'THE NORTH PLATTE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
B
y ANNA KATHARINE GREEN
. Author op "the leavenworth case
the filigree ball" the house of the whispering pines'
illustrations &y
CHARLES .W. R0S3ER
IWTWtS
li
v
i!5
;i
. ;
IM
SVNOPSIS.
George Anderson anil wlfo bco a re
rnnrkntjlo looking inun rome out of tlio
Clonnont Jiotol, look around furtively,
wash hlii hands In the snow and pass on.
Commotion nttracls thorn to tlio Clermont,
wherft It Id found that the beautiful Mlsu
Kdltli Challonor hai fallen dead. Ander
sen describes the man he Haw wnsh his
hands In the snow The hotel manauer
declares hlrn to ho Orlando Ilrothcrmui.
Physicians find that Miss Chnllonor wan
stubbed and not shot. Clrycc, an aged de
tective, and Sweetwater, Ills assistant,
take up the cae. Mr. Challoncr tells, of n
natch Af letters found In his daughter'
desk, Hlgned "O II." All nro lovo letter
except one, which shows that the writer
was displeased. This latter was signed
bv Orlando nrolheraon. AnderHon goes
Willi Sweetwater to Identify Urdthersnn,
who Is found In a tnnoment under the
name of Dunn. He la an Inventor llroth
ernon tells the coroner Miss Cliulloner re
nulxcd htm with scorn when ho offered her
his love. Hweetwator recalls the mystery
of the murder of a washerwoman In which
Komo details wero similar to tlio Chnllonor
affair. Sweetwater nets lodgings Intho
name building with Hrothorson. Ho boros
a holn In the wall to spy on Urothorson.
Ho visits hlrn and assists tho Invontor In
Ills work. A Rlrl sent by Sweetwater with
ICdlth Chnllonor' letters Is ordered out by
Jlrothcrson. Ho declares the letters were
not written by him. Sweetwater Is un
masked by Ilrothersnn, who declares bo
recognized lilm at once, Tho discovery Is
mado that tbn lottors signed "O. H." wero
written by two different men. Sweetwater
coos to Dorby In search of tho second "O
II.," whom ho ox poet 11 to locnto through
ono Doris Scott, mentioned In tho letters.
Hho I found acting as nurso for Oswald
Jirotherson, who Is critically sick and rails
the namo of HdltU In bis delirium. Bweet
wnter comos ncross n peculiar but In the
woods. Ho sees a load of boxes marked
' O. nrothorson," taken Into tho but under
the fliipervlslon of Doris Scott. Doris
tolls Chnllonor of seeing In a dream tho
faco of tho man who killed Kdlth. Tho
door bell rings nnd sho recognizes In the
visitor tho man of bor dream. It Is Or
lando urothorson, who requests nn Inter
view with his brother, It dovolops that
Orlando Is working on a flying machine.
Oswald Is told of Edith's death.
CHAPTER XXXIII. Continued.
"Chunco7" ho repeated. "Orlando, I
bejlovo In God."
"Then ncok your comfort thoro. I
find It In harnessing tho winds; In
forcing tho. powors of naturo to da.
my bidding."
Tho other did not speak, nnd tho si
lenco grow henvy. It was broken,
when it was broken, by a cry from
Oswnld :
"Ho more," said ho, "no more."
Than, In a yearning accent, "Send
Dorja to mo." , m '
Orlando started. This namo'comlng
eo closo upon that word comfort .pro
duced a fltrango effect upon hlin. But
another look nt Oswald and he was
roady to do'' his bidding. Tho bitter
ordeal was over; lot him havo his
solaco If It wnB In her powor to glvo
It to him.
