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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (March 31, 1910)
I ANGEL ESQUIRE j BY EDGAR WALLACE 1 ■ - ■ CHAPTER IV—(Continued.) Jimmy saw the girl was on the verge of a breakdown. "I am going to take you home,” he gald, and added whimsically, "and tan not but feel that you have under rated your opportunities. Not often will you see gathered together so splen jfcl a collection of our profusion." He >aved his hand In Introduction. “Bat fands. Miss Kent, a most lowly thief, possibly worse. George Collroy, coiner and a ferocious villain. Vennls, who follows the lowest of all grades of dis honest livelihood—blackmailer. Here," Jimmy went on, as he stepped aside from the cupboard, “is the gem of the collection. I will show you our friend who so coyly effected himself.” He addressed the occupant of the cup board. "Come out, Goyle," he said sharply. There was no response. Jimmy pointed to one of the ruffians In the room. "Open that door,” he commanded. The man slunk forward and pulled the door open. "Come out. Goyle," he growled, then stepped back with blank astonishment stamper upon his face. "Why—why,” he gasped, "there’s nobody there!” With a cry. Jimmy sturted forward. One glance convinced him that the man spoke the truth, and then There were keen wits in that crowd— men used to cries and quick to act. Bat Sands saw Jlmmyy's attention di verted for a moment, and Jimmy's pis tol hand momentarily lowered. To think with Bat Sands was to act. Jim my, turning back upon the "Lot," saw the life preserver descending, and lept on one side; then, as he recovered, somebody threw a coat at the lamp, and the room was In darkness. Jimmy reached out his hand and caught the girl by the arm. "Into that cupboard," he whispered, pushing her Into the recess from which Goyle had so mysteriously vanished. Then, with one hand on the edge of the door, he groped around with his pistol for his assailants. He could hear their breath ing and the creak of the floor boards as they came toward him. He crouched down by the door, judging that the "kosh" would be aimed In a line with his head. By and by he heard the •wlBh of the descending stick, and “crash!" the preserver struck the wall above him. He was confronted with a difficulty; to fire would be to Invite trouble. He had no desire to attract the attention of the police for many reasons. Unless the life of the girl was in danger he resolved to hold his fire, and when Ike Josephs, feeling cautlonoly forward ■with his stick, blundered Into Jimmy, Ike suddenly dropped to the floor with out a cry, because he had been hit a fairly vicious blow In that portion of the anatom- which is dignified with the title "solar plexus." It was Just after this that he heard a startled little cry from the girl be hind' him, and then a voice that sent his heart Into his mouth. "All right! All right! All right!” There was only one man who used that tag. and Jimmy's heart rose up to bless his name in thankfulness. "This way, Miss Kent," said the voice, "mind the little step. Don't be afraid of the gentleman on the floor, he's handcuffed and strapped and gag ged, and is perfectly harmless." Jimmy chuckled. The mystery of Angel’s Intimate knowledge of the "Lot’s" plans and of Connor’s move ments, the disappearance of Goyle, were all explained. He did not know for certain that the occupant of the "empty" house next door had Indus triously cut through the thin party walls that separated the two houses, and had rigged up a "back” to the cup board that was really a door, but he jguessed It. Then a blinding ray of light shot unto the room where the "Borough ‘.Lot" still groped for its enemy, and « gentle voice said— "Gentlemen, you mi ;e your choice which way you go—out by the front door, where my friend, Inspector Coll yor. with quite a large number of men. Is waiting; or by the back door, where fiergeant Murtle and exactly seven plain clothes men are impatiently ex pecting you.” Bat recognized the voice. "Angel Esquire!” he cried In con sternation. From the darkness behind the daz zling electric lamp that threw a nar row lane of light into the apartment came an amused chuckle "Whnt Is It," asked Angel’s persua sive voice, "a cop?" "It’s a fair cop,” said Bat truthfully. /! CHAPTER V. f r THE CRYPTOGRAM. Mr. Speddtng looked at his watch. Hi' stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit. High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier. He placed before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor i ■was criss-crossed with the shadows of ; the steel framework that encased It. ■ But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished. Mr Spedulng walked up and down, »nd his footsteps rang hollow; when he t oke the misty snace of the building raught up his voice and sent down droning echoes. “There is only the lady to come," he sail, looking at his watch again. He spoke to the two men who sat at cither extreme of the crescent of chairs. The one was Jimmy, a brood lngi thoughtful figure; the other was Connor, 111 at ease and subdued. Be hind the chairs, at some distance, stood two men who looked like artisans, as Indeed they were; at their feet lay a bag of tools, and on a small board a heap that looked like sand. At the door a stolM-looklng commissionaire waited, his breast glittering with medals. Footsteps sounded In the vestibule, the rustle of a woman’s dress, and Kathleen Kent entered, closely followed by Angel Esquire. At him the lawyer looked questloningly as he walked for wi rd to greet the girl. "Mr. Angel has kindly offered me his help.” she said timidly—then, recog nizing Connor, her face flushed—“and If necessary, his protection." Mr Speddlng bowed. "I hope you will not find this part of tve ceremony trying," he said In n low voice, and led the girl to a chair. Then he made a signal to the commission aire, "What Is going to happen?" Kathleen whispered to her companion, and An gt 1 shook his head. "I cm only guess,” he replied In the sene’tone. He was looklig up at the great safe wherein he knew was stored the wealth of the dead gambler, and wondering at the freakish Ingenuity that planned and foresaw this strange scene. The creak of footsteps In the doorway made him turn his head. He saw a white-robed figure, and behind him a black-coated man In attendance, holding on a cush ion a golden casket. Then the dread, familiar words brought him to his feet with a shiver: 'I am the resurrection and the life, salth the Lord; he that belleveth In me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and belleveth in me shall never die." The clergyman’s solemn voice re sounded through the building, and the detective realized that the ashes of the dead man were coming to their last abiding place. The slow procession moved toward the silent party. Slow ly It paced toward the column; then, as the clergyman’s feet rang on the steel stairway that wound upward, he began the psalm which of all others perhaps most fitted the passing of old Reale: "Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness . . . Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness; and cleanse me from my sin . Behold, I was shapen In wickedness . . . Deliver me from bloodgulltl ness, O God . . Half way up the column a small gap yawned In the unbroken granite face, and Into this the golden cabinet was pushed; then the workman, who had formed one of the little party that wound upward, lifted a smooth cube of polished granite. "Forasmuch as It hath pleased Al ; mighty God of His great mercy to take unto Himself the soul of our dear brother here departed . . .” The mason’s trowel grated on the edges of the cavfty, the block of stone was thrust In until It was flush with the surface of the ped estal. Carved on the end of the stone were four words: Pulvls Clnls et Nihil. It was when the workmen had been dismissed, and the lawyer was at the door bidding adieu to the priest whose strange duty had been performed, that Angel crossed to where Jimmy sat. He caught Jimmy’s grim smile, and raised his eyes to where all that was mortal of Reale had been placed. "The Latin?" asked Angel. "Surprising, Isn't it?" said the other quietly. "Reale had seen things, you know. A man who travels picks up In formation." He nodded toward the epitaph. "He got that idea at Toledo,' In the cathedral there. Do you know It? A slab of brass over a deal king maker, Portocarrero, ‘Hlo Jacet pulvls clnls et nihil.' I translated It for him; the conceit pleased him. Sitting here, watching his strange funeral, I won dered If 'pulvls clnls et nihil' would come Into It." And now Speddlng came creaking back. The workmen had disappeared, the outer door was closed, and the com missionaire had retired to his room leading from the vestibule. In Sped dlng's hand was a bundle of papers. He took his place with his back to the granite pedestal and lost no time In preliminaries. "I have here the will of the late James Ryan Realo,” he began. "The contents of this will are known to every per.