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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 1917)
THE HILLMAN By E.PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM CHAPTER XV—Continued. —9— -It - «(K]<it*rfu!!” Sophy (l<v‘ irwL “Try ii'l !<ar ?I«* tlirwid «*f it Jill in your itnJ. K«>r two ucis you tiave tvec asked to f u» your attention upon the lormMiat brutality of the tnarq’w. Kriiirttlift that, won’t you?" “Not likely to forget it." Johu re plied. “How well they all act!" There w - .1 quarter <>f an hour s .uteria! lh<- -urtain rose again. Itumor* •■..ni. the last act had Ixo-rt :1 • about for weeks, and the house • moat tense with excite* snetit a* the < urtum went up. The scene was »!.» * untry chateau of the “Matqui* ijuy.' who brought a ijoim . from Paris without .*.. anting His wife showed Ugv~ oi - ay at his coming. He had !•!' .„*;,! With him women whom ailft4“ *<* rvt'vive. TV sr” * - • : • ? her hus hand are: !. :<• ’f t«»>k place in the squar* hall f the chateau on the first floor L uise reaffirms her intention of lea ring the house. Her hu*-«Hind am.:.' ..t r. Her i*s:tion Is hoi»e- ■ lea*. -Wha: ra; tfii d..T h m.cks. >:.e sr,;.**r sh- 'irdera r.nd passes into her r«* Th* marquis sinks upon a settee, and present 1> is joined by oat of the ladies who hate traveled with him from Parts. He talks to »« of the , • .res uj>- a wall. She is inijotietit • n< ei tl. Marquise de Cuy. The marquis km-'ks at h:« wife's door. Her i tt** Is heard clearly, after a moment > pause. “In a few ni -ltiti-sshe replies. Ti.*- marquis resumes his ntrtunon. HU ;*!.■• m bee..mes impatient— the marquis is** pledged hi* word that she should !«■ received by his wife. An aarient rt.:: .ty again*’ tie- Marquise de <»uy pr» ••. fcer to insist. Tie- i..;ir i -.- shrue* his shoulders and kts-k- nK.re loudly than ever at his wife'* <'.■■■ r. She c.*m«* out dressed fir travel and is met l<y Faraday, who suddenly appears. : 1 do," «be to her lover. “You see now r Th< r>- w - :. moment'* ’'tea’hless sl leare -i r jgh *1 *- li u*>- The seene in itself w a« :. li"le ii-vood anything that T3«- udi.-l.--e had expected. Sophy, who had ten • r.ir.g over the edge of *?»e ie,s. turn d around in no little eaxiety. heard the door slam. John had disnj>i«-ared I He >f. The "li*: r with only his hat In hi hand turning up his coat by in sTinrt *« he pt.is.-d through the driving r t AH lt:« senses seemed tingling With w.r.;e namei.-ss horror. The hril liaij'■ *<f the i.~ng'.r:ge he subtlety of the situation, seemed like some evil troll drown across that one horrible climax It was I-orise who had come from that room and pointed to Fnra dsy * He reached bis poor,'—he scarcely knew how—and waived upstairs. There fce threw off im. of h - dripping gar arents opened the window w|de. and r td »ber». H- looked out over *hr Thames, and tie re ■* a* a red flare U-f.ire his eyes. CtepheR was right, he told hitnself. There was t*otb»ng but evil to he found here nothing bur hitter disappnint kent rf'U-ng but Th<‘ pain which deejs cos into Anguish. Better to remain Bie Stephen unloving and unloved. to draw n«-:r.*r to the mountains. to find Joy in the crops and the rain and the nun'li ne. to listen stonily to the cry of human being* as if to so in** voice front an nknown world. He n**d a little further front the window. and cased into tlie court at a diZ7 > oth lelnw. He had cut himself •dnf* from the pence which might have been * . He vnoiit never know again The J«y* of hi' earlier life. It was for this tit: t he had fought so many bat tle* e|unc tightly to one ideal—for I**:"-, who could show herself to ant ttf who -Tired to pay his shilling or hi- hntf-gulaen. glorying in her dis honor; w .rse than glorying in it—find ing -me sui t le humor In the little Res tore wi*h which she had j-.inted. un nst aed. to her 'over J. m lent a little lower from the win w. a sudden dizziness seemed to l—ve come oTer him. Tlien he was tercel to turn around. His door had ►ft quick!» opened and shut. It was hiq>hj who was crossing toward him. tie- raiu dMataf from her ruined •pert. clank. “John ~ 'be cried. “Oh. John!“ Sle !«'! inn back to his chair and tee * by h.' '. Se. She held his hands lightly. » *'ut feel like this." she robed, “is mustn't. John, really! Tot d*«n‘t - rstand. It's all a play, leb-se wo .:,'t natty do anything like thatr H« stiver, t Nevertheless. he s**' - ' 1* and drew her closer re him. "tb .lease. r'tefi to roe.