Orlando, upon loavlng his brother's
room, did not Btop to deliver that
brothor'n inessago directly to Doris;
ho left this for Truda to do, nnd re
tired Immediately to his hangar In
tho woods. Locking himself in, ho
ellghtly rnlsod tho roof and thon sat
dftwn boforo tho car which was rap
idly taking on Hhnpo and assuming
that Individuality and nnponranco of
Bontjent llfo which hitherto ho had
only soon in dreams. Dut his eye,
which hnd novor failed to kindle at
this sight boforo, shone dully In tho
noinl-glooin, Tho air-car could wait;
ho would first havo his hour In this
solitudo of Ills own making. Tho gaze
lio droadod, tho words from which ho
shrank could not ponotrato horo. IIo
might ovon shout her namo nloud, nitd
only thouo wlndowlosa walla would
respond. Ho was nlona with IiIb past,
Jils 'present and his future
.Alono!
Ho needod to bo. Tho strongest
must pauHO when tho proclplco yawnn
boforo him. Tho gulf can bo spannod;
ho fools hlniBOlf forceful enough for
that; but his eyes must tako their
meaBuromont of It first; ho must
know Its tloptliH and possible dangers
Only n fool would ignoro theso steeps
of Jagged rook; nnd ho wau no fool,
only a man to whom tho unexpected
hurt happened, a mnn who had scon
IiIb wny cloar to tho horizon nnd thon
hnd oomo up agalnat this! Lovo,
whon ho thought such folly dead! Ho
morBO, wJion Glory called for the qulot
mind and heart!
Ho recognized ltn mordant fang, and
know that its ravages, though only
Jufit bogun, would Inst his lifetime
Nothing could stop thorn now, noth
ing, nothing. And ho laughed, as tho
thought went homo; laughed nt the
Irony of fate nnd Its lnoxornblenass;
laughed at his own tlofoat and his
tienrnoKB lo n barred PnrndlBo. Os
wald loved Edith, lovod her yet, with
a damn tlmo would tuko long to
quench. Doris loved Oswald nnd ho
Doris; and not ono of thorn would
over attain tho delights each was bo
fitted to enjoy. Why shouldn't ho
laugh? What is left to man but mock
ory when nil props fall? Disappoint
ment nlouo wan tho universal lot; and
it should go merrily with him it ho
lnunt t,ako hln turn nt it. Dut horo
Jho atrang spirit of tho man ronsport
od itsolt; it Bhould bo but a turn. A
man's Joys nro not bounded by his
loves .or ovon by tho satisfaction of a
perfectly untrnmmolod mind. Per
formance makes a world of Its own
for tho capable nnd tho strong, nnd
this was still loft to him. Ho, Or
lando Urothorson, dospalr whllo his
groat work lay unfinished! That would
bo to iny stress on tho Inevitable
pains and tears ot coramonplaco hu-
i
inanity. Ho was not of that Ilk. In
tellect was his god; ambition his mo
tlvo powor. What would this casual
blight upon his supremo contentment
bo to him, whon with tho wings of
his air-car spread, ho should spurn,
tho earth and soar Into tho heaven
of fame simultaneously with his (light
Into tho open.
Ho could wait for that hour. Ho
had measured tho gulf before him nnd
found it passable Honceforth no
looking back.
Klsing, he stood for a moment gaz
ing, with an niert oyo now, upon Hitch
sections of his cur as had not yet been
fitted into tholr places; thon ho bent
forward to his, work, nnd soon tho lips
which had uttered that sardonic laugh
a few minutes boforo, partod In gen
tler fashion, nnd song took tho placo
of curses a ballad of lovo and fond
est truth. Dut Orlando novor know
what ho sung. 116 had tho gift and
used It. v
Would his tones, however, have
rang out with qulto bo mellow a
BweotnoBS had ho Boon tho rostlcsa
figure even thon circling his totroat
with voycB darting accusation and
arms lifted towards him In wild but
lmpotont throat?
Yob, I think thoy would; for ho
know that tho man who thus ox
pressed his helplessness along with
his convictions, wasvno nearor tho end
ho had sot himself to attain than on
tho day ho first betrayed hla suspicions.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Hut Changes Its Name.
