STORY
BLINDFOLDED
A Mystery Story
of San Francisco
BY
EARLE ASHLEY WALCOTT
(Copyright 10, the llobbs-SIcrrlll Co.)
SYNOPSIS.
Giles Dudley nrrlved In San Francisco
to Join hlB friend and distant rclatlvo
Henry Wilton, whom lie wub to assist
in an Important and mysterious task,
and who accompanied Dudley on tho
ferry boat trip fnto tho city. Tho re
markable resemblaneo of tho 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 chubo him to
know It is ono of no ordinary meaning.
Wilton loaves Giles In their room, with
instruction to await his return. Hardly
lias he gone than Giles Is startled by a
cry of "Help." Dudley Is summoned to
the morgue unit lucre 11 nils tno ueaa
body of his friend, Henry Wilton. And
thus Wilton dies without ever explaining
to Dudley the puzzling work ho was to
perform in San Francisco. In order to
discover tho secret mission his friend had
entrusted to him, Dudley continues his
disguise and permits himself to bo known
a3 Henry Wilton. Dudley, mistaken for
Wilton, Is employed by Knapp to assist
in a stock brokerago deal. Giles Dudley
tlnds himself closeted In a room with
Mother Borton who makes a confidant
of him. He can learn nothing about tho
mysterious boy further than that It Is
Tim Terrlll and Darby Meeker who are
after him. Ho Is told that "Dicky" Nahl
is a traitor, playing both hands In tho
game. Giles finds himself locked In a
room. Dudley gets his first knowledge of
Decker, who Is Knapp's enemy on tho
Board. Dudley visits the homo of Knapp
and Is stricken by tho beauty of Luella,
Ills daughter. Ho learns tho note was
forgery. Ho Is provided with four guards,
Brown, Barkhouse, Fltzhugh and Porter.
He learns there is to bo no troublo about
money as all expenses will bo paid, tho,
hire of the guards being paid by one
"Richmond." Tho body of Henry Wilton
is committed to tho vault. Dudley re
sponds to a noto and visits Mothor Bor
ton In company with Policeman Corson.
CHAPTER XIV. Continued.
Tho four men within tho room sa
luted me gravely and with Mother
Norton's direction in mind I had no
hesitation In' calling each by his name.
I was pleased to see that they were ro
Gust, vigorous fellows, and soon made
my dispositions. Brown and Bark
house were to attend mo during day
light and Fltzhugh and Porter were to
guard together at night. And, so much
settled, I hastened to the office.
No sign of Doddridge Knapp dis
turbed the morning, and at the noon
hour I returned to the room in the
house of mystery that was still my
only fixed abode.
All was apparently as I had left it,
oxcept that a letter lay on the table.
"I must get a new lock," was my
comment, as I broke tho seal. "This
place Is getting too public when every
messenger has a key." I was certain
that I had locked the door when Cor
son and I had come out on the even
ing before.
Tho lettor was from my unknown
employer, and read:
"Richmond has paid tho men. Be
ready for a move at any moment.
Leave your address if you sleep else
where." And now came three or four days of
rest and quiet after tho merry lifo I
had been leading since my arrival In
San Francisco.
In the Interval I improved my time
by getting better acquainted with tho
city. Emboldened by my body-guard,
I slept for two nights In Henry's room,
and with ono to watch outside the
door, ono lying on a mattress just in
side, and a new lock and bolt, I was
free from disturbance.
Just as I had formed a wild Idea of
looking up Doddridge Knapp in his
homo, I came to tho ofilco In the
morning to find tho door Into Room 16
wide open and the farther door ajar.
"Como in, Wilton," said tho voice
of tho King of tho Street; and I en
tered his room to find him busied over
his papers, as though nothing had oc
curred since I had last mot him.
"Tho market has had something of
a vacation," I ventured, as ho failed to
speak.
"I have been out of town," ho said
shortly. "What have you done?"
"Nothing."
Ho gave a grunt of assent.
