"ww WMwmm.
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y ANNA KATHARINE GDEEN
AUTHOR OP "THE LEAVENWORTH CASE"
TJt riwoUEE JALL THE HOUSE OFTHEWHISPERINa PWES
ILLUSTRATIONS fW
CHARLES W ROSSE&
W
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8YN0PSI8.
Geiirmj Anderson nnd wlfo seo ft ro
niarlcnlile looMIng man1 cpino out or tho
Olc-i input hotel, look around furtively,
wish hlu liandH In tho snotv nnd nana on.
Commotion attracts them to tho Clermont,
wl'"r" i ln found that tho beautltul-MIss
ISdltli Clmlloner has fallen dead, Ander
jioii describes the man ho Raw wash hh
hands li. tho snow Tho hotel manager
lUHlurvH film to ho Orlando Hrothcrson.
riiVHlclnim nnd that Mis Clmlloner was
Hjiihhcd nnd not shot, which Deems to
clear Urnlhcrson of suspicion. Ciryco, an
npel delpctlvo, nnd Bweotwater, hlfl ns
iixtnnt take up tho caso They bollove
MIkm Chnllciner stabbed herself. A. paper
cutler found near tho scene of tragedy Is
Ixlleved to he the weapon used.
CHAPTER V. Continued.
'Does that frighten you? Arc you
m affected by tho thought of blood?"
'Don't nnk mo. And I put tho thing
iiutlor my pillow! I thought It wan no
- ho pretty "
'Mrs. WatkliiB," Mr. Gryco from
(hut momunl Ignored tho dnughtor,
"did you hco It thoro?"
"Yen; but I jlldn't know whoro It
ciimo from. I lind not bccii my daugh
ter iiloop I didn't know whoro who
Cot It till I read that bulletin."
"Novcr mind that. The question
ngllullng mb Is whether any stnlrl was
h'fi under that pillow." '
"I didn't hco any Btntn, but you can
look for yourself, Tho bod hnH boen
inndn tip, but thoro wna no change of
linen Wo expected to remain hero;
I hoo no good to bo gained by hiding
any of tho fnctn now."
"Nono whatovor, inudam."
"Come, then Carol I no, nit down
nnd Hop crying. Mr. Oryco bolloves
that your only fault wan In not taking
UilH object at onco to tho doHk." ""
"Yen, that's all," ncquloscod tho do
lectlve after u short fltudy of tho uhak
lug (Iguro nnd distorted featured of
tlio girl. "You had no Idea, I'm Buro,
whoro UiIh weapon camo from or for
what It had boon UBod. That'B evi
dent "
Her Hhuddor, bb Alio floated hcraolf,
wax very convincing Sho was too
young to Blmulnto ho nuccesflfully onto
lions of this character.
"I'm glad of that," Bho roBpondod,
liltlf fretfully, half gratefully, as Mr.
Gryco followed her mother into tho
adjoining room, "l'vo had a bad
jinoiiKli Umo of It Without being
blamed for what I didn't know and
illdirjt do "
Mr Oryco laid little BtrcBB updn
thoHo words, 'mt rauoh upon tho lack
of curloolty nho nhowod In tho mln
iito ujid caroful oxnmlnatlon ho now
tmulo -of hor room, Thoro was no
Btnln on tho pillow-cover and nono on
tho bureau-spread whoro Bho might
very naturully havo laid tho cuttor
down on first coming Inlo hor room.
Tho lilndo was bo polished that It
niiiHl havo been rubbed off Bomo
whoro,. cither purposely or by acci
dent. Thoy returned to whoro tho girl Btlll
Bat, wrappod in hor cloak, Bobbing
i,UU, but not bo. violently.
"Will will ho toll?" she whUporod.
Tho aimwor camo quickly, but not
in mo titouior'fl tones, Mr. GrycoB
earn had lost nono of tholr anclont
acutenesB,
"I do not eep that I should gain
much by doing bo. Tho ono discov
ery which would llnlc this find of yours"
lildlBBolubly with Miss Challonor'H
death, I havo fallod to make. Do you
remombor tho oxnet Bpot whoro you
slnopod, MIbb Watklns?"
