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'■ \ ' , . CHAPTER XV.—(Continued.) The next evening he discovered that he had to fill an engagement at the residence of the senior member of Bose and Com pany—the same senior member being pop ular in society, chiefly, by reason of his handsome daughters, of which fact An- uette was fully aware. For a week or two MUx curbed his con versation when with Annette. He was, it Is true, always the same jovial young gen tleman, but the girl missed the soft and tender words of love that he was wont to pour into her ear. At times, too, he ap peared absolutely melancholy, and the more Annette attempted to rouse him the more dejected he appeared to become, un til at last she really did grow quite anx ious. This sort of thing could not go on for ever, but it continued until the last night of the two weeks allotted to Max by Mrs. Dupont, when he went to pay. his detour to Rosedale. customary visit to Annette. 1 Th “ He found her alone. senger! The man was still running, but soon gave up the chase—for his hat blew off, and with it a red wig, followed by the red beard, which fell off as if by magic. The man who was left, after the disappearance of these slight “extras,” Max easily recognized as his old enemy, De Watts. De Watts halted, turned around, and was soon lost to view. It was impossible for Brett to leave the train now. Indeed, he could not break his journey without doing injustice to his env ployers. So he quietly sought his seat, and during the balance of that day busied himself with laying nlia for the future. ■Among these contemplated projects was a Visit to Rosedale in the near future. Max completed his business in San Francisco by the end of two weeks, and then found that he could spare a couple of days on his homeward journey for a Here the poor fellow was attacked by a terrible At of coughing, to which it was painful to listen. ■ “Pass that .medicine," ho said, as he slowly recovered his breath. "Now, Max, draw up that stool and sit down on it and then listen while I tell you some thing.” Max did ns he was bidden, and Si Bell proceeded. “I built tills here cabin after Sarah Browne was murdered. I was kinder gone on Sarah, you know, and I felt terri ble blue over the way she was treated. First I thought I’d quit the gulch, but concluded I wouldn’t. But I got away from the boys some, by.coming up here One day I was grubbing up the root of a tree I had cut down, and what should I And but a little tin box buried about two feet under the ground. I took it into the cabin and broke it’open, but only found a lot of green papers. I ain’t much of a scholar, as you well know, but I managed to Agure out yo'rtr name on one of the papers. So says I to myself, ‘Mnx has done me a good turn more than once, so I’ll take care of these far him.’ Lift die up a -bit, Max. Bight below my head, under the mattress, you'll And them dock- erments.” Max produced the papers, untied the red tape that was around them,, and, to bis utmost astonishment, found them to be twenty-twp one-thousand dollar bonds, registered in hls'naiae, besides a number of railroad stock certiAcates—the, whole aggregating twenty-four thousand Ave hundred dollars! With them he found n letter signed “De Watts,” which he com menced to read. But Silas Interrupted: “Are they worth anything, Max?” “Yes, 81, as you shall And out, You will be well cared for, Si, if there’s grati tude in my nature.” “Thanks, my boy—you’re very good— but—but—I guess it's too late for money —to—to—help me.” The sua was sinking behind the Bocky Mountains on a close, sultry day in Au- service o? your company and head for Mexico. And now for the favor I would ask of you. You remember once promis ing to dq me a favor? It la this. . Tell hey—prove to'her—that I did'not die the disgraceful death that was reported. Try to raise me a little in her estimation. It will not hnrrn yon, and the thought of your good word to come will help me, out for the rest of my days. So, when I am dead, tell her, if you will, all that yon know, and tell her. too, flint I never ceas ed to regret how I justly forfeited her lore, esteem and companionship.” There was a slight pause,' which was broken by Spencer. “Edward Hand ford, for Emily’s sake you will promise all I have asked?” “I promise—I swear it,” said Hand- ford. As their hands unclasped Handford’s mind wandered off as if to gather up the threads of the strange web of circum stances that had culminnted in this In terview. When he released his thoughts from their service, Spencer was gone. When Spencer left the oAice of the railroad president, he descended to the street and was soon wending hla way to ward the depot, happier that be had light ened his mind of what had lately been a heavy burden. As ho