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FRAN JHW_ BR ECXKFOUDGE KLUS Ohxstrstions by O. Irwin Mywi "Didn't ne marry Fran's mother when he was a college chap In 8pring fleld. and then desert her? Didn't he marry again, although his first wife Fran's mother?was living, and hadn't been divorced? Don't he refuse to ac? knowledge Fran as his daughter, mak? ing her pass herself off as the daugh? ter of some old college chum? That s what he did, yout choir-leader! I'd like to see that baton of his laid over his back; I'd like to lay it, myself." It was Impossible for Abbott to re? ceive all thla as a whole; he took up the revelations one at a time. "Is it possible that Fran is Mr. Gregory's daughter?" "Oh. she's his. all right, only child of his only legal wife?that's why she came, thinking her father would do the right thing, him that's always praying to be guided aright, and balk? ing whenever the halter's pulled straight. ? "Then." Abbott summered, "Mrs. Gregory is . . "Yap; is with a question mark. But there's one thing she isn't; she isn't the legal wife of this pirate what's always a-preylng upon the consciences of folks that thinks they're worse than "As for sir. Ore gory," Abbott began sternly? * Robert pursued the name with a rigorose expletive, and growled. "One thing, Mr. Gregory hss done for roe, he's opened the flood gates that have been so long dammed?yes, I say dammed?1 say?" "Bob." Abbott exclalnr.ed, "don't you understand Fran's object In keeping the secret? It's on account of Mrs. Gregory. If she finds it out?that she's not legally married?don't you see? Of course it would be to Fran's In? terests?bless h. r heart! What a? what s Nonpareil!" " Tain t natural." returned Clinton, "for any girl to consult the Interests of a womsn that's supplanted her No, Fran's afraid to bars it told h ? font she'd be Injured by your <laeri i i-agoa. your religion-stuffed calls Itself a man." ild? That's a joke! I tell you ?, ?? ? -kinking only of Mr. Greg? ory" "I'm sorry for Mrs. Gregory," Rob? ert sllowed. "but Grsce Noir is more to me than any other woman on earth. Ton don't see the point When I think of a girl like Grace Noir living under the same roof with that?that?" "Mr. Gregory." Albott supplied. I "?And she so pure, so high, so much shore as. ... It makes me craiy. And sll the time she's been bresthing the same sir, shs's thought him a Moses In the Wilderness, and us noth? ing but the sticks. Think of her be? lieving in thai Jelly pulp, that steel engraving in a Family Bible! No. I n>Mui to open her eyes, and got her out of his spider's web." "1 see your point of view." "Too do If you bsve eyes. Think of thst perfect sngel?but Just say Orsce Noir and you've called all the virtues. And her in his houeel?" "Ton still believe in angslsr in? quired bbott gravely. Yap sad devils with long sort-of eurly hslr. nd pretty womanish faces, and voices like molasses." "But Fran wants Mrs. Oregory spared?" "Abbott, when 1 think of Grace Noir spending one more night under the roof of thst burrowing mole, thst croc? odile with tears In his eyes and the rest of him nothing but bone and gristle?" "Bob. if I sssnre you thst Miss Noir will never spend snother dsy under his roof, will you agree to keep this discovery to yourself?" "You can't make no such assurance, ff shs ain't put wise to what branch of Um animal kingdom he twigs to. ?he'll not leave his roof." "Bob. If she leaves that house In the morning, for ever, won't you sgree to lilesee, for Mrs. Gregory's saks?and becsuse Fran asks it?" "Fmn's snother sngel, bless her heart! But you can't work It." "Leave It to me. Hob. I'll be guided by the spur of the moment." "1 need a bookkeeper at my store," Robert said, ruminating. "T promise you that Miss Noir will soon be open to offers." "Bee here, Abbott, I csn't sfiord to lose any chances on this thin*. I'm going to see the feathers fly. No?I don't want Mrs. Gregory to learn about It, any more than you or Frsn; but d limit the thing to Grace?" "She'd Uli Mrs Gregory " "Don't you say anything agslnst Grace Noir. Abbott, for though you are my friend?" "I say nothing against her; I say only that she's a womsn." "Wen.' Clinton reluctantly agreed, "T r> < .ton the Is I'll tell you what Ml do i ll go with you iuto that wolf's den. and 1 11 lot you do sll Mm talking; and if you can manage thing* In half an hoar Jus* thirty minutes by my watch so that Grace leave* there tomorrow. 