That night Oswald was takon very
111. For throe days IiIb llfo hung In
tho bnlanco, then youth and healthy
living triumphed over shock nnd be
reavemont, and ho came slowly back
to his sad and crippled existence.
Ho had boen conscious for n weok
or more of his surroundings, nnd of
hla bitter sorrows ns well, whon ono
morning ho nsked Doris whoso faco
it was ho had seen bonding ovor him
bo often during tho last wook: "Havo
you a, now doctor? A mnn with white
liulr and a comforting smllo? Or havo
I dreamed this faco? I havo had so
many fnncloa this might easily bo ono
of thorn."
"No, It la not a fnncy," wnu tho
quiet reply. "Nor Is it tho faco of
n doctor. It Is that of a friend. Ono
whoao heart Is bound up In your re
covery; ono for whom you must 11 vo,
Mr. Drothoraon."
"I don't know him, Doris. It's n
Btrango faco to mo. And yet, it's not
altogether Btrango. Who in this man
nnd why should ho caro for mo bo
deoply7"
"UocnuBO you. shnro ono lovo and
ono grief. It is Edltk'n father whom'
"I Have No Son."
you soo at your bedBldo, Ho has
holpod to nurso you ovor Blnco you
came dawn this second tlmo."
"Edlth'n father! Doris, It cannot
bo. Edith's father!"
"Yes, Mr. Challonor has boon In
Derby for the last two weeks. Ho has
only ono Intorost now; to soo you
well ngnln."
"Why?"
Doris caught tho note of pain, It not
suspicion, In this query, und Binlled
ns Hho asked In turn;
"Shall ho answer that quostlon
hlniBolt? Ho Is waiting to como In.
Not to talk. You nood not four his
talking. Ho'u as qulot as any man I
ovor flaw."
Tho Blck man closed his oyos, and
DorlB watching, Baw tho Hush rise to
his emaciated chook, thon ulowly
fade away again to a pallor that
frlghtonod her. Had sho Injurod
whoro alio would hoaV? Had Bho
proBBod too suddenly nnd too hard
on tho ovor gaping wound In hor ln
valld'a breast? Sho guspod In terror
at tho thought, then sho faintly smiled,
for his oyos had opened again and
showod n calm detormlnntlon aa ho
said: ,
"I ahould llko to boo him. I should
llko him to nnBwer tho quostlon I hnvo
Just put you. I should rest easier
JO mean f(fil
iie"! S5
and got well faBtor or not got well
at all."
This latter ho half whispered, and
Doris, tripping from tho room may not
havo hoard It, for her faco showed no
further shadow as she ushered In
Mr. Chnllonor, and closed tho door
behind him. Sho had looked forward
to this moment for days. To OBwald,
however, It was an uhexpoctod ex
citement nnd hla voice trombled with
comothlng more thnn physical weak
ness na ho greoted his visitor nnd
thnnked him for hla attentions.
"Doris Kayn that you havo shown
mo this kindness from tho doslro you
havo to geo me well again, Mr. dial
loner. Is this true?"
"Very truu. I cannot emphasize
tho fact loo strongly."
Oswald's oyos met his again, this
time with great earnestness.
"You must have serious reasons for
fooling so rensons which I do not
qulto understand. May I nsk why you
place such valuo upon n llfo which,
If ever usoful to Itself or others, has
lost and lost forever, tho ono delight
which gave It meaning?"
It wnB for Mr. Challoner's voice to
trornblo now, ns reaching out his
hand, ho declared, with unmlstnkablo
feeling:
"I havo no son. I havo no intorost
in llfo, outstdo this room and tho pos
sibilities It contains for mo. Your
nttachment to my daughter has cre
ated a bond between us, Mr, Brothor
Bon, which I sincerely hopo to seo
recognized by you."
Startled and deeply moved, tho
young man stretched out a shaking
hand towards hla visitor, with the
feeble but exulting cry:
"Thon you do not blnmo mo for her
wretched nnd mysterious death. You
hold mo guiltless of tho misery which
norved her despairing arm?"
