SYNOPSIS.
Tim tttnry In told by Nicholas Trlsl. His
Chief. ] Senator John CfUhoun , oftcrod tlm
portfolio of nrcTotnry of state In Tylnr'n
nfxnlnot. In told by Dr. Ward that IIH ! tltnp
In ( iliort. Calhnmi doalnrwi tlmt IIP Is not
rendy to ( lip , raid If ho accents Tylrr's of-
fop It tnrann tlmt Texas find Oregon inimt
bn nrtdnrt to the Union. IIo pinna to Irani
Ihe intontlon.1 of Hnnland with roKurd to
Mexico throUKli Baroness Vnn llltz , Hocrot
py nnd rcinucd inlHtrrsi of tlic
tmtmc.-mtlor. Palenhnin.
11 CHAPTER II.
By Special Dispatch.
In nil eras and nil oilmen a woman of
treat Kenlun or bcnuty has done wlmt she
ehoso. Oulda.
"Nicholas , " said Calhoun , turning
to mo suddenly , but with his Invari
able kindliness of tone , "oblige me to
night I have written a message hero.
You will sco the address "
"I have unavoidably heard this
lady'n name , " I hesitated.
"You will find thu lady's name ahovo
the seal. Take her this me&sago from
me. Yes , your errand Js to bring the
least known and most talked of worn-
un , In Washington , alone , unattended
nave by yourself , to a gentleman's
apartments , to his house , at a time
past the hour of midnight ! That gen
tleman is myself ! You must not take
nny answer In the negative. "
As I sat dumbly , holding this scaled
document In my hand , ho turned to Dr.
Ward , wltli a nod toward myself.
"I choose my young aide , Mr. Trist
hero , for good reasons. Ho is Just
back from six months In the wilder
ness , and may bo shy ; but once ho
had a way with women , so they toll
me and you know , in approaching
the question ad fomlnnm wo operate
per homlnom. "
Dr. Ward took snuff with violence
OB he regarded mo critically.
"I do not doubt the young man's sin
cerity and faithfulness , " said he. "I
was only questioning one thing. "
"Yes ? "
"Ills ago. "
Calhouu rubbed his chin. "Nicho
las , " ho said , "you heard mo. I have
no wish to encumber you with useless
Instructions. Your errand | s before
you. Very much depends upon it , as
you have heard. All I can say Is , keep
your head , keep your feet , and keep
your heart ! "
The two older men both turned
now , and smiled at mo In a manner
not wholly to my liking. Neither was
this errand to my liking.
It was true , I was hardly arrived
homo after many months In the west ;
but I bad certain plans of my own for
that very night , and although as yet I
had made no definite engagement with
my fiancee , Miss Elizabeth Churchill
of Elmburst farm , for meeting her at
the great ball this night , such cer
tainly waa my desire and my Inten
tion. Why , I had scarce seen Eliza
beth twice In the last year.
"Ho might bo older , " said Calhoun
at length , speaking of mo aa though I
wore not present. "And 'tis a hard
game to play , If once my lady Helen
takes It Into her merry head to make
It Bo.for him. But If I sent one shorter
of stature nnd uglier of visage and
with less art In approaching a crlno-
Uno why , perhaps ho would get no
farther than her door. No ; ho will
Borve ho must servo ! "
1 Ho * arose now , and bowed to us
'both ' , oven as I rose and turned for
, my cloak to shield mo from the raw
drizzle which then was falling In the
atrcotfl.
i So this , then , was my errand. My
mind BtlU tingled at Its unwelcome
Quality. Dr. Ward guessed something
of my mental dissatisfaction.
"Never mind , Nicholas , " said ho , as
wo parted at the street corner , where
ho climbed Into the rickety carriage
which his colored driver held await
ing him. "Never mind. I'don't my
self qulto know what Calhoun wants ;
but ho would not ask of you anything
, poroonally Improper. Do his errand ,
then. It IB part of your work. In any
case " and I thought I saw him grin
In the dim light "you may have a
night which you will remember. "
There proved to be truth In what ho
eald.
