V&1ZCV7T
SYNOPSIS.
Giles Dudley arrived In Ban l-'ranelneo
to Join his friend nnd dlstunt relatlvo
Henry AUIton. whom ho wns to nnslst
in nn Important nnd mysterious tank,
una who nccompnnled Dudley on tho
ferry iiont trip Into tho city. Tho ro
mnrkHblc rrccinblniire of tho two men
Is noted nnd commented on by pnssen
KerH on the ferry. They nee n tnnu with
MiRke eyes, which Bends n thrill throUBh
Dudley. Wilton inrntpones nn explanation
of tho strntiKo orrnnd Dudley Is to per
forin, but occurrences cnuso him to
f'low It Is one of no ordinary meaning.
)llton IcnvoH Giles In their room, with
Instruction to await his return, llnrdly
Ims ho pone tlmn Olios Is Btartled by n
cry of "Help." Dudloy Is summoned to
the niorsue and thoro Jlnds tho deml
body of his friend, Henry Wilton. Atld
thus Wilton dies without over explaining
to Dudley the puzzling work ho was to
perforin In San I'rnnclseo. In order to
discover the set ret mission his friend hud
entrusted to htm. Dudley continues his
itlsRulse nnd permits himself to be known
s Henry Wilton. Dudley, mistaken for
Wilton, Is employed by Knapp to usslst
In n stock brokerage deal. Ulles Dudley
finds himself closeted In a room with
Mother Horton who mnkes n confidant
of hltn. Ho enn lenrn nothing nbout tho
mysterious boy further than that It Is
Tim Terrlll nnd Darby Meeker who nro
nfter him. Ho Is told that "Dicky" Nnhl
Is n traitor, playing both hands In tho
Kutne. Dudley gets his first knowledge of
Decker, who Is Knapp's enemy on tho
Hoard. Dudley visits tho homo of Knnnp
and Is stricken by tho beauty of Luulla,
his daughter. Ho learns the nolo was
forgery. Ho Is provided with four gunrds,
ltrown, Hnrkhouse, Kltzhugh and Porter.
He learns there Is to bo no trouble nbout
money as all expenses will be paid, tho
Idro of the gunrds being paid by one
"Hlchmond." The body of Henry Wilton
Is committed to tho vault. Dudley re
sponds to n nolo nnd visits Mother Hor
ton In company with l'ollccmnn Corson.
Giles Dudley again visits Uio Kunpp
home.
CHAPTER XV. Continued.
"Oh, Mr. Wilton, you'll pardon my
boldness, I'm sine," bIio Bald with an
ainlablo illrt of tho head, as I seated
myself besldo her and watched Luclln
melt away Into tho noxt room; "but
I was afraid you had forgotten all
about us poor women, and It's a dread
ful thing to bo in this great house
when there isn't a man about, though
of courso thoro aro tho ser.vnnts, but
you can't count them as men, besides
soma of them being Chinamen. And
we I that Is, I really did want to seo
you, and wo ought to have so much to
talk over, for 1'vo heard that your
mother's first cousin was n Howser,
and I do so want to seo that dear, de
lightful Chinatown that I've heard so
much about, though they do say It's
horrid and dirty, but you'll let us seo
that for ourselves, won't you, and did
you ever go through Chinatown, Mr.
Wilton?"
Mrs. Howser pulled up her verbal
coach-and-slx so suddenly that I felt
as. though sho must havo been pitched
off tho box.
"Oh," said I carelessly, "Tvo seen
tho placo often enough."
"How nlco!" Then suddenly look
ing gravo Mrs. Bowser apoka from be
hind her fan. "But I hope, Mr. Wilton,
thero's nothing there that a lady
shouldn't see."
I hastened to nssure hor that It was
possible to avoid everything that
would bring a blush to tho cheek of a
matron of her years.
Mrs. Bowser nt this rattled on with
out coming to any point. I was listen
ing to tho How of her high-pitched
voice without getting any Idea from It,
when my wandering attention was
suddenly recalled by tho words, "Mr.
Knapp."
