The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, June 30, 1914, Image 6
THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. EC 3HP The Hollow pHfl ' ' " '''-gsSgT IsggjggpT V Hand fesBfc-KrirX iW " i i . . c-. i . j- - -- --- (i b m r v ea&j svnopsis. C'Halll.s Wr.ndall In found murdered In i toad lioui! 11 -ur New VuiU Mrs. Yihii Oall is buimwutuit fn.ui the lty nnd Ideh-liil.-d the l)f.d. A jKitns woman who uc cumpsnled r.imtull 10 the inn iintl mili- iiufiuly disappeared, is Kunpeeted. Mm Wiamlall stalls back foi New "N url i i .111 auto Jurt.iK a bllndlm? mow storm On the way she meet a yminic woman in the mad who pioves to be the woman Who Killed Wi uidall Keeling tlmt t In tel I luid doiiu hr u pervlce In rlddlnx I)'t cf tno man who though she loved him ' I'ly. Ii'l eauuuil lier gieat wmiw M"i Wiaulill duteimines to shield lur ti', lakes her to li r own home. Mm. U.iidull hears Ilia story of HUty I'hh CICKii.'H Jirc, i-Mtpt that portion tlmt -1 .ifM to tauiliill. 'llils and thu Htxty of It.i tragady slid forbids the girl ever to (i II Hli offers Hetty a home, friendship mi I fti'iirll fioin pei tl on account of tin tuiKtdy. Sara Wiandall and 1 Icily le ttiin to New Vorlc uftci tin ahs'-me of h ji ii In Kuiops. Leslie Wr.uiilHll, biother lit U.allls, becomes gimtly InteteHled In )Ieltj. Saia sees In Leslie's Infntimtlon p.ixhllnllty for tevenxe on Mm Wiandslls mid uparntlon for the wronss nlui mif Jmd nt the hands of I'lmllls Wiandall by in..triri his murdeiesh Into the liimilv J.i-llf, In coinu-iny with his filend Miati don Mouth, an artist, lulls Sum at her tcunlry place. Leslie confesses to Sum Hut he Is in idlv In loo with Hetty. Ham (imiiiKot with llooth to paint a pliture of Hettv. Booth has u liuuntlng feelliiK thai lie has seen Hetty before. honkliiK OiriuiHli a pmtf.illo of pictures by nn un Jinown LnxMsll artist ho finds mio of JUtty Ho speaks to her abo.it it Hetty l.'cl.ires It must bo a plctuio of Hetty Cllynri. an Knjtllsh actress, who ren-mblcs lier very mu-.-h. Much to his cliaRtln Jxslle H refuB.nl by Hetty llooth and Hettv confess thalr lovu for each other, liut Mio latter douaten that she can never marry iih Micro Is an Insurmountable bar iler fn tlio wav. Hetty admits to Hum that whe lovos Uooth. Hani declaics that Jletty must marry Leslie, who must be made to pay his brother's dobt to the Bill. Hetty naln attempts to tell the real story of the tragedy and Sara threat ens to stranjjlo her It alio says a word. CHAPTER XII. Continued. ' "Not now. Not slnco I lmvu found you out. The thing I liavo feared all Uong has come to pass. I nm rcliovcil, stow that you Bhow tno Just whoro I truly Htand. Hut, I askod: what of your "Tho world le more llkoly to applaud than to curse me, Hetty. It IIUch ti now .HuiiHatlon. My change ot heart will aiipear quite natural." "Are you Huro that tho world will applaud your roal design? You hato tho Wrandalls, 'lll they ho charltablo towurd you when tho truth Is given out? Will Leslie applaud you? Listen, I)leaso: I am trying to aavo you from yourself, Sara. You will fall In every thing you liavo hoped for. You will lie more accursed than I. Tho worltl will pity mo, It may ovon forglvo me. It will llatcn to my story, which Is mora than you will do, and It will be llovo mo. Ah, I am not afraid now. At first I was In terror. I had no hope to escape. All that Is past. Today 1 nm ready to talto my chances with tho big, gonerous world. Men" will try mo, find men aro not mado of stone and etecl. They punish but thoy do not nvenge when thoy alt In Jury boxes. Thoy are not women I Good God, Sara, Is thero a man living today who could lmvu planned this thing you liavo cher ished all these months? Not onel And till men will curse you for It, ovon though they send mo to prluou or to the chair. Hut thoy will not con demn me. They will hear my story und they will set mo free. And thon, what of you?" Sara stood perfectly rigid, regarding this earnest reaspnor with growing wonder. "My dear," she said, "you would bet tor bo thlnklilg of yourself, not of mo." "Why, whon 1 toll my story, tho world will hato you, Sara Wrandall. You liavo helped mo, you havo been ood to mo, no matter what Mutator motive- you may havo had In doing so. It Is my turn to help you." "To help mo!" cried Sara, aston ished In splto of horaolf. "Yep, To savo you from execra tion and even worse." "There Is no moral wrong In mar rlago with Leslie Wraudall," Bald Sam, returning