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TKE SECT COCSH JOXXXIL.
I. J. SIMMONS, FrBrltor
HARBISON, NEBRASKA.
M Fai-ar of AimuUm.
Washixgtos, Feb. 18. The presi
dent menace accompanying the
draft of a treaty for the annexation of
the Hawaiian islands, transmitted to the
senate, says the proTisional treaty does
not attempt to deal In detail with the
questions growing oat of annexation .
The Hawaiian commissioners have
consented to leave the future and to
the just and benevolent purposes of
the nited States the adjustment of
all such questions. The president says
it hits been the policy of the adminis
tra'i 'ii not only to respect but encour
age the continuance of the idependent
government of (he Hawaiian islands so
long mi it afforded a suitable guarantee
for the protection of life and property
and maintained a stability and
strenjr.ti an I gave the adequate
security against the denomination of
any otner power. The overthrow of
the monarchy was not in any war
promoted by this government, but had
its oriirin in what seems to have been a
reactionary and revolutionary policy
on the part of Queen Liliuokalani,
which put in serious peril not only the
large and preponderate interests of
I'lintNj States in the islands, but all
foreign interests and indeed the decent
administration of the civil affairs and
peace of the" islands.
QITKEN t'AXXOT BE RESCUED.
It is quite evident the monarchy
effects the government so weak and
inadequate as to be a prey to design
ing and unscrupulous persons. The
restoration of the queen to the throne
is undesirable, if not possible, and un
less actively supported by the United
States would be accompanied by serious
disaster and the disorgination of all
business interests. The influence and
interests of the United States in the
islands must be increaeed, and not
diminished. Only two courses are
now open one the establishment of a
protectorate by tl-i United States, and
the other annexation full and complete.
The president thinks the latter course,
which has been adopted in the treaty,
will be highly promotive of the best
interests of the Hawaiian people, and
the only one that will adequately secure
the interests of tbs United States.
These interests are not wholly selfish .
CNITKD STATES MUST SECURE CONTROL
It is essential that none of the
other great powers secure these islands.
.Such possession would not consist with
our safety and the peace of the world.
This view of the situation is so appar
ent and conclusive that no protest has
been heard from any government
against the proceedings looking to
annexation. Every foreign represen
tative at Honolulu promptly acknowl
edged the provisional government
"and I think," says the president,
"there is general occurrence in the
opinion that the deposed queen ought
not to be restored. Prompt action
upon the treaty is very desirable, if it
meets the approval of the senate peace
and good order will be secured in the
islands under the existing laws, until
such time as congress can provide by
legislation a permanent form of
government for the islands. This
legislation should be and I do not doubt,
will be, not only just to to the natives
and all other osidents and citizens of
the islands, but should be charaterized
by great liberality and a high regard
to the right of till the people and
all fore gners domiciled there."
OBJECTS OF THE TREATY'.
A preamble to the treaty declares
that the government of the United
States and the provisional government
of Hawaii, in view ot the natural de
pendence of those islands upon the
United State', their geographical
proximity, and the intimate part taken
by citizens of the United States in im
planting the seed of Christian civiliza
tion; of the long continuance of ex
clusive reciprocal commercial relations,
whereby mutual interests have been
developed; of the preponderant and
paramount share thus acquired by the
United States in t he productions, in.
d us trice and trade of said island, and
especially in view of the desire ex
pressed byss'd government of Hawaii
that those islands siall he incorporated
into the United states as an integral
part thereof, and urder their sovereign
ty, in order to provide for and assure
the security and prosperity of said
islands, the high contracting parties
have determined o accomplish, by
treaty, the object important to their
permanent welfarp, and to this end
conferred full power upon their respec
tive plenipotentiaries, who agreed upon
a treaty. -,-
LIKELY TO BE KATIFIEI).
A careful canvass of the senate ap
pears to ind cate that the Hawaiian
treaty will be ratified, with several
votes more than the necessary two
tUrds to pare. The limit of the op
position Is put at t wnty votes.
rSellln- Wort him Slack.
Kansas City, M , Feb. 18. Elmer
WOhbs, ax-president of the defunct
Ooattaanttl &atio-l bank, arrived in
tbs sltjr yesterday tr ulng and was ar.
r 4 on tha warrants sworn oat b)
J. l3. Porter of Hannibal, Ma, sever-
' il4 'S tfe. Porter charges Williams
v tsf hiss 000 worth ot
-i . Jjl Uak stacks nndsr false pre-
" jn teM In
ir"t- Cqr, are starry
1 .I tJZti crow
NEBRASKA LEGIsXATCBB.
