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THE SUN, NEWBERRY, g. C-. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1939 “ BANNER SERIAL FICTION She Painted Her A sioip of lout and inUtyuc .. .by. DORNFO ODomlord Tata WNUSwrioa CHAPTER IX—Continued —IS— I can never describe the magic that hung in her steady gaze. Be fore it, the rabble melted, the mob dispersed, and my plight became an adventure, which I was sharing with her—a very insignificant busi ness, because that we were together was so much more important than anything else. ' I tried my best to tell her that all was well. And I think that she un derstood, for the rarest smile stole into her lovely eyes . . . And then I came back to earth, like a giant refreshed. She was gagged and bound, as I was. But her ankles were tied to gether, as well as her delicate wrists. Cord had been used—to do this sacrilege. She was clad in a blue cloth dress that I did not know —no doubt to bear out the sugges tion of sudden flight. Her beautiful hair was tumbled, but that was alL Virgil was speaking again. “You will have observed, Mr. Ex on, perhaps with hope, that while we have bound my cousin’s, we have not bound your feet. I will tell you why. Because she is light to carry, but you are not. And so you will walk—to the car. Now, lest ^ou should abuse this freedom, I’m going to put you on a lead.” He held up his cord. “One end—this end will be fastened about your waist: and the other about my cous in’s most excellent neck. You see? I have made a slip-knot . . . the knot that they hang people with. So that any irregular movement which you may see fit to make will put to inconvenience your, er, heart’s desire. In fact, if I were you, I should emulate Mary’s lamb. Not that it matters—if you like to choke her yourself. But I’ve really made other arrangements—a shade less exacting, I think. But I’ll leave it to you to judge.” With that, he stepped across me and set the loop he had made about Elizabeth’s neck. Before my horri fied eyes, he drew this tight—not tight enough to choke her, but so tight that the loop could not lie, as a necklace does, but stayed where he had put it against her' throat. Then he and Elgar, be tween them, got her on / Elgar’s back. Somehow I got to my knees and so to my feet, and without a word he fastened the end of the cord about my waist. I saw Elsa standing above, with a dressing-case in her hand . . . Then Elgar began to go down, and I turned in behind him, weak-kneed lor fear of stumbling and coming down and being unable to rise be cause my hands were tied. Not that it mattered, perhaps. But I—I did not want to choke my dar ling myself. As we went down to the terrace, I reflected on the truth of what Vir gil had said—The way to win this world is to go all lengths. The man was right. It was manifestly sim pler and swifter: direct action al ways is. But it was safer, too—be cause it was the way of a monster, and we believe in monsters no more than we do in giants. Virgil was playing the monster: and that, as calmly as though he were but playing bridge. In other words, he was doing the incredible thing. If I had not seen and heard what I saw and heard that night, I would not have believed the truth though one rose from the dead. And so no one else would believe it— that Elizabeth Virgil and Exon had been haled out of the castle and put to death by a man who, six hours later, was taking his early tea with a cigarette. I cannot clparly remember our leaving the staircase - turret and passing into the air, for the cord was none too long and I could think of nothing but keeping it slack, but I know that ttjf moon was not up, that Virgil was moving behind me, that Elgar turned to the right and stepped out for the entrance-drive. Perhaps ten minutes went by—it may have been less, but I know we had passed the point from which Herrick and I had surveyed the cas tle at dawn, when I saw in the shad ows ahead the shape of a car. This was open and low—it proved to be Virgil’s own car “now under repair”—and Elgar discharged his burden directly over it* side. It will be understood that I did not have to be told to enter myself, and an instant later I was upon the back seat, with Elizabeth Virgil beside me, so far as I could hear, drawing regular breath. I suddenly realized that 1 was streaming with sweat -. . The dressing-case was set at our feet and Virgil and Elgar got in. For a moment the self-starter whirred . . Then all was silence again, except for the purr of an en gine in excellent trim. Virgil sat back in his seat and let in his clutch. It was as he did this, and we moved, that my fingers encountered something which did not belong to the seat. In an instant, they had it fast: and the moment I knew what it was, the hope which Virgil had murdered came back to life. It was a small screwdriver . . . which Elgar or some mechanic had left in the back of the car . . . some eight inches long, over all . . . with a fine enough blade. For