to her own project. "No moral wrong!" cried Heltj, aghast. "No, I suppose not," she went on, a moment later. "It Is something much deopor, much blacker than moral wrong. Thero Is no word fpr It. Anil n t murry mm, wuai men: wherein j lies your triumph? You can't mean i that God In heavou! You would nut jo to them with tho truth win n It was too Into for him to to caet mo oft1' "I nm no mich fool as that. The Bee ret would ho fa-rover safo in thai ovont. My triumph, as you call it, wo will not discuss." "How you must hato mo, to bo will ing to do such an Infamous thing to me!" "I do not hato you, Hetty." "In heaven's namo, what do you call it?" "Justification. Listen to mo now I am saying this for your good eouso to seize und appreciate. Would it bo k right In mo to nllow you to marry any other man, knowing all that I know There Is but one man you can in just ico marry: tho one who cnu repair tho wreck that his own blood crented. Not Urandon Booth, nor any man snve Les lie Wrandutl. Ho Is tLn man who must imy." "I do not Intend to marry," said Hetty, "nut Leslie will marry somo one, and I Intend that It shall ho you. Ho ehall marry tho ex-choruu girl, ,tho nrtlat'a model, tho tho prostitute! Wnlt! Don't fly at mo llko that! Don't assume that look of virtuous horror! Lot mo say what I havo to ny. Tula much of your story ahull copy?Gr92 or they know, and no more. They will he ji oud of you!" Ilelty'u eyas wore blazing. "You use that namo you call mo fhat and yot you havo klsaod mo, caressed me loved mo!" she cried hoarso with pas Mon. "Ho will ask you tonight for tho second Mrno. You will accept him. That Is all." "You must take back what you have Just said to me of me Sara Wrandall. You must unsay It! You must beg my pardon for that!" "1 draw no lino between mlatrosa and prostitute." "Hut I " "Enough!" "You wiong mo vilely! You must let mo " "I havo an cxcollont memory, and It serves ni" well." Hotty suddenly threw herself upon the couch and hurled her face In her arms. Groat sobs shook her slender Ira me. Sara Htood over her and watched for a long time with pitiless eyes. Then a (pieer, uneasy, wondering light be gan to dev "lop in thoso dnrk, ominous eyea. Site leaned forward tho better to listen to tho choked, lnartlculato words that were pouring from tho girl's lips. At last, moved by some power she could not hikvo accounted for, she knelt besldo tho qulvorlng body, and laid her hand, almost tim orously, upon tho girl's shoulder. "Hetty Hetty, If I havo wronged you In In thinking that of you I I " she began brokenly. Then alio lift ed her eyes, and tho harsh light tried to t..il back Into them. "No, no! What am I saying? What a fool I am to give way " , "You have wronged mo terribly, terribly!" camo In smothered tonos from tho cushions. "I did not dream you thought that of mo." "What wus I to think?" Hetty lifted her head and cried out: "You would not lot mo speak! You refused to hoar my story. You have been thinking this nf mo nil along, holding It against nio, dnmnlng me with it, and I havo boen closor to you than My God, what manner of woman aro you?" Sara seized her hands and held them in a llorce. tenso grip. Her oyos wero glowing with a strange lire. "Toll me toll mo now, on your soul, Hetty were you wore you " "No! No! On my aoul, no!" "Look Into my oyos!" Tho girl's eyes did not falter. Sho mot tho dark, penotratlng gnzo of tho other and, though dimmed by tears, her blue oyps wero steadfast and reso lute. Snra seomod to bo searching tho very soul of her, tho soul that laid Itself bare, denuded of every vestlgo of gulln. "I I think I believe you," camo slowly from tho lips ot tho searcher. "You aro looking tho truth. I can soo It. Hotly, I I don't understand myself. Is Is so so ovot whelming, so tre mendous. It is so Incredible Am I really bellovlng you? Is It posslblo that I have been wrong In " "Lot mo tell you everything," cried tho girl, suddenly throwing her arms about her. "Not now! Walt! Give mo tlmo to think. Go away now. I want to bo PSI 01 l II II ir w . I & nggrgx '(.'