i;
i
ROSALIND
RED GATE
IByC
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Hluttntlont by
RAY WALTERS
iiiii
Cavjriikl. Ml, okkaniu till
There was something about the fel
low that I liked. I even felt a certain
pity for him as I passed him and rode
on. He teemed simple and guileless,
but with a dogged manliness beneath
his absurdities. He was undoubtedly
deeply- attached to Helen . Holbrook
and his pursuit of her partook of a
knlsrht-erranUsh Quality that would
hare appealed to me In other clrcum
stances; but he was the most negll
gible figure that had yet appeared la
the Holbrook affair, and as I put my
horse to the lope my thoughts reverted
to Red Gate. That chess game and
Helen's visit to her father were still
to be explained; If I could cut those
card nut of the oack I should be
ready for something really difficult. I
employed myself with such reflections
as I completed my sweep round the
lake, reaching Glenarm shortly after
two o'clock.
I was hot and hungry, and grateful
for the cool breath of the house as
entered the hall.
"fR Hnlhrnok is waiting in tho
library." Illma announced; and In
moment I faced Miss Pat, who stood
in one of the open French windows
looking out upon the wood.
She appeared to be deeply absorbed
and did not turn until I spoke.
"I have waited for some time; I
have something of importance to tell
you, Mr. Donovan," she began, seating
herself.
"Yes, Miss Holbrook."
"You remember that this morning,
on our way to the chapel, Helen spoke
of our game of chess yesterday?"
"I remember perfectly," I replied;
and my heart began to pound sudden
ly, for I knew what the next sentence
would be.
"Helen wa3 not at St. Agatha's at
the time she indicated."
"Well, Miss Pat," I laughed, "Mfss
Holbrook doesn't have to account to
me for her movements. It Isn't lm
portant "
"Why Isn't It important." demanded
Miss Tat In a sharp tone that was new
to me.
"Why, Miss Holbrook, she is not ac
countable to me for her actions. If
she fibbed about the chess it's a small
matter.'
"Perhaps it is; and possibly she Is
not accountable to me, either.
"We must not probe human motives
too deeply. Miss Holbrook," I said,
evasively, wishing to allay her susplc
Ions, If possible. "A young woman is
entitled to her whims. But now that
you have told me this, I suppose I may
as well know how she accounted to
you for this triflingdeception."
"Oh, she said she wished to explore
the country for herself; she wished to
satisfy herself of our safety; and she
didn't want you to think she was run
ning foolishly Into danger. She chafes
under restraint, and I fear does not
wholly sympathize with my runaway
tactics. She likes a contest! And
sometimes Helen takes pleasure In
In being perverse. She has un idea,
Mr. Donovan, that you are a very
severe person."
"I am honored that she should en
tertain any. opinion of me whatever,"
I replied, laughing.
"And now," said Miss. Pat, "I must
go back. Helen went to her room to
write some letters against a time when
It may be possible to communicate
with our friends, and I took the op
portunity to call on you. It might bo
as well, Mr. Donovan, not to mention
my visit."
t walked beside Miss Pat to the
gate, where she dismissed me, remark
ing that she would be quite ready for
a rldo in tho launch at five o'clock.
The morning had added a few new
colored threads to the tangled skein I
was accumulating, but I felt that with
the chess story explained I could safe
ly eliminate the supernatural; and I
was relieved to find that no matter
what other odd elements I had to
reckon with, a girl who could be In
two places at tho same time was not
among them
ri Q
IS LA
Embarked the Two Exiles Without
Incident.
CHAPTER VII..
A Broktn Oar.
The white clouds of the later after
noon cruised dreamily between green
wood and blue sky. I brought the
launch to St. Agatha's landing and
embarked the two exiles without Incl
dent. We sot forth In good spirits,
Ijlma at the engine and I at tho
wheel. I drove the boat toward the
open to guard against unfortunate en
counters, and tho course onro cstab
Untied I had little care but to give a
w ide berth to all tho other craft afloat.
Helen exclaimed repeatedly upon tho
beauty of the lake, which tho west
wind rippled Into many variations o
color. I was flattered by her friendli
ness; and yielded myself to the Jny
of the day, agreeably thrilled I con
fess as much by her dark loveliness
as she turned from time to time to
speak to me.