all I know, it may have been there for weeks, for, the seat being tilted up, it had lodged between the seat and the padding on the back of the car; and I should never have found it or known it was there, if my wrists had not been fastened behind my back. Now, as I have said, my wrists were strapped together—not bound with cord. And every strap has a buckle, and every buckle a prong. When a man or a beast is re strained by a leather strap, it is ir on the prong of the buckle that such restraint must depend. Dis engage the prong from its hole, and the stoutest strap will be loosed and all restraint be at an end. My fingers were free. If I could contrive to thread the blade of the screw driver over the frame of the buckle and under the prong . . . It was a difficult business. I was working blind and my fingers had not fair play, and though I soon found the buckle, I could not reach this with my fingers and so could not guide the blade, while the move ment of the car was distracting the aim which I tried to make. Again and again I was on the edge of success, and then the car would lurch and I would lose prong and buckle and sometimes my bal ance, too. And once the blade was in place, but, before I could drive it home, a wheel dropped into a pot hole and shook it out. I could have screamed with the rage of a thwart ed child . . . And then, at last, the blade slid under the prong . . . What happened I do not know, for I never examined the strap, but know I was trying to lever the prong from its place and the buckle was turning with it and spoiling my game, when, all of a sudden, the strap went slack on my wrists and I knew I was free. Now my impulse was to do mur der, and do it at once: break El gar’s neck and then choke Virgil to death: and but for Elizabeth’s pres ence, I think that I should have done that—and as like as not lost my own life, when the car, which was traveling fast, crashed into a tree. But Elizabeth had to be saved. And so I did nothing at all but shake the strap from my wrists and keep my hands behind me and use my brain. At once I saw that the first thing for me to do was to free myself from the cord which put my lady in peril whenever I moved. With my eyes upon Virgil and El gar, I felt for the knot at my waist. This I found and untied. Then I made a bow-knot in its stead, which I could undo in a flash whenever I pleased. Then I saw that, for oetter or worse, I must not launch my at tack until the car was at rest, for if, in the struggle, the car were to leave the road, Elizabeth, bound hand and foot, might fare very ill. And then I remembered that Per cy Virgil was armed. This showed me that, come what might, I must deal with him first: else, whilst I was dealing with El gar, he might very well put me out. And there, without any warning, our lights were “dipped” and Vir gil reduced his speed Till now I had been too much en gaged to observe our way, and now I could see next to nothing from where I sat: but the road was rough and winding, and though there were trees on the right, there were none on the left. Whereso ever we might be bound for, I judged we were nearly there, and I held myself all ready to strike the instant we stopped. I have said that the night was dark, and since we >7sre sunk in some valley which ran north and south, we were denied the glow which heralds the rising moon. Still, I could see some six feet—and that was more than I needed to do what had to be done. And there, as though in reply, the car passed over some rise and then swept into surroundings of which I shall always think as the mouth of Hell. In a flash the world was trans figured. The air, which had been sweet, became the breath of corruption— reeked of decay, the sudden chill of a morgue displaced the pleasant cool of the summer night: the steady purr of the engine changed to a snarl: and the darkness became so thick that I could not have seen my hand in front of my face. Then I knew that we were on cobbles, and, when I lifted my head, I saw the lines of three ridge-poles against the sky. We were in the great court of some mansion, long uninhabited. Now what possessed Elgar to do it, I do not know; but, as the car came to rest and I rose to my feet, the man slewed round in his seat and dropped down a hand for Eliz abeth's dressing-case. As he heaved this up, it struck me under the knees and, because I was rising and was neither up nor down, the blow made me lose my balance and sent me backwards into the seat I had left. Since this was low and tilted, I as good as fell on to my back and before I could rise again, Per cy Virgil was out of the car, on the opposite side. Not that I saw him—the darkness was far too dense. And so, at least, I knew that I had not been seen. But I knew where he was, for I heard him using my name. “The, er, cemetery, Mr. Exon . . . it’s better known as Palfrey. Nobody ever comes here, because it is said to be cursed. But, blessed or cursed, it has a magnificent well . . . Ninety