.wp?- ' ; , ff ' "" ' T ' ' - v / :' ' ' "; 'jMK ^V- " i)1 -> -S* / rUK*y~ if f 2^ 7 ' ^ -/ ? " ^>3 I .. ZN .. - P |7 _ :fr ====== rlvTHE TOWN OF UNION R| S3 tf ^ "B" *T^ "TIB *~T TT f ^ ~(B """ * ~H "IB M " ?* /^A OUTSIDE OF THE CITY ItBrgc Cotton Milln, ona Knitting il *3 to K3 I ? 9 ffi la ^ 9 9 Mru /m , ^ Tlirc~ f'otton Mills, one Knitting Mill nad Dye Plant, one Oil Mill, H R Ej BjJ m. I I B m B jn/@ Mill, another building, Gold Mill% rvixhy*7Jr'"r'tt* 9 1 I 11 j I l I II 1 I I WI s 11 k T ' * ",m,s*"r'n'sGr*d i He stood by tlie end of the table, and we' fell into n sort of group itround it The light wns above, and it showed Our inverted images in the black and polished surface. f1t wns nil in the past" said Donald "X feared that it might be so. I cannot help you, Mr. Kelvin, further than tc assure- you that tlje deed of transfei once existed nnd that it came into th'< possession of the rightful owner ol this property after having been in tin hands of-.a rascal. This I judgo by tin scene lt^Gffc, I UuqjvNothing of th< pOOplG.V ' < VCom^Mtartfe^y. "That's wohtl * /-kstory.'!. beside- me B 4W*hou idpr. JufmgM Brh,o spui ami point flH Bpeclions in the table ^^B^^H^^HKiinty wo an iopkec * ^IMHMRRo the best 1 can-k salt i, "^""fyonald, witli something like a groan "This takes the life out of me, but 1'1 have to go through with it' somehow It's as if I saw this room, but a goo< deal different,#of course. This table i; hero, and there is a single candle burn jng upon it. Beside the table is a mni slttinir in a chair. He seems to liavi ft sort of light sack coat on over si par of a military uniform, lie Is ver; broad in the shoulders, lie's one o the strongest looking men that ever saw, though not very tall, I shouh judge, lie has a little black mustach that Is too small for his face. It look ridiculous on a man with such si heuv, juw." "That's West cot t ? Norman West cott!" gasped Ilunn. "When I was : boy"? ponald went on without seeming t fjear this interruption. "I never saw a man sit so still," sai he. "It startled me at lirst. I thougli he was dead. After quite a long titn another man conn s into the room?th man whom I described to you thi morning. lie looks scared; ho ha a pistol in his hand, lie conies i by that window, and the other mai seems to see him without looking thn way. "'Have you brought it?' ho nsk without a movement except of his lip: The other seems to go into a sort c panic. He walks up to the table like crab, the pistol in his left hand an that side of him coming foremost. "'Yes; I've got it,' he says, and the ho breaks into ;i sort of harangue. 'N tricks!' ho erics over and over agaii 'You'll do as you say?Westcott!' "That's the oflicor's name?Wes CQtt." "And the other's Walmslcy!" exelain ed Rutin. ])onaki looked up dreamily. "Wainislcy?" lie repeated. "Win was I saying?" "Keep quiet, everybody," said Reed; "Don't break in. This is too big tiling to be fooled with. 'No tricks that's what you said. lie Was afral the other fellow would do him out c something." ponald looked down at the table an put his fingers lightly upon the scar i It before lie proceeded. "'You shall have your price, Walm Ia..? ..obi Wi h.o.l olw.ll Inni 1UJ', DMK1 ?? ? Pltuu, IIIM& J\JU ninill IVil t tlilH room with it in your pocket, ami will not put the law upon you for th Crime. I give you my word as an ofl cer ami a gentleman. I'ut the deed c the table.' "'The money first,' said Walmsley. "Westcott had had both his banc' under the table. He withdrew the le hand and throw down a little bai Walmsley, still holding Ids pistol, mai aged to open the string that fastonc the mouth of the bag, and he pourc out the gold coins upon the table. The he counted them off with his rlgl hand, putting each into his pocket. "'It's right,' he said, 'and here's tl deed.' "Ho took it from th? llTKtSt ?? It CONFIDENTIAL. a ri^;ht to expect that ess will be treated as DENTIAI im to protect their interest itimate manner. )N & SON, Bankers. i? _ . [ r- -r- . ... - l:"rg a tor:/.rear J c;.J [\r>L.