( ) I C HIE i1-- .- .- m Wa Jennie Brie murdered? If she were murdered, who fas ailty of the oof deeqf? J ahe vri'noi done away f A 6j an assassin, what became of her? " Whence did fftf oppfor? ,y Theaa and q few other ttfer etting questions art raised at one in tkit very ctyer tale of mystery , written by a woman wh6 'is not onty an adept at writing fiction of Ifhjffharac-. ter, bat the possessor of a style ' that chains the interest ' by Us elearn,ees and directness ond vine by Us rich humor. " CHAPTp I. w IE bare Just bad another flood, bad enough, but only t foot or "fwp of; yater on tPe first floor; Yesterday ire got tbe mud shoveled out of the cellar' apd round mer. toe epuuiet iw m ley left when be rwen away." Tbe flood, spij "tlie fact that Ifwaa Mr. Ladlfcy'e' aog wbose "body if as' foiipd half burled' l tbt baeroeqi; ' rU closet, brought back to we the strange treat of tbe other flood five years igo. when the .water reached more than fcfllf" way jo' the second' story", and brought with it, to some, mystery ud euddeu death, and to me the worst Case of -shlpgles" t have ever seei My name U Pltman-in this oarra - tjve.. It is not really pitman, bjt that doe weU'eoopgb. J fe!opg to an p!4 Pitrtburgh family. l, ,waDor on penn avenue,' when that was the best part of town, and J llyed. nntl I wai fifteen, very close to, what la cow the Pittsburgh cpt. It wa dwelling t that time. ; I fet's, girl Jn J7, during the rel yoad 'riots, and I recall our driving tn tbf family carriage oret to one of the Allegheny bills, and seeing the yards burning, and a great noise of hooting from across the river- It was the next year that I ran away from school to marry Mr. Pitman, end I have not known my family since. i We were never reconciled, although I eame back" to' Pittsburgh after twenty ears of wandering. Mr. Pitman was ead; the old City called me, n4 I tame. ; " I bad a hundred dollars or so, and took a . bouse; in Iqwej Allegheny, Where, because they are partly Inun Gated every spring, tt)e. rents are cheap, . nd I kept boarders. My bouse was ilwaya orderly nd dean. snfl although the neighborhood bad bad name) a good' many theatrical people stopped with hie;'' Five minutes" across "thfj bridge d they w$r In ftw tljeeter district Allegheny at that time, I be lieve, wag still an lpdepeudent city. But ioce then it bas allied Itself with rittsbnrgb; ft la now the north aide, of I was glad to get back. I worked hard, but I made tny rept and my liv ing and a little over. Sow and then on summer evenings I went to one. of the paks and,' sitting on a bench, - watched tbe children playing around and looked at my sistefs bpuse, closed for the summer. It is a very large, bouse. ; Her bllt'et once had his wife boarding wlf we- ygry nice. t)e . jroman. ' It la curious to recall that at that time, Ire year ago, I bad never seen my. Wtese, Jida Harvey, and then p think that only the day before yester day she came in ber automobile as far as she dared and then sat there, wav ing to me, while the police patrol brought across In a "sklCf a basket of provisions she bad sent m . ... ,' I wonder what" she yould have tuonght bad sbe known that the elder ly woman In a calico Wrapper, 'with an pl( Rverqoat pyn It and 1 pair of rubber boots, was ber full aunt ' The flood and the sigfit of JJda both brought back the case of Jennie BrJee, for even then Llda arid Mr. Howell were interested to each .ther. This is April. The ft M of W was earlier, In March. It Jd been a long jiard winter, with fcefjnges In all the ppper yauey. oen there came a tbaw. : early Mar?!) gorges broke up and began to com' n, filling the rivers WJtn crusmng There are tbree rt lng ice. Pittsburgh, onoogshela the Allegheny anft uniting there at tb. o form the Ohio. And all thK r-,-.,, pvered with broken ice, logs atrtMsFP ts of dehrta from the upper va, A warning