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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 1904)
THE FATAL REQUEST OR FOUND OUT By A. L. Hftrrla Author of "Mine Own Familiar Frlond'etc 0 o V V r i g fit , n;u, bu C a $ i i I I P u b It h I j V o m p a n v. " V V r t g A t , 19 0 3, b CHAPTER XX Continued. "Today Is Tuesday. Thoro Is a lit tle shabby prayer book somewhere among my belongings. I will put it once and for nil out o my power to procrastlnnte further by fixing upon a certain date and swearing to carry out on that, and no other, the purpose which haH been In my mind ho long. "To-day, as I havo said. Is Tuesday, on Friday, then, without further de lay. 1 will Insert my duplicate key In the lock of that door first of all as certaining that It will tit and make, what Dr. Jeremiah would describe as a felonious entry. "Meanwhile, 1 have to consider Per kins. "She has not shown me so much open animosity Hinco my return; but It will not do to count upon this. She may bo only as she would, no doubt herself express II, 'biding her lime.' 'You don't deceive me,' she said, when 1 crept down stalr. like a thief In the night nnd was nearly discovered through her instrumentality. "Wlint wns the threat she employed toward mo on that memorable occa sion? 'I'll find out what you are up to, as sure as name's Maria Ann Per kins!' And alio is a woman who looks us though sho would not mind to what pains she put herself, or what time elapsed, so that she could avenge herself for her fancied wrongs. "Since writing the above lines some hours ago, I have made another dis covery. My master has remained shut up in his private room for the groatcr part of this time nnd I, in ac cordance with my position as spy, have hung about the door on the chanco of hearing borne sound, how ever slight, or catching sight of bis face as he left tho room. "I have often wondered as to tho manner In which he employs himself on these occasions, when he reinnlus locked In this chamber for hours. "To-day thoro has been no room for doubt. He has been writing on and on, ceaselessly. Evidently he uses a quill and writes a heavy hand, for I could plainly hear the sound the pen made In traveling over the paper. 'Let me relieve "Here Is another subject for consid eration. "He has mado his will, and now ho Is writing. Writing what? "Apparently somothing of Import ance. "Once, too, I heard the unmistak able sound gf tho tearing of paper. Was ho dissatisfied with what he had written and tearing it up? Did he find the composition of the document dllllcult, nnd, If so, for whose eye wns It intended, that so much time nnd trouble wero lavished upon it? "If he is now occupied in writing letters of an undoubtedly private na ture, shall I bo Intrusted with tho tnsk of carrying them to tho post when completed? Or. if tho work upon which he has been engaged Is of somo other description, what will become of It when finished, and what will he do with the pieces of paper which he has torn up? Will they be committed to the flames, or simply to the wusio paper bnsket?" "Which," said the cook at dinner tho next day, "dltehwnter is the honly word as will eggspress tho preslnt company, no offense bein" meant and not hlnslnyntln nothlnk agin nobody, feelln's bein' things ns Is not to bo kin trolled by tho best of us. and better bo low In your mind than in your hidenrs is my mottor, but when It comes to liot a word being' spoke for. five mln nits by tho hitching clock, makln' allowance for its being twenty-two minnits fast by railway lime, it do seem iis someone oughter hlntorfere In n friendly soit o' way." How much longer she would havo rambled on in tho same key It Is Im possible to say, had not another nolo boon struck by the parlor maid, who remarked that. "Miss Agnes hadn't seemed partlc'ler cheerful the last day or so." Tho young man, Kdwards, seemed as though his attention wub arrested by this trivial remnrk and glanced across tho table Inquiringly. "Yes." added tho parlor maid, ad dressing herself to him, as sho per celved that what she had said had, somehow or other, interested him, "I've caught her sighing to horsolf noio than onco lately, as though sho'd something on her mind. P'r'aps" with a suddou Inspiration "p'r'api she'" in love Will csnwally slBbs a u 8 t r 4 t t fl w I d. deal, when they're in love" and sho directed what ought to