Newspaper Page Text
SEVENTH PAGE
THE
HAY 3 t 1902
The Turnpike House
' Wait! come mm, don’t hurry!" screeched the old min
By FERGUS HUME
Author of "The Mystery of a. Hansom Cab,"' "The Crimson Cryptogram," "The Golden Idol," "The Dmarfs Chamber " rt t
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
HERON FOLLOWS THE TRAIL
UTH could not rid herself of
a haunting doubt that her
father knew more of the
Jenner murder than he
chose to confess. If he him
self had not killed the man
in a fit of impetuous rage—
and the girl could not bring
herself to think this—‘he
knew who had struck the
fatal blow. Ruth was cer
tain now that Mrs. Jenner
was innocent, notwithstand
ing the fact that she had
been found guilty. This being so, she
argued to herself that If her father were
aware of the truth he should at once
take steps to remedy the grave miscar
riage of justice which had taken place.
But as he made no move Ruth, per
plexed and doubtful. became quite ill
with suspense. It was no wonder then
that Geoffrey had found her poor com
pany, and h:td failed to understand her
constant melancholy. Under these cir
cumstances he had taken h>s deporture,
wondering what had befallen the house
which had formerly been so bright and
pleasant. But no satisfaction was to be
had either from Mr. Cass or from his
daughter.
On arriving at his own place he went
at once to the library to look for some
document with his father's signature in
order to compare it with that on the
bill. And after a close inspection of
some half dozen autographs of the late
Mr. Heron, he came to the conclusion
that the signature to the bill was
forgery. Once convinced of this, he be
gan to see daylight, and argued out the
case that evening, alone and undis
turbed.
"Jenner was at one time a clerk in the
Arm of Cass and Marshall,” he thought,
“therefore he must have known Marshall
very well; he was dismissed, and so had
no cause to love his employers. Mr.
Cass, so far as I know, was always an
upright man, and Jenner had no chance
of injuring him in any way. With Mar
shall the ease was different. If I re
member rightly, Mrs. Jenner told me that
her husband and Marshall were as thick
ts thieves; the master patronizing the
clerk on account of tha man's beautiful
voice and musical accomplishments.
Marshall, too, lived a gay life, and was
given to spending pretty freely. It is
quite possible that he might have made
use of Jenner as a tool to get mere money
through this bill! Five hundred pounds,"
said Geoffrey, looking at the document In
question. “Humph! Just the sum he
might require for an emergency."
He turned ovor the bill and found it
indorsed by Julius Roper. "Ah!” he went
on, "where have 1 heard th:i‘t name?
Roper—Roper—I am sure some one spoke
of Roper.”
Suddenly it flashed into his mind that
Roper was the money lender In whose
employment Jenner had been after he
had failed on the Mage.
"The bill wns discounted In the office in
Which Jenner wan employed," he thought,
with growing excitement, for the matter
was becoming more interesting every
minute, “and Jenner. knowing it was
forged. Mole it from Roper. He meant
to use it as a means of extorting black
mail! Ah!”
He stopped short. “Blackmail? It was
of that he boasted to his wife—this, then,
was the material for getting money that
he said he had In the red pocketbook.
The pocketbook has disappeared; but the
Mil? Humph! How did it get inside the
horee? Could Jenner himself have put It
there? If no, why? What was his rea
son. I must see Mrs. Jenner and ask
her. Between the two of ue we may get
at the truth.”
But although he was datisflefl that his
father's signature had been forged, he
could not be absolutely certain that Mar-
thall had been the forger. He had drawn
the bill, it was true, but Jenner might
have counterfeited the signature and have
assisted Marshall to get the money.
Then Geoffrey recollected that his fath
er—a particularly precise man—had been
In the habit of keeping a diary in which
he was accustomed to set down the most
trivial details of his somewhat uninterest
ing life. No sooner had this thought struck
him than he went to a certain press anil
pulled out a series of little books which
contained these entries. Glancing at the
date of the bill, he set to work, and af
ter an hour’s search found the evidence.
The late Mr. Heron had made no at
tempt to conceal Marshall's rascality: for
It was .plainly set down that a certain
Mr. Roper had called upon him to show
a bill of excha'nge and to ask If the sig
nature were his. Mr. Heron had replied
that he had never signed a bill In his life,
whereupon Roper had Intimated that tho
bill had been presented by Frank Mar
shall. and that the money had been paid
to him. Roper had also expressed his In
tention of having Marshall arrested, but
to this Mr. Heron had objected. Bad as
he thought the man, he wanted to avoid
any serious trouble, less for Marshall's
own sake than for that of Miss Inez Cass,
to whom he was engaged, and who was
deeply In love with him. Roper had left
the house with the avowed Intention of
making things hot for him, so Mr. Heron
had called on Marshall at flis house near
HoIIyoak and told him what had happen
ed. Then Marshall had confessed that,
Ibelng In want of money, he had forged
Mr. Heron's name. But lie stated that he
gas going to pay the money back to IMper
very shortly, and he Implored Mr. Heron
to take no steps against him; it would
break Miss Cass' heart, he said. And Mr.