"No, no. Somowhero near thoso big
ohalrn, I didn't havo to Btop out of
my way 5 I really didn't."
Mr Gryco's answering biiiIIq wiib a
fltudy. It seomed to convoy a two-fold
ini'HHiigo, ono for tho inothor and ono
for tho phllti, nnd both worp comfort
ing. Uut Uo went nway. dlBnppoIntod.
Tho cluo which promised bo much
wan, Ui all appoarnnco, a false ouo.
Uo COUld BOQll toll.
CHAPTER VI.
Integrity.
Mi' Gryoo'a fears wore only too well
foundod. Though Mr. McElroy was
kind enough to point out tho oxact
epot whoro ho saw Misa WutkliiB
rioop, uo truco of blood waB found up
in tho rug which had lain there, nor
h id anything of tho kind been washed
lip by tho very caroful man who
scrubbed tho lobby floor in tho oarly
montlug This was disappointing, na
Kit int'Htiiico would -havo settled tho
vholo question. Whon, thoeo efforts
nil oxhaisted, tho two dotoctlvos facod
onch other again In tho small room
given up to tholr use, Mr. Oryco
eliowi'd hla dlacoiiragomont. Swnot
wtitor watched Ulm In Bomo concern.
(Iin with tho petslstonco which was
uno of Jila strong points, ventured
dually to romark'
"Mvo but ono Idea left on tho Bub
Joot," " 'And what In that?"
"Tho girl wore, a red cloak. If 1 mls
lako not, tho lining wb also rod. A
cpot on it might not show to tho cas
ual obuervor, Yot It would moan
much to us."
"9voohviUorl"-
A faint hlUHiiroBe-to the old man's
Sl'M.k,"' , ,-, .. ", - - .
r 'flllull I'requcBt tho prlvllcga of
ijiokiiig that garment ovor?"
"Yos,"
Tho young fellow ducked nnd left
tho room. When ho returned, It was
with a downcast ulr.
"Nothing doing," Bald he.
And then thero was sllcnco.
A knock at tho door wa followed
by tho Immedlato cntranco of Mr. Clml-
loner. Whn ll.1 nnmn In a.u.Mlt nf tlir.
Inspector, and showed somo surprise
to una ins place occupied by an un
known old man.
Mr. Qryco motioned Sweetwater
from tho room. With a -woeful look
tho young detective withdrew, his last
glance cast nt tho cutter Btlll lying In
full view on tho table.
Mr. Gryco, not unmindful himself of
this objoct, took it up, then laid it
down again, with an air of scorning
abstraction.
Tho father's attention waB caught.
"What 1b that?" ho cried, advanc
ing a step and bestowing more than
an ordinary glanCo at tho object thus
brought casually, as it were, to his
notlco.
Mr. Gryco, observing tho other's
omotion, motioned him to a chair. Ab
his visitor snnk into it, ho rcmnrkod,
with all tho consideration exacted by
tho situation:
"It Is unknown proporty, Mr. Chal
loner. flut wo havo somo reason to
think It belonged to your daughter."
"I havo soen It, or ono Hko it, often
in hor hnnd." Horo his oyeB suddenly
dilated and tho hand Btrotchod forth
to grasp It quickly drow back. "Whoro
where was It found?" ho hoarsely
domamlcd. "O God I am I to bo crushed
to tho very oarth by sorrow 1"
Mr. Gryco hastened to glvo him
such relief as was consistent with
tho truth.
"It was picked up last night from
tho lobby floor. Thoro is seemingly
nothing to connect it with lier death.
Yot "
Tho pause was eloquent. Mr. dial
loner gavo tho detoctlvo an agonized
look and turned white to tho lips.
Then gradually, as tho ailenco contln
ued, his head fell forward, and ho mut
tercd almoBt unintelligibly.