havo been a killing glnnco at the good looking young mun opposite her and breathed a sigh on her own nccount. It apparently missed Its aim. but something In this last remark seemed to excite great derision In the breast of Perkins, the housemaid. "In love!" she exclaimed. "Ha, ha! I like that." nnd she. too, sent a glance, which might, In a sense have been described as killing if lioks could kill across the table. "In love, Indeed!" with withering contempt "Who with. I should like to know? You forget there's never been slch a thing as a young man as she'd look at. or touch with the tips of her lingers" (there wus a strong malicious em phasis on this) "Inside tho door onco since they've been living hore" "Ah!" snld the parlor maid, rtlll allowing an Inclination to hold her own, "p'r'ups not. Hut bow about be fore that?" "Well," replied the housemnld, suddenly showing an Inclination to go over to tho enemy nnd side with her rival and Invariable opponent, to the Intter's vast astonishment. "I don't say as you mayn't be right. Anyhow, whether she's In love or whether she Isn't, It's no good If he ain't her equal. For you may be sure her rail never hear of her marrying beneath her." "And quite right, too." put In the cook, who thought It was high time she Introduced another of her experi ences. "Unekal marriages Is most al ways a failure, as 'as bin proved over and over again. Hut for nil that" with a startling and instantaneous change of the subject "I should like to know why that there will, as I 'elped to drore up, should be called a Testament? which 1 thought thero was but two, the Hold and the New?" "Lor, cook!" cried the housemaid, with u sniff, "how your mind do run on that will! Anyone would think as it was tho only one as over was. and nobody never signed their names to nothing before." "Wills there may 'ave bin " answer ed cook, majestically, "but seldom ono as the cook wero sent for, all of a you of those things." 'urry, with 'nrdly time to rinse tho flour hoff 'er 'ands. to put 'or name to, which It's all very well for some peo ple to try and run down wills," she added darkly and defiantly, "and por tends to think small beer of witnesses, but Time's a pleesman ns Is hnlways a-movin' of us on. and we should make our hnrrangoments haccordln'." Just nt this point the parlor maid pushed back her chair and said, "Well, she mustn't sit there gossiping any longer, as tho'd got her work to do, rthlch was to dust tho master's room, where ho kept his papers and books, which you don't dare to lay a finger on, though, for the matter of that, everything's always pul under lock nnd key before anyone's allowed to take dust pan and broom to It." At this ordinary enough remark-, the young man who had been sitting there very quietly while tho discussion just recorded was raging round him, seem ed galvanized Into sudden action and extraordinary civility. "Could he might ho he allowed to bo of any assistance In lifting any thing to heavy for her such ns cr emptying tho waste paper basket, or anything?" The parlor maid looked at him In surprise mingled with gratification. "Well, I never did." sho giggled. "If you aren't just pollto all of a BUdden! Hut master, he's that partlc'ler about that old room of his, nnd I never know but what he's got his eyo on me, p'r'nps ho wouldn't like It." Tho young man Boemed Inclined to press his request, but noticing Per kins regarding him in ovldont per plexity, as though not knowing what to make of this movo, he checked himself nnd snld no more on tho subject. Hut when tho parlor maid's work was nearly completed and sho enme out of the room with tho dustpan and brush in her hand, sho found him waiting patiently outside tho door. "Let me let mo rellovo you of thoso things," ho said, with an oagcr nosa which, notwithstanding her com plete contldenco In nor own charms, sho found as puzzling as It was de lightful. You would havo thought by tho eager expression on tho young man's faco and tho hasto with which lie re lieved her of her very slight burden, that tho dust which It contained must, have been gold dust at the very least. At any rate, he had his way, and hur ried oft with the articles ns though he were half afraid that sho might change her mind. Hut, when he ar rived at tho basement, there wns noth Ing but dust nnd Hue left In the dust pan. The pieces of paper had tllsniv