SERIAL
STORY
BLINDFOLDED
A Mystery Story
of Sun Francisco
IiY
EARLE ASHLEY WALCOTT
(Co j TlKlit MCG, the ltoUrt Merrill Co.)
SYNOPSIS.
Giles Dudley nrrlved In Snn Francisco
(o Join his friend and distant relative
Henry Wilton, whom ho was to assist
in an Important and mysterious task,
aiul who accompanied Dudley on the
ferry boat trip Into the city. The re
markable resemblance of the two men
is noted and commented on by passen
gers on the ferry. They see a man with
.snake eyes, which sends a thrill through
Dudley. Wilton postpones an explanation
of the strange errand Dudley is to per
form, but occurrences cause 1dm to
know it is one of no ordinary meaning.
Wilton leaves Giles In their room, with
Instruction to await his return and shoot
any one who tries to enter. Outside there
is heard shouts and curses nnd the nolso
of a quarrel. Henrv rushes in and at
his request the roommates quickly ex
change clothes, and lie hurries out again.
Hurdly has lie pone than Giles Is
startled by a cry of "Help," and lie runs
out to find Homo one being assaulted by
a half dozen men. Ho summons a police
man but they are unable to find nny
trace of a crime. Giles returns to his
room and hunts for some evidence that
might explain his strange mission. He
llnds a map which lie endeavors to de
cipher. Dudley is summoned to the
morgue and there finds the dead bodv of
ills friend. Henry Wilton. And thus Wilt
on dies without ever explaining to Dud
ley the puzzling work lie was to perform
in San Francisco. In order to discover
the secret mission his friend had entrust
ed to him, Dudley continues his disguise
and permits himself to bo known as
Henry Wilton. Dudley, mistaken for
Wilton, Is employed by Knapp to assist
in n slock brokerage deal. "Dicky" takes
the supposed Wilton to Mother Borton's.
Mother Uorton discovers that ho Is not
Wilton. The lights are turned out and a
free for all light follows. Giles Dudley
llnds himself c'oseted in a room with
Mother Morton who makes a confidant
of him. He can learn nothing about the
mysterious boy further than that it is
Tltn Tcrrill and Darby Meeker who are
after him. Ho Is told that "Dicky" Nalil
is a traitor, playing both hands in tho
gam?. Giles tlnds himself locked in a
room. Ho escapes through a window.
The supposed Wilton cnrrles out his dead
friends' work with Doddridge Knapp. Ho
lias his tirst experience as a capitalist in
the Hoard Room of the Stock Exchange.
Dudley receives a llctltious note purport
ing to be from Knapp, tho forgery of
which he readily detects. Dudley gets his
llrst knowledge of Decker, who Is
Knapp's enemy on the Board. The forg
ed note mystifies Knapp. Dudley visits
the home of Knapp and Is stricken by
the beauty of Luella, ills daughter.
CHAPTER XII. Continued.
"But I suspect Mr. Knapp makes
whirlpools instead of swimming Into
them," I said meaningly.
"Ah. Henry," she said sadly, "how
often have I told you that tho best
plan may come to ruin in the market?
It may not take much to start a bould
er rolling down the mountain-side, but
who Is to tell it to stop when once it
is set going?"
"1 think," said I, smiling, "that Mr,
Knapp would ride tho boulder and find
himself in a gold mine at the end of
the journey."
"Perhaps. But you're not telling me
what Mr. Knapp is doing."
"He can tell you better than I."
"No doubt," she said with a trace of
sarcasm in her voice.
"And here he comes to do it, I e.v
poet," I said, as the tall figure of tho
King of the Street appeared in tho
doorway opposite.
"I'm afraid I shall have to depend
on the newspapers," she said. "Mr
Knapp is as much afraid of a woman's
tongue as you are. Oh," she continued
after a moment's pause, "I was going
to make you give an account of your
self; but since you will tell nothing I
must Introduce you to my cousin, Mrs.
Bowser." And she led me, unresist
ing, to a short, sharp-featured woman
of sixty or thereabouts, who rustled
her silks, and in a high, thin voice
professed herself charmed to see me.
She might have claimed and held
the record as the champion of the con
versational ring. I had never met
her equal before, nor have I met one
to surpass her since.