wtf JS.l from the weather bureaa.L'lli A V Raj carpeta ready t lit! tbULI DIFF HThat wa en the 4th of for ManHsy.' Mr. psSltr and hls-Jrice. bad be pre,ferreJ. mm :. . llllWt WWwUfcnitol'il?w hi that bur wuoh aid aotb talt It le. '-4oW mi Oft Of By MARY 5SF!,8fffl?T jCepyiisH 191, th. BotU-Memn Cosy tbe POTs, and a lot of Quarreling they did about It ',' I knocked at tbe door at 10 o'clock, an4"Mr.Tdrey"6pened It He was a abort man, rather stoiit and getting bald, and be always bad a cigarette, gven et the Pfr!J carpet amella of "What de yoi wantr be asked Ibacp'y. boldP( the door open about Id Iflctj. "The water's cpmlnf np very fast, Mc "Udley," t said. ""Ifi up to tbe swinglnl tibelf J tb? cellar now. I'd like to take up tbe carpet led move the planb.": v -' 1 "Come back In an hour or ao," he snapped enc( tried to close the door. But I bad got my toe in tbe crack. "I'll bave to have the plane moved, Mr. Mdle,y," I Mia. rwd better put os what you are oowg." ' t thought be waa probably writing. He spent most' of the day writing, -What d? you wantf! hj afkyd sharply. using the wsshstand as a desk, and li kept me busy with oiallc acid taking Ink spots out of tbe splasher and the towela. He waa writing s play and talked a lot about the Bhuberts bavins promised to star him in It when It was finished. l .!.'H -H be laid, aiid, turnlf g, spokf to somebody m tne room "We can go Into the back room," beard blm say, and be closed the door. When be opened H'asalri the" room wai empty. I called In Terry, the Ins man who does odd Jobs for me now Snd'tteR,' and ff both, H to wprk at the tacks In the carpet, Terry working by the window and I by the door into the bc!t parlor,' which the"l4dleys used as bedroom. That wf how" I bppene4 to hear what I afterward told the police. Some one a man, but not Mr. Lad ley-was talking. Mrs. Ladley broke n "I won't J0 Itr sbe said flaUy. "Why should f help hlmf He doesn'i help me. He loafs here all day, amok lng' and sleeping, and sits np all night drinking and keeping me awake. The voice went on again. a if In re ply to this, and rbejrd a rattle of glasses, as if they were pouring drinks. Tbey always bad whisky, even 'when Uiey were behind with their Doaro "'That's all very well,'! Mrs. Ladley said. I could always bear her, ahe bavins a theatrical aort of voice one that, carries.' "But what about the brylntf ahe devil that rune the bouse?" "Hqsb,, for Clod's sakef broke in Mr. Ladley, opd after that they spoke in ij uiKpers. isren with y ' against the panel I could pot eaten a woro- Tbe men came Just then to move tbt piano, and by the time we had taken t and the furniture upstairs the Water Was over the kitchen floor and creep log forward Into the ball. I bad never seen the river come np so fast ' By noon the yard wee fif floating ice, and at 3 that afternoon the police kill was on the front streets, and was wading around in rubber boots. taking the pictures off the walls. " I was too busy to see who the Lad leys' visitor fas and be had gone when I remembered mm again, xne utaieyi took tbe second story front whlcB was empty,' sad Mr. Heypolds, !o was In the silk department in a store across the river, bad 0)9 room Jta behind. ' I put np a coal stove in a back room next Ue bathroom and managed to gook the dinner there. I was washing np the dishes when Mr. Reynolds came in. As it wis Sunday he was in his slippers and bad we colored sup plement pf morning paper In his What's the matter wit the Lad tars' be ssked. ' ."J cau'f rtad for WW qaanewig- Booae. probably,'' I aaid. "Wbeu THE ASHEYILLE long aa I have, Mr. Reynolds, you'll know that the rising of the river is a Signal for every man in the vicinity to atop work and get full. Tbe fuller the river the fuller the male population.