
thankful to him. In a week's time I
lost the heavy, dead feeling in my head,
nausea had ceased and the action of my
general system had greatly improved.
“I have stuck fast to Grape-Nuts. Now
I weigh 9 pounds more and am steadily
improving. Grape-Nuts has a most ex
hilarating effect on the system and makes
one feel bright and alive, as though
thev were well nourished, as a healthy
maii should be.
“The price of Grape-Nuts is within
reach of all, but I consider It worth its
weight In gold." John Haywood, 8931
Aspen street, Philadelphia. Pa-
on:
“Well. I must tell you that this after
noon 1 was playing the piano in the draw
ing room when a message wa- brought
to me that my grandfather desired to see
me in his study at once. I went to him
there to find him seated at his desk as
usual, at work upon his T> ok, the History
of the County, you know. He signed to
me to be seated by the fire, and when I
had done so resumed hi- writing, not put
ting down his pen until I had been some
minutes in the room. Then he looked at
me with a very thoughtful face, in which
I thought I could detect an expression
that I had never seen there before. His
manner was so strange and so utterly
unlike himself that I did not
know what to think. Then he
took off his spectacles and laid them
on the desk before him. ‘So you are still
in correspondence with Mr. Standerton,
Miss, I understand,' he said. Then before
I could answer him he continued: ‘and
I hear that you have secret meetings with |
him in the park. Is this so?’ I was j
forced to admit that it was, and went on
to say that as we were bethrothed I could
see no harm in It."
“And what did he say to that?”
“He rose from his chair and paced the
room for a few minutes without speak
ing. Then at last he reseated himself.
As he did so he said; ‘You are not en
gaged, and you know It as well as I do.
Never let me hear you say such a thing
again.' Then, leaving his chair, he began
to pace the room once more, and finally
•hurled at me such a torrent of abuse that
I was almost stupefied by it. He accused
me of the most outrageous things, until
I could bear it no longer, and rose to leave
the room. By this time, as you may sup
pose, I had come to the conclusion that
the life of retirement he had lived for
so long had turned his brain. No man
I could have said the things he did without
tils mind being a little affected."
"My darling, this Is m-ore serious than
you suppose," said Jim anxiously.
"But you have not heard the worst yet.
It appears that before I had entered the
room, he had drawn up a document which
he now desired me to sign. It was to the
effect that I would bind myself never to
speak to you or see you again, and con
tained my promise that I would abandon
all thought of ever becoming your wife.
'Sign that,’ he said, ‘or the consequences
will be more terrible than you suppose. I
am an old man, but remember even old
men can be dangerous at times.’ With
that he handed me a pen, but I refused
to take it.”
"And then?”
”1 cannot tell you how he looked at me
as I said it. I could never have be
lieved that his face could have undergone
such a dhange. But I still refused to sign
the document, and at last he discovered
that It was impossible to force me to do
so. ‘Very well,' he said, ‘since you re
fuse, the consequences be upon your own
head.’ Then, opening the door, he bade
me leave him. You can imagine for
yourself how thankful I was to do so.”
“And then you came on here,” said
Jim. “You were most imprudent, dear.
He may try to revenge himself upon you
when you return to the house.”
“I don't think he will hurt me,” she re
plied. “I am only afraid for you.”
"There Is no need for fear on my ac
count,” Jim answered with a short laugh.
"I do not think i; is possible for him to do
me any harm. But the Idea that you are
shut up in a house with a madman, for
a madman he surely must be, frightens
me beyond all measure. You must see
for yourself that you have no longer any
reason to 'remain with him. He has
threatened you, and that will be sufficient
excuse for you to leave him.”
“No, no," she answered, shaking her
head. “If he is losing his reason, he
should not be blamed, and it is all the
more necessary for his comfort that I
should remain with him. I feel sure 1
shall he quite safe. He is angry with me
at present, hut he will calm down. It is
above all’ necessary, however, that you
should not come near him. It will only ir
ritate and make him more excited than
before. Think how good he has been to
me, dear, for the past eight years, and try
not to be angry with him.”
“But I am not angry with'nim,” Jim re
plied. “I am only trying to be just. One
thing is quite certain. I shall not know
a moment’s peace while you are living
in that house with him."
"Will it satisfy you if I give ytt my
promise that, should he become very bad,
I will at once send for you?"
"If you persist on going back there, I
suppose 1 must be content with that,”
Jim returned, but with no good grace.
"And now you had better be running in.
"If he finds that you are out, he might
suppose that you are with me, and have
another paroxysm of rage. In that case
there is no knowing what the conse
quences might be.”