"I honestly bollovo her tho victim
of somo hoarlloss Btrangor. I do now
Uut but I cannot mislead tho police.
At any cost I must retract a state
ment I mado under falso Improssions
and with no doslro to deceive. I said
that I know nil of tho gontlomon who
admired hor and aspired to hor hand,
nut It BoemB that I did n.ot know her
sccrot heart as thoroughly as I had
supposed. Among hor offectB I have
Just como upon a batch of letters
love letters I nm forced to acknowl
edgesigned by InltlnlB totally Btrango
to mo. Tho loltors aro manly in tone
most of thorn but one "
"What about tin. ano?"
"Shows that tlu writer waB dis
pleased. It may mean nothing, but I
could not lot tho matter go without
setting myself right with tho authori
ties. If it might bo allowed to rest
here If thoso lottorn mn nmn o.
crod, it would save mo Jho additional
pang of Booing hor inmost concerns
tho secret and holiest recesses of a
woman's heart, laid open to tho pub
lie. For, from tho tenor of most of
thoso lottors, Bhe she was not nverso
tn tho writer."
Mr. Gryco moved n mitn ,iii,.
In his chair and Btarod hard at tho cut
tor bo convcnloutly placed under his
oyo. Then his manner softened and
ho remarked:
"Wo will do what wo can. But you
must understand that tho matter Is
not a simple ono, That, in fact, it
coiuains mysteries which domand po
Hco Investigation. Wo do not daro
to triflo wltti any of tho facts. Tho
inspector, jnnd, ir not ho, tho coroner,
will have to bo told about these lot
tors and will probably ask to see
them." ,
"fhoy aro tho letters of a gontlo
man." "With tho ono exception."
"Yes. that Is understood." Tin. in
n Biidden heat nnd with an almost
sublime trust ln his daughter notwith
standing tho duplicity ho had Just dls
covorod, ho " declared: "The deed
was nn accident Incredible but still
an accident,"
Mr, Gryco had respect for this out
burst. Making no attempt to answer
It, ho Buggested, with eoma hesitation,
that MIsb Clmlloner had boon soon
writing a. lottcr previous to taking
thoso fatal Btops from tho desk which
ended bo trnglcally. Was this letter
to ono of hor lady frlonds, as reported,
nnd was It an far from suggesting the
awful tragedy which followed, us ho
had boon told?
"It was u cheerful letter. Such a
ono as alio often wrote to her llttlo
protegees horo nnd there I Judgo
that this was written to somo girl like
that, for tho person jtddrossed was
not known to hor mHld, any moro than
Bho. was to mo. It expressed nn nt
foctlonato Interest, and it breathed
oncouragomont encouragomentl and
oho meditating hor own death at tho
moment,! Impossible!! 'That letter
should exonorn to hor If nothing else
doe's,"
When Mr. Challonor roso to leave
tho room, Mr. Oryco showed where
his own thoughts still centered, by
asking him the date of tho correspond
onco discovered between his daughter
and her unknown admirer.
"Somc'of the loiters were dated last
summer, somo this fall. Tho ono you
nro most anxious to hear about only a
month back," ho added, with uncon
querable devotion to whrtt he consid
ered his duty.
Mr. Gryco would Hko to havo car
ried his inquiries further, but desisted
But whon ho was gone, and Sweet
water had returned. Mr. Grvca mode
It his first duty to communicate tchls-
superiorB tlio hitherto unsuspected
fact of a Bociot romance In MIsb dial
loner's soomlngly calm nnd well
guarded life.
CHAPTER VII.
The Letters.
Before a tnble strewn with papers,
In tho room wo havo already men
tioned as given ovor to the ubo of
tho jpollco, sat Doctor Heath In a
mood too thoughtful to notlco tho en
trance of Mr. Gryce nnd Sweetwater
from tho dining-room whore they had
boon having dinner.
However, ub tho former's tread was
somowhat lumbering", the coroner's
attention was caught before thoy had
qulto crossed tho room, and Sweet
water, with his quick eye, noted how
his arm and hand Immediately fell so
as to cover up a portion of the pa
pers lying nearest to him.
