V
TI1E OMAHA ILLUSTRATED BEE.
re brait rr 1!.
Grand Display of New Spring Styles-
LADIES' SUITS, JACKETS. WAISTS, SKIRTS. THE LARGEST, MOST VARIED
AND ENTICINGLY PRICED SHOWING IN THE CITY.
For some time our Cloak Bujer has been in the eastern markets securing for
our trade the very latest creations for spring wear. These garments are now ar
riving daily. You should not fail to sec this great collection of new spring beauties.
Stylish Silk and Wool Suits
In nlmost endless variety of design, color and
weave, ranplng in price from
$8.90 to $50.00
Handsome Covert Coats
In very latest styles, 1000 brand new garments
from which to select. Prices ranging from
$4.98 to $20.00
NEW SPRING WAISTS. A special lot Just received rnnalstlnir of Silks. Moire, Linens and ninny
other fabrics, all new and strictly up-to-date styles, WORTH -UP TO $6.00. Special QQ
Monday at Jim. JO
$7.riO SILK UNDERSKIRTS 3.08-these garments come In all colors and black and are T QO
the most maenlUcent values to be found at J, JO
OUR WINTER JACKETS DIVIDED INTO THREE LOTS
nn
Lj
mm
L-rJL! l VI ILJ VJv
THE RELIABLE STORE.
Lot 1. All the cheaper grades of I Lot 2.
I
Jacket left from the sea-
sou's solans, at choice.
1.00
WOMEN'S JACKETS that
have sold regularly up O Cf
mm.
I to 110.00, choice.
Lot S. WOMEN'S JACKETS that
sold regularly at 112.50 A QU
v
choice.
THREE TABLES OF SKIRT BARGAINS
Tahln 1. Ladies Walking- Skirts In I Table 2. Indies' Skirts, good vat- I Table t. Indies Skirts,
latest styles and great QQ I ties at $5.00, an excep- O t)U I $0.00 and $7.00 values.
variety of material at tlonal bargain Monday at.""' jour choice Monday.
WOMEN'S WAISTS In winter weight, worth up to $1.50, great bargain Monday
at I,.
Your choice of Any Wool Waist in the house worth up to $3.00, Monday
at
One Lot of Children's Coats. Cfs ' Children" Coats, worth up to $8.00,
I choice Monday JlC I Monday
From 8 till 9 1. m. Wo
men's Wrappers
50c 1
EARLY SHOPPING INDUCEMENTS
TP From 0:30 till 9:30 a. m. Wo-"in From 9 till 10 a. m.
.tmt I mens uressint? fcacqueu.ki;
regular
3.98
69c
95c
.2.50
men's Dressing Sacques.
Blaok T
Sateen Underskirts.... JJC
Grand Embroidery Sale.
Monday morning we place on sale all the loom ends of fine
embroideries and insertings, of the principal manufacturers
of Switzerland, in four great lots:
Our Silk Department
The demand for pilks this
spring is the greatest in years.
Therefore the early buyers
will get the choice styles and much cheaper than later, as silks are advancing.'
Monday our big sale will mean a great deal to you all, as we have a complete stock
of all the new spring styles, which we place on sale at a great prict? reduction.
SUks for shirt waist suits, gowns, waists and trimming, in neat figures, small dots, flecks, checks tiQC
changeable and plains, in this season's brut styles, Monday at, per yard, $l.."f. $1.00, two, b9c ami
A big now line of handsome crepe de chines. In large range of colors worth $1.00 yard Our prlco 05C
ivi uiiu uuj, tr hiu ,. .......
WHITE WASH SILKS
25c "cifhp" wlde po' 69c
$ toshes wldo spe
86 Inches wide spe- Cn
85c
Lot 1 Including edges, Insertings
and beadings
choice per yard iC
Lot 2 Includes goods worth up to
20c a yard r
choice at, yard C
Lot 3 Counlsts of goods worth 20c
to 35c 7l
choice per yard jC
15c
Lot 4 Edges and corset covers-
goods worth 60c to 76c
at, yard
Fine steel Spectacles, good lenses, sold at
$1.00
Optical Department
Just take a look at these prices
and the fitting costs nothing.