-on here except Miss Kent." He had a dry humor of his own, this lawyer, as his next words proved. "A week ago a very clever burglary was committed In my office; the safe was opened, a private dispatch box forced, and my papers ransacked. I must do my visi tor Justice"— he bowed slightly, first In the direction of Connor, then toward Jimmy—"and say that nothing was token and practically nothing disturbed. There was plenty of evidence that the object of the burglary was to secure a sight of this will." Jimmy was unperturbed at the scarcely-veiled charge, and If he moved it was only with the object of taking up an easier position In the chair. Not even the shocked eyes of the girl that looked appealingly toward him caused him any apparent uneasiness. "Go on," he said, as the lawyer paused as though waiting for an ad mission. He was quietly amused. He knew very well now who this consid erate burglar was. "By copying this will the burglar or burglars obtained an unfair advantage over the other legatee or legatees.” The stiff paper cracked noisily as he unfolded the document in his hand. "I will formally read the will ana afterwards explain It to such of you as need the explanation,” Speddlng re sumed. The girl listened as the lawyer began to read. Confused by the legal term inology, the endless repetitions, and the chaotic verbiage of the Instrument, she yet realized as the reading went on thnt this last will and testament of old Reale was something extraordin ary. There was mention of houses and estates, freeholds and ljonds . "... and all the residue of any property whatsoever and wheresoever absolutely" that went to somebody. To whom she could not gather. Once she thought It was to herself, "to Fran cis Corydon Kent, Esquire, or the heirs of his body;" once It sounded as though his huge fortune was to be Inherited by "James Cavendish Fairfax Stan nurd, Baronet of the United Kingdom.” She wondered If this was Jimmy, and remembered In a vogue way that she had heard that the ninth baronet of that name was a person of questionable character, Then again it seemed as If the legatee was to be "Patrick George Connor." There was u doggerel verse In the will that the lawyer gabbled through, and something about the groat safe, then the lawyer came to an end. In the conventional dec laration of the witnesses lay a sting that sent a dull red flush to Connor's cheek und again provoked ; Jimmy's grim smile. | The lawyer read: i Signed by the above James Ryan Reals ns Ills last will and testament ; (the word 'thief after 'James Caven dish Fairfax Stannard. Baronet of the | United KIngdo.m.’ and the word 'thief' after ‘Patrick George Connor,’ In the i 20th and 23d lines from the top here of, having been deleted). In the pres ; once of us . . j The lawyer folded the will perverse j 'y arid put It In his pocket. Then he , took four slips of paper from an en : velope. i “H Is quite clear to you gentlemen " | He did not wait for the men’s reply, i but went on addressing the bewlld . ered girl. •‘To you, Miss Kent, I am afraid the will is not so clear. I will explain It in a few words. My late client was the owner of a gambling establishment. Thus he amassed a huge fortune, j which he has left to form. If I may j so put It, a large prize fund. The , competitors are yourselves. Frankly, i it is a competition between the dupes, or the heirs of the dupes, who were ruined by my late client, and the men who helped In the fleecing." The lawyer spoke dispassionately, as though expounding some hypothe i sis, but there was that In his tone which made Connor wince. “Tour father, my dear young lady, was one of these dupes many years ago—you must have been at school at ' the time. He became suddenly a poor ; man.” The girl's face grew hard. “So that was how It happened,” she said slowly. “That is how It happened," the law yer repeated gravely “Your father's fortune was one of four great for tunes that went Into the coffers of my late client.” The formal description of Reale seemed to lend him an air of respectability. "The other three have long since died, neither of them leaving Issue. You are the sole rep resentative of the victims. These gen tlemen are—-let us say—In opposition. This safe,” he waved his hand toward the great steel room that crowned the granite column, “contains the fortune. The safe Itself Is the invention of my late client. Where the lock should be are six dials, on each of which are the letters of the alphabet. The dials are arranged one Inside the other, and 'on one side is a steel pointer. A word of six letters opens the safe. By turn ing the dials so that the letters come opposite the pointer, and from this word, the door Is opened.” He stopped to wipe his forehead, for In the energy of his explanation he had become hot. Then he re sumed— "What that word Is, Is for you to discover. My late client, who had a