Helen'accordingly bade him goodby and
left him, running down the short path
to the Dower House. Jim watched her
until she had disappeared into the garden
and then turned h imeward with a heavy
heart. He felt that he had already enough
anxiety upon his shoulders without thi3
additional burden. He was at a loss to
understand the reason of Mr. Bursfield’s
malignity, unless it might be accounted
for by the fact that his brain had given
away.
When he reached his home he let him
self in by a side door, and made his way
to the drawing room, where he found
Alice.
“How late you are,” she said. “The
gong has sounded some time. You will
scarcely have time to dress.”
“Then dinner must wait.” replied Jim.
"Alice, I have bad news for you."
"Why, what is the matter now?" she
inquired.
Jim thereupon proceeded to furnish her
with an abstract of his interview with
Helen. She heard him without a word,
but it was to be easily seen how dis
tressed she was for her friend.
“My dear Jim,” she remarked, when
he had finished, “this is Indeed serious.
What do you propose doing?"
“I scarcely know what to do," Jim an
swered. "The case is an extremely deli
cate one. The old man has taken a de
cided dislike to me, and if I interfere be
tween Helen and himself it will have the
# AND IRON TALES
By John KendricK Bang*
(Copyright, 1902.)
CHAPTER. SEVEN
They Reach the Cre.cent Moo»
S the Jolly party sped i),long
through the heavens Tom
began to find his eyes both
ering him a trifle. Brilliant
as many of TSe sunshiny
days had been at home,
particularly when the snow
was on the ground, nothing
so dazzlingly bright as this
great golden lire in the sky
was getIThg to be as they
approSrticd closer had ever
“It’s blinding.” ^ eri^a.
w.
he gazed upon the scene. -
It. What shall I do, Left> . .
“Turn‘your head around and appr
it backward,” said Lefty,
won't see it.” . . rrv,m
-But I want to see it.” retorted Tom
“What's the use of visiting the moon if
you can't see it?" ,,,, ••
“Reminds me of a poem I wrote
put in the Poker. "What s the l se_
was one of my masterpieces and tn^K
if I recite It to you It will help your
e: "Bosh!" growled the Bellows, who was
beginning to get a little short-winaed with
his labors, and. therefore a trifle out or
temper. "How on earth will reciting your
poem help Tom's eyes?”
“Easy enough." returned the Poker
haughtily and with a contemptuous glance
at the Bellows. “My poem is so much
brighter than the moon that^ the moon
will seem dull alongside of it.”
“Go ahead anyhow.” said Tom, interest
ed at once and forgetting his eyes for the
moment. “Give us the poem.
"Here goes, then,” said the Poker with
a low bow. and then, standing erect, he
began. "It's called
WHAT'S THE USE?
“What's the use of circuses that haven't
any beasts?
“What's the use of railway trains that
haven't any feasts?
"What's the use of oranges that haven't
any peels?
What’s the use of bicycles that haven t
any wheels?
“What’t the use of railway trains that
have no place to go?
What’s the use of going to war if you
haven’t any foe?
“What’s the use of splendid views for
those who cannot see?
What’s the use of freedom's flag to folks
that aren't free?
“What’s the use of legs to those who
have no wish to walk?
What's the use of languages to those
who cannot talk?
“What’s the use of kings and queens
that haven’t any throne?
What's the use of having pains unless
you’re going to groan? .
“What’s the use of anyftl'ng. however
grand and good.
That doesn't ever, ever work the way it
really should?"
“Humph!” panted the Beillows “you
don't call that bright, do you?"
“I do. indeed,” said the Boker. “And
I call it bright because I know it's bright.
It is so bright that not a magazine in all
the world would dare to print it. because
they’d never be able to do as well again,
and people would say the magazine
wasn't as good as it used to be."
"What nonsense.” retorted the Bellows.
"Why, 1 could blow a mile of poetry like
that in ten minutes:
"What’s the use of churches big that
haven't any steeples?
What's the use of nations great that
haven't any peoples?
“What's the use of oceams grand that
haven't any beaches?
marfcd
on :•(
olnt, s
>n m
> to c.
't-.-ed
effect of adding to his wrath and do more i ^ hat s the use of Delawares that
1 haven t any peaches?
harm than good. And yet I cannot al
low her to remain there, and perhaps run
a daily risk of her life."
“What does she think about it herself?"
"She has an absurd notion that her duty
“What's the use—’’
“Oh. shut up. Wheezy,” interrupted the
Poker angrily. "Of course you can go
on like that forever, once somebody gives
f\r
The motorman, in response to the Belloivs’ signal, brought it to a standstill
lies in standing by Bu'rsfield in his trou
ble. That, of course, is all very well in
its way, but no one could possibly ex
pect her to turn herself into a keeper of
a lunatic.”
Alice, seeing the tired look on his face,
crossed the room to him, and placed her
arm around his neck.