1 11 leave you to steer kUifcSA m?d iis.utuiu for keeu^ Hut I'm going to be present, though I don't want to say one word to that? that?But If he don't crawl out of his wool far enough to auit the purpose, In short, If he don't cave, and in half to hour?" "Half an hour will do the business," said Abbott stoutly. "Come!" "Be sure to call for Mr. Gregory by himself," aald Robert, as they walked awlftly back to the Gregory residence. "If Grace comes into the room while we're talking, or Mrs. Gregory?" "ir they do," Abbott said quickly, "you are not to utter one word, not one, about Springfield?you under stand? It's a bargain, and I shall hold you to your word of honor." "For half an hour I won't say a word," Clinton declared, "unless it's some word just drawn out of my bo? som by the sight of that villain. Come!" CHAPTER XVIII. Juet Thirty Minutes. During the week spent by Robert Clinton in search of Fran's llfe-socret, a consciousness of his absence and its cause was like a hot iron branding Gregory's brain. What a mocking fa? tality, that It should have been Grace to send Robert on his terrible errand? an errand which must result in ruin! Mrs. Gregory would be pitied when it became known how she had been de? ceived; Fran would be pitied because she wss a disowned daughter; Grace would be pitied for trusting in the in? tegrity of her employer?but Gregory, who of all men needed pity most, would be utterly despised. He did not think of himself alone, but of his works of charity?they, too, would fall, In his dlsgrsce, snd Walnut Street church even religion Itself?would be dis? credited becsuse of an expor.ure that could avail nothing. Gregory had been too long proclaim? ing the living God not to feel Him as a Presence, and in this Presence he fe'.. a shuddering fear that could sug? gest no relief but propitiation. He as well as Abbott Ashton had kept him? self informed of Robert's movements as far as they were known to Miss Sapphire, hence the day of Robert's return found his thought of atonement at ita most frenzied stage. As evening wore on, he made up hla mind to the fstsl step. Before Robert could oppose him. Gregory would confess. Now that the last hour had come, he sought his wife, reeling like a sick man as he descended the hsll stairs. Mrs. Gregory was softly playing an old hymn, when he diacovered her preaence in the brilliantly lighted par? lor. Grace was expecting a visit from Clinton and had made the room cheer? ful for his coming, snd Mrs. Gregory, looking in snd finding no one present, hsd sunk upon the stool before the piano. She did not see her husband, for her face was bent low as she feel? ingly played, "I Need Thee Every Hour." Gregory, well-nigh overwhelmed with the realization of what he meant to do, grasped the door for support. Presently he spoke, brokenly, "Lucy, how true thst Is?we do, Indeed, need Him every hour." She did not start at his voice, though his presence hsd been unsuspected. She raised her serious eyes, and ob? served his haggard face. "Mr. Greg? ory, yon are 111." "No?the light hurts my eyes." Hs turned oS the lights snd drew a chair near her. The room waa partly re? vealed by an electric arc that wung at tho street corner?its mellowed beams entered the open window. "Lucy, I have something very impor? tant to say 'o you." Hsr Angers continued to wander among the :eys, making he ymn barely audible, then >ttlng It die , away, only to revived. "LAicy, " have aever oken of this before, but It as seemed to me for n long time thst we liave andored rather far apart?yes, /ery far apart Wo sit close together, alone, our *ands could touch, but our souls Wo n dif? ferent worlds, 'Jo you ever foel that way?" She ceased playing abruptly, and answered almost in a whisper. "Yes.'' "Perhaps It la my fault." aid Greg? ory, "although I know that if you tad taken more Interest In what interests me. If you had been true to the Faith as I have tried to be?" "1 have been true to you," ssid Mrs. Gregory. "Of course?of course?there is no question of our being true to each other. I feel that I am not wholly to blame. Lucy, It baa been ray fault and It bafl been your fault?that Is how I look at it " There was silence, then she said, "There seems nothing to be done." "How do you mean? You spoak as If our lovo were dead and burled?" "die rose abruptly, saying, "And its grave, unmarked." "Sit down. Lucy?I haven't told you what I came to tell?you must listen and try to see it as I see It I*ct us he reasonable) and discuss the future in a?in a sensible and matter-of-fact way. If you will agree?" "I will not agreo *o It," she answered firmly. "Lot m? go, Mr. Gregory, there Is no need ever to bring up that subject." He had risen, and now In blank amazement, ho stared at her, repeat? ing. ' You will not agreo to It? To what? You are unreasonable. What aubject havo 1 brought up?" "It is very true that we ha,frt drifted too far apart to bo us we wcro in Up? beginning. But there Is still some? thing l?