CHAPTER III.
In Argument ,
The egotism of women Is always for
two. Mine. Do Stnel ,
The thought of missing my mooting
with Elizabeth still rankled In my
Boul. 'Had It been another man who
naked mo to carry this message , I
imust have refused. But this man was
my master , my chief , in whose serv
ice I had engaged.
i For myself , his agent , I had , aa 1
aay , loft the 'old Trist homestead at
the foot of South mountain In Mary
land , to Beck my fortune In our capl
tal city. I had had some three or foui
' training when
( years' semi-diplomatic
I first met Calhoun and entered hlE
service as assistant It was undoi
ftlm that I finished my studies in law ,
Meantime , I was his messenger It
very many quests , his source of infer
xnatlon in many matters , where he
bad no time to go into details.
Strange enough had been some ol
the circumstances In which I found
AOTH0R , OF THE
myself thrust through tills relation
with a nmn so intimately connected
for a generation with our public life.
For B\X. \ months I had boon In Missis
sippi and Texas studying matters and
men , and now , Just buck from Natchl-
todies , I felt that I had earned some
little rest.
Vaguely In my conscience I felt
that , after all , my errand waa justi
fied , oven though at some cost to my
own wlohen and my own pride. The
farther I walked In the dark along
Pennsylvania avenue , Into which final
ly I swung after I had crossed Rock
bridge , the more I realized that per
haps tlilo big game was worth playing
In detail and without quibble as the
master mind should dictate.
I was , Indeed , young Nicholas Trlst ,
of Maryland ; six feet tall , thin , lean ,
always hungry , perhaps a trllle freck
led , a Httlo nandy of hair , blue I sup
pose of eye , although I am not sure ;
good rider and good marcher , I Ini9w ;
fiomothlng of an expert with the
weapons of my time and people ; fond
of a horse and a dog and a rifle yes ,
and a glass and a girl , If truth bo told.
I was not yet HO , In spite of my west
ern travels. At that ago the rttstlo of
silk or dimity , the suspicion of ad
venture , tempts the worst or the best
of us , I fear. Woman ! the very
sound of the word made my blood
leap then. I wont forward rather
blithely , as I now blush to confess.
"If there eve maps to bo made to
night , " said I , "tho Baroness Helena
shall do her share In writing on uiy
" -f - t..u.ui.n . - .1.1 la
the HtnrB runs much the same In all
ages. I Imvo said that I loved Eliza
beth , but also said I waa not yet 30.
Moreover , I was a gentleman , and
hero might be a lady In need of help.
I need not say that in a moment I waa
at thu side of the carriage. Its occu
pant made no exclamation of surprise ;
in fact , she moved back upon the
other side of the seat In the darkness ,
ao though to make room for me !
A dark framed face , whose outlines
I could only dimly HOP in the faint
light of the street lamp , leaned to
ward me. The same small hand nor-
voiiHly reached out , as though In re
quest.
I now very naturally stopped closer.
A pair of wide and very dark eyes
was looking Into mine. I could now
see her faec. There was no smile
upon her Una. 1 had never seen her
before , that was sure nor did I ever
think to see her Ilka again ; I could
say that even'then , oven In the half
light. Just a trlllo foreign , the face ;
somewhat ( lark , but not too dark ;
the lips full , the eyes luminous , the
forehead beautifully arched , chin and
cheek beautifully rounded , nose clean-
cut and straight , thin but not pinched.
There was nothing niggard about her.
She was magnificent a magnificent
woman. I saw that slid had splendid
Jewels at her throat , In her ears a
necklace of diamonds , long hoops ol' '
diamonds and emeralds used as ear
rings ! a sparkling clasp which caught
at her white throat the wrap which
she had thrown about her ball gown
* *
*
Knock at the Third Door In
chief's old mahogany desk , and not
on her own dressing case. "
That was an Idle boast , though
made but to myself. I had not yet
met the woman.
CHAPTER IV.
The Baroness Helena.