"Quite guiltless."
Oswald's wan nnd pinched features
took on n beautiful expression nnd
Mr. Challoner no longer wondered
at his daughter's choice.
"Thank God!" fell from tho Blck
man's lips, and thon thoro was a sl
lenco during which their two hands
mot.
It W08 somo minutes beforo either
opoko and then it waa Oswald who
said:
"I must confide to you certain facta.
I honored your daughter and realized
hor poaltlon fully. Our plight was
novor mado In words, nor should I
have piosumed to ndvanco any claim
to hor hand If I had not mado good
my expectations, Mr. Challonor. I
meant to win both her regard and
yourB by acts, not words. I felt that
I had n great deal to do and I was
prepared to work nnd wait. I loved
her" Ho turned away his head
and tho sllonco which filled up tho
gap united those two hearts aa tho
old and young aro soldom united.
Dut whon a llttlo later Mr. Challon
or rojolncd Doris, In hor llttlo Bitting
room, ho nevertheless Bhowed a por
ploxlty alio had hoped to boo removed
by this understanding with tho
younger Drothorson.
Tho cnuso became apparent nB Boon
as he spoko.
vTheso brothers hold by each
other," said ho. "Oswald will hear
nothing against Orlando. Ho says
that ho hna redeemed his fnult. Ho
does not ovon protest that hla broth
er's word Is to ho believed In this
mattor. Ho does not Beom to think
thnt nocesBnry. Ho evidently regards
Orlando's personality ns spenklng as
truly and oatlsfnctorlly for Itsolf, as
hla own does. And I dnrcd not undo
colvo him."
"Ho doeB not know all our reasons
tor distrust. Ho has heard nothing
nbout tho poor wnBhorwoman."
"No, nnd ho must not not for
weeks. He hna homo all that ho can."
"Ills confidence In his oldor brothor
Is Bublimo. I do not shnro It; but I
cannot help but respect him for it."
It was warmly said, and Mr. Chal
lonor could not forbear casting nn
nnxloitB look nt her upturned face.
What ho "saw thero mado him turn
away with a algh.
"This confldonco has for mo a very
unhnppy sldo," ho remarked. "It shows
mo Oflwuld'B thought. Ho who lovod
her boBt, accoptB tho cruol verdict of
an unreasoning public."
Doris largo oyos hurnod with a
wolrd light upon his face."
"Ho haa not hnd my droam," Bho
murmurod, with nil tho qulot of nu
unmovod conviction.
Yot nB tho days wont by, oven her
manner chnnged towards tho busy In
ventor. If was hnrdly nosBlblo for It
not to. Tho high Btnnd ho took; tho'
regard accorded him on every Bide;
his tnlont; his convocation, which
waB an education In Itsolf, nnd, abovo
all, his absorption In a work dally ad
vancing townrds completion, romoved
him so Insonslbly and yot bo decided
ly, from tho hldeou3 past of tragedy
with which his namo, if not hla honor,
was associated, that, unconsciously
to herself, Bho gradually lost hor ley
nlr of repulsion and lent him a more
or loss attontlvo onr, whon ho choso
to Join tholr Bmnll company of nn eve
ning. Tho roBult was that ho turned
so bright it sldo upon her that tolera
tion merged from day to day into ad
miration and memory lost Itself in
anticipation of tho ovont which was to
provo him a man of men, If not ono
of tho world's greatest mechanical
geniuses.
Meantime, Oswald was steadily im
proving in health, If not In spirits.
Ho hnd takon hla first walk without
any unfavorable results, nnd Orlondo
decided, from this that the tlmo had
como for an explanation of hla device
and his requirements In regard to It.
Seated together In Oswnld'B room, ho
broached the subject thus:
"Oswald, what Is your Idea about
wnat I'm making up there?"
"Thnt It will bo a success."
"I know; but Its character, its uao?
What do you think it la?"