passion for acrostics and puzzles and Inventions of every kind, has left a doggerel verse which he most earn estly assured me contained the solu tion.” He handed a slip first to the girl and then to the others. For a mo ment the world swam before Kath leen's eyes. All that hinged upon that little verse came home to her Care fully conning each word, as If In fear of Its significance escaping her, she read: "Here’s a puzzle In language old. Find my meaning and get my gold. Take one Bolt—Just one, no more— Fly it on behind a Door. Place It at a river’s Mouth East or west or north or south. Take some Leaves and put them whole In some water In a Bowl. I found this puzzle In a book From which some mighty truths were took.” She read again and yet again, the others watching her. With every read ing she seemed to get further from the solution of the mystery, and she turned in despair to Angel. “I can make nothing of It,” she cried helplessly, "nothing, nothing, nothing.” , "It Is, with due respect to my late client, the veriest doggerel,” said the lawyer frankly, "and yet upon that the Inheritance of the whole of his for tune depends.” He had noticed that neither Connor nor Jimmy had read the slips he had handed to them. “The paper I have given you Is a facsimile reproduction of the original copy, and that may be Inspected at any time at my office.” The girl was scanning the rhyme In an agony of perplexity. “I shall never do It,” she said in despair. Angel took the paper gently from her hand. "Don’t attempt It," he said kindly. “There Is plenty of time. I do not think that either of your rival com petitors have gained anything by the advantage they have secured. I also have had in my possession a copy of the rhyme for the past week.” The girl’s eyes opened wide In as tonishment. "You?" she said. Angel’s explanation was arrested by a singular occurrence. Connor sat at one end of the row of chairs moodily eying the paper. Jimmy, thoughtfully stroking his beard at the other end, suddenly rose and walked to where his brooding con federate sat. The man shrunk back as he approached, and Jimmy, seating himself by Ills side, bent forward ana said something In a low voice. He spoke rapidly, and Angel, watching them closely, saw a look of Incred ulous surprise come Into Connor’s face. Then wrath and Incredulity min gled, and Connor sprang up, striking the back of the chair with his fist. "What?” he roared. “Give up a chance of a fortune? I’ll see you-” Jimmy's voice never rose, but he gripped Connor’s arm and pulled him down Into his chair. "I won't! I won’t! D’ye think I’m going to throw away-” Jimmy released the man’s arm and rose with a shrug of his shoulders. He walked to where Kathleen was standing. “Miss Kent," he said, and hesitated. "It Is difficult for me to say what I have to say: but I want to tell you that so far as I am concerned the for tune Is yours. I shall make no claim to It, and I will afford you every as sistance that lies In my power tq dis cover the word that Is hidden In the verse.” The girl made no reply Her Ups were set tight, and the hard look that Angel had noticed when the lawyer had referred to her father came back again. Jimmy waited a moment for her to speak, but she made no sign, and with a slight bow he walked toward the door. “Stop!” It was Kathleen that spoke, and Jimmy turned and waited. "As I understand this will," she said slowly, "you are one of the men to whom my father owed his ruin.” His eyes met hers unfalteringly. "Yes,” he said simply. (Continued Next Week.) Skylarking. From Collier's. To chat from over the clouds Is the latest device in aeroplanlng. It will be done, if it is done, by virtue of a cross between wireless and the aero plane. The signal corps of the United States army has built a set of wire less Instruments weighing less than 75 pounds. It is their fond hope that this can be riveted on aeroplanes and dirigible balloons, and that talk will then ensue from the sky cruiser and the wireless land stations. When in stalled in balloons, mica is wrapped around the sparking to prevent the ignition of the gas. It is feared that the engine of the aeroplane will drown the sputter of the wireless, but it seems feasible with the dirigible balr loon. It is claimed by the Cologne "Ga zette" that Germany owns all the suc cessful systems of airships. The re cent Cologne maneuvers showed a combination of balloon and aeroplane which will apparently make a good war cruiser. The great height reached by the airships in the Cologne tests showed the possibility of climbing out of accurate gunfire. The Tunnel Through the Andes. The recent completion of the 