( THE MARK OF CAIN )
Copyright, 1917, hr J- B. Upptncott Co.
“And not a bad philosophy,
my dear. Now tell me of your
self. You are well—and happy?
I mean until this tragedy came.”
“Yes, Kane, I’ve had a happy
home here with Uncle. I liked it
better before Eleanor Black
came, but Uncle wanted a house
keeper, and she applied for the
position and he took her. That
was about a year or more ago,
and Kane, what do you think?
They were engaged to be
married 1”
“Yes, so I learned at the in
quest. Don’t you like her?
“I don’t know; I suppose so.
But sometimes, I think I don t
t^ust her.”
“Don’t trust anybody, my dear
Aviee. That's the safest and
sanest plan.”
“Have you become a cynic?
You talk like one.”
“Don't you want me to be
one?”
“Surely not. I hate cynic
ism.”
“Then I won’t be one. For
the only wish I have in life is to
please you.” Landon’s voice fell
lower, and glancing about to
make sure there was no one in
hearing, he went on, “All these
years, Aviee, I’ve been loving you
more and more. I’ve been striv
ing to make a name and a for
tune worthy of you. And I came
home to further that purpose,
and to see if there’s any hope
for me. Is there, dear?”
un, wane, don t iuik nice
that now. Why, just think,
Uncle-•”
‘‘1 know it, little girl. Uncle
isn’t yet buried. But when 1
saw you this morning, for the
first time in so long, and when I
saw how beautiful you have
grown, I couldn’t wait to tell you
of my love and hopes. Tell me
1 may hope,—tell me that,
Avice.”
‘‘1 don’t know, Kane. You be
wilder me. I never dreamed of
this-■”
‘‘What, Avice! Never dreamed
of it? Never even dreamed that
I 'oved you—that you could—■
some day, love met”
Avice blushed and looked
dow m Perhaps she had dreamed
-—just dreamed of such a thing.
“Don’t ask me about it now,
Dane,” she said, firmly. ‘‘I’m
a.l nervous and unstrung. These
awful excitements following one
another 60 fast and furious. Oh,
I shall break down.” The tears
enrne, hut Landon said lightly.
“No, you won’t, girlie, it’s all
right. I’m here now to look after
you. But you’re right. I
mustn’t tease you now,—why,
I’m hack at my old teasing
tricks, ain’t I?”
His strong, frank voice quieted
Avice, and she looked up at him
as Judge Hoyt entered he room.
“Well, Mr. Landon,” he said,
“I congratulae you on an escape
from a mighty unpleasant pi-e
dicament. Things looked dark
for a few moments hack there.
But it all earae out right. Queer
coincidence, wasn’t it?”
It was all of that., Judge
Hoyt. And it was probably more
dangerous to—to my peace of
mind than I realized at the time.
I was pretty much bewildered at
the attack, I can tell you. You
Bee, that was all true about my
call on my uncle, and it looked a
little plausible, l suppose.”
‘' H’m, yes. And are you stay
ing east for a time?”
“Forever, 1 hope. I’ve had
enough of the wild and woolly.”
“Mr. Landon will stay here
with us,” said Avice, decidedly.
“I invite him for an indefinite
stay.”
“I hope you’ll accept,” ob
served Hoyt. “I’d be glad",
Avice, for you to have a man in
the house. There’ll be more or
less unpleasant publicity after
this and, until it blows over, Mr,
Landon can probably save you
from tiresome interviews with
reporters, if nothing more.”
“Of course, I can do that.
Shall you want to remain in this
house Avice, after the estate is
settled ? ’ ’
“I don’t know yet. Don’t let’s
talk about that now, Kane.”
“All right. What do you
make of that crazy telephony
message attributed to me, Judge
Hoyt?”
“Why, Mr. Landon, if you
don’ mind, I'll not answer that
question.”
“But I do mind. I want you
to answer it.”
“Want me to answer it honest
ly?”
“Honestly, certainly.”
s
“Then, sir, I think it was you
who telephoned.”
“Oh, you do? And I said that
somebody had set a trap for my
uncle? And I said I would give
him Frangipanni, or whatever it
was? And I said I’d send him to
the Caribbean sea?”
