s
18
TRICKS WORKED BY WAITERS
Method Employed to Give Favorite Oua-
tomen the Best of the feed.
COURTESY YIELDS HANDSOMELY IN CASH
Wealth? hat Objectionable People
Diplomatically Disposed Of Ont-ef-Towa
Visiters Cleverly
Palled.
NEW YORK, Dec. 27. The man In the
rough tweed suit searched one pocket after
another. A deep flush showed under his
fjeatly cropped side whiskers, and be raised
his eyes to meet thoso of the expectant
waiter. i
"I'm hanged If I've anything but 19
centa and some 'L' tickets. Not even my
check book, by George."
The waiter bowed obsequiously and mur,
Inured:
"That's all right, sir. Tomorrow the
next time you come In, sir."
"Take my card to the bead waiter, or
the cashier."
"Not at all, sir. Entirely unnecessary,
Tou are Mr. Blank of the National 'Secu
rities company. It Is all right, sir."
The attendant held up his customer's
overcoat, and then, with a polite bow.
- opened the door for him. This ceremony
Tar, he marched back to the table and
.carried oft the soiled dishes with the air
of a conquering hero.
From his point of view the" waiter had
cored a triumph. He bad performed
service which cost him nothing and which
meant much to a man whose tips bad al
ways been liberal, And be had tickled the
customer's pride by showing him that
while they had never exchanged a word
of personal conversation, be had discovered
the customer's name and his financial
tending. It Is a brand of flattery which
the clever down-town waiter keeps always
on tap.'
A Walter that la Worth Money.
The head waiter, who had witnessed the
Incident, had this to say:
"A waiter like that Is worth money to
us. Me knows his place and keeps It,
yet, is observant and can give us points
on all his regular customers. Now, had
Mr. Blank been called upon to explain his
position to our cashier, he would have
settled his account by sending the money
by messenger, but I hardly think he would
have patronised the restaurant again. The
memory ot today's contremps would have
embarrassed him. The waiter's quick wit
saved htm any annoyance and won for us
a good customer..
"Why could the waiter do this without
consulting his superior? Simply becauae
he works on a percentage. 80 much of
each order charged up to him remains In
bis pocket. It Is his commission. In lieu
of a salary. Many of the best restaurants
In b financial district pay their waiters
a cbmmtsslon Instead of a salary. It la to
the employers' Interest to do so. A waiter
who works on a commission, if he Is at
tentive and keen at making up menus, will
Increase his commission at the expense of
his customers, to be sure, but be makes
business brisk. ,
"For Instance, a nervous, over worked
man whose digestion Is out ot order comes
In with no definite Idea of what he wants.
Before he Is fairly seated at the table he
baa some pspers spread before him, and he
regards the Introduction of a mend aa a
highly Irritating Interruption. Your ob
servant waiter knows this and discreetly
suggests something particularly delicate
and appetising, selected from the entrees
kr game list. The customer nods bis head,
fcnd the waiter continues to build up a
luncheon that sounds good, the customer
Dot even looking at the price list. His
check may surprise htm at the end of the
Ineal, but he does not complain because
the lunch bas tasted good and he feels
better tbsn when he came In. The waiter
Is an artist at menus and knows how to
Una bis own purse.
Little Tricks of Favored Walters.
"Business men who want the best ser
vice usually patronize one cafe quite reg
ularly and have their favorite waiter.
..-. a. 1mm m mm nm m
1 UCir lip Uimj UUk UV B m - .
of aome transient customers, but the
waiter learns to depend upon them as part
of his steady Income. In consequence, the
regular customer gets more than a polite
bow ot recognition and prompt attention.
In tact, he secures small favors which he
does not fully resllss and which the uu
Inltlate never receive.
" "For Instsnce, when he orders oyster
cocktails, his attendant, appreciative of
paat favors snd hopeful tor the future,
does not send this order to the kitchen.
He orders raw oysters and carefully mixes
the cocktail ssuce himself from condi
ments selected from the dining room table.
What difference does this make? All the
difference in the world to the connois
seur In shell flsh. Oystsr cocktails mixed
In the kitchen as a rule contain 'seconds'
Instead ot 'firsts;' In other words, oysters
that are smaller than those served on the
half shell. The condiments In the kttcben
are alao 'seconds,' while only the best
sauces and flavorings are set forth In tho
dining room.. That is Just one ot the reg
ular waiter's tricks to favor the customers
he likes.
"The welter's gres ambition Is to estab
lish and bold a line of customers. When
I worked In aa uptown cafe where table
d'hote dinners and theater suppers are
teatures ot the trade, I remember one
waiter who waa often driven to bla wits'
end to accommodate bis regular customers.
He had charge of three amall tables, and It
we could have given him assistants, I
believe he could have filled one aide pf
the dining room with people who liked
him to serve them. Patrons actually waited
half aa hour to secure a piece at hi table.
"Did we raise his salary? That was not
necessary. His customers saw to that We
paid htm $7 a week. His Income ran
from 30 to HO. And he earned it.
What the Dlploaasttle Walter Does.
