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.
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