feet deep, Mr. Exon And 52 feet of water—I measured it yesterday . . . And its parapet is of white marble—at least, it used to “If more people knew that most snakes are valuable to mankind, they would not be so eager to de stroy every snake they see,” says Harry C. Gardiner, who is a resident of Detroit, Michigan, and honor ary president of the Michigan Her- petological society. The society has for its aims the study and protec tion of snakes in Michigan. Gardiner says that the fear of snakes is deep-laid, and arises mainly from the belief that most snakes are poisonous or harmful in some way. He refutes this belief by saying that in Michigan there are 17 different kinds of snakes of which only one is poisonous—the massasauga or swamp rattler. This snake is rarely more than 30 inches long. “During my 25 years of resi dence in Michigan, I have never heard of a death resulting from the bite of any Michigan snake,” says Gardiner. The largest Michigan snakes are the blacksnake and the blue racer, he says. These two species are often confused. They both repro duce by laying eggs, but their feed- be white—and it has three statues about it . . . statues of men in arm or, leaning upon their swords. How’s that for a sepulchre? I wish you could see it, Mr. Exon. I’m stand ing beside it now. Elgar, you see, has gone to borrow some stones . . . to go into the dressing-case. As an chors go, it wasn’t quite heavy enough . . By now my door was open, and I was half out of the car, with Eliza beth in my arms. “You see, we shall lower that first: and that will be attached to my cousin’s feet. And then we shall lower her: and as she’s already at tached, that will bring us directly to you.” i I was on the cobbles now and was stealing the way we had come. I never found it so hard to turn my back on a man: but Elizabeth had to be saved before anything else. “And so, you see, Mr. Exon ...” And there I saw Elgar approach ing, against the dusk prevailing without the court. For a second I hesitated. Then I laid Elizabeth down and twitched the cord from my waist. And then I went to meet Elgar, who could not see me . . . And, as I went, l ripped the gag from my mouth. He must have found the case heavy, for when I was almost upon him, he laid it down for a moment, to rest his arm. As he straightened his back, I took the man by the throat . . . It was a curious business and seemed to belong to the stage or the cinema’s screen, for whilst we two stood silent, Virgil, a little way off, was addressing the empty car. I could not hear all he said, but his tone was as careless as ever and once he laughed. But Elgar could not laugh. He never struck me. From first to last his hands were tearing at mine. They might as well have torn at the cobbles be neath our feet. So for, perhaps, a full minute . . . Then his knees sagged, and his arms fell down by his sides. Still gripping his throat, I lowered his weight to the ground. Then I cracked his skull on the cobbles and let him go. The sound was slight enough, but Percy Virgil heard it—and found it strange. ing habits are different. Black snakes, also called pilot snakes, feed mostly upon small, warm blooded animals, such as field mice, rats, gophers and occasionally on birds. Blue racers prey upon cold blooded creatures, such as frogs, salamanders and small lizards, in addition to the menu of the black snake. Commonest of all Michigan snakes is the garter snake, which, except that it may sometimes eat fish, is generally considered benefi cial. This snake seems very fond of earthworms. The smallest snake in the state is a secretive little fel low called the red-bellied snake, which grows to about 10 inches. Where Giant Tortoise Lives The giant tortoise still roams un tamed in only two places in the world—Ecuador’s Galapagos islands in the Pacific and the Aldabra is lands in the Indian ocean. The Al- dabras, a dependency of Britain’s crown colony of Seychelles, lie 506 miles southwest of the Seychelles, and are nearer Kenya. I Was on the Cobbles Now and Was Stealing the Way We Had Come. (TO BE CONTINUED, Society Is Formed to Protect Snakes; Authority Asserts Many Are Valuable WHAT to EAT and WHY 4- C. Houston Goudiss Suggests the Part Played by Diet In Helping to Prevent the Common Cold By C. HOUSTON GOUDISS S TATISTICS compiled over a period of years indicate that during the months of January and February, the number of colds and other respiratory infections continually mounts. Usually a peak is reached in late February or early March. It is during the next eight or ten weeks, therefore, that, in the light of past experience, more adults will lose time from their work and more children^ will be absent from school, as a result of colds, than at any other period during the year. The Tremendous Cost of Colds It has been estimated that colds cost the United States more than a billion dollars a year. That figure, of course, is only an estimate. It merely attempts to gauge the dollars and cents