. .yjJisz ,,r-KSp- r - ! - -- 'IHlHYiVjfcvJ I y' , ' ffl,. W A -Tell Me, Now on Soul, Hetty" Your alone.'' Shu arrio and pushed the girl toward the door. Her oyes wore tlxed on her In a wondering, puzsletl sort of way, and she wus-ehaklng her head as If trying to dls-crodtt tho now emo tion that had come to displace tho quo created ages ago. Slowly lleitj Castleton retreated toward tho door With m band on tho knob, she pausod. "Altor what has happened, Sara, you must not expect mo to stay with you any lonnr. I cannot. You may glvo mo up to the law. but " Somo one m tiiDping gently at tho door. "Shall I see who It la?" askad the girl, alter a long period of silence. "Yes." It wuh Murray. "Mr Leslie has re turned, Miss Castloton, and asks If ho may seo you at oiue. Ho says It Is very Important. "Tell hint 1 will be down In a fow minutes, Murray " After tio door closed sur "atted ' 1 II II I i' i ' mmsM a '"-? SHKS:l3fig lli ?s5 "Tell Me Georgfe Barr Grortctatri mcurcfffoy v corrMCfZ W2 3YP0DD,AfiDZr company until the footman's steps died away on tho stairs. "I shall say no to him, Sara, and I shall say to him that you will tell him why I cannot bo his wife. Do you understand? Aro you listening to mo?" Sara turned away without a word or look of response. Hetty quietly opened tho door and went out. CHAPTER XIII. The Second Encounter. Booth trudged rapidly homeward after leaving Hetty at tho lodgo. Ho was throbbing all over with tho lovo ot her. The thrill of conquest wae In his blood. She hnd raised a mysteri ous barrier; all the more zest to the Inevltahlo victory that would bo his Ho would delight In overcoming ob stacles tho bigger tho hotter for his heatt was valiant nnd tho prize no smaller than those which the ancient knightH went out to battle for In the lists of love. It was enough for tho present to know that she loved him. What If sho were Hetty Glynn? What If sho had been an artist's model? The look ho had had Into tho soul ot her through thoso puro blue oyes was all-CQjninclng. Sho v:aB wor thy of tho noblest love. After luncheon served with some exasperation by Patrick an hour and a half later than usual he Bmokcd his pipe on tho porch nnd stared remlnls cently at tho shifting clouds abovo tho tree tops. He did not seo tho Wrandall motor at his garden gate until n lusty voice brought him down from the clouds Into tho rango of earthly sounds. Then ho dashed out to tho gate, bareheaded and coatless, forgetting that ho had been sitting In tho obscurity of trailing vines nnd purplo blossoms tho while he thought of her. Lesllo was sitting on tho wido Beat between his mother and sister. "Glad to seo you back, old man," said Booth, reaching In to shake hands with him. "Day early, aren't you? Good afternoon, Mrs. Wrandall. Won't you come In?" Ho looked at Vivian as ho gavo tho Invitation. "No, thanks," sho replied. "Won't you como to dinner this ovenlng?" Ho hesitated. "I'm not qulto sure whother I can, Vivian. I've got a half way sort of " "Oh, do, old chap," cut In Leslie, moro as a command than nn entreaty. "Sorry I can't bo thero myself, but you'll faro qulto ns well without mo. I'm dining at Sara's. Wants my pri vate oar about ono thing and another see whnt I mean?" "Wo shall expect you, Brandon," said Mrs. Wrandall, fixing him with her lorgnette. "I'll come, thank you," said he. He felt disgustingly transparent un der that Inquisitive glass. Wrandall etepped out of tho. car. "I'll stop off for a chat with Brandy, mother." "Shall I send tho car back, dear?" "Never mind. I'll walk down." Tho two men turned In at tho gate as tho car sped away. "Woll," said Booth, "It's good to seo you. 1'at!" Ho called through a bnso mont window. "Conjo up and tako tho gentleman's order." "No drink for mo, Brandy. I'vo been In tho tompernnco stnto of Maluo for two weeks. Ono week moro of it and I'd havo been completely pickled. I shall always rcmombor Maine." Uooth sat down on tho porch rail, hooked his toes in tho supports and ptoceoded to 1111 his pipe. Then he struck a match and nppliod It, Lesllo watching him with moody oyes. "How do you llko tho portrait, old man?" ho inquired between punctu ating puffs. "It's bully. Sargent never did any thing finer. Kipping." "I owo It all to you, Los." "To me?" "You induced her to sit to" me." "So I did," aaid Loslio sourly. "I was Mr. Kix-It suro enough." Ho al lowed a short Interval to olapso be foro taking the plunge. "I suppose, old chap, If I should hnppen to need your Valuable services as host man in tho near future you'd not dlsajv point mo?" Booth oyod him quizzically. "I trust yoa'ro not tin owing youraclt away, Loh." ho said drily. "1 mean to say, on BOino one well, nome ono not qulto up to the mark." Lesllo regarded him with somo e vorlty. "Of courso not, old chap. What the devil put that into jour head?" "I thought that possibly you'd been making a chump