“You asked me what I
thought. You have it. Yes, I
think you said these things, but
I think they were some jests be
tween your uncle and yourself
that were perfectly intelligible
to you two. I have no reason to
think you were angry at your
uncle. Disappointed, doubtless,
in not getting the loan you asked
for, but still quite ready to for
give and forget. Now, honest,
am I not right?”
Kane Landon had a curious
look in his eyes. “ You’re a good
guesser,” he said, a little shortly,
“but you liavn’t guessed right
thin time. ”
“Then I beg your pardon, but
1 still believe whoever telephoned
that farrago of nonsense, had no
intent but pleasantry of some
sort.”
Eleanor Black came bustling
in. She looked strikingly beau
tiful in her black gown. Not
what is technically known as
“mourning,” but softly draped
folds of dull, lusterless silk, that
threw into higher relief her clear
olive complexion and shining
black eyes.
A family conclave? she
said, lightly. “May I join? But
first may I not have Mr. Landon
duly presented to me?”
“Oh, surely, you’ve never
really met, have you?” said
Aviee. “Mrs. Black, this is my
cousin, or the same as cousin,
for he’s Uncle Rowly’s nephew.
Kane, my very good friend, Mrs.
Black.”
The two bowed, rather formal
ly, and Mrs. Black murmured
some conventional phrases, to
which Landon responded court
eously.
Judge Hoyt took the occasion
to draw Aviee outside the hall. -
“Let them get acquainted,” he
said, “and suppose you pay some
slight, attention to me. You’ve
had eyes and ears for no one but
that cousin ever since you first
saw him this morning. And now
you’re asking him to live here!”
“But you expressed approval
of that!” and Aviee looked sur
prised at his tone.
“How could I do otherwise at
the time? But I don’t approve
of it, I can tell you, unless, Aviee,
dearest, unless you will let us
announce our engagement at
once. I mean after your uncle is
buried, of course.”
“Announce our engage
ment! You must be crazy. I’ve
never said I’d marry you.”
“But you’ve never said you
wouldn’t. And you are going to.
But. all I ask just now, is that
you’ll assure me you’re not in
love with this Loehinvar who
has so unexpectedly come out of
the West.”
“Of course, I m not!” But
the emphasis was a little too
strong and the check that turned
away from him, a little too
quickly flushed, to give the
words a ring of sincerity.
However, it seemed to satisfy
Judge IToyi. “Of course, you’re
not, ’ ’ he echoed. ‘ ‘ I only wanted
to hear you say it. And remem
ber, my girl, you have said it.
Ami soon, as soon as you will
let me, we will talk this over,
but not now. Truly, dear, I don't
want to intrude, but you know,
Avice, you must know how I
lovo you.”
With a little gasping sigh
Avice drew away the hand Hoyt
had taken in his own, and ran
back into the library.
She found Landon and Eleanor
Black in a close conversation
that seemed too earnest for peo
ple just introduced.
“Very well,” Eleanor was say
ing, “let it be that way then.
I’ll give it to you this very after
noon. But I am not sure I ap
prove,—” and then, as she heard
Avice enter, she continued, ‘.‘of
—of Western life myself.”
The artifice was not altogether
successful. Avice’s quick ears
detected the sudden change of
inflection of the voice, and the
slight involuntary hesitation.
But she ignored it and responded
pleasantly to their next casual
remarks.
CHAPTER IX.
A Clause in the Will.
The funeral «e remonies of
Rowland Trowbridge were of the
dignity and grandeur that are
deemed necessary for a man of
his station in life. Great men
of the financial world, scholars
and statesmen had all come to
pay their last respects to the
one so suddenly taken from his
busy and forceful career.
And now, the obsequies over,
a group of people were gathered
in the library of the Trowbridge
home to hear the reading of the
will.
There was a hush of expec
tancy as Judge Hoyt produced
and read aloud the document.
As has already been disclosed
there was a bequest of $50,000
to Kane Landon. The house and
furniture were given unreserved
ly to Eleanor Black, with $50,000
in addition. There were bequests
of $1,000 each to Miss Wilkinson
and to Terence McGuire, both
favorites with their employer.
Also a similar sum to Stryker,
the butler, and various smaller
sums to other servants and to
a few charities.
And then came the disposition
of the residuary fortune, which,
it was rumored, ran well up into
the millions.