Since the election of United States
senator the number of visitors in the
Capital city has greatly diminished.
During the sessions of the legislature
the hotels seem almost deserted. There
are a few anxious gentlemen from
varions parts of the state, who are
waiting the governor's somewhat tardy
action, in regard to appointments, and
there is quite an apparent feeling of dis
content among them and their friends
at the long delay. They point to the
celerity with which Gov, Boyd bounced
out the republicans, and say it was just
the thing to do, and that Gov. Crounse
ought to follow his example. Nearly
a month and a half has elapsed since
Jan. 1, and yet only o-e appointment
has been made outside of the gover
nor's own otlice, to any position of
emolument. Allen D. Beemer, of dim
ming county, has been appointed war
den of the penitentiary. There was
some talk that the independents and
democrats in the senate would refuse
to confirm the appointment, but their
action Friday morning, in voting
unanimously for his confirmation,
quieted all uneasiness on that score.
The Governor has also appointed IS. K.
B. Kennedy, Church Howe and T. J.
Majors, members of the state Board of
Education .
A Bill has been introduced to repeal
capital puishment iu the state of .Ne
braska. There is very strong opposition in all
quarters to the bill repealing state oil
inspection. It is urged that it is a
measure of the Staudard Oil Company
vhich desires to make Nebraska a
dumping ground for its poor and dan
gerous oil, that cannot be sold in ad
jacent states where they have a reason
able test and inspectors to see to it
that the oil sold in the state is up to the
test. The state oil inspector's otlice,
during the last term, has paid all of its
own expenses, including all salaries
and in addition had a balance left to
go into the state treasury, so that the
inspection costs the state nothing, pro
tects the people from the great dan
ger of bad oil, and pays a revenue to
the state.
Considerable interest is telt in
House roll No. 281, by Dimmick, which
provides that it sha 1 Le unlawful
for any individual, or member of any'
firm, or an agent, otlicer or employe of
any company or corporation to prevent
employes from forming, joining and
belonging to any labor organization,
and any such individual, ir ember, agent,
officers or employer that coerces or at
tempts to coerce employes by discharg
ing or threatening to discharge any
person from their employ or the em
ploy of any firm, company or corpor
ation because of their connection with
such lawful labor organization, shall
be lined in any sum pot exceeding 3300
or imprisonment lor not more than
six months or both, in the discretioa of
the court The report of the com
mittee recomirending the passage of
the bill was adopted.
House Holl No. 112, by Mr. Jensen is
a bill for an act to recount the ballots
cast for and against the amendment to
the constitution relating to executive
officers, and the amendment to the con
stitution relative to the permanent
school fund, on the 8th day of Novem
ber, 1892, and to declare the result.
Bill passed with emergency clause and
title agreed to.
This bill, house roll No. 112, is the
first bill to pa-s both houses with the
single exception of the bill for an ap
propriation of money for the payment
of members and employes of this ses
sion of the legislature. Gov. Crounse has
signed the bill and it is now a settled
fact that the votej cast on the consti
tutional amendments will be recounted.
Following 8 a poition of the hill:
Section I. The county clerks of
each cowry within this state are here
by required to forward to the secretary
of state, ou or before this 15th day of
February, 1893, all the ballots and poll
books returned to said clerks by the
judge and clerks of the election held on
the 8th day of November, 1892. -
Sec. 2. The receetary and auditor of
state, together with two senators, to be
appointed be the senate, and three
members of the house of represena
tives,tobe appointed by the house,
shall constitute a board to inspect,
count and compare, and they shall
open, cocnt and compare said ballots
and poll books so returned by the
clerks of the several counties, so far as
said ballots relate to the amendments
to the constitution of the state of
Nebraska, submitted at said election,
relating to the executive officers and
relating to the permanent school fond,
and transmit to the governor their
find thereon, and declare the result on
or before the 1st day of March, 1803.
House roll, No. 230, by Fulton, pro
vides that the judicial power of this
state ihall be vested in the supreme
court, appellate court, district court,
county courts, justices of tba peace,
police magistrates, and in sueh other
courts inferior to the district courts, as
may be creased by law and cities . and
incorporated towns, and-that this stata
shall be divided into two or more
appellate districts. Recommended to
pass as reported by committee.