-ut!cn of the Seven i\lyitcrics f.'oiv AsfOciatfJ Willi IRs Name In (he Public fC-4, and of an fljhth, > *. VYliicii is tfMr Key of the Seven son. jr. s>. By HOWARD FIELDING \ N cont and laid It before Westcott. A? ^ ' /11 ijht'he <:rii certain spot. a ; "l cannot understand what insane impulse moved Walinsley, but ho o reached forward to snatch the deed. I think he must have meant to get p d anyway, protected by his pistol; to pet it the money, display the document and e then treacherously take it again in ore dor to have a hold upon the other, s and his mind was so set upon this act s that he performed it mechanically in n his terror, forgetting the loss of his it weapon. t ""Wei-toott made a sudden sweep with his right arm, incredibly rapid. 1 can S hear the whistling sound of his sword s. in the air. He had keen holding a cav>f airy saher Utah r the tahle. Walmsloy's a lingers were closed upon the deed*and d he was drawing it toward lntn. Those lingers, long mid yellow, remained n elasped ahout that hit of paper, even o after the hand fell away from the i. arm, severed clean hy the strongest blow I ever saw or dreamed of." <* \ t- There was a pause during whit jl was aware that every one breathed t- rather hard, including myself. "Walinsley screamed, hut not very loudly," continued Donald. "It was the it quick cry of horror and surprise, lie stared at his own hand, lying there y. upon the table. In tin instant Westcott a caught him and ripped his right slioultier and arm hare, lie had everything (1 ready, and lio worked with great skill, if lie put a tight bandage around the nriu above the elbow; then lie did someid tiling to the wrist, tying up the severed 11 arteries, I suppose. When this was done and the stump wrapped in cloths, r. he picked Wahnsley up in ids arms, e for the man had fainted, and carried I ' him out through that window." IS , "To the doctor's, of course," said IP Dunn. m "I have not followed him," responded Donald. "I have seen nothing that happened outside this room. Wait!" 1r lie cried suddenly. "Westcott is comft ing back. He takes the hand from the [?. table, the deed still in it. Ity the Etera nail" >d lie sprang toward the wall and pallid ed away a movable bookcase that had n been put in since the Kelvins' advent, it How lie could liavc swung It away from the wall I really do not know, for le the tiling witli its load of hooks must have been a great weight. J- "Kight there!" he cried, striking with nis icit nana upon the wall. "He put It there!" We all ran forward and examined the paneled wall, which seemed to be perfectly solid, but Iteedy sounded it In the place Indicated by Donald and declared that it was suspiciously hollow. After perhaps ten minutes' work, which showed him to be very expert in such matters, the detective found a spring controlling a panel which opened outward, revealing a recess containing the dust of many old papers and some parchments well enough preserved. There was also the right hand of n man long dead, and the boi.y fingers still clasped that deed 'of transfer which Norman Westcott had bought of Ezra Walmslcy, the miser. " ' *' - CHAPTER XIII. 4 "Tni ' D1?IBS OF THE. MOTH Trt$ STAR.* V THE affair of the misei^hiind made a great stir. Dijpvef have been able to traucftiie ways by which it got Into print, but within* thirty-Six hours the newspapers seemed to be full of it. 1 should not have regretted very seriously the. publication of the exact facts, but the controversy which resulted was somewhat annoying. Donald suffered, but he bore it well. He was beset by interviewers and persons with cameras; all sofrts of absurd tests were proposed to hiL; he received letters f*-om many serlapa minded Investigators and A multitude of cranks, and ' there were several proposals from theatrical managers who wished to exhibit blin. The photographers secured plenty of snapshots, but the Interviewers were obliged to depend upon their own Imaginations, for Donald wpuld not say u word to any of them. All Tunbrldge become a debating society, though there was far less skepticism than 1 should have expected. My mniu concern is with the