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THURSDAY. 8HPTKMREI! 5, IDvr.
THE ATLANTA OEOKG1AN AND NEWS.
THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN
(AND NEWS)
JOHN TEMPLE CRAVES, Editor.
F. L. SEELY, President.
Published Every Afternoon.
(Except Sunday)
By THE GEORGIAN COMPANY.
At S West Alabama St.. Atlanta. Oa.
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THE GEORGIAN AND NEWS prints
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nay llgnor ade.
operated successfully by Kuropenn
cities, as they ere, tbere le no good
reason why they can not lie to oper
ated here. But we do not heller* tbit
ran be dona now, and It may be tome
years before we are ready for to big
en undertaking. Still Atlanta should
set IU face In that direction NOW.
We might call thin a pleasant In-
dlan summer with a “reservation.”
Richard Mansfield left a fortune of
c million dollars. And yet there are
those who declare that the higher en
tertainments of the stage do not pay.
Tho visiting Prince Chap I* now
.getting a taste of New York proper
' after having a fine time In Now York
Imp—at Newport.
j Clever Miss Edna Cain, of Quitman,
Ida., has made another one of her
! bright Caln-breaks—this time Into
'New York journalism.
London society women compute that
from Infancy to the debut age an Eng
lish girl costs '$37,000. That’s very
little to what some English boys cost
our American heiresses.
Commander Peary In waiting so pa
tiently for favorable conditions under
which to start for the pole, may yet
play the tortoise to Walter Wellman’s
hare.
The open season for new and ambi
tious playwrights Is now on. At the
usual ‘'first nights" the audiences will
call for some of those and go after
others.
The Baltimore American declares
that Saratoga stands less In need of
gambling than any other watering
place In the world. We bail almost
understood that the city had about as
much as It required.
An epidemic of barefoot burglars
baa alighted on the town of Baysport,
L. I. Such adepts are they In the
thieving business that nothing la left
In a Baysport residence after their
visits save the Imprint of bare feet
Interpreters of the political signs of
the times who think Taft's name ia
too short for a successful presidential
candidate .should remember how much
tbere Is in that name.
An American girl has gone to India
for the purpose of killing the biggest
tiger In the country. Tho natives do
not know which most to fear—the
lady or the tiger.
Fort Scott, Kansas, has a curfew
law against piano playing; any one
caught playing arter 9 o'clock Is fined.
Some Kansas freaks are worthy of
imitations.
Scientists have about agreed that
the bubonic plague la communicated
to persons through the agency of the
ilea. We trust thet the little pests
will not hop across the continent just
at present.
The recently publlebed statements
of Dr. Frere. a celebrated French
aclentl**, on the nearophatlc dangers
of kissing, are said to have created
deep and widespread Interest In Paris,
where the practice is prevalent In the
best society.
The Atlanta Constitution must
be wrong when It says that Geor
gia Is too small to bold Hoke
Smith and Tom Watson. For, re
member, room must be lound for
Scab Wright and John Temple
Graver, and thtt Joe Hill Hall has
corner pre-empted.—Augusta
erald.
*’lll The Herald permit us to re-
mln- It that Georgia Is never crowded
.by men who “want ■ nothing?
It Is
Only competing ambitions that create
a jam.
REGULATING THE TROLLEY LINES, THE POWER PLANTS
AND THE TELEPHONES.
The resolution of Councilman Terrell touching the regulation of
rates an' methods In the trolley lines,'the gas companies and the tele
phones, brings clearly to a head the question of these, public commodities
In their relation to the people.
The matter should be handled definitely and decisively and disposed
of with as much promptitude as justice and accuracy will permit. We
feel sure that the various corporations Involved In the proposed legisla
tion will agree with The Georgian that the matter at Iseue should be
taken up and disposed of now, without wasting time or complicating feel
ings by an extended wrangle or litigation.
Wo are equally sure that The Georgian will express the public senti
ment of right-thinking men In saying that nobody wishes to oppress or
to mistreat these corporations. The people want justice, not advantage.
They desire equity and not confiscation.
