Newspaper Page Text
FOURTH PAGE
THE SUNNY SOUTH
MAY 12, 1906.
Fate's '
Beggar 1
M
-aid
By TOM GALLON
AUTHOR OP; “Tatterley,” “Dickey Monteith,’’ “A
Rogue in Love,’’ “Kiddy,” “A Prince of Mis-
► chance,” “The Dead Ingleby,’’ Etc.
SYNOPSIS
CHAP-
OP PRECEDING
TERS:
John Falconer's son rescues a lady
from a disagreeable situation at a way
side inn. The father expects the daugh
ter of a one-time partner, who alone
• knew of an early business fraud, to bring
him a document. Haunted by the sus
picion that the girl, too, knows the se
cret, he arranges to have 'her brought to
his oflice at nightime. This is the lady
his son had rescued.
Miss 'Riuth Arkett, for that Is her nama
entrusts Nlance Ryder, a woman whom
she meets in a poor lodging house in
London, with a miniature of tier mother
to pawn. Falconer’s confidential clerk,
seeing Nance leave the house, tells her
Mr. Falconer awaits her. and Nance,
suspicious for Ruth, goes to see Fal
coner. As she climbs the office steps
in the dark, she is felled by the pros
perous man of business, who returns to
his guests.
Saul Capstick, the clerk, for blackmail,
rescues Nance, and, to cover his traces,
fires the building.
Riuth frees- from her lodging as Nance
does not return, and a man who carries
her hand-bag makes off with it. She
asks the way to Mr. Falconer's office of
Fendinand Kirk, a cKeerfut man, who Is
fhe underling of Capstick. At the fire
she meets Falconer's son again, who fol
lows her home to Kirk’s house, and there
she overhears Capstick, elated, tell Kirk
that she is dead, and, so, she is worth
thousands of pounds to him.
CHAPTER VI.
Love Under False Pretenses.
N order to understand to
some extent the feelings
of poor Ruth Arkett, it
becomes necessary to place
yourself for a moment In
her position. In a strange
house, among people of
whom she knew nothing:
without a friend on whom
she could count In the
world; and ringing. In her
ears, the calm pronounce
ment that she was dead—
that pronouncement being
made b'y a man—confidential clerk of
John Falconer—who heldi in his posses
sion a miniature which had been, so far
as she knew, stolen from her. You have
to remember what your own feeling
would be. If you heard the calm state
ment that you were dead, while in reality
you were very much alive, and yet among
strangers who did not know even your
name
At first there sprung up in her mind
the passionate determination to declare
then and there who she was; to settle
for ever that question of her identity.
But. with that thought came a fear of
something indefinite that threatened her.
What if that declaration h<*l been but
the preLucJp to a death that had been
planned for her; what if, by some chance,
this man Capstick had kpown that she
was listening, and had for some reason
wanted to" warn her of what was to
happen? The only solution of the mys
tery that occurred to her at that mo
ment was that Capstick must In some
way be in league with the woman Nance
Ryder, who had -robbed her of the min
iature'. She • crouched in her room, tor
ture d by a hundred fears, and wonder
ing what she should do.
The situation was not by any means
made more easy by the fact that she
presently discovered that there was a
watcher outside. Happening to go to
the window for a moment, to look out
aimlessly into the little street, she saw
the, figure of a man slowly pacing along
on the opposite side; and knew him,
even as she drew hurriedly back, for
young Alartin Falconer. She guessed,
of course, that he must have followed
her there, in the hope to gain some
knowledge of who she was, and why she
was with Ferdinand Kirk; on the other
hand, a momentary thought flashed
through her mind that he, too, might
be but an emissary of his father, and
be working with these men who spoke
in the room below so calmly of her death.
She dismissed that second thought in a
moment; a curious shy gladness stole
about her heart at the thought that he
was there, watching over her.
Ferdinand Kirk, in the room below,
had, of coursP; no particular interest in
the news of .the death of so uninterest
ing a person as Ruth Arkett; what he
was chiefly concerned about was the
fact that the strange woman who was
of so great importance to the Falconers
was very much alive upstairs. Glanc
ing out of the window, and seeing also
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that strolling, watching Martin Falconer,
he felt that he had not done so badly
after all; he held a trump card of some
sort, but must learn its value -before he
attempted to play it. However, for the
sake of gaining whatever Information
Saul Capstick might .be possessed of, he
led that gentleman on to say whatever
he might be prepared «z say about the
uninteresting woman whose death had
affected the Falconers to the extent of
placing Capstick in a position of authority
over them.
“You tell me that Ruth An-kett—who
ever she may be—was actually coming to
see and to threaten the great John Fal
coner?” said Ferdinand, watching the
figure of John Falconer’s son from be
hind the curtain, just as the real Ruth
Arkett was watching it from the window
above. “And that she has died in some
extraordinary fashion?”