Heron, pitying Inez, and having a great
A. woman's discovery
FREE ~
By msay
yean of o.m-
ita&t study
sod eiptfl-
BOBtO, I buvo
perfected a simple,
harmless vegetable
remedy that will quickly cure all
female diseases, as well as the
piles. It la nature's own remedy,
sad will not only rellere, but
will absolutely, thoroughly and permanently cun
the ailments peculiar to women, such as fall
ing of the womb, leucorrhoea (whites), dis
placements. ulcerations, granulation, painful i
sr scanty periods, irregular menstruation, and
all the pelvic Ills of women. It positively
Bures rectal ulcers, piles, hemorrhoids, turnon*
Itching, blind or bleeding piles in either sex.
It cures promptly, privately, and permanently,
without the repugnant methods in generalUsu
b, phyrtclu*. You can^ ewapj, .mb«T«ta* of femin , ne , te
examinations, avoid humiliating exposures, f
cheat the turxeon’e knit- out ot baptism la
your blood.
The treatment U so simple, mild, and ef
fectual that it will not interfere with your
work or occupation. Thousands and thousands
of letters are being received from grateful per
sons from all parts of the world, who have
been cured by the use of this remedy. Tho
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 it I will send literature of interest and
value. Do not neglect this opportunity to get
cured yourself, and be in a position to advise
Blllrg frierds.
Consider well 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,
II j Comstock Bldg.. Kokomo, Ind.
respect for her brother, had promised to
say no more about it and had promised to
refrain from assisting Roper on condition
that the five hundred pounds were repaid.
This—as a later entry In the diary proved
—had been done. After that there was no
further mention of the matter.
"Well," Geoffrey said to himself, as he
put away the books, “all this is quite
plain. It seems that Mr. Frank Marshall
pretty scoundrel! Oh, there is no
doubt that this bill Is the blackmailing
document referred to by Jenner. Now, 1
wonder if Marshall murdered him to get
possession of it; but if he did the bill
would not have been concealed in the toy
horse. Ah! no doubt Marshall thought it
was in the red pocket-book and stole that
after he had killed him; that was why the
pocket-book disappeared. Probably Mar
shall himself destroyed it. Humph! I
have gone so far with very good results;
now, before I can proceed further. I must
see Mrs. Jenner and Roper. I wonder if
that scoundrel is still alive?”
Next day Geoffrey paid a visit to the
gaol where Mrs. Jenner was serving her
life sentence. After some difficulty he
was permitted to see the prisoner; indeed,
he might not have procured the interview
at all had he not told the governor that
he saw a good chance of proving the wom
an innocent. The governor was a humane
man, and anxious that justice should be
done, he stretch ad a point and allowed
Heron to see her with as much privacy
as was compatible with prison discipline.
As soon as they were alone. Heron re
lated all that he had discovered, and then
proceeded to ask his questions. Mrs.
Jenner, poor woman, became much ex
cited, and small wonder, seeing that for
the first thne she saw a chance of regain
ing her freedom.
‘But after all, it will be to die, Mr.
Heron." she said sadly. “I am very ill;
trouble, exposure, and mental worry have-
been too much for me. Tho doctor saw
me two days ago, and has ordered my re
moval to the infirmary."
Geoffrey looked at her, and. true enough,
there was death In her face. A few weeks
were all of life left to her now. And
yet on hearing Geoffrey's news, the bold
spirit flamed up again in her for the
last time.
"I am sure you are right. Mr. Heron!”
she said, feverishly. "Mr. Marshall is the
guilty person. He was always a scamp
and a rake. There Is no doubt that It
was for the purpose of blackmailing him
that my husband came down to Westham
On the night he was murdered; in fact,
he said as much to me at the Turnpike
House. Do you know that he had met
Marshall on that very night?”
"No; you did not tell me that.”
“I forgot; besides I really did not think
It mattered. I did not expect that Mr.
Marshall would be brought into the affair.
He was always cunning enough to look af
ter himself. At that time he was engaged
to marry Miss Cass, and she loved him
with the fierceness of a tigress.”
“Do you mean the present Mrs. Mar
shall?”
"Who else should I mean? She always
loved him. Ke had a strange fascination
for women; why, I don't know, for he was
not particularly good looking or attrac
tive. But Miss Inez loved him. and it was
within two months of the murder that
they were married. I was in prison then,
as I am now, and under sentence of
death.”
“Then you think that Marshall killed
your husband?”
“I do,” she said, with a look of hatred
in her large blue eyes. “I feel certain of
it. Look at the motive he had! He was
engaged to marry Miss Inez Cass; she
was rich and he needed money; then again
there was some talk of his leaving the
firm. I believe myself that Mr. Cass was
quite tired of the way he was going on.”
"I wonder that Mr. Cass—knowing him
as he did—did not forbid the marriage.”
“What would have been the use? His
sister was her own mistress; she had her
own money—a large fortune—and she was
madly in love with Marshall. She would
have done anything for him; she simply
grovelled at his feet. Her infatuation was
the talk of all Westham at the time I
was starving at the Turnpike House.”
"Extraordinary!" mused Geoffrey. “She
is so masterful a woman that I wonder
she could have fallen in love with so
weak a man.”
“It is one of those things in which a
woman's nature is stronger than her prin
ciples." said Mrs. Jenner. “Besides, he
was fascinating, and she was no longer a
young woman." she added, with a touch
‘At any rate, she was
delighted when he fell in love with her.
and determined not to let him go.”
