BLINDFOLDED
A Mystery Story
of San Francisco
BY
EARLE ASHLEY WALCOTT
(Copyright IX, tho nobb-Mrrlll Co.)
8YN0P8I8.
I Giles Dudley arrived In San Francisco
to join his friend and distant relative
Henry Wilton, whom he was to assist
In an important and mysterious task,
and who accompanied Dudley on tho
ferry boat trip into the city. The re
markable resemblance 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
Dudloy. Wilton postpones an explanation
of tho Btrango errand Dudley is to per
form, but occurrences cause him to
know it Is one of no ordinary meaning.
Wilton leaves Giles in their room, with
Instruction to await his return. Hardly
has he gone than Giles is startled by a
cry of ''Help." Dudley is summoned to
tho morgue and there finds tho dead
body of his friend, Henry Wilton. And
thus Wilton dies without ever explaining
to Dudley the puzsling 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
as Henry Wilton. Dudley, mistaken for
Wilton, is employed by Knapp to assist
in a stock brokerago deal. Giles Dudley
finds himself closeted In a room with
Mother Borton who makes a confidant
of him. Ho can learn nothing about tho
mysterious boy further than that It is
Tim Terrill and Darby Meeker who are
after him. He is told that -Dicky" Nahl
is a traitor, playing both hands in tho
same. Dudley gets his first knowledge of
Decker, who is Knapp's enemy on tho
Board. Dudley visits tho homo of Knapp
and is stricken by tho beauty of Luolla,
his daughter. He learns tho note was
forgery. He Is provided with four guards,
Brown, Barkhouse, Fltzhugh and Porter.
He learns there is to bo no trouble about
money as all expenses will bo paid, tho
hlro of the guards being paid by ono
"Richmond." Tho body of Henry Wilton
is committed to the vault. Dudley re
sponds to a noto and visits Mother Bor
ton In company with Policeman Corson.
Giles Dudley again visits tho Knapp
home.
CHAPTER XV. Continued.
"Oh, Mr. Wilton, you'll pardon my
boldness, I'm sure," she said with an
amlablo flirt of tho head, as I seated
myself beside her and watched Luolla
melt away Into the next room; "but
I was afraid you had forgotten all
about us poor women, and It's a dread
ful thing to be In this great house
when there Isn't a man about, though
of course there are tho servants, but
you can't count them as men, besides
some of them being Chinamen. And
wo I that Is, I really did want to Bee
you, and we ought to have so much to
talk over, for I've heard that your
mother's first cousin was a Dowser,
and I do so want to seo that dear, de
lightful Chinatown that I've heard so
much about, though they do say It's
horrid and dirty, but you'll let us seo
that for ourselves, won't you, and did
you ever go through Chinatown, Mr.
Wilton?"
Mrs. Bowser pulled up her verbal
coach-and-six so suddenly that I felt
as though she must have been pitched
off tho box.
"Oh," said I carelessly, "I've seen
tho place often enough."
"How nice!" Then suddenly look
ing grave Mrs. Bowser spoke from be
hind her fan. "But I hope, Mr. Wilton,
there's nothing there that a lady
shouldn't see."
I hastened to assure her that It was
possible to avoid everything that
would brlhg a blush to tho cheek of a
matron of her years.
Mrs. Bowser at this rattled on with
out coming to any point. I was listen
ing to the flow of her high-pitched
voice without getting any Idea from It,
when my wandering attention ' was
suddenly recalled by tho words, "Mr.
Knapp."
"What was that?" I asked In some
confusion. "I didn't catch your mean
ing." "I was saying I thought It strange
Mr. Knapp wouldn't go with us, nud
he got awfully cross when I pressed
him, and said oh, Mr. Wilton, he said
such a dreadful word that he'd be
everlastingly somethlnged if ho would
ever go into such a lot of dens of oh,
I can't repeat his dreadful language
but wasn't it strange, Mr. Wilton?"
"Very," I said diplomatically; "but
It Isn't worth while to wait (or him,
then."
"Oh, laws, no! he'll be homo to
morrow, but ho won't go.".
"Home to-morrow!" I exclaimed. "I
thought ho wasn't to come till
Wednesday."
Mrs. Bowser looked a little uncom
fortablo.
"I guess he's old enough to come
and go when ho likes," she said. But
her How of words seemed to desert
hor.