attitude of two persons, both of whom were elleve I that he would kc this an excuse for deserting cm i?rty, to which he had pledged allegiance before the incident arose. "I think that Donald is carrying this matter a little too far," said Carl. "It Js true that he doesn't seem to, he doing 1 any harm, but we can't be sure that be won't, because we don't know the notive which has led him Into all this wonder-working." "Why don't you ask him?" said I. ''I wish that you would," bo fepllud very earnestly, "tie's outsldo. Cull him In." "It won't do any good," said I. "Try It," he rejoined. lie got up on a chair and looked I iK- -I - - wiu Kin?? Ul U10 partition which Ih between my room n?\ WE ARE here to stay ami we sol accommodation consist Interest Raid 0:1 I Herchants and Plant 1 bring them < I t s< put to 1 in t!:! s::f >. NVI. n ; u have tlone sm. change *' r!* 'tl"' iy ' i : ,0 ' tin in in a place wher I 'M gvi Ha ni y ami at : d v. :< i '11 a I t'll.. vl: Vu el . ! at I ill t1: :: ftcrnt tt'l. i d !'. ! . 1 ' '( ?>v but b: fatII: n ! t'u'csi'.1 ;i:-?l wii'.i a 1 Illness. < "' I . Br.t what v.v.s tin* valta < t e? pa As I 1 w know t it nodiit:-;. I will not cm! 1:0:1 >' ; - s t!o:t. tlietn.li >l i red. 1 at t! ; no. l be ?>;:{> i ...be." A n I < .a! i . as tl. it Isaac T!! dy! !.- < 1 bet ; . r 1' : 1 III the ( 'T; ;-i : t'c.M. t 11_ 11 !: t!.: !' \ <.::! ! ' i;y .! > ini'.i"v- ' c ?m ... v.i: . i : \ ' U i' 1" tr> ll'i :*:>!: : .Imw i\ i >]'.' : else!;.- as D : .1! ! I i do. and by 2 in fh" : :"i? :i :!m pap>rs reposed in inv (1 (' ; of wide!; would answer only to vlcieilcc or t? my own hand. That evening I) : skid me very particularly w!i ?t!i:>r I had f .'.lowed liia instructions. ; :>r;l to re.-: rn the matter as egtivmely imp i : r.:t. ami he took me into the ill rnry to speak the more privately. though there was no one about. for Donaldson lia'l gone to his room and Dorothy and Carl to a neighbor's house. We sat together in a window looking out nt the moonlight which was Hoodill,7 over t'.ic so >f of tlie long. law house ami pouring down theslopaof the lawn heyoiul in n great white stream. Suddenly 1 heard steps upon the path that ran in the shadows below the window, and a voice cried. "Dorothy!" The tone was strange, and some how it went to my heart. "Carl and my little mother," said Donald; "they're coming hack." He loft the window and walked out j of the room. I was vaguely glad that he should go and was. indeed, prompted to follow him. hut somehow I could not do so. Carl and Dorothy had stopped below the window. As the room was dark, tliey could not lmvo suspected that any one was within bearing of their voices. After the single word which I had <>verheard there was silence for nearly a minute. "Carl." said Dorothy, speaking as one who lias summoned up strength to meet an emergency, "I won't have this. It shall not he so." "You refuse to listen to me," lie responded. "You will not let ine sneak." "I care nothing for that," she answered. "t can protect myself from your addresses. What 1 won't have is the fact! The thing shan't be true." "I don't understand you," said he almost in a whisper. "You are spoiling something that Is too good to he spoiled," she answered. "Look at our life here in this house. See how this man, once loveless and alone, has gathered around him those who love him. See how beautiful a lifo we lead under his roof. Why, Carl, you and 1 have played together as innocently as if we were children. ITavc you the heart to bring such common Infamy as this into a scene so sweetV "It isn't infamy," lie protested. "My love for you"? "Say blasphemy, if you prefer the word," she cried. "It seems to me like that when uttered in this little corner of the world that has been sacred as r M m "Il'c will not timtrrclmid he Ithe very prcgeuce of UoU In lila own s. XlXf IT IAV.) wo haven't the largest hank all the business of the country, good people of the county with easonahlo demands, with capital til vuur wants. or< 1, that begun years ago; a record fair business methods, it-it your patronage, ottering every cut with good banking. 