*ft to me. and this something I shall cling to as long as 1 can. 1 mean to avoid the publicity, the open expos? ure |k? shame Of Of ? SSglSOtSd wife" a; sMiN wkliuorsd (Jregorr. CftU ing back, "then somebody has told you about Springheld?It wqb Fran!" "1 don't know what you mean," she reti med, apparently without emotion. "What I mean is, that I shall never consent to a divorce." "A divorce? Good heavens, Lucy, are you mad? Do you think I want a separation because you disown the church? What have I ever done to make you imagine such an absurdity?" She answered gently, "Yes, it seems I misunderstood. But you said you wanted me to discuss the future in a matter-of-fact way, and I couldn't think of the future as having any other matter-of-fact solution." Gregory was hotly indignant "Lucy, if that is meant as an insinuation against?" Mrs. Gregory raised her hand com pellingly. "Do not speak any name," sho said, looking at him steadily. "I can endure much," she went on, in a milder tone, finding him silent; "I often wonder if many women could en? dure as silently?but there must never be a namo mentioned between us." j Her manner was so unwontedly final, that he stood looking at her, not knowing how to resume the pressing subject of his past. They were in that "My God! Then Somebody Has Told You About Springfield. It Was Fran!" same silent attitude when Grace Noir came in from the hall. Grace turned up the lights, and then ?"Oh!" It was impossible to prevent an unpleasant compresslor. of the mouth at discovering Gregory so near his wife. "Am I In tho way? I am looking for company, and I leard the doorbell?pleat'e excuse me!" she add? ed, biting oi the words. "Of course you are not in the way,' Gregory returned desperately. "Com? pany, you say? And you heard the doorbell?is Bob Clinton?" He grew white. "My eyes are bad, for some reason," he muttered, and switched off the lights again. "How very dark you have it in here!" said Grace reprovingly. "Of I course Mr. Clinton has been shown tho back-parlor, where it is light I ' will go to him there, and leave yon two?" she paused irresolutely, but neither apoke. i Grace had no sooner gone than Greg? ory with an effort found his voice. "Lucy, my conscience has tormented me until It will not let me rest?about you. It's right to know something more about my life than I have ever told?" "Right in there," said the maid's voice, from the hall, and Abbott Ash ton and Robert Clinton entered the half-light I While Robert was greeting Mrs. Oregory with exaggerated pleasure, in j order to escape facing her husband, Abbott spoke to the other with an odd sense of meanness, as if he partook, by mere nearness, of the other's cow? ardice, 'i wish to speak to you for a few minutes, Mr. Gregory." Gregory, like sn animal brought to bay. said. "I suppose you've some ex? cuse about playing cards with Fran." "More important than playing cards," Abbott returned. Gregory fought off tho Inevitable: "If you refer to losing your position at the public school?" . "No, Clinton has come home from Springfield, and we have a matter?" "It';, pressing business," spoke up i Robert, who all thL time had been I asking Mrs. Gregory if her mother was i well, ' Simon Jefferson was no worse, If Jran was hearty, If Grace Noir was at home?"and private business." "I havo no husiress." Mr. Gregory exclaimed, in fear, "that my wife need not know.' "This Is?" cried Robert. Then re? membering, he struck the keys a re? sounding chord. Mrs. Gregory was about to leave the room. "No, no!" exclaimed Mr. Gregory, starting to the door to Intercept her. "I want you to stay. I'll have no se? crets from you, Lucy. I wan' you to hear what these gentlemen have to Hay." He glared at Abbott as if daring him to apeak the words that must de? stroy hll wife's last foeble hold on her posltlou. "I hope Mrs. Gregory will excuse us," .;nid Abbott, smiling at her as cheerfully as b<> could, "but sh'? know . that there ere matters of business that women don't understand, or ears to learn. This Is something that re? lates merely to you, Mr. Oregory, and ourselves." ?Of