Gold plated Spectacles or eye glasses,
with fine lenses worth nu-
$3.00, at .. yoc
' 49c
19 Inches wide spe
einl
19 Inches wide spe- fjjg
27 Inches wLi spe- ,f Cr.
clnl HO.
17 Inches w ide spe- 9c
A full line of color Jap Wash Silks 27 Inches wld
BLACK SILK SPECIALS
27 Inch Taffeta.
spe'ial
rial . .
36 Inches wide special
BLACK CHINA SILKS
3fi Inches wide,
for
19 Inche wldo. flf 36 lncne wide.
for ior
27 Inches wide,
for
27 Inches wide,
for
27 Inches wide,
fr
special for, per yard
PEAU DE SOIE SPECIALS
35c
50c
59c
69c
85c
98c
SC. Inches wide,
for
.1.25
....SOe .
19 ln-h Tnffcta.
sporial
19 iiu:h Taffeta,
srwxiaj
24 lnc
49c
55c
59c
ich Taffeta.
special
27 Inch Taffeta, COr
siK-clnl Ofc.
30 Inch Taffeta,
special
3b Inch Taffeta,
special
Inch Taffeta,
special
1.00
79c
98c
1.19
36-Inch Taffeta special $1.32
19 Inch Peau d
Soie, special....
19 Inch Peau de
Sole, special. ..
24 Inch Peau do
Sole, special
55c
75c
98c
17 Inch Peau do
Soie, special. . . .
36 Inch Pewit de
Solo, special. . ..
36 Inoh Pen u do
Sole, special.
36 Inch Pen. i de
Sole, special....
1.25
1.00
1.25
1.65
n I n I 11 I V f I In this dent, voti will find heavy win
ropuiar rncea wool uress uoous a woo. ruumv. m odd piece,
to r or new mohairs, remnants and tins
ooiIh for children's school dresses, etc
25c
04-Inch Mohairs in blue, black
and brown, the $1.00 CQ
grade DJC
Sl.RS Suitings r.l-iiuh
wldo, all wool, to close. ,
54-Inch Panama,
at
75c
49c
38 and 40 inch Suitings, r
nil wool.' JmtjC
New line of 30-iuch
Henriettas
Too nil wool imported French
Flannels, to close,
at ,
to close new mohairs, remnants and tins
eooda for childron s school ureases, cic
C0c all wool French
Challis ,
25c
French
25c
10,000 yards of Remnants that
sold from 50c to $3.00, at
per yard. 49c, 30c, C
22W.C and IJl
Unapproachable Linen
and Domestic Bargains
We carry the greatest stock of Foreign and Domestic Table
and Household Linens to be found in the city, and as we buy direct
from the manufacturers both European and American, we are in a
position to make you money-saving prices on all linens.
MONDAY will be a day of great bargains in this department.
76c Irish, German and Scotch Table
Linens, special, at yard
$1.10 Bleached Satin Damask Table
Linen special, at yard
$1.26 All Linen Bleached Napkins,
i size, at dozen
49c
69c
89c
$2.26 All Linen Bleached Napkins, BQ
size, at dozen l.OV
98c
10c
$1.60 Pattern Table Cloths, all linen.
'ft yard long, at
15c. Iteavy Cream Turkish Towels,
2244 si le, each
' RT'BDRY Bath Towels and Wash Cloths,
a complete line always In stock.
Mtfc Linen Finish Pillow Cases,
42x38 size, each
25c White Walkings.
Oxfords, special, at
Mercerlzod
yard ,
.124c
10c
. 10c
.124c
26c Persian Lawns,
at yard
19c White Apron Lawn,
40-lnch wide, at yard.
