ROSALIND
RED GATL
3ByC
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Wuttratlont by
RAY WALTERS
"Been Being a ghost?" he asked.
"No; Just hearing one," I replied.
I had yet to offer some pretext for
leaving him, and as I walked the
length of the room he stifled a yawn,
his eyes falling upon" the line of
French windows. I spoke of the heat
of the night, but he did not answer,
and I turned to And his gaze fixed
upon one of the open windows.
"What Is It, man?" I demanded.
He crossed the room In a leap and
vas out upon the terrace, peering
down upon the shrubbery beneath.
"What's the row?" I demanded.
"Didn't you see It?"
"No."
"Then it wasn't anything. I thought
I saw the dago, If you must know.
He'll probably be around looking for
us."
"Humph, you're a little nervous,
that's all. You'll stay here all night,
of course?" I asked, without, I fear,
much enthusiasm.
He grinned.
"Don't be so cordial! If you'll send
me Into town I'll be off."
I had Just ordered the dog cart when
the butler appeared. 1
"If you please, sir, Sister Margaret
wishes to use our telephone, sir. St.
Agatha's is out of order."
I spoke to the sister as she left the
house, half as a matter of courtesy,
half to make sure of her. The tele
I.hone at St. Agatha's had been out of
order for several days, she said; and I
walked with her to St. Agatha's gate
taiking of the weather, the garden and
the Holbrcok ladles, who were, she
said, quite well.
Thereafter, when I had dispatched
Gillespie to the village in the dog cart,
I got into leggings, reflecting upon the
odd circumstance that Helen Holbrook
had been able to speak to me over the'
telephone a few minutes before, using
an Instrument that had, by Sister Mar
garet's testimony, been out of com
mission for several days. The girl
had undoiihtpdly slipped away from St.
Agatha's and spoken to me from some
other house In the neighborhood; but
this was a matter of little importance,
now that I had undertaken her com
mission.
The chapel clock chimed nine as I
gained the road, and I walked my
horse to scan St. Agatha's windows
through the vistas that offered across
the foliage. And there, by the open
window of her aunt's sitting room, I
saw Helen Holbrook reading. A table
lamp at her side Illumined her slightly
hent head; and, as though aroused by
my horse's quick step in the roa"d, she
rose and stood framed against the
light, with the soft window draperies
fluttering about her.
1 spoke to my horse and galloped to
ward Red Gate.
CHAPTER XVI.
An Odd Affair at Red Gate.
As I rode through Port Annandale
the lilting strains of a waits floated
irom the casino, and I caught a
glimpse of the lake's cincture of lights.
My head was none too clear from Its
crack on the cabin, floor, and my chest
was growing sore and stiff from the
slash of the Italian's knife; but my
spirits were high, and my ears rang
with memories of the Voice. Helen
had given me a commission, and every
fact of my life faded into Insignificance
compared to this. The cool night air
rushing by refreshed me. I was eager
for the next turn of the wheel, and
my curiosity ran on to the boat-ma
Iter's house,
I came now to a lonely sweep, where
the road ran through a heavy wood
land, and the cool, moist air of the
forBt rose round me. The lake, 1
knew, lay close at hand, and the Hart
ridge cottage was not, as I reckoned
my distances, very far ahead. I had
drawn In my horse to consider the
manner of my approach to the boat
maker's, and was Jogging along at an
tasy trot when a rifle-shot rang out on
my left, from the direction of the
i rook, and mr hnrsn ah lad shard
and plunged on at a wild gallop. He
ran several hundred yards before I
could check him, and then I turned
and rode slowly back. Deerlng Into the
forest's black shadow for the foe. I
paused and waited, with the horse
dancing crar.lly beneath me, but the
woodland presented an inscrutable
front. I then rode on to the unfenced
strip of wood where I had left my
horse before.
I began this narrative with every
Intention of telling the whole truth
touching my adventures at Annandnlo,
and I cannot deny that the shot from
the wood hud again shaken uiy faith
In Helen Holbrook. She had sent tuo
to the Tippecanoe on an errand of her
own choosing, and I had been fired on
from ambush near the plnce to which
she had sent me. I fear that my tower
of faith that had grown so tall and
strong shook on Its foundations; but
once more I dismissed my doubts, Just
as 1 had dUnTTsseH "other doubts and
misgivings about her. My fleeting
glimpse of her In the window of St,
Agatha's less than an hour before
flashed back uion nie, and the tower
touched the stars, hteadfast and se
rene again.
