?'... ,- w-mr.wx&fltMr: jx- "'.; "i ; Tii iTii'inSi"i' Mwlinnnitimtl .. ' r " "- "1 1 jinn i , "I Own It' MkPo4ii. 1 -- m r x i v rm Jvv5y JosepH. C. Lincoln Hr 8YN0PSIS. h Mr. Solomon Pratt becan comical nar ration of story, introducing well-to-do Nathan Scudder of his town, and Edward Van Brunt and Martin Hartley, two rich Now Yorkers sccklnc rest. Because of latter pair's lavish expenditure of money, . Pratt's first impression was connected with lunatics. The arrival of James Hopper, Van Brunt's valot, gavo Pratt the desired Information about tho Now Torkers. They wished to llvo what they termed "Tne Natural Lite." van urunt, It was learned, was the successful suitor for the hand of Miss Apnea Paso, who cava Hartley up. "The Heavenllcs" hear a lone story of .the domestic woes of Mrs. Hannah Jane Purvis, their cook and maid of alt work. Decide to lot her go and engage Sol. Pratt as chef. Twins aire to leave Nate Bcudder's abode and begin unavailing search for another domlclle.-Adventure at Fourth of July celebration at Eaatwlch. Hartley rescued boy, known as "Kcaay," rrom unaer a fse'h reet ana tno urcnin provea to oe a of Miss Page's charges, whom she d taken to tho country for an outing. mm Pan and Hartley wero seDarated during a fierce storm, which followed tho picnic. Out sailing later, Van Brunt, Hartley, Pratt and Hopper wero wrecked In a squall, CHAPTER VI. Continued. rJ "at a havah onM nn atiMi thine" T UUU o VI U M"D says. "She wouldn't swear If ho was her husband four times over; sho ain't that kind.- And sho ain't his wife nor his sister nor bis sister-in-law jjor his grandmother's cat's aunt neith er, alios no relation to mm ana t nelther's the boy. Who's been giving jrou all this rigmarole?" It seemB he'd herd it from a feller that lived next door to Ebenezer; and the feller had heard it from somebody else that had got it from somebody lelso and so on and so on. Nlgh's I 'could find out it had started from Hartley's tilling me that tho boy was : "brother outcast." Some idiot with ?ioor ears and worse brains bad nought ho said "brother Oscar," and the whole string of yarns had sprout ed from that Shows you what good iboII thero is for planting lies down our way. If lies was fetching ten conts a barrel tho whole neighborhood would havo been rich years ago. All, tho Umo mo and Nate was pow- rowing this way the yawl was sailing rup the bay towing my skiff behind tor. Thero was u nice fair wind and ja smooth sea and 'twas so clear aftor tho rain that wo could seo tho hills across the bay. Dut no sign could we seo of tho Dora Bassett nor her passengers. I was getting more wor ried ovory minute. Wo cruised along till wo got abreast lot tho point from whoro the Old Homo pier was in sight. But tho sloop wa'n't at tho pier. No uso going I any farther, so wo como about and begun to beat back again tho way we'd come. Scuddor was worried too, but his worrlment had caught him in tho pocketbook; proves how dis ease will always get hold of a toiler's tenderost placo, "Look here, Sol," Bays ho; "do you cal'lato Hartley Ml want to stay to my houso if his chum's drowned?" "I don't know," I says, impatient. "No, I guess not" "Well now, ho agreed to take it for a month and there's live days to run yet Ain't ho liable for them days?" ho Bays. I was feeling just mean enough to want somebody olso to fool that way, so I answers: "Well, you can't hold a lunatic, 'cording to law. And you and Huldy Ann have agreed that he's crazy," He thumped tho boat's rail. "Crazy or not" Bays ho, "I can't afford to lose them days. I shan't clvo him back li ! . J, .. m- ... .. ouw ui ins money, iucn no mougui a minute and begun to boo a Bpeck lot comfort. "Maybo tho shack of t'othmr .teller's drowning '11 maks blot He 8ays. Arn ef "Capn Cm 'Partners ef the Tide"" CofvBtatr wo! A&BMNKeasCoHPWf