** she b"'cc*si. ’ ' ai --rer. 1* u. s- is her •df aga »* letfs Maarvh Tbe Jins Is'*’ <Je «■ never ttved except q«o taww hnnh It is s-topiy a wonderful crenSon. At «or «f the stent sc tr~w»s -*w*U piny th» pert and gwry In H—the very John Ok It’s tee »* wuztfa*. «<r Jo*. They are all waiting at the *n«|wr ywr-y. Ton are •npeeted. Ten tens? g>- and tell her that pi think «i' *<«n rfd.'* slowly nu feet and raazht 1 keep fhr swayed few n thing Hasted Mte ter ten- -nd toward •way. “ -ttenr - wf'J *n few voo. It s Looine yes begged. want—not me. Nothing that she has (lone tonight should make her anv the leSs worthy of yvu and your iove.” He str<xle away into the farther room. He reappeared in a moment or two. his hair smoothly brushed, his tie newly arranged. "I'll cmue. little girl." he promised. '•I don't know what I'll say to her. but I'll come. There can't he any hurrn in that !" "t >f course not." she answered cheer fully. “You're the most terrible goose. Joan." she added, as they walked down the corridor. “Do. please, lose your tragical air. The whole world is at Louise's feet tonight. You mustn't let her know how absurdly you have been fs ding. Tomorrow- yon will find that every paper in Loudon \v«P be acclaim ing her genius.” John squared his shoulders. “All the same.” he declared grimly, “if 1 couid iiuru the theater and the play, and lock up GraiUot for a month, tonight. I'd d > it CHAPTER XVI. The days and weeks drifted into months, and John remained in London. His circle of friends and his interests had widened. It was only his rela tions with Louise which remained still unchanged. Always charming to him. giving him much cf her time, favoring him. beyond a doubt, more than any of her admirers, there was yet about her something elusive, something which seemed intended to keep him so far as possible at arm's !c’>gth. There was nothing tangible of which he c >nld complain, and this probation ary period was of his own suggestion. He bore it grimly, bolding bis place, whenever it was possible, by her side with 'logged persistence. Then oue eve ning there was a knock at his door, and Stephen Strangewey walked in. Stephen, although he seemed a little taller and gaunter that, ever, though lie seemed to bring into the perhaps overwunned atmosphere of John's lit It’s Louise You Want—Not Me. tie sitting room something of the cold austerity of his own domain, had evi dently come in no unfriendly spirit. He t««d: both his brother's hands in his and gripped them warmly. "I can't tell you how glad ! am to s«* you. Stephen!” John declared. “It has been an effort to tne to come." Stephen admitted. "I am one of the old-fashioned Strangeweys. What I feel is pretty well looked up inside. The last time you and I met perhaps I spoke too much; so here I am !" “It’s fine of you." John declared. "I remember nothing of that day. We will look at things squarely together, even where we differ. I'm—” He broke off in the middle of his sen ten<-e. The door hud been suddenly opened, and Sophy ('.erard made a somewhat impetuous entrance. "I’m absolutely sick of ringing, John." she exclaimed. “Oh, I beg your pardon! I hadn't the least idea you had anyone with you.” She stood still in surprise, a little apologetic smile upon her lips. John hastened forward and welcomed her. “It's all right. Sophy." he declared. I.et tue Introduce tuy brother, may IT My brother Stephen—Miss Sophy Gerard." Stephen rose slowly from Ids place, laid down his pi[>c. and bowed stiffly to Sophy. Site held out her hand, how j ever, and smiled up at him delightfully. "How nice of you to come and see > ir poor. lonely brother!" she said. ; “We have done our best to spoil him. but I'm afraid he is wry homesick — -motlines. I hope you've come to stay a long time and Unlearn all about Lo« don. as John is doing. If you are half s nice as he is. we'll give you such a good time!" From t' great height. Stephen looked down upon the girl's upturned face a little »«st»tdy. She chattered away, entirety trns hashed. “I <t» !