“Dear old Jim.” she said, “you must
not worry yourself too much about it.
All will come right in the end. Helen is
a girl of very marked character, and it
is very probable that, under her influ
ence, Mr. Bursfleld's condition may im
prove. Were I in your place, I should
trust matters to her for a little while.
You know that she loves you. and you
may he quite sure that she will keep her
promise, and let you know directly any
thing is very wrong. But there! what am
I thinking about! I should have told
you when you first came in that there
is a telegram waiting for you. Here it is.”
As she spoke she took an envelope from
the mantelpiece and handed it to him.
"Who can it be from?” he asked as
he tore it open.
Having withdrawn the contents, he read
as follows:
"Standerton, Childerbridge Manor, Chil-
derbrldge.
“Murbridge found. Come at once. 13,
Upper Belllngton street. ROBINS.”
(To Be Continued.)
DR. RICHMOND'S Monthly Regulator has
brought happiness to hundreds or anxious
wotmn; have never had a single failure;
longest cases relieved in two to five days with
out fail; no pain; no danger; no interference
with work; by mail or office, S2. All letters
truthfully answered. Dr. C. W. Richmond
Co.. 41 North Eleventh st.. Philadelphia, Pa.
you the idea, but to have the idea in the
beginning was the big thing. Columbus
was a great man for coming to America,
but every foreigner who has come over
since isn't not by a long shot. As I say
In my celebrated rhyme on ‘Greatness:’
“The greatest man in all the world, by
far the greatest one
Is he who goes ^head and does what no
one else has done.
But he must be the first if he would rank
as some 'potaters,'
For those who follow after him are
merely imitators.’’
“Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the Bellows.
“You are a great chap. Pokey—you, with
your poetry. I hope Tom isn't going to be
affected by the lessons you teach. The
idea of saying that a man is the great
est man In the world because he dSes what
no one else has done! I guess nobody’s
never eaten bricks up to now. Do you
mean to say that if Tom here ate a brick
he'd be the greatest man in the world?”
"No; he'd he a cannibal," put in the
Righthandiron, desirous of stopping the
quarrel between the rivals.
“How do you make that out?” demand
ed the Bellows.
“Because Tom is a brick himself.” ex
plained the Righthandiron, and just then
slap! bang! the party plunged head first
into what appeared to be—and In fact
r eally was—a huge snow bank.
“Hurrah! Here we are!” cried Leftv
gleefully. y ’
"Wh-where are we?" Tom sputtered
blowing the snow out of his mouth and
shaking it from his coat and hair and
ears.
“Hi. there! Look out!” roared Righty
grabbing Tom by the coat sleeve and
yanking him off to one side, a terrible
swishing sound fell upon the lad’s ears
and as he gazed doggedly about him to
see what had caused it he saw a gr»at
golden toboggan whizzing down into the
valley, and then slipping up the hill on
the other ride.
“You had a narrow escape that 'Ime,"
said Righty, as they excitedly wa nri
the toboggan speeding on Its way, tnl
which, by the way, was filled with a lot
of little youngsters no bigger than Tom
himself, children of all colors, aojiire tly,
rod, white and blue, green, w ir ,,j
black. “If I hadn’t yanked you i)way
you’d have been run over."
“But where are we? ’ Tom asked, b*.
wildered by the experience.
"We're on the Crescent Y t l,-,y »
said Lefty. "It's the boss to' , n ..
of the universe."
“A toboggan slide?” erica Pony
“The very same,” said the P k"
"Didn't you know that dazzlltj
whiteness of the Crosvent M
the reflection of the sun's light • ■ .
purest of pure white snow?
up for dust and dirt here, .
so the snow is always clean
equally pf course, is Saxzli
"But the tobogganing?" k ■
TT’s like swinging and
cat die.” explained the V.
"You see, it's this shape,
the crescent form of the m
snorv and letered the vari
follows:
“Now.” he continued, “you
toboggan at A and whizz
When you get there you h
speed enough to take you u; *
B. Then of its own weight th>
slides back to D, from which r agar,
moves forward to E, and so . • ;. oa
sibling back and forth until
comes to # i dead stop at L. I- t it a
fine arrangement?”
“Magnificent.” said Tom "And
call it tobogganing here?"
"No," said Righty. "it's called o
ing, and the machine is k
oscycle—”
"Don't confound it with th“ M
put in the Bellows.
I "Oh, I know what an icicle is.' said
Tom. "It's a spear of ice that han
a piazza roof."
"That's what it is at home ' s
Poker, “but not here, my lad. H -
icicle is a bicycle with runners In
wheels.”
"But what makes it go?" d- rr.) :i
Tom.