ft? tuLvsriuTtoNi MrTP.Metnu, -& sick," ho says. "Then he'll have to stay longer than tho month." , Trust Nate Scudder to see a silver lining to any cloud and then rip out tho lining and put it in his pocket By this time he was beating in to wards where tho Neck Road comes down to the beach. And there on tho Bhoro was a feller hailing us. And when wo got close in it turned out to be Hartley himself. Ho waB glad enough to seo me, but when he found that Van and Lord James had turned up missing ho was in a state. He'd been kind of scared when wo didn't come back during the u.2ht and had walked down to tho beach in the morning to seo if ho could sight us. Wo headed off shore again. Nate watched Hartley pretty close and I suppose when ho seen that tho Twin didn't show any symptoms of getting sick, he begun to worry again. Ho got out a piece of pencil and an old onvelopo and commenced to figure. "Mr. Hartley," says ho, aftor awhile; "about them lady friends of yours over to Eastwlch. Do you cal'Iate they'ro going to like whoro they are? Seems to mo a place that's as easy to run away from as that ain't the best placo for a boys' school. It they was on an island now, tho scholars couldn't run off. I know a nice island they could have cheap. Fact Is, I own it that is, Huldy owns it; It's in her name. That's it over thero." Hartley didn't answer. I looked where Nato was pointing. "Oh I" Bays I. "Horsefoot Bar. That's a healthy placo for a school. Might do for a reform school maybe, If you wa'n't particular how tho re forming was done." Horsefoot Bar is a llttlo Island about llvo miles from the Old Homo Houso, a mllo and a half from tho mainland, and two foot from tho jumplng-off place. By tho help of Providence, do cent weather, a horse, two whips, and a boat, you can mako it from Woll mouth depot in three hours. And whon you havo mado it, you. can act in tho sand and bang on to your hat and listen to tho loncsomenoss. I'd forgot that Scudder owned it. When him and I sailed up that morning wo'd passed It on tho outside; now wo was between It and the beach. "It's a nlco dry place," saya Nate, arguing, "and you might live thero forovor and nobody could run away." "Humph I" says I, thinking of some thing I'd seon in a newspaper; "Hell's got all them recommendations." Hartley was looking at tho Bar now. All to once he grabbod mo by the arm and pointed. , "Sol," ho says, "what's that stick Ing up over the point there? There, behind those trees? Isn't it a boat's mast?" I looked, and looked onco more. From whero wo was you could seo a part of Horaefoot Bar that was out of sight from tho rest of tho bay. As I say, I looked. Then I gavo tho Ullor a shove that brought tho boom across with a alat It took Nato'a hat with It and cracked him on tho bald spot llko thumping a rlpo watormolon. Nato grabbed for tho hat and I drovo the yawl for Horsefoot Bar. I'd spied the Dora Bassott's mast over tho Band spit In a Jiffy wo seo hor plain. Sho was lying on her Bido in a llttlo covo, Just as tho tide had left hor. Her canvas was down in a heap, partly on deck and partly overboard, but sho didn't seem to bo hurt nono. 'I beached tho yawl Just alongside of her, dropped (ho snll, chucked over tho nnchor and Jumped over myself. Hartley and Scudder followed. Wo was yelling like loons. Up through tho bunch of scrub pines wc tore, still hollering. And then, from away off ahead somowhores, como tho uiiBWor. I wits so tickled I could havo stood on my head. In a inlnuto hero conies Lord Jnmoa to meet us. Ills lordship looked yel low and faded, llko n wilted sunflower, and his whiskers seemed to bo run ning to seed. But his dignity wns on deck nil right. "Mr. 