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/ V / / V i lie article in question from a HUrawer near him. Not until then fhe withdraw his eyes from the ccil- “This is an ingenious device used by ^^burglars almost exclusively, although, perhaps, there might be a few that would fall into other hands.” “Well, he declines the honor of owner ship.” i I fancied 'I could sec the detective's face light up, as though I had given him a valuable clew. “That may be all stuff and nonsense, Doctor. Mind, 1 merely suggest that idea, and do not affirm it as my belief. We do not know Theodore vet. He may disappoint ns and turn out a diabolical villain.” • Was this an attempt to turn me off upon another tack? I half believed it, and yet at the same time did not give myself away, simply making up my mind that more would be heard from this quarter in the future. The case was a remarkable ~ic. Mr. Ketcham, a detective o. great ox perience, had solemnly declared it to b< the most mysterious and complicated oi his life. i If this were the ease, then I could not expect to solve it without great labor. What made it more difficult was the fact that there were, so many trails lead ing away from the scene of tho crime, and any of these, at different times, seemed to be the right track. -“Dee-tor, I told you of one discovery 1 had made. Now, there is another that may interest you. f- “When I went down that morning tc See Ursula; I found her examining tin: pantry windCw, which had been opened by a deft hand in the night.” I heard his words with a feeling of botb Astonishment and satisfaction. 1 It seemed to be a link in the chain leading to the third party. ; “Then a burglar entered the house through the pantry window?” ' “That seemed to be the indication. What was singular about it was that not A thing had been stolen.” v “The deuce! that is singular.” * “Perhaps Theodore entered the house this way when he came either the lirst or second time.” “That is possible, of course.” t "Did Mr. Ketcham believe this? ! It was hard to tell, for his face was dike that of a sphinx, and beyond the ;ken of an ordinary reader. ; He wore a mask, figuratively speaking, (beyond which it was impossible to spy. 1 What if there had been another party fin the house on this night—who was he? | If a burglar, what a fool not to have 'carried off the plunder while lie had tho fehahee, and not go away empty-handed. ' I made up my mind to investigate this (matter before I would be satisfied. "j^-Perhaps this person who had been (lurking in the neighborhood, and who 'had ehtcred the house after all. it seemed from the pantry window, might inot have been a burglar after all. Who then? j My mind was clear as a bi ll. All that |I had seen and heard relative t • Jhi- ! C«* v*' ' ' * ?••*«». I realized that this was the last chance to save Leonore. Should this fail then she must inevita bly be guilty. It all depended upon who was meant by Dr. Seabury when he expressed him self in daily fear of some one. If wo could only fathom this mystery of his past, the truth might bo made clear. Who could help me? My thoughts turned to Theodore. Ho might tell what mystery of the past this was connected with his father. The only question that arose was whether he would feel so Inclined. There was no need of telling all this to Mr. Ketcham. , The adv^ntaga w#,» a!rt.adjf on bi«* and waited, knowing that fate was bringing the time nearer. Who, then, could this enemy be? My mind went back. The good Doctor had spent many yean of his life in India, and it was probablj there where he had incurred the hatred of tliis party. Then the vengeance-seeker might be a thug, one of that secret band ot assas sins to whom the use of the cord and creese is sacred. The presence of the wound made by a creese suggested that such was the truth. This far had I come, patching it upon the way, wdien, happening to look toward Mr. Ketcham, I saw that he had quietly inserted his hand into his pocket. When he drew it out he tossed a small white object toward mo. “Examine that, Doctor,” ho said, simply. When I opened it out I saw it was a lady's embroidered handkerchief. A few stains of blood marked it. Looking closer I could see where it had been partly cut, as though a sharp instrument liad been drawn through it. Further still, in one conn. s the letter L “Where did you^gt-t this, Mr. Ketch am?” I asked, holding my breath. His answer cave me a terrible blow. “In tho room of Lcnore, bidden be hind a trunk, Doctor. ” CHAPTEK XV. S A T there mo- .tionless, my eyes glued upon the fa tal handkerchief. Could it possi bly bo that, after all, the girl was u n con sciously guilty? A shudder went over me. Of what avail this trying to light against tho band of fate? Better give it up, and let the hand of jus tice, in tho shape of Mr. Ketcham, have its course. Truly, I felt discouraged, the prospect ahead looked sc black. Again 1 minutely examined the frail web in my hand. There con’d hardly he the least doubt but that a knife of some sort had been drawn through the handkerchief tc cleanse it. Was it the creese that was wont to Ito upon the table in Leonore's room, used as a paper cutter? Mr. Ketcham seemed to divine my thoughts. Out from one of those capacious ooek- 2ts he drew the veritable weapon. Evidently he had been patting his time to good advantage around the house on the avenue, while 1 was chasing myths. “See here. Doctor, how precisely this tits, and tell me if you think it was the weapon that was drawn through this kerchief.” I did look. He proved it to me In such a way that I must have confessed it as a fact, even though it had signed the death-warrant of my dearest friend. Either that creese, or a blade justlike