Bouse roil. No. 222, by WitbneU,
provides that ft person of foreign
birth now exercising the right of suff
rage ia this state on his dsclaratioa of
Intention to Tecome a citlsen. may
esntkraa to do so until tha expira
tion of Ave years from tba - time
of ssxh declaration; after which ttsM
bs nast become a cltiasn of tbs
United States to be entitled to cur.
also the aieetiva franchise. Too mart
of theeomnlttm th'ttit do pass was
adopted.
DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
MEASURES CONSIDERED AND
ACTED UPON.
Malaga's Capital-What Is
by tha Scuta aau
Sfattara PIoid Or aad Maw Oaaa Caa-
The periods ot tbe Fenato Monday
ot a character at once interesting and Im
portant. Tbe junior representative from
Mew York, Senator Hill, uiada in motion
of which he had given notice last Friday
to proceed to tbe consideration of tha bill
to repeal the Sherman Uver-parehaae act
aad In support of the motion delivered a
carefully prepared speech. In which ha de
clared himself unconditionally a friend of
free bimetallic coinage. Tha motion was
defeated by nearly a two-thirds majority,
the vote being yeas 23. nays 42. After
ward the quarantine bill was taken up
and passed without a division, also a bill
for the payment out of (he ireasury of lo
cal taxes on lands held by Indians In sev
eralty. Finally tbe automatical-coupler
bill was taken up and discusied for a time,
when It went over. Senator Hill presented
a petition ot the business men of Roches
ter, N. Y-, Irrespective of parly, In favor
of the repeal of the Sherman act. Senate
bill to authorise a bridge over the Monon
gahela River from Pittsburgh to Home
stead was passed. This was suspension
day In tbe House, and Mr. Kligore, of
Texas. soon began filibustering motions. His
apparent object was to prevent tbe consid
eration of the anll-optlon bill, but deeper
than this was his antagonism to tbe bank
ruptcy bill, which public rumor had put
down on tbe slate for the day. It was af
ter 1 o'clock vhen the various filibustering
motions ot Mr. Kligore were dlspoied of
and the Journal approved. Tbei Mr. Itunn
moved to suspend the rules and pass a bill
appropriating 132,039 for the relief ot tbe
heirs of Adelicla Cho eau. Mr. Burrows
demanded a second, and. as no quorum
voted, on motion of Mr. Kligore a call of
the House was ordered. The call (bowed
the presence ot a quorum and tellers were
again ordered. Again no quorum voted
and again a call of the Ifonse was ordered.
After several other roll calls tbe Rouse ad
journed without having reached the ant!
ontlon or the bankruptcy bill.
The House Tuesday made fair progress
with one of the great appropriation bllla
That legislative bill appropriates upward
of t21.500.0O0. Aside from a review of the
condition of tbe treasury hy Messrs. Ding
ley and Dockery divergent views and an
attack on the clvll-servlce law by Mr.
Dearmond the proceedings were uninter
esting. Senator Cbandler managed to give
a political twist to the debate In the Senate
on tbe automatic-coupler bill He brought
up a resolution In the National Demo
cratic platform which denounces the
Republican party and the Republican
Senate for not having provided leg
islation for tbe protection of rail
road employes, and ho Insisted that the
position of so many Democratic Senators
against the bill as 'nconslstent with their
party fealty. He twitted them with tha
fact that only seven of tbem had voted to
take op the bill for the repeal ot the Sher
man act, knowlnr the declaration of the
National PemocratlcOonventlon on the sub
ject nf silver, and knowing tbe entreaties
of the President-elect to have the Sherman
act repealed before March 4. Mr. Wolcott,
while arguing aratnst the automatic
coupler bill, said that no other Senator
than Mr. Cbandler could have fouud a po
litical advantage In It. After a great deal
of talk back and forth no action was taken
on the bllL
On Wednesday the Senate resumed con
sideration of the railway car-coupler bill.
Mr. Peffer took exception to some remarks
made by Mr. Wolcott, reflecting, a Mr.