10,000 foot tunnel which cuts its way through the Andes and connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by railroad pro vides an unbroken line between Buenos Ayres on one edge of the continent and Valparaiso at the other. The March number of Popular Mechanics contains a fine illustration showing a mouth of the tunnel and the sur roundings, Women are not afraid of burglars, for the reason that it relieves them from blame for going through thel) husbands' pockets. AND SHE NEVER TOOK \ ANOTHER SOUVENIR i Mr. Nevin’s Niece Was a Hotel Klep tomaniao Till She Met the Third Degree in Masquerade—She’s a "Puffick Angel” Now. From the Kansas City Star. It was alter 8 o’clock and the throng In the hotel lobby had begun to thin out, theater-bound, most of them, when a waiter hastily slipped a card Into the proprietor’s broad, fat hand, ’’Mr. Nevins asked me to hand this to you, sah.’’ The proprietor regarded the waiter with an air of disapproval. It was a way he had with his employes, and It passed for wisdom. ‘‘What Nevins? Not Charles H. Nev ins, the lawyer?” he Inquired. "Yes, sah. He’s In the dining room with a lady.” The proprietor looked at the card, and then read the scrawl upon the back: "My niece has stolen two oyster forks and a spoon—souvenir fiend—arrest us •—make It strong.—C. H. N." A look of annoyance flitted across the hotel man’s face. "It’s like old Nevins,” he muttered. “He’s a terror.” Then after a mo ment’s deliberation he turned to the waiter. "All right,” he said. “Send me the house detective." The house detective was a distinct asset to the hotel. He gave the place atmosphere. Guests rather expected an Italian room, a Dutch grill, and, per haps an art noveau cafe with a Hindoo prince In costume at the coffee urn, but a house detective they must have. He satisfies that same yearning, so long a mystery to psychologists, that does the stalwart at fashionable weddings, who watches with eagle eye lest the mem bers of the family purloin the wedding gifts. He was a big man, was the house detegtlye—burly and broad shoul dered, with the undershot Jaw and the bowed legs of the prized dogs of Bos ton. Even his most casual glance con jured In the minds of guests visions of locks and bars; his very presence seemed to shriek the word "Police” as loudly as the lettered panels of the city’s new patrol wagons. He was a ter ror to the guests, and consequently he was the proprietor’s most treasured possession. "John,” said the proprietor, tremb ling slightly In the awful presence, "you know Nevins, the lawyer?” The detective nodded. "Well, Nevins is In the dining room with his niece. She’s a souvenir get ter. Understand? And she’s taken some of our forks and spoons and things. Nevins wants to cure her.” He handed the detective the card, “There, read for yourself." The detective glanced at the note and then with a grin handed it back to his I employer. At that moment the waiter reap peared with another card. It read: “Two more spoons and a salt cellar confiscated. She must be taught a les son. Hurry or she will get the furni ture.—C. H. N.” "Better call out the militia,” re marked the proprietor, handing the second note over. “We’ve got to put a stop to this thing,” he added, serious ly, "and we might as well begin now.” “She sutlnly did clean that table,” put In the waiter. “Yes, sah, she sut lnly did." The proprietor looked at his watch. Eight-ten,” he announced. “The dining room Is about empty. You go In there and make as big a scene as Nevlns will stand for." The detective looked pleased. “Leave It to me," he requested, cheer fully. The big man had reached the door when a sudden thought came to his employer. "Walt!" he called. "Bring them In here, and we'll give them the third degree.” "Of course, I’ve Just begun, Uncle Charley." gurgled the girl. “But you ought to see Clara's collection. Her uncle looked at her sourly. “I should like to," he said. “My goodness, Clara’s Is the finest I ever saw. Just perfectly lovely. Spoons from the Waldorf, forks from Sherry's, pepper shakers from the Annex and the dearest little butter dish from the Hol land house, with the monogram on it, you know, and no end of dining car stuff." “Did you ever go In for bath towels?" Inquired Nevlns. "Why, no. How odd!