North Carolina Newspapers

77 0 fiEORGE W!R ikk Author THE CUT DIRECT Synopsis. Thomas K. Barnes, a wealthy young New Yorker, on a walking trip, In New Eng land near the Canadian border, is given a lift in an automobile by a mysterious and attractive girl bound for a house called Green Fancy. At Hart's tavern Barnes finds a stranded troupe of "barn-storming" actors, of which, Lyndon Rushcroft is the star and "Miss Thackeray" the leading lady. They are doing hotel work for their board. He learns Green Fancy Is a. house of mystery. That night two mounted men leave the tavern under odd circumstances.' One is shot dead near by ; the other Is brought back dying. Barnes comes under suspicion. He stays to help clear up the mystery. . O'Dowd of Green Fancy says that that place of mystery Is not concerned in any way. Barnes gets into the Green Fancy grounds and sees the mysterious girl. CHAPTER VII. o -. Spun-Gold Hair, Blue Eyes and Vari ous Encounters. ' She was quite unaware of his pres ence, and yet he was directly in her path, though some distance away. Her head was bent ; her mien was thought ful, her stride slow 'and aimless. She was slender, graceful and evi dently quite tall, although she seemed a pigmy among the towering giants that attended her stroll. Her hands were thrust deep into the pocket of a white duck skirt. A glance revealed white shoes? and trim ankles in blue. She wore no hat. Her hair was like spun gold, thick, wavy and shimmer ing In the subdued light Suddenly she stopped and looked up. 5He had a full view of her face as she ?gazed about as if startled by some un expected, even alarming sound. For a second or two he held his breath, stunned by the amazing loveliness that -was revealed to him. Then she dis covered him standing there. In a flash he realized that he was face to face with the stranger of the day before. He took two or three im pulsive steps forward, his hand going to his hat and then halted. : Evident ly his senses had deceived1 him. There was no smile in her eyes and yet he eould have sworn that it was there an instant before. Instead there was a level stare. "I am sorry if I startled " he be gan. The figure of a man appeared as if discharged bodily from some magic tree-trunk, and stood directly in his path a tall, rugged' man in overalls was he, who held a spade in his hand and eyed him inimically. Withoutrun other glance In his direction the' first and more pleasing vision turned on her heel afld continued her stroll, sauntering off to the right, her fair head once more bent in study, her back eloquently indifferent to the gze that followed her. "Who do you want to see?" inquired the man with the spade. Before Barnes could reply a hearty voice accosted him from behind. He whirled and saw O'Dowd approaching, not twenty yards away. The Irish man's face was aglow with pleasure. "I knew' 'I couldn't be mistaken in the shape of you, he cried, advancing with outstretched hand. "You've got the breadth of a dockhand In your , "shoulders and the trimness of a prize fighter in your waist." They shook hands. "I fear I am "trespassing," said Barnes. His glance went over his shoulder as he spoke. The man with the spade had been swal lowed up by the earth! He could not "have vanished more quickly in any other way. Off among the trees were intermittent flashes of blue and white. "I am quite sure you are," said O'Dowd promptly but without a trace of unfriendllnessrin his manner. 'Be- dad, loving him as I do, I can't help Mind ye, I'd say it to his face I often do, for the matter of that. Of course," he went on seriously, "he Is a sck man, poor devil. You see I've known him for a dozen years and more, and w he likes me, though God knows why, unless it may be that I once did his son a good turn In London." "Sufficient excuse for . reparation. I should say ."smiled Barnes. "I introduced the lad to me only sis-" v ter," said O'Dowd, "and shejpt hliu happy for the next ten .years. No doubt I also provided Mr, Curtis lyith three grandchildren he might ? never have had but for my gra'clousness." A look of distress came into his meny eyes. "By Jove. I'd like nothing let MS CUTCHEON of "GRAUSTARKr THE SOrv HOLLOW OF HER HAND," THE ) nr , Tr-i ap Ai- A n t f " I f CtMrtght hy DoJd. Mtad and Company, Int. ter than to ask you in to have a dish of tea it's teatime, I'm sure but I'd no more think of doing it than I'd con sider cutting off me head. He doesn't like strangers. He" N ' "My dear fellow, don't distress your self," cried Barnes heartily. "There isn't the least reason in the world why " "You see, the poor old chap asks us up here once or twice a year that is to say, De Soto and me to keep his sister from filling the house tip with men he can't endure. So ldng as we occupy the only available rooms, he argues, she can't stuff them full of objectionables. Twice a year she comes for a month, in the late fall and early spring." "Why does he continue to live In this out-of-the-world