"Well Gryco, this is a dark case,"
ho observed, as at his bidding tho two
detectives took their seats.
Mr. Gryco nodded; bo did Sweetwa
ter. "She waB not shot. Sho was not
struck by any other hand; yet she lies
dead from u mortal wound In the
breast. Though there is no tangible
proof of her having Inflicted this
wound upon herself, tho Jury will have
no alternative I feur, than to pro
nounce the ca3o ono of suicide."
"I'm sorry that I've been able to do
bo llttlo," remarked Mr. Gryco.
Tho coroner darted him n quick
look.
"You nro not satisfied? You have
some different Idea?" ho asked.
The dotectlvo frowned at his hands
crossed ovor tho top of his cane, then
shaking his head, replied:
"Tho verdict you mention Is tho
only natural ono, of course.-1 see that
you havo been talking -with Miss Glial
loner's formor maid?"
"Yes, and slip has sottled on im
portant point for us. Thoro was a
possibility, of course, that the papers
cuttor whloh" you brought to my no
tice had novcr gone with her into tho
mezzanine. That'she, or somo other
porBon, had dropped It In passing
through tho lobby. But this girl as
sures mo that her mlBtrcss did not en
ter tho lobby that night. That eho
accompanied her down In tho elevator,
and saw her Btop off nl tho mezzanine.
Sho can alBo Bwear that tho cutter
was" ln a book sho carried the book
we found lying on tho deBlt. The girl
remembers distinctly seeing Us po-
Some Clock In the Neighborhood
Struck Ten.
cullarly chased handle projecting
from Ub pages. Could anythtug bo
moro satisfactory If I was going to
Bay, if tho young lady had boon of tho
linpulBlvo typo and tho provocation
greater. But Miss Challonor'B nature
was calm, and woro it not for these
letters" horo his arm shifted a llttlo
"I should not bo so Buro of my Jury's
future verdict. Love" ho went on,
aftor a moment of silent consideration
of a lottur ho hud chosen from thoso
beforo him, "disturbs tho most equa
ble natures. Whon It enters as n fac
tor, wo can oxpoot anything as you
know, And Miss Challoner ovldontly
was much attached to her correspon
dent, and uaturally loft the roproach
conveyed ln thoso lines."
And Doctor Heath road:
'Doar Miss Challoner: Only a man
or Btnall spirit cpuld endure what I
endured from you tho other day, Lovo
Buch as mlno would be rospectnblo ln
a clodhopper, and I think thnt oven
you will acknowledge that I stand
somewhat higher than that Though I
was silent under yoiir disapprobation,
you shall yet have your answer. It
will not lack point because of its nec
essary dolay."
"A threatl"
The words sprang from Sweetwater,
nnd woro evidently involuntary.
"It Is tho only letter of them alt
which convoys anything like a re
proach," proceeded tho coroner. "Her
-surprise must consequently havo been
Great at receiving these linos, and her
resentment equally so. If the two mot
afterwards But I have not Bhown
you tho signature-To the poor father
It conveyed nothing somo factB have
been kept from htm but to us"
hero ho whirled the letter about bo
that Sweetwater, at least, could seo
tho name, "It conveys a hope that we
may yet understand Miss Challoner,"
"BrothcrBon!" oxclnlmed tho young
detective In loud surprise. "Brother
eon! The man who"
"Tho man who left this building
Just beforo or simultaneously with tho
alarm caused by Miss Challoner's fall.
It clears away some of the clouds bo
fogging us. She probably caught
Bight of him ln tho lobby, and ln tho
passion of the moment forgot her
usual Instincts and drove tho sharp
pointed weapon Into hor heart."
"Brotherson!" Tho'word came soft
ly now, and with a thoughtful Intona
tion. "Ho saw her die."
"Why do you say that?"