—I never thought of It.” “Most collectors do." "1 don't believe I’d care for bath towels," she said, thoughtfully. "They would be so hard to show.” Nevlns’ Up curled cynically. “I made quite a haul the other night," he said, “at the Odell’s bridge party— two fruit knives and a salad fork.” "Not at the Odell's! she exclaimed, horrified. "Sure,” he snapped. “Why not? I get mine wherever I can.” "I don’t know whether or not that would be exactly right,” she commented slowly—"at a friend's house." “What’s the difference?” her uncle demanded. “Well-” She stopped and pon dered. The difference was not quite clear and she was plainly annoyed. "Now, Uncle Charley, you are forever getting me into an argument. I refuse to be trapped. Instead, you kindly slip that salad plate under your coat. If I had my muff here I wouldn't bother you." For an Instant Nevlns' eyes wander ed about the room, and then with a deft movement he slid the plate under his coat. As he did so a heavy, square jawed man stepped forward and touch ed him on the shoulder. “You are both wanted at the office,’’ he said. The girl flushed, but her uncle re mained lmperturbed. “I think you are mistaken," he said colc’ly. “We have no business at the office." Now look here," growled the big man, “don’t come none of that on me. You come on along or you’ll be drag ged.” "Who are you?" demanded Nevlns, with a show of anger. For an answer the big man drew back his coat and exposed a star. "Oh-h!” ejaculated the girl. Her uncle sank down Into his chair. "I guess we’ll have to go,” he said weakly. “I’ll do the best I can to square it." They rose, the girl clutching her uncle’s arm, and followed the detective out of the room, through the long corridor and Into the private office. The proprietor was at his desk when they entered, and he was struck at the look of Indignation on the girl’s face. Her confidence had returned and her emotion was that of merely outraged dignity. “A couple of swell crooks,” announc ed the detective, by way of Introduc tion. The proprietor adjusted his glasses and transfixed the pair with a long, cold stare. For several minutes nothing was said, and then It was the detective who broke the silence. “Sit down, both of you!" he shouted with a sudden ferocity. They dropped Into chairs as though the floor had given away beneath them. "Tell them who you are, Uncle Char ley,” gasped the girl. “This Is out rageous!” “My name,” said Nevlns, "Is John T. Smithers; and you will suffer dearly for this.” The big man turned to his employer. “Good, ain’t he?" he scoffed. "Smith ers! Smithers! That’s good, that Is.” “Why, Uncle Charley-” "Hush!” hissed the uncle In her ear. “I can’t tell them my real name. Think of the scandal!” “Smithers! I call that mighty good,” repeated the detective. And then with a bound he crossed the room, stood over his prisoner, and stared him sav agely in the face. "You’ve never answered to the name of Fosdlck, have you?” he bellowed. “Phoney Fosdlck?" The wretched man shook his head. “This man Fosdlck," began the detec tive, In a ‘show-up’ tone of voice, “did time In Columbus, Ohio, in ’88, for petit larceny; In Joliet In ’92 for porch climb ing; in Leavenworth in ’96 for hog stealing and in Jefferson City In ’99 for bigamy." The girl paled. "It’s false!” she cried. The proprietor scrutinized the culprit carefully. “I believe he’s the fellow that stole the ring out of 427,” he said. “He Is,” corroborated the detective. “Also he copped the curtains out of 513, and likewise the electric light bulbs out of 752." "And who is the woman?” asked the proprietor. “I’ll Just read you her history,” re plied the big man, producing a certain pink tinted, weekly sporting paper which he had snatched from the un willing hands of the barber shop porter but a moment before. “She’s known from coast to coast as ‘Innocent Irene,’ and her specialty is hotel silver. Here’s her picture,” and the detective held up a blank page before the eyes of the man at the desk. "The resemblance Is striking. Yes It Is she," agreed the proprietor. “It Is a falsehood!” protested the girl. “It Is absolutely untrue!” The detective picked the hand bag from off her lap, and opening It, drew forth three spoons, two forks and a salt cellar. At the same time a salad plate fell from underneath her accomplice’s coat and smashed to fragments upon the marble floor. The evidence was damning, Indeed, and the girl collapsed and buried her face in her hands. “I did take them,” she confessed, “but —but only for souvenirs." Her distress was genuine; It was more than they had bargained for. The proprietor grinned sheepishly, while the detective tugged at his mustache in an endeavor to hide his confusion. Nevlns alone was unmoved. They watched her silently for awhile, each waiting for the other to relieve the situation. From the orchestra at the far end of the lobby came the lugu brious strains of the Flower Song, and then it was that the proprietor became possessed of a sudden idiocy: He would end the scene with a touch