Whether the terms of Connctlman Terrell's resolution should prevail,
or the exact figure of his reductions should meet the approval of the
council, we do not pretend to say. But this much we hold to be proper
and discreet This Is a time of general accounting between the people
and the corporations everywhere. The beginning that was made with
the railroads Is naturally and necessarily going down the line of other
corporations which deal In public utilities.
The people of Georgia have commissioned a body of thoughtful, up
right and conservative statesmen to weigh in the balance the pros and
cons of these contentions between the people and the corporations and to
decide them wisely and justly. The people want nothing more than this
at the hands of tho commission. The railroads should receive nothing
more and nothing less than Justice at the hands of this commission. It is
fortunate for both the people and the corporations that tho commission Is
composed of men wise and able and above the suspicion of graft or per
sonal prejudice.
The one essential thing Is that through the expert knowledge and
the facilities for obtaining knowledge of this commission, that the public
should come to a correct understanding of the conditions of these great
public utilities corporations. It is time tliat we should know without
hearsay and without the coloring of passion or of Interest, Just exactly
the status of these great enterprises that are created by the franchises
and supported by the patronage of the-people. We want to know just how
much money they have Invested, Just how much money' they are earning,
Just how far. Justice and public policy can decree that they have consid
ered the people In a reduction of rates and In a betterment of public
service. .
If these corporations are growing so rich out of the franchises and
patronage of the people' that their dividends are overlarge and their
profits essentially great, then we are quite sure that public policy- In
thorough consistency with absolute Justice can decide that the people who
arc partners in these enterprises should share at least to that degree In
their prosperity that they can be served at cheaper rates and that the
service shall be just as perfect as diligence and fidelity and honest work
can make it.
This conclusion can bo reached neither by the council nor by tho
commission without an understanding of the conditions, the capacity and
the profits of the corporation.
The first of all things to bo sscured Is Information.
It would be manifestly unjust and utterly tyrannical for the state or
the city to tax the corpoi$ttona without knowledge of their revenues and
without due appreciation‘ of their capacity to be taxed. It would be man
ifestly unjust on tho other hand to the iieople, who are In the nature of
things partners In these great corporations, to bo overtaxed by corpora
tions In charges or neglected by them In imperfect service.
We commend, then, Councilman Terrell's resolution to the extent
that It Is the opening gun of a reform which Is timely and Just. The jus
tice of tho reductions which he asks In fees and rates can only be de
termined when the council and the commission understand the full status
of the corporations. But the Introduction of the resolution brings a mat
ter which has heretofore been one of gossip to one of fact and of action
and lit that It Is a source of general congratulation.
We do not wish nor do the people wish to harass and handicap
these great public utility corporations, by constant hammering or Inces
sant demands for reform. It we have had to do much of this In the past
it Is because the corporations bavo been slow to answer the popular de
mands which have been made upon them.
No • the people are In a position everywhere not only to ask but to
Insist upon the request that their desires shall bo considered and that
justice shall be done them as the facts wilt permit.
Wo trust that the council and the commission may proceed at once
to understand the value, the revenues, the profits and the possible Im
provements which the corporations represent and that upon the basis of
this Information our bodies representing the people will proceed.wlth per
fect Justice, with absolute fairness and with unruffled firmness In their
decision to do tho right thing by tho people and by the corporations.
GOVERNOR HEYWARD OF CAROLINA.
Among the visitors to Atlanta on Wednesday was ex-Governor Hey
ward of South Carolina, and there Is never a visitor whom Atlanta. Is
more pleased to see than this ex-governor of the Palmetto State.
It Is a fact beyond discussion that Governor Heyward Is the most
popular Carolinian of today among the people of the Capital City of Geor
gia. His charming manner, hla gracious courtesy and his delightful elo
quence of speech have so frequently captured our public bodies, from the
South Carolina Society to the Roosevelt receptions, that be has made for
himself a lovable and enduring place In the regard of Atlanta and of
Georgia.
Governor Hoywnrd la In the very prime of a vigorous and militant
manhood, pulsing with energy and alive with public spirit, and even out
of office Is a vital factor In the Industrial, social and political development
of tho New South.
