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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1898)
TJIE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SATURDAY , OCTOBER S , J8D8. m MR , LEDBETTER'S VACATION. By H. G , WELLS. ( Copyright by H. O. Wclla. ) i My friend , Mr. Ledbcttcr , Is a stout , | round-faced little man , whoso natural mildness of eye Is gigantically exaggerated when you catch the beam through hU glasses and whoso deep , deliberate voice Irritates Irritable people. A certain elabo rate clearness of enunciation has corns with , him to his present vicarage from his scholastic days , an elaborate clearness of I enunciation and a certain nervous deter- | ruination to bo firm and correct upon all Issues , Important and unimportant alike. He is a sacerdotallst and a chess player and suspected by many of the secret practice of the higher mathematics creditable rather < than Interesting things. Ills conversation ' Is copious and given much to needless de tail. Hy many , Indeed , his Intercourse Is condemned , to put It plainly , as "boring , " and such have even done mo the compliment to wonder why I countenance him. But , on the other hand , there Is a largo faction who marvel at hla countenancing such a disheveled , discreditable acquaintance as myself. Few appear to regard our friend- Bhlp with equanimity. But that 13 because they do not know of the link that binds us , of my amiable connection via Jamaica with Mr. Ledbctter'a past. About that past ho displays an anxious modesty. "I do not know what I should do If It became known , " ho says , and repeats Impressively , "I do not know what I should do. " As -matter - of fact I doubt If ho would do anything except get very red about the cars , nut that will appear later , nor will I tell hero ot our encounter , slnco as a general rule though I am prone to break H the end of a story should come after rather than before the beginning. And the beginning of the story goes a long way back ; Indeed , It Is now nearly twenty years slnco Fate , by a aeries of complicated and start ling maneuvers , brought Mr. Ledbetter , BO to speak , Into my hands. In these days I was living In Jamaica and Mr. Ledbetter was a schoolmaster In Eng land. Ho was In orders and already recog nizably the same man that he la today , the name rotundity of visage , the sarno or simi lar glasses and the same faint shadow of surprise In his resting expression. Ho was , of course , disheveled when I saw him and his collar less of a collar than a wet bandage - ago and that may have helped to bridge the natural gulf between us but of that , as I say , later. The business began at Hlthereatc-on-Si-a and simultaneously with Mr Ledbatter's summer vacation. Timber ho came for a greatly needed rest , with a bright brown poitmanteau marked F.V. . L. and a now while and black straw hat aud two pairs of white Ilannel trousers. Ho was natu rally exhilarated at his release from school , for he waa not very forU of the boys he taught. After dinner ho 'ell Into a discus sion with a talkative person established in the boarding house to which , acting ou the adlee of his aunt , ho Sai resorted , luls talkative person was the only other oan In tinhouse. . Their dlscuaj'on ' concerned the mtiancholy disappearance of wonder and nd- vemurc In these latter days , the prevalence of globe trotting , the abolition of distance by pieam and electricity , the vulgarity of ndvcrtlteruent , the degradatloi of men by civilization and many such things. Partlcu- lar.y was the talkative person eloquent ou tha decay of human couraee througa se curity , a security Mr. Ledbettor ratber thoughtlessly Joined him In deploring. Mr. Ledbetter , In the first dellgV. of emancipa tion from "duty" and helms anxious per haps to establish a reoutattoa for raanly conviviality , partook rather rroro freely than was advisable of the excellent whisky the talkative person produced , llut he did not become intoxicated , he lusls'9. He was simply eloquent beyond his sober wont and with the liner edge gone from his Judg ment. And after that long talk of the bravo old days that were gene forever , ho went out into moonlit Hithercate alone and up the cliff road where the villas cluster to gether. Ho had bewailed and now , as he walked up the silent road ho sttri bewailed the fate that had called him to such an un eventful llfo as a pedagogue's. What a prosaic exlstenco ho led , so stagnant , so colorless ! Secure , methodical , year In year out , what call was there for bravery ? Ho thought enviously of these roving mediaeval days , so near and BO remote , of quests aud spies and condottlerl and many a risky bladc-dranlng business. And suddenly came a doubt , a strange doubt , springing out ot aoino chance thought of tortures and destructive altogether of the position ho had assumed that evening. Was he Mr. Ledbetter really , after alf , so brave as he assumed ? Would he really be so pleased to have railways , policemen , and security vanish suddenly from the earth ? The talk ative man had spoken enviously of crime. "Tho burglar , " ho said , "Is the only true adventurer left ou earth. Think of his single-handed light against the whole civ ilized world ! " And Mr. Ledbetter had echoed his envy. "They do have some fun out of life , " Mr. Ledbetter had said. "And about the only people who do. Just think how It must feel to wire a lawn ! " And he had laughed wickedly. Now in this franKcr Intimacy of self-communion ho found him- elf Instituting a comparison between his own brand ot courage and that of the ha bitual criminal. Ho tried to meet these In sidious questionings with blank assertion. "I could do all that , " said Mr. Ledbetter. "I long to do all that. Only I do not give way to my criminal Impulses. My moral courage restrains mo. " Uut he doubted , even whllo he told himself these things. Mr. Lcdbettor passed a largo villa standIng - Ing by Itself. Conveniently situated abo\o a qutto practicable balcony was a window , caplnc black , wldo open. At the tlmo he bcnreely marked It , but the plcturo of It rame to him , wove Into his thoughts. He tlgurcd himself climbing up that balcony , crouching , plunging , Into that dark , mys terious Interior "Hah ! You would not dare , " said the spirit of doubt. "My duty to my fellow men forbids , " said Mr. Led- better's self-respect. It was nearly 11 and the little seaside town was already very still. The whole world slumbered under the moonlight. Only ono warm oblong of window blind far down the road epoko of waking life. Ho turned nnd came back elovvly toward the villa of the open window. Ho stood for a minute ouUldo the gate , a battle of motives. "Let us put things to the test , " said Doubt. 'Tor the satisfaction of these intolerable doubts show that you dare go Into that house. Commit a burglary in blank. That at any rate Is no crime , " Very softly he opened and shut the gate * and slipped Into the cbadow of the shrubbery. "This la foolish , " eald Mr. Lelbetter'a caution. "I expected that , " raid Doubt. HU heart was beating fast , but ho was certainly not afraid. He was not afraid. Ho remained In that nbadow for eomo considerable time. The ascent of the balcony It was evident would have to bo done In a rush , for It r was all in clear moonlight , and visible from the gate Into the avenue. A trellis thinly pet with young , ambitious climbing roses made the ascent ridiculously easy. There In that black shadow by the stone vase ot tlowers one might crouch and take a closer view ot this gaping breach in the domestic defenses , the open window , For a while Mr , Ledbetter was as still oa the night , and then that Inildlous whisky tipped the bal ance. Ho dashed forward. Ho went up the trellis with quick , convulsive move ments , swung his legs over the parapet of the balcony and dropped panting In the shadow , oven as ho had designed. Ho was trcmbllnc violently , short of breath , and his heart pumped noisily , but his mood was exultation. He could have shouted to nnd bo was so llttlo afraid , A happy line that ho bad learned from Wills' "Mephlstopheles" came Into his mind as he crouched there , "I feel llko a cat on the tllea. " He whispered it to him self. H was far better than ho had ex pected thla adventurous exhilaration. Ho was sorry for all poor men to whom bur glary was unknown. Nothing happened. He was qulto safe. And ho was acting In the bravest manner 1 And now for the window to make the burclary complete ! Would ho dare to do that ? Its position above the front door dunned It as a landing or passage , nnd there were no looking glasses or any bedroom signs about It or any other on the first door , to suggest the possibility of a sleeper within. For a tlmo ho listened under the led EC , then raised bis eyes above the sill and peered In. Close at hand on a pedestal and a llttlo startling at first was a nearly life-size gesticulating bronze. Ho ducked , and after some tlmo ho peered again. Be yond was a broad landing faintly gleaming , a flimsy fabric ot bead curtain , very black and sharp against a further window , a broad staircase plunging Into a gulf of darkness below , and another ascending to the second door. Ho glanced behind him , but the still ness of the night was unbroken. 'ICrlme , " ho whispered , "crime , " and scrambled softly and swiftly over the sill into the house. His feet fell noiselessly on a mat of skin. Ho was a burglar indeed ! Ho crouched for" a time , all ears and peerIng - Ing eyes. Outside was a scampering and rustling and for a moment ho repented of his enterprise. A short miaow , a spitting and a rush Into silence spoke reassuringly ot cats. His courage grew. Ho stood up. Everyone was abed , It seemed. So easy Is It to commit a burglary , If ono is so minded. Ho was glad he had put It to the test ) . Ho determined to take some petty trophy , Just to prove his freedom from any abject fear of the law , and depart ) the way he had come. Ho peered about him and suddenly the critical spirit nroso again. Burglars did far more than such mere elementary entrance as this ; they wont Into rooms , they forced safes. Well , ho was not afraid. He could not force safes because t'hat would be a stupid want of consideration for his hosts. But ho would go Into rooms ho would go upstairs. Moreover , ho told himself that he was perfectly secure ; an empty house could not bo more reassuringly still. He had to clench his hands , nevertheless , and summon nil his resolution before he began very sottly to ascend the dim staircase , pausing for several seconds between each step , \bovo was a square landing with one open and several closed doors , and all the house was still. For a moment ho stood wondering what would happen If some Deeper woke suddenly and emerged. The open door showed a