15c Printed Lawns, new spring e-
designs, at yard -w
16c Sea Island Percales 86 Inches
wide, at, yard
6Hc Standard Dress Prints,
eciai, at yara
,8ic
.3Jc
16o Cambric, very soft finish, tfin
at yard 1UC
...10c
...4fc
.47Jc
15c Imperial Lonar Cloth, very
ajtnsiu.t vniue, at yarn
6Hc L. L. Muslin,
at yard
65o Linen Finish Sheets, 2x2H
size, at
Hayden's Old Time Furniture Sale
We are simply putting on sale a lot of odds and ends, and if you can use auy
thinr you can buy It at Itss than halt price.
Here a dollar does double duty. You must act at once, for in many cases wo have
only one article of a kind. Here are a few Items
Jardiniere Stands were 50c
now
Jardiniere Stands were $1.00
now
25c
50c
Jardiniere Stands were $1.50
now
India Seats wcro $2.50
now
75c
.1.50
Twcshclf Flower Stands fourteen!lnch size 15c
Two-shelf Flower Stands thirty-inch size 25c
Oak Rockers cane seat brace arm 50C
Large Arm Rocker high back wood seat 00
.. .1.00
at
Large Arm Chair high back wood seat
at
Barber shops, billiard halls, etc., can use these arm chairs.
We are showin? many line Chairs, Rockers and Tables and guarantee you a big- saving. '
IN ALL THE TOWS NO SALE LIKE THIS.
A lot of FOLDING CARD TABLES, A FEW SALOON
TABLES and POKER TABLES go at less than cost
Oak Extension Table, similar to cut 45x45-lnch top gz en
four-inch legs was $11.85 at LI.OVI
Another Table three-Inch legs was $9.60
at
Oak Extension Table SSxl2 top
at
Come hero.
4.50
2.85
Come now.
Groceries Groceries! Groceriesl
THE BEST GROCERIES FOR THE LEAST MONEY. READ THESE MONEY
SAVING PRICES AND COMPARE WITH WHAT YOU ARE PAYING ELSEWHERE.
10-pound sack best kiln dried Corn meal. 16c
7 pounds best Breakfast Oatmeal 15c
6 pounds best hand picked Navy Beans. &
6 pounds good Japnn Rice 19c
6 pounds best Pearl Tapioca 19c
6 pounds best Hominy, Farina, Peari
Barley or Sago 19c
Fruit puddlne, Jello, jellene or Brom-
angelon, per pkg J.. 7c
Mincemeat, per pkg 5c
10 bars Swift's Pride, Beat 'Em All or
White Paris Laundry Soap 26c
Imported Castile Soap, per cake 2c
S bars Armour's White Cloud Soap for. luc
Sapollo, per bar 6c
Pearline, per pkg 2c
On Time Yeae., per pkg 2c
Gold Lust, per pkg 16c
Quart can Golden Table Syrup 7Hc
Half Gallon can Golden Table Syrup... 15c
1- pound can solid packed Tomatoes 7c
3-pound can pure Apple Butter 7Hc
-pound can Lye Hominy 7Vic
3-pound can Golden Pumpkin 7c
2- pound can Sweet Sugar Corn 7Vc
2-bound can fancy Wax, String or
Lima Beans 7c
Gallon can Peeled Peaches, Pears or
. Apricots S5c
Gallon cans Apples or Tomatoes 25c
Fresh crisp Soda or Oyster Crackers,
per lb 6y.c
X-cello, Malta Vita, Egg-O-See, etc.,
per pkg 7V4c
WE ARE DIRECT IMPORTERS OF
FINE TEAS AND COFFEES.
Golden Santos Coffee, per lb 16c
Fancy Maraclabo Blend Coffee, per lb..l7Ho
Fancy Forto Rico Coffee, per lb 20o
O. G. Mocha and Java Coffee, per lb... 25c
Choice Basket Fired Japan Tea. per lb. 25c
The best Tea. Sittings from finest Teas,
per lb I2c
READ THE GREAT FRUIT DEPT.
SPECIALS.