"You didn't expect mo to buy up tho
market, did you?"
Tho yellow-gray mustache wont up,
and tho wolf-fangs gleamed from be
neath. "1 reckon It wouldn't havo been a
x very profitable speculation," ho replied.
Thou ho leaned back In his chair
and looked medltatlvoly at tho wall.
"Havo you heard anything moro ot
Decker?" ho asked.
"I've heard onough to satisfy mo
that ho's tho man who got tho Omega
stock."
"What other deal Is ho In?" naked
tho King of the Street.
"I don't know."
Tho King of tho Street smiled Indul
gently.
"Well, you've got something to learn
yet. I'll give you till next week to
find the answer to that quostlon."
I was convinced from his air that ho
had Information on both theso points
himself, and was merely trying my
knowledge.
"I'll not bo back before next Wednes
day," ho concluded.
"Going away again?" I asked In sur
prise. "I'm oft to Virginia City," he re
plied after considering for a little.
"I'm not sure about Omegn, after all
and there's another ono I want to look
Into. You needn't mention my going.
When I come back we'll have a cam
paign that will raise tho roof of every
Board la town. No orders till then
unless I telegraph you. That's all."
Tho King of tho Street scorned
straightforward onough in his state
ment of plans, and It. did not occur to
me to distrust him while I was In his
presence. Yet, once moro In my of
fice, with tho locked door between, I
began to doubt, and tried to And somo
hidden meaning In each word and
look.
CHAPTER XV.
I Am In the Tolls.
"Welcome onco more, Mr. Wilton,"
said Mrs. Doddrldgo Knnpp, holding
out her hand. "Were you going to
neglect us" again?"
"Not at all, madam," said I with un
blushing mendacity. "I am always at
your command."
I had received a letter from Mrs.
Bowser setting forth that I was wanted
at the house of Doddrldgo Knapp, and
her prolixity was such that I was un
able to determine whether she or Mrs.
Knapp or Luella wished to see me.
But as all three appeared to be con
cerned In it I pocketed pride and re-
sentment, and made my bow with
somo nervous quavers at the Pine
Street palace.
As I was speaking I cast my eyes
furtively about tho room. Mrs. Knapp
interpreted my glance.
"She will bo In presently." There
was to my ear a trace of mocking
laughter in her voice as sho spoke, but
her face betokened only a courteous
interest.
"Thanks I hope so," I said in a lit
tle confusion. I wished I knew wheth
er she meant Luella or Mrs. Bowser.
"You got tho note?" sho asked.
"It was a great pleasure."
"Mrs. Bowser wished so much to
see you again. Sho has been singing
your praises you were such an agree
able young man."
I cursed Mrs. Bowser In my heart.
"I bellevo there was somo arrange
ment between you about a trip to seo
tho sights of Chinatown. Mrs. Bowser
was quite worried for fear you had
forgotten it, so I gave her your ad
dress and told her to write you a
note."
I had not been conscious of expect
ing anything from my visit, but at this
bit of information I found -that I hud
been building air-castles which had
been invisible till they came tumbling
about my ears. I could not look for
Miss Knapp's company on such an ex
pedition. "Oh," said I, with an attempt to con
ceal my disappointment, "tho matter
had slipped my mind. I shall be most
happy to attend Mrs. Bowser, or to seo
that sho has a proper escort."
Wo had been walking about tho
room during this conversation, and at
this point had como to an alcove,
whore Mrs. Knapp motioned me to a
seat.
"I may not get a chance to talk with
you alone again this evening," she con
tinued, dropping her half-banterlng
tone, "and you como so llttlo now.
What aro you doing?"
"Keeping out of mischief."
"Yes,, but how?" sho porslsted. "You
used to tell mo everything. Now you
toll me nothing."
"Mr. Knapp's work " I began.
"Oh, of course, I don't expect you
to tell mo about that. I know Mr.
Knapp, and you'ro as close-mouthed
as ho, even when he's nway."