of yourself up In tho Maluo woods." "lilllo! Don't bo nn ass. What's Ltho sonso pretending you don't know f who sho is?" "I supposo It'H Hotty Castleton," snld Booth, pulling away at his plpo. x "Who olso?" "Think Rhoil havo you, old man?" asked Booth, alter a moment. "I don't know." ropllod tho other, a bit dashed., "You might wish mu luck, though." llooth knocked tho burnt tobacco from tho bowl of his plpo. A serious line uppenrod between his oyes Ho was a fair-minded fellow, without MCutclieon guile, without a slnglo treacherous Instinct. "I can't wish you luck, Les," ho said slowly. "You seo I'm I'm In lovo with her myself." "Tho devil!" Lesllo sat bolt up right and glared at him. "I might havo known! And and Is Bho In lovo with you?" "My dear fellow, you roveal con siderable lack of tact In asking that question." "What I want to know la this," ex claimed Wrandall, very pale but very hot: "Is Bho going to marry you?" Booth smiled. "I'll bo perfectly frank with you. Sho says sho won't." Lesllo gulped. "So you've asked lier?" "Obviously." "And sho said she wouldn't? Sho refused you? Turned you down?" His ltttlo mustache ehot up at tho ends and a Joyous, triumphant laugh broke from his lips. "Oh, this Is rich! Ha. ha! Turned you down, eh? Poor old Brandy! You're my best friend,1 and dammit I'm sorry. I mean to say," ho went on In some embarrassment, "I'm sorry for you. Of course, you can hardly expect me to or " "Certainly not," accepted Booth amiably. "I qulto understand." "Then, slnco she's refused you, you might wish mo better luck." "That would mean giving up hope." "Hopo?" exclaimed Leslie quickly. "You don't mean to say you'll annoy her with your " "No, I shall not annoy her," replied his friend, shaking his head. "Well, I should hopo not," aald Lesllo with a scowl. "Turned you down, eh? 'Pon my soul!" Ho ap peared to bo relishing tho idea of it. "Sorry, old chap, but I suppose you understand Just what that means." Booth's lips hardened for an In stant, then relaxed Into n quoer, al most pitying smllo. "And you want mo to be your best man?" ho said reflectively. Leslie arose. His chest seemed to swell a Httlo; assuredly ho was breath ing much easier. Ho assumed an air of compassion. "I shan't lnalst, old fellow, if you feel you'd rathor not er See what I mean?" It then occurred to him to utter a word or two of kindly advice. "I shouldn't go on moping If I were you, Brandy. 'Pon my soul, I shouldn't. Tako It llko a man. I know It hurts, but Pooh! What's the use aggra vating the pain by butting against a stone wall?" His companion looked out over the troo tops, his hands In his trousers pockets, and it must be confessed that his mauner was not that of ono who is oppressed by despair. "I think I'm taking it like a man, Lea," ho said. "I only hopo you'll tako It as nicely if Bho says nay to you." An uneasy look leaped into Leslie's faco. Ho seemed noticeably lese cor pulent about tho chest. Ho wondered If Booth knew anything about his Initial, venture. A question rose to hia, lips, but ho thought quickly and held It back. Instead, he glanced at his watch. "I must bo off. See you tomorrow, I hope." "So long," said Booth, stopping at tho top of tho steps while his visitor skipped down to the gate with a nlmbloncss that suggested tho forma tion of a sudden resolve. Leslie did not wnsto time in part ing inanities ho strode off briskly In tho direction of homo, but not without a furtlvo glance out of tho tall of hla oye as ho disappeared beyond tho hedgerow at the end of Booth's gar den. Thnt gentleman was standing where ho had left htm, and was lllling his plpo once more. Tho day was warm, and Leslie was In a dripping perspiration when he reached homo. Ho did not enter tho houso but made his way direct to tho garage. "Get out tho enr at once. Brown." lllnO llln AHilnH tlilO 111S IIIUUI. Threo minutes later ho was being drlvon over tho lower toad toward Southlook, taking good card to avoid Booth's plnco by tho mnttnr ot a mile or moro. Ho was lit a fover of hope and eagerness. It wns very plain to him why sho had refused Booth. The Iron wns hot. Ho didn't intend to lose any tlmo In striking. And now wo know why ho camo again to Sara's in tho middlo of a blazing afternoon, Instead of waiting until tho moro seductive shades of night had fallen, when the moon sat serene In the seat of tho Mighty. Ho didn't havo to wait long for Het ty. Up to tho instant of her nppear nuco In the door, ho had