"Was he in love with her?”
“No; perhaps I was wrong to put it that
way. No doubt he wanted her money.
Did he leave the firm?”
"Yes; shortly after his marriage.”
"Ah! Then depend upon it, Mr. Cass
got rid of him. He married Miss Cass
for her money—he must have been in
great straits when he committed that
forgery. Oh. I quite believe it was he
who did it; he was wonderfully clever at
Imitating handwriting. I knew of that ac
complishment long before I was married.”
“How you hate him!” Geoffrey could
not help exclaiming.
“I am a very good hater," she said.
I quietly; "and I have every reason to hate
that man. It was he who got my husband
dismissed, and It was certainly he who
led him into dissipated ways; for Jenner
was not a bad man during the early years
of our married life. It was only when he
came under Marshall’s influence that he
took to drink and'began to treat me cruel
ly. Oh, I know what I owe him only too
well! I should like to see him arrested for
his murder, and hanged—hanged!”
She spoke with such vehemence that
Heron shivered. "I hope he will be proved
innocent for all that," he said. “Remem
ber I am engaged to his niece.”
“Miss Ruth is not his niece save by
marriage.”
“Still, the disgrace—”
“Well, leave the matter alone,” said
Mrs. Jenner, abruptly. “I have suffered
so much that a little, more or less, does
not matter. When I am gone, there will
be an end of all your trouble. Let Mar
shall live to repent, if he can. I am will
ing to die with the disgrace on me; I can’t
well be worse off than I am. And my son
will soon forget me—”
“You do him wrong, Mrs. Jenner; he
loves you dearly. But. let this be as ft
may, what I have to do is to get at the
truth of it all. If Marshall will confess
his guilt, I will consult with Mr. Cass
and see what is to be done. I confess,
that on Ruth’s account, I do not want a
scandal.”
“Would you desert Iter?"
”No, fob I love her. And I am too Just.
I- hope, to visit the sins of other people
upon her innocent head.”
Mrs. Jenner seemed to be consideltng;
then, “Mr. Heron,” she said at last, “you
are a good man. Leave the matter where
it stands, and let me die a guilty woman
In the eyes of the world. If I were In
good health, I might speak differently; but
I am dying. Let me die. I have suffered
so much that now I could not even enjoy
freedom. There Is no rest for me but in
the grave. Believe me, it is better to leave
things as they are.”
“Well, we'lt see about that. But tell
me. how did the bill get inside the toy
horse?”
“Ah! that is difficult to explain. The
horse belonged to my boy; he was playing
with it before the Are on that evening. I
left it there when I took the child to bed.
It is likely enough,” she went on, musing
ly, “that my husband, knowing he had
driven Marshall into a corner, was afraid
he might lose this bill. He may have
sewn it up inside the horse when I was
out of the room. He knew very well that
I kept all my boy’s toys, and he thought
it would be safe there. No one would ever
have dreamt of looking for it in such a
hiding place. It is really most wonderful,
when one comes to think of it, that it has
come to light at ail.”
"t!an you tell me where Jenner met Mar
shall on that night?”
“No, I cannot. AM I know Is what he
told me—that he had seen him two hours
before he came to see me. He boasted
of his blackmailing. That is all I can
tell you.”
Geoffrey rose. “Well, you have given
me some information, if not very much,”
he said. “Now I will “go and see Roper
to make certain how the bill came to be
stolen."
“My husband stole it when he was with
Roper,” said Mrs. Jenner. And with this
last piece of Information Geoffrey depart
ed to follow up the clew.
CHAPTER. EIGHTEEN
She Money Lender
Mr. Julian Roper had an establishment
in Golden square, Soho. Although this
gentleman was over eighty, he had not
yet repented of his many iniquities, but
callously continued to conduct his evil
transactions. His offices—two dingy rooms
—were on the ground floor of the house;
the apartments overhead being occupied
by himself and a crabbed old woman
who acted as his housekeeper. The hag
was, if possible, worse than her master;
and from long years of association, 3he
possessed considerable influence over him;
she was a widow—or at least it was as
such that she described herself—for her
husband had left her many years before
In sheer disgust at her tyranny. Mrs.
Hutt was her name, and she had a son
who acted as clerk to Julian.
When Geoffrey Heron arrived at this
sordid temple pf Mammon, he was re
ceived by the drudge—a young-old person
of no particular age. dressed in a suit of
rusty black. He informed the visitor that
his master was absent.
The clerk, who answered to the name of
Jerry Hutt. gave Mr. Heron a broken-
backed chair, and returned to his desk,
which was smuggled away into a corner.
Wilh a shrug at the poverty of the place
and the apparently enfeebled Intellect of
the person In charge, the young man
took a seat and amused himself by taking
stock of his surroundings.
Jerry took not the slightest notice of
Geoffrey after the first greeting; he wrote
hard with his tongue thrust into his
cheek, giving vent at times to a faint
chuckle which was positively uncanny.
Coming to the conclusion that he was
haif-witted. Heron came to regard him In
the light in which most people saw him—
more as an article of furniture than a
man. But in this he. in common with
the rest of the visitors tb that den, was
wrong. For undei
pidity, Jerry was as
bial needle.