"This wsiter wss a born diplomat,' and
we turned, cranks over to blm as a matter
of course. A restaurant crank la a char
acter worth studying. He will try waiter
after waiter until he finds one who suits
blm; why, no one, the waiter least of all,
can .understand. By some miracle, the
waiter happens. In a lucky moment, to
please the man either by trlcka ot serv
ing or by tickling bis Jaded palate with
some happy combination of dishes. And
from that moment the crank la converted.
He swears by this waiter, and awears after
another fashion if his favorite is not on
hand when he arrives. Trifles like pneu
monia or appendicitis cannot excuse hie
absence, and rather than be served by
anyone else, I know one crsnk who seeke
another restaurant until his favorite re
turns, calmly Informing us that all the
rest of our employes are cows for awkward
Bess and cads for bad manners. ,
"Speaking of manners, your successful
x wsiter knows Just how tar to go In recog
nising his customers. He Is never obse
quious or familiar. He takee your coat and
bat and pulls out your ctalr with a enrtaln
gleam of recognition In his eye, but.
though you may choose to pass the tims ot
day with him hs will not presums on your
pleasantry and enter Into conversation. Ha
give yeu Just the right eense ot Import
ance, then (Stops. And he never forgets
jour favorite dish, your particular brand
f liquor and your aeleatloa la cigars. He
would consider It an unpardonable display
of Ignorance to ask you what sort ot appe
tiser you will have. It la his province to
remember all these things.
1 waa tola oy a yrell-dressed woman
the other day that when ehe came down
town she slwsys lunched here with her hue
bsnd because, as she eiplalned It quite
naively, her husband's wsiter always re
members br fondness for brand led cher
ries. tine never annus cocktails, but once
In the presence of this wsiter she remarked
that she would like to take them Just for
the sske of the cherries. Now whenever
toe wife accompanies her husband, the
waiter thoughtfully adds a couple of extra
cherries to the cocktail, and these the wife
carefully fishes out with a toothpick. When
the husbsnd comes alone, he takes hie cock
tails dry, snd Harry never makes the mle
tske of giving hlm'cherries. There Is
ways a twinkle In the man's eyes when the
cherries sppesr, but Harry knows better
tbsn to recognize the humor of the situ
stion by so much as a smile.
Objectionable easterners Got Rid Of.
"A diplomatic waiter Is useful to us la
many wsys. Hs csn sometimes rid us of
undesirable customers. It would surprise
you to learn of the annoyancw we some
times suffer at the hands of people that
we dare not order from the piece, because
of their standing, social or financial. Then
we try the diplomatic or Ingenious wsiter.
"Lest summer a man of considerable
wealth and eccentric habits came here each
day for lunch. He est at that smsll ta
ble opposite you, and the first thing he did
after sitting down was to take off his
shoes. There he sat day after day, with one
shoeless foot resting on a stool and stuck
out In full view of our other customers
The matter called forth unpleasant com
ment, but we did not know what to do.
"Finally one of the waiters remarked:
'If you agree to stand by me I'll get rid
of that man.' We agreed, and the next day
Gascon came down the aisle with a oup
of coffee In his band. Just before be
reached the man 'with hfl shoes off he
stumbled adroitly and the coffee fell upon
the protruding foot. The man gave a howl.
then subsided into abusing, the waiter,
Gascon had been careful to chill the coffee
until it was only luke warm, but the man
Swore roundly that his foot was scalded
and be would sue the proprietor. He shoved
sslde his luncheon, Jerked on his shoes and
departed, without settling his account. We
never ssw him again and we don't know to
this day whether It was corns or cussed-
ness. t
Working: the Oet-of-Tevra Man.
"The out-of-town man who entertains at
dinner or lunch is fslr game for the waiter
who is up to all verts of tricks. This type
of customer feels it Incumbent upon him to
show the men who are his guests that he
has brought a goodly roll Into town with
him. He plcka up the bill of fare with
the air of one to whom money Is no object,
and the observant waiter, who srfots him
on the Instant, assists in an artful way In
making out the order. He is all attention
to the selections made by the patron, but
be slyly suggests certain dishes In his own
Interests.
"For Instsnce, after the oysters and the
soup your out-of-town tdan selects a heavy
roast and orders a beef or portion for each
person, at perhaps 60 cents per order.
Now, the waiter, better versed In the appe
tites ot city men, knows full well that four
orders of turkey will not be consumed, so
he sends to the kitchen an order for two or
three at the most. , The order for four is
charged up on the guest's ticket, however,
and the waiter pockets the difference when
he settles with the cbecker for bis day'a
orders and receipts. This, of course, is
possible only when the waiter pays the
bills. Were the customers to pay . the
cashier the trick would be detected and
the Arm would make the profit. However,
most managers wink at the trick and do
not begrudge the waiter his extra money.
If a waiter works this scheme' on the
roast, ths game and the salad, he cleans up
neat sum on one customer alone, who. Is
none the wiser and Is entirely satisfied If
the service is good and the wines cold.
Business Women at Laaeh.