He has been generous enough to add to the burden of his many per
sonal responsibilities tho high duty of leading the movement for a state
ly monument to General Robert E. Lee. The suggestion for this monu
ment came from President Roosevelt In a public utterance, and by com
mon consent Governor Heyward has been chosen as the executive of this
high and holy enterprise.
As soon as the organisation of committees Is completed the public
will hear more of this great cause.
Meanwhile It Is our pleasure to renytrk once more that the latch
■trine in Atlanta always hangs on the outside to the ex-governor of
South Carolina.
THE SEASON OPENS WITH A WHOLESOME PLAY.
It Is a source of satisfaction to the wholesome-minded people of this
community that tho winter season of amusement at our leading house of
entertainment ahould have opened with a play so wholeeome and 10
plating as that presented by Tim Murphy and his company at the Grand
Opera House.
There was nothing particularly great and nothing essentially dramat
ic In the little story of love and humanity presented on the stage of the
Grand Opera House, but It was from first to last wholesome, clean, pleas
ing and uplifting In the general failure of selfishness and the triumph of
good, and especially notable was the universal emphasis of approval
which came from the large and enthusiastic audience for every senti
ment of nobility and morality creditable to our common humanity.
Audiences to a thoughtful theater-goer are In moat cases as Interest
ing as tl ■ play, and It was a wholesome and happy study last night to
witness the spontaneous response of the audience to the words and senti
ments which Illustrated their high and better selves. *
A play like that of last night Is at once the best possible refutation of
the belief that In order to make a living and to win succeas on the stage
the actor must pander to the prurient and to the doubtful In morals.
From the rise of the first curtain to the fall Of the last there was not
in the play of last evening a single line that oould suggest Impropriety,
or a costume or an attitude which was offensive to the gentlest modesty
or the most firmly established virtue.
And yet few plays have held a larger interest unbroken to the close
and have sent away a larger number of people happier and better for
having been there.
Actors o the type of Tim Murphy and his company are in themselves
moral forces of the age in which we live. They build up the stage above
and beyond its bad traditions and Its evil tendencies. They demonstrate
the growing power of good and the profitableness of decency and they rob
of all possible excuse any other company or any other plays which ap
peal through baser channels to the pockets and to the leisure of the play
going public of America.
As an advocate of public morals we thank Tim Murphy and his ad
mirable company for the clean, pure and wholesome evening of genuine
enjoyment which our people have received from his visit to Atlanta.
And may his tribe upon the stage Increase.
HOW SWIFTLY THEY SIGNED THE LEASE!
Meanwhile, It is worth while to note the almost eager haste with
which the mayor and the Bell officials have wished to sign the telephone
franchise. *
Under the conditions, there were four days of deliberation left for the
mayor. In which he might prudenfly scan the contract In the Interest of
the city, and the possibilities of Injunction and protest which might rea
sonably have halted a disinterested public official.
There was an even longer period left for the signatures of the Bell
Company officials, In which to examine and perfect a lease of such length
and such^ magnitude.
But bless your souls, fellow-citizens, neither the mayor nor the com
pany took any time for deliberation.
The lease was voted by the council In the late afternoon.
And early in the morning, his honor the mayor was ready with his
swift and willing pen, to meet the equally swift and'willing pens of the
Bell officials, to make this thing a binding contract, if possible, Just as
soon as possible. _
The very haste of the company Is an Indication of the fact that they
would quite easily have signed a lease for 2 per cent!
The haste of the mayor Indicates—well, what's the use of reading
the Indicator too closely?
SUPERINTENDENT SOLOMON WRITES
OPEN LET1ER TO SEABORN WRIGHT
ON LOCKER TAX AND PROHIBITION
Hon. Ren born Wright, Rome Gn. t
My Dear Mr. Wright: I hnve read with
much . Intercat your article on the “locker
tax act." . It la atrong and lucid, and, It
seema to me, n fair atntement of facta.
I can’t eeo why your Interpretation of tho
law ao simply. Intelligently and fraukly
given to the public ahould not quiet the
fenra of Georgians and absolutely satisfy
every honest seeker after truth. Like your
self, I am persuaded that much of the mis
apprehension In the public mind nnd the
uneasiness on the pnrt of onr prohibition
friends have arisen from tho Incorrect state
ment of the ureas In the publication of the
prohibition bill. If I mistake not. every pa
per had It “other places” rather than other
public places. This was misleading. The
_ This
(Is, “any other public places.” The
published “any other places."
