"By tho Wjy, Urs. Conway Dropped in the Vfhlli you
Were Away."
: * /II ' i iUUSntATMONS *y AT. (Z.fCeJT*\ M
SYNOPS'S.
I *
Bta*eljy, lawyer, goes to
Pittsburg wUh the forged notes in the
lironsoo rase to get the deposition >f
John Gitinore. millionaire. A lady re
quest* Bbikelejr to buy her a Pullman
tleket ftv gives lier lowur 11 und re
tains lower M He finds a drunken man
In Inwer I# ami retires In lower
I. He *w.»krno In lower 'r- and
fli:d« his clothes and bug missing. Tho
mm In lower 10 is found murdered t'lr
ci'nifttnntlill evldetwe points to both
lilakejoy and the n»an who stole his
clothes. The train h» wrecked and Blrtke
lej: Is rescued from a burning-cur by a
girl In blue Ills arm la broken. Tho girl
proves to be Alison lVest, his partner's
sweetheart. Blakcley returns home and
flnrt-i he Is under surveillance. Moving
pl«-i|iros of the train taken Just before
the wreek reveal to IMiikrlby a man leap
ing (rain tho train wltlt his stolen grip.
Investigation proves that the man's name
is Knlllvan Mrs. CorTWay, tile worilftn for
whom lllokeley bought a Pullman ticket,
tries to make a bargain with him for tho
forced notes, not knowing that (hey are
itilsMn*. Ttlakelejr und an amateur de
tective Investigate Che home of Sullivan's
ulster. Kroin a urrvant Blakeley learns
that Alison West hn«t been there on a
visft at*l fioNlvarr hnd been nttontlve to
her. Suttlvnn Is the husband a( a d.lujh-
ItT of the murdered man.
CHAPTER XXV.—Continued.
Against both t:f these theories, 1 ae
cuaa a purely chimerical person
ns.Tcd Sullivan, who was not seen
by any of th«> survivors—save one,
Alison,« whom t could r.ot bring into
the case. I could find a motive for
tot» cindering his father-in-law, whom
fcc hstod. but aguia—I would havo
to drag in the glrL
And not o:io of the theories ex
pl.ilrtcd tho telegram r.:id the broken
ceck face.
Outside the office force was tirriv-
Irg 1 bey were comfortuhfy ignorant
of my presence, and over t!:c transom
floated scraps of dialogue and the
stenographer's gurgling laugh. Mc-
Knight had a relative., who was read-
Ins law with htm. in the intervals be
tween calling up tho young women of
hU acquaintance He cumo in sing
irs. and the oltieo boy Joined In y. ith
the uncertainty of voice of 15. 1
smiled grimly. I was too busy with
cry own trouWo» to find any Joy In
opening the door and startling them
into silence. I even heard, without
resentment, IWobs of tho uncertain
voice inquire when "l>lako" would be
buck.
I hoped McKnight would be
fore the arrest occurred. There were
ttMty thinof to arrange. But when at
last, impatient of his delay, I tele
phoned. i (ound he had been gone for
mane than an hour. Clearly he was
aot coming directly* to tfco office, and
with such resignation as I could
tncster I paced tho floor and waited.
I felt mere alone tho,n I havo ever
felt in my life. "Horn tn orphan," as
Richey said. 1 had made my own way.
«cjttc4 out myself such success as
had boea mine. I had built up my
house of Hfa on the props of law and
order, and now some unknown hand
h«d withdrawn tho supports, and 1
stood among ruins.
I suppose ft to the maternal in a
woman that make: a man turn to her
when everything else falls. The eter
nal boy in him goes to have his
wounded pride bandagod, his tattered
Mlf-respect repaired. If he loves the
woman, be wants her to kiss the hurt
The longing to see Alison, always
with me. was stronger than 1 wai
that morning, ft might be that 1
would cot seo her agfcln. I had noth
tag to km- to her save one thing, and
that, under the cloud that hung over
mo, I did not dare to say. Hut I want
ed to 800 her, to touch her hand—»a
only a lonelx • man can crave It, I
wanted tho comfort of her, the peace
that lay In her presonce. And so, with
every step outside tho door a threat,
1 telephoned to her.