Luckily Heron had not long to wait. In
about' a quarter of an hour. Jerry raised
bis big head and looked out of the win
dow; a shuffling step was heard at the
door; and a minute later seme one came
coughing and grumbBng along the narrow
passage. “Hr. Roper," chuckled Jerry,
pointing toward the inner room. “Go in
there.’’
Geoffrey, taking no notice of his brusque
manner, passed into the back room; it
was better lighted and better furnished
than the clerk’s den. Still, it was sordid
enough, and so dirty that the young squire
found it necessary to dust with his hand
kerchief the seat he had chosen. “Cleanli
ness and godliness are^both absent from
this establishment,” thought Mr. Heron.
He could near Roper Outside growling at
Jerry, but could catch nothing of their
conversation. He guessed that It had to
do with himself, for shortly Mr. Roper
entered the back room with what was
meant to be an amiable smile on his ma
hogany face. In appearance he was the
double of his clerk, as thin, as yellow, and
even smaller in stature.
“Ha! Hey!” he said; this being the
way in which he was accustomed to begin
a conversation. “Mr. Heron—ah, yes—Mr.
Geoffrey Heron—quite so! I knew your
father. A good man, Mr. Heron, but
strong in his expressions.”
Geoffrey took this to mean—and very
rightly, too—that his father had express
ed himself in no measured terms as to the
money lender's professional transactions.
But- he made no comment, merely remark
ing that he bad come to see Mr. Roper
on business.
"Ha! Hey!” chuckled the old man, shuf
fling toward his desk with the aid of a
heavy stick. "Quite so. Not like your
father! Oh, dear, no! He never borrowed
money.”
“I am not here foe that purpose.” re
torted Mr. Heron, haughtily, and the olll
man. panting for breath, dropped into his
chair. “And I can assure you that you
are the last person to whom I should come
In such circumstances. My business is
quite of a different nature.”
“Ha! Then why do you come here, Mr.
Heron? I have rfllich to do; I am poor,
and money is hard to make. If your busi
ness has nothing to do with money, why
come at all?”
“Because you are the only person who
can assist me.”
“I do nothing for nothing,” croaked Mr.
Roper, quickly. “If you want anything
out of me, you must pay me—pay me—
cash dowry you understand! I have had
enough of bills.”
“Mr. Frank Marshall’s bill for five hun
dred included?” asked Geoffrey.
The man started anfa plucked at his
netfher lip- “Ha! Hey! What do you
know about Mr. Marshall, sir?”
“Not so much as you can tell me,” said
Heron, significantly.
“Marshall—Marshall,” muttered Roper.
"I don’t know him—never heard of him.”
Geoffrey took a new tack and prepared
to go. “In that case, I need not trouble
you. My business has to do with Marshall
and a forgery.”
"Wait. Come how, don’t hurry!”
screeched the old man, clawing at Heron’s
frock coat. "I do begin to remember
something or this. I am old—I can t re
member as well as I did. Marshall
Frank Marshall—Cass and Marshall. Yes,
yes, of course I know! A forgery-your
father—quite so!” He stopped and looked
up sharply. “Well, what Is it?" he asked.
Geoffrey sat down again; he was begin
ning to see his way to the successful
management of this old gentleman. It
is a long story,” he said, slowly, keeping
his eyes fixed on the avaricious face of
the usurer. “Let tne begin at the be
ginning. What about a man called Jen
ner *’
Roper gave another screech and vMs
visibly startled. Hg cast a swift glance
at the door behind which, no doubt, the
useful Jerry waaNf^Vesdroppihg.' "Jen
ner,” he said, recovering hirflaelf with
an effort, "was a' iilferk of mine, and a
blackguard.”
“The one implies the other,” Heron
said, drily, "if all 1 have heard of you
is true.”
“Now, sir, don’t you come libeling me,”
whimpered the usurer, still disturbed. I
won’t have It. I wLll bring an action for
damages—heavy damages.”
"Do, Mr. Roper. I should like to see
you shown up in court. How many of
your transactions will bear the scrutiny
of the law?”
"I have never broken the law!” he
roared, with an attempt at dignity which
111 became him. “I am a poor man, but
honest. Jenner? Oh, yes; he was mur-
tfered, and he deserved to be murdered—
the- beast!”
“Who did It?" asked Geoffrey, ab
ruptly. ’
For the seeodd time Mr. Roper was
visibly disconcerted. “How should I
know any more than yourself?” he quav
ered. "His wife murdered him, of
course; he treated her badly, and she
served him out. Women always do.”
“Come, Mr. Roper, you are evading my
questions. But I have no -time to play
the fool. I have come to talk to you
about that forged bill.”
“Have you got it—have you got it?” he
shrieked, making a. dart with one claw
at Geoffrey. Oh, give it to me, if you
can! I want to see that Marshall in
gaol—with hard labor—hard labor!” he
repeated, with evident relish. “My dear
gentleman, if you can, help me to crush
him!”
"Why?” asked the young man, draw
ing back.
“Because I hate him. I had a daugh
ter; she loved him; but he would not
marry her—oh, dear, no! Her father’s
reputation was too bad for so fine a gen
tleman. So she died—pined away, Mr.