roveled in tho thought that tho way wrts now paved with roses. But with her en trance, ho folt his confidence and courago slipping. Porhnpa that may oxplaln tho abruptness with which ho proceeded to go about tho business In hand. "1 couldn't wnlt till tonight." ho ex plained as sho camo slowly across tho room toward him. Sho wna half way to him boforo ho nwoko to the fact that ho was standing perfectly still. Thon ho started forward, some how ImpUled to meet hor nt least halt-way. "You'll forgive me, Hetty, if I havo disturbed you " "I was not lying down, Mr. Wran dall," sho said quietly. There was nothing ominous In tho words, but he experienced a sudden Bensation of cold. "Won't you alt down? Or would you rather go out to the terraco?" "It's much moro comfortable here, If you don't mind. I I supposo you know what It le I want to say to you. You" "Yes," sho Interrupted wearily; "and knowing ns much, Mr. Wrandall, It would not bo fair of mo to lot you go on." "Not fair?" ho said, In honest amaze ment. "But, my dear, I " "Please, Mr. Wrandall," sho ex claimed, with a pleading little smllo thnt would have touched tho heart of anyone but Lesllo. "Please don't go on. It Is qulto a's Impossible, now as It was before. I havo not changed." Ho could only say, mechanically: "You haven't?" "No. I am sorry If you havo thought that I might como to " "Think, for heaveifs sake, think what you are doing!" he cried, feeling for tho edgo of tho table with a support-seeking hand. "I I had Sara's word that you wero not " "Unfortunately Sara cannot speak for me In a matter of this kind. Thank you for the honor you would " "Honor bo hanged!" he blurted out, losing his temper. "I ldvo you! It's a purely selfish thing with me, nnd I'm blowed If I consider it an honor to bo refused by any woman. I " "Mr. Wrandall!" sho cried, fixing him with her flashing, Indignant eyes. "You aro forgetting yourself." Sho was standing very straight and slim and Imperious before him. Ho quailed. "I I beg your pardon. I I" "Thero is nothing more to bo said," sho went on icily. "Goodby." "Would you mind telling me wheth er there Is anyone else?" he asked, as ho turned toward tho door. "Do you really fool that you have tho right to ask that question, Mr. Wrandall?" Ho wet his lips with his tongue. "Then, there Is somo ono!" he cried, rapping the table with his knuckles. Ho didn't rcallzo till afterward how vigorously ho rapped. "Somo con founded English nobody, I suppose." She smiled, not unkindly. "Thero Is no English nobody, If that answers your question." "Then, will you be kind enough to offer a reason for not giving me a fair chance in a clear field? I think it's due" "Can't you see how you are dis tressing me? Must I again go through that horrid scono in tho garden? Can't you tako a plain no for an an swer?" "Good Lord!" he gasped, and In those two words ho revealed the com plete overturning of a lifelong esti mate of himself. It seemed to take more than his breath away. "Goodby," she said with finality. He stared at tho door through which sho disappeared, his hopes, his con celt, his self-regnrd trailing after her with shameless disloyalty to the standnrd.8 ho had set for them, and then, with a rather ghastly smile of self-commiseration on his lips, ho slipped out of tho houso, Jumped Into the motor car, and gave a brief but explicit command to the chauffeur, who lost no time in assisting his mas- ' Leslie Sat Bolt Upright and Glared at Him. tor to turn tall in ignominious flight. Hotty was gloomily but resolutely omplojed In laying out certain. of her personal belongings, preparatory to packing them for departure, when Sara entered hor room. Thoy regarded each othor steadily, questionlngly lor a short spaco of time. "Lesllo has Just called uj to ask 'what tho devil' 1 meant t7 lotting him make a fool of hlmsolf," said Sara, with a peculiar Uttlo twisted smllo on hor lips. Hotty offered no comment, but aftor a moment gravely and rathor wistfully called attontion to her prosont occu pation by a slgnlilcnnt flaunt of her hand nnd a paddoned smile. "I see," said Sara, without omotlon. "If you chooso to go. Hotty, I shall uot oppoao you " JIT l -UrrTF III-, am gM mm fi 'My position horo Is a falso one, Sara. I prefer to go." i "This morning I should havo held n sword over your head." "It Is very difficult for mo to realize all that has happened." "You nro freo to depnrt. You aro free In every senso of tho word. -Your futuro rests with