course I understand you, Ab? bott." said Mrs. Gregory gently, "and Mr. Gregory Is wrong to insist on my interrupting h- men are always in the way?" Bho smiled, and. slipping around Gregory, had reached the door, When she tamo face to face with Glace Noir. entering, ai auh. of bei ?for Grace did not pause, but went over to the piano?Mrs. Gregory ap? parently reconsidered, and stepped to her husband's side. "So you did come," Grace said, smil? ing at Robert "Shall we go into the other room?" Robert reveled in her beauty, and to that extent his anger against Gregory flamed higher. "Pretty soon," he satd, "pretty soon, Miss Grace?in just twenty minutes?" he looked at his watch, then at Abbott. "I must tell you, Mr. Gregory," Ab? bott began rapidly, "that I had Just thirty minutes to consummate the matter with you?Just half an hour, when we came here, and ten minutes are already gone. Only twenty min? utes are left." "What do you mean by your twenty minutes being left?" Gregory blus? tered. Abbott spoke carefully, at the same time drawing a little farther away ; from the man he despised: "Bob has been to Springeld about that matter, you understand." "No, I don't," cried Gregory. "Or if I do?tell it out?all of it." "He has been to Springfield," Ab? bott went on, "and he got on tho in lids of the business, and the interests are determined that?that they will retaliate on you for your successes In the past, and at the same time be a help to Bob." "I don't understand," Gregory gasped blankly. "Me neither," muttered Robert. "It's very simple," Abbott main? tained. "The Springfield interests' want to give you a blow, and give Bob! a helping hand. Therefore, you are to transfer your.secretary to his store, where a bookkeeper is needed." "Oh, indeed," Interposed Grace Nolr! Icily. "I am a mere pawn, I presume, to be sent where I am wanted. But 11 would like to ask Mr. Clinton if he found out anything about Fran, while he was In Springfield?" "Fran is all she claims to be," Rob? ert declared bluntly. "All? You can prove she's no fraud?" I "My pockets are full of proofs," Robert exclaimed, looking significant-1 ly at Gregory. "Dear Fran!" murmured Mrs. Greg? ory with a sweet smile of reminis? cence. "Abbott," Mr. Gregory gasped, as he began to realize the compromise that was offered, "you have always been my friend?and you have been inter? ested in my charities?you know how Important my secretary is to my work. It is true that I did wrong, years ago ?very wrong?it is true that I bitter? ly?what shall I say??antagonized the I interests at Springfield. But that was long ago. Am I to be punished now?" "Mr. Gregory," said Abbott, clearly and forcibly, "I bavo nothing to do with any punishment, I have nothing to do with demanding the release of your "ecretary. I am a mere agent of the interests, sent to you to demand that your secretary be dismissed in the morning; and if you cannot see your way to promise me now that you will dismiss her, my office is ended. If you can promise to send her away, I give you my word the transactions shall be forever hushed up, so far as we are concerned. If you cannot prom? ise, all will be revealed at once." "In just ten minutes," said Robert Clinton, consulting his watch. Grace stood 'ooking &t Gregory as if turned to stone. She had listened in? tently to every word as it fell from Abbott's lips, but not once had she turned her head to look at him. "You are cruel," Gregory flared out, "you are heartless. If I send away the only one who is In perfect knowl? edge and sympathy with my arork?" "Then you refuse?" "Of course I refuse. "11 not permit the work of years to perish because of an unreasonable and preposterous demand. You wouldn't exchange your position here for Bob's grocery, would I you, Miss Graes?" he ended appeal I ingly. I "Yes?if you dismiss me," Grace an I swered, her eyes smoldering. "Lucy"?Gregory was almost beside ( himself?"tell her she must stay?tell these men we cannot go on with our ' work, without her." Not for worlds would Mrs. Gregory ' have betrayed her eagerness for "irace to go, but for no consideration would 1 ahe have asked her to stay. "Mr. "In Just Ten Minutes." Gregory," sho responded, "I cannot concoive of your being in (he powor of business intercuts to such an extent as to drive you to anything that seems like taking your heart's blood." "I refuse!" cried Gregory, again. "Of course I refuse." "Very well." said Abbott, turning. "Hut what are you going to do?" Gregory asked shrinkingly