' "Very truo," I admitted. "I wonder
what's bringing him back in such a
hurry."
Mrs. Bowser's beady oyes turned on
me iu doubt, and for a moment alio
was dumb. Then she followed this
mlraclo by anothoi, and spoke la a
low tone of volco.
"It's not for me to say anything
against a man in his own house, but I
don't like to talk of Doddridge Knapp."
"Whatvs the matlerY' 'I asked. "A
little rough In his speech? Oh, Mrs.
Bowser, you should make allowances
for a man who has had to fight hlB
way in tho roughest business life in
the world, and not expect too much of
his polish."
"Oh, laws, he's polite enough,"
whispered Mrs. Bowser. "It isn't that
oh, I don't seo how she over married
him."
I followed the glance that Mrs.
Bowser gave on interrupting herself
with this declaration, and saw Mrs.
Knapp approaching us.
"Oh," she exclaimed cheerily, "is It
settled? Have you mado all tho ar
rangements, Cousin Julia?"
"Well, I declare! I'd forgotten all
about telling him," cried Mrs. Bowser
in her shrillest tone. "I'd Just taken
It for a fact that he'd know when to
tome."
"That's a little too much to expect,
I'm afraid," said Mrs. Knapp, smil
ing gaily at Mrs. Bowser's manage
ment. "I see that I shall have to ar
range this thing myself. Will Monday
night suit you, Henry?"
"As well as another," said I politely,
concealing my feelings as a victim of
feminine diplomacy.
"You havo told him who are going,
haven't you?" said Mrs. Knapp, to
Mrs. Bowser.
"Laws, no! I never thought but
that he knew."
"Ohl" exclaimed Mrs. Knapp. "What
a gift as a mindrcader Mr. Wilton
ought to have! Well, I suppose I'd
better not trust to that Henry.
There's to bo Mrs. Bowsor, of course,
and Mr. and Mrs. Carter, and Mr. Hor
ton, and oh, yes Luella."
My heart gave a Jump, and the trip
to Chinatown suddenly became an ob
ject of interest.
"I mama?" said an Inquiring voice,
and Luella herself stood by her mother.
"Yes," said Mrs. Knapp. "It's the
Chinatown expedition for Monday
night."
Luella looked annoyed, and tapped
her foot to the floor Impatiently.
"With Mr. Wilton," there was tho
slightest emphasis on the words, "to
accompany tho party, I shouldn't think
it would be necessary for me to go."
"It Is either you or I," said Mrs.
Knapp.
"You will be needed to protect Mr.
Horton," said I sarcastically.
"Oh, what a task!" she said gaily
"I shall bo ready." And she turned
away bofore I could put in another
word, and J walked down tho room
with Mrs. Knapp.
"And so Mr. Knapp Is coming homo
to-morrow?" I said.
Mrs. Knapp gave me a quick look.
"Yes," she said. There was some
thing in her tono that set me to think
ing that there was moro than I knew
behind Mr. Knapp's sudden return.
"I hope he is not ill," I said politely
"I think you will find him all right
when you seo him. But here you
must meet Mr. and Mrs. Carter. They
are just from tho East, and very
charming people, and as you are to do
them tho honors on Monday evening,
you should know them."
Mr. and Mrs. Carter had pleasant
faces and few ideas, and ns tho ton
versatlonal firo soon burned low I
souught Mrs. Knapp and took my
leave. Luella was nowhere to be seen
"You must bo suro that you aro
well guarded," said Mrs. Knapp. "It
quite gives me tho terrors to think
of those murderous fellows. And
since you told mo of that last plot to
call you down to Borton's, I have a
presentiment that some special danger
is ahead of you. Be cautious as well
as brave."
I thanked her as she pressed my
hand, and, with no Luella awaiting me
by the stair, I took my way down the
stone steps, between tho bronze lions,
and joined Porter and Barkhouse on
tho sidewalk.
CHAPTER XVI.
An Echo of Warning.
"All quiet?" I asked of my guards,
as wo took our way down the street.
"Dicky Nahl was along here," said
Porter, "and ho said Terrill and Meek
er and tho other gang was holding a
powwow at Borton's, and we'd best
look out for surprises."
"Was that all?"
"Well, he said he guessed there was
a now deal on hand, and they was a
buzzin' like a nest of hornets."