"I should tell you anything of my
own, but of course, another's "
"I understand." Mrs. Knapp, sitting
with hands elapsed In hor lap, gavo
mo n quick look. "But thoro was
something else. You woro tolling mo
nbout your ndventures, you remombor.
You told mo two or three weoks ngo
about tho way you tricked Darby
Meokor and sent him to "Serrla City."
And she smiled at tho recollection of
Darby Meeker's discomfiture.
"Oh, yes," I said, with a laugh that
sounded distressingly hollow to my
cars. "That was a capital Joko on
Mocker."
"How did It turn out?" asked Mrs.
Knapp with lively Interest. "Did ho
get back?"
1 decided promptly on a judicious
amount of truth.
v"Yes, ho got back boiling with
wrath and loaded to tho guards with
throats that Is, I heard so from my
men. I didn't seo him myself, or you
might have found tho rest of It In tho
newspnper."
"What did ho do? Toll tno about It."
Mrs. Knapp gave every evidence of ab
sorbed Interest.
"Well, he laid a trap for mo at Bor-
ton's, put Terrlll In as advance guard
and raised blue murder about tho
place." And then I wont on to give a
carefully amended account of my first
night's row at Borton's, and with an
occasional question Mrs. Knapp hnd
soon extorted from me a fairly full
account of my doings.
"It is dreadful for you to expose
yourself to such dangers."
I was privately of her opinion.
"Oh, that's nothing," said I airily.
"A man may be killed any day by a
brick falling from a building, or by
slipping on an orange peel on tho
crossing."
"But Is dreadful to court death bo.
Yet," she mused, "If I were a man I
could envy you your work. Thero Is
romanco and life in it, as well as
danger. You aro doing In the nine
teenth century and In tho midst of
civilization what your forefathers may
have dono in tho days of chivalry."
"It Is a flno life," 1 said dryly. "But
it has its drawbacks."
"But while you live no ono can
harm the child," sho said. Thero was
Inquiry In her tone, I thought.
I suppressed a start of surprise. 1
had avoided mention of the boy. Hen
ry had trusted Mrs. Knapp further
than I had dreamed.
"Ho shall never be given up by mo,"
I replied with conviction.
"That Is spoken like a true, bravo
man," said Mrs. Knapp with an ad
miring look.
"Thank you," I said modestly.
"Another life than yours depends
on your skill and courage. That must
give you strength," sho said Boftly.
"It does Indeed," I replied. I wns
thinking of Doddrldgo Knapp's life.
"But hero como Luella and Mrs.
Bowser," said Mrs. Knapp. "I seo I
shall lose your company."
My heart gavo a groat bound, and
I turned to see the queenly grace of
Luella Knapp as sho entered tho room
in the train of Mrs. Bowser.
Was It fancy, or had sho grown
paler and thinner since I had last seen
her? surely thoso dark hollows under
her eyes that told of worry and lost
sleep were not there when hor bright
ness had chained my admiration.
"Luella!" called Mrs. Knapp. 1
fancied she gavo a low, musical laugh
as sho spoke, yet tho glanco showed
mo that her face was calm and sorl
ous. "Luella, hero Is somo ono you
will liko to see."
Luella Knapp turned and ndvancod.
What wSs the look that lighted up her
face and sparkled from her eye? Be
fore I could analyze tho magnetic
thrill that camo from It, it was gone.
A flush passed over hor face and died
away as she came.
"You honor our poor house once
more?" sho said, dropping a mock
courtesy. "I thought you had desert
ed us."
"Not I," said I stoutly, holding out
my hand. I saw there was a llttlo play
to be carried on for tho benefit of Mrs.
Knapp. For somo reason sho had not
confided In hor mother. "Not I. I
am always your humble knight."
I saw that Mrs. Knapp was looking
at us curiously, and pressed my ad
vantage. Luella took my hand un
willingly. I wns ready to dare a good
deal for tho clasp of her fingers, but
1 scarcely felt tho thrill of their touch
before she had snatched them away.