peared I That same night. In the seclusion of his own room, ho occupied him self In tho seemingly vain nnd useless tnsk of separating, sorting and past Ing together some morsels of writing paper, which hnd been torn Into the minutest fragments. "I was right when I guessed It to be no ordinary letter he wns writing," he muttered. "This Is only the head ing of the document that he had been engaged In drawing up; hut It Is suf ficient to enable mo to nrrlvo at the purport of Its contents." "The true nnrrntlve and confession of me, .Tunics Ferrers, of the strange tragedy of the 25th of Ap " "Ah, James Ferrers, you were guilty of worso than a crime a blunder when you contented yourself with tenrlng up that sheet of paper Into particles, which you thought wero too minute ever to bo deciphered, Instead of burning them on the spot! "Hut why has he made this con fession? Is It merely to relieve his own conscience, or has he some other object In view which I cannot nt present discern? "Whntever it may be, that docu ment, that confession of bis guilt, of which 1 needed no further conllnnn lion, cannot have left this house. It Is, no doubt, concealed In somo secret drawer or hiding place In that room of which 1 possess tho means of entry in tho dupllcnto koy. Next Friday may settle that question as well ns others." CHAPTER XXI. A Robbery and a Recognition. The next day, being Thursday, was not destined to pass unovontfully. "To-morrow!" said tue young man who, for prudential reasons, chose to go by the name of Kdwards, as ho rose that morning; forgetting to tako nto consideration tho proceedings of today nnd their probable Influonco on tno affairs of tomorrow. It wns not very long before ho awoke to a sense of mischlci brooding In the air. Perhaps It was the sight of that pale, narrow face opposite to him ns he ate his breakfast a face which, on this occasion, was wreathed with a false smile and characterized by a general air of great complacency. Evidently Perkins was In a high state of good humor, so much so that It struck the young man with a vague presentiment of Impending disaster. However, lie consoled himself with the reflection thnt there was only one more day to elapso before ho hoped to be In n position to set overyono at defiance; and. surely. In that short time, sho would bo unnblo to meet with an opportunity for wreaking her spite upon him. "After to-morrow, the Deluge," ho thought, paraphrasing the words of the French monarch. Meanwhile, theio wns to-day to be considered; if, lie hnd only been aware of the fnct, the chunces of tomorrow were ulrendy In (lunger of being seriously jeopardized by the events of the more Immediate present. "Whatever's come to Marlarann?" asked the cool:, who wns nlso struck by the change. "I've never knowed 'er took that way afore, llackshully offered to darn n pair of stockings for me. which, what with the preservln' and other things, my 'ands Is full nnd my toes is bout. Which 'Make ay while the sun shines, as there's no knowln' 'ow long tho wenthcr'll 'old up,' Is my motter, but lot's ope It'll Inst." "And she's been nnd enlled mo 'dear' to my very face," said tho parlor maid, taking up tho parable; "which you might have knocked me down with a duster, 1 was that took aback, and hardly knew whether I was awake or dreaming. I wonder what It means?" (To be continued.) LIZARDS THAT LIKE MUSIC. Tuntaras of New Zealand Very Fond of Rollicking Choruses. A curious fact has lately been learn ed about tho tuatara, the large native lizard of New Zealand. It Is a great fat, sleepy thing, from n foot iipwnrd In length, with a meas urement around it of about twelve Inches. It Is kept tamed, about rocks. Wild specimens are growing rare, though one Island off the const still swarms with them. Theso harmless things come out ns a rule only for food. Hut somo ono In Christ church has discovered a way of bringing them out n't nuy time. This Is by singing to them. They have preferences In music, too. They evince much more satisfaction at a rollicking chorus thnn nt a solo. Ono dny a song sung by n girl brought some out, but only their heads were visible, their sleopy oyes open ing every few minutes. Then tho chnrmer tried "Soldiers of the Queen" and when all joined in the chorus thoro was no doubt about tho effect on tho tuntaras. They wriggled about on tho rocks, almost dnnclng In their