walked along the busy thoroughfare he suddenly felt a hand resting upon his shoulder, and before he had time to turn about, a familiar voice whispered in bis ear—“Hnrry Spencer!” He turned, startled and nlnrmed, and stood face to face with his old chum, Max Brett. For an instant the two men gazed at each other in surprise—Spencer because he had been recognized, Mnx on account of the sickly appearance of his friend. Spencer was tho first to speak. “Brett,” said he, “under ordinary cir cumstances I should be glad to see you. As it is, I must confess I am sorry that wc have met to-day. Many of my ac tions and this last speegn of mine demand explanations, so let us move off to ecAne Even then the poor fellow was once ; ^ remote ’ placei where we nee d not fear It was precisely 8 o’clock when he gust. A score or so of the “old timers” knocked at the door of the Spencers’ of Rosedale were seated upon or lounging snartments At 10 o’clock he met Mrs. about the “verandah” in front of Oilli- Dnpont in 'the hallway. His face.beam-! cuddy’s, smoking highly seasoned^ clay ed, for he was actually laboring under the P Pc*jr cigars. The boys were chiefly de usion that he was the happiest man' dlscuw.ing the dance that bad been held .. | In Qlllicuddy’s “Annex” on the previous “Yon are a wise counsellor,” he said, evening* Rosedale had Ranged consid- . f ... , erably in ’two years. Where formerly * y y ’ . I three women held full sway, at leaat three!' r*FTAPTPR XVI score now divided the honors, and, gs one „ _ j hi, nrlze.' immediate consequence, dancing had come m relinSnSh fusion ia the Andy Jackson Gulch, of Tipmonnl nossesslon for So eager were the miner* for the fun that the pleaaureofp P presence dances were held even during the heated pressing business demanded hi. presence ^ ^ Au(u , t n »Tt I. . wa 4nrld Indeed ” said he to “Did you see how St Beil brightened up “It . a hara woria. indeed .mQ new him'to dance hl a foe « toio rtSe .with her?” said Ted Neale, as he slowly, and prepared o * • . ’ arose from a seat on one of the verandah •iTJKS-'KSf'iS’3T-8K' S - “» — ?«>• "siTl didn’t. Why should I?” sharply Ueve the mon y 5 g replied Dud Sterling, who was somewhat '55S,5£rS1^l8RB?3 «*- - «- »—«*• o.M. mS‘ Si .f. 2TW5S 8X. - rsMsirsss ££“ long this man watched Max and noted his nobody. hut Brett gave not the' Just then Ted eyed n stranger coming •fightest° heed to bhm The afternoon up the atreet-imdoubte.lly from the sta- waned and a. the Opening shades of «on on the new railroad some three mile. thing, rte*'trli > n , Idrc 1 kened tl i e ts 0 Ipecd y n r nd ' <‘A stranger, boys!” he cried. “And he’s more overtaken by one of his coughing spells, which left him terribly exhausted, and when Mnx returned to Gllficuddy'a, about midnight, lie carried word to the boya that old Si Beil was no more. Except for the death of the faithful Silas, Max felt extremely gratified with the result of his visit to Rosedale. Ha waa morally certain that De Watts had buried the bonds, and the letter which ho bad found wrapped up with them furnish ed him with valuable information and evi dence to be used at soma future occasion. He returned,, to Chicago, converted hla bonds into cash, bought and furnished a pleasant home, and Well, by a strange coincidence, on a certain October day, when the New York papers announced a marriage that had taken place at Albany, the Chicago dailies contained n notice as follows: "Married—At Grace Chnpel, by the Rev. X. Y. Silver, Max Brett and Annette Spencer, both of this city.” pace. Max amused himself by reading — initials and numbers on the cars, but soon! upon the new arrival, but he wr apper- grew weary of hi. self-imposed task, as ently, a stranger to them nil. Suddenly, the train was a long one. A. the caboose! however, Ted Neale rushed forward and was nearing he again looked out, but this gasped the stranger’. arm, which he time at the roof of the freight cars instead *hook a. If bad been a pump hand.*. ? f aman within T/ateru to hto' PolKha^d’y^ on?'oir ^vny^lnr band. The freight train increased it. Then, .till gripping Brett’, hand, he tnnt- j _h „i r tmmrviintnlv that nar- e d to the assemblage and said: “Goni.e- ti^ar^r waa^oX part M^ SSt I -»e to Introduce my old friend, then Brett obtained, to the twilight, a . Colonel Max Brett. A few years ago lie fairly good view of the trainmans face. I was the^ial corner stone, so to speak. He gave one lusty shout, but the noise of 'hoold gnlcb. Now, boys, cignrt round the moving train drowned bis voice, and , ~ 1 “ n me - ... . , a minute later the man was far out of • After an Interchange of ctoUWaj, as • i f I practiced in the far West, Max sllpiied * nt was hhnl" said Max, in so loud a ;>way. This action was prompted by some . voice that It attracted the attention of bis i?.