"Thoro's nothing but pretty speech
es to bo had from you and quotations
at that," Bho said. There was mnllco
under tho seeming Innocence of a pro
tended pout.
"Thoro's nothing that could bo so
becoming In the circumstances." ,
"Except common sense," frowned
Luella.
"Tho most uncommon of qualities,
my dear," laughed Mrs. Knapp. "Sit
down, children. I must seo to Mr.,
Carter, who Is lost by tho portiere and
will never bo discovered unless I res
cuo him."
"Tako him to dear Aunt Julia," said
Luella as her mothor left us.
"Dear Aunt Jullu," I Inferred, was
Mrs. Bowser.
Luella took a seat and I followed
her example. Then, with chin In hand
and albow on tho arm of hor chair,
tho young woman looked at mo calmly
and thoughtfully,
"Well," said Luella at last, In a cut
ting voice, "why don't you talk?"
"It's your load," said I gloomily.
"You took tho last trick."
At this referonco to our mooting, Lu
olla looked surprised. Then Bho gavo
a llttlo rippling laugh.
"Really," sho said, "I bellevo I shall
begin to liko you, yot."
"That's very kind of you; but turn
about Is fair play."
"You mustn't do that," said alio se
verely, "or I shan't.''
"I meant It," said 1 doflnntly.
"Then you ought to know bettor
than to say It," sho rotorted.
"I'm In need of lessons, I fear."
"How dollghtful of you to confoss
It! Then shall I toll you what to do?"
This was very charming. I hastonod
to say:
"Do, by all means."
Tho young woman sank back in hor
chair, clasped hor hands In her lap
as"her mothor had dono, and glanced,
hastily about. Then In a low volco
she said:
"Bo yourself."
It was an electric shock sho gavo
mo, not moro by tho words than by
tho tone.
I struggled for a moment boforo I
regained my menial balance.
"Don't you think wo could got on
safer ground?" I suggested.
"No," said Luella. "Thoro l3n't any
safo ground for us otherwise"
Tho sudden heart-sickness nt the
remainder of my mission with which
these words overwhelmed me, tied my
tongue and mastered my spirits. It
was this girl's father that I was pur
suing. Oh, why was this burden laid
upon me? Why was I to bo torn on
tho rack botweon Inclination nnd
duty?
Luolla watched my face narrowly
through tho conflict In my mind, and
I felt as though hor spirit struggled
with mine to win mo to tho courso of
open, honest dealing. But It was im
possible. She must be the last of all
to know.
Her eyes sank as though sho know
which had won tho victory, and a
proud, scornful look took the place of
the grave good humor that had been
thoro a momont before Then, on a
sudden, sho began to speak ot tho the
aters, rides, drives and what-not of
tho pleasures of tho day. Suddenly
she stopped with a wonry look.
"There's Aunt Julia waiting for
you," sho said with a gleam of ma
licious pleasure. "Como along. I de
liver you ovor a prisoner of war."
"Walt a mlnuto," I pleaded.
"No," sho said, Imperiously motion
ing mo. "Como along." And with a
sigh I was given, a helpless, but si
lently protesting, captive, to the mer
cies of Mrs. Bowser.
That eloquent lady received mo
with flutter of feathers, If I may bor
row tho expression, to Indicate hor
pleasure
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
JUST A3 GOOD AS MONEY.
Amos Budd's Little Contribution to
the Church.
Stories have been told of buttons,
tacks and various extraneous Hub
stances found In contribution boxes,
but It is seldom that a church-mom-bor
strikes a blow so severe as was
that delivered by Amos Budd of Por
tervllle on ono occasion. It was at
the close of a missionary sormon that
Mr. Budd, whoso wont was to contrib
ute ton cents to each of tho charities
to tho support of which tho church
subscribed, was seen to tako tako a
bluo slip from his pocket and look at
it keenly and affectionately. When,
After a slight but ovldont hesitation
ho dropped tho slip, carefully folded,
Into tho box, Deacon Lano, who was
passing It, could hardly refrain from
an exclamation of joy. "Tho Lord will
bless you, Brothor Budd," ho said,
when tho sermon was ovor, hurrying
down tho nlslo to overtako tho pros
porous grocer. "I hope so," returned
Mr. Budd, dryly, "but I'm afraid you
cal'late on that bolng a chock that I
dropped in tho box. It wa'n't. Twns
a receipted bill for kerosono tho
church owed mo last year, and It hnd
been overlooked. Of course It's joBt
tho same as money, though, when you
como to that." -Youth's Companion.