moonlit bedroom , the coverlet white and undisturbed. Into this room he crept in three interminable minutes and took a pleco of soap for his plunder his trophy. Ho turned to descend oven more softly than ho had ascended. It was as easy as . Hist ! Footsteps ! On the gravel outsldo the house , end then the nolso of a latchkey , the yawn and bang ot a door and the spitting ) ot a match In the hall below. Mr. Ledbetter stood petrified by the eudden discovery ot the folly upon which he had come. "How on earth am I to get out ot this ? " said Mr. Ledbettcr. The hall grew bright with a candle flame , some heavy object bumped against the um brella stand , and feet were ascending the staircase. In a flash Mr. Ledbetter realized that hla retreat was closed. Ho stood for a moment , a pitiful figure of penitent confu sion. My goodness ! "What a fool I have been ! " ho whispered , and then darted swiftly across the shadowy landing Into the .empty bedroom from which ho had Just comeHo stood listening quivering. The footstep * reached the first floor landing. Horrible thought ! This was possibly the late corner's room ! Not a moment -was to bo lost ! Mr. Ledbetter stooped beside the bed , thanked heaven for a valance and crawled within its protection not ten seconds ends too Boon. Ho became motionless on hands and knees. The advancing candle light appeared through the thinner stltcheH ot the fabric , the shadows ran wildly about and became rigid as the candle was put down. "Lord , what a. day ! " eald the new comer , blowing noisily , and seeming to deposit some heavy burden on what Mr. Lodbeuef. Judg ing by the feet , decided to be a writing ta ble. The unseen then went to the door and locked it , examining the fastenings ot the windows carefully and pulled down the blinds , and returning sat down upon the bed with startling ponderosity. "What a day ! " he said ; "good Lord ! " and blew again and Mr. Ledbetter Inclined to believe the person was mopping his face. His boots were good , stout boots , the shadows of his legs upon the valance sug gested a formidable stoutness of aspect. After a time ho removed some upper gar ments a coat and waistcoat , Mr. Ledbetter Inferred and casting them over the rail of the bed remained breathing less noisily and , as it seemed , cooling from a consider able temperature. At Intervals ho muttered to himself and onto he laughed softly. And ( Mr. Le < lbetter muttered to himself , but he did not laugh. "Of all the foolish things ! " said Mr. Lodbetter. "What on earth am I to do now ? " His outlook was necessarily limited. The mlnuto aperture between the stltchea of the fabric of the valance ad mitted n certain amount of light , but permitted nopeeplng. The shad ows upon this curtain , save for those sharply defined legs , were enigmatical and intermingled confuslngly with the florid patterning of the chintz. Beneath the edge of the valance a strip ot carpet was visible and by cautiously depressing his eye Mr Ledbotter found that this strip broadened until the whole area of the floor came Intc view. The carpet was a luxurious one the room spacious , and , to Judge by th < castors and trimmings ot the furniture , well equipped. What ho should do he found It difficult to Imagine. To watt until this person had gone < to bed , and then , when he seemed to be sleeping , to creep to the door , unlock it and bolt headlong for that bal cony , seemi-d the only possible thing tc do. Would It be possible to Jump from the balcony ? The danger of it ! When lie thought of 'tho ' chances against him Mr Ledbetter despaired. He was within ar nee of thrusting forth his head beside the gentleman's legs , coughing If necessary tc attract his attention , and then smiling apologizing and explaining his unfortunate Intrusion by a few wclr chosen sentences But he found these sentences hard tc I choose , "No doubt , sir , my appearance Is peculiar , " or , "I trust , sir , you will pardon my somewhat ambiguous appear I ance from beneath you , " was about a : much as he could get. I Grave possibilities forced themselves or his attention. Suppose they did not be > lleve him , what would they do to him' 1 Would hit unblemished high charactei count for nothing ? Technically he was a burglar beyond dispute. Following out this train ot thought ho was composing a lucid apology for "this technical crime I have committed" to be dcHvercd before sentence In the dock , when the stout gen tleman got up and began walking about the room. Ho locked and unlocked draw ers , and Mr , Lodbetter had a transient hope that ho might bo undressing. But no ! Ho seated himself at the writing table and began to wrlto and then tear up doc uments. Presently the smell of burning ream-laid paper mingled with the odor f cigars In Mr. Ledbotter's nostrils. "The position I had assumed , " said Mr , > edbetter , when ho told mo of these things , 'was In many respects an Ill-advised one. A ransvcrso bar beneath the bed depressed my head unduly and threw a disproportionate share of my weight upon my hands. After a tlmo I experienced what Is called , I be- leve , a crick In the neck. The pressure of my hand on the coarsely-stitched carpet speedily became painful. My knees , too , were painful , my trousers being drawn tightly over them. At flint tlmo I wore rather higher collars than 1 do now two nnd a half Inches In fact and I discovered what had not remarked before , that the edge of ho ono I were was frayed slightly under the chin. But much worse than these things was nn Itching of my face which I could only relieve by violent grimacing I tried to raise my hand , but the rustle of the sleeve alarmed me. After a time I had to desist 'rom ' this relief also , because happily In time I discovered that my facial contortions were shifting my glasses down my nose. Their fall would of course have exposed me , and as it was they came to rest in an oblique position of by no means stable equilibrium. In addition I had a slight cold and an Intcr- nd there's no time for explanations , What was I going to ask you ? Ah ! Have jou any mates ? " "In a tow minutes , if you " "Have > ou any mates , d n you. If you BACH ' 100118 | IiI JOABpJd XdtJOl XU } JB1 you any mates ? " "No , " said Mr. Ledbetter. "I suppose It's a lie , " said the stout man , "But jou'll pay for It If It Is. Why the devlf didn't you floor me when I cntno upstairs. You won't get a chance to now , anyhow. Fancy getting under the bed ? I r"ckon it's a fair cop , auvhow , so far ns jou are concerned " "I don't see how I could prove an alibi , " remarked Mr. Ledbetter , trjlng to show- by his conversation that ho was an edu cated man. There was a pause. Mr. Led better perceived that on a chair bcsldo hla captor was a largo black bag on a heap of crumpled papers , nnd that thcro were torn and burned papers on the table. And in front of these , uud arranged methodi cally along the edge , were rows and rows of llttlo yellow rouleaux a hundred times more gold than Mr. Lcdbettor had seen In all his llfo before. The light of two candles In silver candlesticks fell upon theso. The pause continued. "It Is rather fatiguing holding up my hands llko this , " said Mr Ledbetter , with a depre catory BUille. "That's all light , " said the fat man "But what to do with you I don't exactly know. " "I know my position Is ambiguous. " "Lord ! " said the fat man. "Ambiguous ! And goes about with his own soap , nnd wears a thundering great clerical collar ! You are a blooming burglar , jou arc If ever there was one ! " "To bo strictly accurate , " said Mr. Led- ot some education , " ho said , lighting a cigar. "No , don't begin that explanation of yours. I know It will bo long.winded from your face , nnd I'm much too old a liar to bo Interested In other men's lying. You arc , I say , a person ot education , You do well to dress ns a curate. Even among educated people you might pass as u curate " "I am a curate , " said Mr. Ledbetter , "or , nt least " "You nro trying to be. I know. But you , hadn't ought to burgle. You are If I may say It , the thing will have been pointed out to you before a coward. " "Do you know , " said iMr. Ledbettcr , tryIng - Ing to get a fresh opening , "It was that very question " The stout man vvaved him Into silence. "You waste your education In burglary. You should do ono of two things. KIthcr you should forgo or you should embezzle. Tor my own part I embezzle. Yes I cm- be/zle. Ah1 What do you < hluk a man could be doing with all this gold but that ? Listen ! Midnight ! Ten. Hlevcn. Twelve. There la something very impres sive to mo In that slow beating of the hours. Tlmo space ; what mysteries they are ! What mysteries ! It's tlmo for us to bo moving. Stand up. " And then kindly but firmly ho induced Mr. Ledbct'ter to sling the dressing bag over his back by a string across his chest , to shoulder the trunk and , overruling a gasping protest , to take the Gladstone bag In his disengaged hand. So encumbered , Mr. Ledbetter strug gled perilously downstairs. The /tout gen- .Icraan followed with an overcoat , the hat box and the revolver , making derogatory re marks about Mr. Ledbetter's strength nnd insisting him at the tuiulngs ot the stairs. "Tho back door , " he directed , and Mr. "KNEEL. " SAID THE STOUT GENTLEMAN. "AND HOLD UP YOUR HANDS. " mlttont deslro to sneeze or sniff caused me Inconvenience. lu fact , quite apait from the extreme anxiety of my position , my physical discomfort became In a short time very con siderable Indeed. But I bad to stay there motionless nevertheless. " After an Interminable time there began a chinking sound. This deepened Into a rhythm , chink , chink , chink , twenty-five chinks a rap on the writing table and a grunt from the owner of the stout legs. It dawned upon 'Mr. ' Ledbettcr that this chinking was the chinking of gold. Ho became Incredulously curious as It went on. His curiosity grow. Already if that was the case this extraordinary man must have counted some hundreds of 'pounds. At last Mr. Ledbetter could stand It no longer , nnd ho began very cautiously to fold his arms and lower his head to the level of the floor in the hope of peeping under the valance. He moved bis feet and one made a slight scraping on the floor. Suddenly the chinking ceased. Mr. Ledbctter be came rigid. After a while the chinking was resumed. Then It ceased again and everything was still except Mr. Ledbetter's heart. That organ seemed to him to bo beating like a drum. The stillness continued. Mr. Ledbetter's bead was now on the floor and ho could see the stout legs as far up as the shins. They were quite still. The feet were rest- inz on the toes and drawn ba-U ; . ns it seemed , under the chair of the owner. Everything was qulto still , everything con tinued still. A wild hope came to Mr. Led better that the