Woman Is seldom merciful to the man
who la timid. Edward IJulwer Lytton.
There was one of our dim street
lights at a central corner on old Penn
sylvania avenue , nnd under It , after
a long walk , I paused for a glance at
the inscription on my sealed docu
ment. I had not looked at it before in
the confusion of my somewhat hur
ried mental processes. In addition
to the name and street number , In Gal-
noun's writing , I read this memo
randum : "Knock at the third door
In the second block beyond M street. "
I recalled the nearest cross street ;
but I must confess the direction still
scorned somewhat cryptic. Puzzled , I
stood under the lamp , shielding the
face of the note under my cloak to
keep oft the rain , as I studied It.
The Bound of wheels behind mo on
the muddy pavement called my atten
tion , and I looked about. A carriage
came swinging up to the curb whore
I stood. It was driven rapidly , and
as it approached the door swung open.
I heard a quick word , and the driver
pulled up bis horses. I saw the light
shine through the door on a glimpse
of white satin. I looked again. Yes ,
it was a beckoning hand ! The negro
driver looked at mo inquiringly.
Ah , well , I suppose diplomacy under
: he Second Block Beyond M Street.
for now I saw she was in full evening
dress. I guessed aho had been an at
tendant at the great ball , that ball
which I had missed with so keen a regret -
grot myself the ball whore I hud
hoped to dance with Elizabeth. Without -
out doubt she hud lost her way and
was asking the first stranger for in
structions to her driver.
My lady , whoever she was , seemed
pleased with her rapid temporary
scrutiny. With a taint murmur ,
whether of Invitation or not I scarce
could tell , she drew back again to the
farther sldo of the seat. Before I
know how or why. I was at her side.
The driver pushed shut the door , and
whipped up his team.
Personally 1 am gifted with but
small Imagination. In a very matter
of fact way I had got into this car
riage with a strange lady. Now in n
sober and matter of fact way It ap
peared to mo my duty to find out the
reason for this singular situation ,
"Madam , " I remarked to my com
panlon , "In what manner can 1 bo of
bervlce to yon this evening ? "
" 1 am forlmmto that you are a gentleman
tloman , " she said , in a low and soft
voice , qulto distinct , quite musical In
quality , and marked with Just the
faintest trace of some foreign accent
although her English was perfect.
1 looked again at her. Yes , her hulr
was dark ; that was sure. It swept ui
In a great roll about her oval brow
Her eyes , too , must bo dark , I con
firmed. Yes as a passed lamp gavt
mo aid there were strong dark brows
above them llor nose , too , was pa
' , trlclan ; her culu curving just strongl >
enough , but not too full , and faintly
cleft , a sign of power , they nay.
A third gracious lamp gave mo n
glimpse of her figure , huddled back
among her draperies , and I gueaced
icr to be about of medium height , A
fourth lamp showed me her hands ,
small , firm , white ; also I could catch
a glimpse of her arm , as It lay out
stretched , her fingers clasping a fan.
So I know hi-r arms were round and
taper , hence all her limbs and figure
finely molded , because nature dose
not do such things by halves , and
makes no bungles In her symmetry
of contour when she plans a nohlo
specimen of humanity. Hero was a
noble t specimen of what woman
may be.
I was not In such a hurry to ask
again how I might bo of service. In
fact , being somewhat surprised and
somewhat pleased , I remained silent
now for a time , and let matters adjust
thcmsplvcsj which is not a bad course
for any one similarly engaged.
She turned toward me at last de
liberately , her fan against her lipp ,
studying me. And I did as much , ta
king advantage as I could of the pass
ing street lamps. Then , all at once ,
without warning or apology , she
smiled , showing very oven and white
teeth.
She smiled. There came to me from
the purple-colored shadows some sort
of deep perfume , strange to me. 1
frown at the description of such
things and such emotions , but I swear
that aa I sat there , a stranger , I felt
swim up around mo some sort of am
ber shadow , edged with purple the
shadow , as I llgured It then , being
this perfume , curious and alluring !