I strode on toward Red Gate with
my revolver In the side pocket of my
Norfolk Jacket. A buckboard filled
l with young folk from the summer col-
; ony passed me, and then the utter si
lence of the couutry held the world.
In a moment I had reached the canoe-
: maker's cottage and entered the gate.
; I went at once to the front door and
knocked. I repeated my knock several
times, but there was no answer. The
front window blinds were closed tight.
,The houseboat was effectually
screened by shubbery, and I had de
scended half a dozen steps before I
saw a light In the windows. It oc
curred to me that as I had undoubted
ly been sent to Red Gate for some pur
pose, I should do well not to defeat It
by any clumsiness of my own; so I
proceeded slowly, pausing several
times to observe the lights below. I
heard the Tippecanoe slipping by with
tne subdued murmur of water at
night; and then a lantern flashed on
deck and I heard voices. Some one
was landing from a boat In the creek.
This seemed amiable enough, as the
lantern-bearer helped a man In the
boat to clamber to the platform, and
rrom me open door or the shop a
broad shaft of light shone brightly
upon the two men. The man with the
lantern was Holbrook, alias Hartrldge,
beyond a doubt; the other was a at ran-
ger. Holbrook caught the painter of
the boat and silently made It fast.
"Now," he said, "come In."
They crossed the deck and entered
the boat-maker's shop, and I crept
down where I could peer In at an open
port hole. The men remained at the
farther end of the house It was, I
should say, about 100 feet long
which, without formal division, was
fitted as a sitting room, with a piano
in one corner, and a long settle
against the wall. lu the center was
a table littered with books and perl
odlcals; and a woman's sewing basket
Interwoven with bright ribbons, gave
a domestic touch to the place. On the
Inner wall hung a pair of foils and
masks. Pictures from Illustrated Jour
nals Btrlking heads or outdoor
cenes were pinned here and there.
The new-comer stared about, twirling
a Tweed cap nervously in his hands
while Holbrook carefully extinguished
the lantern and put it aside. His vis
Itor was about 50, taller than he, and
swarthy, with a grayish mustache, and
hair white at the temples. His eyes
were large and dark, but even with the
length of the room between us I
marked their restlessness; and now
that he spoke It was in a succession
of quick rushes of words that were
dlflkult to follow.
Holbrook pushed a chair toward the
stranger and they faced each other for
m
mmm
A Rifle-Shot Rang Out and My Horse
Shied Sharply.
a moment, then with a shrug of his
shoulders the old man sat down. Hol
brook was in white flannels, with a
blue scarf knotted In his shirt collar.
He dropped Into a big wicker chair,
crossed his legs and folded his arms.
"Well," he said In a wholly agree
able tone, "you wanted to see me, and
here I am."
"Yon are well hidden," said th
other, still gazing about.
"I Imagine I am, from the fact that
It has taken you seven years to find
me."
"I haven t been looking for you
seven years," replied the stranger,
hastily; and his eyes again roamed
the room.
Tne men seemea reluctant to ap
proach the business that lay between
them, and Holbrook wore an air of la
difference, as though the Impending lO'
tervlew did not concern him partlca
larlv. The eves of the older mn fall
pon the berlbboned work-basket H
nodded toward It, his eyes lighting ua
pleasantly,
"There seems to be a woman." he
remarked with a sneer of implica
tion.
"Yes," replied Holbrook, calmly,
"there Is; that belongs to my daugh
ter."
"Where Is she?" cVmanded the oth
er, glancing anxiously about.
"In bed, I fancy. You need have no
fear of her."
Silence fell upon them again. Their
affairs were difficult, and Holbrook,
waiting pntlently for the other to
broach his errand, drew out his to
btiTO pouneh and pipe and began to
smoke.
"Patricia Is hero and Helen Is with
her," said the visitor.
"Yes, we are all here, It seems." r'
mnrked Holbrook, dryly. "It's a nice
family gathering."
I suppose you naven't seen then?"
demanded the visitor.
Yes and no. I have no w ish to meet
them; but I've had several narrow
escapes. Thry fcave cut me off from
my walks; but I shall leave here
shortly."
Yes. you are going, you are go
ing" began the visitor, eagerly.