unknown was In a fit or suddenly dead , with his head upon the writing table. The stillness continued. What had hap pened' The desire to peep Ijecame Irre sistible. Very cautiously -Mr. Ledbetter shifted his hand forward , projecting a pioneer neer finger and began to lift the valance Immediately next his eye. Nothing broke the stillness. Ho saw now the stranger's knees , saw the back of the writing table and then ho was staring at the barrel of a heavy revolver pointed over the writing table at his head. "Come out of that , you scoundrel ! " said the voice of the stout gentleman In a tone of quiet concentration. None of your hanky- panky corao right out , now. " Mr. Ledbetter came right out , a llttlo reluctantly , perhaps , but without any hanky-panky , and at once , oven as he was told. told."Kneel "Kneel , " said the stout gentleman , "and hold up your hands " The vnlanco dropped again behind Mr. Ledbetter , and he rose from all fours and held vr > his hands. "Dressed like n par son , " said the stout Gentleman. "Im d d If he Isn't ! A llttlo chap , too ! You scoun drel ! What the devil possessed you to come here tonight ? What the devil possessed you to get under my bed ? " He did not appear to require an answer , but proceeded at once to several very ob- Jectlonablo remarks upon Mr. Ledbetter's personal appearance. Ho was not a very , blg man , but ho looked strong to Mr. Led better ; ho was aa stout as his legs had promised. Ho had rather delicately chiseled small features , distributed over a consid erable area of whitish face , and a number of chins. And the note of his voice had a sort of whispering undertone. "What the devil , " I say , "possessed jou to get under my bed7" Mr. Lcdbetter by nn effort smiled a wan propitiatory smile. Ho coughed. "I can't quite understand , " be said. "Why ! What on earth ? "It's soap ! No you scoundrel. Don't you mo > o that hand " "It's soap , " aalil Mr. Ledbettcr. "From I our washstand , No doubt It " "Don't talk , " saU the stout man. "I ce It's soap. Of all Incredible things. " "If I might explain " "IJpn't explain. It's lure to be a He , better and suddenly his glasses slipped off and clattered against his vest buttons. The fat man changed countenance , a fla h of savage icsolutlon crossed his face , and something In the revolver clicked. He put his other hand to the weapon. And then ho looked nt Mr , Ledbctter , and his eye went down to the dropped pince-nez. "Full cock now , anyhow , " s > ald the fat man after a paube , aud his breath seemed to catch. "But I'll tell you , you've never been so near death before. Lordl I'm al most glad. If It hadn't been that the re volver wasn't cocked you'd bo Ijlng dead there now. " Mr. Ledbetter said nothing , but he felt that the room was swaying. "A miss is as good as a mile. It's lucky for both of us It wasn't. Lord ! " ho blew noisily. "There's no need for you to grow pale green for a little thing like that. " "I can n&suio jou sir , " said Mr. LedbPt- ter with an effort. "There's only one thing to do. If I call In the police , I'm bust. A little game I've got on his bust. That won't do. If I tie you up and leave jou again the thing may be out tomorrow. Tomorrow's Sunday and Mon day's bank holiday I've counted ou three- clear daj-s. Shooting you's murder and hanging and besides , it will bust the whole blooming kernooze. I'm hanged if I can think what to do I'm hanged if I can. " "Will jou permit me " "You gas as much as If you were a real parson , I'm blessed If jou don't. Of all the burglars jou are the . Well ! No I won't permit j-ou. There Isn't time. If jou start off Jawing again I'll shoot right In your stomach. See' llut I know now I know now. What we're going to do first , my man , Is an examination for concealed arms. An examination for concealed aims. And look here ! When I tell you to do a thing , don't start off at a gabble , do It brisk. " And with many elaborate precautions and always pointing the pistol at Mr. Ledbet ter's bend the stout man stood him up and searched him for weapons. "Why , jou arc a burglar ! " he said. "You're a perfect ama teur. You haven't even a pistol pocket In the back of your breeches. No , you don't1 Shut up now " So BOOH as this Issue was decided the chort man made Mr. Ledbetter take off his coat and roll up his shirt sleeves , and with the revolver at one car , proceeded with the packing his appearance had Interrupted. From the bhort man's point of vlow that was evidently the only arrangement , for If he had packed ho would have had to put 'lown his revolver. So that even the gold on the table was handled by Mr. Lcdbetter. This nocturnal packing was peculiar. The Htout man's Idea was evidently to distribute the weight of the gold as unostentatiously as possible through his luggage. H was by no means nn Inconsiderable weight. There was , Mr. Lcdbetter says , altogether nearlj 18,000 In gold in the black bag and on the table. There were also many llttlo rolls ! of 5 bank notes Each rouleau of 23 I was wrapped by Mr. Ledbetter In paper. These rouleaux were then put neatly In cigar boxes and distributed between ii I traveling trunk , a Gladstone bag and n hat- box. About GOO went in a tobacco tin In a dressing bag. Ten pounds In gold and u number of G notes the stout man pocketed. Occasionally he objurgated Mr. Ledbetter's clumsiness and urged him to hurry , and several times he appealed to