V"I shall go now; my endeavor to straighten uut things or rather to kefeD everything peaceful and, forgot" ten?comes to nothing, it seems. Good evening, Mrs. Gregory." "But wait! Wait! Let us discuss this alone?" "It is useless now, for the time has expired." "That's right," Clinton confirmed, clicking to his watch. "And all of it is going to ho told? Everything?" "Unless you will dismiss your sec? retary." "But you insult Mlsn Grace to speak in that way. Good Leavens, Abbott, what are you doing? How can you insult that?the best woman in the world?" There was a moment's silence. Then Mrs. Gregory turned to her husband and said quietly, "If Miss Noir is the best woman in the world, you should be the last man in the world to say so." He covered his face with his hands. "Everybody has turned against me," he complained. "I am the most miser? able man on earth because for mere caprice, for mere spite, for no earthly good. It is the determination of people who have lost positiors and the like, to drive me wild." Robert Clinton thumped the keys of the piano with one hand. "Why, hello, Mr. Bob!" cried Fran, dancing into the room. "So you're back, are you?" She shook hands breezily. "Come back, Abbott, come back!" called Gregory, discovering that the young man was indeed going. "You know what I must do, if you drive me to the wall. I am obliged to do what you say. State the condition again if you have the courage to say it aloud." "The past will be forgotten," said Abbott solemnly, "if you give your word that your secretary shall'go in the morning." "And you'll take me In her place," spoke up Fran decidedly. ! "The time is up," said Clinton harsh? ly. "It's too late now, for I shall tell?" I "I promise, I promise!" Gregory cried out, in an agony of fear. "I promise. Yes, I'll dismiss her. Yes, she shall go! Yes, let Fran have the place." "Do I understand you to dismiss me, Mr. Gregory?" asked Grace, in a low concentrated tone, leaning slight? ly forward. Fran turned on the lights to their fullest extent, and loosed about with an elf sh smile. Hamilton Gregory was mute. "I have your promise," said Abbott, bowing gravely. "That s enough." "Yes," groaned Gregory, "but it is infamous." Fran looked at Abbout Insci itably. "Third time's the chanr," a whisper. "I'm proud c time, Abbott." Grace turned with cold d moved slowly toward th ? hall door. Fran slipped between Clinton and the piano, and began to play softly, carelessly with one hand, while she Watched the retreating figure. In a very short time, Gregory found himself alone in the parlor. Abbott and Clinton had withdrawn rather awkwardly. Mrs. Gregory had melted away unobtrusively, and Fran, last of all, had given the piano a final bang, and darted out of the house. Gregory stood pale and miserable.1 It seemed as if all the world had de? serted him. The feature without Grace would be as dreary as now seemed his past with Fran's mother. He suffered horribly. Was suffering all that life liad left for him? Per? haps he was reaping?but is there no end to the harvest? One sows in so brief a time; is the garnering eternal? A bell rang, but he was not curious. Voices ounded at the front door, foot? steps psssed, then silence once more? silence and despair. Gregory went to the open window, and leaned heavily on the sill, taking great breaths, star? ing dully. Footsteps were heard again. They were near by. They stopped at the door?they were hers. Gregory -start? ed up with v. low cry of reanimated : hope. Whatever happened?he was about to see Grave Noir once more. (TO BE CONTINUED.) CLERKS ROB NEW YORK RANK. i Jume* Edward Foyo Charged with Taking Over a Million Dollars from Farmers* Loan and Security Com? pany. New York, Nov. 26.?James Edward Foye, a clerk of the Farmers' Loan and Security Company, who was ac? cused of the theft of over a million dollars today defies his accusers to prove the charges. He was prepar? ing to go to Europe when arrested. He said today, "I worked for the Trust Company for $7.*? per month. They knew T was 35 years old and should have known that a man cannot hon? estly live on Buch Pay. They can't get me on it either." Police state that a certified check t?>r |97,500 was found In his pocket when Foye was search? ed. Naval Csdetshlp Vacant. I will hold B competitive examina? tion at Columbia, s. c. on December :'lst, to till the vacancy :<t the Naval Academy from the 7th District. Onlj bona Ilde residents of the 7th Dis trlct arc eligible t<> take this exam ination. For further InfortQattOI and permission t<> take the exsmina tlon, \\tit<- me ;>t Washington. 