Bhe was gone! The disappoint
ment wau great, for niy need was
great. In a fury of revolt against the
scheme of things, I heard that she
had started home to Richmond —but
that she might still bo caught at the
station.
To see her had by that tlmo become
an obsession. I picked up my hat,
threw open the door, and, obvious of
tho sh«(ck to the office force of my
presence,"* followed so immediately
by my exit, I "dashed out to the ele
vator. As 1 went down In cago
I caught a glimpse of Johnson and
two other men gulnjj up in tho next.
I hardly gave them a thought. There
was no hansom In sight, and 1 Jumped
on n passing car. Let come what
might, nrrest, prison, diegr. I was
going to see Alison.
1 saw her. 1 (lung into tho station,
saw that It was empty—empty, for
sho was not there. Then I hurried
back to tho gates. Sho was there, a
familiar figure in blue', the very gown
in which I always thought of her. tho
one she had worn when. Heaven help
me—l hail kissed her, -nt the Carter
larm. And she was not alono. Bend
ing over her, talking earnestly, with
all hl boyish heart in his face, was
Hlchey.
They did not see mo, and I was
glad of It. After all. It had been
McKnlght's game first. I turned on
my heel and made my way blindly
out of the station. Hefore 1 lost them
I turned onee and looked toward
them, standing; apart from the crowd,
! absorbed in each other. They were
I the only two people on earth that I
| cared about, and I left them
I nether. Then I went back miserably'
to the office and awaited arrest.
CHAPTER XXVI.
On to Richmond.
Strangely enough, I was uot dis
j turbed that day McKnight did not
; appear at ail. 1 sat at my desk and
j,transacted routine business all after
noon, working with feverish energy.
I Like a man on the verge of a critical
| illness or a hazardous Journey, I
cleared up my correspondence, paid
j bills until I had writer's oramp from
| signing checks, read over my will, and
puld up my life Insurance, made to
the benefit of an elderly sister of my
mother's.
1 no longer dreaded arrest. After
that morning in the station, I felt that
anything would be a relief from the
tension. I went home with perfect
openness, courting the warrant thaj
I knew was waiting, but waa not
molested. The delay puzzled me. The
j early part of tho evening was unevent
j ful. 1 read until late, with occa
»! slonal lapses, when my book lay at
I I my elbow, and I smoked and thought.
1 Mrs. Klopton closed the house with
i j ostentatious caution, about eleven,
: | and hung around waiting to enlarge
11 oa-'the outrageousness of tho police
- j search. I did not enconraga her.
11 "One would think," she concluded
pompously, one foot In the hall, "that
you were something you oughtn't to
be, Mr. Lawrence. They acted aa
though you had committed a crime."
"I'm not sure that I didn't, Mrs.
Klopton," I said wearily. "Somebody
did, and the general verdict seems to
point my way."
She stared at me In speechless In
dignation. Then she flounced out.
She came back once to aay that the
paper predicted cooler weather, and
that she had put a blanket on my bed,
but, to her disappointment, I refused
to reopen the subject.
At half-past eleven McKnlght and
Hotehklss came in. Rlchey has a
habit of stopping his car In front of
the bouse and honking until some one
comes out. He has a code of signals
with the horn, which I never remem
ber. Two long and a Short blast
mean, I believe, "Send out a box of
cigarettes," and six short blasts,
which sound like a police call, mean
"Can you lend me some money?" To
night I knew something was up, for
he got out and rang the door-bell like
a Christian.
They came into the library, and
Hotehklss wiped his cpllar until it
gleamed. McKnlght was aggressively
cheerful.
"Not pinched yet!" he exclaimed.
"What do you think of that for luck!
You always were a fortunate devil,
Lawrence."
"Yes," I assented with some bitter
ness, "I hardly know how to contain
myself for Joy sometimes. I suppose
you know" —to Hotehklss—"that the
police were here while we were at
Creason, lyid that they found the bag
that 1 brought from the wreck?"