Peffer thought, on the fr.rmers end work
lngmen ot the country, and lie hoped that
the bill would pace, no matter bow much it
might cost the railway companies. Ha had
no qualms of conscience on that point
Mr. Gorman argued that tho organization
of railway employes could accomplish
more In the way of lmrrjvement than
all the legislation trmt could te piled on tha
statute book. Mr. Cullora declared it had
got to be a question whether Congress
would put money against tho blood of rail
road employes, and whether money was
more valuable than the Uv.-sof these men.
Various amendments were offered, but
without action the Senate, after an execu
tive session, adjonrned. The Speaker laid
before the House the House quarantine
bill, with Senate amendment, and Mr. Bay
nor moved a concurrence. A few mo
menta before 1 o'clock Doorkeeper
Turner announced the presence of the Vies
President and Senate cf tbe United States,
and tbe vast assemblage tow with one ac
cord to do tbem honor. The Vice President
took the cbalr assigned to him at tha right
ot the Speaker, and tbe Senators occupied
tbe first four rows of the seats to the right
of the presiding officer. Tha counting of
the electoral vote was then proceeded
with, and at Its completion tbe Senate re
turned to its own hall. When the Sonata
retired the House te-umed In committee
the consideration of the legislative appro
priation bllL Without disposing ot tba bill
the committee and the House adjourned.
Thursday was silver day In the House,
and the friends of silver were victorious in
the tight by a majority of ft They sustained
tho demand for the previous question on
tha resolution setting apart Thursday and
Friday tor the consideration of tha bill
repealing tbe Sherman act. The whole of
the day's session of ths Senate after the
morning hour was devoted to a discussion
of the railway automatic car-coupler bill.
At noon tbe Senate went into executive
session, and tbe doors remained closed for
snore than bait an hour. Whan they wore
reopened the unfinished business, tha auto
matic car-coupler bill, was taken up, but.
wltbout concluding the consideration of
the bill the Senate adjourned.
The time of tha House Friday waa taken
up by the pension debate. Tbe bill pro
poses an expenditure of $180,000,000, a cat
of SS.000,000 from what was asked. Mr.
Hntchler argued In support of the changes
in tha pension laws recommended by tba
committee. There were, he said, thousands
and many thousands of men who were on
tha pension rolls to-dny who had never
beard tha whistle of the bullet dr yet the
roar of artillery. H'. Oront admitted that
the amount of money required for the pay
ment of pensions was f large one. But It
must be remembarad that the bulk of It
was for Invalid veterans or for
tha widows ot men " ho bad lain down
their Uvea for their country. Ha was op
posed to tba transfer of the Pension Bu
reau as proposed by the MIL W't out
closing tbe general debate tbe committee
rose and the Tloure toik a recrss. The de
bate in tba Senate on tho automatic car
ronpler bill waa not of an enlivening or
even an Interesting chnracter. Tha Vice
President presented the memorial of the
Chicago Chamber of Commerro favoring
the anexatton ot the Hawaiian Islands, and
It was referred to the Committee on For
eign Relations The bill to provide tor
sundry llghthouf-a and other aids to-navl-gation
was passed It came from tha
Bouse. Tha calendar was taken np and
several minor bills ert passed. The con
ference report on H'e b it to restore to ths
Eibllc domain a p-rtion of the White
ountaln Apache Indian Reservation was
presented and agreed to, and tbe Senate ad
jonrned. Jasaee A. Bbtln. '
A MTSTSBious nan. Toronto Mall.
Was not bora to dlo. Minneapolis
Tribune.
Ths most illustrious American. Bos
ton Beoord.
Bia-HSABTTB, cenerou, and bitter.
New Orleans gutcs.
Tan neatest A me' lean of reeeat
ttsjss Sew Xork, Trlbvs,
Tsa foressost private eltuen of tha
repabUe. Boston Journal.
AsnonoA has prod need tow more brU
Uat
Kkkasoal State.
a
9
"V - ew.S Slv'SN
m wr af r
CSgSTT
CHAPTEK XI.
IS OJiE ACT.
Rav Webster!
A visible menace, a weird, haunting
iread, as the full truth burst upon the
nind of tbe astounded, overwhelmed
Arnold Dacre, for the first time in his
bold, evil experience ot wrong-doing, he
lusiled and weakened like the veriest
:raven.
To dispose of a too effectually, to
map out a straight course of progress for
t new career, and to have that toe ap
ear, silently, secretly, and score the
6rst point In the game, was enough to
llsmay a more resolute soul than that or
.he over-confident plotter.