"I am going, but not until after you
have gone," said Holbrook. "By some
strange fate we are all here, and It Is
best for certain things to be settled
before we separate again. I have tried
to keep out of your way; I have sunk
my identity; I have relinquished the
things of life that men hold dear
honor, friends, ambition, and now you
and I have got to have a settle
ment." "You seem rather sure of yourself."
sneered the older, turning uneasily In
his chair.
I am altogether sure of myself. I
have been a fool, but I see the error
of my ways and I propose to settle
matters with you now and here. You
have got to drop your game of annoy
ing Patricia; you've got to stop using
your own daughter as a jpy "
"You lie, you lie!" roared the other,
leaping to his feet. "You cannot In
sinuate that my daughter Is not act
ing honorably toward Patricia."
My mind had slowly begun to grasp
the situation and to Identify the men
before me. Holbrook, alfas Hartrldge,
the boat-maker of the Tippecanoe, was
not Henry Holbrook, but Henry's
brother, Arthur! and I sought at once
to recollect what I knew of him. An
Instant before I had half turned to
go, ashamed of ' eavesdropping upon
matters that did not concern me; but
the Voice that had sent me held to
the window. It was some such meet
ing as this that Helen must have
feared when she sent me to the house
boat, and everything else must await
the issue of this meeting.
"You had better sit down, Henry,"
said Arthur Holbrook, quietly. "And
I suggest that you make less noise.
This is a lonely place, hut there are
human beings within a hundred
miles."
Henry Holbrook paced the floor a
moment and then flung himself Into
a chair again, but he bent forward
angrily, nervously beating his hands
together. Arthur went on speaking,
his voice shaking with passion.
"I want to say to you that you have
deteriorated until you are a common
damned blackguard, Henry Holbrook!
You are a blackguard and a gambler.
And you have made murderous at
tempts on the life of your sister; you
arove ner rrom Stamford and you
tried to smash her boat out here in
the lake. I saw the whole transaction
that afternoon, and understood it all
how you hung off there In the Stilet
to and sent that beast to do your dirty
work.
"I didn't follow her here; I didn't
follow her here!" raged the other
"No; but you watched and waited
until you traced me here. Yon were
not satisfied with what I had done for
you. You wanted to kill me before I
could tell Pat the truth; and if it
hadn't been for that man Donovan
your assassin would have stabbed me
at my door." Arthur Holbrook rose
and flung down his pipe so that the
coals leaped from It. "Hut It's all over
now this long exile of mine, this pur
suit of Pat, this" hideous use of your
daughter to pluck your chestnuts from
the fire. By God, you've got to quit
you've got to go!"
"But I want my money I want my
money!" roared Henry, as though In
sistlng upon a right; but Arthur Ig
nored him, and went on.
"You were the one who was strong
and great things were expected of
you, to add to the traditions of family
honor; but our name is or.ly men
tioned with a sneer where men re
member It at all. You were spoiled
and pampered; you have never from
your early boyhood had a thought that
was not for yourself alone. You were
always envious and Jealous of any
body that came near you, and not least
of me; and when I saved you, when I
gave you your chance to become a
man at last, to regain the respect you
had flung away so shamefully, you did
not realize It, you could not realise It;
you took It as a matter of course, as
though I had handed you a cigar. I
ask you now, here In this place, where
I am known and respected I ask you
here, where I have tolled with my
hands, whether you forget why I am
here?"
"I must have my money; Patricia
must make the division," replied Hen
ry, doggedly.
"Certainly! Certainly! I devoutly
hope she will give It to you; you need
fear no Interference from me. The
sooner you get It and fling It away the
better. Patricia has been animated by
the best motives In withholding It;
she regarded It as a Bacred trust to ad
minister for your own good, but now I
want you to have your money."
"If I can have my share, If you will
persuade her to give It, I will pay you
all I owe you " Henry becan. eagerly,
"What you owe me what you owi
me!" and Arthur bent toward his
brother and laughed a laugh that was
not good to hear. "You would give me
monev money you would pay me
money for priceless things!"
He broke off suddenly, dropping his
arms at his sides heltilessly.
"There is no use in trying to talk
to you; we use a different vocabulary,
Henry."