It was wet , there in the street. Why
should I rebel at this stealing charm
of color or fragrance let those name
it bettor who can. At least I sat , smi
ling to myself in my purple-amber
shadow , now In no very special hurry.
At last I could not , in politeness ,
keep this up ftirtheV.
"How may I serve the baroness ? "
said I.
She started back on the seat as far
as she could go.
"How did you know ? " she asked
"And who are you ? "
I laughed. "I did not know , and
did not guess until almost as I began
to speak ; but If it comes to that , I
might say I am simply an humble
gentleman of Washington hero. I
might be privileged to peep In at am
bassadors' balls through the windoWs -
deWs , at least. "
"But you were not there you did
not see mo ? I never saw yon In my
life until Mils very moment how ,
then , do yon know me ? Speak ! At
once ! " Her satins rustled. I knew
she was tapping a foot on the carriage
floor.
"Madam , " I answered , laughing at
her ; "by this amber purple shadow ,
with flecks of scarlet and pink ; by
this perfume which weaves webs for
me hero in this carriage , I know you.
Tl > light Is poor , but it is good
enough to show one who can be no
ouo else but the Baroness von Ritz. "
I was In the mood to spice an ad
venture which had gone thus far. Of
course she thought mo crazed , and
drew back again in the shadow ; but
when I turned and smiled , she smiled
In answer herself somewhat puzzled.
"The Baroness von KHz cannot be
disguised , " I said ; "not even If she
wore her domino. "
She looked down at thn little mask
which hung from the sllki n cord , and
flung It from her.
"Oh' , then , very well ! " she said. > "If
you know who I am , w ho are you ,
and why do you talk in this absurd
way with me. n stranger ? "
"Andliy , madam , do you take me
up , a stranger. In this a'jsurd way , at
midnight , on the streets of Washing
ton ? I , who am engage i on business
for my chief ? "
She tapped again with her foot on
the carriage floor. "Tel ) movlio you
are ! " she said.
"Onco a young plantel from Mary
land yonder ; sometime maid-be law
yer here in Washington. It is my mis
fortune not to bo so distinguished
In fame or beauty that my immo IB
known by all ; so I need not tell you
my name perhaps , only assuring you
that 1 am at > our service if 1 may be
useful. "
( TO Hi : CONTINUED. )
Begging for Toothpicks ,
"Hold-up men of all kinds Imvo
stopped mo on the highways and by
ways of the olty , but the limit was
readied the other night. " Buys C. H.
Puckhtun.
"I had just left the theater when n
man touched my arm.
' "My friend , ' lo said , 'will yon
please stake mo 'o ' a wooden tooth
pick ? "
"So dazed was I that I was taken
off my guard.
' 'Walt here , ' ] paid , 'and I'll go In
the Glllsy and git you a handful. '
"I did , and he accepted them with
profuse thanks.
" 'It's getting so now , ' ho said ,
'that a gcntleniatv can't even pick up
a match in a hotal unless ho is pay
ing ? 5 u day for a flfty-cout room. ' "
NEBRASKA IN DRIEP.
Newa Notes of Interest From Various
Sections ,
Carl Sink , of Amos , Dodge county ,
Is no sJoucU as a corn husker. He
picked and orlbbed GOO bushels In live
dasy.
Dog poisoners have of late been
busy in Nebraska City , a number of
valuable machines having thus been
destroyed.
At ( Irand Island Emll Richards
pleaded guilty before Judge Paul to
robbery from the person , and was sen
tenced to one year In the peniten
tiary.
John W. Ervin and Charles Sears ,
proprietors of a pool hall at Kearney ,
were convicted In police -court for
selling Intoxicating liquors and fined
$75 and costs each.
Miss Ella Dunn , of Beatrice , 20
years of a ; e , made an unsuccessful
attempt upon her life by .taking Io
dine. Ill health Is said to have
prompted her to do the deoJ >
The American Automobile company ,
which was recently given n site for
its plant at Now Albany , Ind. , Is mak
ing plans to move tln > plant from Be
atrice to Hint place early next month.