excltoment and joy, until tho repertoire of tho singers was exhausted, when tho liz ards snenked back again to their homo among tho rocks. New Zealand Is tho only plnco In tho world whoro thoso great lizards aro found, und they are said by biolo gists to he out of their place In this ntugo of tho world'H history. Thoy be long to the coal period, and like tho moa, ought, by natural laws, to havo become extinct long ago. New; York Sun. House Jacket. House Jackets that are c.omfortablo nt the same time that they are Invit ing nnd attractive nre accounted ns essentials by women of taste nnd dis cretion. This one is admit able for many reasons and is udnptcd both to the pretty new cot ton and linen fab rics of the coming season nnd to chnl lies, cashmers. French flannels and the like. As shown, however. It Is made of flow ered batiste trim 4637 Iloudo Jnekc-t, 32 to 44 Mist. med with frills of the material ami bauds of wash ribbon and Is exceed ingly dalntv. The Jacket Is made with flouts, backs and side-backs. The fronts are loose and hang In straight lines from the shoulders, but the back Is slightly fitted, so giving graceful curved lines. At the neck Is a big sailor collar that Is slightly open at the front nnd the sleeves me In bell style. Tho quantity of muterlnl lequlred lor tho medium size Is lfc jards 27 Inches wide, 3 yards 32 Inches wide nnd 24 ynrtls 44 Inches wide, with 8 yntds of ribbon to trim as Illustrated. The pattern 4637 Is cut In sizes for a 32, 31, 30, 38, 10, 12 and It inch bust measure. To Remove Tea Stains. Linens that hnvc been stained by lea or coffee may bo cleansed by moistening the spots with water and holding them over the fumes of a small piece of burning sulphur, or n few sulphur matches. Wanh Imme diately with water In which a llttlo .ammonia of soda has been distilled. Stains that nothing else will rMiiove arc often taken out by the vapor aris ing from burning sulphur, but the material must be washed thoroughly at once. feufL (KUcfton Kettles may be thoroughly cleaned by boiling potato peelings In them. Never put n Inhlc linen that has fruit stains Into hot bonpsuds. 11 sets the stain. Don t throw or drnln vegetables in the sink. It will necessitate jour calling n plumber, as pieces will get Into the pipes. To have a custun) pie of nu even, nice brown when baked sprinkle a lit tle sugar over the lop Just befoie put ting Into the oven. When rooking green vegetables a small particle of Midu added fo the boiling water Just before putting in ONE OF THE . , , t yst.i .'.' w"tt'.;," ?xj:w-'v ' Deep yokes cut In Van Dyck points are to be noted among tho latest nov elties of fashion and aro exceedingly effective. Tho waist Illustrated shows ono made of puffings of sl-'k and heavy ace combined with n blc fise of crepo de Chine .the color helm; tho lovely vcllow known us maize. The blouso la Ira III 11 Iff en -I8 JSTmM 1rV'.' . wt&iri"ji k : a . ' i 7 rxyr tr.r. i sjbtv wm s '! ' - .' f.('0'' Tj tt in1-1, ill hk (tin I' i -I. ' b I H' v 4 ii iiTimi r ' THE Pr iQj the vegetables will keep them In fresh color. Wood alcohol rubbed on n polished table stained or mnrred by a hot dish will icstore tho finish If followed by a polishing with linseed oil. The odor of wood alcohol Is not pleasing, but It Is cheaper than the medicinal alco hol. To Clean Daths. When a scum forms on tho Insldo of bnths or on the marble lavatory basins, rub the sides with dry salt and It will easily bo removed. Hoths i should nlwuys bo wiped out ofter be ing used, nnd the cold wntor nllowed to run In before the hot water tap Is turned on. This prevents tho enamel from crncklng. Corset Cover With Ruffled Front. Hvcry woman knows the ndvantngo of a corset cover such ns the ono Illus trated under tho fashionable blotiso waists. It Is smooth and absolutely without fulness nt the back but Is sup plied with frills at the front that servo to give the waist Just the uppcaranco necessary to style. The model Is mndo of nainsook, with trimming of Valen ciennes Ince and beading, threaded with ribbon, but nil materials and all trimmings used for gnrments of 4G30 Comet Coror, the sort arc equal 32 to 40 bust. y correct. Tho corset cover Is made with fronts and back and circular basquo portions. The back Is tucket, but tho fronts ate plain and gathered at tho waist line where they are finished with clrculnr basque poitlons. Over