"Would ho havo washed hla hands
ln tho snow If ho had been ln lguo
ranco of tho occurrence? Ho was the
real. If not tho active, cause of her
death and ho knew it. Efthor he ox
cuso mo, Doctor Heath and Mr. Gryce,
it Is not for nip to obtrude my opin
ion." "Have you settled it beyond dispute
that Brotherson is really tho man who
was seen doing thlsT'
"No, sir. I have not had a mlnuto
for tharjob, but I'm ready for tho
business any tlmo you see fit to spare
me."
"Let It be tomorrow, or. If you can
manage It, tonight. Wo want tho man
even if ho Is not the hero of that ro
mantic episode. He wrote these let
ters, and he-must explain the last one.
Hid Initials, as you seo, aro not ordi
nary ones, and you will find them at
tho bottom of all these sheets He
was brave enough or arrogant enough
to sigh the questionable ono with his
full name. This may speak well for
him, and It may not. It Is for you to
decide that. "Whoro will you look for
him, Sweetwnter? No ono horo knows
his address."
"Not, Miss Challoner's maid?"
"No; the namo Is a new ono to hor.
But Bhe mado it very evident that Bho
was not surprised to hoar that her
mistress was In secret correspondence
with n member of the male sex. Much
can be hidden from servants, but not
that."
"I'll find tho man; I have a double
reason for doing that now; he shall
not escape me'
Doctor Heath expressed his satis
faction, nnd gavo somo orders. Mean
while, Mr. Gryco had not uttered a
word.
CHAPTER VIII.
Strange Doings for George.
That evening George eat so long
over tho newspapers that In spite of
my absorbing Interest In tho topic en
grossing mo, I fell asleep ln my cozy
llttlo rooking chair. I was awakened
by what seemed Hko a kiss falling
very softly on my forehead, though, to
bo Huro, It may havo boon only the
flap of Georgo's coat sleeve as ho
stooped oven me.
"Wako up, llttlo woman," J heard,
"and trot away to bed. ,1'ni going out
and may not bo In till daybreak."
"You! going -out! at ton o'clock
at night, tired as you aro as wo both
aro! What has happenod Ah!"
This broken exclamation escaped
mo as I pcrcolved In tho dim back
ground by the sitting-room door, tho
figure of a man who called up recent,
bttt very thrilling experiences.
"Mr, Sweetwater," explalnod George.
"Wo nro going out together. It is
nocQSBary, or you may bo sure 1
should not leave you,"
Ho gave, mo a llttlo good advico as
to how I had bettor employ my tlmo
In his nbsonco, and was off beforo I
could find words to answor. s,
Ab soon as tuo two were in the
street, tho detective turned towards
Georgo andsaid:
"Mr. Andorson", I have a great deal
to ask of. you. Mr. Brotherson has
vanished; that Is, In his own propor
person, but I havo an Idea that I am
on the track of one who will load us
very directly to him If wo manage
the affair carefully. What I want of
you, of courso, Is moro Identification
You saw tho fuco of tho man who
washed his hands in tho snow, and
would Know it again, you say. Da you
think you could bo qulto sure of your
self, It tho man were differently
dressed and differently occupied?"
"I think so. There's his height and
a certain strong look ln his face. 1
cannot doscrlbo It."
"You don't need to. Come! we're
all right. You don't mind making a
night of it?"
"Not If it Is necessary;"
"That we can't tell yet " And with
a characteristic shrug and smile, the
detective led the way to a taxlcab
which stood in waiting at the corner.
A quarter of an Iiour of rather fast
riding brought them into-a tangle of
streets on the East side
When they stopped, which was in a
fow minutes, Sweetwater said to
Georgo:
"We Bhall havo to wark now for a
block or two. If you can manage to
act as If you were accUBtomed to the
place and just lenve all the talking to
mo, we ought to get along, first-rate.
Don't be astonished at anything you
see. and trust me for the rest; that's
all."
They alighted, and he dismissed the
taxlcab. Somo clock In the neighbor
hood struck tho hour of ton.