it, bad been drawn through the hand- kerehief. “J. am afraid I must give it up, sir.” “I wouldn’t do that, Doctor. This far you have carried your end of the log in a manner highly creditable to you, and with the greatest admiration from me. If you see any chance for work still ahead, ferret it out. It is best to make ill safe and sure. ” I was not a little surprised at these words from Mr. Ketcham. They puzzled me for quite a time. What was his object in uttering them (for that he had an object I knew was positive, as he was not the man to dQ mjthlng haphazard)? _ 1 “There is one thing which as yet has not been followed up.” “The burglar?” “Yes; the man who entered at the pan try window. Who was he—what did he come for—what did he do and see, and why did he leave without stealing a tiling, when the whole house was spread open before? “These are pertinent questions which may have a decided bearing on the case. I ask you to take them up, feeling sure that if you carry the idea out as you did the other trail loading to Theodore, it will only be a question of a short time oefore the truth in that quarter is Known. ” His words were uttered in a calm, »arnest tone, and he took my hand as if K) assure me that he did not mean to latter. That settled it with me. I would do much for Mr. Ketcham. He was a man ;o win one's earnest admiration and de motion. I was anxious to get off. “Hold on a minute, Doctor,” he said, aughing, as I was about bidding him jood day, “perhaps I can help you a little :n this matter.” I jumped at this offer. “You will oblige me very much, sir, by loing such a tiling,” I replied. “Sit down again. Now, 1 have exam ined the work at the pantry window, and l should say it was done by an expert. “Perhaps you may not know that these first-class cracksmen have each a pe- Miliar way of running things, but it is a !aet. “More than once I have been able to tell at a glance whose band had done a rertain job just from the manner in which the fellow had gone to work tc ivercome certain difficulties in his way. “My tirst thought, then, was to look for some such private mark that would betrav tho fellow's identity. “Certain things gave mo what I was disposed to believe was a clue, and I felt almost ready to swear that the man who had entered the pantry window was no other than an expert cracksman known to the fraternity under the name of Colonel Cain. “Now, my idea is that you hunt up this man, get in with him by pretending to be of his ilk, and gradually worm your way into his confidence, when, the conditions being favorable, you can get at his se cret. ” “You do not approve, then, of hurling the truth at him and making him con fess?” “That would all depend upon circum stances, Doctor. You might find a bet ter opportunity to work that way than any other.” “To take it literally, then, I am to use my own discretion in the matter?” “Certainly. ” “Now, since that point is settled, Mr. Ketcham, what assistance can you give me in looking this man up?” “I can be of some help to you there. Doctor;” and as he spoke he drew a large book toward him. As he opened it I saw that it was a private rogues’ gallery. Scores on scores of pictures were there, each secured in its place by a little clasp, and under all of them were from one to twenty lines of writing, telling who the party was, what they were wanted for, and full particulars, includ ing the reward offered for their appre hension—a very important fact with de tectives. Turning over the leaves lightly, he at length stopped and held the book out to me. I saw the face of a man who might have attracted attention anywhere. The features were strong, but a prac ticed eye could read the marks both of dissipation and free license to criminal practice. There was a cunning look about the eye too that declared th*- man to ha oa% whom the ordinary p<»iic« would ay».vi»e baffled * ,v i My mT IIIOWCVT must be that could keep me from caiT>V|^Kut. Thoughts of Leonore urged me on If there was a chance of saving her, I would take heavy risks to accom plish it. So, shortly after darkness fell upon the city of Ne\ York, I left my office ind began to m ike my way down to the irtery of the city—the Bowery. [to bk contisoed.] Snort Sermons. The fellow" who looks at the f ur through smoked glass can’t see an} brightness. Every community is crowded wit! people who want the best of everything except religion. The only people who refuse to wall- in God’s way are those w ho have tin devil’s shoes on. The man who thinks he knows it al’ can never w alk arm in arm w ith knowl edge of any kind. Blessed are the merciful. Don’t fo get it when you have a mortgage or the property of a widow. Very few people ever find out tlii side of the grave jiist how much of the devil they have in them. Getting a man’s Wart light is better than putting a stronger lock on h - > neighbor’s chicken houf o. All people take their heads with them when they, go to church but some of them leave their hearts behind The violation of an eternal law ums carry with it eternal punishment. A law without a penailty is no law. field. it will probably never be known who designed our union of stars. Not- witiistanding the greatest researches no ■ information has been obtained whilch in any way sheds light ou this poiht. The earliest known instance of the thirteen stripes being used on an American banner is found upon a standard originally belonging to the Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse in 1775), and it may possibly have sug gested to General Washington the striped union flag raised by him at Cambridge six months later, and sub sequently the design for the stripes in the American flag. Thio American Congress on Satur day, ;June 