1 >. C. A. F. LEVEK .M. c. Seventh J ? ANIMAL THAT NEVER DRINKS Not a Drop Ever Passes the Brazil* lan Porcupine's Lips. Kansis City Star. An animal that never drinks has ar? rived in London. Undoubtedly it Is tho first and only one, and all London is rushing to see it. Naturally such a curiosity is confined in tho zoo. "Wot a hun'appy beast it is! No wonder its bristles stick out like that." remarks a man who has just drawn the back of his hand across his mouth. *"E do look drier than me Sunda; 'at," assented his companion. Temperance advocates use the new? comer to point a moral and adorn a tale, "Behold the lesson that he i:each eth! Never a drop passes his 11 pa Would that there were men in London that could say as much!" It remains to be seen whether this Brazilian tree porcupine will taJce to drink now that he has been separated from his South American habitat and brought to the gloomy and chill pur? lieus of London. If he does demand drink, what will he choose? Maybe some of the curious visitors will sur? reptitiously ply him with a little ale or gin or some other London beverage to see its effect upon an animal that has never had a drop of anything to drink. In his native Brazil this animal feeds upon the bark and leaves of trees, and the natives are very fond of its tlesh. It has a prehensile tall, which serves as a fifth band. "Proof of the Pudding." A group of negroes stood in front of a little grocery store in a country town, admiring the display of "water milyvris" lying out on the platform. For a while they discussed the fine ?oints of the different "milyuns," and finally the argument settled into whether or not one man could eat the biggest melon in the pile, which weighed about twenty-five pounds. While this discussion was going on, a long lank darky joined them. "What you-all disputin' about?" he inquired. "*Ve's jest argyin,'" replied one, "whether or not one man could eat that there milyun all by himself." "Shucks," boasted the newcomer, "I could eat that milyun, and It wouldn't be a si ictc A v. hlte ;i is .. who ha d overt* eard ti.c remarks ?ned to the lor\g, lank "ark v. ??\\r.v, yp? fool* nigger,*1 he said, melon at one time! I'll bet you can't" "What yo* bet?" asked the darkey. "Ill tell you what I'll do," proposed the white man. "If you'll eat it all* I'll pay for it; but if you don't yon pay for it." The negro was a little cautious. "What does that milyun cost?" he asked the storekeeper, who had saun? tered out on the platform. It was priced 25 cents. The darky scratch? ed his head in doubt for a minute. "I'll tell you what I'll do, boas." he said to the white man. "If yo'-all lemme go down to my house a little bit, I'll tell yo' whether I kin eat that milyun. I won't be gone more'n five or ten minutes. The white man consented, and in about ten minutes the negro return? ed and announced his readiness to take the wager. He ate the melon, scraped the rind and drank the juice. "Well, you sure wir?," said the white man in admiration for hia capacity. But now I would like to know why you went down to your house." "I done it all right, ain't I?" said the negro, a little uneasily. ? You certainly have," assured the white man. You have won. But I just wanted to know from curiosity why yen went to the house." "Well," I'll tell yo' boss. Ca niggers ain't got no money to lose, a?.d I want? ed to be sure. I had a milyun about this size down to my house, and I knowed if 1 could eat it, I could eat Us one. So I went home and tried it."?Judge. Christmas "Fixings" In Various Parts of the Country. In a little article entitled "Christ? mas 'Fixings' " in the December Wo? man's Homs Companion, Bertha Bel? lows Btreeter enumerates, as follows, various plants and vines that are used at Chr stmss time in different parts of ths country: "In almost every part of the coun? try there are decorative plants and vines that can he used at Christ? ians time For instance, there are the ground pine, privet, pepper trees, laurel, wild smllsx, the polnsottiS. red Immortelles, holly, mistletoe. Orgeon grape, white birch hark, spruce, box? wood, and conifers. I have even known of sage brush and greases be* Ing used, the former dyed green and ihe hitter red; and beautiful effects they gave, too, after being twined about balusters, pinned to white cur? tain-, and mads into wreaths." Tt is an impossible task to keep th* streets clear vt 1cun?3 St prsftftt