- ' " - - - tThen this flood will likely make 'em drink themselves to desth!"' be said. "It'a a"lulu."' 1 x " ' "It'a tht nelghborhood'e annual de- baucb- Tbe Women are busy In tbe cellars, or they'd get full too. I hope, since it's come tbte far. it will coma farther, so the landlord will have to paper ye parlor" YOgf was at a o ciock. m Mr. Ha ley went down the stairs, and I beard blm ' getting into a stiff in the lower hall There were boats going back and forth all tbe time carrying crowds of curious people and taking the flood suf- ferera to the corner grocery,, where they wera loveripg groceries In a bas ket on a rope from an upper window. I bad been waking tea when I beard Mx. Ladley go out .1 axed a tray with a cup of it and some crackers and took rt w jneir qoor. pao never eo Mrs. Ladley, but It waa chilly In the house with the gas shut off and tbe lower floor full of Ice water. And it la bard" enough to keep boarders in (the Bqo4 district. : gbe did pof answer to my knocks, ao I opened be door and went In. Bbe wa at the window, looking after blm. and the brown, valise that figured In the case later wa opened on the floor. Over the foot of the bed wee tbe black and white dress with ue red collar. ' When apoke to her sbe turned around Quickly. Bbe waa a tall wo man, about twepty-elgbt, with yery wjjita teeth and yg How hair, wbicb eiie parted little to onj side and drew iovrj over ber ears. She bad a aullen facf and targe well ahaped bands, wth her nalia long and very pointed.' ' s Tbe 'she devil' bas brought you some tea I fal "Wbera shall ahe put itr ' ;':'.' ; z 'ne aevuj: ane repeated, rung ber eyebrowa "it's a very thpugbtfu she devil, who called you that n But with tbe sight of tbe valise and the fear that they might be leaving I thought it best not to auarrel. ' She bad left the window and, go'" ' he dressing bad pickid h9r lf !Never mind,1: i said, rj hope jpn are not going away. These floods don't last, and they're benefit plepty of the people around here, reiy on rem very year to wash out their ceilare. ' 'No. I'm not going away,"? ahe re piled bully. 'Tm taking that dress to Misa Hope at tbe theater. She is going to wear it' tft 'Cberlie'a Anhtueit i.' ' au' l..ntt.1 I,.I'..A,,I, r4 wardrobe to Play leads in stock. Look at this thumb nail, broken o the anickr . If 1 bad only Ipoked to aee wblch thumb It waa! But I was putting the tea tray OB the waabstand and movtpg Mr. Ladiey'i papers to nnd room for it peteh the ipaniel, begged for a lump 01 sugar, ana i gve u w mm. 'Wbere Mr. Ladleyr I asked. "Gone out to see the river.; "I hope hell be careful. There'a a drowning or tw0 every year lit tbese Hoods." fTben I hope be won't" ahe eeld eaimiy. Wo yon know what I waa do ing when yon came In? I was looking after his boat and hoping it bad a bole ""Ion won't feel that way tomorrow, Mre.' Ladley,'' J protested, shocked. Tou'rjJ ' Jnst pervous ' and pu,t eut Most ' men bate their" ngly tlmeii Many a time I wished Mr. Pitman was; gone-flntll be, went Tbaq I'd bate gjyen good ff w nayt mm neca; again." - ' ' ' " ' Sbe waa atandlag is front of the dresser, fixing ber hair ater ber . Sbe turned and looked ft we pifx her spouiaer. ''Probably Mr. Pitman was roan,' abe jsaid. "My husband la a fiend, a devil."; y - "Well, a good many women have said that fo me at different: times. But just let toe say sqcb a thing to them, or re peat their own words to them the next day, and tbey would fly at me In a fury. 80 said nothing and put the cream Into her tea. I pever saw ber Igala. ? - f ' t There le pot much sleeping done In the, flood district during a spring flood, Tbe gas waa shut off and I gave Mr. Remolds and tbe Ladleya each a lamp. eat in the back room that X bad made Into I temporary kitchen with candle and with a bedqniit ground my abpuiders. Tbe water rose fast In the lower bail, but by midnight at je seventh step It stopped rising and stood still. I always baye a skiff daring the (jood