Mr. Ledbetter's watch for Information. Mr. Lcdbetler strapped the trunk and bag and returned the stout man the key It was then 11 50 , and until the stroke ot midnight the stout man made him sit on the Gladstone bag , whllo ho sat at a reason ably safe distance on the trunk and held the revolver handy and waited. He appeared to bo now in a less aggres sive mood , and , having watched Mr Lcd better for some time , ho offered a few re marks. ' From jour accent I Judge you are a man Ledbetter staggered through a conservatory , leaving a wako of smashed flowerpots behind him. "Never mind the crockery , " said the stout man ; "It's good for trade. We wait hero until a quarter past. You can put these things down. You have1" Mr. Led better collapsed panting on the trunk. "Last night , " he gasped , "I was asleep In my llt tlo room and I no more dreamt " "There's no need for you to Incriminate , yourself , " said the stout gentleman looking at the lock of * the revolver. Ho began to hum. Mr. Ledbetter made to speak and thought better of it. There presently came the sound of a bell and Mr. Ledbetter was taken to the back door and Instructed to open It. A falr-halrad man In yachting costume entered. At the sight of Mr. Ledbettcr he started violently and clapped his hand behind him. Then he Bavv the stout man. "Blngham ! " he cried. "Who's this ? " "Only a little philanthropic do of mine- burglar I'm trying to reform. Caught him under my bed Just now. He's all right. lie's a frightful ass. He'll be useful to carry some of our things. " The up\v-comer seemed inclined to resent Mr. Ledbotter's piescnco at first , but the stout man reassured him. "He's quite alone. There's not a gang in the world woult own him. No ! Don't start talking , for goodness sake. " They went out Into the darkness of the ganlen with the trunk still bowing < Mr. Ledbetter's shoulders. The man In jachtlng costume walked in front with the Gladstone bag and a pistol ; then came Mr. Ledbetter llko Atlns , Mr. Blng ham followed with the hat bov , cOat and revolver as before. Thu hoube was one of those that have their gardens right up to the cliff. At the cliff vVas a steep wooden stairway descending to a bathing tent visible on the beach. Below was a boat pulled up and a silent little man with u black face stood besldo It. "A few moments explanation , " said Mr. Ledbettcr ; "I con assure jou " Somebody kicked him and he said no more. They made him wade to the boat , carryIng - Ing the trunk , they pulled him aboard by the shoulders and hair , they called him no better name than "scoundrel" nm "burglar" all that night. But they spoke In undertones so that the general public was happily unaware of his ignominy. Thej hauled him aboard a yacht manned bj strange unsympathetic orientals , and parti ; they thrust him nnd partly he fell down a gangway into a noisome dark place , wheif ho was to remain many days how man ; ho does not know , because he fast coun among other things when ho was seasick They fed him on biscuits and Incompie henslble words ; they gave him water tc drink mixed with un-wlshed-for rum And there were cockroaches where they pu him , night and day , and In the night tlmt thcro were rats. The orientals emptied hU pockets and took his watch , but Mr. BIng ham , being appealed to , took that himself And five or six times the five Lascars I they were Lascars and the Chinaman am the negro who constituted the crew , flshc ( him out and took him aft to Bingham and his friend to play crlbbage and euchre am three-hended whist , nnd to listen to thel dories and boasting In an Interested man ner. i Then these principals would talk to him I as njen talk to these who have lived a lit of crime Explanations they would neve permit , though they made It abundant ! ; clear to him that ho was the rummest bur glar they had over set eyes on. They said as much nsiiln nnd acalu. The fair raai was of a taciturn disposition and lrasclbl < I nt iilay. but Mr Blngham , now that th evident anxiety of his departure from Eng land was nesunEwl , displayed a vein o philosophy. He enlarged upon th mystery of Space nnd Time , and quote < Kaut ao'l Hegel or at least beuai'J h Id. Several times Mr. Lcdbetter got ns far s "My position under jour lied , you snow " but then he atwnjs had to cuter or nats the whtaky or do some such In- ervenlnir thlnj. After his third failure lie fair man gat qulto to look for this pcutng , nnd whenever Mr. Ledbettrr be an , after that he would roar with laughter ml hit him violently on the Kick. "Same Id start ; same old story , good old burglar , " tie fntr-hnlred man would say. So Mr. Ledbettrr fared for many days , wcnty perhaps , nnd ono evening he , to- ether with some tinned provisions , was nkeu over the side and put ashore ou ft ocky little Island with a spring. Mr. Bing- inm came In the boat with him , giving him : oed ndvlco ail the way and waving his ast attempts at nn explanation aside. "I am really not a burglar , " said Mr. . .odbt'tter. "You never will be , " said Mr. llnghnm. "You'll never make a burglnr. 