Heron, as I am a sinner! Oh, how Jerry
felt it! He admired Elsa, he loved her—
so did Marshall.” His eyes flashed. "But
he would not marry her, for all that.
She is dead and buried now—a most ex
pensive tomb!” he added vaguely. "All
marble—most costly. But she was my
daughter; I hate to spend good money;
but Elsa was my daughter—a most ex
pensive tomb!”
His listener took all this for the senile
babble of age. Perhaps It was, for tears
stood in the usurer's eyes—those hard
eyes which had remained dry whilst
looking upon much deliberately created
misery- He wiped them now with a
snuffy red bandana, and then looked
fiercely at his client.
"Come,” he said, roughly, with a growl
as of a beast about to spring. "What
about Marshall?”
Geoffrey said nothing for the moment,
but stared fixedly at the money lender.
"Ha! Hey!” said Roper, impatiently,
and there was a yellow gleam In his
eyes. "I am waiting. What about Mar
shall?”
"I would rather ask you what about
Jenner?”
"I do nothing for nothing, as I have
told you,” was the reply. "If you could
assist me to punish that wretch, I might
perhaps help you; otherwise—”
"Well, I may be able to help you In
that!”
"Oh. oh!” said the old man. "And what
grudge have you against Marshall?”
‘T have none; but I have a very good
reason for acting as I am doing.”
“What Is your reason?”
"That I refuse to tell you. Speak free
ly to me. or leave the matter alone, my
good man. I can do without your assist
ance.”
"No. no!" cried the usurer, with fright
ful energy. "If Marshall is to get Into
trouble. I am the man to assist. He
broke my Elsa's heart; I wish to be re
venged. What is It you want to know?”
"Tell me about Jenner,” Heron said,
curtly. He saw that the old man.
moved by the recollection of Marshall’s
behavior to his daughter, was in the
mood to be confidential. He would get
all he could out of him before the wind
changed.
Roper commenced speaking in a hurry
as though in fear that his resolution
would fail him. “Jenner was a wretch—a
scamp,” he said. He was in my employ
ment before Jerry grew up to assist me.
I took him off the streets, and he repaid
my kindness by robbing me."
"Of the bill of exchange on which was
the forgery of my father's name.”
"Oh, you know that?” he said, with a
glance of surprise. "Well. I daresay.
Your father—worthy man—would no doubt
tell you. Yes. Jenner took the bill—Just
when I thought I had Marshall in the
palm of my hand. Ah, that was a blow!
I would have given hundreds to have
kept that bill—to have lodged Marshall
In gaol. But when that was gone. T could
do nothing. Have you the bill—do you
know where It is? Give it to me. I'll
work the matter.”
"I have not the Mil,” said Geoffrey,
deliberately. He saw that the honor of
the Cass family would be lost If intrusted
to the hands of this man. "The bill was
stolen from Jenner’s dead body.” he add
ed. with studied equivocation.
"By whom?” Roper asked, abruptly.
"Do you not know?”
“Certainly not.” he said, with violence.
"Are you about to accuse me of the
crime? Why, I do not even know of the
place where he met his death. You can
prove nothing against me, sir, however
cleverly 3*>u lay your trap.”
”I am not laying any trap,” Geoffrey
said, mildly. "I want to know some
thing more about Jenner—as I have told-
you at least five times! He was In your
employment, you say?”
“Yes, X took him off the streets! One
day Marshall brought that bill; I dis
counted it. and gave him £500! Then I
found out—how. it does not matter—that
your father's signature had been forged.
I saw your father—”
“I know aii about that interview. You
saw my father and he refused to prose
cute, did he not?”
"He did; but I would have prosecuted
myself, and would have called your fa
ther as a witness. Well, I came back
after that visit, and placed the bill in
my safe; then I told my housekeeper all
about it; Jenner must have listened.
Shortly afterwards he disappeared; I
made a search to see if he had taken
anything. Then I found that the bill
had gone—that Marshall had escaped me!
I managed to set the police on Jenner's
track, and he was arrested. I offered
not to prosecute if he would give me
back the bill; but he refused. Then I
prosecuted him for stealing my money,
and he got three years. When he came
out I believe he went down to the coun
try- to see his wife; and she murdered
him. What became of the bill, I never
could discover. He must have destroyed
It.”
‘Tt is possible,” said Heron. “I sup
pose that the bill was valuable to Mar
shall as well as to you! No doubt tv
paid Jenner to destroy it.”
“Or else he murdered Jenner to obtain
possession of it,” the old man said,
gloomily. "But, no! Mrs. Jenner killed
him; I was at the trial: I heard all the
evidence; nothing could have been clearer
or fairer. She killed her husband. Now,
I wonder if she could have taken pos
session of that bill! No, I don't think ao{
it would have been found on her when
she was arrested. I believe Marshall
must have bribed Jenner to destroy it;
more’s the pity. I'll never get at him
now, the beast!”
Geoffrey rose to go. "Well.’’ he said. ”1
have learnt something; hut I hardly know
if it will be of much assistance to me.”
“What are you going to do?” Roper
asked.
"Satisfy my conscience. Listen, Mr.
Roper; in my father’s diary I found a full
account of your visit, and the truth
about the forgery. I was anxiojis to
know all—therefore, I came to you. Now
I am satisfied. So far as I am concerned,
the matter shall rest where it is.”