The balance of car of fancy Highland,
sweet. Juicy Navel Oranges, worth 40c
per doz., this sale, per do 20c
New Colorado White Clover Honey,
per rack 10c
Fancy large ripe Bananas, per doz 12c
r auuy largo oeeuiess ivemoan, per cioi, X2C ,
Fancy Imported Smyrna Figs, per lb.. x2viicl
Flannel Department
CHo extra heavy Flannel, CXn
at, yard tJw
8c extra heavy Canton Flannel, Ar
at, yard 8
4ic
15c
8ic
.35c
15c Wood'.awn Cheviot Shirting,' tfm
at, yard "t
Pic extra heavy light and dark Outing Flannel,
at, yard
30o extra soft White Wool Flannel,
at, yard
16c extra wide and heavy Cotton Flannel,
at, yard.'
75c 40-inch wide All Wool Eiderdown,
at, yard.....
Bed Spreads
$1.00 White Honeycomb Bed Spreads, handsome Marseilles pat
terns, hemmed ready for use, 7CZr
each OW
$1.26 fine White Honeycomb Bed Spreads full size, QQn
handsome Marseilles patterns, each "
$1.50 full size White Fringed Bed Spreads, Marseilles patterns,
heavy knotted fringe, cut out corners, 1 95
each , "3
High Grade Wash Goods
In the Main Wash Goods Department
. All the new novelties in Wash Goods, both foreign and domes
tic, are now ready for your Inspection. Our line Is bit far the
largest and most varied In the west. Everything nrst class and
strictly up-to-date. No Jobs, seconds or last year s styles carried
in mis department.
High Grade Wool Dress Goods
We are now prepared to show the most complete assortment of high-grade
dress goods that was ever shown in a town of this slzo. All tho foreign and
domestic mohair noveitles, voiles, Panamas and tailor suitings, rrlestley'a
blacks, Lupin's blacks and colors, etc.
1.00
-i0 per
59c
organ-
,.59c
,39c
19c
FRENCH ORGANDIES
cent silk, beautiful
large patterns, yard....
Alsac fine soft finished
dies, regular 76c grade,
yard
Very fine quality,
yard
Beautiful St. Gaul
organdies, yard
Mohair Lustres, Bradford Mo
hairs, Turkish Mohairs, Gre
cian Voiles, Lataska Voiles,
Superb Voiles, yard, Iflro
25c, 19c 12Hc and lJ
Plnos, Svlettes, Lavanlas, Can
vas Tissues, etc, yard, ft-
26c, 19c, luc, 12V4C and
Scotch Glnghnms and other
dress ginghams, yard, 1ft-
25c. 19c, 1240 and lUC
High grade Mercerized Fou
lards, dark and light '"IQ
colors. yard UrKs
WHITB WA1STINGS High
and small
like them
-25c
grade Mercerized
Jacquards, large
patterns nothing
ever shown at this
price yard
German Mercerized Walstlngs
tne most Deautirui nmsn ana
and'.!"":.."'0. 39C
The most' "exquisite " "Scotch
Swisses, sheer, silky and hand
some designs, yard, OOn
69c, 50c and OVL,
All the new Persian Lawns,
French Lawns, Batistes, Nain
sooks, high grade India Llnon,
Chiffons, Silk Mulls, etc.,
yard, from $1.60 down tfr
to 19c 15c and
SUMMER SILKS A largo line
of wash fabrics. Some are
mercerized, some half silk.
look like the new silk novel
ties, yard, 59o down
to.
SEND FOR SAMPLES.
ES53 A v ivr
Priestley's black voiles, $1.:
grade
Lupin's cropes, all black,' $2.50 " f
grade I. D
Trlestley's cravenetted mohairs, CO in.
wide, absolutely water proof ylQ
tho $1.08 grade l.tJ
The fl.75 grade $1.25
The $1.50 grade $1.00
Tho finest lino of mohair novelties that
ever was placed on sale, 40 in.
wide, worth $1.50 yard.
A large lino of fine novelties and checks
for shirt waist suits, worth
$1.00 yard
Over 100 styles of mohair novelties. In
all the .new weaves and mix
tures, worth up to 75c, at...
