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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. 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The treatment is so simple, mild, *nd ef fectual that it will not Interfere with your work or occupation. Thousands and thousands Of letters are being received from grateful per- aons from all parts of the world, who have been cured by the use of this remedy. The first package Is free; send for It. send today. I knew that a fair trial of it will result In you becoming Its enthusiastic advocate and friend. With tt I will send literature of Interest and value Do not neglect this opportunity to get cured yourself, and be in a position to advise oiling friends. eell the above offer and act upon it at once. It is made In the sincere hope of aiding you and spreading the knowledge of a beneficent boon to sufferers. Earnestly, hope fully, faithfully, MRS. CORA B. MILLER, 311 Comstock Bldg., Kokomo. Ind. 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