In the words of the will it was
set forth that all moneys and
properties, not otherwise desig
nated, were bequeathed to Avice
Trowbridge, on the conditions
that “she shall keep my collec
tion of Natural History Speci
mens intact, and, within a year
duly present it to some worthy
museum; and herself become the
wife of Leslie Hoyt. Also, she
must add to said collection not
less than 25 specimens of cer
tain value every year. If these
conditions are not fulfilled, my
niece, Avice, inherits but $50,
000 of my fortune, and the resi
due must form a trust fund, un
der the supervision of Leslie
Hoyt, to be used to found and
endow a museum of Natural His
tory.”
With the exception of Hoyt
and Avicc, every one present
looked astounded at the terms of
the will. And yet it was not sur
prising that Mr. Trowbridge de
sired the union of his niece and
his friend. Besides beiug the
lawyer of the dead man, Hoyt
had been his intimate friend and
companion for years, and Hoyt’s
regard for Avice was no secret.
Moreover, the girl had always
looked on the lawyer with friend
ly eyes, and it had been assumed’
by many that they were destined
for each other. To be sure,
Avice was only 20, and Leslie
Iloyt was 45. But he was a man
who seemed 10 years younger
than he was, and Avice was ma
ture for her years. So, while
it was a surprise that their union
had been made a condition of the
bequest, it was not thought by
any one that this fact would be
objectionable to either of the two
concerned.
But Avice looked grave, and
an obstinate expression came
into her eyes. Hoyt saw this,
and smiled a little as he remem
bered her aversion to being made
to do a thing, even though she
fully intended to do it. It was
the girl’s nature to chafe at au
thority, and Iloyt well knew he
would have to give her free rein
in many matters. Of course,
having drawn up the will, he had
known of this condition, but this
was the first time he had had
opportunity to note how it af
fected Avice. And it was quite
plain that she was displeased.
“Then,” she burst out,” does
my inheritance depend on my
marriage to Judge Iloyt?”
“Ves,” answered Hoyt, him
self, smiling at her.
“Then l refuse it! I will not
be told whom I shall marry!”
“Let us not discuss that now,”
said Iloyt, gently; “there is time
enough for you to decide that
later.”
Avice realized that this was
not the time or place for such a
discussed, and said no more.
Mrs. Black was dissatisfied.
Although she had a handsome in
herilanee, she well knew that this
will had been made before her
betrothal to Rowland Trow
bridge, and had he lived to marry
her, she would have had much
more. Indeed, the only person
who seemed satisfied was Kane
Laiulou. He looked serenely
pleased, and began to make in
quiries as to how soon he could
have his share in cash.
Judge Hoyt looked at him, as
if incredulous that any one coidd
be so mercenary, and rising, went
over to sit beside him and dis
cuss the matter. On his way,
Hoyt passed by the boy, Fibsy,
and patting- his shoulder, re
marked genially, “I’m glad you
were remembered, sonny. When
you want to invest your money,
let. me advise you.”
Pibsy glanced up at the law
yer, and with an inquiring look
on his face, he exclaimed “ Vapo- '
Cottolene!”
What this cryptic utterance
meant, no one could guess; and
no one gave it a second thought,
except Landon, who smiled at
the red-headed boy and said,
“Yes!”
As soon as she could do so,
Aviee escaped to her own room.
So this was her inheritance! A
fortune, only if she took also
a husband of her uncle’s choice!
It had come upon her so sudden
ly, that she had to reiterate to
herself that it was true.
“If I’d only known,” she
thought. “I’m sure I could have
persuaded Uncle Rowly not to do
that! I don’t blame him so
much, for I know he thought I
wanted to marry Leslie, but I
never told him I did. I suppose
he had a right to think so,—but
—that was all before Kane came
back.” And then her thoughts
wandered far away from her in
heritance, both real and personal,
and concerned themselves with
the strange man who had come
out of the West. For he was
strange. Landon had abrupt
ways and peculiar attitudes that
Avice could not altogether un-t
derstand. lie was so blunt and
breezy. That, of course, was
owing to his recent surround
ings ; then, again, he was so mas
terful and dominating, but that
he had always been. Still more,
he was incomprehensible. She
couldn’t uuderstand his curt, al
most rude manner a the time of
the inquest proceedings. To be
sure, it was enough to make a
man furious to have insinuating
questions put to him about the
murder of his uncle,—as if Kane
could have known anything of
it!—but, well, he was mysteri
ous in some ways.