spot? He Is an old man, I take It, and 111' "You wouldn't be wondering If you knew the man," said O'Dowd. "He is a scholar, a dreamer, a sufferer. He's not a very old man at that. Not more than sixty-five." "He certainly has a fanciful streak In him, building a place like that," said Barnes, looking not at the house but into the thicket above. There was no sign of the blue and white and the spun gold that still defied exclusion from his mind's eye. He had not re covered from the thrall into which the vision of loveliness plunged him. He was still a trifle dazed and distraught. "Right you are," agreed O'Dowd ; "the queerest streak in the world. It's his notion of simplicity." "Green Fancy. Is that the name he gave the place or does It spring from " "'Twas christened by me own sis ter, Mr. Barnes, the first time she was here, two years ago. I'll walk with you to the fence beyond if you've no objections," said O'Dowd genially, and linked his arm through that of Barnes. The latter was. at once subtly aware of the fact that he was being delib erately conducted from the grounds. Moreover, he was now convinced that O'Dowd had been close upon his heels from the Instant he entered them. There was something uncanny in the feeling that possessed him. Such es pionage as.thls signified something deep and imperative in the presence not only of O'Dowd but the jack-in-the-box gardener a few minutes ear lier. His mind was still full of the lovely stranger about whom O'Dowd had so manifestly lied over the telephone. "I must ask you to apologize to the young lady on whom I blundered a few moments ago, Mr. O'Dowd. She must have been startled. Pray con vey to her my solicitude and ex cuses." "Consider it done, my dear sir," s:,f-i the Irishman. "Our most" charming and seductive guest," he . went on. "Bedad, of the two of you, I'll stake me head you were startled the most. Coming suddenly upon such rare love liness is almost equivalent to beinfe struck by a bolt of lightning. More than one painter of portraits has said that she fs the most beautiful woman in the' world. Mayhap you have heard of her. She Is Miss Cameron of New Orleans, a friend of Mrs. Van Dyke. We have quite an enchanting house party, Mr. Barnes, if you consider no more than 'the feminine side of it. By the way, have you heard when the coroner is to hold his , inquests?" "Nothing definite. He may wait a week," said Barnes. "I suppose you'll stick around until it's over," ventured O'Dowd. Barnes thought he detected a slight harshness in his voice. "I have quite made up m mind to stay until the mystery is entirely cleared up," he said. "The case is so interesting that I don't want to miss a shred of it." "I don't blame ye," said O'Dowd heartily. "I'd like nothing better me- self than .to mix up in it. The next time you plan to pay us a visit, tele phone in advance. I may be able to persuade myN host that you're a de cent, law-abiding, educated gentleman, and he'll consent to receive ybu at Green Fancy. Good day to ye," and he shook hands .with the departing trespasser. "TakhV a walk?" was the landlord's greeting as Barnes mounted the tavern steps at dusk. , , : "Going over the grounds of last night's affair," fesponded Barnes, pausing - As, he entered the door he was acutely aware of an intense stare lev eled at him tfSia behind by the' land lord ot Hart's Tavern. . Half way up the stairway he stopped short and with difficulty' repressed the exclama tion that rose to his Hps. He had recalled a. significant Inci dent of the night before. Almost, im- medlfltelv ftr h rtpnnrfnrp nf Ttnnr I and . Paul from the' Tavern Putnn m I Jones had made his way to the telc- hone behind the desk and had called a number Jn a loud, brisk -voice, but the subsequent conversation was car ried 6n,tn subdued itones, attended by haste and occasional 'furtive glances In the direction of the taproom. Upon reaching his room Barnes per mitted the suppressed emotion to escape! his lips in the ( shape of a soft whistle, which If It could have, been translated 'Into words would have; said : By, Gad; why haven't I thought of It before? tie 'sent out the warning that Boon and Paul were on the way ! And I'd like to bet my last dollar that someone at Green Fancy had the other end of the. wire." Mr. Bush croft was giving .ttamlet's address " to the players, in . tjfe tap room when Barnes came -downstairs at nine o'clock. uW A small, dark man who sat .atone, at a table In the corner caught Barnes' eye and smiled almost mournfully. He was undoubtedly a stranger; his action was meant to convey to Barnes the information that h too was from a distant and sophisticated cominunity and that a bond of sympathy existed between them. . H Putnam 'Jones' spoke suddenly at Barnes' shoulder. He started invol untarily. The man was beginning to get on his nerves. He seemed to be dogging his footsteps with, ceaseless persistency. - ' -'"'!