"Aunt Pat Is a famous sailor!" ob
serve? Helen as the launch rockeH.
"The last time we crossed the captain
had personally to take her below dur
Ing a hurricane."
"Helen always likes to make a her
oine of me," said Miss Pat with her
adorable smile. "But I am not In the
least afraid of the water. I think
there must have been sailors among
my ancestors."
She was as tranquil as the day. Her
attitude toward her niece had not
changed; and I pleased myself with
the reflection that mere ancestry the
vigor and courage of indomitable old
sea birds did not sufficiently account
for her, but that she testified to an
ampler background of race and was a
fine flower that had been centuries In
making.
We cruised the shore of Port Ann
andale at a discreet distance and then
bore off again.
"Let us not go too near shore any
where," said Helen; and Miss Pat
murmured acquiescence.
No; we don't care to meet people,"
she remarked, a trifle anxiously.
"I'm afraid I don't know any to In
troduce you to," I replied, and turned
away into the broadest part of the
lake. The launch was capable of a
lively clip and the engine worked cap
itally. I had no fear of being caught,
even if we should be pursued, and
this, in the broad light of the peaceful
Sabbath afternoon, seemed the re
motest possibility. i
It had been understood that wo
were to remain out until the sun
dropped into the western wood, and I
loitered on toward the upper lake
where the shores were rougher.
"That's a real island over there
they call It Battle Orchard you must
have a glimpse of It."
"Oh, nothing is so delightful a3 an
Island!" exclaimed Helen.
' Ijlma had scanned the lake con
stantly since we started, as was his
habit. Miss Pat turned to speak to
Helen-of the shore that now swept
away from us In broader curves as we
passed out of the connecting channel
Into the farther lake. Ijlma .emarked
to me quietly, as though speaking of
the engine:
"There's a man following in a row-
boat."
And as I replied to some remark by
Miss Pat, I saw, half a mile distant,
its sails hanging idly, a sloop that an
swered Gillespie's description of the
Stiletto. Its snowy canvas shone
white against the green verdure of
Battle Orchard.
"Shut off the power a moment. We
will turn here, Ijlma" and I balled
Miss Pat's attention to a hoary old
sycamore on the western shore.
"Oh, I'm disappointed not to cruise
nearer the island with the romantic
name, cried Helen. "And there s a
yacht over there, too!"
I already had the boat swung round,
and In reversing the course I lost the
Stiletto, which clung to the Islsnd
shore; but I saw now quite plainly the
rowboat Ijlma had reported as follow
ing us. It hung off about a quarter of
mllo and Its single occupant had
ceased rowing and shipped his oars
as themgh wiUH& H? was between
us and the strait' that connected the
upper and lower lakes. Though not
alarmed I wns Irritated by my care
lassncsa In venturing tliroituh t.hn
strait and anxious to return to tho less
wild part of the lake. I did not dare
look over my shoulder, but kept talk
ing to my passengers, while Ijlma,
with the rare Intuition of his race, un
derstood the situation and Indicated
by gestures the course.
"There's, a boat sailing through the
groen, green wood, exclaimed Helen;
and true enough, as we crept In closo
to the shore, we could still see, across
a wooded point of the Island, the sails
of the Stiletto, as of a boat of dreams,
drifting through tho trees. And as I
looked I saw something more. A tiny
signal flag was run quickly to the top
mast head, withdrawn once and
flashed buck; and as I faced tho bow
again the boatman dropped his oars
into the water.
"What a strange looking man, re
marked Miss Pat.
"He doesn't look like a native," I re
plied, carelessly.
The launch swung slowly around.
cutting a halMrclo, of which the Itat
Inn's bont was the center. He dallied
Idly with his oars and seemed to pay
no heed to us, though ho glanced sev
eral tlmeg toward the ynelit, which
had now crept Into full view, and un
der a freshening brcczo was brnrlng
southward.
"Full speed. Ijlmn."
'I he online responded Instantly, and
we cut through the water smartly
There was a sface of shout 23 ynrdi
between the boatman and tho nenre:'
r.'ierc. 1 did nut believe that he would
do more iEan try To "annoy us "by for
cing us uu the swampy shore; for it
was still broad daylight, and we were
likely at any moment to meet other
craft. I was confident that with any
sort of luck I could slip past him
and gain the strait, or dodge and run
round him before he could change the
course of his heavy skiff.