“Then you won't help me to crush
Marshall? Will nothing deliver him into
my hands?” he muttered. “I'll make a
last effort; Ke must be punished for Elsa's
sake.”
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
With the Household &
are some of the kindly Household band
who can inform me what life is like in
Oklahoma or Indian Territory. We have
financial Inducements to go to this part
of the country to live. We are very loath
to leave our native southland and go
among strangers to live, but to go know
ing nothlpg of the people or conditions
Is risking one's chances of happiness.
I would like to know if tho larger towns
have schools and churches. Are all the
people cowboys, I wonder. I have just
lead a story in a late magazine about
life in Oklahoma. The heroine’s dress,
v/hich was the same Sundays and week
days, consisted principally of bloomers
and leggings. Now, are dresses prohibit
ed by Oklahoma laws, or is it merely a
matter of inclination?
Seriously, though. I am told that the
country is grand. Cannot Tommy Stock-
ard tell me something of the people? She
seems to know Arkansas so well, perhaps
she also knows “the wild and woolly
west" beyond her.
I have said my say, and will retire for
ills time with greetings to all the Ineih-
bers. YOUNG MATRON.
Atlanta, Ga.
♦
Wishes to Exchange Articles
I am a new reader of The Sunny South,
and I do enjoy the Household talks so
much. Sylva Glenn and Old Maid, your
letters are a delight; also those of Mar
garet Richard, who lives in my own state.
I was in 'her city, Columbia, not long
since, and wish I could have seen her
then. I do not know the street and num
ber of her house, but hope to find it out
before I visit Charlesti n !n April to . sec
the exposition. I would stop over in
Columbia on purpose to see her. I think
every reader of The Sunny South should
have her beautiful little book, "The
Three Bells.”
We are having lovely spring weather at
last. The fruit trees are in full bloom,
and bid fair to bear abundantly. Every
one says this will be a year of abun
dance, and I sincerely hope it will. I
do a good deal of fancy work—embroidery
and hemstitching—and I love to read
tcoks—good novels—and story magazines.
Have the Household sisters ariy of these
to exchange, and what would they like
in return?
(MRS.) MARY F. TINSLEY'.
77 Forest St., Spartanburg, S. C.
As Marie Corelli Portrays It
Coallmisd from ilxth pi^s
music, the egg cooking, water drawing,
etc. Two or three days later I received
a letter from her, written that same night
at 10:30 p. m., and recalling in almost the
same words I bad used lae enow, the
events of the merry night of the egg-
cooking, etc. A few days later there
came unexpectedly a letter from Mr. Bob
In far Arkansas, written at 10:30 o’clock
on the same night that cousin and I had
written, and recalling the same circum
stances in almost similar words. Was
not this thought-transference? Else why
should each one have not only written
about the same thing, but noticed the
time and mentioned the hour and minute.
Solitaire. I notice your question about
the photographs of the Householders.
I have twenty of these several members.
Old Maid, Cherry Blossom. Georgie
Stevenson and one other took their pic
tures out, when the box containing the
photos reached them—which was hardly
fair, I think. I treasure my twenty very
highly, and hope I may be able to get
many others to put with them.
TESSA WILLINGHAM RODDEY.
Sylvan, Ala.
Charleston
Old. gray and grand, my Charleston, do
you stand
Beside the sea that frosts you with its
spray.
And gives to walls and trees a hoariness
That years alone impart. Yet never
may
You know decrepitude of strength and
soul,
But, girt by sea and rushing river,
stand.
Strong ae the waves that to your feet
uproll.
And like your river, bold and free and
grand.
Queen City by the Sea of a fair land.
MARION MOBLEY DURHAM.
■F
"Her Sad Story”
Long have I stood, as it were, "on Jor
dan’s stormy banks,” and looked with
‘•wishfut eye” ovtr into the charming
Household, not daring to venture in lest
the Lady of the Manor bid me "depart,
for I know you not.” Now, however,
have made the "bold essay” and hers
I am timidly seated among the fair and
gentle ones, and listening to tleir talk
with deep interest, particularly when it
is about occult and mystic things like
telepathy, which I regard as the most
beautiful of sciences, or rather, I would
say, gifts, for it seems a heaven-sent
gift that may, however, be cultivated
and brought to perfection.
I have called it beautiful, and so it is.
What is more beautiful than the silent
communion of souls—or the sending of
swift carrier-dove mesiages of love or
warning or comfort to friends across in
finite distance? It is something that will
ur-fold as we study it, like the great
mysteries of the Bible that are con
tinually opening wider to the comprehen
sion of men.
Of course, it will not so unfold to all.
There are human beings who go through
life with no sense of the beautiful, and
to these the disclosures of telepathy
would be as ineffectual as pouring water
on adamant.
In her "Romance of Two Worlds” Marie
Corelli gives an illustration of telepathy
In its clairvoyant phase when she por
trays Herlobis, placing his subjects with
in an invisible electric circle and then,
while their bodies are bound in hypnotic
trance, sending their souls into better
and brighter realms. The kind of te
lepathy which the Household has been
discussing deals with the transmission
of thought between two who are in sym
pathy with each other. A step higher
would lend to the phase described by
Corelli whatever achievement the imag
ination is able to shadow forth will af
ter a while be accomplished, and it may
not be so very long before communion
by thought will be of common occur
rence.