It Is a mistake to think that elderly
men are the heaviest spenders, particularly
n tne business district. Young men are
more extravagant. Considerable entertain
ing Is done down here at noon. Wholesalers
take women buyers from out of town to
lunch, brokers sometimes entertain the
women who handle stocks through them
and good-looking young women employed
In offices are frequently the noontime
guests not only of their employers, but of
other men that they meet In a buslneaa
way.
"These lunches for two play a bla- Dart
In tbe business world, and they have made
me realise how Important a role a discreet
woman clerk plays In her employer's af
fairs. I have heard many a big deal dis
cussed across onr tables, and the women
who come here are aa keen and alert as
the men who employ them.
"You can tell what their relations are
the instant they aettle down for lunch. A
man makes the presence ot his wife an ex
cuse for laying aside business questions.
He really entertains her, and they study
the menu carefully with a view to enjoy
ing themselves. .If a man and a woman
are interested In the same business the
lunch is a secondary matter and they
plunge Into business before the waiter bas
finished writing out their order.
"Personally I regard these lunch confer
ences as bsd tor the digestion and the gen
eral health. Business men and business
women should have lunch clubs and drop
business until they return to their offices.
But you can't change the leopard's spots
nor the habits of the American in busi
ness."
MUST PAY F0R A BOYCOTT
Brlekmaker at Hobart. Indiana.
Awarded Verdict for Dam.
sea Asalaat V'nloa.
CHICAGO. Dec. IT. A verdict having a
significant bearing upon tbe right of labor
organizations to maintain ar assist in
enforcing a boycott was rendered today In
Judge Vail'a court, whereby George
Hlnchllff was awarded $21,000 damages
against the members . of tbe Chlcaeo
Masons and Builders' association and the
Brick Manufacturer's association.
Hlnchllff asked for $100,000 damacca.
which he alleges he 'had sustained owing
to a boycott of the product of his brick
yards at Hobart, lad., on the part of the
associations mentioned, In 189$.
EVIDENCE POINTS TO' MURDER
Maer la the Wllkeaharre District ia
Feand Dead ea the Rail
road Track.
WILKESBARSE. Pa., Dec. IT. The find
ing ot the body, of John Weeks of Plttsoa
oa ths Lehigh Valley tracks points to a
murder, there being no marks on the
body aucb aa would have been evident
had Weeks been killed by the ears. -
Weeks worked during the coal strike
and bad been repeatedly threatened with
bodily harm and his bouse was one of tbo
many dynamited.
He waa a witness before the strike com
mission. For tbeee reason suspicions
havs been aroused.
Howard Will Coaeaaaad
Nevada.
WASHINGTON. Dee. 17. Commander
Thomas B. Howard, . now on duty at the
Naval academy, has been selected to com
mand the new monitor Nevada, which Is
to g lata commlssloa about February 1,
THE OMAHA
f TTHjE. (3SyLyOi sfo
fiftA v3iXO JfP.uvSft
all n 1 a f TYTTTTT rTt ay T C MOAJKE CT-. f--A
(Copyrighted. 1902, by T. C. McClure.)
CHAPTER XVII.
Dlnenssea Several Blatters.
Reader, I know that what I have nar
rated Is astounding. It astounded me Just
as It astounds you.
There are moments when one's brain be
comes dulled by a sudden bewilderment at
sight of tbe absolutely Impossible.
It certainly seemed beyond credence that
the msn whose fatal and mysterious wound
I had myself examined should be there,
walking with hla wife In a lover-like atti
tude. And yet there was no question that
the pair were there. A small bush Sep.
arated us, so that they pessed arm-in-arm
within three feet of me. Aa I have already
explained, tbe moon was so bright that I
could see to read; therefore, shining full
upon their tsces It was Impossible to mis
take tbe features of two persons whom I
knew so well.
Fortunately they had not overheard my
Involuntary exclamation of astonishment,
or If they had, both evidently believed It
to be one of the many distorted sounds of
the night. Upon Mary's face there was re
vealed a calm expression of perfect con
tent, different Indeed from tbe tearful coun
tenance of a few hours before, while her
husband, gray faced and serious. Just as
be bad been before his last illness, bad her
arm linked In his, and walked with her,
whispering some low, indistinct words,
which brought to ber lips a smile of perfect
felicity.
Now had I been a superstitious man I
should have promptly declared the whole
thing to have been an apparition. But aa
I do not believe in bordarland theories, any
more than I believe that a man whose heart
la nearly cut In twain can again breathe
and live, I could only stand aghast, be
wildered and utterly dumbfounded.
Hidden from them by a low thornbush I
atood there in silent stupefaction as they
passed by. That it was no chimera of the
Imagination waa proved by the fact that
their footsteps sounded upon the path, and
Just aa they had passed I heard Courtenay
address his wife by name. The transforma
tion of her countenance from the ineffable
picture of grief and sorrow to the calm,
aweet expression of content had been
marvelous to say the least an event
stranger Indeed than any I had ever before
witnessed. In the wild writings of the old
romancers the dead have sometimes been
resuscitated, but never in this work-a-day
world of ours. There Is a finality in death
that Is decisive.