Let our friends remember, too, that liquor
can neither 1m* manufactured nor sold In
these public places, nor In private places,
only sold in tho ninnner provided by the
prohibition hill, which feature Is familiar
to the people. This Is not n license, hut n
tax, which I trust you nnve made plain In
Tour letter. The AntLShloon League 1ms
icon. Is now, and always will be, opposed
to the license system. We are always add
unalterably opposed to putting if license on
anything that Is hurtful to the moruls of
the people.
At first I was shocked and grieved at the
very mention of “locker.” It has almost
given some of our good folks the lockjaw,
but after n close study of the locker tax act
111 the light of onr prohlhltoln bill I am
convinced that It la the very best thing
possible that could have been done under
the circumstances. In the long run. too,
I nm sure It will bring but small III*to
the prohibition cause In the stnte. Like
thousand* of others, I long to see the tax
fixed nt $10,000. It ought to have been
tory men sure. Our courageous proL......
lenders fought valiantly for It. but lost,
make this prophecy, however, that ninny
of pur city coiiuclla will materially Increase
the tax, mid some of them will make the
price so high that the gay liquor gusslers
will not l»e able to do business In Georgia.
Let not prohibitionists for one moment
believe that the locker Is In any sense de
signed ns a cloak or excus r for blind tigers.
Not n lilt of It, but. to th» contrary, I be
lieve In my soul the locker will be a means
or Instrument by w hich thi blind tiger may
be exposed. The very fact thnt the locker
exists and Is located put* It In the limelight
of the public eye, and there will be, without
a doubt, a very vigilant watch kept over
these festive places.
Our great prohibition law Is not perfect.
We make no such claim for It. No human
sblernte mid patient. Let them thank God
thnt It Is ns good ns It Is. Lot us all
jjlve the law a chance. We will yet liv<
•ion willing, ’to rub nut the kinks now In
the law, and bring It more nearly to perfec
tion next June. What we need now Is n
thorough orgnulzntion of our forces. Let
our people nil get together. Let there lie
no wrangling nor murmuring, nor
“Hark from the tomb n doleful sound."
Let the peoplq get down to business and
show to the world thnt prohibition shall
prohibit In Georgia.
The devil and the liquor gang are already
tickling In their sleeves over the locker
question. They would lock us up In the
locker If only prohibition might go to the
bad.
Let them not divert gentlemen from the
mnln Issue. The burden now upon * Geor
gians Is the enforcement of law. Rtlck to
your bush. Stand by your guns. We shall
yet win another victory In the dear old
stnte.
May not our policemen and sheriffs nnd
other officers of the law run down the evil
doer? May not every judge lu Georgia put
conviction the last liquor seller after
hard labor? I confidently expect to see this
done. All praise for tne judges who ore
now *— ■*■*■*“ —-— •
pursuing this course.
—i, I want to see'the selling of whisky
made a felony In Georgia. And I want to
see Governor Hoke Smith, the great execu
tive of this great stnte, like Governor Folk,
of Missouri, nut on the Hd.
Mr. Wi
Now,
. Wright, let tho people curse
you as much iim they please. It Is always a
compliment to a man to be cursed for doing
right. You have done your duty. What
more can nny man do? And when the smoke
has cleared nwny It will nil be plain. You.
with other Immortal worthless some In
heaven nud some on earth, hnve saved
this stnte. To all snch I .lift my hat. And
to the great and mighty captain I rever
ently. bow, crying with ft grateful heart,
thank God. Yours slncerefv,
„ „ . . . J. C. .SOLOMON.
P. 8.—Doubtless In the enrly future the
supreme court will decide whether or not
lockers are public places. We are anxious
tn ktmtr tins nmiri'i mil nr* nn . l.l- l...
to know the court's ruling on this hnpor-
tnnt questlon. lHit we are willing to wait.
“THE REBEL YELL”
(From The Nashville Banner.)