"What was that?" I asked In somo
confusion. "I didn't catch your mean
ing." "I was saying I thought it strange
Mr. Knapp wouldn't go with us, nnd
ho got awfully cross when I pressed
hint, nnd said oh, Mr. Wilton, ho said
nuch a dreadful word that he'd bo
everlastingly somethlnged if ho would
ever go into such a lot of dens of oh,
I can't repent his dreadful languago
but wasn't it strange, Mr. Wilton,?"
"Very," I said diplomatically; "but
It Isn't worth while to wait for him,
then."
' "Oh, laws, no! he'll bo homo to
morrow, but ho won't go.".
"Homo to-morrow!" 1 exclaimed. "I
thought ho wusn't to come till
Wednesday."
Mrs. Bowser looked a little uncom:
fortablc.
"I guess he's old enough to como
nnd go when ho likes," she said. But
her How of words seemed to desert
her.
"Very true," I admitted. "I wonder
what's bringing him back in such a
hurry."
Mrs. Bowser's beady eyes turned on
me in doubt, nnd for a moment she
was dumb. Then sho followed this
mlraclo by another, and spoke In a
low tone of voice.
"It's not for mo to say anything
against a man In his own house, but I
don't llko to tulk of Doddrldgo Knapp."
"What's tho matter?" 1 asked. "A
Httlo rough in his speech? Oh, Mrs
Bowser, you should make allowances
for a mnn who has had to fight his
way In tho roughest business llfo In
tho world, and not expect too much of
his pollBh."
"Oh, laws, he's pollto enough,"
whispered Mrs. Bowser. "It Isn't that
oh, I don't see how sho over married
him."
I followed tho glanco that Mrs.
Bowser gave on Interrupting herself
with this declaration, and saw Mrs
Knapp approaching us.
"Oh," sho exclaimed cheerily, "la H
fettled? Havo you made all tho ar
laugements, Cousin Julia?"
"Well, I declare! I'd forgotten all
about telllns him," cried Mrs. Bowser
in her shrillest tone. "I'd Just taken
It for a fact that he'd know when to
tomo."
"That's a Httlo too much to oxpoct,
I'm afraid," said Mrs. Knapp, smil
ing gnlly at Mrs. Bowser's manage
ment. "I seo that I shall havo to ar
range this thing myself. Will Mondny
night suit you, Henry?"
"As well as another," said I politely,
concealing my feelings as a victim of
feminine diplomacy.
"You havo told him who nro going,
hnven't you?" said Mrs. Knnpp, to
Mrs. Bowser.
"Laws, no! I never thought but
that ho knew."
"Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Knapp. "What
a gift as a mlndroader Mr. Wilton
ought to have! Well, I Btipposo I'd
better not trust to thnt Honry.
There's to bo Mrs. Bowsor, of course,
nnd Mr. and Mrs. Carter, nnd Mr. Hor
ton, nnd oh, yes Luella."
My hoart gave a Jump, nnd tho trip
to Chinatown suddonly beenmo nn ob
ject of Interest.
"I mama?" said an Inquiring voice,
nnd Luclla herself stood by her mother.
"Yes," said Mrs. Knapp. "it's the
Chinatown expedition for Monday
night."
Luclla looked annoyed, and tapped
hor foot to tho lloor Impatiently.
"With Mr. Wilton," thoro was tho
"JXPmED S&LLENZY" 7V0JTJ1 CZ4I&
slightest emphasis on tho words, "to
accompany tho party, I shouldn't think
It would bo necessary for mo to go."
"It Is either you or I," said Mrs.
Knapp,
"You will bo needed to protect Mr.
Horton," Bald I sarcastically.
"Oh, what a task!" sho said gaily.
"I shall bo ready." And sho turned
away beforo I could put In another
word, and I walked down tho room
with Mrs. Knapp.
"And so Mr. Knapp Is coming homo
to-morrow?" I said.
Mrs. Knapp gave me a quick look.
"Yes," sho said. There was some
thing in her tone that set mo to think
ing that there was moro than I knew
behind Mr. Knnpp's sudden return.
"I hope ho Is not ill," I said polltoly.
"I think you will find him all right
when you seo him. But hero you
must moot Mr. and Mrs. Carter. They
aro Just from tho East, and very
charming people, nnd as you aro to do
them tho honors on Monday evening,
you should know them."
Mr. and Mrs. Carter had pleasant
faces and few Ideas, and as tho con
versational lire soon burned low I
Houught Mrs. Knapp and took my
leave. Luella was nowhere to bo seen.