Yet, as I here write these lines, I stake
my professional reputation that the man I
Saw was the same whom I bad aeen dead
in that upper room In Kew. I knew his
gait, hla cough and bis countenance too
well to mistake hla Identity.
That night's adventure was certainly the
most startling, and at the same time the
most curious that ever befell a man. Thus
I became seized with curiosity, and at risk
of detection looked out after them. To
betray my presence would be to bar from
myself any chance of learning the secret of
It all; therefore I was compelled to exer
cise the greatest caution. Mary mourned
the loss of her husband toward tbe world,
and yet met him in secret at night wan
dering with him by that solitary by-path
along which no villager ever passed after
aara ana lovers avoided because of tbe
popular tradition that a certain unfortunate
lady of the manor ot a century ago
"walked" there. In the fact of the mourn
ing 'so well feigned I detected the conceal
ment of some remarkable secret.
The situation waa, without doubt, an ex
traordinary one. The man UDon whose
body I had made a post-mortem examina
tion was alive and well, walking with his
wife, Uthough for months before his as
sassination be had been a bed-ridden in
valid. 8uch a thins- waa startllns. incred
ible!. Little wonder was It that at first
I could scarce believe my own eyes. Only
when I looked full Into his face and recog
nised his features, with all their senile
peculiarities, did the -amazing truth be
come Impressed upon me. 1
Around the bend of the river I stole
stealthily after them, la. order to watch
their movements, trying to catch their
conversation, although, unfortunately, it
waa In too low an undertone. He never
released her arm or changed his affection
ate attitude toward her, but appeared to
be relating to her aome long and inter
esting ohaln of events to which she list
ented with rapt attention.
Along the river's edge, out in the open
moonlight. It wss difficult to follow them
without risk of observation.- Now and then
the elder bushes and drooping willows af
forded covsr beneath their deep shadow,
but in places where the river wound
through the open water meadows my pres
ence might at any moment be detected.
Therefore the utmost Ingenuity and cau
tion were necessary.
Having made tbe staggering discovery
waa determined to thoroughly probe the
mystery. The tragedy of old Mr. Courte
nay's death had resolved Itself into a ro
mance ot the most mysterious and start
ling character. As I crept forward over
the grass, often on tiptoe, so as to avoid
the aound ot my footfalls. I tried to form
some theory to account for the bewilder
ing ctrcumstsnces, but could discern abso
lutely none.
Mary was still wearing her mourning,
but abuut ber bead was wrspped a white
silk shawl, and on her shoulders a small
fur cape, for the spring night wss chilly.
Her husband had on a dark overcoat and
soft felt hst, of the type be always wore,
and carried In hla hand a light walking
stick. Once or twice he baited when he
seemed to be impressing his words tbe
more forcibly upon he"r, and then I was
compelled to atop alao and to conceal my
self. I would have given milch to over
hear the trend of their conversation, but
strive how I would, I waa unable. They
seemed to fear eavesdroppers, and only
spoke in low, half whispers.
I noticed bow old Mr. Courtenay kept
from time to time glancing around him, as
though In tear of detection; hence I was
n constant dread lest be should look be
hind him and discover me slinking along
their path. I am by no means an adept
at following persons, but In this case the
etake was so greatthe revelation of aome
startling and unparalleled mystery that I
strained every nerve and every muscle to
foaeeal my presencs while pushing forwsrd
after them. - -
Picture to yourself for a moment my
position. The whole ot my future happi
ness and consequently my prosperity in
life wss st stake ati that moment. To
clear up the mystery successfully might
be to clear my love of tbs awful atlgma
upon her. To watch and listen was the
only wsy, but the difficulties In tbe dead
silencs of tbe night were well nigh In
surmountable, for I dare not approach
sufficiently near to catch a single word.
I bad crept on after them for about a mile,
until we were approaching tbe tumbling
waters of the weir. The dull roar swal
lowed up the ound ot their voices, but It
assisted me. for I had no further need to
tread noiselessly.
On hearing tbs lockkeeper'i cottage, a
DAILY ..TlEEt SUNDAY,
little white-washed house wherein the In
mates were eleeping soundly, they made
a wide detour around the meadow In order
to avoid the chance of being seen. Mary
was well known to the old lockkeeper,
who hsd controlled those great sluices for
thirty years or more, and she knew tbat at
night he was often compelled to be on
duty and might at that very moment be
sitting on the bench outside his house,
smoking his short clay.
I, however, had no such fear. Stepping
lightly upon the grass beside the path I
went past the house and continued onward
by tbe riverside, passing at once Into the
deep shsdow of the alders, which effectually
concealed me.
The pair were walking at the same slow,
deliberate pace beneath the high hedge on
the further side of the meadow, evidently
Intending to rejoin the rivcr-psth some dis
tance further up. This gave me an oppor
tunity to get on In front ot them and I
seized It without delay, for I was anxious
to obtain another view of the face ot the
man whom I had believed for months to be
in his grave.