The women of the Chndron club
ha\o organized a new department of
civic reform , particularly In street
denning and expect by spring to have
ready a plan for beautifying the eity.
The fire which started in the Speak
er hotel at Louisville was confined
to that structure , the flames being
under control without serious dam
age to nearby structures. The loss
is estimated nt $5,000.
A "workman on the dry land dredge ,
digging ditches In the Elkhorn val
ley drainage district , was severely In
jured and narrowly escaped death. Ho
was ranught between the big chain
and arm lifting the bui-ket of the ma
chine , and had the engine not been
stopped quickly ho would have boon
crushed.
A new hospital , under the dinrgc
of the government veterinarians , is
being erected in Chadrun by order
of the department at Washington. It
will be used by the Northwestern
railroad also for examination and in
spection of stock shipped from Chnd
ron and the branches of the railroad
centered here.
Alford Parrlsh , a farmer living four
miles , southeast of Mead , broke both
arms between the elbow and wrist.
He was returning from a neighbor ,
driving a team which had been stand
ing idle for several days , and on passIng -
Ing his homo place , com inignto town
the team became fractions and ho was
thrown to the ground with results
above noted.
Baysdor'ffer Bros. , of Omaha , who
built an aeroplane in the city , brought
it out to Waterloo and are assembling
the machine in a big tout on the
Isaac Noyes farm north of Waterloo.
As soon as they got the madiine to
gether they will run it about the
grounds a few days to familiarize
themselves with its workings and
then try it out in the air.
Fire damaged tht > stock and build
ing of H. W. Abt & Co. , wholesale
grocers , of Columbus , to the extent
of $29,000. From appearances the
fire had been smouldering for some
hours and was probably eaused by
mice and matches. When discovered
the flames were burning through the
roof. The east portion of the firm's
double building was practically de
stroyed , the stock on this side being
almost a total loss.
.1. (3. Emerson , who \\tis hold over
to 'tho ' district court ol Dodge coun
ty under a $1,000 bond on the charge
of passing a forged note for $193 , pur
porting to be that of Hilliker &
Schlichter , horse dealers , on the Com
mercial National bank , in June last ,
did not appear for trial at the pres
ent term of the district court , ami his
bond will be forfeited. His bonds
man , James McDonald , is reported to
be amply secured against loss and
Dodge county's school fund will soon
bo $4,000 larger.
The postoflice at Bm'diaid \ \ : \ rob
bed of about $100 in money and
stamps early in the morning. T\vo
men supposed to ho the robbers were
scon to enter the barn of William
Palmer , a fanner , and Sheriff Cchlok
nml a pair of bloodhounds from Beat
rice followed by nearly 200 farmers
of that vicinity , started on a hunt for
the supposed robbers , who made their
escape.
The state board of horticulture at
its last meeting decided to issue a
monthly magazine free to its mem
bers instead of the occasional bulle
tins which It has been Issuing. The
hoard arranged to give $150 in prem
iums on apples to be shown at the
winter meeting in Liiu oln.
Washington dispatch : The Ne
braska State association and their
friends will gather at Pythian temple
to hear : x recital of "The Shepherd
of the Hills , " under the auspices of
( icorye C. William * , lormorly of Lin
coln. There will be music and dano- .
Lug nnd Assistant Comniifisioner Ab
bott of Indian affairs , who is the new
president of the association , will make
his Initial how on this occasion
The program for the sixteenth an
nual meeting of the Nebraska State
Association of Commissioners , Super
visors and County Clerks Is out , and
It embraces a wide range of subjects.
This mooting Is to bo hold In Omaha ,
Doc. il : , H and 15.
The publicity committee of the
Commercial club of Kearney will
stase a local talent minstrel show to
raise funds to carry out Its work. The
committuo has been planning a big
campaign of publicity nnd will spend
money , not only in the interests of
Kearney , but of the entire central
portion of tbo state.
Suffered Several Years
Kidney Trouble , "Peruna
Cured Me. "
Mr. John N.