'Artloy," says he, touching whnt wns loft of his hat; " opo you'ro woll sir." "Where's Van?" nsltcd Hartley, brisk. "Mr. Van Brunt, sir? Up at tho 'ouse, waiting for you, sir." "Tho hoiiRo?" says Hartley. "Tho houso?" says I. Then I re membered. Thero Is n houso on Horsefoot Bar. It was built by old man Marcellus Borry, and in Mnrcollus' dny thoy built houses, didn't stick 'em together with wall paper and a mortgage, llko they do now. Consoqucnce Is that, though tho wintor weather on Horae foot mnde Marcellus lny down a con siderable spell ago, his house still stands, as port and sassy nn old gnblo ended Jail as over was. Tho houso wns there, and Scudder owned It Llkowlso ho owned tho sheds and barn In tho hack, and tho sickly bunch of scrub pines, and tho bench plum bUBhcs, nnd tho beach grass and tho poverty grnsB and tho world-wlthout-end of Band that all theso things wns stuck up inAs for tho llvo stock, that wns soven thousand hop-toads, twenty million saud fleas, nnd green-bends and mosquitoes for over and over, amen. Wo fell Into tho vnlct's wako and waded through tho sand hummocks up to tho house. And thoro on tho piazza, sitting in a busted cane-scat chair with his foot cocked up on tho railing and tho regulation cigar In his mouth, was Van Brunt, kind of damp and wrinkled so far as clothes went, but othcrwlso as sdreno and chipper a Robinson Crusoo as tho average man Is likely to strike In ono life tlmo. Wa'n't wo glad to seo him! And ho was Just as glnd to seo us. "Hello, skipper," says he, reaching out his hand. "So you got ashore all right. Good enough. I was a bit fear ful for you after you left us last night" Aftor I left him! I liked that And ho was fearful for mo. "Humph!" says I, "I had a notion that 'twas you that did the leaving. Talk about dropping an acquaintance! I never was dropped like that aforo! Look here, Mr. Van Brunt, aforo you and mo go to sea together again we'll havo a llttlo lesson in running rigging. I want to learn you what a main sheet Is." "Oh," ho Bays, careless like, "I guess I found It, after a while At any rato if It's a ropo I cut it I cut all tho ropes in sight." "You did?" says I, with my mouth open. "Yes. That's an acrobatic boat of yours; It seemed to want to turn som ersets. I Judged that that sail mado it top-heavy so I told James to tako tho sail down. Ho didn't know how but wo decided that tho ropes must have something to do with it So I cut 'era, one after the othor, and tho sail came down." "Sudden?" Bays I. "Well, fairly bo. Soma of it was in the water and tho rest of it on James. I resurrected him finally and we pulled 'most of it Into the boat It went bet ter then." ' "Did, hey?" says I. I was learning seamanship fast. "Yes," says he. "If I were you I wouldn't havo any sail on that boat Sho does much bettor without ono. Then it began to rain and I got some of tho dry sail over mo. I bollevo I went to Bleep then or soon after." Nato Scuddor's eyes was big as pre serve dishes. I guess mlno was bigger still. "Good Lord!" says I. "Did his did James go to sleep too?" "No," says Van. "I think not I be Hovo James was holding some sort of religious service. How about it, Jamos?" His lordship looked shooplsh. "Woll, sir," ho says. "I don't know, Blr. I may 'avo been a bit nervous; I'm not usod to a boat, sir." "I shouldn't mind your praying, James," Van says, sober as a deacon; "if you didn't yoll bo. However, wo got horo on this island about five o'clock, I believe. Rather, tho boat camo horo herself; wo didn't havo anything to do with it" I novor in my life! Thoy say tho Almighty looks out for tho lamo and tho lazy. Van Brunt wa'n't lame, but "Well," says I. "I'll bollevo in spe cial Providences after this." Van Jumped out of the chair. "By George!" ho sings out "Talking of special providences; Martin, como horo." Ho grabbed t'other Twin by the nnn and led him down off tho piazza and up to tho top of a little hill near tho houBo. Tho rest of us followed