In a flash he discerned the truth. Tbe
tell-tale ticket had revealed all. A good
conduct bsdgc, entitling an inmate ot
.he state penitentiary to certain privi
leges as a reward for meritorious beha
vior, who could have possessed it but
the owner of that number, 2,324, who
;ould have dropped it in tho carriage
leat. but the driver of the vehicle?
And convict No. 2,324, as Arnold Da
:re well knew, was no other than the ex
rlerk of the bank, the alleged embezzler,
-ho disgraced lover of Flora Merwyn
Kay Webster!
Ho had escaped, that was certain. He
had returned to Ridgefield. He bad ar
rived at an opportune moment, at a criti
cal climax in the affairs of the bank
and ho had actod!
Struck dumb with a full realization ot
what that meant, the villain' chilled
with vague augury and dread. Ho had
been mistaken when he had said that
but two persons in the world possessed a
knowledge ot tbe vault combination, the
dead banker and himself. There was
yet another, but so securely had he
wound a net of seeming guilt about that
third person, so strongly bad he shut
him In to a loathsome prison cell, that
ho had never remembered that Ray
Webster also knew tho secret key to the
massivo vaultdoor. That knowledge had
probably saved Flora Morwyn's life, and
had robbed the schemer of his victim.
He had appeared mysteriously, bo must
have witnessed the interview between the
schemer and his confederate, John Whar
ton. The ladder, the carriage! Rescu
ing the imperiled girl, conveying her to
tho vehicle, he had removed her from
tho power ot her enemies.
Then
Then! The strong man shivered as h
recalled the awful debt of blight and
wrong the innocent Ray Webster owed
him as he recalled, too, the firm, reso
lute nature of the escaped convict. A
worthier champion Flora Merwyn could
not have found, for what vengeance and
dutv might fail to accomplish love would
certainly attain.
"Baffled beaten!" he found voice to
hiss forth at last, and ho staggered into
the open air with a wild impulse to fly
the scone precipitately, ere the avenger
appeared to betray, to unmask, to pun
ish lilm.
"Tho monev.the fortune the package
I entrusted to John Wharton, that first!"
bo gasped, "it is folly to remain hero
now. The story of Ray Webst?r would
raise a storm of suspicion that the cor
oberatfve evidence of Flora Merwyn
would augment to certainty. No, every
hour's delay is fraught with danger. It
is flight row flight only. I must see
Wharton, and at once."
A bittor scowl darkened the sinister
face. Fortune was much; luxury the
key-note of this man's nature, but the
fair face ot Flora Merwyn had been a
lode-star in the past Ho was suscep
tive of at least one genuine emotion he
valued her love, he had craved it, ho had
sworn to possess it, and now, with a
muttered malediction he hurried for
ward. All that must be abandoned. .
He arrived at John Wharton's lodgings.
At the foot of the stairs stood a little
group. They were discussing tho old
clerk's queer behavior. Dacre glided
into the shadow and listened to them
unseen.
"He's gone clear daft," spoke one.
"Why! when I asked him if the bank
would pay a dividend of ten cents on the
dollar, he laughed in a silly way and
said be expected two millions from the
government in new gold coin to-morrow."
"Yes," spoke up a second, "and he's
been cutting pasteboard into bits, and
pretending they were drafts on New
York. Oh! his troubles have certainly
driven him witless. Poor, honest fellow!
little ho dreamed ot the villainy of
others, that was to drive him out In the
world a pauper In his old age."
A covert smile crossed Dscre's face
as bn stolo noiselessly up the stairs. .
The court would scarcely attempt to
question a lunatic as to the affairs of tho
tank. Oh! it was a royal game, ad
mirably played. Pitty tor it, that, after
all this shrewd, careful plotting, flight
should be necessary, with but half the
precious Drey at stake attained!
The sounds of an excited voice raised
In frantic, incoherent tumult quickened
Dae re's steps. He pressed tho knob of
the door that led into the old clerk's
sleeping apartment. A vivid picture
tilled his vision as he did so.
There stocd the Sheriff, a cloud of
concern and distress on his brov, re
garding a wild, uncouth figure, crouch
ing against tho bed, John Wharton's
ashen face glowered forth strangely.
Even Dacre, believing it all a farce, all
pretence, tost sight of the superb acting
of his subordinate. In tbe awful frenzy
the miserable wretch portrayed.