"You must bo suro that you aro
well guarded," said Mrs. Knupp. "It
quite gives mo tho terrors to think
of thoso murderous fellows. And
since you told mo of that last plot to
call you down to Borton's, I havo a
presentiment that somo special danger
Is ahead of you. Bo cautious as well
as brave."
I thanked hor ns sho pressed my
hand, and, with no Luclla awaiting mo
by tho stair, I took my way down tho
stouo steps, between tho bronzo lions,
nnd Joined Porter and HnrMtotuo on
tho sidewalk,
CHAPTER XVI.
An Echo of Warning.
"All qulot?" I asked of my gunrds,
as wo took our way down tho street.
"Dicky Nahl was along hero," said
Pot ter, "and he said Terrlll nnd Meek
er nnd tho other gnng was holding a
powwow at Borton's, and we'd host
look out for surprises."
"Was that nil?"
"Well, ho said ho guessed thcro was
n now deal on hand, and they wns a
buzziu' like a nest of hornets."
"Well," said I, "wo had bettor go
down to Bortou's nnd look Into this
matter."
There was silence for n tlmo. My
guards walked besldo mo without
speaking, but I felt tho protest In their
manner. At last Backhouse said re
spectfully: "There's no use to do that, sir. You'd
better send somo ono that nln't bo
likely to bo nabbed, or thnt won't mnt
tor much If ho Is. We'd bo In a protty
11 x If you was to bo took."
"Horo comes Dicky now," said Por
ter, as n dark figure camu swinging
lightly along.
"Hullo!" cried Dicky, halting nnd
shading his eyes from tho gaslight.
"I was Just going up to look for you
ngnln."
'What's up, Dicky?"
"I guess It's tho devil," said Dicky,
so gravely that I broke into a laugh.
"He's right nt homo If ho's como to
this town," 1 said.
"I'm glad you find It so funny," said
Dicky In nn Injured tone "You wns
Bcnrcd enough last time."
"Well, 1'vo kept out of his claws this
far, nnd It's no uso to worry. What's
ho trying to do now?"
"That's what 1'vo been trying to find
out all tho ovonlng. Thcy'ro noisy
enough, but they're too thick to let
ono get near whoro thero's anything
going on that Is, If ho ha3 a fanc1
for keeping a wholo skin."
"Suppose wo go down thoro now,"
I suggested. "Wo might find out some
thing." Dicky stoppe'd short.
"Caesar's ghost!" ho gasped; "what
next? Wouldn't you llko to touch off
a few powder-kegs for nmusement?
Won't you flro a pistol Into your
mouth to show how easj you can Btop
tho bullot?"
"Why, you havo been down there
and aro all right," I argued.
"Well, thcro nothing much to hap
pen to iijo, but whoro would you bo If
they got hold of you? You're getting
off your cabesa, old fellow," said
Dicky anxiously.
"If I could seo Mother Horton I
would fix It," I said confidently.
"What! That sho-dovll?" cried
Dicky. "She'd give you up to havo
your throat cut In a mlnuto If she
could get a four-bit pleeo for your
carcass. I guess sho could get moro
than that on you, too."
Mother Borton's warnings ngalnst
Dicky Nahl returned to me with forco
at this expression of esteem from tho
young man, and I wns filled with
doubts.
"I camo up to tell you to look out
for yourself," continued Dicky. "I'm
afraid thoy mean mischief, nnd hero
you como with a wild scheme for (jol
ting Into tho thick of It."
"Well, I'll think better of It," 1
said. "But seo If you can find out
what Is going on. Como up and let
mo know If you get an Inkling of their
plants,"
"All right," said Dicky. "But Just
sleep on a halr-tiiggor to night."
"Good-night," I said, as I turned to
ward my room, nnd Dicky, with an an
sworlng word, took his way toward
the Borton place.
1 hnd grown used to tho silent ter
rors of my house. But ns wo stumbled
up tho stairway tun npprohonslona of
Dicky Nahl camo strong upon mo, nnd
t looked ahead to tho murky halls, nnd
glanced nt everyway ns though I ox
pocted an ambush. Porter and Bark
house marched stolidly along, showing
Httlo disposition to talk.