14, 1777, agreed to a reso lution adopting as the flag of tbe thir teen United States thirteen r Tr« sit at 150 Milos at Huur. The recent business combination eilccte 1 between a great locomotive manufactur ing company anil er,'caster^ electric com pany is already suggesti^ >) students of the question the great possibilities of the future in the way ot rapid transit. It now seems that the assertion of several proph ets that we shall yet travel at the rate of 150 miles an hour ! can no longer be re garded as visionary. The motive powei with which the invejUtors arc experiment ing, of course, is electricity, ami many of tbe authorities in this line of work do not hesitate to say that transit at about three times the present maximum rate is en tirely possible, so far pis supplying adequate power is coneernedi Tesla and Edison, it is said, have already perfected the means of producing and applying an elec trical motive power which can push trains over the earth at the rate of 150 miles an hour, if not at a still ihigher speed. Tbe question, indeed, lias sifted down to a matter of mecliiauical appliances and the perfection of means which will make such transit practicable and nut too ex pensive. It is a qnet tion of inventing tbe wheels which couldj staj- ou the track at such a high speed anti the apparatus that would withstand the enormous strain in volved. That these jproblerns will be over come is apparently the belief of those most competent to juidge. What the introduction of such improve ments would mean jin the conduct of modern business methods can be but faintly foreseen. One hundred and fifty miles an hour—o.titjO miles a day—when it becomes possible to* travel at that rate the world will iudecjl k.* a little place, so far as concerns C’ v .ve] across its land areas. • To Build Txv o Big Ships. The North Ameri<‘an Lloyd Steam- ahip company has ^ rders from a ship building firm at Glvaa, a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland,Jfor two steamship* whose dimensions will exceed those c-f the Campania and Abe Lucanta. States thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, with the union thirteen stare, white, in a blue field, thus Representing a new constellation. Mrs. )Ross, an upholsterer residing in Philadelphia, was engaged by General Washington to make the flag from a roughi drawing, which at her sugges tion hjo redrew. Congress adopted the flag thus de signed), and it is said to have been tiis first Star Spangled Banner ever flung to the j breeze. The entrance of new States [into the Union caused the en actment of a law in 1818 re-enactiug the resolution passed by the Conti nental Congress and further enacting that on 1 the admission of every State one stajr should be added to the union of the flag, and that such addition should take effect on the Fourth of July next succeeding such admis sion. To prey* nt confusion by the increase in the number of stars, Lieutentaut Commander Hutchins, on duty in the Bureau of Equipment, Navy Depart ment, ini 1891, was assigned to make a rearrrngement of the stars, Wyoming coming linto the Union on the 4th of July of that year. The design, which is now followed in the manufacture of all the National colors, was prepared and adopted by the Government. This design contains forty-four stars in six rows, thq upper and lower vows hav ing eight stars each and the other four rows seven stars each.—New York Herald. Army Mashers and Their Dress. The ne’w German army regulations include a great deal about the dress of the ofti'cers, who, it is well kuown, are the greatest mashers in the coun try. How far m&sherdom had asserted itself is easily to be seen by the de tails concerning the new regulations. It seems that the military dandy ha.l succeeded in modifying every article of uniform according to his own speciai taste. Caps of seven different styles had been evolved from the one ordinary o/iicer’s cap, and the shape of the sleeves of an officer’s coat was as ranch a matter of fashion as that of the most fashionable of ladies. Be- garding the coat collar, we read that “the ears of officers were evidently only tbere in order to prevent the collar from getting to the top of the head, and it was so tight that it made the wearers, especially the younger ones, red and blue in the face.” And now the maityrs of the collar have to put up with quite an ordinary substi tute that is neither too high nor tight,'—New York Journal, •At the OU M, Corner Laras Street anil Park Avenue: CHEAPEST & BEST GINS, PRESSES AND CANE MILLS, Engines, Boilers, Shutting, Pulleys, Belts, Injec tors and Repairs at Lombard Iron Works & Supply Co./ Above Passenger Depot, - - AUGUSTA, GA. A. F. TISCHER, 940 Broad Street, Augusta, Ga. KEEPS constantly ou hand: Perfumery, Patent Medicinee, Fancy Goods, Window Glass, Drugs, Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Etc. A.11 of tla-G IQosst Qul ''*VTo~ .< r ' * -il V- '«-!! .B. M All Want Our Goods. 30 *■ . -1. V * - •-7 -'. _ f tar-*a<i r Uncle Sam—“Hello, John, where ye going with all that boodle?” John Bull—“Going to make some purchases for the Royal Family at Rogers’ Furniture Store. Wo find that they have the best goods in the country at price's that are astonishing.” UmilA La CAA lie we carry the largest stock in the city. Infact VyUIIit? Uvf we carry everything that is sold in a first clasa Furniture Store. 838 Broad Street, - - Augusta, Georgia. Fashionable -J- Millinery. MISS MOLL IE MUttKAY, Of Augusta, asks the attention of the ladies of Aikeu county to the handsome and fashionable new Hats, Bonnets and Millinery to be seen in her parlors, over James Daly A Co’s store on Broa l street. TRIMMING DONE IN THE BEST TASTE AND AT