season, and as tbe water rose I tied It to one spindle ot the stair case after another. f made' myself a cop of tea and at o'clock I stretched out on a sofa for a few hours' sleep. I think Tbad beea sleeping opfy n boqr ef so wbeii eom4 pne touched me on pe anpumer ana i started pp. t wee Mr. Beynolda, partly dressed. "Some ope baa been n the bouse. Mrs. Pitman," be said. fTbey went away just now In the boat" ' "Perbapa It was Peter," I suggested. "That dog is always wandering around at night" "' " "Not unless Peter can row a boat' aaid Mr. Reynolds dryiy. ' " ' I got up. being already full dressed, and taking the wd'o we went U tbe. staircase, I noticed that it waa a mln ate or so after 2 o'clock as we left the room. Tbe host was gone, not untied but cut loose. Tbe end ot tbe rope was still fastened to tbe stair rail. I sat down on the stairs and looked at Mr. Reynolds. 'Vf : nt'e gone!" I said, fit the bouse catches fire we n have to drown." It's rather curious when yon cop sider it" We both spoke softly not to disturb the Lsdlers. "I've been awake and I heard no host come in. And yet if no one came in a boat and came from the street they would bare b4 to swlxu In." ,:-t I felt queer an creepy. The etreet door waa open, of coarse, and tbe lights going beyond. It gave me a atrtngevfeMngl'ititbeTW"irthe darkness oa tbe stairs, wfth the arch CITIZ EN, MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1911 toajp mnk of the front door tike tbe entrance cavern, and see now and then a chunk of ice slide into view, turn around in tbe eddy and r' on. It was bitter rold, too, snd tbe wind was rising. m go through tbe bouse." said Mr. Beynolds. "Tbere's likely nothing worse tle matter thn some drunkea mill baud on. a vacation while the mills are under water. But Vd better Ue left me, and I sat there alone in tbe darkness. I had a presentiment of something wrong, but I tried to think It waa only discomfort and the cold. The water, driven In by the wind, ewirjed'at my 'feet" And something dark floated In and lodged on tbe step below. I reached down and! touched It It waa a dead kitten. I bad never knows a deait cjit to bring me any thing but bad luck, and here waa one washed la at my very feet CHAPTER l. a. EETSOLD3 catne back toon and reported the bpuse quiet I ''But 1 found Peter abut np In one of the third Boor rooms," be ssid. "Did you put him therer ' I bad not nd Said ao. but aa tbe dog went everywhere and the door m!gh have blown" abnt we did not attach much Importance tp tint at tbe time. ' Well, the aklff was gpne.. and there waa no use worrying about it putil morning. I went back to tbe aofa to keep warm, but I left my candle light ed and my door open. I did pot Sleep. The dead cat waa on my mind, and s if t were not bad enough to have It washed In at my feet about 4 in the morning Peter, prowling uneasily; dls covero4 It nd brought it in and put it on my couch,1 we nd aUff. poor Mttlf f looked at tb clock. It wf quar ter after i and except for tbe cat slonsl crunch of one Ice cake bitting another In tbe yard, everything wei quiet And then I beard tbe stealthy aound of oara id tbe lower ball. I am not a brave woman. I lay there, hoping Mr. Reynolds would heat and ppep pit qoor. But ne waa sleep ing soundly, feter snarled and ran out Into tbe hall, and the next moment 1 beard Mf. Lesley speaking: 7'PoWti, Peter,'! be agd. "Ppwp. do fnd'lU down.! " , , i toot mr canoie ana went out into tbe ball. Mr. tadley was etopplng over tbe boat, trxlpg to We it to the W case. Tbe rope waa snort, having been cut, and be waa having trouble. Per bapa it was tbe candle light, but Iff looked ghost wnue ana nsggarq. "I borrowed your boat, Mn. Pip man," he said, civilly enough. T'Mra. Ladley wat hot well, and I-l went to the drugstore." "You've been more than two bonn going to the drug store." I said. ? " pe rnutterea