Keeping In the shadow of the trees and
bushes that overhung the stream, I sped on
ward for ten minutes or more, until I
came to tbe boundary ot the great pasture,
passing through the swing gate by which I
felt confident that they must also pass. I
turned to look before leaving the meadow,
and could Just distinguish their figures.
They had turned at right angles, and as I
bad expected were walking In my direction.
I went forward again and, after some hur
ried search, discovered a spot close to the
path where concealment behind a great old
willow seemed possible, so at that coign of
vantage I waited breathlessly for their ap
proach. The roaring of tbe waters behind
would, I feared, prevent any of their words
from reaching me, nevertheless I waited
anxiously.
A great barn owl flapped lazily past, hoot
ing weirdly as it went, then all nature be
came still again, save the dull sound of the
tumbling flood. Ambler Jevons, had be been
with me would no doubt have acted differ
ently. But it must be remembered that I
waa tbe merest tyro in the unraveling of a
mystery, whereas with him It was a kind of
natural occupation. And yet would he be
lieve me when I told him that I bad actually
seen the dead man walking there with his
wife?
I wss compelled to admit within myself
that auch a statement from the lips of any
man would be received with Incredulity. In
deed, bad auch a thing been related to me,
I should have put the narrator down as
either a liar or a lunatic.
At last tbey came. I remained motion-,
less, standing In the shadow and not daring
to breathe. My eyee were fixed upon him,
my ears strained to catch every sund.
He said something to her. What it was
I could not gather. Then he pushed open
the creaking gate ta allow her to pass.
Across the moon's face had drifted a fleecy
cloud; therefore the light was not so bril
liant as half an hour before. Still I could
see his features almost as plainly as I see
this paper upon which I am writing my
strange adventure and could recognize
every llnament and peculiarity ot his coun
tenance. Having passed through the gate he took
her ungloved hand with an air of old
fashioned gallantry and raised it to his
lips. She laughed merrily In rapturous
content and then slowly, very slowly, they
strolled along the path that ran within
three feet of where I stood.
My heart leaped with excitement. Their
voices sounded above tbe rushing of the
waters and they were lingering as though
unwilling to walk further.
"Ethelywnn bas told me," he was saying.
"I can't make out the reason of hfs cold
ness towsrd her. Poor girl! she seems
utterly heart-broken."
"He suspects," his wife replied.
"But what ground hss he for suspicion?"
I stood there transfixed. They were
talking of myself!
They bid baited quite close to where
I was and in that low roar bad raised their
voices so tbat I could distinguish every
word.
"Well,',' remarked bis wife, the whole
affair was mysterious, that you must admit.
With his friend, a man named Jevons, he
hss been endeavoring to solve the prob
lem." "A curse on Ambler Jevons!" be blurted
forth in anger, as though be were well
acquainted with my friend.
"If between them they managed to get
at the truth it would be very awkward."
she said.
"No fear of that," be laughed In full
confidence. "A man once dead and burled,
with a coroner's verdict upon him. Is not
easily believed to be alive' and well. No,
my dear; rest assured that these men will
never get at our secret never."
I smiled within myself. How little did
he dream that the man of whom be bad
been speaking was actually overhearing his
words!
"But Ethelwynn, In order to regain her
place in the doctor's heart, may betray
us," hla wifa remarked dubiously.
"She dare not," was tbe reply. "From
her we , have nothing whatever to fear.
As long aa you keep up tbe appearance of
deep mourning, are discreet in all your
actions, and exercise proper caution on tbe
occasions when we meet, our secret must
remain hidden from all."
"But I am doubtful ot Etbslwjrnn, A
DECEMBER 28, 1903.
woman ae fondly In love with a man as she
is with Ralph Is apt to throw discretion
to tbe winds," tbe woman observed.
"Recollect that the breach tetween tbem
Is on our account, and tbat a word from
ber roull expose the whole thing, and at
the same time bring back to her the man
for whose lost love she is pining. It Is be
cause of that I am In constant fear."
"Your apprehensions are utterly ground
lees," he declared In a decisive voice.
"She's the only other person In the secret
besides ourselves, but to betray us would
be fatal to her."
"She may consider that she has made
sufficient Belt-sacrifice?" .
"Then all the greater reason why she
should remain silent. She has her repu
tation to lose by divulging."
By this argument she appeared only half
convinced, for I saw upon her brow a heavy,
thoughtful expression, similar to tbat I had
noticed when sitting opposite her at dinner.
The reason of her constant preoccupation
was that she feared that her sister might
give me the clue to her secret.
That a remarkable conspiracy bad been
In progress was now made quite plain; and
further one very valuable fact I had ascer
talned was that Ethelwynn was the only
other person who knew the truth, and yet
dared not reveal it.
This man who stood before me was old
Mr. Courtenay without a doubt. That
being so, who could have been the unfor
tunate man who had been struck to the
heart so mysteriously?