with out bolng Invited. I know you couldn't have kept mo back with a chain cable. I haven't visited many asyluma ud I wanted to see the patients perform. "Look horo, Martin," says Van, whon wo got to tho top of tho hill. "Look around you," Wo all looked, I guess; I know I did. There was tho old Berry houso, squaro and weatherbeat and gray. And thero was a derelict barn end a half dozon pig pons and hon houses stranded alongside of it And thoro wns Horso foot bar all around us for a half mllo or bo, sand and beach grass and hop toads, sil complete. And beyond on ono Hldo was the bay, with tho water looking blue nnd pretty in tho fore noon sunshine. And on t'other side wns tho mllo and n half strip wo'd Just sailed across, with tho bench and mntnlund over yonder. Not a rouI but us In sight anywheres, Tho wholo lay out would havo made n llrst-rato pho togrnph of tho last placo the Lord mado; tho ono he forgot to llnlsh. "Look at It!" hollers Van. "Look nt it! Now whnt la It?" I begun to bo Borry Iho keepor hndn't arrived that tlmo when I thought ho wns coming. I cal'lated ho wad needed right now. Martin Boomed to think ho, too. Ho looked puzzled. "What Is It?" h anys. "What's what? Whnt do you mean?" "Why this wholo business. Island and houso nnd scenery and quiet and all. You old blockhead!" hollers Van, giving tho othor Twin nn cvorlnHtlng bang on tho bnck; "Don't you seo? It's whnt we've been looking for nil theso wcoks It's tho pure, unadulterated, nccopt-no-lmltntlons Natural Llfo!" I set down In tho snnd. Things wero coming too fast for mo. If this kept on I'd bo counting my fingers and plnyiug cat's cradlo along with tho rest of tho loons pretty soon. 1 knew It. But, would you bullovo It, Martin Hartley didn't seem to think his chum was out of his mind. Ho fetched a long breath. "By Jove!" ho saya, slow; "I don't know but you'ro right." "Right? You bet I'm right! It's been growing on mo over slnco I landod. We'll bo nlono; no females, natlvo or Imported, to bother us. Hero's a bully old houso with somo furniture, bedsteads nnd so on, nlrcady In It. I broko n window and climbed In for a rummage. Jolllcst old ark you over saw. Hero's a veranda to sit on, nnd air to breathe, and a barn for a cow and plenty of room for n gar den nnd chickens whow! Man nllvo, It's Paradise! And I want to locato tho man that owns It I wnnt to find him quick." Ho .didn't havo to say it but once. Nato Scuddor was so full of Joy that ho had to shovo his hands In his pock ets to keep from hugging hlmsolf. "I own It," ho says. ' "You do! Scuddor, you'ro a gem. I begin to lovo you llko a brother. Mar tin and I hlro this place; do you un derstand? It's ours from this minute, for as long as wo want it" Nato commenced to hem and haw. "Well, I don't know," ho says. "I don't know's I ought to lot .you havo it. There's been considerable many folks after it, and" "Nover mind. Thoy can't havo it Wo outbid 'em. Seo?" "What will wo do for grocories?" asks Hartley, considering. "Scuddor '11 bring 'era to us," sayB Van. "Won't you, Scudder?" "Well, I don't know, Mr. Van Brunt I'm pretty busy now, and " "We'll pay you for your time, of course." "What about beds and cooking uton bIIb nnd bo on?" asks Hartley, consid ering somo more. "Scudder'll buy 'em for us somo whores." "And milk, and oggo, and butter?" "Scudder till wo got our own chick ens and cow." "And or well, a cook? Who'll do tho cooking?" Van Brunt stoops down and slaps mo on tho Bhoulder. "Pratt," says ho "Pratt will como hero and cook for us, and navlgato us, and be our general manager. Pratt's tho boy!" "Hold on thero!" I sings out "Avast heaving, will you. If you" think for ono minute that I'm going to quit my summer Job to como to thlB hole and live, you're " "You'ro coming," says Van. "Novor mind tho price; we'll pay it Now shut