Plain mohairs, all colors at,
yard, $3.J8 down to
1.00
I checks
59c
ltios, in
50c
25c
New mannish effects In voiles,
43 in. wide
New mannish effects In
Panamas
54 Inch wldo plain
Panamas
!':.":.1.00
1.00
1.00
Evening Shades and Waistings
Lansdownes,
at, yard
tiiauc aim ifwijiiuij -s.
s, in 120 shades J 25 J
Eollennes
$1.25 to....
Albatross, nun's veiling, broadcloths,
Henriettas, voiles, canvas, burrettes,
crepes, mohairs embroidered and plain
at 25c, 50c, 75c up to $5.00 yard.
Spring samples now ready. Sent free
on application.
ft
V
Lining Dept.
Hayden's lining department excells
everything in this line in tho city. We
curry satin linings, silk linings,
mercerized and everything- that is used
for linings, besides tailor findings, etc.
Skinner's satin, the best made, Sf
at, yard OU
Opera satin, 86 inches wide, all colors,
almost as good as Skinner's satin, f flft
but much more reasonable, yard. a.VIJ
Sampson's lining Taffeta, strictly all silk.
mo only laneta guaran- EUc
.. 45c
teed to wear for one year.,
Yama Mia, all
S11K 4
Gloria cloth, belt made, finest per- Sn
manent llnlsn 160 shades, yard....
Other good Sateen and mer- fOr.9(ir
certzed linens, at yard Mmr
Moreens in all shades and colors.
Lining serges and lining Mohairs at the
lowest price.
Hardware, Stoves,
Housefurnishings.
Special Graniteware Sale Monday
2-quart granite cup ...,10o
Granite Windsor Dipper 100
Granite Pudding Pan 10
8 Granite Pie Plates for -5o
8-quart Granite Sauce Fan i3o
Lartre Granite Chamber S9o
6-quart Granite Milk Pan 15a
Granite Covered Palls .....10a" -
Large Granite Basin l"o
Granite Snap Dish lflo
Granite Lids 10o
12-quart Enameled W. Pall 5!a
10-quart Granite Dish Pan TCo
6-quart Enameled Sauce Pan 29o
SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON ALL HEAT
ING STOVES. BUY ONE OF THOSE!
SAMPLB CONVENTION DISPLAY RAN
GES. THF FINEST YOU EVER SAW.
Interesting, Timely and Tersely Told Tales, Both Grim and Gay
Played la Great Luc If.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER R.
E. FOLIC of Tennessee was talk
ing the other day about the
I.SS-'I "humor of the insurance business.
IYJ "it is a ghastly humor," he
a,u, "Because it hinges on death. Never
theless, there Is a great deal of It Every
Insurance agent has some odd and new
story to relate.
, VOne agent told me yesterday how he
had met .that morning a friend in a feeble
condition, his face pallid, his eyes dull and
his figure shrunken.
" "What is the matter with you, Herbert?'
the agent said.
" 'I'm in luck,' Herbert answered. 'My
boy, I am in great luck.'
" 'How no?' asked the agent.
" 'Why,' said the other, 'your company's
medical examiner passed me only two
months ags and now my doctor tells me
I have an incurable disease. How la that
for luck?' "New York Tribune. .
Candid Explanation.
When the young mistress of the house
entered tho kitchen she carried herself with
great -dignity. She hud come to call the
book to account.
"Mary," she said, "I must. 'insist .that
you koep better hours and that you liavo
less company in the kitchen at night.
l4it night I was kept awake because of
the uproarious laughtsr of your young
women friends."
"Vis, mum; I know," Mary replied cheer
fully, "but she couldn't help it. 1 was
telling her how you tried to make cake
yesterday moruing." Birmingham Post.
A Strenuous Arrangement.
A downtown broker some time ago en
gaged an office boy to serve during the
Illness of the lad who regularly performed
the duties of that post. Tommy, the new
boy, proved to be a jewel, and wlion Joe,
the former incumbent, ruturivod for duty,
the broker was loath to let Tommy go.
But the other lad wanted to come buck
and pleaded hard tor reinstatement.