Let none of my new Household friends
believe me visionary because of this say
ing. I am a very practical person, but
I believe hat many things now called
fanciful (Just as steam and electricity
were once believed to be) will eventually
be put to practical every day use.
But I have been talking all this while
instead of being "seer, and not heard.”
as a good boy should, so now, with my
best bow to all and a shake of the hand
for Ike Heartslll, I will say adieu*
LEO CRISTO.
, ♦
Three Minds With One Thought
In February, 1901, my home was filled
with the merriest, jolliest crowd, who
bent every energy toward having a good
time. Music, dancing, cards, carroms.
erokonole, cards, enlivened the house. A
heavy snow fell, and we fought snow
battles, tried to make a snow man. It
is forty wonders we didn’t have pneu
monia, but we didn’t. One Saturday
night we had an exceptionally merry
evening. About 10, all went to their
rooms save two young men. a young
lady cousin of mine and myself. We
sat long by the fire, talking and finally
one said, “Let’s get something to eat.”
Not wishing to disturb the sleeping ones
we made our way down to the dining
room, only to find the sideboard empty;
closet ditto, except some eggs. Frank
said "Let's boil the eggs,” and he and
Mr. Bob put a dozen eggs in their pockets
With these and a small tin boiler w»
returned to the fire. We could find no
water in the house, and all went to the i
well. Mr. Bob lagged back and let Frank
and my cousin draw the water, the well
being very deep. We boiled our eggs
and enjoyed them. The following week
the merry house party broke up. We
neither saw nor heard from Frank or
Bob again. In February, 1902, just one
year from the night I’ve told about, I
wrote to my cousin and began my letter
at 10:30 p. m. I recalled the snow, the
I am deeply sorry for “Incognito”—the
little teacher who lost her position and
suffered a cruel heart disappointment be
cause of the treachery of the man who
was to have married her. I think, how
ever, she was fortunate to escape being
the wife of a man who could so deceive
a loving, trusting woman.
Most girls would have hid this story
deep In their own wounded breasts, but
I think you did right, little teacher, to
tell your troubles. When one locks a
sorrow in the heart and broods over it,
the hidden grief is ever present; it never
grows less and is apt to corrode the na
ture. Unlock the heart, let the secret
sorrow out; help others to bear their
burdens and share your own burdens
with others. The world is not so cold
and unsympathetic as some would have
us believe. There are some women who.
on reading ‘'Incognito's*’ story, would
say: "Well, I certainly wouldn’t have
told that, much less put it in print,” but
there are others—God bless them—who
will hold out a hand of generous sym
pathy and love.
As for Hie man, forget him, little "In
cognito.” Put him out of your heart
forever. Hard to do that. Is it? Yes,
it is. We cannot love where we will; love
is as involuntary as breathing; it is a
sixth sense. From the cradle to the grave,
we go on loving. It is easier to forget
all other loves than to cast out the one
that comes to us, seemingly as a perfect
complement to our lives, making what
had hitherto seemed imperfect, complete,
and blending two lives into one.
Yes, you can write, "Incognito.” You
have "learned in sorrow what you may
teach in song,” or story. Many of the
brightest literary lights sprung into flame
from the ashes of grief-consumed hearts.
Subscribe for "The Scroll” and "The
Editor.” These two magazines are ex
cellent helps to a literary profession.
Study them carefully; then make up your
mind to face a lot of hard work and
plenty of rejections, numerous printed
slips of refusal. But as fast as the manu
script comes back, start it again in an
other direction. Cultivate patience and
persistence. Study the people and the
life around you. Find what kind of liter
ary work you are best fitted to do, and
put your energies Into that. You oannot
serve two masters. You cajinot undertake
poetry and fiction both. TCeep close to
the work you choose, and pay no atten
tion to side issues.
LHtle “B.” your letter was a treat.
My heart went out to you in loving sym
pathy. I can clasp your hand in a sister
hood of sorrow, as I have seen my parents
and an only sister pass away.
"Fineta,” dear, come down from your
literary pedestal and give us one of your
pleasant talks as of yore. “Glittering
generalities” may be charming, but in
a letter it Is personalities I prize. Who
said something about "Platonic Friend
ship?’’ Was 1t not "A Bachelor Maid”
who, though announced by the Mater,
was not forthcoming and was no doubt
shown by the usher to the wrong door,
and got into the lonesome Sunday Con
stitution parlor. Well, I am sorry not
to have heard what the “Maid” had to
say, but I want to tell her right here
that there is no such thing as "Platonic
Friendship.” It is Just a snare and a
delusion. TESSA W. RODDEY.
♦
One Reform that Women Would Effoct
eled Householders.
Old Maid, your "Dudley" was half way
right when he said that women had a
hand In controlling national affairs
through their influence over men voters.
Ever sjnee the days of Evs women has
wielded an influence over her "lord and
mister,” and it is quite probable that
she has her way (in part) as to publlo
movements through the bias she may
give to the minds of voting men relatives
and friends.