up! you're coming." What can you say to a chap like that? I groaned. "Llvo on Horsefoot Bar," I says. "Llvo on it!" "Horsefoot Bar?" Bays Van. "Is that Its name? Woll, it's Horsefoot Bar no more. I've been ovolving a namo over Blnco I began to brcatho horo. Breathe, Martin," ho says. "Draw a good breath. That's it. That's puro ozono. Gontlemcn, permit mo to introduce to you, Ozono island." Scudder grinned. Ho was fooling ready to grin at most anything Just then. "Ozono island?" says Hartley, "Ozono island. A restful namo. Woll, It's a rostful spot Isn't it, Bklpper?" "Yes," Bays I. "As" restful aa being burled alive; and protty nigh as pleas ant." (TO BE CONTINUED.) KNEW80METHINQOF ARGUMENT Daughter Mustered Logic to Answer Father's Objections. Isaac L. Rico, tho chess enthusiast, whoso daughter is a dovoteo of the motorcycle, tolls a story about tho way In which ho waB induced to buy tho first machlno for the young wom an. Mrs. Rico and Miss Rico wore In Europe at tho tlmo and arrangements had been mado to ship a machlno abroad, whon a man was thrown from a motorcyclo In Now York and killed. Tho accident impressed Mr. Rico bo that, instead of sending tho desired cycle, ho forwarded a lottor uayln? that ho had doclded not to buy ono, as ho thought tho sport was too danger ous. By tho next mall camo back a lottor carrying Insldo a newspaper clipping with tho bonding, "Man Dlos in Theater." With It was tho mes sage: "Now, father, do you intend to keop mo from going to tho theater bocauso a man once died thoro?" Mr. Rico decided that argument was use less against ru-h ta astugoalst M W sV "VfaaaWaBBBY WT Wlm metropolis Christmas to exploit its wares. The windows of the great Autumn leaves, now 'present A ifweager t.1 lv-is l f wv-" Images .of Santa Clays appear in baa reliefs, back'cd with reindeer and sledges, capacious chimneys and snug'llre-placcs. Toys and sweetmeats run riot upon the counters, and mefchrismas'shopper appears mincingly in the long aisles of the great department stores. Therc arc yet many days for making Christmas choices andUiCjShopper'lias about her none of that mad,' scrambling air so noticeable during theTast few days of the runaway season.' In the streets Santa jvorks nievcry-corjjcr, asking alms for the needy. ii.. ..I..1. ii.ni ,l.:. sri..-4u.. a Inch wo are drawn into themrrjf-making, thi .bustle, and the spirit of the time. In ouf minds vyate turning overwind over the problem of what for this dcaj.one anuwhat ftiothat andin-our .list we include those who1 are less rtbt-to-bc ,iovous xfh tin's dav than we ore and now comes the' real joy of Christmas: the doing W There is the little girl we mfct a' who will be delighted with a pretty at the corner of Hit and Miss- streets, theN widow who takes in washing out in tho suburb where we Jjvdf the jolly ovfriend of a business associ-J bio wno nas so many tmngs one cannon jusiacciac on nis present, ine elevator man who has" met -us" morning and night with a cheery good morning and a respectful gdod night andthcn there arc the closer ones:1 tho mother, father, ,wifc,arid babies 1 What a goJaxy-sor needy folk for all arey needy "on Christmas day! Those who do not need food, or clothing, or money, need something that will prove our love, (prove that wc have not forgotten them and that on this, tho day commemorating the coming of the King of Bethlehem, our' heart W attuned toJtheirs in gladness and rejoicing. And now the nolljrand the mistletoe appear uponthe6trcetrcorners( and .rushing business men stop on their hurried way homeward to buy wreaths of the green and the red to hang in the windows of. their, homes' and from tho cliandeliereoffoeiyfiving rooms. j ' On and on surges the spirirrfchristmasly Like a mighty enveloping shaff'oPsunshine, it brcaksthrough"hc! clouds of every-day .mediocrity and racing across the world sends its glow-! Ing glory, into every home I Garlands hang everywhere, bells chime and merry laughter echoes through, the halls of time. And with the ringing' of the crystal spheres, peace spreads her mantle like a cloak, and plenty sits enthroned among the merrymaking and the praise! --. "Peace oa earth, good-will to men." mi-P t-SB.