of humor— show her somehow, that It was all a farce. So pitching his voice four octaves below middle C, and getting into step with the music, he began: “I once had a little glrul—and had she have lived—she would have been a-b-o-u-t your o-w-n... .age.” “Nix, boss," whispered the detective. “Cut out that Silver King talk—or she’ll tumble, and besides you haven’t got the make-up—you’re bald-headed. And, anyway” he added enigmatically, “she’s cryln’ enoueh now.” The girl was sobbing softly and Nev lns, with a sardonic smile, rose to his feet. “Mr. Proprietor," he said, pulling out the tremolo stop that had served him so well in many a hard-fought Jury case, “we did take the spoons, but only, only, my dear sir, for souvenirs. Put me in prison If you must, but spare this innocent girl, for I alone am guilty. Sitting alone tonight by the fireside back at the old homestead is an aged mother patiently watting for the return of her only daughter-” The detective waved and shook his head frantically, so the lawyer inhaled his statement wRh: “Of course, I was«speaking figura tively, in an effort, my dear sir, to conceal this young woman’s identity. If facts you must have, I will tell you that the old homestead is a modern flat; that the fireside is a gas grate; and that her mother is not aged. But these thintrs have nothing to do with my plea. I am asking you. begging you to give us one more chance—one more. Can’t you let us go—this time?” “Yes, in heaven’s name do,” pleaded the girl, looking up with tear-stained face. The proprietor pondered gravely. “I will,” he said at last, "upon one condition-” “And that is?” they asked in a breath. "And that is that you never, never take any more souvenirs.” "We never will,” promised the girl, thankfully. As they left the room Nevlns tarried a moment by the door. “I believe she’s cured,” he whis pered. “She certainly is,” said the proprie tor. UNPOPULAR QUEEN OF ITALY. “Queen Elena of Italy," says Kellogg Durland In Woman’s Home Compan ion, “Is one of the most unpopular queens In Europe. Her court, which, to meet the tastes of her people, should be bright, popular, brilliant, Is rer"y the dullest, the most stupid in the west ern world. I have lived in many coun tries, and I nm more or less familiar with all the courts of Europe, but never have I heard a queen so univer sally spoken of with disrespect and dis approval by her own court. Queen Elena, In an American phrase, ’plays to the galleries,’ then retires. She gar ners the wheat and Ignores the chaff. She Is quick to figure In dramatic ex ; lolts, but reluctant to submit to the daily grind. "Rightly or wrongly, Queen Elena nas the reputation among her own peo p! for being the stingiest queen In Europe. Apparently this is true. She patronizes almost nothing at all regu larly, and If once In a while she lends her name to appear on a public bill, it usually means this and nothing more. As far as is known, she gives less to charity, in proportion to her means, than any queen. If the world at large appreciated to what extent she has car ried her ide"s of simplicity <n dress, the glamour that surrounds her would fade. It is impossible to worship a dowd—especially if she be a queen, with all the splendor and taste of the world at her hand. "I have seen her driving in the Cam pagna, or even through the streets of Rome, when I would never have be lieved her the occupant of her exalted position had I not known her. One need no£ be extravagant in clothes to be tasteful, but Queen Elena is not even tasteful. Here she Is in unfor tunate contrast to the queen-mother who, still living in Rome, is always ex quisitely gowned, and no matter how simply always with unerring taste.” About the only argument against the term "sisterhood of states" is that th» states do not usually quarrel. .. . —“■« Bookshop Errors. From Book News Monthly. In a suburban bookshop the othei > day a woman sought a copy of "The Servant In the House," Charles Rann Kennedy’s morality play. "No, mad am," declared the clerk, “we haven’t ‘The Servant in the House,’ but wo have 'The Woman's Helper,' a most ex cellent cook book.” Quite in line with this was a recent reference In print to "Lost Borders,” Mary Austin's story of the far west, which the Harpers recent ly published, as Mary Austin’s “Lost Boarders.” State of Ohio, City of Toledo, Lucas Coun ty, ss.: Frank J. Cheney makes oath that he Is senior partner of the firm ef F. J. Cheney A Co., doing business In the City of Toledo, County and State aforesaid, and that said Arm will pay the sum of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for each and every case of Ca tarrh that cannot be cured by the use of Hall's Catarrh Cure. FRANK J. CHENEY. Sworn to before me and subscribed In my presence, this 6th day of December, A. D. 1886. A. W. GLEASON, (Seal.) Notary Public. Hall’s Catarrh Cure Is taken Internally, and acts directly on the blood and mucous surfsces of the system. Send for testimo nials free. F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O. Sold by all Druggist*. 