Saul Capstick iput his finger to the
side of 'liis nose, and winked solemnly.
‘‘Head, sir, as mutton,’’ he said. “More
than .that, hidden away as securely as if
the earth had swallowed her up, without
a soul to see the interment. Of course,
it doesn’t matter to you, Kirk, because,
if j-ou'll pardon -my saying so—and I al
ways speak plainly to .people who work
■for me—you are something of a fool,
and are not able to take advantage of
circumstances, as I am. But suppose
that a man who had ground you down
and made you work like a galley slave
for years had suddenly done something
which put .him in your power; and sup
pose that you had been able to do some
thing afterwards which increased that
power a hundredfold. I11 other words,
Ferdinand Kirk,” said Capstick, getting
excited, anl leaning forward the better
to emphasize liis words, “suppose that
tills Ruth Arkett—of whom John Fal
coner had every reason to be afraid-
supposed she disappeared suddenly, was
never.'heard front again, after a certain
hour of a certain niglit; and suppose”
—he lowered liis voice still more, and
glanced behind him for a moment—“sup
posed Joint Falconer started at shadow^
ever after, and looked behind him some
times when lie walked.” Mr. Capstick
leant back in his chair, and winked
again, chewed at the cigar, which had
gone out.
“You're a wonderful man. Air. Cap
stick,” said Kirk. “What do you pro
pose to do?”
“That’s my business,” said Kirk. “So
far as you are concerned, I may say
that I intend to bleed John Falconer;
•to show him a ghost now and then, and
to let him understand that that ghost
will only be laid -temporarily, of course
—at a -price.”
Ferdinand Kirk had quite made up
his mind by this time that Mr. Capstick,
having been upset by the excitements of
the night and the day, had imbibed
stirong liquors somewhat too freely, and
was talking about 'things he did not un
derstand, or that, at the best, lie wished
had been true. In a day or two Mr.
Capstick would doubtless have regained
his normal condition, and would be set
tling down humbly enough as the clerk
of John Falconer in some other office.
“As regards this ghost-laying Air. Cap-
stick,” suggested Kirk, with pretended
humility, “if I might be of any assist
ance at ail, you may, of course, com
mand me. Things have not gone too
well with me lately; times are bad—and
I should be grateful—’’
“I may find you of use,” said Mir. Cap
stick, grandiloquently, as he rose to his
feet. “We may find it necessary to work
loge titer—that is, in the sense that I
may need to employ you. We shall see
we shall see. You will understand,
Kirk, that I have a more active brain
■than you possess, and that my scheme
of operations is a very extensive one.
In a humble capacity I may need you.”
Air. -Ferdinand Kirk bowed with re
newed humility, and followed his guest
to the door. In passing, it may be men
tioned that iMr. Ferdinand I-Ciirk, the bet
ter to guide the unsteady footsteps of
saul Capstick, found it necessary—with
perfect respect, of course—to take the
arm of liis visitor in conducting him to
the door, and even to press close against
hint. So that it happened that, as Saul
Capstick swaggered up 'the street with
a frown of importance on liis face, Mr
'Ferdinand Kirk went back into liis room,
holding in his hand an oval miniature
set in diamonds. And stood for a mo
ment or two looking at it with a thought
ful smile.
Aleanwhile the amazing day bad not
yet drawn to a close. Within five min
utes there came an imperious knocking
at 'the outer door. Air. Kirk, answering
it himself, was confronted with young
Martin Falconer, evidently in no mood
to be put off. By that time Ferdinand
Kirk had completely lost his head; his
humble dwelling had (become a center of
attraction which could draw mighty peo
ple to it in the most astounding fashion.
Therefore, without inviting this new vis
itor to enter, lie leant against the door
post in an easy attitude, and asked what
Martin wanted.
“Air. Kirk," began Martin, hurriedly—
“for I believe that is your name—you
have a young lady in this house whom I
am most anxious to see.”
Mly dear sir.” said Kirk, airily, “a
great many people are anxious to see
that young lady; and I—her guardian-
have to keep a very wary eye upon the
movements of those people. If you care
to state your business, 1 will consider the
matter.”
“Confound it all, sir,” said Martin, los
ing patience, ‘‘surely the young lady
may judge for herself. My name Is Mar
tin Falconer, and 1——”
‘I am quite aware of that, sir,” said
Ferdinand Kirk. “But I believe you
not even know the name of this lady?”
“Do you?” asked Martin at a venture.