So strange and complicated were all the
circumstances, and so cleverly bsd tbe cblet
actors in the. drama arranged Its details,
tbat Courtenay himself was convinced that
for others to learn tne truth was utterly
Impossible. Yet It was more than ra
THEY HAD HALTED CLOSE TO WHERE I
markable that be sought not to disguise
his personal appearance if he wished to re
main dead to the world. Perhaps, how
ever, being unknown in that rural district
for he once bad told me that be bad never
visited his wife's home since before bis
marriage he considered himself perfectly
safe from recognition. Besides, from their
conversation, I gathered tbat they only met
on rare occasions, and certainly Mary kept
up the fiction of mourning with tbe greatest
assiduity.
I recollected what old Mrs. Mlvart bad
told me of her daughter's erratic move
ments, of her Bhort mysterious absences
with her dressing bag and without a maid.
It was evident tbat she made flying visits
In-various directions In order to meet her
"dead" husband.
Courtenay spoke again, after a brief si
lence, saying:
"I bad no Idea that tbe doctor was down
here, or I should have kept away. To be
seen by him would expose the whole affair."
"I was quite Ignorant of his visit until
I went' in to dinner, and found him already
seated at table," she answered. "But he
will leave tomorrow. He said tonight that
to remain away from his patients for a
single day was very difficult."
"Is 'he down here In pursuance ot his
Inquiries, do you think?" suggested ber
husband.
"He may be. Mother evidently knew of
his Impending arrival, but told me nothing.
I was annoyed, for he was the very last
person I wished to meet."
"Well, he'll go in the morning, so we
have noChing to fear. He's safe enough In
bed and sleeping soundly confound .him!"
The temptation was great to respond
aloud to the complaint, but I refrained,
laughing within myself at the valuable in
formation I was obtaining.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Words of the Dead.
Justice is always vigilant It stops not
to weigh causes, or motives, but overtakes
the criminal, no matter whether hla deeds
be the suggestion of malice or the con
sequence of provoked revenge. I was all
eagerness to face the pair in the full light
and demand an explanation, yet I hesitated,
fearing lest precipitation might prevent me j
gaining knowledge of the truth.
That they had no Inclination 10 wain
further was evident, for they still stood
there in conversation, facing each other
and speaking earnestly. I listened atten
tively to every word, my heart thumplns
so loudly that I wondered they did not
bear its excited pulsations.
"You've seen nothing of Sir Bernard?"
she was saying.
"Sir Bernard!" be echoed. "Why, of
course not. To him I am dead and buried.
Just as I am to the rest of the world. My
executors have proved my will at Somerset
hoime. I've learned, and very soon you will
receive Its benefits. To meet the old doctor
would be to reveal tbe whole thing."
"It is all so strange." she said with a low
sigh, "that Bometlmes, when I am alone, I
can't believe It to be true. We have de
ceived the world so completely."
"Of course. That was my Intention."
"But could It not have been done without
the sacrifice of that man'a life?" shs
queried. "Remember! The crime of mur
der wss committed."
"It wss imperative!" he replied, In a
hard voice. "A mystery wss necessary for
our success "
"And It is a myBtery which baa entirely
baffled the police in every particular."
"As I intended It should. I laid my plsns
with care, bo that there should be no hitch
or point by which Scotland Yard could ob
tain a clue."
"But our future life?" she murmured.
"When may I return again to you? At
present I am compelled to feign mourning
and present a perfect picture of interesting
widowhood; but but I hate this playing at
death."
"Have patience, dear." he urged In a
sympathetic tone. "For the moment we
must remain entirely apart. holding no com
munication with each other savs In aecret,
on the 1st and 15th day of every month as
we arranged. As soon as I find myself In a
position of safety we will disappear to
gether, and you will leave tbe world won
dering at tbs second mystery following upon
('
the first." 1
"In bow long' a time do you anticipator
she ssked, looking earnestly Into his eyes.
"A few months at most," was his an
swer. "If It were possible you should re
in n me at once, but you know bow
strsnee snd romsntlo ie my life, ee
pclled to disguise my personality" and
forever moving from place to place like the
Wandering Jew. To return to me at pres
ent Is oulte Impossible. Besides you are
in the hands of the executors, and before
long must be In evidence in order to re
ceive my money."
"Money is useless to me without hsppl
neas." she dcclsred. In a voice of com
plaint. "My position at present Is one of
constant dread."
"Whom and what do you fear?"
"I believe that Dr. Boyd has some vague
suspicion of the truth," she responded, after
a oause.
"vht" he cried in oulck surprise. "Tell
me why. Explain It all to me."
"There Is nothing to explain sav that
tonight he seemed to regard my every
movement with suspicion."
"Ah! my dear, your fears are uttsrly
groundless." he laughed. "What can the
fellow possibly know? He Is assured thst
I am dead, for he signed my certificate, and
followed me to my grave at Woking.
man who attends his friend's funeral has
no suspicion that the dead Is atlll living,
depend upon It. If there Is any object In
this world that is convincing it is a corpse
"I merely tell you the result of myobsor
vatlons," she said.' "In my opinion he bas
come here to learn what he can." .