(?. rm 5 t . lon : wbl *P ere d in bis ear by Mr, fellow passfeugers, especially the red-bead- ^ A™ the next regular station the express 1 » was now quite dark but it was waited several minutes, nnd Max seized an ? Brett .If 1 i hat J’, e the opportunity to investigate a little. The could thoroughly enjoy a walk. A gentle man he had seen standing on the roof of mountain breeze was fluttering down the the freight car was Henry Richards, or. valley, swaying the branches of the great more properly, Harry Spenchr. Brett * r f, e "’ whlle *•&■«*■«»*# Colorado s stepped up to the ticket agent and inquir- wild flowers Ailed the air. Max took pro- *d for the name of the coadnctor of the jl.ely “>e same road which De Watt* nart tost freight train that bad gone east. t flowed on the night of the murder w aich “John Silverthorn.” replied the agent. I had. »» unavenged. But he did “Hm!” muttered Max, “I suppose you’re not 8» all the way that De Watt* had pretty sure of that? Sorry to trouble traversed, for, when he entered the woods, you, but who are the brukemen?" be turned off and directed his footstep. The man with the red hair had followed ‘»ward an old cabin in a Clearing, on the Max and now moved up close, so as to door of which be gently rapped, hear all. The agent gave Max a lfst of the In answer to a feeble voice, which bade nameh, but bis friend’s was not among blm “«.me in, ’ Max opened the door and them: Max was about to offer some other f “««««• Upon a Hckrty table was a Suggestion, when tho agent spoke again— ,b11ow uaP^le. buttitoB dimly, and an old *Ut me see, now; there was another revolver, and .Notched upon a couch was man.with a common sort of name, but to * •ave my neck I can’t think of it.” * i wall. Brett picked np the candle and Here the engineer gave the warning approached the prostrate form, whereat ring of the bell and the conductor shouted ‘be man turned slowly and recognized his ** "W^°tt r Richardsr’ asked Max. ~ ‘ “Max Brett-at Ia»tr’ shouted the man “Yea, that’s the imrae—Henry Richards. *» be tried to raise htmMlf into a sitting ^retUn^to^xidtemeut’had forgotten Max t.ktogone of^h. all about flic train, and so, apparently, bto gtafcp, but don t^get had the man with the red hair. Without 3rD * *** * , , , „ # w U»ing another ¥ cond. Max rushed after “Xe». oneofniy baddays Biit when the frain fol^ed by the other. - Brett increased his speed and was sue- ‘ *7hto!? ^‘«me to-i,. „ v m ceofnl to the V M». Something ^^^sssiegmsist 1 ^ the •tandii car., w -___ 1T . 4^^^'of*the n othre dltow ££ !a cW «*' afor e to ’ morraw nisl,, • ,, CHAPTER XVII. On the Arst day that Edward Handford sat in his oflice after bis happy vacation, a messenger annonncea that oao of the trainmen wished to see the president of the road. Handford, supposing the man had some grievance to lay before him, ordered him to bo admitted. The man en tered, clad in the neat uniform adopted by brakemen on the road. Though his band* were blackened and hardened, they were small, while, his faco bore trhees of go'ojl breeding and gentle birth, though Ms eyes were sunken and hi* cheeks flushed. Handford recognized him in an Instil nt as tho hero who averted the catastrophe which so. nearly overtook the mall train between Prairie City and Big Creek. “Ah, you recognize me, Mr. Handford!” said the man,:a* Handford grasped-him warmly by the hand. "Then I shall doubt less secure tho favor I am come to a«k? I have a story to tell you. I am sick, very sick, although up till now I have been able to get around pretty well. The doc tor* now tell me I must cease working, aud the next thing, I suppose, I shall have to cease breathing. Year* of fast living in the old days and the sadden change to the hard out-door fife, have doue their work. I once told you my name was Henry Richards.' That is a name, how* evor, which I assumed to avoid recogpl- tlon. My actual nnme is Spencer—Harry Spencer, reported dead in San Francisco a year ago. Ttiat report was-circulated by.sbme of my, enemieis for, their own pe cuniary benefit, and I bnvo never thought It worth while to contradict it nntil now. Do net be alarmed, Mr. Handford. I am not a blackmailer, mraml here for effect. Before I say any more, lot me satisfy you that I am no impostor. Hero is my watch chain. If yon opon it you will see Emily’s picture and a strand of her hair. In this old pocketbook, too, U a copy of our mar- raise certificate—which I now destroy. Furthermore in the package which I handed yotrsome year* ago, are all of Emily’s letters to me, and a letter from me to her, which I wish her to rend— some day. “Now, Mr. Handford, I wisli to repeat I am not here to reopen old sores or to create fresh mischief. I respect you, and bear yon no malice. You are, I know, a brave’man and. I think, t good man. You won my wife honorably—both of you believing me to be dead. I am dend, so cially, and wish to remain so. That brings me to the atom object of this Interview. One man,, possibly two, will annoy yon with threat* to produce mo. Their scheme will be, of coarse, an attempt to black mail yon. Fear nothing; Emily and yon will never again see -m*» - We both love Emily, Mr. Handford; then let ns swear titot no word of my dxtofenee Whan ever cause her a moment’s untwine*#.’’ Tho two men Shook hands, bnt the offi cial's emotion. preventsd him from otter ing a word. Spencer continued: “I blame no one but myself for the past. I wag a bad fellow the most of my life. I am merely down on the old pay-roll for the wages of sin. I still (ova Emily, bnt the best way jn which I can prove .that lord 1* by keeping out of her way, which I shall surely do. Twice.I journeyed to England just to catch a glimpse .of her and—we)l, I am glad she jstmarrMd to a man who will care for hor. I hope she will be happy; I trust.you will both be, very happy. To-day I shall leave the vigorous frame, the mlgronne aspect of which especially strikes those who behold her for the first time in these, her “choir days.” It wa« reported how, when Frlnee Albert was dying, he roused himself from a period of wan dering to turn with Ineffable love to Ills spouse nud sovereign, saying to her with a kiss, “Good little wife!” And when the Prince Consort was actually passing away, after those twenty-one yeans of wedded lmppluvss, it was told how the Queen bent over blm and whispered, “It Is your little wlfo," at which last words the nugel of death stayed bis hand, while once agnlu the dear eyes opened and the dying lips smiled. But though tbto be so, no one who has been honored by near ap proach to her Majesty, or lms ever tar ried In her presence, will fall to testify, to the extreme majesty of her bearing, mingled always with the most perfect grace and gentleness. Her voice has, moreover, always been pleasant and musical to hear and Is so now. The liand which holds sceptre of the seas Is the softest that can be touched; the eyes, which have grown dim with la bors of state for Euglaud, and with too frequent tears, are the kindest that can be seen. disturbance.' I “Very good:,” replied Max, “we will get into a cab t which wifi soon take us to my home, where more than one await* your doming." ; “Not to-day, not to-day,” answered Spencer, a* he endeavored to overcome his emotions. “Take me to a place where we dhnll be absolutely alone.” So'they turned .Into the’Palmer Home, where Mnx secured a private parlor, and, when tho door was closed, Brett said: “Harry, I have scoured half the world in ...search for you, though in doing so I merely continued the good work which your sister, now my wife,' commenced years ago. Now that you have material ized, I think you owo it to all of nz, not to mention yourself, to stay here and afford us the opportunity to set you on your fpet.” “Yes, Brett, I know. I know that I owe ao very much that it Is folly to think of ever paying my debts. Listen. Yon know how I loft my wife, In disgrace, be fore we had been married twenty-four hours. I was already estrangod from her friends and soma of .my own relative*. In less than a day I lost Emily's good will and esteem. Then, for a time, I lost all personal pride, making bad worse, until I saw that all hope of a reconcilia tion was hopeless—at least during John Snttorthwalte’s lifetime. So I came West and went to work ns a brakeinnn on the Great Occidental. Twice I saved enoi;gh money from my pay to take me over to England, but my fnther-ln-iaw took good care that I should not gain access to my wife. Shortly after my second trip I managed to do a small fnvor for Mr. Handford, of the Great Occidental— though to making a frlcml of that gentle man I made a bitter enemy of one of the engineers. The railroad work proving n lltth> too much for me, I located in Chi- engo and, ns you know, secured a position with your Arm. 1 left to the abrupt man ner, that you doubtless remember, be cause I wished to evade recognition by my mother and sister, I returned to my aid work on the railroad, at jririch I re * malned until to-day. I know everything —of my wife’s marriage to Handford and of your own pleasant relations with my sister. I am glad yqu are all happy— though 1 will not attempt to deny that I envy, oh, more than envy, you all the glad contentment of your lives. But I think I have buried some of the selfisbhesi of bygflne days, for I enn heartily .wish <for all of you long nnd happy lives. And why should I be)in that genuine wish ol mins hy bursting like n deadly bomb Into these home groups? You know—Hand- ford knows—the truth. Handford hni pledged hla