someioing aoout not finding spy open at first and went Into 1 berrswsd yeur boat, Mrs. itfnsf). bis room. He closed and locked the door behind b'w nd. Itnpugli f btet wpinea apq acniKflea, se m nor e blm In. He looked to agitated that thought I bad bepn bnrsh and perhaps sbe was really ill. I knocked at the door find, asked if I could do anything. But be only called "Nor curtly through the door and asked me to take that in ferna! dog away. I went buck to bed and tried to sleep, for the water badv dropped au inch or so on tbe stairs, end I knew tbe danger was over. Peter came, abiv erlng, at dawn and got on te tbe aofa with me. I put an end or the quilt ovei blm; bd be stopped ablreriag after ? time ana wepc i sieep. The dog wts company. I lay there wide awake, thinking about Mr. Pit man's death, and bow f had fPm bl degrees to be keeping a cheap bosrd ing house In tbe flood district and tu having to take Impudence from every body wbe chose to rent a room from me and to being called a she devil Prom that' I gut to thinking again about the Ladleya and bow she bad said be' was a fiend and to doubting about' bis having gone out for medi cine tor ber. ' I dozed off again at day light, Jind being worn out I elppt (ConUoued Totaoww.) 1 1V0MJUI CSCTCa ears rEugep4c is a necessary tsetor in the future of tbe race. The aver are American girl is tinit for moth' efhood." This way be "true but if weak and tiling girls passing from girl hood to womanhood, wroiilc? only rely", as thousands do, upon L,yqi b. pina ham's "Veieetable Comiiound-Uriat simple rndy made ftom room anil herbs,"-; restore' the system" to a porrnal' healthy condition. "Jt ' wpuljl cause tnany lilt from whloh thty euf- fer"Yo"d'.sapp,7J that iHothfrnood might btcoue the Jey ot their Uvea. W M """ 1 "' ... ' Tcflay, Tomorrow, V?efineecay (wTT m -1 ITISI: ' Priort STROMG ADDRESS TO MEN BY 0, S. DEMI nuM ifoyr to ppp most oir OW LIPE. Meeting at . f. p. Teterday Aft- etnoos Well Attended and Greet Interest PlapltyPd. A atrong address to men waa de livered by d. B. pean at the Young Men's phristitfl awoofatloa' eterdy Mte'floo4 u4 good jswf et in kttendanoe. Mr. Dean la at present a member of the. faculty of Cullowhee Training aohool andf' waa formerly president of Weaver college at weavr ervlile.: Tba weaker wa glyen fnark ed attention. ff ' An tKOtileot muilotl program wai rendered, Mft. Jessie Urson. bslpg the ' aololst,' a)d ' JC. B. fitlmson 'ao companlst, wb tbt T. M. C. A. Orchestra, rendered several sslsctlons tt, tht beginning ot the trvios. Thf addresa of Mr- Ptan wft in part at follows: ' " ' 5 The mn who attend T. M. 0. A pwflunts sypwtn to me m iuf B' ferent from n other clsst of men with which X deal and to whom, ; J epeaot. Tbey art f enerajljf men who pome raoe to xaoe. with we praoucai probem pf life tacb'dW f b who have to ' look them squarsiy in tht face without flinching. T. M. C. A, au?Jenoes art not like the ooogrtga tiont that attend many of he rb,urchtf i wnico nsvs siwuen, for some; bow the people at these churches have alwaya appealed M M ' bvr lng already factd most of llfe't ptdblevie attooessfuny. Ntithtr era association audlenotf (Ike tht pupils teach In the school room becausj nearly all ot thtm have yet to fact the problems of lift. Therefore X am always glad to apeak to assoolation men since i can interest intm is tbnt; of every day ife. "Te iu.Wct I have obostn today. "Oet fbt'peat Tou pen Out of the orld. and 0ve (.be Best Tou av to toa wot" eompritts all of th good thlpgs of Jiff. If you wl take that fo a motto la your dally lift you cu get about all thtrt It ts this emwivnoe op Fro. "We are ao constituted that to get the most put of lift it Is necessary to' mix In wttb o4r work a certain moupt of plsature and wt should get as much real gtnulne pUaeure and eWoyrpent put pf our for ts ft cab; "... "J do t mean to