,"i'fll," said the broker, ."you may have
the place again if you cuu arrange matters
with Tommy."
"I guess I can do that." replied Joe uo
ho went In seurch of the troublesome
Tommy.
When the broker returned to his office
an hour later he found Joe in cliurge.
Tommy wus nowhere to be seen. The
office looked its If it had betu btruck by
u lyt-loiK'. The glus in the private door
win. smuNhi'd, chairs were overturned and
ink hud been spilled upon the carpet.
"What dots tlilH mean, Joe?" inquired
the an used broker.
"Tommy's guiic, wlr," replied Joe, smiling.
"I arranged It with 1.1 ra all right, all
i3't." Nvw York Times.
Altruism.
Al.'tid 11. Love of Philadelphia, preoldent
)f li'e Universal Peavo union, was talking
On ihe topic, l-erultarly congenlsl to hlin.
Of . I. Mines. Suld he:
k "t'.t'o knvw a remarkably kind boy.
Ilo wait i great Hiiuli't'. There was a
truut 1 1 room in IU m Ighburhuod that run
through u tli li Hum's estate. Permits to
kit Die klri'uui could now and then be ob
tained, and the boy was lucky enough to
have a permit.
"One day he was fishing with another
boy, when a gamekeeper suddenly darted
forth from, a thicket. The lad with the
permit uttered a cry of fright, dropped his
rod and ran off at top speed. The game
keeper pursued.
"For about a half mile the gamekeeper
was led a swift and difficult chase. Then,
worn out, the boy halted. The man seized
hlra by the arm and said between pants:
" 'Havo you a permit to fish on this
estate?'
" 'Yes, to be sure,' said; tho boy, quietly.
" 'You have? Then show It to me.'
"The boy drew the permit from his
pocket. The man examined it and frowned
in perplexity and anger.
" 'Why did you run when you had this
permit?" he asked.
" 'To let the other boy get away," was
the reply. "He didn't havo none!" Har
per's Weekly.
When the Snow Kails.
John G. Johneon, the well known Phil
adelphia lawyer, was hastening down
Chestnut street on a,nnowy morning.
"Weather like this," he said, "reminds me
of an early case of mine. It was a real es
tate case, a contention over the ownership
of a certain ten feet of ground, and I was
confident that we should win, for all the
facts and arguments were on our side.
"Hence I was amazed when my client, at
the beginning of his cross-examination, was
asked if he had not stated, as lately as 'the
previous January, that the disputed ten feet
of ground did not belong to him, but to his
adversary, the next door neighbor, who
was now fighting his claim.
" 'Yes,' my client answered, 'I did state
that.'
"This admission amazed me more than
ever and I leaned forward in my chair,
wondering what would come next.
" 'In the presence of witnesses,' said the
cross-examining lawyer, you declared that
these ten feet belonged not to you, but to
Mr. Parks. Is that not right?
" 'Quito right. Quite right, sir,' said my
client.
" 'Then, after such an admission,' shouted
the lawyer, 'how dare you how dare you,
sir come into this court and claim tho strip
of land as your own?'
" 'Well,' said my client, 'it was Just after
a heavy snowstorm that I said the ten feet"
belonged to Neighbor Parks. We were both
shoveling off our pavements at tho time,'
Philadelphia Press.
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
(Continued from Page Three.)
regard his words. He laid down his pen
and looked curiously at him.
"What do you mean, Mr. Holmes?"
"Only that thero is an Important witness
whom you have not seen."
'Can you produce him?"
"I tldnk I can."
"Then do so." ' '
"I will do my best. How many constables
have you?"
"There are three within call."
"Excellent!" said Holmes. "May I ask
if they are large, able-bodied men with
powerful voices?"
"I have no doubt they are, though I
fall to' see what their voices have to do
with It." . .
"Perhaps I can help you to see that and
one or two other things as well," said
Holmes. "Kindly summon your men, and
1 will try."
Five minutes later three policemen had
assembled in the hall.
"In the outhouse you will find a con
siderable quantity of straw," said Holmes.