'm glad you're beginning to see it. In choosing a profession a man must study cmpcrnment. It jou don't , sooner or later ou will fall. Compare myself , for example. Alf my llfo I have been In Kinks 1 have iccn a bank manager. But wns 1 happy ? Vo. Why wasn't I happy ? Bee'nuso It did not suit my temperament. I am too ml- enturous , too versatile. Practically I have brown It over. I do not suppose I shall ever manage n bank ngnln. They would bo glad to get me * , no doubt , but 1 have learnt ho lesson of my temperament nt last . . No ! I shall never manage a bank again. "Now , your temperament unfits you for crime Just as mine unfits mo for rcspecta- > lllty. I Know jou better thuu I did , and tow I do not even recommend forgery. Go inck to respectable courses , my man. Your lay is the philanthropic lay that Is jour lay. With that voice . The Assocla- lon for the Promotion ot Sniveling Among ho Young something In that line. You hlnk it over. "Tho island wo nro npproachlng has no name apparently nt least there Is none on the chart. You might think out a name for It while you are there whllo you are thinking about all these things. It has qulto drinkable water , I understand. It s ono of the Grenadines ono of the Windward Islands. Yonder dim nnd bhio nro other of the Grenadines. I have often wondered what these Islands are for now , you see , I am wiser. This one , at east , Is for you. Sooner or later some simple native will come along and take you off. Say what you llko nbout us then nbuso us If jou like wo shnll not mind. And bore here Is half a sovereign's worth ot silver. Do not wnsto that In foolish dissipation when jou return to civilization. Properly used , it may glvo you a fresh start In life. And do not Don't beach her , . ou beggars , ho can undo ! Do not waste he precious solitude before you In fooHsh houghts. Properly used , It may bo a tuni ng point lu jour career. Waste neither noney nor time. You will die rich. I'm sorry , but I must ask you to carry four tucker to land In your arms. No , t's not deep. D n that explanation of yours ! There's not tlmo. No , no , no , I won't listen. Overboard jou go ! " And the falling night found Mr Led better , the Mr. Ledbctter who had com plained that adventure was dead , sitting be side his cans of food , his chin resting upon his dravvn-up knees , staring through his glasses In dismal mildness over the shin ing , -\ncant sea. Ho was picked up In the course of three days by a negro fisherman nnd taken to St. Vincent's , and from St. Vincent's he got , by the expenditure of his lost coins , to Kingston In Jamaica. And there ho might have foundered. Even now adays he Is not a man of affairs , and then ho was a singularly helpless person. H had not the remotest Idea what ho ought to do. The only thing ho seems to have done was to visit all the ministers ot re ligion ho could find lu the place to borrow a passage home. But ho was much too dlrtv nnd Incoherent and his story far too Incredible - credible for them. I met him quiteby chauco. It was close upon sunset , and 1 vas walking out after my siesta on the road to Dunn's battcrj' , when I met him I was rather bored , and with a whole even ing on my hands , luckily for him. Ho was trudging dismally toward the town. Hla woebegone face and the quasi-clerical cul of his dust-Btnlned , filthy costume caught my humor. Our eyea met. He hesltnted "Sir , " he said , with a catching of the bteath , "could you spare a few minutes for what 1 fear will seem an Incredible story ? " "Incredible ! " I eald. "Quite , " ho answered eagerly. "No on < will bellevo it , alter it though I may. Yol I can assure you , sir " Ho stopped hopelessly. The man's tone tickled me. He seemed an odd character "I am , " ho said , "ono of the most unfor tunate beings alive. " 'Umong other things , you haven'l dined ? " I said , struck with an Idea. "I have not , " he said , solemnly , "foi many days. " "You'll tell It better nfter that , " I said and without moro ado led the way to a low place I knew , wheto such a costume as his was unlikely to give offense. And there with certain omissions which ho subse quently supplied , I got his story. At firs I was Incredulous , but as the wine \varmci him , and the faint suggestion of cringing his misfortunes had added to his mannei disappeared , I began to bellevr. At las I was BO far convinced of Ills slncerltj that I got him a bed for the night , niu next day verified the banker's reference lu gave mo through my Jamaica banker And that done , I took him shopping for UU' derwear and such llko equipments of a geii' tleman at large. Presently came the verl' fled reference. His astonishing story wai true. I will not amplify our subscquen piocecdlngs. Ho started for England In three days time. "I do not know how I can possibly than } you enough , " the letter ho wrote mo frou England began , "for all your kindness to i total stranger , " and liroceeded for BOUH tlmo In a similar strain. "Had It not bcec for jour generous assistance I could cer taluly never have returned in time for tin resumption of my FcholaBtlc duties , and m : few minutes of reckless folly would perhnpi have proved my ruin. As It Is , I am entangled - tangled In a tissue of lies and evasions o the most complicated sort , to account foi my Burnburnt appearance and my where abouts. I have rather carelessly told tvvi or three different stories , not icalMng tin trouble this would mean for me In the end The truth I dare not tefl J have consultei a number ot law books in the Diltlsl museum , and there Is not the slighter doubt that I have connived at and abettei and aided a felony. That scoundrel , Blng. . ham , was the Hlthcrgatu bank manager , find , and guilty of the most flagrant em