*•**• you're mu shocked at my bursting la u|w>n your brother like this' We realty are great pais, ami I live .»niy ju - arras the way. We are ranch less formal up here, you knew, than you are in the country. J»dm. I've ‘e-si i yon a menmtge from Louts*." *A!snt tonight Y She WshW. >s most frightfully sorry." sh * npls'nM. TmI rite has to go down to S'Tvntham tv -pen a barter, and she can't jsissib y be back In time to dine before the theater. Oan you gues- what she dared to sugo-st T “I think I can.' John replied, smiling -Say yon will, th.-re's “ dear." 1 l*egceJ. ”1 am not playing tonight. May Bnser is going on in my place. We arranged it a week ago. I had two fines to pay on Saturday, and I haven't had a decent meal this week. But I had forgotten." site broke off. with a sudden note of disappointment In her tone. “There’s your brother. I musn't take you away from him.” “We’ll all have dinner together.” John suggested. “You’ll come, of course. Stephen?” Sfephen shook his head. "Thank you," he said. ”1 am due at my hotel. I'm going Imck to Cumber land tomorrow morning, and my errand is already done." “You will do nothing of the sort!” John declared. “Please be amiable." J^phy begged. “If you won't come with us. 1 shall s’ntply run away and leave you with ’ohn. Yon needn't look at your rlothes." she went on. “We can go to a grillroom. John sha'n’t dress, either. I want you to tell me all about Cum berland. where this brother of yours lives. He doesn't tell us half enough John passed his arm through his brother’s and led hiiu away. “Come and have a wash, old chap." he said. They dined together at i.mct s. a rnriously assorted trio—Sophy, be tween the two men, supplying a dis tinctly alien note. She was always gay. always,amusing hut although she addressed most of her remarks to Stephen, he never once uul>ent. He ate nnd drank - I apt himself or his plans, and firmly n> gs tiving all their suggestions for th-- re mainder of the evening. Occasionally he glanced at the clock. John became ! conscious of a certain feeding of curi osity. which in a sense Sophy shared. "Your brother stems to me like a man with a purpose.” 'he said, as they stood in the entrance hall on their way out of the restaurant. "Like a prophet with a mission, perhaps I should say.” John nodded. In the little passage where they stood. he and Stephen seemed to dwarf the passers-!>y. The men. in their evening clothes and pallid faces, seemed suddenly insignificant, and the women like dolls. “For the last time. Stephen.” John said, “won’t you come to a music hall with us?' “I htiTe made my plans for the eve ning. thank you." Stephen replied, holding out his hand. “Good night 1” He left them standing here and walked off down the Stnir.d. John, look ing after him. frowned He was con scious of a certain fore!«od:ag. “I suppose.” Sophy sighed, as they waited for a taxicab, “we shall spend the remainder of the evening in the I usual fashion 1" i “Do you mind?" J dm asked. ’ “No." she assented res guedly. “That 1 p’ay will end by making a driving I idiot of me. If Louise is tired tonight. (though. I warn you that 1 shall insist ; upon supper.” “It’s a bargain." John promised. “We’ll drive Louise home, and then FI! take you back to Luigi’s. We haven't been out together for some time, have we?” She looked up at him with a little grimace and patted his hand. “You have neglected me,” she said. “I think all these fine ladies have turned your head.” She drew a little closer to him and passed her arm ’hrough his. John made no responsive movement. He was filled with res» nmient at the sensation of pleasure that her affectionate ges ture gave him. The curtain w;-, up and 'he play in progress when they reached the box that John had taken for ti e season. The spell «>f it all against which he had so often foygliv came over John anew. He vt his chair hack against the wall and watch 1 and iFstened. a ; veritable sense of hypnotism creeping over his senses, presently the same impulse v. htch had me to' him so many times before indu.s'd hint to turn his head, to read in the faces of the au dience the reflection of her genius. He had often watched those long lines of faces changing, each in its own way. under the magic of her art. Tonight ' he looked beyond. He knew very wei that his search had a special oh joe. Suddenly he gripped the arms of his chair. In the front row of the pit. sit ting head and shoulders taller than the men and women who lounged over the wooden rest in front of them, was Stephen. More than over, among these unappropriate surroundings, he seemed to represent something almost patrl arclml. a forbidding