Ferdinand Kirk coughed and waved his
hand as though to put aside the ques
tion. He began to recognize that this
was a game of bluff, in which he must
play carefully. “It Is scarcely likely I
should tell you the lady’s name,” he
said. “Suffice It that she Is here under
my protection. However, if you care to
step Inside I will Inform the lady that
you are hera.”
So Ferdinand Kirk stepped aside for a
moment, and Martin, with a bow, went
into the little house. Being ushered into
the shabby sitting room so recently quit
ted by Saul Capstick, he waited there
while Kirk went up the narrow stairs
and tapped at a door above.
Ruth Arkett, of course, had seen the
visitor come to the house, and had heard
him admitted. She did not know In the
least what his errand could be; she had
doubts of hint and his sincerity, as she
had of the sincerity of every one about
her Just then. More than ever did it
seem possible that he might have come
as the emissary of his father, John Fal
coner. Therefore Kirk found her ready
to repel the suggestion that she should
grant the young man an interview.
“You see, my dear young lady,” began
Ferdinand, In a cautious whisper, as he
closed the door, “we cannot lose sight of
the fact that Mr. Martin Falconer, who
wishes to see you, Is a most Important
personage. You will remember that you
told me you had a claim upon John Fal
coner; Is It not possible that the son may
have brought some message from him?”
“Quite impossible,” said Ruth; “be
cause he does not even know who I am.”
"More than ever remarkable,” said
Kirk, rubbing his hands. “It Is all a
puzzle to m? at the moment; but I’ve no
doubt I shall understand It presently.
Would you care to tell me—in the strict
est confidence—who you really are. be
cause you seem to possess such an at-
lt Is that troubles me s there is a reason
why you cannot tell me anything about
yourself. If you can trust me—if you
can feel that I may be your friend—
won't you let convention go to the winds
for once, and give me your hands, and
let mo hel^ you?”
She looked into his eyes; Blie even
made a movement to stretch out her
hand to him. But she checked herself;
she thought of Capstick—confidential
servant to this man’s father—Capstick,
who held that which belonged • to her,
and JKdd it so mysteriously. Looking
at him, she withheld her hand while she
tractive personality that I find my house 1 asked a question.
absolutely besieged by visitors within an
hour of your coming. This young man,
for instance, must -have actually follow
ed us here.”
Ruth remembered, with a sudden feel
ing of terror, the words she had heard
used by the man Captick; knew that
she was supposed by Capstick and by
this other man to be dead. -She saw
the utter impossibility of convincing
Kirk of her identity, even had it been
wise to do so. On -that point she de
termined to be silent.
“I thought you knew my name,” she
ventured, “or you would scarcely have
brought me here.”
That was a poser; but Ferdinand
Kirk was equal to it.
“Mly dear young lady, you are valua
ble to me because of that power you ap
pear to hold over the Falconers,” he
said, smiling. ’’You see, I am perfectly
frank about it.”
“Y’ou are a most amazing man,” said
Rutli, la.ughing in spite of herself. “I
will see Mr. Falconer,” she added.
“My dear young lady, a word of warn-
ig,” broke In Kirk, eagerly, as she was
going toward the door. “Let me plead
my own cause; let me suggest to you
that I have taken charge of you at a
time when you were homeless, and when
there appeared no prospect of your be
ing able to find a friend. I would not.,
wish to insist upon my own claim to
consideration; but I a#i a poor man, and
there may be money in this. Don't tell
Air. Falconer too much; leave l.t, if possi
ble, to me to deal with him and with
his father.”
“Oh! I won’t forget y<nir kindness,”
said Ruth, gratefully, for she had be
gun to feel already almost an affection
for this queer little man. “And as for
Mr. Martin JFaiconer—”
“Yes?” he asked, eagerly,
“Well, he shall know no more about
me than you do,” she added.
Then he certainly vnon't know much,”
'Tl\ere is a connection between us you
do not understand, and I will not ex
plain,” she said, steadily, “and it con
cerns your father. Are you working for
him in tills matter—or any matter?”
“Heaven forbid!” he exclaimed, almost
violently; and she w’ondered at the sud
den whitness of his face. “I have noth
ing common with my father.”
Site held out her hand to him quickly,
and * lie grasped it; be laughed almost
boyishly as they stood in that attitude,
looking into each other’s eyes. “Why
did you slip away from the inn in such
a strange fashion?” he asked. ”1 must
have slept more heavily titan I should
have done, to let you pcss me like that.”
“There seems to he no escape for you,
nevertheless,” she Iaugsied.
“And I am nut to ftnow your name?”
I10 asked.
She shook her head.
“I wonder if you umserstand how great
a power you seem to hold over me. I
wonder if you know how naturally I seem
to turn to you, before anyone else, in
the great trouble ot wnlch i have
spoken?” ,
“You are holding my band, Air. Fal
coner,” she reminded him, gently; and
he laughed, gave the hand a squezze,
and let it go.