'irne Deposits. ers National Bank. temple to inc. lie sane and honest, far!. How can ,vou deliberately sacrifice the friendship of my husband and of Mr Harrington, to say nothing of inineV" "As fur you. Dorothy," he replied with an emotion of which 1 would uot have thought him capable, "I cannot he your friend, tSod knows that Phave tried." "If Clod had known it." said site, "you would nut have failed, lie would have given you the strength to succeed. No; you have not tried." "I ennt-.ot he your friend." insisted s for I ho friendship of the o! hers, do you fancy that 1 shall tell till ill V "Do you fancy thai 1 shan't?" retort- ^ etl i> n>,hy, uluiosi i.i tears from sliaino ami r..,;i\ "How dare you Hint that I would share a secret with you and exciudo in> husband? i wouldn't do it if it were about a piat of peanuts, and you should have found that out by this time." 1 had a glimpse of Carl at this moment, and his faee was so white that It seemed to shine. "You wiil tell Idm," said he slowly. "It is honorable. Hut upon the other hand 1 v.as equally bound in honor to till you." "You were hound in honor not to have any such thing to tell," replied Dorothy with spirit. "\Yc will nt)t quarrel," sa'd he sadly. "I have only one word more to say. The time must soon conic when I shall offer you the deepest sympathy of my heart. 4 cannot offer it to you in the name of friendship. 1 won't lie to you. That is why I tell you now that I love you." "It soonts to ifie that if you foresee trouble coining to me you have now put it out of your power to help me. Hut what do you mean? Do you cxlieet harm In emiu> In mv IihuIkih/IV' "Will you keep the secretV" "Not from liiin," she answered firmly. "If there is good reason, I will keep it from everybody else." "I cannot speak on such terms," said Carl. "Indeed, I would hotter not speak on any terms. 1 have lost your esteem. I cannot count upon your help. You would distrust me. Hut, Dorothy, remember this: There is some one very near ami dear to you?much dearer than he has any right to be?whom It have honestly tried to save, but I havefailed." Dorothy was more bewildered than, alarmed. "I know that my husband has lost money," she said. "Mr. Dunn lias led kltn into a very foolish investment. lie may suffer heavily, but it will be no, such catastrophe as you imagine." This, by the way, was the first hfnt t had received that Donaldson bad gonewit h Dunn into a certain wild dream of finance which 1 will here describe simply as the Ilarbrook Land company. I had earnestly advised Donaldson against It. and 1 suppos/ that ho had heeded my warning. As for Dunn, I understood that ho had drawn out with a niarvelously small loss. My conscience had been dragging me away from that window; now It dragged mcv hack again. "That is but a small part thetrouble," said Carl. And then suddenly: "Dorothy, don't disclose this. You will regret it. 1 have spoken to you from really good motives, even though they may seem to be mistaken, and in the strictest confidence." [to he continued.] ' May Have Been Either. "What do you think of that fellow? Lie has actually gone to work." "You don't say! We'll have to cut his acquaintance, for wo would be di? fcKivm II lit' n rru Si't'll Willi llllll." Now whether the above conversation took |>lnoc between two tramps or two society dudes. Flutter-Budget, Flutter-budget llics f^Vfov: t through tbo pnrli r to tile hnlK li.u k anil forth anil in anil out, bounding like a rubber ball, chasing both her kittens round papa's . chair while papa smokes, making kitty leap unit hountl to cvado her clever strokes. Flutter-budget doesn't rare whether kitty likes the play; papa, reading In the ehalr, Is Invited to go 'way If ho doesn't like the fan she Is having with the kits; he Is told she'll soon bo done; Just he patient where he sits. Papa takes the little girl with the kittens in her arm. gives her such a sudden whirl Flutter erles out In alarm, finds herself outside the door, where she and the kittens choke: "Oh, dear, pussens, what a bore! Papa cannot take u Joke."