And his attitude toward
Eleanor Black. They must have
me* before or they never would
have talked as absorbedly as they
had been doing when Avice came
upon them unexpectedly. And
Eleanor was another mysterious
one! She had her inheritance
now, and Avioe hoped they might
separate, never to meet again.
Well, of course, they would, for
neither had a desire to continue
living with the other. As for
Avice herself, she would go out
of that house at once. But
where? That must soon be de
cided. Then, like a flooding
wave, came back the memory of
her uncle’s will! She must marry
Judge Hoyt or lose her fortune.
She would have some money, to
be sure, but the interest of that,
as an income would make life a
very different matter from what
it had been!
And Eleanor would have this
house,—to live in, or to sell. Idly
she speculated on this, feeling an
undercurrent of satisfaction that
the widow’s bequest had not been
even larger.
Then her thoughts reverted to
the episode of Mrs. Black’s tele
phoning so late that night, after
the death of her uncle. She re
membered she had secured the
telephone number.
“I’ve a notion to call up and
sec who it is, ’ ’ she mused. ‘ ‘ I am
going to devote myself to search
ing out the murderer, and while
I don’t, of course, dream'that
Eleanor had anything to do with
it, yet-—she is Italian,—and sup
pose she is mixed up with some
secret society—oh — well — I ’ll
have to call that number or nev
er rest. I might as well do it
now.”
Unwilling to take a chance of
“being overheard in the house,
Avice dressed for the street and
went out. She said to a maid
in the hall, “If any one asks,
say I’ve gone out for a little
breath of air.”
Glad of a walk i nthe sunshine,
she went to the nearest public
telephone booth and called the
number. She had a queer feeling
of doing wrong, but she persuad
ed herself that her motive was
a right one.
“Hello,” she heard a man’s
hearty voice say.
“Hello, she returned, thor
oughly frightened uow, but not
willing to back out. “Who is
this, please?”
‘Lindsay, Jim Lindsay; who
wants me?”
“But,—but,-” Avice was
at her wits’ end what to say,
“are you—do you know—that is,
are you a friend of Mrs. Black?
Eleanor Black?”
“Don’t kno wthe lady. Is this
Mrs. Black?”
“No; but you must know her.
She—she talked to you last Tues
day night, late—very late.”
* ‘ Tuesday night ? Oh, I wasn’t
here Tuesday night. A chum of
mine had my rooms; Landon—
Kane Landon,— ” __
(To be continued next week.)
--
Casualty company statistics show
that burglaries have Increased »—
sent. this yeet iv*»r last
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK.
Recently Dr. S. Voremoff of the Col
lege of France visited several cities in
this country speaking on means of re
storing vital energy and prolonging life.
The subject excited a good deal of in
terest because almost every person over
60 years of age and many who are
younger, are eager to know how to re
store vital energy and prolong life.
Dr. Voronofrs views have been put
Into a book entitled “Life” and I have
gone through this carefully looking for
something that the public generally
would be interested In. Voronoff quotes
Metschnikoff as saying low forms of
animals, certain of the single cell va
rieties, have eternal life or at least live
until they are killed off by other living
being.
The lower an animal in the scale of
life the longer it lives relatively. Flurous
and Buffon said that an animal should
live to an age six or seven times the
number of years required for that ani
mal’s bones to complete their growth.
The highest forms of life do not attain
this longevity; the lower worms live be
yond it. Voronoff figures that on this
batfls man should be able to reach 140
years.
In the tissues of man there are highly
developed cells which do the special
work of the different organs and lowly
developed interstitial cells which remain
on the primitive level. In old age these
low cells overgrow and kill out the high
er cells. The process of senility Is one
of return of the body to a low level, a
plane on which life might be greatly
prolonged, a condition not possible with
the rapid burning pace of younger years.
The thyroid gland is a ductless gland
with many functions, one of which Is to
restrain the development of the connect
ive tissue which overgrows and kills out
other cells. When the thyroid ages these
cells overdevelop and presently age other
organs. Since all the ductless glands are
hooked up in one combination, it would
be well to have a word or tw’o as to
each.