Had I boon long in tho city? She
had been here only a week. Came from
Maine way. This was a dear, dreadful
city with such nice people and such
dreadful winds, wasn't it? And then
she gave me a catalogue of the places
she had visited, nnd the attractions of
San Francisco, with a wealth of de
tall and a poverty of interest that was
little less than marvelous.
Fortunately she required nothing
but an occasional murmur of assent in
tho way of answer from me.
I looked across the room to the cor
ner where Luella was entertaining tho
insignificant inman. How vivacious
and intelligent she appeared! Her
face and figure grow on me in attrac
tlveness, and I felt that I was being
very badly used. As I came to this point
If was roused by tho sound of two Jow
voices tlpit just behind rao wbre:plain
ly: audible under the shrill 'treble .of'
Mrs. Bowser. They were women with
their heads close in gossip.
"Shocking, isn't it?" said ono.
"Dreadful!" said the other. "It gives
me the creeps to think of it."
"Why don't they lock him up? Such
a creature shouldn't be nllowed to go
at largo."
"Oh, you see, maybe they can't be
sure ahout it. But I've heard It's a
case of family pride."
I was recalled from this dialogue by
Mrs. Bowser's fan on my arm, and her
shrill voice in my ear with, "What is
your idea about it, Mr. Wilton?"
"I think you are perfectly right," I
said heartily, as she paused for an an
swer. "Then I'll arrange it with the others
at once," sho said.
This was a bucket of Ice-water on
mo. I had not the first Idea of what
had committed myself.
"No, don't," I said. "Wait till wo
have time to discuss it ugain."
"Oh, we can decide on the time
whenever you liko. Will some night
week after next suit you?"
I had to throw myself on the mercy
of the enemy.
"I'm afraid I'm getting rather ab
sent-minded," I said humbly. "I was
looking at Miss Knapp and lost tho
thread of the discourse for a minute."
"That's what I was talking about,"
she said sharply "about taking her
and the rest of us through Chinatown."
"Yes, yes. I remember," I said un-
blushingly. "If I can get away from
business, I'm at your service at any
time."
Then Mrs. Bowser wandered on with
the arrangements she would find nec
essary to make, and I heard one of the
low voices behind me:
"Now this is a profound secret, you
know. I wouldn't have them know for
the world that any one suspects. I just
hoard it this week, myself."
"Oh, I wouldn't dare breathe it to
a soul," said the other. "But I'm sure
I shan't sleep a wink to-night." And
they moved away.
I interrupted Mrs. Bowser to ex
plain that I must speak to Mrs. Knapp
and made my escape as some one
stopped to pass a word with her.
"Oh, must you go, Henry?" said
Mrs. Knapp. "Well, you must come
again soon. We miss you when you
stay away. Don't let Mr. Knapp keep
you too closely."
I professed myself happy to come
whenever I could find the time, and
'mx) aos you?'
looked about for Luella. She was no
where to be seen. I left the room a
little disappointed, but with a swelling
pride that I had passed the dreaded
ordeal and had been accepted as Hen
ry Wilton in the house in which I had
most feared to meet disaster. My
opinion of my own cleverness had ris
en, in tho language of the market,
"above par."
As I passed down tho hall, a tall
willowy figure stepped from the shad
ow of the stair. My heart gave a
bound of delight. It was Luella Knapp.
I should have the pleasure of a leave
taking in private.
"Oh, Miss Knapp!" I said. "I had
despaired of having the chance to bid
you good night." And held out my
hand.
She Ignored the hand. I could seo
from her heaving bosom and shortened
breath that she was laboring under
great agitation. Yet her face gave no
evidence of tho effort that It cost hor
to control herself.
"I was waiting for you," she said In
a low voice.
I started to express my satisfaction
when sho Interrupted me.
"Who are you?" broke from her Hps
almost fiercely.
I was completely taken aback, and
stared at her In amazement with no
word at command.
"You aro not Henry Wilton," sho
said rapidly. "You have come hero
with his name and his clothes, and
made up to look like him, and you try
to use his voice and take his place.
Who are you?" v
There was a depth of scorn and anger
and apprehension in that low voico of
hers that struck me dumb.
"Can you not answer?" sho do
manded, catching her lircnth with ox
cltoment. "You aro not Henry Wll
ton." T '
"Well?" I said half-Inqulrlngly. It
was nor. safe to advanco' or retreat,
i i 1 j '
"Well! well!" She repeated my
answer with indignation nnd disdain
deepening in her voice. "Is that all
you have to say for yourself?"