-- "That feller over there in the cor ner,' said Jones sptuy, "is a oook agent from your town. He sold me a set of Dickens when he was here last time, about six weeks ago. A year's subscription to two magazines th rowed in. By gosh, these book agents are slick ones." 4 "He's a shrewd-looking chap," com mented Barnes. "Says he won't be satisfied till he's made this section of the country the most cultured, refined spot in the Unit-' ed States," said Jones dolefully. "Ex cuse me. There goes the telephone. Maybe Us news from the sheriff." With the spasmodic tinkling of the telephone bell the book agent arose and made his way to the little office. Barnes glanced over bis shoulder a moment later and saw him studying the register. The poise of hissleek head, however, suggested a listening attitude. Putnam Jones, not four feet ' -W- - Suddenly She Stopped and Looked Up. ; away, was speaking into the telephone receiver. As the receiver waire stored to its hook Barnes turned again. Jones and the book agent were examining tne register, their 'heads almost meeting from opposite sides of the desk. i vlv The latter straightened un. stretched his arms, yawned, and announce ;n a loud tone that he guessed he'd!, stop out and get a bit of fresh air before turning in. "Any news?" inquired Barnes. ap proaching the desk after the door had closed behind the book agent. B,, "It wasn't the sheriff," replied Jones shortly, and immediately resumed; his interrupted discourse on books, land book agents. Ten minutes elapsed be fore the ' landlord's garrulity (was checked by the sound of an automobile coming to a stop in front of the house. Barney turned expectantly toward .the door. Almost immediately' theTcar started again, with a loud shifting of gears, and a moment later theljfloor opened to admit, , not a fresh arrival but the little book agent. 1 "Party trying to make Hornvi!e, to night," he announced casually. "(Well, good night. See you in the monHng." Barnes "was not in a position-to doubt the fellow's word, for the car unmistakably had cone on toward Hornvllle. He waited a few- minutes after the man disappeared up the; nar row stairway, and then proceeded to test his powers of divination. He was as sure as he could be sure of anything that had not actually come to Dass that In a short time, the automobile w;ould again pass the tavern,, but this 'tline from the direction of Hornvllle. f41 Lighting a cigarette he strolled! out side. He had barely time to take a position at the darkened end oti. the porch before the sounds of an! ap- proaenmg macnine came to his earis. ; A second or j two later the Hghts svfuhg around the bend In the road a Quar ter of a mile above , Hart's Tavern and down came the car at a high rate of speed. It dashed past the ivern with a great roar and rattle and fehot off Into the darkness beyond. 44 ?H rushed through the dim circle of ligjv In front of the tavern Barnes succeed ed in obtaining a brief but convincing nf oar That elance was enough, however. He would have been willing to go berore a jury nuu swear that it was the same car that had deposited htm at Hart's Tavern the day befora Having guessed correctly, in the one instance he allowed himself, another and even bolder guess the little book agent had either receivea a inesa fynm m- delivered one to the occupant or driver of I the car from Green Fancy. CHAPTER VIII. A Note, Some Fancies and an Expedi tion In Quest of Facts. He started upstairs, his mind full of the events and conjectures of the day. As he entered the room his eyes fell upon a white envelope at his feet. It had been slipped under the door since he left the room an hour before. Terse reminder from thei?rudent Mr. Jones ! His bill for the day ! He picked it up, glanced at the inscription, and at once altered his opinion. His full name was there in 'the handwriting of a woman. For a moment he was puzzled 1 then, he thought of Miss Thackeray. A note of thanks, no doubt. unpleasantly fulsome! Vaguely an noyed, he ripped open the envelope and read : "In case I do not have the oppor tunity to speak with you tonight, this is to let you know that the little man who says he is a book agent was in your room for three-quarters of an hour while you were away this after noon. You'd better see if anything is missing. M. T." He made a hasty but careful exami nation of his effects. There was not the slightest evidence that his pack had been Opened or even disturbed. If the little book agent spent three-quar ters of an hour In the room he man aged most effectually to cover up all trnces of his visit. Barnes did not go to sleep until long after mfdnlght. He now regarned him self as definitely committed to a com bination of sinister and piquant enter prises, not the !leat ofwhich was to know about the mysterious young woman at Green Fancy. The next day he, with other loggers in the Tavern, was put through an ex amination by the police and county officials from St. Elizabeth, and noti fied that, while he was not under sus picion or surveillance, it