-Sr .fV kfifc VrFVV F -TS-p-.fcS r?c-TnE hcar of Christmas early in tiieAcountry! No sooner Have the ( J dayls J5&&n&C3$l&ht' at.'joc'.thah' mt tMt bfehher, jyCncfMwj&Jc WrtnrJpcibejptit aay sHtjfatagftsi; AfipaeTjiSthe sTtferaTvfeether Is rtadinVNWs newsmra, dra';BJjb5 tMrwuWwUy moSwp'omake beautiful' anaustfuJHVS? (v"s -f" -V) JTOHjfiittnas will be herc.befongwep towwith his eyes. &ft-wvN. S IYd(lM, how time flies l". he rammepfso asVherturnsiWs 'tANMit after nkht.she sews and frnft&ahd crochets fficfrahiTdrcn out of the house and -nSrl hfij qujew some deep corner and briffgiouj MiHkrvbJrtr Willlfi. laces for Nell, itimters hclveah sensitive to the least in tnisioftT the "'VT'TKT 'Anrip f lMOWiKrfm cWIgWJcoWVhGB Into &mejW?mtr AtWc--enlKWHl8Mdfc'n hear oWheR ww..rr.Va?23kxRt U'wi-KJc-erfyiiA. CKnHl tle-jiV jiaiohu; iui yyKfKKr'f'XaJ V-4 "- vuuug .witu jfiiyik, jvt-JLfy-ti:a ijjy O Delightiat occupation! HowThrtlie days now gone, all men have strung their hearts upon the threads and passed them awkwardly to rosy-cheeked maids with hair braided down their backs, with ruby lips and eyes that sparkled with the first love glances ! And the, Christmas' parties, the slcighrides, the renewing of friendships with those who have been away at school arid have returned for the season of gaycty and good cheer! And the stockings that arc hung on Christmas eve in the country ! In every home they reap their harvest year by year on Christmas morning. Reap their harvest as the "Merry Christmas!" salutation rings throughout, tho house. And it is mother, usually, that steals irt "upon the sleepipg ones, and wishes them a glad and happy Christmas! And always on Christmas morning she will do this! Though she be in the land of bliss beyond, or in the flesh of the present, she will speak to us( of the Christmas morning, speak to us from her loving heart and wish u happiness. Nor time, nor death, nor changes, nor wars, nor misfortunes ever can take from a man this Christmas wish of mother's; v "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! " From the endless aeons of the turquoise sky she speaks to me on Christmas morning and she speaks to you, too but, mayhap, nearer by,' for Christmas in the country is indissolubly associated with her. And for that reason, Christmas in tho country is doubly dear to me and doubly sacred. "With trembling fingers did we weave The holly round the Christmas hearth; A rainy cloud possess'd the earth, And sadly fell our Christmas-eve." mmmmwwm x ilBHU H I lPBL J lS9AViSVUjVSJnBBEJ Y BYROtfWlLLlAMS treads upon the heels of jThanksfciv- stores, that have been fringed with tho entire gamut of holiday goods.' -.?.. i t i.,.. ..! ..r goodNhamakcs our hearts' sing with' V inthe pine woods last summer ok- tne wamc boy wno sens papers paper:. and no -sooner are.' isework finished, than she goes uncompleted presents for .themi for Dad. Guardedly she works,' slightest danger of a surprise. fe after school, she hurries the work) eft hands to the regular routine! , Christmas tree and of the added numbers and the popconrand fashion, decorations.' - i 11 lilHlfflllPI "& "'" , (Copyright UflS, by Wright X PaUwrswO V-jJ ! ial ' V 'ki m & 41 M Vfi K ft 3 M i $ " ' W Vyw. 9, .? '5.1 .: a I 1A M , T. :&; J' " s '. It A zm ' M9? , MtfAft Aii ' ,-wV r "4 rFi ''M "'$&!& "4 ,.'.'1 V " uFt S S7,i.'fl VSK'i IWM Wi h4MH " u. 4 H SJdl 11 1U-1 ' 11. ' i li J ?: "' 'J i. w-. rtt-MSlKK J ' n4rT' h mMtt&ttim'. jtf&M2teL ;l C-ii