"Good! we shall be in time," mut
tered tho detective, and led tho way
down the street and round a corner
or so, till they came to a block dark
er than the rent, and much less noisy.
"There's a meeting on tonight, of
the Associated Brotherhood of the
Awl, tho Plane nnd tho Trowel (what
ever that means), and It Is the speak
er wp want to seo; the man who t& to
address them promptly at ten o'clock.
Do you objoct to meetings?"
"Is this a secret ono?"
"It wasn't advertised."
"Are we carpentors or masons that
we can count on admittance?"
"Hush! I must spealc to this man."
Georgo Btood back, and a few words
passed between Sweetwater and a
shadowy figure which seemed to havo
sprung up out of the sidewalk.
"Balked at tho outset," were the en
couraging words with which the de
tcctlvo rejoined George. "It Beems
that a pass-word is necessdry, and my
friend has been unablo to get it. Will
tho speaker pass out this way?" he
inquired of tho shadowy figure still
lingering in, tholr rear.
"Ho didn't go In by it; yet I believe
he's safe enough inside," waB tho
muttered answer.
Sweetwater had no relish for disap
pointments of this character, but It
was not long before he straightened
up and allowed himself to exchange a
fow moro words with this mysterJoua
person. Theseappearcd to bo of a
more encouraging nature than the
last, for it was i!ot long boforo the do
tectlvG returned with renewed alac
rity to George, and, wheeling him
about, began to retrace his steps to
-ho corner.
" Whero they went under this officer's
guidance, ho cannot tell. Tho tortu
ous tangle of alleys through which ho
now, felt himself led was dark as the
nether regions to his unaccustomed
oyesj. There was snow under his feet
and now and thon he brushed against
somo obtruding object, or stumbled
against a low fence; but beyond theso
slight miscalculations on his own part,
no was a mere automaton In the hands
of his oager guide, and only became
his own man again when they sud
denly stopped Into an opon yard nnd
ho could discern plainly beforo him
the dark walls of "It building pointed
out by Sweetwater as their probable
destination. Yet oven hero they en
countered some Impediment which
prohibited a close approach. A wall
or shed cut off their view of the build
ing's lowei story; and though somo
what Btartled at being left uncere
moniously alone after just n whispered
word of encouragement from the over
ready detective, Georgo could quite
understand the necessity which vthat
person must feel for a quiet recon
noltoring ot the surroundings beforo
the two of them vontured further for
ward Invtholr possibly hazardous un
dertaking. Yet the experience was
none too pleasing to George, and ho
was very glad to hear Sweetwater's
whisper again in his oar, and to feel
himself rescued from the pool of slilsh
in which he had boen left to stand.
"Tho approach Is not all that can be
desired," remarked tho detective as
thwy entered what appeared to bo a
low shed. "Tho broken boatd has
been put back and securely nailed in
place, and If I am not yory much mis
taken thoro is a fellow stationed in
the yard who will want tho pass-word
too. LookB shady to me. I'll Save
sombthlng to tell tho chief when I get
back."
"But we! What aro wo going to' do
It wo cannot get In front or rear?"
"We're going to wait right hero In
the hopes of catching n gllmpso of our
man as ho comes out," returned tho
detoctlvo, drawing Georgo towards a
low window overlooking the yard he
had described as sentinelled. "He will
have to pass directly undor this win
dow on his way to tho alley," Sweet
water wont on to explain, "and if I
can only raise It but tho noise would
give ub away. I can't do that."
"Perhaps it swings on hlngos," sug
gested George. "It looks Hko that
sort of a window."
"If It should woll! It does. We're
In greut luck, sir. But beforo I pull It
open, remember that from tho mo
merit I unlatch it, everything Bald or
done here can bo heard ln tho ad
joining yard. So no whispers and no
unnecessary movemonu. When you
henr him coming, as sooner or later
you certainly will, fall carefully to
your knees and lean out just far
enough to catch a glimpae of Tiim bo
foro he stepa down from tho porch. If
he stops to light hiB cigar or to pass a
few words with some of tho men ho
will leave- behind, yon may get a plain
enough view "of his face or figure to
Identlfjhlm. The light is burning low
in that rear hall, but It will do. If it
does not If you can't see him or If
you do, don't hang out of tho window
more than a second. Duck after your
first look. I don't want to bo caught
aC this job- with no bottor opportunity
for oscapo than wo hoVcr here. Can you1
remember all that?"