"Things are coming to a head," he
Bald thoughtfully, "unless a little plan
that I have In mind—" he hesitated.
"I hope so; I am pretty nearly des
perate," I said, doggedly. "I've got a
mental toothache, and the sooner It's
pulled the better."
"Tut, tut," sadl McKnlght, "think
of the disgrace to the firm if Hs senior
member goes up for life, or—" he
twisted his handkerchief Into a nooso,
and went through an elaborate pan
tomime. '
"Although Jail Isn't so bad, any
how," he finished, "there are fellows
that get the habit and koep going
back and going back." He looked at
his and 1 fancied his cheerful
ntss was strained. Hotehklss was
nervously fumbling my book.
"Did you ever read the Purloined
Letter, Mr. Blakeley?" he inquired
"Probably, years ago," I said. "Po%
Isn't It?" •*
Ho was choked at my indifference.
"It Is a masterpiece," he said, with
enthusiasm. "I re-read It to-day."
"And what happened?"
"Then 1 Inspected tho rooms In the
house ofT Washington Circle. I—l1 —I
made some discoveries, Mr. Blakeley.
For one thing, our man there is left
handed." He looked around for our
approval. "There was a small cush
ion on the dresser, and the scarf-l
pins In it had been stuck in with the 1 ,
loft hand."
"Somebody may have twisted the 5
cushion," I objected, but he looked
hurt, and I desisted.
"There Is only ono discrepancy," he I
admitted, "but it troubles me. Ac- j
cording to Mrs. Carter, at the farm- 1
house, our nyin wore gnudy pajamas, j
while 1 found here only the most se
verely plain night-shirts."
"Any buttons off?" McKnlght In-j
quired, looking again at his watch.
"The buttons were there." the ama-1
teur detective answered gravely, "but
the buttonhole next the top one was
torn through."
McKnlght winked st me furtively. '
"I convinced of one thing,"
Hotehklss went on, clearing his
throat, "the papers sre not in that
room. Hither he carries them with j
him, or he has sold them."
A sound on the street, made both
my visitors listen sharply. Whatever
It was It passed on, however. I was
growing curious and the restraint was
telling on McKnlght. He has no
talent for secrecy. In the Interval we
discussed the strange occurrence at
Cresson, which lost nothing by Hoteh
klss' dry narration.
"And so," he concluded, "the wom
an In the Baltimore hospital Is the
wife of Henry Sullivan and the daugh
ter of the man ho murdered No won
der he collapsed when he heard of
the wreck
"Joy, probably," McKnlght put In.
"Is that clock right, Lawrence? Never
mind, it doesn't matter. By th* way,
Mrs. Conway dropped in tho office yes
terday, wlille you were away."
"What!" 1 sprang from my chair.
"Sure thing. Said she had heard
great things of us, and wanted us to
handle her case against the railroad."
"I would like to know what she is
driving at," I reflected. "Is she try
ing to reach me through yr.u?"
Rlchey's flippancy is often a cloak
for deeper feeling. He dropped it
now. "Yes," he said, "she's after the
notes, of course. And I'll tell you I
felt like a poltroon—whatever that
may be —when 1 turned her down.
She stood by the door with her face
white, and told me contemptuously
that I could save you from a murder
charge and wouldn't do it She made
me feel like a cur. I was Just as
guilty as if I could have obliged her.
She hinted that thoro were reasons
and she laid my attitude to beastly
motives." t
"Nonsense," I said, as easily aa 1
could. Hotehklss had gone to the
window. "She was excited. There
are no 'reasons,' whatever, ah«
means."
Rlchey put his hand on my shoul
der. "We've been together too long t
let any 'reasons' or 'unreasons' com
between us, old man," be said, noi
very steadily.
Hotehklss, who had been silent
here came forward In his most lu
preselve manner. Ift pat his hands
under his coat-Calls and soughed.
"Mr. Blakatoy," ha hagaa, "by Mr.