and disapproving spirit sitting in Judgment upon some modem aud unworthy wantonness. His face, stem and grave, showed little sign of approval or disapproval, but to John’s apprehending eyes the critical sense was there, the verdict fore doorned. He understood as in a flash that Stephen had come them to judge once more the woman whom liis broth er desired. Tti*' curtain went up again anil the play moved on. with subtle yet inevita ble dramatic power, toward the hated and dreaded crisis. The play cauie to an end presently, amid a storm of applause. The gritu figure In the front <>f the pit remained motionless and silent, lie was one of the last to leave, atul John watched his retreating figure with a sigh. Sophy drew him away. "We had better hurry round." site said. "Louise is always very quick get ting ready." They found her. as a matter of fact. In the act of leaving. She welcomed them naturally enough, but John fancied that her stvet-t.g s.*t >\ied some signs of embarrassment. “Y**u knew that l was g**ing out to supper tonight?" she sited du’at I teU you? The twin s- has asked tbv Kn-ueh tssvpic from Ills Majesty's to meet M. tJmiUot at supper 1 atu huts rj ing home to dress." John handed her into her waiting automobile in sitvece. She giatsssl into his fare. "Is anything the mutter?' she ashed. "Nothing "* “The prince would have ask s} you, without a d- :ht ~ Louts,- «s= n'nuvsL lie kno s that you ate net realty inheres si in the - g amt this party s entirely French—they do net speak a word os Kns-.sh. An revuir! $ophy. Like eare of him. and o.iad you Mnw yourselves 1" Slw wavvsi her hand to them Nth r.r.d threw horael* back among the cushions as the car glided oft. Jolin walked to the comer of the street In gloomy silence. Then he remembered his companion. He stopped short. “Sophy,” he begged, “don't hold me to my premise. I don’t want to take you out tv supper tonight. I am not in the humor for it.” “Don't be foolish!’’ she replied. “If you stay uloue. you will only imagine things and be miserable. We needn't have any Supper."unless you like. Let me come and sit in your rooms with : you.” “No!” he decided, almost roughly. “I am losing myself. Sophy. I am losing something of my strength every day. Louise doesn't help as she might. Don’t stay with me. please. I am beginning to have moods, and when they come on I want to he alone.” She drew a little closer to him. “Let me come, please!" she begged, with a pathetic, almost childlike quiver at the corner of her lips. He looked down at her. A sudden wave of tenderness swept every other thought from his mind. His mental balance seemed suddenly restored. He hailed a passing taxi and handed Sophy into it. "What a selfish pig I am!’’ he ex claimed. “Anyhow, it’s aii over now. We’li go back to Luigi’s to supper, by all means. I am going to make you teil me all about that voung man from Hath!" CHAPTER XVII. Louise’ glanced at her watch, sat up in bed. and turned reproachfully toward Aline. “Aline, do you know it is only eleven o’clock?" she ex Ii inied. “1 am very sorry, madatne.” the lat ter hastened to explain, “but there is a gentleman downstairs who wishes to see you. He says he will wait until you can receive him. I thought you would like to know." “A gentleman at this hour of the morning?" Louise yawned. “How ab surd! Anyhow, you ought to know better than to wake me up before the proper time.” “I am very sorry, madame.” Aline re plied. “I hesitated for some time, but I thought you would like to know that the gentleman was here. It is Mr. Stephen Strangewey—Mr. John's brother.” Louise clasped her knees with her fingers and sat thinking. Site was wide awake now. "He inis been here some time al ready. madame." Aline continued. “I did not wish to disturb you. but 1 thought perhaps it was better for you to know that he w: s here." “Quite riirlit. Aliie." Louise decided. “Go down and tell him that I will see him in half an hour, and get my bath ready at once." Louise dressed herself simply hut carefully. She could conceive of hut one reason for Stephen's presence k» her house, and it n ther amused her. It was. of course, no friendly visit. He had come either to threaten or to cajole. Vet what -ould he do? What had she to fear? She went over the in terview in her nmol, imagining him crushed and subdued by her superior subtlety and finesse. With a little smile of