"He csa loam nothing." answered tbe
"dead" man. "If it were his confounded
friend Jcvons now, we might have aome
WAS.
apprehension, for the Ingenuity of tbat man
Is, I've heard, absolutely astounding. Even
Scotland Yard seeks his sld ia the solving
ot the more difficult criminal problems."
"I tell you plainly that I fear Ethelwynn
may expose us," his wife went on slowly
a distinctly anxious look upon her counte
nance. "As you know, there Is a coolness
between us, and rather than risk losing the
doctor altogether she may make a- clean
breast of tbe affair."
"No, no, my dear. Rest assured that she
will never betray us," answered Courtenay,
with a light reassuring laugh. "True, you
are not very friendly, yet you must recol
lect that Bhe and I are friends. Her Inter
eats are identical with our own; therefore
to expose us would be to expose herself at
the same time."
"A woman sometimes acts without fore
thought.
"Quite true. But Ethelwynn Is not one of
those. She's careful to preserve her own
position In the eyes of her lover, knowing
quite well that to tell the truth would be
to expose ber own baseness. A man may
overlook many offenses In the woman he
loves, but the particular one of which she
Is guilty a man never forgives."
His words went deep Into my heart. Was
not this further proof that the crime for
undoubtedly a crime bad been accomplished
In that house at Kew bad been committed
by the hand of the woman I so fondly loved?
All was so amazing, ao utterly bewildering,
that I stood there concealed by tbe old tree.
motionless as though turned to stone.
There was a motive wanting in it all. Yet
I ask you who read this narrative of mine
If, like myself, you would not bave been
staggered Into dumbness at seeing and hear
ing a man whom you bad yourself certified
to be dead moving and speaking, and, more
over, in his usual health.
"He loves her!" his wife explained,
speaking of me. "He would forgive her
anything. My own opinion is tbat if we
would be absolutely secufe it is for us to
heal the breach between them."
He remained thoughtful for a few mo
ments, apparently in doubt as to the wisdom
of acting upon her suggestion. Surely in
the situation was in, element of humor,
for, happily, I was being forearmed.
'It might possibly be good policy," he
I remarked at last. "If we could only bring
tnem together again he would cease bis
constant striving to solve the enigma. We
know well tbat be can never do that; never
theless bis constant efforts are as annoy
ing as they are dangerous."
"That's Just my opinion. There is danger
to us In his constant irqutries, which are
much 'more Ingenious and careful than we
Imagine." ,
"Well, my child," he said, "you've stuck
to me In this In a manner that few women
would bave dared. If you really think it
necessary to bring Boyd and Ethelwynn
together again you must do It entirely
alone, for I could not possibly appear on
the scene. He must never meet me or the
whole thing would be revesled."
"For your sake I am prepared to make
the attempt," she said. "Tbe fact of being
Ethelwynn's sister gives me license to
speak my mind to him.' ,
"And to tell blm some pretty little fiction
about ber?" he added, laughing.
"Yes, it will certainly be necessary to
put an entirely innocent face on recent
events in order to smooth matters over,"
she admitted. Joining In bis laughter. . ,
"Rather a difficult task to make' the
tragic occurrence at Kew appear Innocent,"
he observed. "But you're a reallf wonder
ful woman, Mary. The way you've acted
your part In this affair is simply marvelous.
You've deceived every one even that old
potterer. Sir Bernard, himself."
"I've done it for your sake," was her
response. "I made a promise snd I've
kept it. Tp to the present we are safe, but
we cannqj take too many precautions. We
have enemies snd scandal seekers on every
side."
"I admit that," he replied, rather Im
patiently, I thought. "If you think it a
wise course you bad better lose no time
In placing Ethelwynn's Innocence befors
ber lover. You will see blm in U morn
ing. I suppose?"
"Probably not. He leaves by ths $ o'clock
train." she said. "When my plans are ma
tured I will call upon him la London."
"And It any woman can deceive him rou
can, Mary," he laughed. "In those wldow'a
weeda of yours you could deceive the very
devil himself!"
Mrs. Courtenay' airy talk of deception
threw an entirely fresh light upon her char
acter. Hitherto, I had held her In consid
erable esteem aa a woman who, being bored
to death by the eccentricities ot her in
valid husband, had Bought distraction with
her friends In town, but nevertheless honest
and devoted to the man Bhe bad wedded.
But these words of hers caused consider
able doubt to arise within my mind. That
she bad been devoted to her husband's In
terests waa proved by the clever imposture
she was practicing; Indeed It seemed to me
very much aa If those frequent visits to
town had, been at the "dead" man's sug
gestion and with his entire consent. But
tbe mors I reflected upon the extraordinary
details of the tragedy and Its astounding
denouement, the more hopeless and mad
dening became the problem.
"1 Bhall probably go to town tomorrow,"
she exclaimed, after smiling at his declara
tion. "Where are you In hiding Just now!"
"In Birmingham. A large town is safer
than a village. I return by tbe 6 o'clock
train, and go again Into close concealment."
"But you know people In Birmingham,
don't you? We stayed there once wits
some people called Tremlett, I recollect."