Dogs' Homing InBtlnct.
Tho other day, writes n corre
spondent, a dog was sent by carriage
to Brandon station, In Norfolk, on
route for London, from Buckingham
hall. At Ely It slipped Its collar as
the guard took It out to glvo It wator,
tho tlmo wub after dark on a winter
evening, and the dog dashed away
and could not be found.
At 6:30 on tho following morning
ono of tho stablemen at Buckingham
heard a dog whining and howling un
der tho window. It was tho samo dog
returned. The distanco from Ely to
Buckingham Is computed at 17
miles.
Tho dog Is a fomalo spaniel, and it
is virtually certain that Us local knowl
edgo of tho country about Bucking
ham on tho side toward Ely was lim
ited to a mile from tho former. This
would leavo It an unknown tract of 10
miles to travel through tho dark In
a single night. By what sense waa it
guided? Country Lifo,
A SURGICAL
OPERATION
If thero is any ono thing that a
woman dreads moro than anothorib
is a surgical operation.
"Wo can stato without foar of a
contradiction that thoro nro hun
dreds, yes, thousands, of oporation9
performed upon women in our hos
pitals -which aro entirely unneces
sary and many havo boon avoided by
LYDIA E. PIN KHAKI'S
VEGETABLE COMPOUND
For proof of this statement read
tho following lottors.
Mrs. Uarbara 13use, of Kingman,
Kansas, writes to Mrs. Pinkham :
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most sevcro form of female troubles nml
was told that an operation was my only
liopo of recovery. 1 wrote Mrs. lMnlcham
for advice, and took Lydia E. Pinlcham's
Vegetable Compound, nnd it has saved
my lifo and mado mo a well woman."
Mrs. Arthur II. IIouso, of Church
Road, Moorustown. N. J., writes :
"I feel it is my duty to let people
know what Lydia E. Pinkhnm's Vcge
tablo Compound has done for me. I
nulTered from femalo troubles, and last
March my physician decided that an
operation wns necessary. My husband
objected, and urged mo to try Lydia
K. Pinkhnm's Vegetable Compound,
and to-day I am well and strong."
FACTS FOR SICK WOMEN.
For thirty years Lydia F. Pink
ham's Vegetable Compound, mado
from roots and herbs, has been tho
standard remedy for femalo ills,
and has positively cured thousands of
women who havo been troubled with
displacements, inllammation,ulcera
tion, fibroid tumors, irregularities,
periodic pains, and backaclio.
Mrs. Pinklinm invites all sick
women to write her for advice.
Sho has pruided thousands to
health. Address, Lynn, Mass
Decollete.
"Bid you seo Mrs. Locutto at tho
hoi) last night?" asked Mrs. Gaddlo.
"Yes," replied hor husband.
"This morning's paper says sho waa
dressed entirely In black. Is that bo?"
"Well or no. I wouldn't say that
sho was dressed entirely." Philadel
phia Press.
Lcwm' .Single Hinder KtrnighL 5c cigar.
Made of extra quality tobacco. Your
dealer or Lewis' Factory, Peoria, 111.
Girls aro partial to automobiles bo
causo they havo Bparkers.
AIIdii'h I ooI-I.iihimi I'oivclor
ForRwollmi,ftivi'iillnfri!t. OlvcHliifctantrnllof. Tho
original powder for tho foot. mull DruifKlst
When money begins to talk pcoplo
sit up and tnke notice.
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