“Promise me one thing, at least,” he
said, impulsively. “Promise me that you
will not slip jway again, without letting
me know where I may find you.”
She hesitated for a moment; then nod
ded slowly. “I'll promise that,” she re
plied. “And I’ll give you one part of
my name, at least— not that you may
call me by it, but that you may think
of me sometimes, as i hope you will, and
may know by what name to think of
me. You may call m. Ruth.’’
“The sweetest name in all the world
—•Ruth,” he said.
The door had been opened softly, and
the head of Fer'Jinaad Kirk had been
thrust round it. Now. whether it hap-
spoke with what degree of calmness he
could muster.
“Capstick told me that thjs thing—
that thing you hold there—meant thou
sands of pounds to him; and those thou
sands were in all probability, as far as I
could judge, to come from J:ohn Falcon
er. Now you claim the thing. Do you
mean that you are to get the thousands
from Falconer?”
“Didn’t I tell yo-u that I had a claim
against Air. John Falconer?” she a’slfiPJ,.
evasively.
"Yes, I know; but that can't be the
same claim as Capstick would have.
Capstlck's a rascal; Ca'pstick spoke of |
bloedin- Falconer.”
“Mr. Kirk,” she said at last, desper
ately, “have you any suspicion at all as
to who I am?”
He shook Ills head. %
I “You, who have heard so much alrpadv
Worn tills man Capstick. do you suspect
nothing?”
He shook his head again, but more
slowly and with less decision.
“Think hard, Mr. Kirk.”
“I’m thinking',”' he said, with a puzzled
frown. “In the first place, Capstick
smokes clga’rs and drinks too m'hch on
the strength of a certain squeezing pro
cess he is to exercise upon Falconer;
and that squeezing process is by reason
of a woman; and that miniature had
something to do with that woman. Yet
you say it's yours?”
“Certainly it is mine,” she replied.
“The name of the woman concerning
whom Capstick seemed to be in some
doubt as to whether she was alive or
dead was Ruth Arkett ”
"Ruth,” she reminded him; and saw
him start, and look at her -moire fixedly.
replied Kirk, as he opened t#le door for i pened that Air. Kirk guessed that for
her.
Having seen Tier enter the room where
in Alartin was waiting, Mr. Ferdinand
Kirk delicately retired to that part of
the premises dignified by him under the
title of 'The garden”—an unsavory yard,
wherein a few plants in pots had long
since given up the struggle for exist
ence. Here Air. Kirk paced up and
down, building airy castles much higher
than the houses which shut him in.
Ruth Arkett faced her visitor with
mixed feelings. For a moment she seem
ed to see again tile man who had sprung
suddenly in to her rescue on that night
at the inn, near the village of Elderton,
In Berkshire; the next she viewed him
coldly as the man who bad probably
come to spy upon her from his father,
Fortunately for his cause, however, his
first words upset that id^a completely.
“You wished to see me?” she said, In
a low voice.
“Yes.*' he replied, “T followed you heie.
I've been waiting in the street, trying
to make up my mind to come and see
you. Won’t you tell rue something about
yourself?”
“Why should 1?" s».e asked. "Don't
you understand, Air. Falconer, that you
and 1 met—very fortunately for me, but
quite by accident; that you were able
to do me a service, for winch I can
never be sufficiently grateful. Now—by
an accident again—we cave met once
more. Why should you trouble about
me?”
“There is something more than ac
cident in it,” said Martin, earnestly. "1
told you my name on that night of our
first meeting; but directly you heard it
and knew that 1 was the son of John
Falconer, you refused to tell me
yours. Nlow at our second meet
ing, l fiind you standing watching the
ruins of my father's office, showing
that in some mysterious way you are
connected with us. Oil, please don't
think that this is mere Idle curiosity,
lie went on, earnestly” “I wouldn’t have
you think that for the world. But what
are you doing here, and who is this man
who is looking after you?”
"His name is Ferdinand Kirk, and 1
never met him -before today,” she said,
quietly.
He stared tit her in astonishment.
“Never met him before today? Do you
realize what you are saying? You make
me feel so helpless; you puzzle me so
much. This r*an told me that you were
his ward; yet you have only just met
him ”
"Do you realize, Mr. Falconer, that
you are cross-examinmg me?” asked
Ruth, quietly. “Doesn't it occur to you
that you may be presuming a little on
the accidental help you gave to a
strange woman—help that you might
have given to anyone?”
He bowed slightly, and moved towards
the door. “I beg your pardon,” he said
“I am sorry you should think that; I had
a deeper reason for coming here. Why
you should be suspicious of me I don';
know. You interest me more than any
woman I have ever met—and I wanted
to be your friend.”