What Is the "Rebel Yell 7" You never heard tt? Did you ever hear a
Bunker Hill to Monterey, from Chicago to the gulf? If so. you have
heard the "Rebel Yell." You can not play "Dixie" anywhere in America
before 600 people without hearing the "Rebel Yell.” It Is doubtful If It
can be plnyed before so large an audience In any capital In Europe with
out the same accompaniment.
One hundred times during the great Columbian Exposition In Chi-
rt fVtn "Rohpl Vnll" enmn npnr rnlalntr t)io roof ntt noon. it. <
cago the "Rebel Yell” came near raising the roof oft the great auditorium
when the magnificent band played "Dixie."
if' The
What Is the "Rebel Yell?" The English language has no words to de
scribe It, but when you hear It you will know It. It Is the most Inspiring
expression of patriotic exuberance known to the Anglo-Saxon race It
Is the way tht Southern man says "I am willing to die for my country
here and now." The brave old "blue-coat*'' who marched South In '61
know the "Rebel Yell,” and know what It means. "Three cheers" and
"hurrah" sound like "hooray” beside the "Rebel Yell."
When you hoar the "Rebel Yell,” If you are on the other aide, you had
better hunt tall timber. It has been hoard on every American battlefield
from Tlconderoga to Santiago, from Boston to the Philippines.
It Is called the "Rebel Yell." but It Is America's battle cry and
"Dixie" Is our national battle anthem. ,
Don’t like this, you say? Nevertheless It Is a stubborn accomplished
fact.
And Theodore O'Hara, "a rebel soldier,” and a patriotic American
wrote the "Bivouac of the Dead." America's greatest war poem the
verses of which adorn the copper plates In every American national cem
etery, and stir the thoughts of youth and age to deeds of glory.
W IIEN a man begins to spend less than he mokes, lys “good
fortune” begins and “luck” favors him. It is generally
a multitude of small expenditures that-keep men poor; so
it is small savings that make them rich.
A savings account at this bank will encourage the saving
of small sums that one is so 'apt to spend needlessly or foolish
ly, and will help one to acquire habits of thrift and economy.
Four per cent interest, compounded semi-annually, j s
paid on accounts in our Savings Department.
MADDOX-RUCKER BANKING CO.
THE BRACEBRIDGE DIAMONDS
A Thrilling Story of Mystery andAdoenture
SYNOPSIS. JS
Frank (tho hero! nud Reginald Bracehnagc
(couilus) meet Mme. Vera Slavlnsfcr. a
beautiful woman, at Saratoga. She la nt-
tarked l).r a foreigner (Dr. Carl Mtieusr).
tho latter demanding thnt she surrender to
him "a bit of paper nnd a atone. He
claims he hna the mining fragment and
thnt “the other* were then lu the hotel.
Frank rescue* her and la given a package
with permWaou to open It when he thtiiK-
the right time hna come. A telegram •*’
nonnees the sudden den*h of Reginald*
father. Frank la mndo executor of (lie it-
tnte. Reginald la ehnrged with forgery, nnd
cnila upou Frank to wire him truin ana .1.
A nmlil rushes Into the rwin nnd tells Be:,'
tnald tits wife Is dead nnd that be fa chart,-
ed with her murder. Frank nnd Reginald
leave the house t)v a aeerct passage and
renrh the Brnrehrtdge country home oa
Long Island, They embark I* an ulreblp.
Reginald la sent to France. Frank lent”?
thnt the phyalelnn who attended Reginald a
wife resembles Dr. Mueller. lie hires u
farm lu Ohio nenr the plncu where this doc
tor lives. Sylvia Tburatnh. pretty daughter
of n bulge In Ohio, Is brought Into the story.
Dr. Mueller fnlls In love with her. lie seema
to know her brother, a painter, who resides
abroad. Sylvia. Dr. Mueller and n girl
friend visit "The Hollow," an old house,
said to be haunted.
Raymond Thurston returns homo unex
pectedly nnd Is greeted by his slater during
the temporary absence of her fiance.
Sylvia nnd her brother go for n walk
and meet Basil, who quarrels with Ray
mond.
The following morning Ruth rrltchnrd Is
found In the woods near the Thurston home,
unconscious. When she recovers conscious
ness, Iter mind Is nppnrcntly unhinged with
some horror. Raymond Thurston Is found
In the sfudln, shot through the heart.