Besides, if woman was equal to man
in every respect, would this recompense
her for the loss of petting, and of ail
these little attentions so dear to her
heart? The knowing ones tell us that
If woman had the right of suffrage, men
would treat her as one of themselves,
and sentiment and chivalry would oe
done away with. How true this may be
I do not pretend to say, but i do know
that if women were allowed to vote the
drink fiend would he exterminated. Every
woman is more or lets injured by this
terrible curse. Directly or Indirectly, It
has fallen upon her, and women, were
they given the power, would band to
gether to destroy it. Nothing but united
effort can avail. The result of Mrs. Na
tion’s crusade proves that single-handed
effort must fail. Even woman's boastel
influence has accomplished little along
this line.
I. N. Heartsill, your little Joke was
most amusing. No doubt your "ma” has
long since acknowledged that you and
Tessa are right, and will not disdain to
consult your taste next time she dresses
for church. Best wishes to all.
E. L. SMITH.
Donalds, S. C.
■F
The Mountain Folk
Certainly, dear Householders, your cor*
ner is a welcome and beneficent addition
to the charming Sunny South. Reading it
is like having friends drop in to make
short talks and tell us something witty
instructive or neiw. Seme of the writers
voice my own sentiments so fully that I
feel like giving them a hearty hand
shake. The privilege of writing in this
way is very improving, and many pleas
ant and lasting acquaintances are thus
fermed.
I was glad to hear through the House-
held about Betsy Hamilton. I wish she
would write us some time In the style of
her “Ezekiel Scroggins’ OumUM*” 1
laughed over (hat sk<tch until tb* tear*
came. I could enjoy It more tsBy ttuvagK
having lived In the mountains Shara tkt
people are so Ignorant of the —ies«
worlfi. and speak such a quaint dialect
and use such peculiar expressions.
I agree with Helene that the vast do
nations made to colleges and city libra
ries and the great sums expended on them
had beTteY be distributed among the poor
and uneducated In isolated regions. It
would do more good spent in this way.
But a small per cent of t,he needy are ben
efited by these big donations.
A VIRGINIAN.
♦
Platonic Affection—is This Time More
Propitious for It?
Dear Householders: Here’s a bachelor-
maid .praying for admission into your In
teresting circle, but don’t, dear house
holders, elevate your brows in consterna
tion at the thought of adopting such a
freak Into your charming, well-balanced,
well-organized little band; for I assure
you that it is only from 'necessity that I
am still "batching” It through life. And
I promise that even though I may .have
become so imbued with the spirit of In
dependence, that I can sit calmly by and
see an ’‘eligible’’ caught up by a less
promising (?) wife than I should make
without a pang of Jealousy. I shall not
preach what I practice, but shall he satis
fied to “saw wood and say Uttle.”
In a recent discussion the point was
made that the present time is more pro
pitious to platonic affection than here
tofore, owing to the fairer sex being as
sociated commercially with the sterner
sex. broadening her view* of life, its re
sponsibilities. etc. Should be pleased to
hear what the householders think of the
subject I'
Again begging for admission, believe me,
truly. BACHELOR-MiAUX
♦
I Would Know
Will you admit a stranger to your
charming circle, if only for a brief stay
that she may express her appreciation
of the Household? I did not know it
under its former regime, but I am per
suaded that nothing can surpass the ex
cellence of its present management. It is
certainly an entertaining feature of The
Sunny South—a paper which I have
known only a year, but greatly admire
for its superior qualities as a family
journal. I bespeak for it a welcome in
every southein home.
The letters cf the Household member?
that describe noted scenery find places
ate a treat to us less fortunate stay-at-
homes. My own observation goes no
farther than Tallulah and Tcccoa Falls,
sublime and beautiful, but not to be com
pared to stupendous Mammoth Cave and
mighty Niagara as described by our trav-
I would know why you turn 'way y*ur
face, love.
When I take my low chair by your side.
And with blankness gaze on a wall pic
ture, ,
As if some secret thought you would
hide.
When I take up your hand and enfold tt
With my own now so roughened with
care.
Why do not you return tlie caressing—
Have you no more affection to spare?
Tho’ I lay my head down on yonr shoul
der.
You will purr it no closer I see;
When I’m tired you don’t say with ofd
fervor.
“Come here, darling, and sit on my
knee.”
You don’t mention so often the old tlmesy
When each moment was vanishing bliss.
Nor await at the door for the parting.
Nor throw back from the corner a Mss.
Yet you know how like magic It soothes
me;
How complete all the toilsome days seem]
How the dove of content flies returning.
Wings me on to Joy’s future bright
dreams.
Ah! me, now I am waking to reason,
I can round all this mystical deep—
Do not hurry away, ere I tell you.
Hear It all. lest my filling heart weep.
Yesterday. I looked long in the mirror.
That you bought, dear, when I was a
bride;
There I saw all the past In Us freshness
And its glory, when love was your pride.
And the bright eyes you watched with
rare fondness:
That you thought thro’ a lifetime would
last, s
Have instead of their velvet-smooth
setting.
Many furrows of saffrony cast.
The rough hand of Sir Time has been
robbing,
Borne away the fair Jewels I wore;
But stand by me—be true—for the Artist
Omniscient, my charms will restore.
Anniston, Ala.
ZULA B. COOK.