lost in wages; and in the money spent in an effort to overcome colds. It does not take into account the discomforts that may be caused by this common complaint. Nor does it allow for the possible after effects of a neglected cold. Cause and Cure Obscure No scientists today are willing to state what causes colds or how they may be cured. Large num bers of clinical and laboratory tests have been performed throughout the world in an effort to discover why we catch cold/- Numerous records have been made concerning colds in men, women and children, as scientific workers have patiently and per sistently tried to investigate the cause of colds. They have sought even one clue that might help us to outwit this common enemy! Various theories have been ad vanced. Many have been discard ed, and others have been consid ered sufficiently plausible to in vestigate further. There is one point on which many authorities agree: that is a belief that a cold is caused by a germ so small that it cannot be seen by the most powerful microscope. It has been suggested by a num- bei of competent observers that whenever the weather becomes damp and raw, and wherever crowds of people gather together, the cold germ may find victims among those whose resistance is low. * Prevention Rather Than Cure Though we may not know pre cisely what causes a cola, nor how to cure it once we have been stricken, we can and should help to build up bodily resistance, so that we develop strong reserves against the unknown cold germ and any others lurking about. Inasmuch as a program for building up bodily resistance is one which encourages greater health and longevity, it is a pro gram which all forward-looking homemakers should put into ef fect for their families. Helping to Build Resistance Such a program should include proper food, normal elimination, adequate exercise and sufficient rest and sleep so as to avoid fa tigue. Just as food plays an im portant part in helping to promote growth, maintain health and in crease the chances for longevity, so does it have a stellar role in the battle to prevent colds. The Right Food a Strong Weapon The well balanced diet, as I have previously stated, is one that is built, first of all, upon a firm foundation of the protective foods —milk, eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables. These are the foods that are richest in minerals and vitamins—substances which help to regulate body processes and help to guard against deficiency diseases. There should be adequate pro tein to allow for the demands of growth and to help repair worn- out body tissue. There should be enough bulk or cellulose to help promote normal elimination. And there should be a sufficient amount of water and other fluids; for water flushes the countless channels of physical existence, as it passes from the body through the lungs and skin, as well as through the kidneys and the large intestine. Significance of Vitamin A Nutrition authorities are fre quently asked, “Is there any spe cific food substance that may be said to be particularly helpful in preventing colds?” or “Is it true that vitamin A is especially valu able in combatting colds?” Here is one answer to both ques tions: scientists have found evi dence that vitamin A, which oc curs most abundantly in milk and other dairy products, and in IT’S fun to sew during the long winter evenings, when you use these simple patterns, each in cluding a detailed sew chart, so that you can follow them with no trouble, and listen to the radio at the same time. Right now, the stores have grand bargains in fab rics, too, so it’s certainly the time to get some sewing done. You can make such pretty things, and save so much money, by doing it. Two-Piecer for Girls. Here's a charming dress that girls in the 10-to-16 size range will love for school, and it’s so easy to do that those who Hke sewing can make it themselves. The basque blouse hugs in (by means of darts), to make the waist look small. The skirt has such a pret ty flare. Both can be worn with other things. Choose wool crepe, flat crepe, silk print or moire. It will be pretty, this summer, in crisp cottons, too. Three Pretty Aprons. Make this dainty, useful set of aprons now, and have it ready when spring weather arrives and people begin to drive up unex pectedly for meals. You’ll enjoy having the aprons right now, too, when you serve refreshments to your club. This set is a nice party prize, and a gift idea for your friends who are brides-to-be. It in cludes two practical pinafore styles, both made so that they can not slip off your shoulders when you have your hands in the dish water. Also, a sweet little frilly tie- around. Choose dimity, linen, per cale or dotted Swiss. The Patterns. No. 1657 is designed for sizes 10, 12, 14, and 16 years. Size 12 re quires 1% yards of 39 inch mate rial for long-sleeved blouse; 1% yards for short-sleeved blouse; % yard for contrasting collar and 1% yards for skirt. No 1639 is designed for sizes 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46. Size 34 requires, for apron No. 1, 2 yards of 35 inch material and 12 yards of braid. For apron No. 2, 2% yards of 35 inch material and 9 yards of braid. For apron No. 3, 1 ’A yards of 35 inch material and 3 yards of pleating. Send your order to The Sewing Circle Pattern Dept., Room 1020, 211 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, 111. Price of patterns, 15 cents (in coins) each. <£) Bell Syndicate.