would be nec essary for him to remain in the "baili wick" tintil detectives, already on the way, were satisfied that he possessed no knowledge that would be useful to them In clearing up what had now as sumed the dignity of a "national prob lem." O'Dowd rode down from Green Fancy and created quite, a sensation among the officials by announcing that they had a perfect right to extend their search for clues to s all parts of his estate, and that he was deeply in terested in the outcome of their in vestigations'. The sheriff said he would like to "run over the ground a bit" that very afternoon if it wras agreeable to Mr. O'Dowd. O'Dowd stayed to dinner. (Dinner was served in the middle of the day at Hart's Tavern.) He made a great Impression upon Lyndon Rushcroft, who, with his daughter, joined the two men. Indeed, the palavering Irishman extended himself in the effort to make himself agreeable. He was vastly in terested in the stage, he declared. As a matter of fact he had beW told a thousand times that he ought to go on the stage. .... The little book agent came in while they were at table, lie sat down in a corner of the dining room and busied himself with his subscription lists while waiting for the meal to be served. He was still poring over them, frowning intently, when Barnes and the others left the room. Barnes walked out beside Miss Thackeray. "The tailor-made gown is an im provement." he said to her. He wai thinking that she was a very prettj girl, after all. "The frock usually makes the worn an," she said slowly, "but not alwayi the lady." He thought of that remark mor than once during the course of an aft ernoon spent in the woods about Green Fancy. O'Dowd virtually commanded the' expedition. It was he who thought ol everything, y First of all, he led the party to the corner of the estate near est the point where Paul was shot from his horse. Sitting in his safldlf he. called the attention of the othel riders to what appeared to be a most significant fact In connection with th killing of this man. Barnes again visits Green Fancy , and meets with a very different reception, which is, however, quite as mystifying. : (TO bE CONTINUED.) Tea Popular British Beverage. Tea is the most popular; of Britlsl beverages, and in spite of- William Cob bett's lament that "tea shops" wert being substituted for wholesome email beer to the detriment of the populace In his day, "the cup that cheers" is th staple drink of all classes. It canno be said that there has been any mark ed. deterioration, of English peopU through constant indulgence in tea. Daily Thought. -The commander of the forces of 1 large stnte.may be carried off; but thi will of even a .common man Cannot h. taken from him. Confucius. ANDREW CARNEGIE ENTERS INTO REST GREAT PHILANTHROPIST DIES QUIETLY AT HIS HOME IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS. HIS BENEFACTIONS IMMENSE Peace, Charity and Education Are the Chief Beneficiaries of the Dead MuTli-millionaire. Lenox, Mass. Andrew. Carnegie, ironmaster and philanthropist, died in his great mansion overlooking a lake in the beautiful Berkshire hills, where he sought seclusion when bodily in firmity overtook .him .and his mind was saddened by the entrance of his country into the world war. Although he had been in feeble health, for more than two years, his final illness was brief a matter of days. A severe cold developed quickly into. 1 bronchial pneumonia, the aged patient lapsed into uncon sciousness and the end came as though it were but the beginning of a deeper sleep. When Mr. Carnegie returned to his summer home last, spring, it was evident to his intimates that the once great industrial leader was a broken 'man and that any slight in disposition might have a fatal end. However, the air of the Berkshires and the seclusion afforded ni his beautiful estate appeared to benefit him and he exhibited occasional flashes of the old exuberance that had made him a cheerful companion for so many years. Peace, charity and education are the three" institutions that have bene fited most from the vast donations of Andrew Carnegie. He erected his own memorials in the 3,000 libraries that perpetuate his name throuhgout the world, in the $1,500,000 temple of peace at The Hague, Holland, in his hero, peace and educational funds. THE PRESIDENT DECLINES TO GRANT REQUEST OF SENATE Washington. President Wilson sent to the foreign relations commit tee a copy of the original American draft of a league of nations covenant but declined to furnish other papers relating to the peace negotiations ask ed for in the senate resolutions. To another resolution asking for a copy of the letter written by. General Bliss regarding the Shantung prob lem, Mr. Wilson replied that he re garded the letter as confidential since it contained certain references to other governments. "THE COMEBACK" ISSUES V WARNING TO THE PUBLIC. Washington. Publishrs of The Comeback, the official soldiers news paper, issued a warning