"I've an Idea; but my Idea doesn't
fit tho conditions."
"How's that?"
"Tho shed Is too closely hemmed
In. You haven't room "
"For what?"
"To ntnrt an aeroplane."
"Yot It is certainly a devlco for
flying."
"I supposed so; but "
"It Is an nir-cnr with a new nnd
vnluablo Idea tho Idea for which the
whole world has been seeking ever
since the first aeronlano found its wav
up from tho enrth. My car needs no,
room .to Btnrt In savo that which It
occupies. If It did, it would be but
tho modification of a hundred others."
"Orlando!"
Ab OBwald thus gave expression to
his aurprlso, their two faces wero a
study: the fl'ro of genius In the one;
tho light of sympathetic understand
ing In tho other.
"If this car, now within threo daya
of Its completion," Orlando proceeded,
"does not rise from tho oval of my
hangar llko a bird from Its nest, and
after a wide and circling flight de
scend ngain into the self-aamo spot
without any sworvlng from its direct
course, then have I failed in my en
deavor and must tako a back seat
with tho rest. Dut It will not fall. I'm
certain of success, Oswald. All I
want Just now is a sympathetic help
er you, for Instance; somo ono who
Will aid mo with tho flnnl flrtlne-s nnd
hold his peace to nil otornlty if tho
lmpossiDio occurs nnd tho thing
proves a failure"
"Havo you bucIi prldo aa that!"
"Precisely."
"So much that you cannot face fall
uro?" "Not when attached to my namo.
You can see how I feel about that by
tho secrecy I havo wurkui uruW Nn
other person living knows what I havo
jusi communicated to you. Every
part shipped horo camo from differ
ent manufacturing "firms; sometimes
u iiu.ii ot a part was all I allowed to
bo mado in nny ono nlnco. Mv fnmn
llko tho ship, must riso with ono
uounu into tho air, or it must novor
rlao at all. I waa not mado -for nottv
accomplishment, or tho slow plodding
of commonplace minds. I must Btartlo,
or remain obscure. That Is why I
choso this place for my venture, and
you for my helper nnd ussoclato."
You want mo to ascend with you?"
"Exactly."
"At tho ond or threo dayB?"
"Yes."
"Orlando, I cannot."
"You cannot? Not strong enough
yet? I'll wait thon threo days more."
"Tho tlmo's too short. A month la
scarcely sufficient. It would bo fnllv.
Buch as you never show, to trust a
norvo so undermined ns mine till tlmo
has reatored Its power. For on en
terprise llko this you nood a man of
roady strength nnd resources; no ono
whoao condition you might bo obliged
to consider at a very critical mo
ment." "Orlando, balked thus at tho outset,
showod his dlsploasuro.
"You do not do Justico to your will.
It Is otrong enough to carry you
through nnythlng "
"It wnB."
"You can force It to act for you."
"I fear not, Orlando."
"I countod on you and you thwart
mo at tho moat critical moment of
my life"
Oswnld smiled; his wholo candid
nnd generous nature bursting into
vlow in ono quick flash.
'"Porhaps," he assented; "but you
will thank mo whon you reallzo ray
weakness. Another man must be
found quick, deft, socrot, yot honor
ably allvo to tho tmportanco of tho
occasion and your rights as a great
original thlnkor and mechanician."
"Do you know such a man?"
"I don't; but thoro must bo many
such among our workmen."
"Thero Isn't ono; and I haven't
tlmo to send to Brooklyn. I reckoned
on you."
"Can you wait n month?"
"No."
"A fortnight, thenr
"No, not ten days."
Oswald looked surprised. Ho would
llko to havo asked why such precipi
tation wnB necassnry, but tho tono In
which thlB ultimatum waB given waa
of that doclslvo character which ad-
mlts of no argument. He therefore
merely looked hla query. But Orlan
do waa not ono to answer looka; bo
sides, ho had no reply for tho same
Importunate question urged by his
own good Bcnse Ho knew that li6
must mako the attompt upon which
his future rested soon, nnd without
risk of tho sapping influenco of length
ened suspense and weeks of whiting.