I kicked the end of an oar which
the launch carried for emergencies
and Ijlma, on this hint, drew it toward
him.
"You can see some of the roofs of
Port Annandale across the neck here,"
I remarked, seeing that the women
had begun to watch the approaching
boat uneasily.
I kept up a rapid fire of talk, but
listened only to the engine's regular
beat. The launch was now close to
the Italian's boat, and having nearly
completed the semicircle I was obliged
to turn a little to watch him. Sud
denly he sat up straight and lay to
with the oars, pulling hard toward a
point we must pass In order to clear
the strait and reach the upper lake
again. The fellow's hostile Intentions
were clear to all of us now and we all
silently awaited the outcome. His
skiff rose high In air under the Im
pulsion of his strong arms, and If he
struck our lighter craft amidships, as
seemed Inevitable, he would undoubt
edly swamp us.
Ijlma half rose, glanced toward the
yacht, which was heading for the
strait, and then at me, but I shook my
head.
"Mind the engine, Ijlma," I said
with as much coolness as I could mus
ter.
The margin between us and the
skiff rapidly diminished, and the Ital
ian turned to take his bearings with
every lift of his oars. He had thrown
off his cap, and as he looked over his
shoulder I saw his evil face sharply
outlined. I counted slowly to myself
the number of strokes that would be
necessary to bring him in collision if
he persisted, charging against his
progress our own swift, arrow-like
flight over the water. The shore was
close, and I had counted on a full
depth of water, but Ijlma now called
out warningly in his shrill pipe and
our bottom scraped as I veered off.
This maneuver cost me the equivalent
of ten of the Italian's deep strokes,
and the shallow water added a new
element of danger.
"Stand by the oar, Ijlma," I called In
a low tone; and I saw In a flash Mies
Pat's face, quite calm, but with her
Hps set tight.
Ten yards remained, I judged, be
tween the skiff and the strait, and
there was nothing for us now but to
let speed and space work out their
problem.
Ijlma stood up and seized the oar.
I threw the wheel hard aport In a last
hope of dodging, and the launch listed
badly as it swung round. Then the
bow of the skiff roso high, and Helen
shraitJl away with a little cry; there
was a scratching and grinding for an
instant, as Ijlma, bending forward,
dug the oar into the skiff's bow and
checkod it with the full weight of his
body. As we fended of! the oar
snapped and splintered and he turn
bled Into the water with a great
splash, while we swerved and rocked
for a moment and then sped on
through the little strait.
Looking back, I saw Ijlma swim
mlng for the shore. He rose In the
water and called "All right!" and I
knew he would take excellent care of
himself. The Italian had shipped his
oars and lay where we had left him,
and I heard him, above the beat of our
engine, laugh derisively as we glided
out of sight.
Miss Holbrook, will you please
steer for me?" and In effecting the
necessary changes of position that I
might get to the engine we were all
able to regain our composure. I saw
Miss Pat touch her forehead with her
handkerchief; but she said nothing.
Even after St. Agatha's pier hove In
sight silence held us all. The wind,
continuing to freshen, was whipping
the lake with a sharp lash, and I
made much of my trifling business
with the engine, and of the necessity
for occasional directions to the girl at
the wheel.
My contrition at the danger to
which I had stupidly, . brought thm
was strong In me; but there were
other things to think of. Miss Pat
could not be deceived as to the animus
of our encounter, for the Italian's
oonduct could bardlv be account 'd
on the score of stupidity; ana me
natural peace and quiet of this region
only emphasized tho gravity of hor
her plight. My first thought was that
I must at once arrange for her re
moval to some other place. With
Henry Holbrook established within a
Jew miles of St. Agntha's the school
was certainly no longer a tenable bar
borage.
As I tended the engine I saw, even
when I tried to avoid her, the figure of
Helen Holbrook In the stern, quite In
tent upon steering and calling now
and then to ask the course when In
my preoccupation I forgot to give It,
The storm was driving a dark hood
across the lake, and the thunder
boomed more loudly. Storms in this
neighborhood break quickly and I ran
full speed for St. Agntha's to avoid
the rain that already blurred the west,
We landed with some difficulty, ow
Ing to the rouchened water and the
hard drive of the wind; but in a fe
minutes wo hud reached St. Agatha'
where SIsl'T Margaret flung open the
dour Just as tho storm let go with
ronr.