"Checks drafts bills of exchange.
Step up gentlemen, take your choice,
millions in fresh, crisp bang-notes, bill
ions In government bonds and foreign
securities, and In the vaults gold!"
Thus pratod the old, clerk, quietly
enough. Of a sudden, however, he fixed
his eyes on vacancy. With a terrible
scream, ho sprang to the other side of
the room.
"Gold? No! no!" he shrieked wildly,
"It Is not gold. It Is Flora Merwyn's
olden tresses. Get her out get her
out! Mercy! do not cross the checks
with red Ink It is the life-blood of
Danker Merwyn murdered!, murdered!
Gold! gold! gold! ray heart Is filled with
It, sad I ass slaking, sinking, sinking to
perdition!'' -
A quick tokei "of alarm came Into
Arnold Dec re's eyes. Was this shsev
stlng acting? Way tats Illation te the
misting girl, this terriblr realistic horror.
In tbe haunted eves of the old clerbf
Had tbs weak, vacillating mind, In act
ing a part, over ttspped tbs boundary
rS-S
FORTUNE.
line of reality, aud drifted a hopeless
wreck upon the blank sea of insanity'
"What shall we do with him?'' eked
the Sheriff, in an awed whisper.
"Leave me alone with him." returned
Dacre, assuming a confidence he scarcely
experienced.
The Sheriff bowed assentinglv. and
with a sigh of relief left the apartment
Dacre closed and locked the door after
him. Then he approached Ms crouching,
muttering hireling.
"Wharton!"
Something iu the stem domineering
tone of the tyrant, potent as of old to
sway him for the moment fixed the
mind of the man addressed.
"Well, faithful old partner " cried Da
cre, slapping tbe tretuhilng wretch fa
miliarly on the shoulder. "You've
pulled the wocl over their eyes, all
of them. Why, man! yon would make
your fortune on tho mimic stage. And
now, to business!"
"Business? Yes ! yes! Rothschild ca
bled me yesterday "
"Shut up that jargon! Your part of
the farce is over now," interrupted Da
cre." We're to leave, Wharton, we're
to divide, depart, and enjoy our fortune
in foreign lands. Worth the plotting
and the waiting, eh! old friend? Quick,
John! the package."
"The package," repeated Wharton,
like an automaton. "'I'liero was one
of drafts from the Hank of England.''
Arnold Dacre started. He regarded
his companion sharply. Something in
tho dazed, uncertain eyes chilled him
with a sudden, sickening sense of dis
aster, lio shook him roughly.
"Corao, Wharton! collect your scat
tered wits," 'he ordered impatiently."
"The package! I want it. Where have
you hidden It?"
"It sunk!" With a shriek that filled
his auditor, John Wharton screamed
forth the word, and sprartg to the floor
with eyes of terror once more. "There
was Webster starving to death in a prison
ceil, there was Merwyn murdered by us.
there was pretty, golden-haired Flora
choked to death In the vault. Tbey took
it, and Bunk.danclng, dancing, dancing!"
Tbe wild outburst terminated in a
yell of agony. Frothing at the moutli,
torn in a terriblo convulsion, tho old
bank clerk sank helpless at the feet of
tho appalled plotter.
White to tbe lips, that plotter reeled
where ho stood. With a heart of lead,
and a brain whirling, he realized that ho
had sold his soul for a glittering bribe
that had el tided his eager grasp at last.
For this was uo acting this was no
fcirncd lunacy.
He had given his hireling a part to
play, and full-well had old John Whar
ton enacted the role.
lie would never bo called on to testify
in court no fear of that now! No dan
ger of complications arising from what
those witless lips might utter!
For Wharton was stark, raving mad.
t'HAPTEIl XII.
DISGUISED.
With empty hands and empty heart,
Arnold Dacre stool regarding the wreck
of his last hope. Sin had brought its lit
reward.
His soul sank as he realized that those
babbling lips might never betray the
secret of the missing package.or. If ever,
too late to avail hi in, for flight was now
more imperative than ever. With an
abundance of money, he could pick his
path to safety, penniless, he was as for
lorn a fugitive as the escaped ex-convict
himself.
"The money tho money! where was
it would It escape him after all bis
careful plotting? The thought burned
into his reeling brain, and coupled with
It was the bitter knowledge that he had
lost Flora Merwyn, that every waning
hour might te bringing the resolute
avenger, Ray Webster, closer and closer
upon his track.