"What should I say?" I replied quiet
ly. "You make an assertion. Is thero
anything more to bo said?"
"Oh, you may laugh at mo If you
please, becauso you can hoodwink tho
others."
I protested that lnughtcr was tho
last thing I was thinking of nt tho
moment.
Then she burst out Impetuously:
"Oh, If I wcro only a man! No; if
I were a man I should ho hoodwinked
llko tho rest. But you can not dc
colvo me. Whonroyou? What aro you
here for? What aro you trying to do?"
Sho was blazing with wrath. Her
tone had raised hardly an Interval of
tho scale, but every word that came In
that smooth, low voice was heavy with
contempt and anger. It was the true
daughter of tho Wolf who stood before
mo.
"I am afraid, Miss Knapp, you aro
not well to-night," I said soothingly.
"What have you done with Honry
Wilton?" sho asked fiercely. "Don't
try to speak with his voice. Drop your
disguise. You are no actor. You are
no more liko him than"
"Satyr or Hyperion," I quoted bitter
ly. "Make It strong, please."
I had thought myself In a tight place
in tho row at Borton's, but It was
nothing to this encounter.
"Oh, where is ho? What has hap
pened?" sho cried.
"Nothing has happened," I said
calmly, determined at last to brazen it
out. I could not tell her tho truth.
"My name Is Henry Wilton."
She looked at mo In anger a mo
ment, and then a shadow of dread and
despair settled over Her face.
I was tempted beyond measure to
throw myself on her mercy and tell
all. The subtle sympathy that she In
spired was softening my resolution.
Yet, as I looked Into her eyes, her
face hardened and her wrath blazed
forth once more.
"Go!" she said. "I hope I may never
see you again!" And she turned and
ran swiftly up the stair. I thought 1
heard a sob, but whether of anger or
sorrow I knew not.
And I went out into tho night with
a heavier load of depression than 1
had borno since I entered tho city.
CHAPTER XIII.
A Day of Grace.
Resolve, shame, despair, fought with
each other in tho tumult in my mind
as I passed between tho bronze Hons
and took my way down tho street.
I was called out of my distractions
with a sudden start as though a buck
et of cold water had been thrown over
mo. I had proceeded not twenty feet
when I saw two dark forms across the
street. They had, It struck me, been
waiting for my appearance, for one
ran to join the other and both hasten
ed toward the corner as though to be
ready to meet me.
I could not retreat to the house of
tho Wolf that loomed forbiddingly be
hind me. There was nothing to do but
to go forward and trust to my good
fortune, and I shifted my revolver to
tho side-pocket of my overcoat as I
stepped briskly to the corner. Then
I stopped under the lamp-post to re
connoiter.
The two men who had roused my
apprehensions did not offer to cross
the street, but slackened their pace
and strolled slowly along on tho other
side. I noted that It seemed a long
way between street-lamps thereabouts.
I could seo none between the one un
der which I was standing and tho
brow of the hill below. Then it oc
curred to me that this circumstance
might not be due to the caprice of the
street department of the city govern
ment, but to the thoughtfulness of tho
gentlemen who were paying such
close attention to my affairs. I de
cided that there were better ways to
get down town than were offered by
Pine street.
To tho south the cross-street
stretched to Market with an unbroken
array of lights, and as my unwary
watchers had disappeared in the dark
ness, I hastened down the Incline with
so little regard for dignity that I found
myself running for a Sutter street car
and caught it, too. As I swung
on tho the platform I looked back; but
I saw no sign of skulking figures be
fore tho car swept past tho corner and
blotted tho street from sight.
Tho incident gave mo a distaste for
the Idea of going back to Henry Wil
ton's room at this time of the night.
So at Montgomery street I stepped
Into the Lick house, where I felt reas
onably Riire that I might get at least
one night's sloop, from from tho haunt
ing fear of tho assassin.
But, once moro safe, tho charms of
Luella Knapp again claimed tho major
part of my thoughts, and when I went
to sleep It wns with her sgornful words
ringing In my ears. I slept soundly
until tho morning sun peeped into tho
room with tho cheerful announcement
ihat a now day was born.