When we reached the pitting room
we talked with, unmistakable reKtralu
of the storm and of our race with I
arrows the lake while Sinter Marfan
stood by murmuring her lute rest an
sympathy. Sln withdrew Immediate'
ly and we tln-re sit In silence, no on
wishing to speak !" first, word. I rav
with d'-op pity tV' M!m lit r
HOUSE WORKING
ATJAST CLIP
Bird Reading cl Bills Is Dis
pensed With.
were bright with tears, and my heart
burned hot with self accusation. Sister
Margaret's quick step died away in
the hall, and still we waited while the
rain drove against the house in sheets
and the branches of a tossing maple
scratched spitefully on one of the
panes.
We have been found out; my broth
er Is here." said Miss Pat.
"I am afraid that Is true." I replied.
But you must not distress yourself.
This is not Sicily, viere murder Is a
polite diversion. The Italian wished
merely to frighten us; it's a case of
sheerest blackmail. I am ashamed to IIITI TQriT nil I 10 If' II I C 11
have given him the opportunity. It All I hi nLAI DILL 10 MLLCU
was my fault my grievous fault; and
TENNYSON SAlj
"In the Spring
a young man's fancy
Lightly turns to thoughts of love'
I am heartily sorry for my stupidity."
"Do not accuse yourself! It was In
evitable from the beginning that
Henry should find us. But this place
seemed remote enough. I had really
begun to leel quite secure but now!"
'But now!" repeated Helen, with a
little sigh.
I marveled at the girl's composure
at her quiet acceptance of the situ
ation, when I knew well enough her
shameful duplicity. Then by one of
those Intuitions of grace that were
so charming In. her she bent forward
and took Miss Pat's hand. The em
erald rings flashed on both as though
la assertion of kinship.
'Dear Aunt Pat! You must not
take that boat affair too seriously. It
may not have been father who did
that."
She faltered, dropping her voice as
she mentioned her father. I was aware
that Miss Pat put away her niece's
hand with a sudden gesture I did not
know whether of Impatience, or
whether some new resolution had
taken hold of her. She rose and
moved nearer to me.
"What have you to propose, Mr.
Donovan?" she asked, and something
In her tone, in the light of her dear
eyes, told me that she meant to fight.
that she knew more than she wished
to say, and that she relied on my sup
port; and realizing this my heart went
out to her anew.
"I think we ought to go away at
once, the girl broke out suddenly.
"The place was llbchosen; Father
Stoddard should have known better
than to send us here!"
'Father Stoddard did the best he
could for us, Helen. It Is unfair to
blame him," said Miss Pat, quietly,
"And Mr. Donovan has been much
more more kind In undertaking to
care for us at all."
"I have blundered badly enough!"
I confessed, penitently. .
"It might be better, Aunt rat," be
gan Helen, slowly, "to yield. What can
It matter! A quarrel over money it
is sordid"
Miss Pat stood up abruptly and said
quietly, without lifting her voice, and
turning from one to the other of us:
"We have prided ourselves for 100
years, we American Holbrooks, that
we had good blood In us, and charac
ter and decency and morality; and
now that the men of my house have
thrown away their birthright and
made our name a plaything, I am go
ing to see whether the general de
cade-.ce has struck me, too; and with
my brother Arthur, a fugitive because
of bis crimes, and my brother Henry
ready to murder me In his greed, It Is
time for me to test whatever blood Is
left In my own poor old body, and I
am going to begin now! I will not
run away another step; I am not go
ing to be blackguarded and hounded
about this free country or driven
across the sea; and I will not give
Henry Holbrook more money to use In
disgracing our name. I have got to
die I have got to die before he gets
It" and she smiled at me so bravely
that something clutched my throat!
suddenly "and I have every lnten-'
tlon, Mr. Donovan, of living a very
long time!"
Helen had risen, and she stood star
ing at her aunt in frank astonishment.
Not often, probably never before V
her life, had anger held sway In the
soul of this woman; and there was
something splendid In Its manifesta
tion. She had spoken In almost her
usual tone, though with a passionate
tremor toward the close; but her very
restraint was In Itself ominous.