Watldns , 3133
Shcnan do ah
Avc. , St. Louis ,
Mo. , writes :
"Amoni ? allj
the greatly nd-f
vcrtised medl-G
clncs for kidney - '
ney and blad
der trou b 1 o
there Is noth
ing w h 1 o h
equals Pcru-
na. I Buffered
for BOV oral
yearo with Ihla
trouble , spent
hundreds of
dollars on doc
tors and medi
cine and all tone
no purpose un
til I took Pc-
runa.
"One bottle
did mo more . . . . . , . . . . , .
good than all MrJ ° "n N. Watkins.
the others put together , as they only
poisoned my system. Peruna cured
meI used It for four months bcforu
a complete euro was accomplished , but
tun truly grateful to you. The least I
can do In return Is to acknowledge
the merits of Peruna , which I take
pleasure hi now doing. "
Bladder Trouble.
Mr. C. 13. Newhof , 10 Delaware
street , Albany , X. Y. , writes :
"Since my advanced age I find that
t have been frequently troubled with
urinary ailments. The bladder seemed
Irritated ; and my physician said that
) . wan catarrh caused by a protracted
lold which would bo difficult to over *
omc on account of my advanced years.
\ took Peruna , hardly daring to bellevo
Mat I would be helped , but found tr
my rellof that I soon began to mend
he Irritation gradually subsided , an6
{ 10 urinary difficulties passed away. 1
-avo enjoyed excellent health now foi
Jio past seven months. I enjoy mj
meals , sleep soundly , and am as well a *
I was twenty years ago. 1 clvo all
pralso to Peruna. "
THE OLDEST FUR HOUSE IH AMERICA.
18-20-22 West 20th Street , New Yor ! )
Branch KstnblUUuieiitH unilc-r SAME N'AMH at
IVKIl'/.U ! , JM1NDON , 1'AZUS ,
Germany Kuglaud ruucu
Buying nncl FPllinrppri'scntatlres III nil Imi
portunt I'ur Miirletti of thp World , dlftrl'uitltiJ
wn-li artlclu Niu-i" best retnltn nro obtained , nil
ob'.e us to pay highest miirkut pi let's for IUM
furi at all times
Our IJaw 1'nr Quotations , Shipping Tag' ' , etc. .
will 1)P tent to nny nddrc-sa OH rrqucrt.
Iloferrncra : Any Mercantile ARt-ncy or J'ank )
PLEASE MENTION THIS PAPER WHEN ANSWERING.
BABY'S GIFT FROiVl HIS PAPA
Inheritance for Which Mother Did Not
Seem to Be in Any Great
Degree Thankful.
Richard Harding Davis , at a fee
ball game in Philadelphia , praiseil
th5 voices of the young undergrud *
ates fchouting their weird college
yells.
"It makes me think of a Locust
Btreet bride , " said Mr. Davis , smiling.
"She turned to her husband one night
at dinner and remarked :
" 'My dear , the first time I saw you
was at Franklin Field. Your head
was thrown buck , your mouth wldo
open and your face was very red
you were yelling your college yell. '
" 'Yes , I remember , ' said the young
man.
" 'And I noticed , " she continued ,
'what a remarkable voice you had. '
" 'Yes , you spoke of it at the time , '
eald he. 'Hut what makes you think
of It now ? '
' "Oh , nothing. ' said the bride.
'Only I wish the baby hadn't inherited
It. That's all. ' "
Trying to Console.
"My son , " remarked the stern
parent , "when 1 was your age 1 hud
very little Umo for frivolous diver
sions. "
"Well , " replied the young man , "you
didn't miss much. Believe me , this
pay life Isn't what It looks to be. "
Sweetest Success.
"What's the sweetest kind of suc
cess ? "
"That which you achieve by acting
coutraiy to the advice of your friends.
Argufy"
' A single dish of
with sugar and cream tells
the whole story
4 'The Memory Lingers l
Postnm Ce.-enl Company , Ltd.
Uattle Crcclc , Mich.