Sylvia suspects Basil of tho murder of
her brother.
TAKES ISSUE WITH GOVERNOR
AS TO GEORGIA COTTON CROP.
To the Editor of The Georgian:
In reply to an Interview with Gov
ernor Bmlth and other prominent buel-
neee men of your city In regard to the
present crop of cotton In Georgia, I beg
to say that insofar as the condition, at
present, of the cotton crop Ip concerned,
and the probable amount to be matje
this year, they are very far from the
correct state of nffnlrs It. ...any portion*
of the state today.
Th* crop Is thirty days late, the plant
very tender, and the past two weeks of
excessive heat and drouth have caused
th* plants to shed very heavily. The
bolls that are left are beginning to open
prematurely. The staple will be short
and the eeed Imperfect. The crop In
this section has fallen off two-fifths
within the pant fortnight. I realize the
fact that Gcvemor Smith would not
under any circumstances do or say any
thing that would prove detrimental to
the people of his state, but rather 1 ara
assured he would make personal sacri
fices for the people of all classes.
But. Mr. Editor, you will see at once
that the statement coming from one so
high In authority, the governor of a
great state. It will have the effect of de
pressing the price of cotton. Mark the
prediction! Th* present crop of cotton
In Georgia will not reach the one and
a half million mark. A good rain ten
days ago and another just now might
poeilbly have brought the crop up to
one nnd three-quarter million bales.
The last planting Is almost ruined, and
the first planting Is greatly damaged by
the present spell of weather.
Yours truly.
R. B. TRAYLOR.
Chlpley, Ga., Sept 4.
BOOTBLACKINQ MAGNATES.
Arthur Sears Henning contributes
nn Interesting article In the Inaugural
Issue of The American Business Man,
which appears on the news stands to
day, on the business of blacking boots.
He writes:
"it la estimated that Chicagoans
spend more than $300,000 a'yinr In
keeping their boots and shoes polished.
,**00,000 represents the
profit of the business. A big down town
•hop that pays $100 a month rent and
Sr* * h, i. mo,t e *Pert*n«rt polishers
$10,000*11 year Pr ° P ,r ° m ”' 0M to
a-7 he a l,uaiuir ot the work performed
has undergone a change (or the better
during the expansion and organization
?e week U * ln *.“ K Nowada V" a man has
up Peeeme an expert shoe
?? d v. r^mmand the highest
wages In the beat-shops. A first-class
poUsher Is paid $46 a month. Boys are
Pejd from 14 to $S a week. This Is one
calling In which there I■ no union or
affiliation with organised labor. A few
years ago one was attempted, but It
failed In Its Inception."
PECULIARITIES.
"You have observed wild animals a
great deal?"
"Yes," answered the sportsman.
H av ,e noted any peculiarities?"
Decided peculiarities. Some of them
absolutely Insist on not behaving an the
naturalists say they ought."—Washing
ton Star. *
GLORIOUS EMPIRE.
Chairman Murray, of the Oklahoma
Constitutional convention. Is about to
be robbed of his glorious sobriquet of
"Alfglfa Bill." A new state newspaper
has called him "William th. sir..
has called him "William the First of
Tishomingo." Whatever comes, Murray
may rest assured that It Is a glorious
empire over which he rules.—Sl Louis
Republic.
CHAPTER LI.
Ruth Accused.
"I am force dto do so. Aunt Lctty
—there Is nothing else to believe,” Syl
via returned hoarsely. “Again and
again during the past month Basil has
threatened Raymond In words that
could not be mistaken. He even wrote
to Raymond, and so violent was the
letter that Raymond could only ac
count for It by the supposition that
Basil had written while under the influ
ence of drink, or else that his tnlnd was
affected."
"You really can not mean that you
suspect”—Miss Letltla gasped, but her
voice utterly failed her here, and she
sank Into a chair and her aged form
trembled In every limb.
T can nnd I do suspect Basil Thurs
ton, Cousin Letly! There Is no onu
else to suspect. On the very last oc
casion of Basil’s meeting with Ray
mond—a few days ago—he used lan
guage that pointed directly to his In
tention to have recourse to some des
perate, wicked act. But I could not
believe at the time thnt he reully
meant what he said. I thought his
anger had carried him away and that
he was speaking wildly—heedlessly—
and that there was no real danger."