For Ray Webster was alive he knew
it. circumstances proved it, and the fair,
crushed girl who had seen her lover seem
ingly dashed to his doom, and had fran
tically rushed away to share the fate ot
a beloved father, had mourned him
vainly.
Stunned, benumbed, helpless, Ray
Webster had been flung by the treach
erous waters of the river upon a broad
rock. There, panting, nerveless, he had
lain for an hour or more.
What the scheming scoundrel Arnold
Dacre bad theorized as to .his latter
movements, was practically correct. He
bad finally gained sufficient strength to
swim ashore to find Flora gone, and too
late to overtake and warn her Imperiled
father, but not too late to resolve to de
feat the schemes of the man whose false
testimony had placed upon him the
brand of the convict
He knew ah! how surely ho knew!
that careful plotting bad robbed him of
his good name. He knew that the fail
ure of the bank must be the work of his
enemy, Arnold Dacre. By secluded
lanes, stealing from shelter to shelter,
fearing recognition, pursuit, arrest, he
finally gained the stables of tho Merwyn
homestead, and thence the court that
terminated directly undor the windows
of the private ofiico ot the bank.
His had been the hand that had placed
the ladder against tho window sill, his
the face that had peered In on a scene
that fully evidenced the villainy of tho
falsehearted cashier. He heard his In
junction to Wharton, he realized tho
peril ot Flora, be d seemed his own
weakness as a champion be, a hunted
fugitive! He saw Flora shut Into the
dark vault. Then, his purses throbbing,
he sprang into tho room, once It was
vacated. Memory supplied the old
combination to tho lock. Still senseless,
he bore Flora from tho apartment, down
the ladder, across ths court, and, plac
ing her tenderly among the sort cushions
of tho carriage, tried to think out tho
difficult problem of the hoar.
Confinement and suffering had sharp
ened his reasoning faculties. As he re
flected on the boldness and power of his
unscrupulous enemy, he decided that his
first move must be to convey Flora to a
place of safety. He dared notevan trust
tbe housekeeper. Planning swiftly, he
attached the horses to the vehicle.
Drawing IU curtains and donning tbe
enveloping cloak and sheltering slouch
hat of tbs driver, he boldly sped from
tbe scene. Mile after mils ba traforsed.
lis bad a definite point of progress Is
view. He reached it finally ion,
sequestered csUa'ia tba woods. Ba-
moving Flora, he pieced her tenderly tm
a rustic ench. Thee, turning tho
horses' has homewards again, be atreck
tbem a . rp blow, aad steeds aad
vehicle sot lisappeared In the uttc
He approached the open, viae eaabow
ered window of tbe cottage wlta aa
eager face. It brightened quickly as ao
peered In. .
Seated in an old-fashioned rocser.
humming a homely tune aad sewing, sat
an old womsn whose sad, patient smile
and silvered balr formed an aureole of
angelic beauty to that careworn face.
She looked up with a nervous start as
he stepped across the threshold. Then
the slight token of fear disappeared
from her face, sad she arose with at
tended arms and learning eyes.
"Oh! Mr. Webster, my friend, it W
you? Welcome! welcome."
Rsy Webster looked earnestly into the
tear-stained, friendly face.
"Mrs. Alden," he said gravely. "I see
you are surprised, you wonder how I, a
convict"
"A convict? A martyr! Oh, Mr.
Webster! do you think that I for a mo
ment telieved you guilty? I have writ
ten you, I tried to see you"
"Yes, yes, 1 kuow. We will talk of that
later," Interrupted Ray seriously. "Do
you remember telling me once, that If
ever I was in trouble you would help me?"
"I would dlo for you!" cried the old
woman, her wan fsce flushing with tbe
earnestness of love anddfevotlon." When
my poor crippled husband and myself
were turned from our little borne in
Ridgefield. yon nobly saved us from the
poor house. Your means purchased us
this quiet paradise, you crowned our old
aie with peace aud plenty, my hnsband
died blessing you. and 1 command! my
lifo Is yours."
Rriefiv, ratiidly but coherently, Ray
Webster told his story to the old woman.
She listened with a shudder as be
depicted the bla-'fness of Arnold Dscre's
heart, the misery hn had' wrought, her
eyes were one great glow of sympathy
aud love, as he aske l her to care for
Flora Merwyn for a fen days.