McKnighfs adrlce 'r» have arranged
a little Interview !kere (Might. IX
all has gone as I planned. Mr. Henry
Pinckney Sullivan la by this ttme un
der arrest Within a very faw mln»
utee —he will be hare." «
"J wanted to talk to htm before ha
was locked np,' Rlchey explained.
"He's clever enough to be worth
knowing, and. Resides, I'm not so
cocksure of Ms guilt as our friend the
patch on the seat of government. No
murderer worthy of the n%pie needs
six different motives for tha same
crime, beginning with robbery, sad
ending with an unpleasant father-in
law."
We were all silent for awhile. Mo-
Knight stationed himself at a win
dow, and Hotehklss paced the floor
expectantly. "It's a great day for
modern detective methods," ha chir
ruped. "While the police have been
guarding houses and standing with
their mouths open waiting for clews
to fall In and choke them, we have
pieced together, bit by bit, a fat
ric—"
The door-bell rang, followed immo
dlately by sounds of footsteps In the
ball. McKnlght threw the door open,
and Hotehklss, raised on his toes,
flung out his arm In a gesture of su
perb eloquence.
"Behold— man!" he de
claimed.
Through the open doorway came a
tall, blond fellow, clad in light gray,
wearing tan shoes, and'followed close
ly by an officer.
"I brought him here as you suggest
ed, Mr. McKnlght," said the con
stable.
But McKnlght was doubled over the
library table in silent convulsions of
mirth, and I was almost as bad. Lit
tle Hotehklss stood up, his important
attitude finally changing to one of
chagrin, whilo the blond man ceased
to look angry, and became sheepish.
It was Stuart, our confidential clerk
for the last half dozon years!
McKnlght sat up and wiped his
eyea.
"Stuart," he said sternly, "there are
two very serious things we have
learned about you. First, you Jab
your scarf-pins Into your cushion with
your left hand, whieh is most repre
hensible;. second, you wear—er—night
shirts, Instead of pajamas. Worse
than that, perhaps, we find that one
of them has a buttonhole torn out at
the neck."
Stuart was bewildered. He looked
from McKnlght to me, and then at
the crestfallen Hotehklss.
"I #aven't any idea what it's all
about," he said. "I was arrested as
I reached my boarding-house to-night,
after the theater, and brought direct
ly here. I told the officer It was a
mistake."
Poor Hotehklss tried bravely to
Justify the fiasco.
"You can not deny," he contended,
"that Mr. Andrew Bronson followed
you to your rooms last Monday eve
ning."
Stuart looked at us and flushed.
"No, I don't deny It," he said, "but
there was nothing criminal about it.
on my part, at least. Mr. Bronson has
been trying to Induce me to secure
the forged notes for him. But I did
not even know where they were."
"And you were not on tho wrecked
Washington Filer?" persisted Hoteh
klss. But McKnlght Interfered.
"There Is no use trying to put the
other man's Identity on Stuart, Mr.
Hotehklss," he protected. "He has
been our confidential clerk for six
years, and has not been away from
the office a day for a year. I am
afraid that the beautiful fabric we
have pieced out of all these scrapr. is
going to be a erary quilt." His tone
was facetious, but I could detect tho
undercurrent of real disappointment.
I paid the constable for his troublo,
and he departed. Stuart, still indig
nant, left to go back to Washington
Circle. He shook hands with Mc-
Knlght and myself magnanimously,
but he hurled a look of utter hatred
at Hotchfctas, sunk crestfallen In his
chair.
"As for as I can see," said Mo-
Knight dryly, "we're exactly as far
along as we were the day we met at
the Carter place. We're not a step
nearer to finding our man."
"We have one thing that may be of
value," I suggested. "He Is the hus
band of a bron*e-halred woman at
Van Kirk's hospital, and It Is Just
possible we may trace him through
her. I hope we are not going to lose
your valuable co-operation, "Mr. Hoteh
klss?" 1 asked.
He roused at that to feeble interest,
-j—oh, of course not. If you still care
to have me, I —l was wondering about
—the man who Jjjst went out, Stuart,
you say? I— told his landlady to
night that he wouldn't need the room
again. I hope she hasn't rented It to
somebody else."