"Well," said I, "wo had better go
down to Borton's and look Into this
matter."
There was silence for a time. My
guards walked beside me without
speaking, but I felt the protest In their
manner. At last Barkhouso said re
spectfully:
"There's no use to do that, sir. You'd
better send somo ono that ain't so
likely to be nabbed, or that won't mat
tor much if ho is. We'd bo in a pretty
llx if you was to be took."
"Hero comes Dicky now," said Por
ter, as a dark figure came swinging
lightly along.
"Hullo!" cried Dicky, halting and
shading his eyes from tho gaslight.
''I was just going up to look for you
again."
"What's up, Dicky?"
"I guess It's tho devil," said Dicky,
bo gravely that I broke Into a laugh.
"He's right at homo if ho's come to
this town," I said.
"I'm glad you find it so funny," said
Dicky in an Injured tono. "You was
scared enough last time."
"Well, I'vo kept out of his claws this
far, and It's no uso to worry. What's
ho trying to do now?"
"That's what I'vo been trying to find
out all tho ovcnlng. They're noisy
enough, but they'ro too thick to let
ono get near whoro thero's anything
going on that Is, If ho has a fancy
for keeping a wholo skin."
"Supposo we go down thoro now,''
I suggested. "Wo might find out some
thing." Dicky stopped Bhort.
"Caesar's ghost!" he gasped; "what
noxt? Wouldn't you like to touch off
a few powder-kegs for amusement?
Won't you fire a pistol Into your
mouth to show how eas you can stop
tho bullet?"
"Why, you have been down there
and aro all right," I argued.
"Well, thero nothing much to hap
pen to me, but where would you be if
they got hold of you? You'ro getting
off your cabesa, old fellow," said
Dicky anxiously.
"If I could see Mother Borton I
would fix it," I said confidently.
"What! That she-devil?" cried
Dicky. "She'd give you up to have
your throat cut in a minute if sho
could get a fbur-blt piece for your
carcass. I guess she could get moro
than that on you, too."
Mothor Borton's warnings against
Dicky Nahl returned to mo with forco
at this expression of esteem from the
young man, and I was filled with
doubts.
"I came up to tell you to look out
for yourself," continued Dicky. "I'm
afraid they mean mischief, and horo
you come with a wild scheme for got
ting into the thick of it."
"Well, I'll think better of it," I
said. "But seo If you can find out
what Is going on. Come up and let
mo know if you get an inkling of their
plants."
"All right," said Dicky. "But just
sleep on a hair-trigger to-night."
"Good-night," I said, as I turned to
ward my room, and Dicky, with an an
swering word, took his way toward
the Borton place.
I had grown used to tho silent tor
rors of my house. But as wo stumbled
up tho stairway the apprehensions of
Dicky Nahl came strong upon me, and
I looked ahead to the murky halls, and
glanced at everyway as though I ex
pected an ambush. Porter and Bark
house marched stolidly along, showing
little disposition to talk.
"What's that?" I exclaimed, stop
ping to listen.
"What was it?" asked Barkhouso,
as wo stopped on tho upper landing
and gazed into tho obscurity.
"I thought I heard a noise," said I
"Who's there?"
"It was a rat," said Porter. "I've
heard 'om out hero of nights."
"Well, just light that other gas jot,"
I said. "It will help to make things
pleasant In case of accidents."
Tho doors came out of tho darkness
as the second Jot blazed up, but noth
ing else was to bo seen.
Suddenly there was a scramblo, and
something sprang up before my door.
Porter and I raised tho revolvers that
wero ready in our hands, but Bark
house spring past us, and in an in
stant had closed with tho flguro and
held it in his arms.
There was a volley of curses, oaths
mingled with sounds that reminded
mo of nothing so much as a spitting
cat, and a familiar voice screamed In
almost Inarticulato rage:
"Let mo go, dnmn, yo, or I'll knife
ye!"
"Good heavens!" I cried. "Let hor
go, Barkhouso. It's Mother Borton."
Mother Borton freed herself with a
vicious shako, and called down tho
wrath of Heaven and hell on tho stal
wart guard.