In tho fresh morning air and the
bright morning llghtj I felt that I
mlfe'.t, L"" been unduly suspicious
and had lled.froir. 'wmlon citizens;
and I was ashamed that I had lacked
courage to return to Henry's room ns
1 made my way thither for a chnngo
of clothes. I thought better of my de
cision, howovor, as I stopped within
tho gloomy walls of tho houso of mys
tery and my footfalls echoed through
tho chilling silence of tho halls. And
I lost all regret over my night's lack
of courage when I reached my door.
It was swung an Inch ajar, and as I
approaqhed I thought I saw It move.
"I'm certain I locked It," was my
lnwnrd comment.
1 stopped short and hunted my re
volver from my overcoat pockot. I
was nervous for a moment, and angry
at the Inattention that might huvo
cost me my life.
"Who's there?" I demanded.
No reply.
I gavo a knock on the door at long
reach
Thero was no sound and I gave It a
push that sent It opon while 1
prudently kept behind the fortification
of tho casing. As no developments
followed this move, I peeped through
the door In cautious Investigation. Tho
room was quite empty, and I walked
In.
(TO H15 CONTINUED.)
LIMITED FOOD SUPPLY.
There is Not the Great Variety We
Generally Imagine.
"Certain great rood-staples have
proved themselves within tho ago-
long experience of humanity to pos
sess a larger amount of nutritive val
no, digestibility, and other good quail
ties, and a smaller proportion of tin
deslrablo properties than any others.
These, through nn exceedingly slow
nnd gradual process of tho survival
of tho fittest, havo como to form tho
staples of food In common uso by tho
human raco all over the world. It Is
really astonishing how comparatively
few there aro of them, when wo como
to consider them broadly; tho flesh
and tho milk of three or four domestic
animals, tho flesh of three or four and
tho eggs of one species of domesti
cated birds, three great grainswheat,
rice nnd malne and a half-dozen
smaller and much less frequent ones
ono hundred or so species of flshos
and shell fish, two sugars, a dozen
or so starch-contnlnlng roots and tu
bors, only two of which tho potato
and tho manioc aro of real Intorniv
tional importance, twenty or thirty
fruits, forty or fifty vegetables make
up two-thirds of tho food supply of
the Inhabitants of tho world.
"Instead of wondering at tho var
iety and profuscness of the human
food supply, tho biologist is rather In
cllned to ejaculate with tho London
footman immortalized by John Leech
who, when told by tho cook that there
would be mutton chops for dinner and
roast beef for supper, exclaimed:
'Nothing but beef, mutton and pork
pork, mutton and beef! llln my opln
ion, hit's 'igh time some new hanima
was inwented!' "
Woman Lost $230,000.
New York. Mrs. Arthur P. Mason
of Larchmont Is tho womn who lost
a tin box containing 100 $1,000 bills
and jewelry valued at $10,000, while
journeying to New York on tho local
New York, New Haven and Hartford
train from her home. Mrs. Mason
made this admission despite the ad
vice of her lawyer, Benjamin F. Nor
rls, who has tried to keep secret the
name of his cliont. Mrs. Mason re
fused to go Into details of tho trip.
Sho placed the box on tho seat bo
side her, while tho suit case rested
at her feet. It Is hardly supposed
Mrs. Mason forgot tho existence ol
tho box when sho left the train at the
Grand Central station. It Is possible
however, sho was followed from her
home by somo crook who knew that
tho box contained a fortune.
She Meant a Mantle.
Thomas A. Edison was discussing at
Atlantic City tho various devices for
increasing tho brilliance and diminish
ing tho cost of a gas Jot.
"Many of theso devices havo for
base a mantlo," ho said. "You know
what u mantlo looks liko? Thon you'll
appreciate a remark I overheard in a
hardware dealer's.
"A young woman ontcred tho shop
and said:
" 'Have you got those things for im
proving a gas light?"
" 'Yes, madam,' said tho dealer.
'Here is a complete sot, fittings, chim
ney and mantlo, all for '
" 'Oh, I don't want tho sot, said tho
young woman. Tvo got tho metal part
and tho chimney, hut tho little white
shirt js busted. It's only ono of them
I want.'"
Tool of Many Uses.
During tho present army maneuv
ers tho French troops are using for
tho first tlmo an instrument which for
variety of adaptation probably ap
proaches to a record. It is a kind of
concave lanco shaft, or gouge, about
S inches broad at the base and with
a hnndlo about 12 inches long.