"Rut that trouble with Gillespie If
Patricia knew"
"Yes: If she knew the truth! And
you never undtirstood, you are Incnp
able of understanding, that It meant
something to me to lose my Rlster out
of my life. When Helen filed" and
Ms voire fell and he paused for a mo
ment, as a prl"st falters sometimes,
gripped by Rome phrase In the office
that touches hidden depths In his own
experience, "then when Helen died
"Walt! Walt!" she whispered.
Arthur thrust his hands Into the
side pockets of his flannel Jacket and
nod.led his head once or twlcs.
"Why don't you shoot, Henry?"
"I want those notes." said Henry
Holbrook. "You lied to me about
them. They were to have been de
stroyed. I want them now, to-night."
"If you shoot' me you will undoubt
edly get them much easier," said Ar
thur; and he lounged away toward the
wall, half turning his back, while the
point of the pistol followed him. "But
the fact is, I never had them; Gilles
pie kept them."
Threats cool quickly, and I really
had not much fear that Henry Hol
brook meant to kill his brother; and
Arthur's indifference to his danger
was havtug its disconcerting effect on
Henry. The pistol barrel wavered;
but Henry steadied himself and his
clutch tightened on the butt. I again
turned toward the door, but the girl's
hand held me back.
"Walt." she whispered again. "That
man Is a coward. He will not shoot."
The canoe-maker had been calmly
talking, discussing the disagreeable
consequences of murder in a tone of
half-banter, and he now stood directly
under the foils. Then in a flash he
snatched one of them, flung It up with
an accustomed hand, and Bnapped It
across his brother's knuckles. At the
window we heard the Bllm steel hiss
through the air, followed by the rattle
of the revolver as It struck the ground.
The canoe-maker's foot was on it In
stantly; he still held the foil.
"Henry," he said in the tone of one
rebuking a child, "you are bad enough,
but I do not Intend that you shall be
a murderer. And now I want you to
go; I will not treat with you; I want
nothing more to do with you! I re
peat that I haven't got the notes."
He pointed to the door with the
foil. The b!ood surged angrily in his
face; but his voice was in complete
control as he went on.
"Your visit has awakened rae to a
sense of neglected duty, Henry. I
have allowed you to persecute our Bis
ter without raising a hand! 1 have no
other business now but to protect her.
Go back to your stupid sailor and tell
him that if I catch him in any mis
chief on the lake or here I shall cer
tainly kill him."
I lost any further words that passed
between them, as Henry, crazlly
threatening, walked out upon the deck
to his boat; then from the creek came
the thrpshlns of oars that died away
in a moment. When I gazed Into the
oom ncain Arfhtir Holbrook was
blowing out the lights.
"1 am grateful; I am so grateful,
faltered tne girls voice; "lut you
must not be seen here. Please go
now!" I had taken her hands, feeling
that I was about to lose her; but she
freed them and stood away from mo in
tlie shadow.
"We are going away we must leave
here! I can never see you ns'-'ln." she
whispered. ,
In the starlight she was Helen, by
every test my senses could make; but
by something deeper I knew that she
was not the girl I had Been in the
window at St. Agatha's. She was
more dependent, less confident and
poised: she stifled a sob and came
close. Through the window I saw Ar
thur Holbrook climbing up to blow out
the last light.
"I could have watched myself, but
I was afraid that sailor might come;
and It was he that fired at you in the
road. He had Kone to Glenarm to
watch you and keep you away from
here. Uncle Henry came back to-day
and sent word that he wanted to see
my father, and I asked you to come to
help us."
"I thank you for that."
And there was another man a
stranger, back there near the road; I
could not make him out, but you will
be careful please! You must think
very 111 of me for bringing you Into all
this danger and trouble."
"I am grateful to you. Please turn
all your trouble over to me."
You did what I asked you to do,'
she said, "when I had no right to ask,
but I was afraid of what might happen
here. It Is all right now and we are
going away; we must leave this place.'
"But I shall see you again."
"No! You have you have Helen,
You don't know me at all! You will
find yonr mistake to-morrow."
She was urging me toward the
steps that led up to the house. The
sob was still In her throat, but she was
laughing, a little hysterically, In her
relief that her father had come off un
scathed.
"Then you must let me find It out
to morrow; I will come to-morrow be
fore you go."
"No! No! This Is good-by," she
said. "You would not be so unkind as
to atay, when I am so troubled, and
there Is so much to do!"