"You'ro tho black-hearted spawn of
tho sower rats, to take a respectable
woman like a bag of meal," cried
Mothor Borton Indignantly, with a
fresh string of oaths. "It's fire and
brlmstono you'll bo tasting yet, and
you'd 'a' been thoro beforo now, you
miserable gutter-picker, if it wasn't
for m6. And this to the thanks I git
from ye!"
"Come in," I said, unlocking the
door and lighting up my room. "You
can bo as angry ns you llko in horo,
and it won't hurt nnything."
Mother Borton stormed a bit, and
thon BUllcnly walked in and took a
chair. Sllenco fell on hor as sho
crossed the threshold, but she glower
ored on us with fierce eyes.
"It's qulto an agrecaole surprlBo to
see you," I vontured as cheerfully as I
could, as she mado no movo to speak.
My followors looked awkward and un
comfortable. At tho sound of my volco, Mothor
Borton's bent brows relaxed a little.
"If you'd sond thoso follqws out, I
reckon wo could talk a bit bettor,"
sho said sourly.
"Certainly. Just wait in tho hall,
boyB; and closo tho door."
Porter and Barkhouso ambled out,
and Mothor Borton gavo hor chair a
hitch that brought us face to faco.
"I reckon you don't tHVnk' I como on
a visit of porlitcncss?" sho snld sharp
ly after a briof silence.
I murmured something about being
glad to ontcrtain hor at any time.
"Nonsense!" sho sniffed. "I'm a vile
old woman thnt tho likes of you would
never put oyes on twice' if it wasn't
for your business none knows It hot
ter than mo. I don't know why I should
put myself out to help yo." Her tone
had a touch of pathos under Its hard
ness. "I know why," I said, a little touch
od. "It's because you llko mo."
Sho turned a softened eye on mo.
"You're right," she said almost ten
derly, with a flash of womanly feeling
on hor Beamed and ovil face. "I've took
a fancy to ye and no mistake, and I'd
risk something to help ye."
"I knew you would," I said heart
ily. "And that's what I como to do," she
said with a sparkle of pleasuro In hor
eye. "I'vo como to warn ye."
"Now dangors?" I inquired cheor
fully. My prudence suggested that I
had better omit any mention of tho
warning from Dicky Nal I.
"The Bamo ones," said Mothor Bort
on shortly, "only moro of 'em."
"What is tho latest plot?" I asked
gravely, as I fancied that my light
manner grated on my strange guest,
don't know," she said slowly.
"But you know something." I
argued.
"Maybo you know what I know bet
tor than I knows It mysolf," growled
Mother Borton with a significant
glance.
I resigned myself to await hor hu
mor.
"Not at all," said I carelessly. "I
only know that you've como to tell mo
something, and that you'll tell it in
your own good time."
"It's fine to see that you'vo learned
not to drive a woman," sho returned
with grim Irony. "It's something to
know at your ago."
I smiled sympathetically upon her,
and she continued:
"I might as well tell yo tho wholo
of It, though I reckon my throat's as
llko to bo slit over it as not."
"I'll never breathe a word of It," I
ropliod fervently.
(TO HE CONTINUED.)
WANTED NO MORE 8ISTER8.
One Girl Had Had Enough of Censor
ious Remarks.
"I didn't think you'd got so angry
because I said I thought you ought to
woar gray suede shoes with your gray
dress Instead of white ones. I didn't
mean to offend you," her friend very
sweetly apologized. "Novor mind,"
sho returned softly. "It was all right,
but It mado mo angry for two rea
sons. First, because I had to woar
tho white shoes becauso I didn't have
any others that wore preBontablo, and,
socondly, becauso when I loft ray
family of sisters, who mado every pos
sible sort of comment on my clothes,
I declared I would nover Btand It from
anybody else. I said to myself that
whonovor a friend got so friendly that
she thought sho could treat mo like
a sister I'd shako hor."
The Ferocious Mascalonge.
In tho bod of a dralned-off lake was
found tho skull of a mascalongo with
a swan's skull Inside of it, and tho
teeth wore locked In tho bono, show
ing that tho strong, powerful bird had
been attacked during a time whon its
head was under wator, and possibly
In tho llerco battle that must havo en
sued each combatant drowned tho
other. Tho Hsh was supposed to havo
been about 70 pounds in weight. An
othor caso on record is that of a five
pound flsh being found dead, appar
ently choked by tho partly swallowed
body of another flsh of threo pounds.