The parathyroids regulate the activity
of nerve cells. The suprarenal glands
maintain the tone of the blood vessels
and the distribution of the blood
throughout the system and do other
things as well. The pituitary gland is
divided into two parts. The secretion
of the front part determines whether the
body will grow fhort and small on the
one hand or into a state of giantism on
the other. The secretion of the back
part stimulates the production of milk
and of urine and governs the muscles of
'the organs.
WThen the pineal gland of a youth Is
diseased the changes of puberty and
adolescence do not work out in the usual
way. The gonads or sex glands in addi
tion to propagating the species produce
an internal secretion absorbed directly
Into the blood which profoundly affects
not only the other ductless glands, but
all other tissues of the body.
When through senility the brain has
tost some of its power, the spirit some
»f its vigor, and the skin and other tis-'
lues have undergone changes which
every one recognizes, it is still possible
to do a great deal of rejuvenating by
Introducing some of the ductless gland
lecretions of the gonads into the blood
itream. This Brown-Sequard proved
ibout 30 years ago. He injected what
eame to be known as goat lymph, hypo
termically.
Voronoff has gone one step further
ind planted the sex organs under the
•kin in the sittues. Dr. G. F. Lydston
lid this before Voronoff did and has re
ported good results lasting for a period of
jrears. The scientific reports made on
the tissues of the transplanted organs
by Dr. E. Retterer confirm the scien
tific report on similar organs made by
Dr. Lydston.
Dr. Voronoff only used the organs of
closely related animals. However, by
grafting suitable glands on goats and
sheep he succeeded in bringing about a
remarkable degree of rejuvenation and
this was continuing when the book was
written. He has had no experience in
grafting gonads in human bein^p. This
Lydston, Stanley and others in this
country have done with an encouraging
degree of success, at least for a term
of years.
The Battle of Jutland.
By Associated Press.
In response to reiterated and insistenv
demands from the press and parliament
the government has published a "bluo
book of 600 pages containing the official
dispatches, charts and reports from the
commanders and senior officers concern
ing the battle of Jutland, fought between
the British and German fleets more than
four years ago in the North sea.
Apart from the interesting statement
that the battle was fought in misty
weather which rendered difficult the dis
tinguishing of friend from foe, and also
that the speed of the German ships and
the gunnery of the men aboard them
were excellent, perhaps the most inter
esting points which will be sought by
readers of the document will be wheth
er the British advantago was pushed
home to the utmost and whether the
German fleet should have been attacked.
This point, however, would seem to be
settled by a dispatch "from Beatty,"
that on the night of the battle he dhl
not consider it desirable or proper to
close with the enemy's battle fleet
through the dark hourst The reasons
were;
“First, our distance from the battle
fleet (British); second, .the condition of
the battle cruisers; third, the enemy be
ing concentrated; fourth, the almost
certainty that they would locate the
enemy favorably at daylight.”
According to Vice Admiral Beatty’s
dispatches, he then considered it his duty
to prevent the enemy from reaching his
base. The vice-admiral expressed
groat regret that an opportunity was
missed in the small hours of the morn
ing fo'r engaging four ships of the
Deutschland class, which were mistaken
for British light cruisers.
The erroneous nature of the signal at
tributed to Beatty, "follow me; we've
got them cold,” is shown by the dis
patches. What Beatty really signalled,
says the document, was: “Urgent. I
submit that the van of the battleships
should follow the battle cruisers. We
can then cut off the whole of the
enemy's battle fleet."
The confusion In discerning friend from
foe Is remarked In many of the officers'
reports. Rear Admiral Gaunt of the
first battle squadron says: “Whatever
circumstances may have constrained the
battle cruiser fleet to fall hack upon the
battle fleet In the manner it did, the re
sult was unfortunate. The fifth division
was unable to fire upon the enemy ow
ing to the battle cruisers being in be
tween; and when they cleared from the
battleships it was difficult to ascertain
whether the ships coming into view
through the mist were friend or foe.
Decline of the Parlor.
One of the large manufacturing
companies of the United States is en
gaged in the construction of a great
number of houses for its employes,
and while there are many novel fea
tures In the way of making conven
iences, the most striking thing about
the homes is the total absence of the
usual parlor. The space is thrown
into the ether rooms. It looks as
U the parlor was am of fashion.
GIVEN HIM PUCE ;
International Honors Awarded
Western Canada Products.