"Mie must not return to Ridgefield,"
lie said.
"lint when she wakens tho thought of
her father will impel her to hasten
thither."
It must not be you will tell hor that
a friend a true friend rescued her from
tho bank vault. She thinks me doad.
You must not onlizhten her yet Keep
her here until I return."
' You are goiug awav? You may be
recognized!"
"I will be careful," replied Bey. sol
emnly. "I have a great work to do, and
and tor the sake ot this beloved, be
reaved, creature, I will not court dan
ger. Hut I need money to prosecute my
plans against Arnold Dacre, I need adls
gu:e "
Tho woman started.
"Stay!" she spoke quite excitedly. "A
disguise? Tbe gypsies taught me a cu
rious art once. Mr. WebMcr, will you
consent to remain here until to-morrow
morning, if I agree to furnish you with a
disguise that your own ' friends would
never pierce?"
"Can you do this?" queried Webster,
skeptlcly.
"Yes."
He gave a dubious consent Flora,
still white and helpless, was brought In
to the hut. and Mrs. Aldcu placed her
on her own snowy bed.
" "She has suffered a sovorrERaek, -shaf
ts all,-0 - she said t-omfortfKsjIy to tbe
anxious Ray. "Do not fear. I shall re
vive and control her. Come with me
now."
She led the way to a shed and to its
attic.
"You will bo safe here if traced," she
said. "There is a cot upon which you
can rest."
"But I can not sleep, Mrs. Alden,"
demurred Webster. "Every moment Is
precious."
"Trust me," smiled his hostess en
couragingly. "You will not regret it
Drink this," and she tendered a cup, Into
which she poured a mixture from a bottle.
Drug or sedative, it sent Ray Web
ster's wearied senses Into dense but re
freshing slumber almost immediately. It
was daylight again when be awoke.
"A night a whole precious night
gone!" he cried, springing In dismay to
his feet
"Do not excite yourself," spoke a re
assuring voice, and he looked up to see
his faithful hostess putting away a cloth
mask, shears, pigments and some saucers
containing stains of various hues.
"Flora!" ejaculated Ray In a palpita
ting breath.
"She k sleeping quietly. She revived
during the night, but I gave her a com
posing draught. Do not foar. I will
carry out your wishes regarding her.
And now you can go it you like, and
heaven guide you In the battle of right
against wrong!"
"Yes, I must go." repeated Ray slowlyl
"I must secure a disguise, I must get
some money."
The old woman pointed to a suit of
neat, home-spun clothes lying across a
a chair, and to a little bag heavy with
coin,
"Both are provided for you," she
smiled, "I am thankful my little saving
come In so appropriately, and, believe
mo, I cau spare them."
"How shall I thank you?" murmured
Webster gratefully, "but tbe disguise
these clothes will aid It, but my face"
Tho old woman extended a pair of
dark blue spectacles with a curious 'mile.
"Put them on," she directed.
Ray Webster obeyed mechanically aud
wonderlngly.
"Now, I00.C." .
As she spoke, she held a small mirror
before his face.
"I told you the gypsies' had taught mo
JJI0 curlous things," she reiterated.
They showed the play actor's art-bow,
with peculiar pigments and stains, a
face could bo masked. I could disguise
any ane. Uok, Mr. Webster. You
wanted a disguise. Ia It safer'
Ray Webster did look. For a mo
ment, utter consternation filled bis soul.
He could scarcely credit the evidence of
his senses. The face that reflected back
at him from the little mirror, was utterly
unfamiliar and strange.
Arid then, a fierce, wild Joy super
vened. He had sought a disguise. Tho
deft hand of a faithful friend bad tup.
piled It marvalotisly.
. J'i? B10r thn d'twuhte. It was a
r.iT Bl" Prv'ui identity.
Why! even Flora would not know him.
Ho was safe to go out Into the world
;-ur 'ow his enemy Into his
Like a young knight arrayed for com
bat, he sprang up ready for battle.
ti.r.-.f?.!!mn " the race to
tbe swiftest runner. Let Arnold Daera
look well to falmtelt. Isf coaSsSJ
flirt of wrong arainst right, ta ttSfc
relenting warfare of tha cUmrtoa of
lore, honor, aad duty!
to r ooarnrinral
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