“If I could -be sure or that—” she be
gan, incautiously; and diet fad herself.
He moved swiftly to her side. “If 1
tell you, dear Lady from Ntowhere, that
I am aa hopeless and almost as friend
less as you are—”
"You?” She looked at him quickly.
“The son of John Falconer—friendless?”
“Yes," he replied. “I am perhaps the
most unhappy man in all the world, al
though I cannot teR - you the reason.
That has drawn me to you; because it
almost seems that you and I stand in
need of each other, just as you stood In
need of me that night at the Inn. There
is a reason why I cannot tell you what
some vital reason the girl could not dis
close her complete identity, or whether
Air. Kirk felt that the time had arrived
when lie niigli\ absolutely appropriate
this mysterious girl to himself, it is
quite Impossible 10 say. But no sooner
did lie hear that name given than he
immediately steped into the room, made
an elaborate little bow, and finished the
matter then and there.
“Ruth. sir. is one name—and you may
write the other down ‘Kirk,’ ” he said.
“I have already told you that this lady
Is my ward; being my ward, she has a
right to my name. Adoption's the word,
sir; and Aliss Ruth Kirk is much obliged
to you for your frienujly hiterest in her.”
Ruth was silent under that new chris
tening. She felt that it had, in a fash
ion, solved a difficulty, and saved the
answering of further awkward questions.
As Air. Kirk did not seem inclined to
leave them alone together again, Alartin
Falconer presently took his leave, being
shown to the door with every possible
mark of respect by Ferdinand Kirk.
When lie oame back ino the room the
girl faced him with a question.
“Why have you given me that name—
your own name?” she demanded.
“My dear young lady. yK>u must have
a name of some sort,” he retorted, smil
ingly. “You object to giving me jour
own; therefore I give you the highly re
spectable one T bear myself. If you
object to that, perhaps we'd better call
your young friend back, and you can
tell him wha’t the real one is.”
He made a. movement toward the door
as if to carry out liis threat. She
stopped him instantly. “You mustn't do
that." she said. “Mr. Alartin Falconer,
of all petoiple must not know what my
name is.”
“Mystery on mystery,” said Ferdinand
Kirk, shaking his liend at her. “You
know, my dear, we shall never get on
like this; we shall be taken by the atro
cious Caipstick at all points. You tell
me you have a claim on John Falconer;
'out yo uwon’t even lot me know what
that claim is. Well. I won’t worry you;
there is time enough yet. In one point
at least I’ve got the better of the evil-
minded Capstick,” ho added, with a
chuckle.
‘What have you done?"' she asekd.
With some slyness Air. Ferdinand Kirk
drew from his pocket the miniature that
had already changed hands more than
once. Laying it on the palm of his hand,
he held it out for her admiration.
“There, my dear Miss Ruth Kirk, what
do you think of tha’t?” lie asked.
The temptation was too great. In an
instant Ruth had snatched the precious
thing from his paim, and was holding
it clasped defiantly against her breast.
Mr. Kirk looked at her 'for a moment
in amazement; then smiled feebly, and
held out his hand for it.
"You shouldn't play tricks, my dear,”
he said. "You quite startled me for a
moment.”
“I meant to startle vou,” she retorted.
“This belongs to me.”
“To you?” He looke_ t her with his
mouth wide open; then looked round the
room, as though appealing to the fur
niture to take particular note of this
remarkable* young woman. “But I stole
it from Cap-stick,” he added at last.
“I’m not Blaming you for that. I'd
have stolen it myself from him, if I'd
had the chance. It belongs to me; it was
my mother's portrait.”
_ Ferdinand Kirk sa't dov;.n and ran his
fingers through his hair, and looked at
her; got up and (paced about the floor
for a moment or jtwo. keeping his eyes
always upon her, as . though he could
never tee enough of her. Finally, stop
ping opposite her Indignant figure, where
she stand clasping the miniature, he
“Ruth Arkett,” he repeated, slowly as his chief piece of evidence? I de
clare to you. Air. Kirk, I never saw The
man in -my life until I met him today
| at the scene of the fire, and saw him
looking at this.” She held out the min
iature as she spoke.
j “We haven't got to go into these ques
tions now, my dear,” said_ Ferdinand,
much excited. “What we have to re
member is that foir some extraordinary
j reason Capstick believes you to be dead,
and we know you to be very much ally*
Alore than that, that you have a claim
i upon liis master, and that we must pro
ceed to enforce that claim, whatever
it may be. For the present, let u s al
low Air. Capstick -to say that you are
dead; let this new Ruth Kirk rise up
from your ashes.”