"I will ask you to carry in two bundles of
it. I think It will be of tho greatest as
sistance In producing the witness whom I
require. Thank you very much, r I believe
you have some matches In your pocket,
Watson. Now, Mr. Lestrade, I will ask
you all to accompuny mo to the top land
ins" As I have said, there was a broad corri
dor there, which ran outside three empty
bedrooms. At one end of the corridor we
were all marshalled by Sherlock Holmes,
the constables grinning and Lestrade star
ing at my friend with amazement, expecta
tion and derision chusing each other across
his features. Holmes stod before us with
the air of a conjurer ,hu Is performing a
trick.
"Would you kindly send one of your con
stables for two buckets of water? Put the
straw on the floor here, free from the wall
011 either side. Now I think that ws are
all ready."
Lrstrade's face hud begun to grow red
and angry.
"I don't know whether you are playing
a gume with us, Mr. Sherlock Holmes." -tuld
he. "If you know anything you tin
kurcly suy it wltluxit ail this tomfoolery."
I aosure you, my good Lestrade, that I
liavo an excellent reason for evrryth'ng
that I do. You may possibly remember
that ou chaffod me a little some hours
ug j, when the sun seemed on your side of
the hedge, so you must not grudge me a
little pomp and ceremony now. Might I
ask you, Watson, to open that window
and theft to put a match to the edge of the
straw?"
I did so, and, driven by the draft, a
coll of gray smoke swirled down the cor
ridor, while the dry straw 'cruckled and
flamed.
"Now we must see If we can find this
witness for you, Lestrade. Might I ask
you all to Join In the cry of 'tire?' Now,
then, one, two, three"
"Fire!" we all yelled.
"Thank you. I will trouble you once
again."
"Fire!"
"Just once more, gentlemen, and all to
gether." "Fire!" The uhout must have rung over
Norwood. '
It had hardly died away when an amaz
ing thing happened.
A door suddenly flew open out of what
appeared to be solid wall at the end of
the corridor, and a little, wizened man
darted out of it, like a rabbit out of its
burrow.
"Capilall" said Holmes, calmly. "Watson,
a bucket of water over the straw. That
will do! Lestrade, allow me to present you
with your principal missing witness, Mr.
Jonas Oldacre."
The detective, stared at the newejmer
with blank amazement. Tho latter was
blinking in the bright light of the corridor,
and peering at us and ut tho smouldering
fire. It was an odious face crafty, vicious,
malignant, with shiny, light grey ryes ami
white laBhes.
"What's this, theu?" said LeMrade, at
Inst. "What have you been doing all this
time, eh?"
Oldacre gave an uncisy laugh, shrinking
buck from the furious red face of the.
angry detective.
"I have done no harm.'
"No harm? You have done your- best, to
get an Innocent man hanged, if it wain't
for this gentleman here, 1 am not sure that
you would not have iuecreded."
The wretched rtuture began 10 whlmier.
"1 am sure, sir, it was only my practical
Joke."
"Uh! a J"ke was it? Yon won't find th
laugh on your side, I promUe jou. Take
Mm down and keep him in the filling room
Until 1 t'Jlur. Mr. 1 1 ollil ho com limed, '
when they hud gone, "I could not sptuk
before the constables, but I don't mind
saying in the presence of Dr. Watson, that
this Is the brightest thing that you have
done yet, though it Is a mystery to me
how you oyd it. You have saved an
innocent man's life, and you have pre
vented a very grave scandal, which would
have ruined my reputation In the force."
Ho mes smiled, and clapped Lestrade upon
the shoulder.
, "Instead of being ruined, my good sir,
you will find that your reputation has been
enormously enhanced. JuBt make a few
fore. It had been put on during the night
But bow?"
Cry for More Water.