"Ah, yes," he laughed; "But I'm care
ful to avoid them. The district In which I
live la far removed from them. Besides I
never, by any chance, go oat by day. I'm
esesntlally a nocturnal roamer."
"And when shall we meet again?"
"By, appointment, in the usual way."
"At the usual place?" she aaked.
"There can be no better, I think. It
does not take you from home and I am
quite unknown down here!"
"If any of the villagers ever met us
they might talk and declare that I met a
secret lover," she laughed.
"If you are ever recognized, which I
don't anticipate is probable, we can at
once change our place of meeting. At
present there Is no necessity for changing
It."
. "Then In the meantime I will exercise
my woman's diplomacy to effect peace be
tween Ethelwynn and the doctor," she
said. "It Is tbe only way by which we can
obtain security."
"For the life of me I can't discern the
reason of his coolness toward her," re
marked my "dead" patient.
"He, suspects her."
"Of what?"
"Suspects the truth. She has told me
so."
Old Henry Courtenay grunted In dis
satisfaction. 1
"Hasn't she tried to convince him to
the contrary?" be aaked. "I was always
under the Impression that she could twist
him round her finger eo hopelessly was
be In love with her."
"So she could before this unfortunsta
affair."
And now that he suspects the truth he'a
disinclined to have any more to do with
her eh? Well," he added, "after all it's
only natural. She's not so devllsh clever
ae you, Mary, otherwise she would never
have allowed herself to fall beneath sus
picion. She must bave somehow blun
dered."
"Tomorrow I ahall go to town," she aald
In a reflective voice. "No time should
be lost In effecting the reconciliation be
tween them."
"You are right." he declared. "You
should commence at once. Call and talk
wltll him. He believes so entirely In you.
But promise me one thing, namely, that
you will not go to Ethelwynn," he urged.
"Why not?"
"Because.lt Is quite unnecessary," ha
answered. "You are not good friends;
therefore your Influence upon the doctor
should be a hidden one. She will believe
tbat he has returned to her pf bla own
free will, and hence our position will be
rendered the stronger. Act diplomatically.
If she believes that you are Interesting
yourself In ber affairs it may anger her."
"Then you suggest that I should call
upon the doctor In secret and try and In
fluence blm In her favor without her being
aware of It?"
"Exactly. After the reconciliation is
effected you may tell ber. At present, how
ever, it is not wise to show your band.
By your visit to the doctor you may be
able to obtain from blm how much he
knows and what are his suspicions. One
thing is certain, that with all bis shrewd
cess he doesn't dream tbe truth."
Who would?" she asked with a smile.
'If the story were told nobody would be
lieve it."
"Thst's Just It! The Incredibility ot the
whole affair la what places us In such a
position of security; for as long as I lie
low and you continue to act the part of the
interesting widow nobody can possibly get
at the truth."
"I think I've acted my part well up to
the present," ehe saidM "and I hope to
continue to do so. To influence the doctor
will be a difficult task, I fear. But I'll do
my utmost, because I sse that by the
reconciliation Ethelwynn's lips would be
sealed."
"Act with discretion, my dear," urged
the old man. "But remember that Boyd is
not a man to be trifled with and aa for
that accursed friend of his. Ambler Jevons,
he possesses tbe Ingenuity ot ths very
king of darkness himself."
"Never fear," she laughed tonfldently.
Leave It to me leave all to me."
And then, agreeing that It waa time they
went back, tbey turned, retraced tbelr
teps, and, passing through the small gate
into the meadow, were soon afterward lost
to sight.
Truly my night's adventure bsd been sa
strange and startling as any tbat has hap
pened to living man, for what I had seen
and beard opened up a jiundred theories,
each more remarkable and tragic than the
tber, until I stood utterly dumbfounded
and aghast
(To be Continued.) -
WIFE CAUSE OF HIS TROUBLE
Commander John K. Roller Ordered
Home for Breaking Rales of
Rear Admiral Kvaas.
WASHINGTON. Dec. $7. Commander
John E. Roller, formerly commander of the
old gunboat Monocacy, has reached this
country from ths Asiatic station, having
been orddred home by Rear Admiral Evans
for persistent Infraction of the rules which
prohibit the commander of a vessel from
permitting his wife to make her home
board bis ship.
It is charged that after offending Id that
particular several times. Roller's attention
ae called to tbe violation of tbe regu
lations by the commander-ln-chleff but
with no apparent effect.
When hla last offense came to the ears
1 Rear Admiral Evana, the latter de
tached blm and ordered him home. Com
mander Roller contends that he has been
unjustly treated, but It-is doubtful whether
he will press the matter, as tbe regula-
ons against such praotices are explicit.
He ia now on waiting orders.
Rala Washes Oat Bridge.
VICTORIA, B. 0.. Dec. 27. Heavy rains
bsve resulted In tbe Esquimault st Nanalmo
bridge, at Kokosilah, being washed away,
the liver rising suddenly after a rain.
Damage la reported from other points along
tbe Hoe and all tralna between Victoria and
Nanalmo have been cancelled until Wednes
day as a result ef the havoc caused by tbe
bigtt water.