coming triumph upon her Ups she descended the stairs and swept into her pleasantly warmed and perfumed little drawing-room. She even held out her hand cordially to the dark, -rim figure whose outline against the dainty \v hite wall seemed so inap propriate. “This Is very nice f you Indeed, Ur. Straageney,’ she began. “I had no idea that you had followed your brother's example and come to town." She told herself once more that her si ght instinct of uneasiness hail been absurd. Stephen's bow, although a lit tle formal and austere, was still au acknowledgment of her welcome. The shadows el' tjie room, perhaps, had pre ’ vented him from seeing her out stretched hand. "Mine Is a very short \ 'sit. Mis* Mau rel.” he said. “I had no other reason for coming bn> to sis' John and to pay this call upon you." “I urn greatly flattered." she told hint. "You must please sit down and make yourself comfortable while we talk. See. this is my favorite place." site added, dropping Into a corner of her lounge. “Will you sit beside me? Or. if you prefer, drew up that chair." “My preference.” he replied, "is to remain standing.” Sne raised her eyebrows. Her tone altered. "It must l>e as you wish, of course." she continued: “ouiy I have such pleas ant recollections of your hospitality at V » '*<> l*r*»«w*co Is to RoMiain Starve iit*. iv»k Hall Hwt 1 sttokM KWo. if tttotv s»y p-xssiN* ss| is tvhtvit 1 msM mart* ft—'* W i»torr«|w*t >>« Rt«<t admit that tko is-><s <tnlt ;> ««f IVat Hall w»s Ml *•. liSj^r otfOrird to jrvws. Sar* fvvr sko frtfw «t (iNSWviaK^ yws «v»M sew Iwvt covesod osr iluv<<S <W" S&o skrvcwd fcfr sfc>wi!J»Jocsv sfc»' was *da$tiae kw totti' *a»j !.4aa« to ihv K’llijp.'tvacy «t tus attitado. -WVttr -You ssat to know »ty 1 Uav* found K) «sf to Londi«r Ik «<m os. -| came to llncl out ; little wore ubout you.” “About me?” “To discover if there was anything about you." he proceeded deliberately, “concerning which rejiort had lied. I do not place my faith in newspapers and gossip. There was always a chance that you might have been an honest "oman. That is "hy I came to Lou don. and why I went to see your play last night." She was speechless. It was ns if he were speaking to her in some foreign i tongue. “I have struggled." he continued, “to ! adopt a charitable view of your pro . fession. I know that the world changes quickly, while we. who prefer to re main outside its orbit, of necessity lose touch with its new ideas and new fashions. S<i I said to myself that : there should he no mistake. For that reason I sat in a theater last night al ’: ost for the first time in my life. I . saw you act." “Well?" she asked almost defiantly He l.s.ked down at her. AH splend'* s If-assurance seemed ebhitig away. She felt a sudden depression of spirit. |!1 sudden strange sense of insignifi cance. “I have con.e." he said, “if I can. to hny my broth, r's freedom." "To buy y-ur brother's freedom?" she rcjH'ated. in a dazed tone. "My brother is infatuated with you." ; Stephen declared. "I wish to stive I him." The woman's courage liegan to as s. rt itself, s ■■ raised her eyes t>> his. “Exactly w! at do you mean?” she asked calmly. “In what way is any men to ho s; cl fr- i me? If your brother should i-ure < r me. and I. hy | any chance, si. .aid ..appen to care for him. in what ; • s]„.ct would that tie a j state from whi. he would require sal j vation?" "You make my tusk more difficult." hi- observed d. herately. "I>oes it amuse you to pr: rice your profession before one so ign-mnt and so unappre ciative as myself? If my brother should ever marry, it is my firm inten tion that he sh: marry au honest woman.” Louise sat quite still for a moment. A ilash of lightni g had glittered be fore h»-r eyes, and n'her ears was the ■ Tush of thunder. Her face was sud denly stmined. She saw nothing hut the stern, forhiddii g expression of the man who l.ioked do vn at her. “You dare to say this to me, here in ‘ my own house?" "Ihire? Why not; Ibin't people toll ' you the truth here a London, then?" She rose a little unsteadily to her| feet, motioning bin; toward the door, and moving toward tlie belt. Suddenly she sank back into her former place. I>re:.!bless and help:, -s. " liy do you waste your breath?" he tski^ calmly. “We :irv alone here, yon and I—we know the truth:’' She '.at unite -till, shivering a little. “Ihi we? Tell uie, then, because I am