This, implement Is a shovol, a point
ed bar, a tronehlng pick, a wlro cut
tor, a .wood chopper and can, bo UBed
for bread and meat. London Globe.
MRS. FRANK STROEBE
hHHbhH I III II
A Remarkable Recovery.
Mrs. Frank Stroobo, It. F. D. 1, Applo-
ton, Wis., writes : "I began using Peru
na a four months ngo, when my health
and strength woro all gone, and I was
nothing but a nervous wreck, could
not sleep, eat or rost proporly, and folt
Iio doslro to live. Poruna miulo mo loolc
at life in a difforont light, as I begun to
regain my lost strength.
"I certainly think Poruna Is without
a rival us u tonic and strength builder. "
SMALL THING HE FORGOT.
May Have Accounted for His Proposal
Being Turned Down.
Senator Bovorldgo described, at a
dinner, nn absent-minded farmer.
"The man was so abBent-nilndod,"
lie said, "that ho couldn't opon his
mouth without making an arrant ass
of himself.
"Onco ho courted a young woman.
His Buit looked promising for a tlmo.
Thon, with a sorrowful visago, ho
ceased his courtship.
'"Yet sho seemed Infatuated with
you, Jaboz,' said I, ono day when ho
came to mo for sympathy.
" 'Sho woro, too,' Jabez ngreed.
" 'Well, what could havo boon tho
trouble?'
"'Dunno,' said ho. Ho filled his
pipe. 'Dunno; hut when I porposcd,
she turned mo down cold.'
" 'Perhaps your proposal wasn't ard
ent enough?' I suggested.
" 'Oh, It wns fiery,' said Jabez. 'Hot
as pepper. I told hor sho was tho
only woman I'd evor loved, ovor
looked at, evor thought of, or '
"'But, said I, 'you forgot, then' you
were a widower.'
"'Jingo,' said Jabez, 'so I did.'"
Unobtainable.
Tho Doctor's Wife Well, Jano, so
your poor husband's gone nt last!
Didn't you give him ids medicine prop
erly? Jano Ah, poor dear, how could II
Doctor said as how It was to bo took
in a recumbent position, an' I 'adn'l
one. I asked Mrs. Green to loud me
one. She said sho 'ad ono, but it was
hroko! So it woro no good. Thfl
Sketch.
WIFE WON
Husband Finally Convinced.
Somo men aro wise onough to try
now foods and bevorages and thon gon
orous onough to glvo others tho bene
fit of their experience.
A very "conservative" Ills, man,
howovor, let his good wife find out for
horself what a blessing Postum Is to
thoso who aro distressed In many
ways, by drinking coffee. Tho wlfo
writes:
"No slave in chains, It seemed to
me, was moro helpless than I, a coffee
captive. Yet there woro innurnernblo
warnings waking from a troubled
sleep with a feeling of suffocation, at
times dizzy and out of breath, at
tacks of palpitation of tho heart that
frightened mo.
"Common senso, reason, and my
better judgment told mo that coffeo
drinking was tho trouble. At last my
nervous system was so disarranged
that my physician ordered 'no moro
coffee.'
"Ho know ho wns right and ho know
I knew it, too. I capitulated. Prior
to this our family had tried Postum,
but disliked it, becauso, as wo learned
later, it was not made right.
"Determined this tlmo to glvo Post
um a fair trial, I prepared It accord
ing to directions on tho pkg. that is,
boiled it 15 minutes after boiling com
menced, obtaining a dark brown liquid
with a rich snappy flavor similar to
coffeo. When cream and sugar wero
added, it was not only good but de
licious. "Noting its beneficial effects In mo
tho rest of I lie family adopted It all
except my husband, who would not ad
mit that coffeo hurt him. Soveral
weeks elapsed during which I drank
Postum two or threo times a day,
when, to my surprise, my husband
said: 'I havo decided to drink Postum.
Your Improvement is so apparent you
have such fine color that I proposo
to glvo credit where credit is due.' And
now wo aro coffoe-slaves no longor."
Namo given by Postum Co., Battle
Crook, Mich. Read "Tho Road to Well
vllle," In pkgs. "Thoro's a Reason."
Ever read the above letter? A new
one appears from time to time, They
are genuine, true, and full of human
Interest.