“Ashes?”
For a moment Ferdinand Kirk and the
girl faced each other in that shabby
room—looked at each other with faces
■that were blanching. It was Ruth who
skolce first, and she was trembling vio
lently.
“Mr. Kirk, the woman I sent to pledge
tiiis knew the place to which I wag to
have been induced to
and doubtfully. “She was coming to see
John Falconer; she had threatened him
in some way. Yes, I remember Capstick
told me that. But, of course, being
dead, she couldn’t do much harm. Thai's
the point I don't understand.”
“But Ruth Arkett is not dead," said
Ruth, slowly.
He looked at her in perplexity, and
slowly seemed to repeat the words with
his lips, although he made no sound.
“I am Ruth Arkett,” she added, quietly.
For a moment or two Ferdinand Kirk
stood staring at her. Once or twice he
opened his mouth as if to speak, but
checked himself, and closed his lips
again. Then finally he went up' io her,
and gently touched her hand, as though
to make sure that what he touched was
real flesh and 'blood; then at last, as bis
•mind cleared of doubts, he began to
speak and to question rapidly.
"But Capstick came here, and told
ma that (Ruth Arkett was dead; brought
with him that miniature which you say
Is yours. Where did lie get that?”
‘il don't know,” said Ruth. “I gave
It
I wanted money; and she never came
to some one to pledge for me when! , had arranged thaT I
- . „ j would meet John Falconer there; and
' Dach ” . ... 1 t'naf nlara was burnt down last night.
“She?” Kirk turned his eyes quickly ^at p 1 s this ,._ she heU1 ouC
on her. “You entrusted this to a worn- f h * P minia ture again-“as evidence of my
an, and we find it next m the hands of, J person who held it
Capstick; and by it Capstick expects to, J™ wa8 P tUe woman Nance
Air. Kirk,
What do you think has i before Capstick .
1 Ryder, to wnom I gate it.
what docs it mean?”
“It looks as though there has oeen a
blunder somewhere,” whispered Ferdi
nand Kirk. “I'm afraid, my dear, that
murder's the word!”
(TO BE CCXNTINtTUED.)
raise to money,
become of the other woman?”
“I don't know what to think,” said
Ruth. “I thought at first that she had
stolen it. But why should this man
Capstick assert so positively that T am
dead, and appear to have this miniature
CRAFTY HUNTER WASPS
Their Victims.
Continued from Second Page.
AND i tunnel in the ground, which has a thick ! Court, and tjie box must have been jn!te<j
white tapestry lining. It is closed at I out of the car when he was motoring
| the top with a semi-circular door. This | ‘"ne^ke^a ftfw °more questions, ex-
ls neatly beveled to fit tightly, and is j | l0rte( j Parker to invest the money wise-
houses. They are after the house flies,
and surely they should be made quite
welcome to all they can catch. It is all
a matter of taste, you see.
Even the most mighty among the
spider family are not exempt from the
pursuit of the hunter wasp. In our
southwestern states, we have a species
of the famous tarantula spider. It Is
the giant of all our spiders, and is fear
ed by all of its own species, and by
hosts of smaller insects. But it has its
day of reckoning when it finds itself
pursued by the large and beautiful wasps
known as the “tarantula killer,” in local
parlance, and by scientists as the Pep-
sis formosa. The b’ig spider no sooner
perceives its enemy than it becomes
panic stricken, and tries to hide
wherever it can find shelter.
This wasp prefers the nice, fat taran
tula to any other prey, and is constantly
on the watch for one of these tid-bits.
It regularly sets out to hunt especially
for this one victim, passing scornlully by-
all inferior game. It is a nervous, bust
ling, hustling creature, always in a hur
ry, never quiet or restful, and when
running along tlie ground, which is its
favorite method of hunting, it stretches
its wings and vibrates them, incessantly
Its bright eyes are ever on the alert,
and the instant its prey is sighted, it
rises in the air, anj circles above the
terrified tarantula, rushes frantically
here and there, in the desperate effort to
hi'de away. Failing in this, it often, like
one driven to bay, rises on its bind legs,
and shows signs of fight.
STUNNING THE VICTIM.
made of alternate layers of silk and
earth. The latter is always placed on
the outer surface, when the soil 'is bare
of concealing vegetation. But when
there is green growth near by, the tube.
1s carefully sunk right in the midst of
it, of malice prepense.
It has been proven that all this care
ful defense and concealment is directed
against # the spider's special enemy, the
wasp, and here the spider hides during
the day, leaving its castle only- at night,
to become the hunter, instead of the
hunted. Yet eve„n so, it is sometimes
captured 'by an eariy flying wasp. Some
times, also, the big tarantula killer, run-
runing along the ground, finds its door,
and tears it open. That is the end of
the poorttrap door spider, for it is ruth
lessly dragged forth, stung, and borne
away to become food for the unborn ta
rantula killer.