euriou-—tell me why you are so -urc of what you -ay.” “The world has it." h replied, “that you ;.re the mistress of the prince of Scyrc. I came to London to satisfy myself as to the truth of that re;- rt. IVi you believe that any man living among that audience last night, coalu watch the play—although you are a clever actress, madam—and believe that you were a woman who was living an honest life?" “That seems impossible to you?" she d«m: tided. “Utterly impossible 1” : "And to John?” • 1 am speaking for myself and not my I .. Stephen replied. "Men lik ■ him, who are assailed by a certain madness, are best left that with it. Th.it i- why I came to you to bargain, if I could. Is there anything that you lai k—anything which your own suc cc— and your lover, or lovers, have fail'll to provide for you?" It was useless to try to rise; she was powerless in all her limbs. Side by < do with the anger and horror that his words aroused was a sense of some thing almost grotesque, something .which seemed to force an unnatural laugh from her lips. “So you want to buy me off?" "I should l>e glad to believe that It was within my power to do so. I have not John's great fortune, but I have money, the accumulated savings of a lifetime, for which 1 have no better purpose. There is one more thing, too, to he said.” “Another charge?" “Not that." ho told her; “only it is better for you to understand that if you turn me from your bouse this , morning. 1 shall still feel the necessity of saving my brother from you." “Saving him from me?" she ex claimed. rising suddenly and throwing out her arms. “Do you know what you are talking about? IV you know that if l consented to think of your brother as my hushand. there is not a mau in l.ondou who would not envy him? Look at me! 1 aiu beautiful, am 1 not? I am a great artist. I am Lou ise Muurel. and 1 nave made myself famous by my own work and my own genius. What has your brother done in life to render him worthy of the sacrifice 1 should make if 1 chose to give him my hand? You had better go baek to Cumberland. Mr. Stratige wey. You do not see life as we see it up here?" “And what a ho. 1 John?" he asked, without UK-vitig. “You tempted him away. Was it from wautoaacss. or do you low him?" "Love him?" she laughed. “I hate you both ‘ You are beors—-you are gnerant people. I hate the moment I over saw either of you. Take John hack w ith you. Take him out of my life. There is no place there for him Stifh* picked up his hat from the -ofa where It lay. I.outse remained ■.rfectlv still her breath coming gttk-k (y. her eyes ht with less;.*, ' Madam." he soJsL “I am sorry to have distressed yon. tat the truth - '.senates hurt's the uavg callous of us. Yon h*vy Neard the truth from ; mo. I wilt take John hack to Cumbers land with me. Sf he will come. If he »will no*—* Take feita w itfe you r she broke lu fiercely. "He will do as I d fetm -do you ImrJ If I lift ssy little finger. fee wad stay. It will he I who decide. I—" you will not lift your tittle fia g-r." fee interrupted ceiwtfv. “Why shouldn’t 1, just to punish you?" silo demanded. “There nr* scores of men who fancy themselves in love with me. If I choose, I can keep ' them nil their lives liuugitu; to the i hem of my skirt, praying for - word, u touch. I cun make them funt-us one day and penitent the next—wretched always, perhaps, Imt I can keep them there. Why sh<>uhl I not treat your brother iu the same way?" He seemed suddenly to dilate. She I was overcome with a sense of tome lat I ent power in the man. some commund ' ing Influence. “Because." he declared, “I am the I guardian of my brother's happiness. | Whoever trifles with it shall in the fu ture reckon with me!" His eyes were fixed upon her •'oft. white throat. His long, lean fingers seemed suddenly to be drawing near to her. She watched him, fascinated. , She was trying to scream. Even after "Take Him With Yoj:'’ She Broke in Fiercely. Ue hail turneil away and left her. after she had heard his measured tramp de scending the stairs, her fingers flew to her throat. She held herself tightly, standing there with beating heart and throbbing pulses. It was not until the front door had closed that she had the strength to move, to throw herself face downward upon (he couch. Louise ate a very small luncheon. but—an unusual thing for her—she I drank two glasses of wine. Just as >he had