"Perhaps you are not aware, Sylvia,
that Basil has been drinking hard dur
ing the past weeks," Mies Letltla falter
ed. "He hae been constantly under
the influence of drink of late, so that
he can not be held responsible for his
words. But as to his acts—no, no, no,
Sylvia, my dear! Basil would not In
jure a hair of your brother's head."
Even In her terrible agitation, now-
Sylvia was Impressed with these words,
and with the look in her aged kins
woman’s face as she spoke them.
"And where wns Basil that night,
Cousin Letty?”
"He wheeled to Cleveland that even
ing, and he has not since returned
Rose fears, nnd so do I, that he is stlli
drinking hard. I am sorry to suy that
Gabriel Baring, Basil's friend In Cleve
land, bears a very questionable repu
tation In that district. Z have never
quite approved of Basil's visits to that
■nan's house.!'
"But how can you be positively cer
tain, Cousin Letty, that Basil went to
Cleveland that evening?"
Basil Clsared.
"Because David Prout—one of our
tenants, you know—met Basil cycling
furiously In the direction of Cleveland
on that evening; nnd Rose had a let
ter from Basil today from Cleveland,
or rather a few scrawled lines, from
the look and substance of which It
seems evident enough thnt Basil was
so far gone when writing that lie could
hardly hold the pen or form a coherent
thought. • • •
"Things, you see, are bad enough as
they nre with Raall, Sylvia—there Is
no need to fix the burden of crime
upon him In addition to his existing
misfortunes!”
"What am I to believe? What am I
tn believe?" Sylvia .moaned, wringing
her hands together In sore perplexity
and distress. "If Basil Is Innocent of
this, who is the guilty one? No on* else
that I know of owed a grudge uf any
kind to Raymond. Every one loved
him—every one wished him well.
There's not a man, woman or child In
all the country round that would will
ingly have Injured him in the allght-
her agitation ns she said these words
was movlnc hurriedly to the door •:«
if to leave the room then and there-
but Sylvia hastened after her and
dropped upon her knees at her feet
"Cousin Letty, do not leave me! stay
with me and talk to me. I feel on the
verge of madness. Heaven knows tt
Is not my wish to Incriminate Basil*
Next to Raymond himself, Basil used
to be nearer and dearer to me than all
others. But what can I think? What
can I think? Oh, Cousin Letty, let ua
talk over the whole matter, from be-
ginning to end. We may arrive at
some conclusion. And I find it Is so
terrible to be groping In utter dark
ness—like this!" i
But again her voice failed her, and
tottering to her f-et, she clung to Miss
Letltla’g thin, aged form, fixing wild
distended eyes on her kinswomans
troubled face.
It was at this moment that a hur
ried knocking sounded at the door, and
Martha Jenner's homely face up-
reared.
“The police Inspector, Sir. Rogers,
Is Just riding up the avenue, Miss Sy|.
via," Martha said, excitedly, "He’ll
want to talk to you, miss—but Miss
Monica says you can’t possibly see
him."
"Miss Sylvia can see no one this af-
ternoon, Martha;, she Is quite III," ,M| SS
Letltla said, almost sternly; then, as
Martha withdrew, the old lady turned
quickly to her young cousin.
"Sylvia,” she said, with a sudden pal-
lor In her face, and her voice 1 dropped
to an Intense whisper, "you—surely—
will never be mad enough to breathe
to any or t alive that cruelly false
suspicion of yours as to—Basil!"
est way.’
She paused, gasping for breath, and
hid her tortured face In her hands. But
after a few moments' silence she
turned again to Miss Letitia.
"What does Rose really think.
Cousin Letty? Has she any susul-
clnn. nt Fte.ll?"
cions of Basil?'
God forbid. Sylvia! Even If the di
rect evidence were not In her posses
sion that Baal! was miles away from
Moorcombe on the fatal night. Rose is
not the girl to blacken her brother’s
name wit’ this wicked, hotrlble suspi
cion."