We were at the foot of the stairway,
and I heard the shop door snap shut
"Good-night, Rosalind!"
"Good-by;
whispered.
and thank you!
CHAPTER XVII.
How the Night Ended.
As my horse whinnied and I turned
Into the wood a man walked boldly
toward me.
"My dear Donovan, I have been con
soling your horse during your absence,
It's a bad habit we have fallen Into
of wandering about at night. I liked
your dinner, but you were rather too
anxious to get rid of me. I came by
boat myself!"
Gillespie knocked the ashes from his
pipe and thrust It Into his pocket. I
wns In no frame of mind for talk with
him, a fact which he seemed to but
ml. so.
"It's late, for a fact." he continued;
"and we both oupht to be In bed; but
our various affairs require diligence. "
"What are you doing over here?" I
dejUfcHii.nl.
mm
it
1 he House ot Nuppcoheuner ,
i
II 3
ft v
1 nA M M
C. E. Wescott's Sons,
"Where Quality Counts."
Local lews.
B. B. Danlher from south of town
was In the city today.
Henry Horn from near Cedar
Creek, was In the city today.
J. D. Lewis and wife from nenr
Mynard were In the city today.
John Meisinger and wife from near
Mynard were in the city today.
C. Bengen,." one cf Cass County's
best men, wns In the city today.
W. 11. Puis from Eight Mile Orova
was a business visitor in the county
seat today'.
J. D. Putman, frcm Murray, was
in the city today looking after some
business matters. (
Alf Nickels frcm east cf Murray
was In the city today looking after
some business matters.
Chas. Reinhart from near Cullom,
was in the city today looking alter
some business matters.
Frank Wheeler Is spending tho day
In Omaha being a passenger for that
city on the early 'morning train.
C. E. Wescott and wife are spend
ing the day in Omaha going to that
city on the early train this morning.
Oliver Edmunds, of Glenwood,
came over on the mall train this af
ternoon for a short visit with his
friends here.
John Cole Is among those having
business In Omaha today to attend
to being a passenger for that city
on the early morning train.
Miss Mollle Selvers Is spending the
day In Omaha being a passenger for
that city on the early train this
morning.
Millinery Spring Opening
Thursday, Friday and
Saturday will have oti
display a beautiful line of
pattern Hats, the most
Popular shapes and designs
Please call and see
(0
TAKE A LESSON
FROM SISTER
the other fel
lows, if you
haven't 'any.
She g e t s
ready early
for Easter.
She don't
wait until the
last minute of
the 'last day.
True, you
don't need to
do as much
' fussing. That's an
advantage you have in
being a man. You
can drop in here any
day and get a jfault
lessly tailored Spring
suit in ten minutes ready
to put on. More than
that, our big assortment
and single patterns, en
ables you to make a se
lection to fit your indi
viduality like a glove.
Now is the time to pick
it out. Suits like the
picture
S20 TO S30
other good ones
$10 TO S20
Mrs. Robt. Troop was a passenger
this morning fur Omaha where she
will spend thei day visiting with
friends. '
Mrs. Charles FoRter wns among
those traveling to Omaha this morn
ing going up to make a visit with her
daughter Miss Agnes.
Mrs. Jos Novotny and son Joo are
visiting friends in Omaha today hav
ing been passengers for that city on
the early morning train.
W. Parker, wife and daughters
are among those visiting In Omaha
being passengers for that city on thj
early train this morning.
Misses Christine Soennlohsen and
Lulu Weber are spending the day la
Omaha being passengers on the early
morning train for that city.
Mrs. Robt. Sherwood and daugh
ter Carrie are spending the day la
Omaha having been passengers for
that city on the early morning train,
Mrs J. W. Newell who- spent sev
eral days In the city with her par
ents A. W. Atwood and wife was
passenger for her home in Omaha
this morning.
. Mrs. Rosa Hennlngs and her cousin
Charles Goodnetter, who has beea
making her a visit for several days,
departed this morning for Valparaiso,
Neb, where they will make an xtend
ed visit with Mrs. Hennlngs brother
who resides Bear, that city.
Louis C. Curtis came In this morn
Ing from Iowa where he has beea
visiting with relatives and friends for
several days and returned to his bar
ber shop at Union on the M. P. Mr.
Curtis whllo still very thin Is much,
Improved In health and Is feellnf