bezzlcment. Please , please burn this letlo when read I trust you Implicitly. Tbi worst of It is , neither my aunt nor he friend , who kept the boarding house a which I wns staying , seem altogether to bo lleve a guarded statement I havn inadi them practically of what actually happened They suspect me of some discreditable nd venture , but what sort of discreditable ad venture they suspect me of I do not know My aunt Bays ulio would forglvo me If told her everything. I have I hav told her moro than everything , and alii bbo U not satisfied. It would never do t let them Know the truth of the case , o course , and so I represented myself as , hav Ing been v > aylald and gagged upon the b-ac1 ! My aunt wants to knov/ why they waylal and gaggrd me , why they took me away I their yacht I do not know. Can you stig gcst any reason ? I can think of nothing If , when you wrote , you could write 01 two sheets , BO tha' I could show her one nnd on tlmt one. If jdu oouhl show clrivly that 1 te-.illy was In Jamaica this emiinur , ntid had come thtrti by being marooned from u plilp. it wouM be of great pcrvlci to Ha lt would certainly add to the load of my obligations to jou , a load that I fear 1 cau uover fully fcpay. Although It gratitude. " And so forth. At the > end ho re peated his request for me to burn the let- er. er.So the remnrknblo story ot Mr. Lcilbeiter'a ncatlon ends. That breach w.lth hlu mint was not ot long duration. The old woman md fully forgiven htm before pho died THE EXCELLENCE OF SYRUP OF FIGS is due not only to the originality and simplicity of the combination , but also to tliu cnro nnd skill with which it is manufactured by beiuntillc processes known to the CAi.iroiiNi.t FIG Sviiur Co. only , and\\o wish to imprest , upon all the importuncn of iwrehahhiir thu true autl original remedy. As the genuine- Syrup of Fips is uuuiufnctvrcd by the CAUI'OIIMA Fie Bviiur Co. nly , n knowledge of that fact will assist 0110 in avoiding the worthless imitations manufactured by other par ties. The high standing of the CAM- roiiNiA Fie SYHUP Co. with the medi cal profession , and the satisfaction which the genuine Syrup of Fip.s has srivcn to millions of families makes me name of the Company a guaranty of the excellence of its. lemedy. It is far in advance of all other laxatives , as it acts on the kidneys , liver and bowels without irritating or weaken ing them autl it docs not gripe nor nauseate. In order to get its beneficial ifTccts , please remember the name of iho Company CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP CO. MAN riU.NCISCO , Cnl. r. rr , % mv VOIIK. N. Y. A SPECIALTY Primary , Secondary or Tertiary BLOOD POISON permanently Cured in 15 to 35 Days. You can b treated at home for same price under same guaranty. If you prefer to come hero we will contract to pay railroad faro and hotel bill * , and no chnice If we fall to cure. IP YOU HAVE taken mercury. Iodide potnah nnd BtlH have aches and pains , Mucous Patchei In mouth. Sore Throat , Pimples , Cop- par Colored Spots , Ulcers on any part of the body. Hair or Eyebrows falling out. It Is this secondary We tiuarsntoo to Cure We solicit the moat obstinate cases and challenge the world for a case we cannot cuic. This disease has always tallied the skill of the most eminent phyalcmns $500,000 capital b hlnd our uncondi tional guaranty. Absolute proofs sent sealed on application. 100 pace book sent free. Adtlrem COOIC 11KMKUV CO. , 1401 Blunonto Templr , Clilcnao , III. WHEN OTHERS KAIL CONSULT Searles & Searles. mm. . . . SPECIALISTS. Gnnruiitoe ( o on re | ii-cilllr nnil mill- cullr all Mil\OI'h ' , CIIHOMC ANO I'll I VATIC dlHciiMVB of men ii nd women mm SYPHIUS SDXUALLY. cured for life. Nlfiht Emissions , Lost Manhood , Hv- flroctle , Verleocele , Gonorrhaa , Qleot , Syph ilis , Stricture , I'lle.i , Fistula and Rectal Ulcers , Dlubates. Hrlght's Dlsemo cured. CONSULTATION SMcfure Gleet Cured nd ati Homo by new method without pain or cuttlnsr. Call on or address ) with stnmp Treatment by mall. DRS , SEnRlfS I MM. ' Dr Railway Hear Sir I hove been u - IMR your medicines tlmt Is , vuui 1'llls and llratly lloltef Tht-Hu o mulielnex huvn done niu and my fnnub inure good than u vshulo ( Irux Htou 1 a in fj.lI.HH old I nurd itbuut six bo\PH or > our ] > > IH | uliu last Hprlni , I am ux utrulur now uml f il llko a healthy man of SO > ciirn Now I .uimt to lltnl out nliiuit } our HP- lolvent to UHI In i ase ot a luuns Judy < tc u < t H iHitful | > AULUH'itin i 612 r Ht J 4th Si N\v Ymk A- Purely vegetable , miiu 1.\1U.HB IRTlYll IIIKlHlll'll. tlllllllH , lllHlll'l' | uon and lit-iiitum i Kiiluri. > i ui tuo curti or all aiuurai-rH oi Uiu Stonia' h , lio\\- ols , Ki'lm \ , 111Hid'r trvu.it , I'trou cs , i'liLS. hint UL.AUA * ah umi uii < i ui- Ueis of the llvir I'rl .01 p i HX oiJ uy all ( li iiKhtatri , ir HI in i > nm iin i re- ctimf prui u.\i > v\ vA. . < o. , r.r Him si. , VMV > < > i-u. I- : i i < v to 1.11 Knilw.i > H McMTJIOTTS is a preparation of the Drug by ulnch Iti Injurious effects arc icmovpc1 , while the val uable medicinal propmieu are loiamel It possesses nil the sedative , uaodvno and aim- spasmodic powcri of Opium , but produces no BlckutBs of thu 8tom'b no vomiting , no costlvencsn , no iicaJnthu la ncuto ncrvou'i disorders It Is an li valuable rtmcdy , and < d iccommendcd ty tht brst pliyiiclins , E , FERRETT. Ap on J ; 17I'viirt M. , JNf