75c. Take Hall’s Family Pills for constipation. Choice, Not what we have, but what we use, Not what we see, but what we choose: These are the things that mar, or bless. The sum of human happiness. The thing nearby, not that afar Not what we seem, but what we are; These are the things that make or break; 4 That give the heart Its joy or ache. Not what seems fair, but what is true; Not what we dream, but good we do; These are the things that snlne like gems; Like stars In fortune s diadems. Not as we take, but as we give, Not as we pray, but as we live; These are the things that make for peace, Both now and after time shall cease. —The Outlook. Out of Sight. From the Denver Post. "Yes.” said a traveling man last night, “ was once out of sight of land on the Aalantlc ocean 21 days.” There was a small sized crowd sit ting around. Another man spoke up. "On the Pacific ocean one time I didn’t see land for 29 days,” he said. A little bald headed man knocked the ashes from his cigar. "I started across the Kaw river at Topeka In a skiff once,” he said, "and was out of sight of land before I reached the otherside.” “Aw, come oft,” said the man who had told the first tale. "The Kaw isn’t more than 300 feet wide at Topeka.” "X didn't say it was,” said the little bald headed man quietly. "The skiff turned over and I sank twice.” If You Are a Trifle 9ewsHfve About the size of your shoes, many peo ple wear smaller shoes by using Allen’a Foot-Ease, the Antiseptic Powder to shake into the shoes. It cures Tired. Swollen, Aching Feet and gives rest and comfort. Just the thing for breaking in new shoes. Sold everywhere. 25c. Sam ple sent FREE. Address, Allen S. Olm sted. Le Roy. N. Y. """"The Doctor’s Slip. From the Circle Magazine. Not long ago a major of a Philip pine regiment returned to San Fran cisco after an absence of several years. His sluggish liver needed touching up, and so he went to a fa- ^ mous physician for advice, and paid his advance charge. “Major,” said the doctor, “you are In a serious condition, but I think we can pull you through. You must purchase a tub 4 feet wide and 2 deep-. Then you must fill It with tepid water.” “Not boiling, doctor?” “No, merely tepid. Then you must stand in it and with a sponge moisten your body. Having done this you must apply some saponaceous matter.” “Won’t plain, yellow soap do?” asked the patient. “Yes,” said the doctor. “Having thor oughly scoured yourself, you must dry off with a rough towel.” “Why, doctor! this is awfully like a bath,” exclaimed the veteran. “Well, it is open to that objection,” replied the famous physician, "but I feel, sir that you need It." -■ p ■ Pettit’s Eye Salve too Years Old* relieves tired eyes, quickly cures eya aches, Inflamed, sore, watery or ulcer ated eyes. All druggists or Howard Bros., Buffalo, N. Y. So Kind. From Punch. Coalman (who has been summoned from the street to a flat on the tenth story—no lift)—How many hundred weight did you say, Mum? Lady (sweetly)—Ohi I don’t want any coal! I was only telling my little girl that if she kept on being naughty you’d take her away in your big black bag; but she’s behaving better now, thank you very much.—Puck. For Rent—Well improved stock and grain farm at Everly, la., 180 acres blue grass hill pasture with shade, 1 mile S. E. of Kennebec. Ia., for rent or will take stock to pasture by the month or season. J. Mulhall, Sioux Cityy Ia. If a man could only borrow money without borrowing trouble It wouldn't be so bad. A-B-C LI.VIMISXT relieves cold In the chest, neuralgia, and lackache. Apply as directed. All dealer* Many a man has discharged his ste nographer because he could not tell her how to spell a word. DON’T NEGLECT THAT COUGH It certainly racks your system and may rnn Into something serious. Allan's Lung Raliiim will check It quickly and permsVnr sals at all druggist* The listener may know twice as much about the subject as the one who commits the voluble offense. BROWN'S^ Bronchial Troches A preparation of superior merit for relieving Coughs, Hoarseness and Irritation of throat; of great benefit in Lung Troubles, Bronchitis and Asthma* Free from opiates or any harmful ingredient. Pries, 25 cents, 50 certs and $1.00 per hoy. Sample mailed on request. *