"What's that?" I exclaimed, stop
ping to listen.
"What was It?" asked Bnrkhouso,
ns wo stopped on tho upper lnndlug
nnd gnzed Into tho obscurity.
"I thought 1 heard a noise," said I.
"Who's thoro?"
"It was n rat," said Porter. "I'vo
heard 'em out hero of nights."
"Well, Just light that other gas Jot,"
I salll. "It will help to mako things
pleasant In enso of nccldonts."
Tho doors enmo out of tho darkness
ns tho second Jet blnzod up, but noth
ing elso was to bo seen.
Suddenly there wns n scrnmblo, nnd
something sprnng up beforo my door.
Porter anil I raised tho rovolvors thnt
woro ready In our hands, but Bark
hotiso spring past us, and In nn In
stant had closed with tho figure and
held It In his nrms.
There wns a volley of curses, oaths
mingled with sounds that reminded
mo of nothing so much ns n spitting
cat, and a familiar volco screamed in
almost Inarticulate rago:
"Let mo go, damn, ye, or I'll knlfo
ye!"
"flood heavens!" I cried. "Lot her
go, Hnrkhouse. It's Mother Borton."
Mothor Borton freed herself with a
vicious shake, and called down tho
wrath of Heaven and hell on tho stal
wart guard.
"You're tho black-hearted spawn of
tho sower rats, to tako n respcctablo
woman llko n bag of meal," cried
Mothor Horton lndlgnnntly, with a
fresh string of oaths. "It's flro nnd
brimstone you'll bo tnstlng yet, nnd
you'd 'a' been thoro beforo now, you
mlsornblo gutter-picker, If It wasn't
for me. And this Is tho thanks I git
from yo!"
"Como In," I said, unlocking tho
door nnd lighting tip my room. "You
enn bo ns angry as you llko In horo,
and It won't hurt anything."
Mothor Borton stormed a bit, and
then sullenly walked In and took a
chair. Silence fell on hor ns sho
crossed tho threshold, but sho glower
erod on us with llorco eyes.
"It's quite nn agreoanlo surprise to
boo you," I ventured as cheerfully as I
could, as sho made no inovo to speak.
My followers looked awkward and un
comfortable. At tho sound of my volco, Mothor
Borton's bont brows rolnxed a Httlo.
"If you'd sond these fellows out, I
reckon wo could talk a bit better,"
sho said sourly.
"Certainly. .Just wait In tho hall,
boys; and close tho door."
Porter and Harkhouso nmblcd out,
nnd Mother Horton gavo her chair a
hitch that brought us face to face.
"I reckon you don't think I como on
n visit of perllteness?" bIio said sharp
ly after a brief silence.
I murmured something about being
glad to entertain her at any tlmo.
"Nonsense!" sho sniffed. "I'm a vllo
old woman thnt tho likes of you would
never put eyes on twlco If It wnsn't
for your business none knows It bet
tor than mo. I don't know why 1 should
put myself out to help yo." Hor tono
had a touch of pathos under Its hard
ness. "I know why." I snld, n Httlo touch
ed. "It's becnuso you llko me,"
Sho turned n softened cyo on mo.
"You're right," sho said almost ten
derly, with a Hash of womanly feeling
on her senmcd and ovll faco. "I'vo took
a fancy to yo and no mlstnke, and I'd
risk something to help ye."
"I know you would," 1 said heart
ily. "And that's what I como to do," sho
said with a sparkle of pleasure In her
eye. "I'vo como to warn ye."
"Now dangers?" I Inquired cheer
fully. My prudenco suggested that I
had better omit any mention of tho
warning from Dicky Nal I.
"Tho saino ones," said Mother Bort
on shortly, "only moro of 'em."
"What Is tho latest plot V" I asked
gravely, as I fancied that my light
mnnner grated on my strange guest.
"I don't know," she said slowly.
"Hut you know something," 1
argued.
"Maybo you know whnt I know hot
ter tliun I knows It myself," growled
Mothor Borton with a slgnlilcunt
glanco.
I resigned mysolf to await hor hu
mor. "Not nt all," said I carelessly. "I
only know that you'vo como to toll mo
something, and that you'll tell It In
your own good tlmo."