This big wasp loves the trap door well
night as much as the tarantula spider it
self. It, too, is plump and fat, witli a
soft, smooth body that invites attack, and
affords rich food for the coming larva of
its captor.
ly. and then dismissed him.
That same evening he dined witli Mr.
Carson at the Carlton in the highest
spirits, and Air. Carson amazed him with
liis grasp of public affairs, for he talked
familiarly of this -ana that and the other
and actually displayed inside knowledge
of the grave questions which were then
agitating the cabinet.
“Aly dear Carson, perhaps I was a lit
tle hasty in discouraging you from a po
litical career. Now, about that private
secretaryship?”
Air. Carson shook his head.
He said he had no ambition.
Only signs, however. There is really no
fight in it, and the eager wasp knows ( forgotten. And while he was about
fetched away the dispatch "box.
JUDE CARSON, ESQ., ROGUE.
Continued from First Page.
serve you in other ways I shall be glad
to do so. Goodby!”
He had talked himself into a thorough
good humor.
Air. Carson went out crestfallen.
The Hon. Rupert and his secretary
went into the adjoining room to inter
view the deputation of bankers.
Air. -Carson returned to the minister's
room to fetch Iris gloves, iwhich he had
he
this quite well. Waiting a favorable
moment, she darts upon her victim, her
body curved almost to a circle, and
thrusts in her sting, always, if possible,
in the soft abdomen of the trembling
spider. Usually, the latter is at once
paralyzed, but sometimes a second, or
even a third sting is necessary. As
soon as her victim Is motionless, tne
wasp seizes it in her claws and man
dibles, bears it to a hole previously pre
pared, thrusts it inside, deposits an egg
011 its body, and then proceeds to seal
up the hole. Only one tarantula is
needed for the food of the coming larva,
because it is so big and fat. Anj here
in does the tarantula killer show her
wisdom and economy of labor. The
mud-dauber and her ilk, satisfied with
smaller prey, make many trips and cap
tures 'before their cells are ready to
seal up.
it is a curious study to note how the
systematic pursuit of the spider family
; by tile hunter wasps, continued through
countless generations, lias developed the
defensive instinct in these hunted in
sects. We have seen how (he big taran
tula trembles and flees at the approach
of Its dreaded enemy. Then there are
the orbweavers, the makers of the beau
tiful wheel-shaped webs, that we all ad
mire and wonder at. We find these busy
spiders setting forth, as the sun goes
down, to spin their viscid spirals, sus
pending them from low trees or bushes.
Their work finished, and it is marvelous
how soonThis point is reached, they may
be found waiting, head downward,
against the central mat, with legs
stretched wide across the circular space
which is bare of the 'beaded strands.
The owners of the» webs are patiently
waiting for a dainty meal of the night
dying moths to fall into their we btrap,
and they have no fear of doing so right
out in the open, in full view of the passers-
by, because they know that their special
enemy, the wasp, does not fly at night.
But the moment daylight appears, they
vanish. Where? Into corners, crevices,
burrows, under spouts, under eaves, any
where and everywhere, so that they are
hidden away. And there they rest dur
ing the wasp hunting time, from sunrise
to sunset, snugly touched away in tough
silken tubes and tents. But even thus
their foes often find them, and drag them
forth.
But in the trap door spider, we find
yet more elaborate protective prepara
tions, if not, in truth, the very highest
plane ever reached in this direction
among the lower animals. The home
nest of the trap door spider .is a tuibular
III.
L
Send your money to a FAR-A-'VAY FACTORY or Mail Order House,
and pay $5,00 additional Freight?
Manufacture the Golden Eagle Buggy here in Atlanta, Ga., and sell di
rect to consumer at lowest wholesale-price.
You the $5.00 freight and $16.00 Dealers’ Profit. Also, save
you on a $12.50 Harness—our price is $6.49>
, Can buy direct from us; because we manufacture our own Buggies, in
- our own Factory, here at home.
MONEY Is Money, and our GUARANTEE of saving, and our Guarantee’ol
Satisfaction is the REAL money to you.
GOLOEN EAGLE BUGGY CO.
158 & 160 Edge wood Ave..
ATLANTA. GA.
Mail this Coupon for Catalogue No. 57.
Name..................
P. O
The Hon. Rupert Algernon Strongbow
Caws did not miss his dispatch box till
many hours later, and then for the life
of him he could not iremember accurate
ly when bed had it last. Not is this
surprising in view of the strenuous life
he lived. He was a new minister. His
head was filled with innumerable new
anxieties. 'He was such a glutton for
work that nothing was outside the spiiere
of liis own cognizance. He was prepared
of his own unaided wisdom to reform
the entire British constitution within the
r.ext month or two, and under these cir
cumstances he could hairdly be expected
to remember when and where he had last
handled that particular dispatch box.