"It shall be as you say, Mtis Pat." I
said, as soon as I had got my breath.
"f-rtalnly... Aunt- rntj'.. murmured
Helen,' tamely. "We can't be driven
round the world. We may as well
stay where we are."
The storm was abating, and I threw
juen the window to lot la the air.
"If you haven't wholly lost faith la
mo. Miss Holbrook "
"I havo every faith In you, Mr. Don
ovan!" smiled Miss Pt.
"I shall hope to tako hotter fare -
you In the future."
"I am not afraid. I think that It
Henry finds out that he cannot frighten
mo it will have a calming effect upon
him."
"Yes; I suppose you are right, Aunt
Pat," said Helm, passively.
I went home feeling that my respon
slbllltles had been greatly Increased
by Miss Pat's manifesto; on the whole
I wns relieved that she had not or
dered a retreat, for It would have dls
tressed me sorely to abandon the game
at this Juncture to seek a new hiding
place for my charges.
Long afterward Miss Pat's declara
tion of war rang In my ears. My heart
leaps now as I remember It. And
should like to be a poet long enough
to writo "A Ballade of All Old Udles."
or a lyric In their honor turned with
tho grnce of Col. I)veluce and blithe
with the spirit of Friar llerrlck.
should llko to Inform It with thel
beautiful tender sympathy that I
quick with tears but readier w
W3
House Defeats Grevts' Measure by
Vote of 44 to 49 Committee to In
spect Wayn Nermal School, Offered
te State Talk of Sifting Committee,
Lincoln, March 6. Although there
are 200 bills on the house calendar,
with only thirteen days left of this
session. It is easy to see that every-
ne of them will he disposed of at
the cUp which that body Is working.
The clerks were kept susy early la
the. session reading bills the third
time. Finally, the house got tired of
listening and the reading was dis
pensed with unless objection was
made. The clerk simply said: "Any
body want this bill read?" after the
title, and if all acquiesced the bill was
quickly disposed of. It has often been
the hab.l to read bills the first and
second time by title only, but seldom,
If ever, has the third reading, which
comes just before the roll call, been
dispensed with.
In the committee of the whole the
salary appropriation bill was agreed
upon, and to It was tacked on an
amendment causing the offices in thej
capltol to remain open continuously
from 9 a. ni. to 5 p. m. Heretofore of
fices were flosed from 12 to 2. Com
plaint has been made by many personi
from out in the state that they were
unable to transact any business durlnj
these two hours, and this caused the
house to take action. In tho future
it w ill be necessary to keep some per
son at the offices in the state house
with authority to transact business
during the middle of the day.
The committee waded' through the
salary bill without oeremony nor mer
cy. The Balary of the secretary of the
state board of charities and correc
tions was cut from $1,200 to $700. Thel
stenographer to the state veterinarian
will In tho future receive S840 Instead I
of $420 a year. This change was
made at the instance of the flnuuctj
committee.
The senate passed nine bills, none oil
particular Importance.
After a similar measure had gone
through the senate, the house killed
the anti-treat hill by Groves of Lan
caster by a vote of 44 fur the bill and
49 against it. Fifty,one was necessary
for its passage.
The house passed the bill providing
for six deputy oil Inspectors and for
the gravity test for oil.
In order to separate the Important
measures from the unimportant the
majority leaders are talking of a sift- $anford Lewis, Former Resident of
mir committee, ine veium-mia w"
In the spring, before most
men turn their thoughts
to love or even making
garden, they inquire of
the firmwho knows
the proper thing to buy
in clothes.
Every day brings ad
ditions to our showings
for spring, which com
prise the best of mer.
chandise offered by the
best makers, and
which we are daily dis
playing for early and
careful buyers.
Our clothes represent
Quality.
Quality spells service
and satisfaction.
If these are what vou
are looking for, we invite
your inspection and pa-
tronage.
C. E.
WESCOTT'S
SONS.
"Where Quality Counts."
DIES AT
DENVER
This County Passes Away
Word was received In this city sev-
eral days ago of the death at Denver,
Col., of Sanford Lewis, onco a well
known citizen of this county residing
near Louisville. Mr. Lewis was a
snn-ln-law of Mrs. Mnrearet Schulof
VICTORY FOR BISHOP BONACUM of this city and a brother-in-law of
I llnnn l."-.! n n 1
meet Monday night In caucus to de
cide the matter and probably to des
ignute members of the committee.