Ho could hold on to those two demons
leagued In attack against him, for a
definite seven days, but not for nn
Indetormlnate time. If ho wero to bo
saved from folly from himself
events must rush.
Ho therefore repented his "No,"
with Incroased vehemence, nddlng, nB
ho marked tho ropronch In his broth
er's oyo, "I cannot wnlt. Tho test
must bo mado on Saturday ovenlng
next, whatever tho conditions; what
ever tho woathor. An nir-car to bo
serviceable must bo ready to moot
lightning and tempest, nnd what is
worae, perhaps, an insufficient crow."
Then rising, ho exclaimed, with a
determination which rendered him
majestic, "If holp is not forthcoming,
I'll do It all myself. Nothing shall
hold mo back; nothing shall stop mo;
nnd when you seo mo nnd hear my
car rise above tho treetops, you'll feel
that I havo dono what I could to mnko
you forget "
Ho did not need to continue Os
waldvunderstood nnd flashed a grate
ful look his way beforo saying:
"You will mako tho attempt at
night?"
"Certainly."
"And on Saturday?"
"I've nald it."
"I will run over In my mind the
qualifications of such men as I know
and acquaint you with tho result to
morrow." "Thero aro adjustments to bo made.
A man of accuracy Is necessary."
"I will romember."
"And ho muBt bo likable. I can do
nothing with a man with whom I'm
not perfectly in accord."
"I understand that."
"Good-night then." A moment of
hesitancy, then, "I wish not only your
Belt but Miss Scott to bo present at
this test. Proparo for the spectacle;
but not yet, not till within an hour or
two of the occasion."
And with a proud smllo in which
he flashed a slgnlficnnco which
startled Oswald, ho gave a hurried
nod and turned nway.
Whon in an hour afterwards, Doris
looked in through tho open door, sho
found Oswnld sitting with faco buried
In his hands, thinking so deeply that
ho did not hoar her. He had sat like
this, immovable and nbsorbed, ever
since his brother hud left him.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Silence and a Knock.
Oswald did not succeed in finding
a man to please Orlando. Ho sug-
There Came a Light Knock at the
Door.
gosted ono person utter another to
tho oxnctlng Invontor, but nono wero
satisfactory to him and each In turn
wao turned dowri. It is not every
one wo want to havo sharo a world
wide triumph or nn Ignominious de
feat. And tho dayB wero passing.
. Ho had said in n moment of elation,
'U will do It alono;" but ho know
oven then that ho could not. Two
hnndB wero necessary to start tho
car; afterwards, ho might manage It
nlone. Descent was evon possible, but
to glvo tho contrivance Its first lift
requlrod a second mechanician. Whoro
was ho to find ono to plenso him? And
what was ho to do if ho did not?
Conquor hla projudlcoa against such
men as ho had seen, or delay tho
attempt, as Oswald had suggested, till
ho could got ono of his old cronlos
on from Now York. Ho could do nol
ther. Tho obstinacy of his naturo was
such na to offer nn Invincible barrier
against either suggestion. Ono alter
natlvo remained. He hnd heard of
women aviators, if Dorla could bo
Induced to accompany him Into the
air, lnstoad ot clinging sodden-llko to
the weight of Oswnld'B woe, thon
would the world behold a triumph
which would dwarf tho ecstasy of tho
bird's flight and rob the eagle of hla
kingly pride. But Doria barely en
dured hla as yot, and tho thounht wns
not ono to bo considered for n mo
ment. Yet what other courso ro
mnined? Ho was brooding deeply on
tho other subject, In his hangar ono
evening (It waa Thursday and Sat
urday was but two days off) when
thero camo n light knock nt tho door.