—WNU Service. l/ncle Debunking the "Heroes" The designation “Public Enemy No. 1” has done much toward tak ing the self-conceit out of crim inals who thought they were dar ing heroes. The only friends we ever had that we really eared for, we did not criticize. That is why we had them. The worst prison the world has to offer is enforced association with a circle of narrow minds. Consider Your Influence Others do much toward making your life, and you are equally in fluential in that of someone else. The key to success has to be put in the right lock. The right angle from which to approach a difficulty is the try-angle. Charity seems cold when one gives because he ought to instead of because he likes to. _ _ —. green, leafy and yellow vegeta bles, helps to keep the epithelial cells of the mucous membranes in good condition, so that the natural defenses are preserved. One of our outstanding nutrition authorities has gone on record as saying that in his opinion, at^ast four times the amount of vitamin A required for apparent health may bring a good return in health protection. It is important to remember, however, that the best single piece of advice that can be given regarding diet is to eat moderate^ ly of well balanced meals. Don't Overeat In addition to partaking ade quately of the protective foods, those who are endeavoring to plan a program of living that will help to prevent the common cold should likewise guard against overeating. One should also do everything possible to avoid coming in direct contact with persons who have colds. Through a routine of correct eat ing and sound habits of hygiene, the homemaker can go a long way toward helping her family to pre vent colds. Remember that here, especially, an ounce of prevention is worth perhaps more than a pound of cure! Mrs. L. A. C.—No, Jt is not es sential to include an egg in the school child’s breakfast, provided he receives an egg in some form during the day. An ample, and easily digested breakfast might include fruit, cereal with milk, toast and milk to drink. Miss C. M.—Yes, it is true that molasses contains calcium. The amount in a tablespoon and a half has been compared to the amount of this mineral which can be ob tained from one and one half cups of diced carrots. <D—WNU—C. Houston Goudiss—IMS—45. HOUSEHOLD QUESTIONS S ! : HELTON. _ ERVICE is Traditional Among Smart New Yorkers The Shelton is mom than a hotel; it it a Now York insti tution. Its rooms am lamod for their comfort; its two res taurants, for their superior food. Its big swimming pool is a favored meeting place of the younger set; its restful solarium, a quiet place of re pose; its famous "Shelton Comer Bar” is noted for its fine liquors. And All nsse Outmtandimp Admntaf— at Smrpritlaglr &9€UtoBchl9 Rat*». Hotel SHELTON LEXMOTON «VL—4MMMh Sts. Correct Table Height.—For per sons below or above average stat ure, the following test will deter- nseie the best height for a kitchen table: When a worker, standing erect, can place the palms of her hands on the table without stoop ing, the height of the table is cor rect. • • • Care of Steel Wool.—Steel wool will last so much longer if dried in the sun or on the radiator after each using. This will pre vent its rusting and becoming un pleasant. • • * Making the Bed.—When you get out of bed in the morning, turn back the cover over the footboard and allow the air to freshen and sweeten the bedding. Beds should never be made as soon as the occupant has risen; at least an hour should be given to. airing it. • • • To Cream Butter.—Remwe but ter that is to be used in making cake from the icebox about one hour before you start mixiog®in- gredients. It will then be much easier to cream it. • * *1 Slicing Figs and Dates. — To slice figs, dates and prunes for cooking, cut them with scissors dipped frequently in warm water. This helps avoid stickiness and makes even-edged pieces. For fruit puddings, it often is advis able to cover cut fruit with warm water so it will mix better with the other ingredients. • • * Newsprint Stains.—To remove stains caused by newspaper print from washable material, sponge it with warm water and soapsuds and rinse thoroughly in clear warm water. If unwashable, sponge with even strokes with a small sponge dipped in ether. If the stains are old, soak them 10 minutes in kerosene before apply ing ether. • • • Use for Leftovers. — Leftover pieces of soap may be made into a jelly for laundry use. Leftover pieces of toilet soap make a nice jelly for a shampoo.