finished. Sophy came in. with ink-stained fingers and a serious ex pression. iTO BE CONTINUED.) CHINESE 3EC0ME MOVIE FANS Dressed in Her Best Silks and Most Dazzling Jewels, Oriental Woman Watches Films All Day. China has capitulated to the picture show. So much so. in fact, that Chi nese women now make attendance a social event, to be observed with a dis play of their choicest and most beauti ful siiks and most dazzling jewels. Instead of social functions at home, with tea and music and that sort of thing. Chinese women who would be in fashion eat a large breakfast, adorn themselves like a New York society woman bound for the opera and stilly forth for a day of watching the films flicker. “The motion picture craze in China.” said Ernest Young, who has been sev eral years in the Orient, according to the Sc ittle Times, “now has reached a point where the natives are demanding an all-day show. The way the women 'doll up* at these exhibitions would send their fairer sisters of other coun tries into hysterics." Mr. Young said the Chinese motion picture fans are strong for action in their film entertainment, and gladly sit in a theater all day. providing there are enough thrills to go around. The more shooting the merrier the show. The Orientals, according to Mr. Young, also are keen for comedy. "Chinese audiences." Mr. Young said, “are very demonstrative and. when the hero saves the heroine from an awful death at the hands of some 'Desperate Desmond.' they give vent to their ap proval in rousing cheers and wild ap plause." Peru to Fight Malaria. The government of Peru Is taking steps for a vigorous campaign against malaria throughout the country. The work is to he classified under four heads: Treatment of patients, pro tection of people living in places where malaria is recognized as epidemic, de struction of germ-transmitting insects, and drainage or other special treat ment of swampy lands. In connec tion with its campaign the Peruvian government will Import annually what ever quantity of quinine may be deemed necessary, such imports to he exempt from Import duties and port charges. Individuals and institutions are to bo enabled to purchase this quinine from the government at cost price for their own use or treatment of malaria patients in their charge. Something Nt» About Birds. Prof. A. A. Alton, in the Scientific American, declares that polygamy ex ists among several varieties of our common birds. The felicity of mated birds and the "cooing dove" theory has received a shook from Professor Al len's discovery. Mr Robin «Ws not do* serve all the praise that has been showered upon him; neither does Mr. AVret*. for they are b-'th gaiuists. sav s Mr Alien. He te”s of finding two different pairs of robins' rests, the two nests in each pair hutlt exactly alike. joined together ami having a common foundation. Two female rob ins ra sed brood*. sitting s V b\ side in tw diTorem nests. one taale robin preset,r.g over both ho usohohts. Grieeeua Blew. "I ass.si Jtbwaj *N «t his war gar den and be became funov.s > angry. Is the man craijT "N*v but yen nrastn't make a mistake ' ke that again. Jtbway's w»r garvh-n involved few In a quarrel with son*, of hi' neighbors and he has lost the fn.av sbip «( the only man In the com nwnity who can piny a good game «f NnvMh* LATEST THINGS IN LAWSUITS Italian Officer Claimed Bullet T Shot Him and Got It—Swiss Re sented Loss of Tnirst. was r.-'fin, V.,f V, .,.h An Iti;Jinn officer who was w In the Tn-ntlno has Just f. action to i,I,fain a decision rightful own,,rsf,|p Gf a |,ull< t • ed from his B„rh ,,, nurse claimed it. but the oil , . tended thut ii was legally Ills Judge gave the derision in the ■ favor by a novtil 1 in« of argutt He found that the project!!' discharged from the _ • ... to belong to the man wl fired it the country which Intm it to It thus became, while ■, W11\ Its billet, a res nullus. wh ,,v ti er Is entitled to pick up an- Ti,. officer found it In his body only brought to light by the assisted by the nurse. Hein-* ficer was entitled to keep it. sounds a good deal like mu about nothing. Rome weeks ago an ahbe French village to take up tin* it bencv of another, and the may - ■ his late flock lit a bonfire In tl r ! to speed their departing par«or ing merry at his expense ami < wing unmistakably the Joy they felt ing his back. Naturally tl thought himself Insulted and an action for damages, but as t not show any the case was di A very stout man recently b .