yourself, my dear." "It hurts mo moro than I can toll to feel that you have been hating mo all thewe months." "It hurts me now." Hetty walkod to tho window and looked out. "What aro your plans?"' Sara in quired, after an Interval. "I shall seek employment and wait, for you to act." "17 You moan?" "I shall not run away, Sara. Nor do I Intend to reveal myself to the au thorities. I am not morally guilty of crime. A year ago I feared the con sequences of my deed, but I havo learned much slnco then. I was a strartger In a now world. In England we have been led to believe that you lynch women hero ns readily as you lynch men. I now know better than that. From you alone I learned my greatest lesson. You revealed to mo the true meaning of human kindness. You shielded mo who should not Even now I believe that your flrst impulse was a tender one. I shall not forget It, Snra. You will live to regret the baser thought that camo later on. I have loved you yes, al most as a good dog loves his master. It Is not for me to toll tho story ot that night and all theso months to the world. I would not be betraying myself, but you. You would be called upon to explain, not I. And you would be the one to suffer. When you met me on tho road that night I was on my way back to the Inn to glvo my self into custody. You havo made It imposslblo for mo to do so now. My lips aro sealed. It rests with you, Sara." Sara Joined her in tho broad, win dow. There was a strangely exalted look In her face. A gilded birdcage hung auspended in the casement. With out a word, sho throw open tho win dow screen. Tho gay Httlo canary In the gilded cage cocked his head and watched her with alert eyes. Then sho reached up and gently removed tho cage from Its fastenings. Putting It down upon tho window sill, she opened the tiny door. The bird hopped about his prison in a stnto of great excitement. Hetty looked on, fascinated. At Jast a yellow streak shot out through the open door and an instant later resolved itself Into the bobbing, fluttering dicky-bird that had lived In a cage all its life without an hour of freedom. For a few seconds It circled over tho tree tops and then alighted on ono of the branches. One might well have Imagined that he could hear Its tiny heart beating with terror. Its wings wero half-raised and fluttering, its head Jerking from side to sido In wild perturbation. Taking courago, Master Dicky hopped timo rously to a nearby twig, and thon von tured a flight to a tree top nearer tho window casement. Perched In its top most branches ho cheeped shrilly, as if there was fear in his little breast. In sllenco tho two women in the window watched the agitated move ments of tho bird. Tho samo thought was in tho mind of each, tho saulo question, the same intenso wish. A brown thrush sped through tho air, close by tho timid canary. Llko a flash it dropped to tho twigs lower down, its wings palpitating lu-vlolent alarm. "Dicky!" called Sara Wrandall, and thon cheeped between her teeth. A moment later Dicky wus fluttering about tho eaves; his circles grew smaller, his winging less rhythmical, till at last with a norvous Httlo flutter ho perched on tho top of tho window shutter, so near that they' might havo reached to him with their hands. He sat thero xwith his head cocked to ono side. Dicky!". called Sara again. This time sho held out her finger. For some time ho regarded it with Indlfferenco. not to say disfavor. Then ho took om more flight, but much shortor than th. flrst, bringing up again at tho ahutte top. A second later ho hopped dow i and his Httlo talons gripped Sara s linger with nn earnestness that left ao room for doubt. Sho lowored her hand until it was oton with tho open door of tho gilded cugo. Ho shot Inside with a whir th it suggested a scramble. With his wing folded, ho sat-on his little trape,., and cheeped. Sho closed nnd fasten, d tho door, and thon turned to Hotty. "My symbol," sho said softly. Thero wero tears in Hetty's eyes. (To nn CONTINUKD.) Forget to Collect Their Money. Tho British government every year roaps a huge profit from tho peoplo w ho forget their own government stock when dividends fall due. Tho fault vests entirely with tho stockholders for thoy even forget to givo their ad dressos, so that they can bo notified that monoy awaits them in the gov ernment coffers. In this caso, about $5,000,000 Is passed on to the na tional debt commission, and In turn it receives tho interest from this ironey