say that mn tboftld Indulge In pleafurtf tht' art narmtui ana injurious to tntir mn tal, physical and spiritual lives. It is a foregone conclusion that men should not do thlei therefore. It It not worthy of discussion but men lose much of life because they fall to enjoy many of'thoss Innocent pleasures laid be fore tbeni. ' we art ot to enjoy the In nocent pleasures of lift then why should Ooi splash tht purple and JroWeft " tuntetjf ' to " pe ptnvga pf heaven, decorate the trees With beautiful blostoma in tbt spring or bedeck the forests with brontt and gold in tbe e.utumn J "I grant' you that there Is ctrtn enjoyment In satisfying the animal cravings of opr natures, but roflh should cultivate tbe Ope art of en Joying pleeeuret of tht light kind la their homes, in their buslneas and on the street. Whertvtr a man may be ht should teeV the pltasent In every thing with which he oomee In con taot. It la a man's business to bt happy and it la also his duty. Tou should take V delight In everything yon undertake. It mke tbe world brighter an yoil will be enabled to give more to the world than in any other way. , At tbe eme tlnie ft will enaMe'you to get more out o life than In any other way.? Willie Bltcble bat Informed the Milwaukee promoters that he would welcome another opportunity 'to' meet AA WolgfUt In tbelr city. Frornoter Woi"3urge of Jna1arid offers l?5,409 prt" for a tlun boat 8roltb-Oeorge ' Cerpe btler bout fytsMf placf'lii" London nest lull. In order to get V return (match with frhamplon ICllpaneTAbf ttn says be le wllliot; toj fneot ttUttt'fooQ bore just to fhew that lie' ts stil there., ' 1 MAJESTIC I mm ww Uusical Oonedy Including 20 People. This if the gioit Expensive Tabloid Attraction ever of-. ' Utf i ia City of Asheyill?. ' - - ': Create! flyf Cist'Cbrps. 5ft?2ry, PrpSscl! s PI SIGHT rlce 10c, too, loc I m : y LT9mPFPQvy ' "Tiis Perils a vroiipiiiiFUL tiycinnv talh Prpduced by Path riaycr. .V : , including; Misi Pear) Wkite, Cyans Vfilbur ar4 VvA ?zr.T:? f Wcrfh? In Dc!l;r3 zi Cent:? A. gas ranga wUl aye you at least thjrg hours $tcbcn nyork daily because you have no fires to build, hq coal oj ashes to contend 1tb,' no kindllT to bandle and you gave aU th time 'usually rpcr.t ia fasting fqr tbe $V9 to catch-up bqrn freely. : - If ypu 4q three hour esg worjc daily for ZZ7: dayi it'amourita io JP05 hours Pouna cf a year, or pn a wage (ipale pf 25 cents per hour, a total of , - . $27?.75 WOETH OP VOUIl TITH3 pAVEU mmmr ; Now, a gas range will not only lighten yonr culinary duties but the actual laying in f uel bilU ii well wprth . consideration i every, home where Jiqu8ehol4 economy is appreciated. 'y ' If you cut yojir fuel pill down pnly 50 cents per week for 62 weeks ypu save in the course of a year the sum of $26.00 wnich is wore than the actual post of having a gas range installed in ypuf home. Think it over tnen phone 159. Have our. representative call. Let us explain pur 4ividcd payment plan, that makes owning a gas range eas, ' ' V Asheville Power and Light Co. PHONE 69 Porch Good4 AT PIUCE8 THAT WUAj IXTmV&t jpV ' v i . SL'SSSf PORCH, ROCKERS ASD KfSKZKXM : , , THAT WK ARB SEUAXQ AT CESTWKUX IXIW ITUCES. POnCH 6WIXG9 I ' ' Heat flat wood aeat and bsxjka. ' comfortable' and strong,; good ' values to f 14 vwixpnro oovckes Both wood and metal trtmet, : som wlta extra ' good wire springs and soft pafi mattress, qompltte ready for banging . . ',.... ff.oo to sit.00 - y, - y' txlt Jap and Chinese Matting Art Square In large rarlety of ' patterns ..;....... ... 43 Jfi V ll hm Matting, 0o to 40o per yard. . k y ponpii shades y ' , A large ttock ot different klode and thee tndodlng WeMVr1 Webb and Bamboo abadea. ' ' Beaumont Furniture Co. fttf Bans f furr"nre Vtt'r"-i.' 27 c outii 1 tai:t c: tiH and tilt. .loo, too, too cl Pnnlinc" S WM ntaruunme U Unm will b from rr . Audi tori um, A 4 .