But when he remembered the contents
of that box his 'being was chilled to Its
very marrow. What would happen if It
had fallen into the hands of some un
principled person? What would his col
leagues in the cabinet say when they
heard of its loss? How would they char
acterize such carelessness? What was
likely to toe their attitude toward him,
who, on all questions and all occasions,
was rready to set. them right? Dared he,
In fact, make his loss known to them?
lie shuddered as he thought of all these
things. It was a horrible time, those
two days in which the box was rnissin
but the suspense helped him to a juster
appreciation of his own relative unim
portance, and it was restored to him on
the day after the appearance of his ad
vertisement offering £1,000 for its recov
ery, in the following circumstances:
It should he stated that the advertise
ment laid special stress upon the fact
that no questions would be asked if the
box were returned, and its contents in
tact
He was at breakfast, but he was not
eating anything.
He was reading his letters, and among
them a letter from Air. Jude Carson, in
viting him to dine at the Carlton on any
day he cared to fix. Air. Carson wrote:
“I owe you a debt of gratitude for dis
couraging m e from entering upon a ca
reer for which I now recognize I am en
tirely unsuited. Add to that debt by
giving me the pleasure of your company
at dinner, etc.”
Although pleased with the tone of the
letter, in his anxiety about his dispatch
box, the mere idea of food was repug
nant to him, and he had just decided to
refuse when his butler announced that a
poorly clad workingman, who gave ids
name as Parker, wanted to gee him about
the advertisement.
“Show him in at once!” he shouted.
Parker came in carrying a percel wrap
ped up in a piece of soiled newspaper.
“Have you ,got the box?” cried the U.011.
Rurperl.
“Well, sir, I doan’t really Jinow if this
is what you want—’’
The minister broke in upon this slow,
uncouth speech by snatching the parcel
from Parker's arms and unplicxing it in
feverish haste.
It was wonderful! It was the box!
It was stained with mud and dirt, but
it was uninjured. It had not been opened
and its contents were Intact. Hi s emo
tion of thankfulness was so profound
that he wrung Parker's hand for three
consecutive minutes, and never thought
of asking how he had come by it until
after he had paid over the amount of the
reward.
“I found it in a ditch on the Bram-
leigh road, at the fur end of the Spin
ney coming out from Bramleigh, sir.”
That eplained everything.
The Hon. Rupert lived at Bramleigh
MUSIC IN AFJEUCA.
(From The Pittsburg Gazette.)
American manufacturers of musical In*
| struments have manifested an interest in
the South African trade, and one of our
j consuls has supplied them with an inter-
; esting review of the field, which is at
I present dominated by Germany and Great
| Britain. It is pointed out that while the
| war and droughts have had a bad ef-
i feet on the colonies and the purchase of
I luxuries for the home, such as pianos
and orjims. over $1,000,000 is being spent
annually, from the tCane to Zambesi,
upon musical intruments. The Transvaal
of late iias become a large purchaser of
musical goods. Where in 1902 $109,316
was thus spent, the figures Increased to
$176,120 in 1903. and in 1904, the grand
total of $310,485 was expended. It is
points.* out that this indicates somewhat
the permanence of home making against
the prevalent theory that South Aft" ’J.
is only a transient abiding place since the
discovery of rich minerals.
All competitors have so far been out
stripped by Germany, but the United
Slates has increased its trade fourfold
In the past two years. IT? TiOtvever, en
joys but one-fourth of the trade of Ger
many. Great Britain and Germany hat e
the honors almost equally divided in the
case of pianos, though American makes
are said to he gaining in public favor,
and by observing the suggestions of deal
ers sales are bound to increase. To do
this, manufacturers must study the cli
mate and manufacture instruments that
will stand the humid atmosphere of Cape
Colony and the dry. hot atmosphere of
the Northern colonies. Instruments must
he made strong and the timber seasoned
to a degree that will withstand the heat
of the tropics. Sounding' boards, espe
cially. must lie seasoned to perfection,
else Urey will split in a short time. There
is. the consul advises, a field In the
Transvaal for the high-priced as well as
the cheaper make of instruments. The
United 'States has a virtual monopoly of
the organ trade. In the first four months
1904 1,790 organs, valued at $140,000.
were shipped for Africa from the port of
New York.
— ■**
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Heartily Recommend C,«u„’ Catarrh
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y °»\i* laVe Catarrh * an d I can cure It
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Marshall, Mich.
»