word to secrecy; yon do like wise, brother Max, and, as you love my sister nnd pity me, let the knowledge ol my existence remnin buried in the dark est recesses of your mind. I passed your iiomo Inst night, nnd, If what I beheld through tho nncurtnlned window gave me a sharp twinge of pain, it also filled my heart with much Joy. There you were seated In your parlor with your wife by your side, while mother, snug in tier own nrmchalr, was sewing. Would it not be utmost cruelty in me to throw the shndow of my disgrace upon such a home—to re open old sores that nre fast healing, or, by my rude presence, to upset and break nsunder a union which is right and just, but which the knowledge of my existence would render illegal? No, Max, I thank heaven that, cruelty and wickencs*- are no longer a part and parcel of my Ufe. No, I cannot, I will not stay. Good-by— remember I died to San’Francisco. Good- by, brother Max, good-by.” With that, S;iencer left the hotel and waa soon lost In the busy throng upon ths street. Brett returned to his office, and whan be reached home that evening he found a letter from his unde, John Sat> terthwnite. , , (To be contianed.) Has Hanged Eighty-eight Men. George Maledon, of Fort Smith, Ark., Is the champion hangman of the country. For twenty years he has been the official executioner of the United States Court there, nnd during that time has executed eighty-eight meu. Nearly all the criminals hanged by Mai- edoB were desperadoes from the Indian Territory. Maledon Is a small man, who speaks with a strong German ac cent. He has retired as a hangmjtn and will work a farm in Kansas. / Found Out Hto Mistake. An Atchison young man, who has Imagined for years that the girls were trying to capture him, decided to get married recently, nnd discovered that no one would have him.—Atchison • Globe. ' If there is any one thing that preju dices us against a woman, It Is to hear her swear. MOTHER AND GIRL SLAIN. Hprrible Doable Crime Charged to Yonng Man In Chicago. With a jagged wound In the left temple and physical evidence that the had been strangled or smothered, the almost nude body of Mrs. Annie Bar- tholln was found Saturday evening be neath the cellar floor of the house In which she had lived In Chicago. Colnoldent with the flndng of the body, the police redoubled their ef forts to And the missing son, William Bartholin, who Is also suspected of the murder of Miss Minnie Mitchell, whose body" was found In a vacant lot three days previously. There Is no apparent motive for killing ol Mrs. Bartholin or of Minnie Mitchell, hut the police are following every possi ble theory. The one that finds most favor at present is' that the young man, being In debt, killed hto mother In order that her equity In the mort gaged property might, revert to him. While this theory will not coyer the murder of the Mitchell girl In any way. the police .believe that Bartholin had the Idea that she either suspected him of killing hto mother or that she had taken him to task for telling conflict ing stories regardng her disappear ance. Bartholin and bis mother were not on good terms, although they lived In the same house; but, beyond * de- sire to Inherit her property, th«re to at present no known motive for the murder. • Wa are ready to ante; your name oa our aubaerlption books. You- will no# miss the small sum necessary to b* some our customer. « A GRACEFUL TRIBUTE By • Subject to Hio t>overclgn> Qneen t , f 1 Victoria. The following graceful tribute to paid hy $ir Edwin Arnold to Queen V|c- tpria: ^ , The beart'of gold, the wlAdf iron, the royhf'temper- of ateeL the pride, the •patriotism and the deep piety of Victo ria have been enshrined In a small but 't 1 n DEATH OF SENATOR M’MILLAX. Heart Disease Cuts short the Life of Michigan holon. A dispatch waa received In Wash ington Sunday announcing the death of Senator Jameg McMillan, of Michi gan, at hto summer nome at Manchea- ter-by-the-Sea, Mass. Death was the result of heart failure following con gestion, after an Illness of a very few hours. Tho news came as a great shock to hto friends at the capital, as when tho senator left Washington shortly after the adjournment of . congress he. ap peared to be in good health and looked forward with much satisfaction to a quiet and restful summer. For some years Senator McMillan has made hto summer home at Manchester-by-tbe- 3ea, having erected a fine cottage there. ,. , , . While no information on that point has been received, the expectation to that his remains will ho taken to De troit and be deposited In the family vault at Elmwood cemetery. The body of bis son, Captain John H. McMillan. w^4 served In the'Spanish war, and ,who died several months ago, rests there. The senator leaves a widow, three tons and a daughter.