"It's lino to seo that you'vo learned
not to drlvo a woman," she returned
with grim Irony. "It's something to
know at your ago."
I Binlled sympathetically upon hor,
nnd sho continued:
"I might as well toll yo tho wholo
of It, though I reckon my throat's as
llko to bo silt over It as not."
"I'll never breatho a word of it," I
replied forvently.
( TO HE CO N'T INC K I ). )
The Skeleton at the Feast.
"Tho dinner wns going nil right,"
nahl tho superstitious man, "until tho
cross-eyed girl camo to tho tolophono
and stood racing tho table, talking
with n friend, but looking strnight at
us not straight exactly with hor
mlsmatcd eyes. Then tho wnltor got
cross and spilled tho soup and brought
tho macaroni without l.ho choeso and
tho cheese without tho macaroni and
forgot tho butter nnd noarly forgot tho
Oread and frozo tho coffeo nnd left out
ho sugar, and, well, Just about every
thing happened that could happen at
'hat tablo after tho crossoyed girl
.nine nnd stood thoro telephoning and
looked at us,"
An Outrage.
Mr. Fisher A mnn fell Into n mill
pond where I was fishing to-day nnd
was drowned.
Mrs. Fisher Why, wasn't that tor
rlblo? Mr. Fisher I should say It was.
They stirred up tho water so looking
for the body that they simply spoiled
tho fishing.
Your Drugnlat Will Tell You
Thit Murine Kyo Iletncdy Cures Eyes,
Makes Weak Kycs Strong. IXicsn't Smart.
Soothes Kyo I'uln nnd Sells for 60c.
Old age, especially nn honored old
ago, hns so great nuthorlty thnt this Is
of moro vnluo than all tho pleasures of
youth. Clcoro.
Lewi' Pinsle Hinder ntmight fle. Many
finokers prefer them to 10c cIksm. Your
dealer or Lewis' Factory, l'coria, III.
Knch mnn hns his special duty to
rorform, his special work to do.
Smiles.
FIT. Pt. Vltn' Pant n1 NetTim lMrn-i twr.
maiicntljrrurwl t.r lir. Kllim'udrmt Ner lleiloror,
tMi fer KUNK ti.PD trial Nit tin nml trmtlr'i. )r.
U. II. K II in., 1x1., Wl Arvti Strrot. 1'lilUdolpMa I'a,
Tho most Important of all la tho
education of tho will. F. W. Fnrrar.
Mr. Wlnstnw's Honthlng Njrnn.
rorchlldmi teethlne, aoftona tho utni, reitutra tn
Camma Hull, alia) I l'lu, curea wlud colli). Mo a twtUa.
How wo enjoy meeting a man who
has no tnlo of woo to toll!
.i. .i- 't.5'rr While Ynu Wulk
rollout nchlnutrrt. Wenll DruvgUti v
Back pay Is usually slow nbout com
Ing to tho front.
and HAY FEVER
I'OHITIVKI.Y CUU1CD br
KINMONTH'a ASTHMA CURE
OrerKIU iintlontacurnl durln lh nut $ year. A
N) coin trlnl IxiUIo Mint to nnr n.Mrrn on rocnlpt ol
Kct. Dll.ll.ij. KlN.MONTIl.Aiburjr 1'nrlN.J.
W. N. U., OMAHA, NO. 33, 1908.
It converts them
ASTHMA
Many of the Bank Cashiers, Department Managers and succes
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Write for cataloguo and specimens of penmanship.
Place
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Consult your own interests. Ask for DEFIANCE STANCH, yet it, and wo
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That is ono of many reasons why
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To get its beneficial effceU always buy
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Largo Trial Sample
WITH "hiaith and rkauty' iooh int rnis
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a daisy flychZer
LASTS THE E,1,
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Aft., BrtftMla.R.Y,
WIMO WS'un'1" N CW LAW obUln4
w--kTc:i.nk'tJt2 br JOHN W. MORnilt,
PENSIONS wuuiugwn, i. a
T
mntl. KoidbTKi
ilfHilmor tnl tii
tnMI poatittlil fol
llotnti. Ilarall
.... lit IKI-It
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iusiness College
Is not only the best placo west of tho Missis
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Into business men and women.
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If properly laundered.
To get the best results
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