This had never occurred before. Ho
hud given strict orders, backed by
hi brother's authority, that ho waa
never o bo intruded upon when in
this placo; nnd though he had some
times oncountered tho prying eyes of
tho curious flashing from bohlnd
tho trees encircling tho hangar,
hla door had never been ap
proached before, or his privacy
encroached upon. Ho started then,
when this low but penetrating
sound struck across the turmoil of
his thoughts, and cast ono look in
tho direction from which it came;
but ho did not rise, or oven chnngo his
position on his workmnn's stool.
Then It camo again, still low but
with nn insistenco which drow hla
brows together and mado his hand
fall from tho wire ho had been uncon
sciously holding through tho mental
debdto which was absorbing him.
Still ho mado no response, nnd tho
knocking continued. Should he Ig
nore it entirely, start un his motor
ana render himself oblivious to all
other soundB? At ovory other point
in his career ho would havo dono this,
but an unknown, nnd as yet unnamed,
somothlng had entered his heart dur
ing this fatal month, which mado old
waya lmpoaslble and oblivion a thing
ho dnred not court too recklessly.
Should this bo a summons from Dor
is! Should (Inconceivable idea, yet it
seized upon him relentlessly nnd
would not yield for tho nsklng)
should It be Doris herself!
Taking advantage of a momentary
cessation of tho ceasolesa tap tap, ho
listened. Silence was never profound
er than in this forest on thnt wind
less night. Earth and nlr seemed, to
his strained ear, emptied of nil sound.
The clatter of his own steady, un
hastened heart-beat waa all that
broke upon tho stillnesa. Ho might
bo alono in tho Unlver8o for all token
of llfo beyond these walls, or so ho
was saying to himself, when sharp,
quick, sinister, tho knocking recom
menced, demanding admission, insist
ing upon attention, drawing him
against his own will to hlB foot, and
finally, though ho mado moro than
ono stand against It, to the very door.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Senses of Plants.
Tho senso most developed in plants
la that of sight, which enables them
to seo light but not to distinguish ob
jects. This senso limitation is found
among many living creatures, bucIi
as tho earthworm, oyster and coral,
etc., which possess no focalized visual
organ, but glvo proof of their lumin
ous impressions by the contractions
that they manifest when exposed to a
ray ot aunEhlne. Similarly, it is eaay
to gauge the influence of light on
plants. Cultivate a plant in a room
with a window only on ono aldo and
Its stalks in growing will incline to
ward the source of light Physiolo
gists explain this by suggesting that
the Bide to tho dark growa moro
quickly than that exposed to tho light.
There remains, howovcr, tho fact that
the plant has reacted o tho light of
whoso effect it was conscious. '
A sense common to many plants la
that of touch. Of this tho most illus
trative example Is, as its name, im
plies, tho sonBitlvo plant. Another
leaf, responsive to tho touch, is tho
catch-fly, whoso two halves close down
upon tho other by means of a central
hinge. Harper's Weekly.
Liars Tagged Here.
Dyaks, natives of Borneo, nro ox
tromely truthful. So disgraceful, In
deed, do the Dyaks consider the de
ceiving of others by an untruth that
such Is handed down to posterity by
n. curious, niifllnm. Thnv hnnn ,,,.
, wu, ul
puo ot orancnes oi trees in memory
of tho man who has uttered a great
llo, so that the future generations
may know of hla wlckednosa and tako
warning from it
Tho persona deceived atart tho
tugong bula tho liar's mound by
heaping up n largo number of branch
es in somo conspicuous Bpot by tho
sldo of tho path from ono village to
another.
Every passerby contributes to it nnd
at tho samo tlmo rovlloB tho memory
of tho man who told tho Ho. Tho
Dyaka consider tho addition to nny
tugong hula thoy may pasa a sacred
duty, tho omission of which will meet
with supernatural punishment
Nothing Else to Do.
"What aro tho wild waves saying,
mother?" "I do Hot know, my child."
"But why do thoy dance nil day long?"
"Well, my child, thoy cannot play
bridge." Kansas City Journal.
I
A