Miss Letltla, altogether overcome by
The dark mystery shrouding the cir
cumstances of Raymond Thurston's
death defied the combined efforts of
the village police and the Cleveland
detectives to unravel It; and when the
day of the adjourned Inquest came
round there was no fresh evidence ot
any Importance forthcoming.
The midnight visit of the deceased to
the studio In the wood and Its dire
result. Ruth Pritchard's absence from
Moorcombe that night, and the Imme
diate cause of her strange attack—
these matter.s on the face of them so
significantly connected, were still
wrapped In Impenetrable darkness, and
there seemed no prospect of arriving
at any satisfactory Issue.
Ruth Pritchard's distressing condi
tion was unaltered. She lay In her
bed room at Moorcombe almost as It
dead. From her locked lips no evi
dence of any kind was to be extorted.
So there was nothing for It but that
the Jury should finally return a verdict
of death resulting front a gunshot
wound Inflicted by some person un
known, adding a very genuine expres
sion of their regret for the sad end of
the deceased, and of their true sympa
thy with his family In their terrible
bereavement: and the tragic occurrence
was relegated to the long list of unex
plained fatalities of the kind.
“It's one of the most puzzling things
I’ve ever heard of In all my life. Isaac,"
Mrs. Prosser said to ther husband on
the night following the close of the
Inquest. “One doesn't liko to accuse
any one, of course, of so dreadful a
crime; but, between ourselves. Isaac. I
can not but think that Ruth Pritchard
Is answerable for poor Raymond's trag
ic death.
"Whatever the true circmustanccs
may have been, tho fact remains, to my
tnlnd at least, that Ruth made an
appointment with Raymond In the
painting room that night, and—and”—
Mrs. Prosser's voice dropped to a whis
per—“shot him dead there!”
The minister was silent. He had
heard this suspicion whispered about
during the past few days, and. shocked
and Incredulous os he had been w hen
his wife had first made such a sugges
tion a week before, he had, little by lit
tle, accustomed himself to the possi
bility that this explanation after all
might be the only true solution of the
mystery.
Continued In Tomorrow's Georgian.
SOUTHERN LANDS.
(From Southern Farm Mrtguxtm 1 .'
That o greater number of men of m>
Mtahllslie.l thorn solve
buy
nr
tales tn the South fins been title prlltclj
to a Inek of itciiiutiiituiire with the itoviur
tnges tbere In tint ehnpo of cheap hut fer
tile land*, ettiinlilc climate itml opportuni
ties for honntlfnt development. These, how-
eve?, are beginning to tie properly ■'l'i r o-
elntetl, hut It will In* n long tiny before there
could It* anything like a crowding fit
the small farmer lty great land owners.
Still. Ule possibility Is not one to lie
nmit Mil* llUVfllUIIII) It WHO ■
fld light!>, It In r fust that the »»»'•[*
The
dm whack* tt* a tenant or owner of In nil
an? bringing It to iium* thnt n gteatar aua
greater number of fkmttierii farmery are
obliged to depend’ upon their own rcaipire. *
in working their bind. Deserted td h®
degree*, the bind of the South would Btean-
tty degenerate. To mnlntaln the wmm
Plan
up to
its full capability* n large ,
tnk« place In the body of white Itnuilgn*
lion, nnd the fact mast be kept to the
front thnt $10,000 Invetited In product b®
fnruling I* worth more to the South **“*!
f 100.000 Invested In lund to be occupl*
solely for pleasure.
Out of Practice.
“These kt**c« yon sold me yesterday
hnrd nnd stnje, growled n cti*topM*r at tus
enudjr counter. “I thonght you flolmeu m
ke4»n only f$w*h »*!'Rdje«.“ _ .
"We do generally." replied the fair sa*
Indy. “Those must hnve come from an »iu
batch,"—September Llpplrteott’s.
KODAKSSUPPUES-FINISHING
1* h ® *hft lights of Autumn make this the best time for
Amateur Photography—
suppU«s‘ U “ fr ° m ,10 ° to * 36 00 — Flne finishing work—Fresh
KODAK DEPARTMENT.
A. K« Hawkes Co., Opticians,
14 Whitehall and 125 Peachtres (Candler Building)