each are arranged three clrculnr frills that glvo becoming fulness and that meet nt the center where the closing Is made. Neck nnd arms-eye edges are finished with beading threaded with ribbon. The quantity of mntoiinl lequlred for the medium size Is !,. yards 3G InchcT wide with 2lfc yards of beading and HVj yards of lace to trim as IHiib t rated. The pattern -1636 Is cut In sizes for a 32, 31, 30, IIS and 10 inch bust meas ure. Nature'c Model for the Decorator. A good idea for the decorator of u room is to follow out the color scheme of an autumn leaf. The faded green, ami the touches of yellow, green and crimson are charming. Any leaf or wild flower will prove an Infallible guide as to color values and relations. Laundry o' Silk Hose. Hran water, made by lidding four tnhlcspooufuls of bran to a quart of water. Is the best thing In which to wash lino silk stockings. Soup" Is thought by somehousewives fo make Hie silk tender and totten. LATEST DESIGNS. ra y?m . - r . 1 , -lib i .T 'Tf C ' ' s. i ' .Ui full and soft at tho front, after tho latest models, but Is snug at tho back, where the full length box plait? gives becoming long lines. To mako It will bo required 3 ynrda of material 21 or 2', yards H Inchos wide. A May Manton pattom, No. 4630, sizes 32 to 40, will bo mailed to any address on receipt of ten cents. 7 . r t .w rrjv.. EACUPS i A Model Afternoon Gown. Ught colored cloths nre much liked for afternoon gownt nnd alwnya nro charming. Tho costume shown Ib of champagne colored brondcloth with trimming of velvet omnmcntB Bur runded with heavy lace, beneath which tho cloth Is cut nwny, nnd nar row silk braid. The waist Is both now 4BB7 flloufo Wnl8t with Cape. 32 to 40 bust. 4624 FIto Ootid Flare Skirt, 22 to 36 waist. and stylish and Includes a capo ot joke collar that falls well over thq sleeves, giving tho drooping effect of) fashion. Tho skirt is fivo gored and for a woman of medium bIzo will bq required, for waist 4 yards 21, 4 yards 27 or 2 yards 44 inches wldo for skirt 7V6 yards 27, 4 yards 44 o 3i yards C2 Inches wide. A May Mauton pnttcrn of tho waist, No. I.rr7, sizes 32 to 40, or of the skirt, 4024, sizes 22 to 3G, will bo mailed to any address on receipt of ten cents for each. Thu military coat Is u favorite. Tucked conts aro ninny nnd effec tive. Tails nnd heads aro used extrava gantly. Ucavcr-finlshed ribbons aro much worn on lints. Heavy white stltchlngB nro always smart on black. Fur scarfs aro worn broader and longer than last year. Shlrrlngs form girdle effects on many houso frocks. Whlto ami palo colored zlbellnes are used for dressy gowns. Hnvo two or three sets of lingerie-, sleeve ruflles for ono gown. Charming llttlo hats aro mado o chinchilla and trlmmod with velvet. Fringe of glittering beads are ar ranged In varying lengths to form t scalloped trimming. Gowns for Occasions'. Demi-toiletto gowns with soml-hlgh corsages are thoso usually worn at theaters and small dinners. Theso this., season nro made In various shades ofj moussellne do solo, crepo do chine, or in any of the new filmy materials for evening wear. One, particularly charming, was car rled out In black chiffon over a founda tion of Ivory satin. Tho bodlco was artistically draped, fichu fashion, with long ends falling down In front and at tho back. The waist lino was de fined by a Jeweled girdle, which taste fully held In tho fullness there. The sleeves wero of tho variety known as angel shaped and tho neck was filled In with needlo point laco. Tho skirt, closely gathered into the waist, flared out below Into largo flounces. Enticing Slumber Robes. Knticlng, indeed, are the Hlumber robes of raw Italian silk, which como about a quarter of an Inch think In tho most beautiful shades and In all sorts of patterns. Geometrical fig ures, stripes, plaids and floral designs are popular, but the latter take tho lead. Readers of tbts paper can fcccuro any May Manton pattern lllusirau-d-abovo by nUlogout all blanks la ooupou, and mailltg, with 10 cents, toE. K. Harrison & Co., tli Plymouth Plaoo. Chi cago. I'altern will bo mailed promptly. Name Town , i, State ..,. Pattern No....... Waist Meanuro (lr fornUIrt), Uust Measure (It for wuUt) 'Xso (!f child's or miss's nattorn) Wrlto plainly. Fill out all blanks. Knclo&a 10a Mall to U K. Hat rUon & Co, , 05 PI raautfc I'laca. Chlcaao. i t 2i u ! : I 7iil I J qE-pmjL-wWAW