“Pedals, of course,” return^
Poker.” You just tread away on i
cle, and the chain sets a dozen i
revolving that shove you over t
like the wind. Oh. it's great sp V
Another rush and roar of a pa-
boggan caused them to pause in t!.• -
versation for a moment, and the- T rr
turned his attention to the <1: r •.n
Righty had drawn on the snow.
"Suppose you didn't stop at U ani g
back—what would happen?” he ask'd
he considered the possible dangers
wonderful i|ew sport.
“You'd fall over the edge, of ■ • c
said the Poker.
"I see that," said Tom. “But if ' o’
fell (rver the edge what would
of you? Where would you land?"
“If you had luck you wouldn’t land
where." said Righty. "The ehanc< s
however, you’d fall back on th.
again. Maybe in Canada, possibl;
China, perhaps in Egypt. It would .:
pend on the time of night.”
"And wouldn’t you be killed?”
asked.
"Not if you had your rubbers on.’
Righty. "If you had your rubbers • n '
would only jar you slightly. You'd st
hit the earth and then bounce back ag In.
but there's no use of talking about that
because it never happened hut once. It
happened to a chap named Bflenkinsop.
who took an oscillator tiiat_ h.*-' r
brake on It. He was one of those srr. n
fellows that want to show how clev - • y
are. He whizzed down one side and up :'-e
other, and pouf! First thing he k- *
he was flying off into space."
"And what became of him?” cl, n ’.1-1
Tom.
"He had the luck not to hit nr. I~:
but he suffered just the same i1
Righty. "He flew on until he g, i
point where he was held fast up '?
| air by the force of gravity of 1 ■ ■■
j ferent planents. and lie's there ye: At i
distance he looks like another ne v stsr.
I but when you get close to him he ■'
nothing more than just a plain. e\ -•■•is"
Sniartv.”
"I should think hs’d starve to : ith."
said Tom. as he reflected on th- rrtJ
fate of Blenkinsop.
"He would if he had any ap:
said the Bellows. “P.ut he hasn H s
so worried all the time that h i.w't
eat. so he gets along very well v ; thout
Pood."
“Let's quit talking now,”!sugg
Poker, “and get a ride, eh?"
“I'm ready.” said Tom. eagerlv
do we start?”
“There's the station up on the
only about TOO miles. We can w
a year,” said Righty.
I move we ;alce this el mid th
ing up," said the Bellows.
Tom looked in the direction
the Bellows had pointed, i - ”
enough, there was a cloud •uv'y
along, shaped very much ItL
car, and on the front of it, : du*
nearer, the lad was soon a'rile c- is.-ern
the funny little figure of a Bdtn S
as motirman.
‘A\ hy, it's really a troiiley !'lj < - •-: 1.
“Certainly it is!" laugl* Ri-lv,.''-
"Didn't you know that? Wljiq; hav?
watched the moon from
home and seen con
passing up to it and stoppi
face night after nigh: what Ac. i sup
pose they did it for? Fun? cs n’t.
They're clever people up 1 *t. . •ht*’
moonfolk are, and they make i b* .if . r -
thing going. They've taken t! h- I -trio
clouds and turned ’em into a Sr' ■
Traction company, and instea r .' ■: *
’em travel all around the uni t r - d' -
nothing and raising thunde
some of the richer Brownies hfc« fir if ’
a company to control them.’R
By this time the oioud had rj^r-'h
point where our little party stood. • 1
the motorman, in response to th- Bel
lows’ signal brought it to a standstill.
“Step lively, please,” the conductor
cried from the rear end.
Tom and the two andirons and the Pok
er and Bellows clambered aboard.
The conductor cilanged a bell. The mo
torman turned his wheel and the cloud
moved rapidly on.
And what a queer crowd of folks there
were on hoard that strange trolley cloud.
Tom had never seen such an inter, sting
group before.
Tom
said
*■ d the
tVhere
ltd
:t th
inied"
.vlilck
from yo i|* 1 s ; t
istant I init |
Drunkards
Cured Secretly
Faokage of the Only Successful Cure
""J"" ,#p Drunkenness Sent to All
Send f3ama and Address.
.. discovery.
less and tasteless. W, * |C “
any lady can gnve in tea,
coffee or food. It doe* it*
work so silently and
lj that while th# devoted
Wtfe, sister or da u sht*f
looks on, the drunkard
reclaimed even
his will and without id*
l .'nowlpdgff or CO-OF er*
**• A >K\ HA*KTlirRv!i!!i tiOQ - Send name and ajj'
coffecTo”™odf fr *® l ° * how how “ ls used ,n ‘
dSlq , B ,Si r 2.. B "r l,Ml) “I” ‘'With Golden Sl£
coffee of drinking. I put it intoM*
to b. around wh^4wa.°“" ldu ’‘ dr,aJ ‘ "uuor or b**r