Georgo pinched his arm encourag
ingly, and Sweetwater, with no amused
grunt, softly unlatched the window
and pulled It wldo opon.
A flno sleet flew ln. Imperceptible
cave for tho sensation of damp it
Kave, and-the Blight haze it diffused
through the air. Enlarged by this
huze, the building thoy wero set to
watch roso ln magnified proportions
at their left. Tho ,ynrd botween, piled
high in tho center with snow-heaps or
other hoapa covered with snow, could
not havo been more than forty feet
square, The window from which they
poered, was half-way down this yard,
so that a comparatively short distance
separated them from the porch where
George had been told to look for tho
man he was expecting to identify. All
was dark thoro at present, but he
could hear fronr time to time somo
Bounds of restless movement, as tho
guard posted tnside shifted in his nar
row quarters, or struck hla benumbed
foot softly together.
But what came to them from above
was moro interesting than anything
to bo heard or seen below. A man's
voice, raised to a wonderful pitch by
tho passion of oratory, had burst the
barriers of the closed hall in that tow
ering third story and was carrying lta
tale to other ears than thoso within.
Sweetwater, jn whom satisfaction
was fast talcing the place of Impa
tience and regret, pushed tho window
to beforo asking Georgo this question:
"Did you hear tho vqIco of tho man
whoso action attracted your attention
outside the Clermont?"
"No." " v,.
"Did you note just now tho large ,
shadow dancing on the celling over
the speaker's head?"
"Yes. but I could Judge nothing from '
that."
"Well, he's arum ono-J shan't opon
this window again till he gives signs
ot reaching the end of his speech. It's
too cold."
But almost immediately ho gave a ,
start and, pressing Georgo's arm, ap
peared to listen, not to tho speech
which was no longer audible, but to '
something mtiyli nearer a ' step or
movement ln the adjoining yard. At
least, so Georgo interpreted tho quick
turn which this impetuous detective
mado, and tho palna ho took to direct
George's attention to the walk run
ning under tho window beneath whloh
they crouched. Somo ono was steal- '
Ing down upon tho house at their left,
from the nllev bevond. A hie- mnn
rwhose shoulder brushed -the window
ns he went by. George felt his hand
seized again and pressed -aB this hap
pened, and beforo ho had recovered
from this excitement, experienced an
other quick pressure and still nnother
as one, two, three additional figures
went slipping by. Then his hand was
suddenly dropped, for a cry had shot
up from tho door whero tho sentinel
storfd guard, followed by a suddon
loud slam, and tho noise of a shooting
bolt, which, proclaiming as it did that
tho InvaderB were not friends but
onemles to tho cause which was boing
vaunted above, so oxclted Sweotwator
that ho pulled the window wldo open
and took a bold look out. Georgo fol
lowed hlB example and this was whut
they saw:
Threo men wero standing flat
against tho fence leading from tho
shed dlroctly to the porch. Tho
fourth was crouching within tho lat
tor, and In another moment thoy hoard
his fist descend upon tho door lnsldo
In a way to rouso tho echoes. Mean
time, the voice In tho audience hall
above had ceased, and there could be
heard tnad tho scramble of hurry
ing feet nnd ibo noise of overturning
benches. Then a window flow up and
a voice called down:
"Who's that? What do you want
down thore?"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Innocent.
"I try to think," said Benham, "that
woman is the equal of man and ns well
qualified to take part In the political
life; but It sort of jars that belief to
get tho ieply I did this morning from
my wlfo, when I remarked, on reading
thq returns, that Bingham ran ahea?
of his ticket, and Bhe Innocently In"
quired. "What was his hurry ?" Judga
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