We cheered him as best we could,
and I suggested that we go to Balti
more .the next day and try to find the
real SuUlvan through his wife. He
left sometime after midnight, and
Rlchey and I were alone.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
As George Sees the Peers.
"David Lloyd Qeorge," said tha
miner from Wales, as he emptied his
glass of cwrw, "David Is a very witty
speaker. I've heard him many a time
i in Carnarvon.
"Speaking In Welsh, he once rldl
i culed in Carnarvon the house of lords.
He said the average peer thought so
- much of himself that at family pray
i ers he always made one well-known
i passage run:
I " 'Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life, and
, I will dwell In the house of the lords
• forever!'" —London Qlobe.
Spring Debility
Felt by «o many upon the return of warm weather
la due to the Impure, Impoverished, devitalized
condition of the blood which causes that tired
feeling and loss of appetite as well as the pimples,
bolls and other eruptions so common at this eeaaon.
It Is cured by the great constitutional remedy *
Hood's Sarsaparilla
which effects its wonderfnl cures, not simply because it contains sarsaparil
la, but because it combines the utmost remedial values of more than twenty
difftrent ingredients. There is no real substitute for Hood's Sarsaparilla.
If urged to buy any preparation said to be "just as good," you may be aure
it is inferior, costs leas to make, and yields the dealer a larger profit.
Absent-Minded Suffragette.
One of the Suffragettes—l've lost
ma best hatpin, Liszle.
Another—Where did you leave It
lastT
The First—Oh, I remember now! I
left It sticking In that policeman I
London Opinion.
ixjzrsrxtf ssns.,l. «
CABTORLA, a aafe and sure remedy for
infants and children, and see that It
In Us* For Over 30 Years.
Children Cry for Fletcher's Caatoria
His Hop*.
*1 suppose," the beautiful girl said,
"you write for the mere love of
writing V
"Yes," the sad looking poet replied,
"but I still hope to some day be able
to write for at least fifteen cents a
Una." —Judge.
—,
SHAKB INTO YOVR SHOES
Allan'* foot-Baaa, the anUaaptlo powder. It'* tlx
ITHMI comfort dlaouTorr of the «■•>. Allan'* Ifi ot-
Maaa mkaa Mgkt or an *hoe* fa«l eaay. It la a
wrtala relief for awaatlnf, oalluoa, *wollen, tired,
achlaf faet. Almyaoee It to Break In New *hoe*.
Try It May. S*M everywhere, 31 rant*. Don't
aoaept mv nitawiola. For rKHS trial package,
add raaa Allan a OliaeMd, La B»r. M. T.
The pleasure of live is In loving.
We are happier in the passion we feel
thrfn in that we Inspire.—Francis Due ,
de Rochefaucauld.
Tiylm'i Cherokee Remedy of Sweet Oum
and Mullen in Nature'a grent remedy— |
Cure* Couch*, Celds, Croup and Whooping j
Couch and all throat and lung trouble*. At |
druggists, 25e. 50c and 11.00 per bottle.
Why quarrel over religions when all
men agree—all men, that Is, at the
same grade of intellect?
For COLDS and OHIP
Hick*' Cappdikb la the beat remedy—re
lieve* the aching anil
Cold ami reatoree normal nondltlona. lt'a
llqntd effect* Immediately. 10c., SBe., and 60c.
▲t Aran atorea.
An institution must be propped up
by precedent when it is no more up
lifted by sap.
Garfleld Tea assists overworked digestive
organ*, correct# constipation, cleans*'* tha
system and rids the blood of impurities.
The better you behave the better
you'll get along. Now, try it.
FREE SAMPLE CURED OLD
PERSON'S BOWEL TROUBLE
One of the moat remarkable proofs of
the unusual laxative merit contained In
Dr. Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin la that It 1*
effective not only In people In tha prime
of life, but at the extremes of agea. Aa
many letters are received from mothers
regarding the curea of children, as from
men and women of alxty, seventy and
eltrhty years of age. It must be truly a
wonderful laxative.