against swind lers In soldiers uniforms who have been collecting thousands of dollars through the southern states represent ing themselves as solicitors for sub scriptions to the newspaper. The Comeback, an official announce ment says has no solicitors In the southern country. TWO MILLION BLANKETS TO BE SOLD BY WAR DEPARTMENT. Washington. Offering to the public of 2.000,000 surplus all wool, cotton and wool, and cotton blankets was an nounced by the war department, ar rangements having been completed for their distribution through postof flcc and municipal channels on the same j lan as that adopted for food stuffs, t For individual purchasehs, prices will be $6 for new wool blankets, and $5 for reclaimed wool; $5 for new cot ton nixed, and $3.50 for reclaimed; $3 for new cotton, and $1.25 for reclaim ed cotton; the reclaimed, it is ex pulinerJ, are blankets used less than a year which are renovated and laundered. - INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 29. Washington. The international la bor conference, provided for in the peace treaty, has been called by President Wilson to meet in Washing ton, October 2d. - All nations members of the .inter national labor organization, as defin ed in article 897, of the peace treaty, and those which probably will become members prior to the conference have been invited to send delegates. FLYING BOAT FALLS INTO SEA; PASSENGERS KILLED. London. it Is reported that a flying boat, one of the largest vof its type yet built, fell into the sea, 500 yards off shore, near an English summer re--..sort' : VU,J''': ' " v The plane crumpled under tfie 'im pact with the water and it is reported that several passengers were killed. Lieutenant MacLeod, who" was pilot ing the machine was found drowned, strapped in his seat, when the wreck ed craft was towed ashore. IMPBOVED Bv 'right. 19 LESSON FoB R'STAN WOrl5 and creature.-.,i' r' additioxat Ti5- PRIMARY" TO Sti know Jesu, nC-Heral3 JlOU topics Je The gospel to the V, ToPlCo, I I. The 16:lo). , God saves men r purpose is to'l,P ik . " mr a him in the,uIva;io 7 Parting rnessn-e I, m'SSion the flfclSM preacn the Oosnel t." M S obligation cnurch. siT.fo .u. "ISW preach the c,nnay 4. 1,3 " annn will ohtain there s nnP nn.,,.... . ", 1 - L ""'nefl soDl II. The Power . 1:8). This power !s the m ducement of th hl . trxr an1nnvn. ...... r "l wi imr opinr. success wm J t.-ii.ilSs u. mose who ro forth, "luei-Miip ami power nfll oiuiii. i hp unt was not! 1 . . 'I uunn.v w iniiK-e Christian! U iw malic uifin siron" to Gospel to 'the heathen those who po fort IT in this h! ice in tne Spirit's happy. power j,-. III. The, Scope of Mission' deavor (Aets 1 :S). The disciples were to bep witnessing where they 'were r Holy Spirit fell upon thea-; lem. But they were to gou there to the "uttermost parts earth." This is the prngram ery disciple of Christ. Begin?; lng where Christ saves you, rJ go to your neighbors next tot- on to the remotest hounds of ft. Thereis no such thing as "id sions," Except that you begin : IV. The First Foreign Mid (13:1-14; 2S). 1. Who they were (13ft nabas and Saul were sete very best two men in the ehcrq evangelization of the world is of such tremendous important challenges the church to offer If men and women. Since an K is judged by its representatives. comes the church to puthermK ble men to the front 2. By whom sent (13:2,4). Holy Spirit chose these raenai fnrth tn thpir work. The Cl at Antioch seemed to have deffl Iy planned this missionary It was after prayer and fastis the Spirit ordered the churcl forth these missionaries. It the business of the church to we ly seek the mind of God w spndinsr forth laborers Into tie vineyard. The Spirit calls and men forth, but he does this the church. 2 Snmp pvneriences of thefo eis-n missionaries: (1) -Withstood by Elymas ft cerer (13:6-12). Elymas Awn cio-ht tn turn the mini f us PaulufTfrom the faith, W tKQ fincnol ns t enters UP0D 1 111 V X mission of salvation. The bo lalnous act which one can (0 to turn a soul from tne w. oc5rtn fw fi-10). Godacco ftmnr nf these mlssW- his mishty power. H. ol thfrnicrh Paul. A' Dl .. walked-leaped tip nnd cure was instan t ter, and i'aiu. mcuuu.- m the chief speaker down in the goas nau run.. garlands to offer :';..n, 1 i efforts foiled - $ .... ..., u. . sionaries rent tliir tbtf In among the people, cot divine but bei"?' with themselves. 2. people to turn to stoned (vv. 10-22). r;od. ctirred e ocli aBd wicked Jews from Anti um. the rabble who a worshiping are filled iu ;fp Doubtless Paul rPTTlPIIi'"-' ed bin) op experience. God rai went forth to diso.argr " c.w.h men a missionary, suu. are needed today to Christ Without uoy-- - m .-11 it 1' A Christianity in-5!111; and Christ, as us ,uul'. welli mtf ,tive ft may De uKeuru fG9- our solar system An nva.- ,tW rm. HA i c on ..-v.n , . but we" .51 into life and pract . . j f tnp it"" . sir u ml. 1 AM 1 .VTs is ominous; and ate.vbicljco!6 itcp lost.-43enjamin "a .