A committee from the house left
for Wayne to Inspect the normal
school thoro, which has been offered
for sale to the state.
Father Murphy Gets Final Knockout
Blow From Supreme Court.
Lincoln, March 6. By a decision
rendered by the Nebraska supreme
court lllshop Donacum of the Catholic
diocese of Lincoln triumphs in his ten
years' light with Father William Mur
phy, a priest stationed at Seward, Neb,
The supreme count sustains the find
logs of the district court of Seward
county, ousting Father Murphy from
St, Vincent's parish church property,
sustaining, so far as a civil court has
urlsdlctlon, the church contention
that In the case of Father Murphy
'the Rates of heaven are closed to
him" by the decree of excommunlca
Hon, pronounced by the bishop.
The struggle between the bishop
and priest has been the most stubborn
In the church annals of Nebraska. It
began when Father Murphy was pas
tor of tho church at Tecumaeh. Dif
ferences with the bishop arose and ho
was transferred to the Seward parish.
The trouble did not ceuse, and finally,
In 1901, Hlshop Iionacum excommtinl
rated him, supplanting him with a
new priest. Tho parishioners were
loyal to Father Murphy, the trustees
refusing to surrender the church prop
erty to his successor. Six times the
case has been In the district tout t.
and three times remanded by the su
preme court. Twice It has been be
fore the church authorities at Koine.
Father Murphy has a state wide repu
tatlon as an orator and temperance
th
strength to help ami to save: and It
should reflect, too, the noble pntlenoo,
undbtiinyed by time and distance, ihn
makes a virtue of waltltm walling In
the limit twilight with folded hand f
tl:e idilps Hint never conn! Men o'd
Messrs. Ed. and John Schulhof and
A. Baxter Smith of this city. Dur
lug his lifetime In this county de-
ceased was a farmer living near
Louisville for many years years,
Inter moving to Hayes Center, Neb..
where he lived until he moved to
Denver, Col. Deceased leaves a
wife and two children. He also left
several brothers and sisters, one
brother being Simon Lewis, once an
engineer on the Burlington Out o(
this city. Ho will be quite well re-
membered by the peopleaofwypwy
mcmbercd by many people hero as a
good citizen, an upright, sterling
man and a kind husband and father.
His death which occurred on Mon
day, March 1, resulted after an op
eration for gall stones. Tho funeral
took place on Thursday at Mt. Olive
cemetery, Denver. Edward Schulof
of this city departed Tuesday after
noon for Denver to attend the fun
eral, returning to this city this
morning on No. 6.
For Sale.
Twelve pigs, weight about fifty
pounds each. Two miles southeast
of riuttsmouth. Rudolf Spnhna.
Notice
All persons interested in
the formation of a new school
advocate. Bishop Donacum Is at pr'-1 district in CaSS COUnty, state
ent thread and was recently In audi . . .
enco with the pope.
of Nebraska, of districts num
bered 25. 27. ()1 atidV are
hereby notified that there
will be a hearing of this mat-
Jury Falls to Aoree In Farrens Case.
Tekamoh. Neb., March 6. The Jury
In the case of Nicholas Furrciis, who
was charged with tho death of lister
Ila'.l (.1 Decatur lust December, came tcr at my 0fficc on Wcdnes-
Itn toltttititt iirrk'lntr of nil V ffiltrlilitlfit1 I
except that they could not agree. The day afternoon, March 10th,
court discharged tho defendant Far-
reus gnve bond in sum or Jj.ciiu to ap
pear ot the September tt tin of t curt
Flodman f-larned for Police Board.
Lincoln, M.-.reh C (Jovernor Slial-
lenhergi r announced the appointment
of Ficd W Fi-tiluian as member of tho
bi.nrd f fl: md police commlstdoncrs
cl i.'iiiitliii to suiceeii r.'orl lirandels,
who tcai.lly J'ed
190'), at 2 o'clock.
Maky H. Fostick,
County Superintendent.
Wanted.
To buy cue good single or double
driving horse. Also butcher stock,
cattle, veal calves, sheep and poultry.
Lorcn Pros.