In the cure of constipation and bowel
trouble in old people It liaa no equal. It
corrects the eonstlpatlon, dispels the head
ache, biliousness, ga*. drowatneaa after
eating, etc. People advancing In years
ahould see to It that their bowela move
freely, and If they do not to take Dr.
Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin. You can pro
Tried Everything -
"I suffered with my head and back for over six years,"
writes Mrs. R. L Bell, of McAlester, Okla. "I never could
get anything to do me any good, although I tried almost
everything except Cardui. One day, while I was reading
what other suffering women said it had done for them, I
decided to try Cardui. Now I am on my third bottle, and
I don't feel like the same person. I feel so much stronger
and better! I recommend Cardui to all suffering women."
s CARDUI
cc fit
The Woman's Tonic
This is Just a single one of the thousands of letters we
receive from grateful ladles, who want to thank us for the
benefit they have received from Cardui.
All these ladies are glad now that they took it
If you suffer from pains In head, back, or side, are
nervous and worn 6ut, take Cardui. We know it will help
you, ami that you'll continue the treatment and get welL
Cardui is sold at all drug stores, with full directions
for use, printed on the wrapper. Try it
No EXCUM at All.
N. C. Goodwin, the comedian, wai
condemning a new corned/ at a dinner
in New York.
"IU climax," be said, "la false and
unsatisfactory—as false and unsatis
factory as Rowndar*s excuse.
"On Rowndar's return at a very late
hour, his wife said reproachfully:
" 'You used to TOW ,1 wan the sun
shine of your life, but now yoa, stay
out night after night.'
" 'Well, my dear,' said Rowndnr, 1
don't ask for sunshine after dark.'"
Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets regulate
and invigorate stomach, brer and bowels.
Sugar-coated, tiny granules, easy to take
as candy.
Away with these cemeteries of
■tone; they are indecent; let me fade
into the anonymous grass! ,
Mr*. Wlulmr'i Soothing Syrup for Chlldrea
teething, softens the gnma, reduce* Inflamma
tion, allays pais, enree tta a bottle.
A pleasant smile and a sweet voice
are great helps on life's Journey.
Take Garfield Tea to overcome constipa
tion, demise system aad maintain health.
• The proper time to do a thing is
when It should be done.
SOURSTOMACH
"I used Csscarets and feel like n new
I man. I bare been a wflmr from dyv
i pepaia and sour stomach for the last two
years. I have been taking medicine and
other drugs, but could fixu no relief only
for a short time. I will recommend
Cascarets to my friends as the only thing
for indigestion and soar stomach and to
keep the .bowels in good condition.
They sre very nice to eat."
Harry Stuck ley, Manch Chunk, Ps.
Pleasant Palatable, Potent. Tut* Good,
I)o Good. Merer Sicken. Weaken or Grips.
10c, 25c. SOB. Never sold In bulk. Tha gen
nine tablet stamped CC C. Guaranteed to
Sure or row money back, SSI
ITPp if yon hare two hands Prof. Q. O.
T Brannlng will teach you. Only
* college In V. 9. with shops con
nected; |M for course, toole and position at good
wages. Commission paid for bringing students.
Atlanta Barber Cells*. It L NHckstlll.. Allasla. Oa.
k KODAKS
orders given Spe
cial Attention. Prices reasonable.
Service prompt. Bend for Price List,
umin AST noil, CSASLLSSTOI, s. c.
W. N. U„ CHARLOTTE, NO. 15-1911.
lon* your life by healthy bowel action.
Clogged ho we Is Invite disease. Women
about to pass the menstrual period cannot
do better than use Syrup Pepsin several
times a week until the system has set
tled to Its future condition.
Among the strongest supporters of Dr.
Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin are Mr. W. Q.
Zorn of New Decatur, Ala., and Mr.
Qeorgo S. Bpauldlng of the National Sol
diers' Home, Kansas, both elderly men.
The regular slse bottles can be bought of
any druggist at fifty cents and one dol
lar, but a free sample bottle can be had
by sending your address to the doctor.
For the free sample address Dr. W. B.
Caldwell, 201 Caldwell building, Monti
cello, 111.