Proof of What Can Be Done, With'
Intelligence and Industry, on
Good, Low-Priced Land. ^
The 1920 International Live StocK
show at Chicago was probably the best
that has ever beta held, and as Is
pointed out by a Canadian newspaper
writer, the number and quality of the
exhibits ‘‘Indicated a new milestone
on the road of progress.” This year
it was truly “International.” The part
that Canada took showed a spirit of
friendliness on both sides of the line
that was highly pleasing.
Six provinces of Canada were reih
resented In varying degrees, and when
the handsome share of the prizes that
were carried off by our northern
neighbors, achieving phenomenal suc
cess In view of tremendous competi
tion, Is considered, there is reason to
hope that In the minds of these people
there will grow an esteem for the
International that will be helpful to
both countries.
Canada won a number of champion
ships, not the least of which was the
sweepstakes carried off by Mr. J. O.
Mitchell, of Daldnda, Saskatchewan.
In tills award may be seen an object
lesson, going to show that it is not
always the man born with a silver
spoon In liis mouth to whom the
greatest degree of success will attach.
It will be interesting to relate that
Mr. Mitchell, the recipient of these
great honors, came from the manufac
turing city of Manchester, England,
unacquainted with farming, but with
the lure of the land upon him. Be
cause he had been told of the success
that followed the tiller of the soil of
Western Canada, fifteen years ago he
decided to make liis home in Canada,
and selected as a homestead the land
upon which he grew the wheat that
has brought him a world’s champion
ship. It is true he hjid his ups and
downs, but lie continued and is now
enjoying tlie fruits of liis labor and
the experience gained in a manner
of life that was enjoyable. But he
Is still a simple funner and will con
tinue growing grains that, with ilia
knowledge lie possesses, industry that
is essentia!, and above all, a soil and
climate that are favorable, will st..
cure many more world’s champion
ships.
Well, then, too, there was born tit
Stratford, Ontario, a hoy named I4u
cas, now of man’s estate. Although a
town boy lie always had a <!es;r«t for
farming. He moved to Alberta to M: 1 *
neighborhood of Cayley, and t!n<-e
who have had no idea whore ' ■
Is will know now: for Mr. lot-as It:;;
placed it “on the.map.’’ lie !m>! .
of his 49.2-lbs.-to-the-bus!ie! nos ,-r
the International, and with
petitors against him I •"" tm " ••
championship and sweep \ : *
was a notable achievement.
been said, when ho was a buy : <• ton ^
a liking to farming, hut the gn-'-i t "s
obstacle in the way of r"a ii;< t
his dreams was the practice' impos
sibility of a iiian wills ,t a "w
amount of capital purdisisltig the
higli-priced farm Itutds nf lie seii'od
parts in the neighborho >1 i.c live.; ,n.
However, after leaving, s lttmi no
heard of the law-priced lands of West
ern Canada. This was his opportu
nity, and lie embraced it. Beginning
at 15 years of age witli ICO acres of
virgin prairie, and with no practical
farming experience, he lias now. by
perseverance and industry, increased
his holdings to nearly 1,000 nens.
Slid) Is the brief history of the man
who carried off the championship for
the best grown oats, and it is also tin
example that might well he followed
by many who are struggling today
against the prices received for the
produce grown on high-priced land, or
to those who, us was the case with
Mr. Lucas, had little means but an
abundance of energy and a flood of
umbition. Nowhere are there offered
inducements such ns arc offered in
Western Canada.
There were 25 prizes offered in ihe
Class fbr hard spring wheats and 20
of them went to Western Canada.—
Advertisement.
Ellen, ns history proves, was too
big a job for Adam.
ASPpN
Name “Bayer” on Genuine
*
jrfT
Take Aspirin only as told in each
package of genuine Boyer Tablets of
Aspirin. Then you will be following
the directions and dosage worked out
by physicians during 21 years, and
proved safe by millions. Take no
chances with subslitules. If you see
the Bayer Cross on tablets, you can
take them without fear for Colds,
Headache, Neuralgia, Rheumatism,
Earache, Toothache. Lumbago and
for Pain. Handy tin boxes of twelve
tablets cost few cents. Druggists also
sell larger packages. Aspirin is the
trade mark of Bayer Manufacture of
Moaoaceticacldester of Sallcylteacld.—
Ade.
Watch your date. m .. .
• 'V