So voracious is tho mascalongo that It
will devour any living thing that
comes within its vision. Full-grown
bullfrogs, good sized ducklings, small
aquatic birds, as well as many wator
mammals, become an easy prey to its
yawning sepulcher of a mouth. Met
ropolitan Magazine.
OLE Mir MOON WITH THIM.
Ne Chance f the Visiters Ing
Homesick In the City.
Mme. Fairfax was wont to stand on
tho porch of her old Virginia home
and rejolco on moonlight nights In the
beauty, says tho Youth's Companion.
"Thero's my moon," sho would say,
as It rose from behind tho eastern
hills. "Look, Dahlia, see how beauti
ful It Is," and her tiny colorod maid,
who was over at hand with shawl or
fan for hor beloved mistress, would
answer, enthusiastically: "Your moon
cortalnly do look pow'ful handsome
to-night."
When Mme. Fairfax Journoyed to
tho city to visit her Bon, Dahlia, look
ing out of tho window with wondering
oyes on tho first evening of her life
away from homo, exclaimed, In a voico
of mlnglod astonlshmont and rellof:
"Well, I declar' to goodness, If olo
Mis' Moon nln't dono como along to
Washington wlf mo an olo mis'! Wo
can't bo homesick nohow, wif ole Mis'
Moon Bhlnlng on us."
Laundry work at home would be
much moro satisfactory if tho right
Starch were used. In ordor to get the
desired stiffness, It is usually noces
sary to uso so much starch that tho
beauty and flnenoBS of the fabric la
hidden bohlnd a paste of varying
thickness, which not only destroys tho
appearance, but also affects tho wear
Ing quality of tho goods. Thla trou
bio can bo entirely ovorcomo by using
Doflanco Starch, as it can be applied'
much moro thinly because of Its great
r strength than other makes.
The Leisure Class.
"Does youah leisuro clawss in this
country follow tho hounds at all, Miss
Pepproy?" nskod tho visiting British
nobleman.
"No," replied Miss Peppery, "the
hounds usually follow tho lolsure class
hero. Wo always try to keep the
hoboes on tho move."
Important to Mothers.
Examlno carefully ovory bottlo ot
CASTORIA a safo and suro remedy for
infants and children, and see that it
8lgnrurolofC"
In Uso For Over 30 Years.
Tho Kind You Havo Always Bought.
Tho next best thing to knowing how
to got n thing Is knowing how to get
along without it.
Lewis' Single Binder utrnicht 5c cipr is
good quality all tliu time. Your dealer or
Lewis' Factory, Peoria, 111.
You can't flatter an honest man by
telling him that ho Is honest.
Mrs. Wlnilowr'n Soothing Syrup.
Kor children tuothliiK, softunH tlio mimB, reduce In
llammallou, alluyi pain, euros wind cullu. aso a bottlo,
A man Isn't necessarily a wood saw
yer becauso ho says nothing.
ir oiir Ft Avhu or Hunt
Rot ft 25o imckiiKO of AIIuii'h KooUKiibu. It kIvoh
quick relief. Two million pai-kuh'ua sold yearly.
It isn't a sccrot if a woman hesi
tates In the telling of it.
This woman fyf the was saved
from an operation by Lydia E.
Plnkham's Vegetable Compound.
Lena V. Henry, of Norristown, Ga.,
writes to Mrs. rinkham:
" I suffered untold misery from fe
male troubles. My doctor said an opera
tion was tho only chanco I had, and I
dreaded it almost as much an death.
"Ono day 1 read how other women
had been cured by Lydia E. Pinkham's
Vegetable Compound, and I decided to
try it. Before I had taken the first
bottle I was better, and now I am en
tirely cured.
Every woman suffering with any
female troublo should take Lydia E.
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound."
FACTS FOR SICK WOMEN.
For thirty years Lydia E. Pink
ham's Vegetable Compound, made
from roots and herbs, has been the
standard remedy for female ills,
and has positively cured thousand sot
women who havo been troubled with
displacements, inflammation, ulcera
tion, fibroid tumors, irregularities,
periodic pains, backache, that bearing-down
feeling, flatulency, indiges
tion, dizziness or nervous prostration.
Why don't you try it ?
Mrs. Pinkliam invites nil sick
women to write her for advice.
Sho has guided thousands to
health. Address, Lynn, Mass
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