*hr t third-class ticket at a roadside in England, and found^that le not get into a third-class eompnr Ro he went into a first, the d< which are wider, refusing to p ■ excess. He was sued for the In. and had to pay both that and the The court holding that this could ? be his first offense, nnd. knowing lie could not squeeze through the of a third, he ought to have !■ i first without more ado. After telling a barber to tri’ heard, a farmer fell asleep In the < He was awakened by the apple n of a wet towel to his face. and. b>. ug In the glass, was not sure wlieth- • barber had awakened him nr sonu eh er fellow. He bail gone to sleep with a i ird two feet long and woke up • an shaved. His whiskers, of wld< I, he was very proud, had all gone. Ib- sued the barber for SI OCX) and got Slim A certain Inhabitant of Switzerland had a most splendid thirst, win h h plied daily with stimulants. Hi> > secretly put a drink cure into his po tations. which hud the magical * ■ ■f curing him of his craving, ami r dering drink obnoxious. So angry w - he when he learned the truth that in sued his sister for $5,000 for the I -s of his thirst! abt - ougtr could old ■nt. of Disappointed Horse. That a horse, in spite of his *•!;■ -r~ sense." can l»e pitifully deceive*! ! ■. appearances was demonstrated in a telling manner. A young woman ■ < waiting patiently for a car going eas when a horse and wagon owned b> u huckster stopped almost before 1 The horse, a friendly looking nniimi gradually edged up to the curb near the young woman, who smiled gra ciouslv and patted him on the nose As the car approached she walked slowly toward the track and was war Ing for the car door to open when the friendly animal slipped up behind her nud with a sudden plunge grasped the hunch Of green leaves from her new hat. After a brief tussle with hat pin> and yellow curls, the horse managed to wrest the hat from the young wom an and marched off chewing what he evidently thought a uical of tine green. The horse chewed the milliner's paint ed leaves, and finding them not to his taste dropped the hat. which was re turned to its owner.—Milwaukee Jour nal. Babies Healthier Nowadays. The death Rite among babies in tie larger American cities has been r> duced 11 per cent since 1910. accord ing to the infant mortality survey Jn completed by the New York milk con tulttee. This reduction has been nun among cities of 100,000 population an over. The smaller cities have not don.' well. The reduction in cities betw. n 50,000 and 100.000 population is only 2 per cent, while those under 50,000 shew an increase of 5 per cent. The general reduction is 9 per cent. The survey covers 150 of the largest cities In the United States since 1900. The marked decrease in iufant deaths did not begin until 1910. when organized tenant welfare work became general. Origin of Dollar Sign, Although suggestions have been made that the symbol of the doling sign represents the Pillars of lfct£ cules or the caduoeus of Moronr/ it seems less far fetched to regurdfit as a plstograph of the Spanish / rms to he found on all pieces of eit^Tit. The list of such money symbols (^remark ably small as compared wt|h those for weights and measures. Some years ago the United States made tl>* first modern addition to money sym bols, a distinguishing mark for its Philippine dollar. This may be de scribed as a black letter minuscule p (for peso) with two bars scored across Its stem. To Be of Real Assistance. Spinosa's tes: in the Scriptures of Humanity: lie who desires to assist other people "ill aAud referring to th. voices of men and will take cats' only sparingly to streak of human inns'- ^ teoce, while he will talk largely of hu f man virtue or power and of the way by which it may be made perfect. *<> that men being moved, not by feir >r aversion but by the effect of joy. r. y endeavor as much as they cau to i ce under the rule of mason. Too Many There. Major general (addressing the • n. before practicing an attack behin 1 ’h* Nttes)—I want you to understand that there is a difference bet ween a re hearsal artd the real thing There are three essential ditVreuees. Kirst. the absence of the enemy. Now itumiug to the regimental sergeant majors what Is the second difference? Sergeant The absence t* U»e geoerai, sir.