Congressman Mudd of Maryland tells of
a baptism in a village in the black belt
of that state. "What Is the namo7" asked
the minister of the child's father. "John
"Well, that Is likely enough." James George Washington FItzhugh Leo
"It would strike him that in disappearing Blaine Harrison Smith," answered the
"Very simply. When those packets were he might throw all pursuit off his track, ' father. ' The old minister Jottod down the
sealed up, Jonas Oldacre got McFarlane and at the same time, have an ample and names. and then, walking to the baptismal
to socuro one of the seals by putting his crushing revenge upon his old sweetheart, font, a crockery washbasin, said to the
thumb upon the soft wax. ,It would be if he could give the Impression that lie Janitor: "Move, get some more water,
done so quickly and so naturally, that I had been murdered by her only child. It There ain't half enough to baptize this
dare say the young man himself has no was a masterpiece of villainy and he car- child It we have to take In all his names.''
recollection of it. Very likely it Just so rlcd it out like a master. The idea of the 4
happened, and Oldacre had himself no no- will, would give an obvious motive for the Male and Itale.
tlon of the use he would put it to. Brood- crime, the secret visit unknown to his own At one of the western army post In the
ing over the case in that den of his, it parents, the retention of the stick, the hiy of the Indian fights there was a young
alterations In that report which you were .suddenly struck him what absolutely damn- blood and the animal remains and buttons lieutenant who .was careful to see that the
writing and they will understand how hard
it is .to throw dust in the eyes of Inspector
Lestrade." 1
"And you don't want your name to ap
pear?" "Not at all. The work is Its own re
ward. ' Perhaps I shall get the credit also mark upon the wall during the night, either
ing evidence he could make against Mc- in the woodpile, all , were admirable. It
Farlane by using that thumb mark. It was a net from which it seemed to me
was the simplest thing In the world for a few hours ago thore was no possible
him to take a wax impression from the escape. But he had not that supreme gift
seal, to moisten it in as much blood as he of the artlBt, the knowledge when to stop,
could get from a pin-prick, and to put the n0 wished to Improve that which was al-
at home distant day, when I permit my
zealous historian to lay out his foolscap
once more eh, Watson? Well, now, let us
see where this rat has been lurking."
A lath-and-plaster partition had been run
across the passage six feet from the end,
with a door cunningly concealed in it. It
was lit within by silts under the eaves. A
few articles of furniture and a supply of
food and water were within, together with
a number of books and papers.
"There's the advantage of being a
builder," said Holmes, as we came out.
"He was able to tlx up his own little hiding
place without any confederate save, of
course, that precious housekeeper of IiIm,
whom I should lose no time In adding to
your bag, Lestrade." '
"I'll take your advice. But how did you
know of this place, Mr. Holmes?"
"I made up my mind that the fellow was
In hiding in the house. When I paced one'
corridor and found It lx feet shorter than
tho corresponding one below. It was pretty
clear where he was. I thought he hud
not the nerve to He unlet before un alarm
of firo. We could, of course, have gone In
and taken him, but it amused me to mako
him reveal himself, besides, I owed you a
llltlo mystification, LestrUdc, for your chaff
in the morning."
"WhII, fir, you eiirtainly got quul with
me on that. Hut how in tho world did you
know that lu wb In the house at all?"
"Tho thumb murk, I -e trade. .You wtld It
was llual; and so.lt was, In a very different
henw. I knew It had not lwen ther the
duy before.- 1 pay u. good deal of it'trntlon
to mutters of detail, as you may .have c,b
serveii, und I had examined the hall, an.!
was sure that the- wall was clear. There
with his own hand or with that of his
housekeeper. If you examine among thoae
documents which he took with him Into his
retreat, I will lay you a wager that you
find the seal with the thumb mark upon
it."
"Wonderful!" said Lestrade. "Wonder
ful! It's all as clear as crystal, as you put
It. But what Is the object of this deep
deception, Mr. Holmes?"
It was amusing to me to see how the de
tective's overboarlng manner had changed
suddenly to that of a child asking ques
tions of its teacher.
"Well, 1 don't think that Is very hard to
explain, A' very deep, mallctouM, vindic
tive person is the gentleman who is now
waiting us downxtalrs. You know that he
was unre refused by McFarlune's mother?
Y'ou don't? I told you that you xhould
Into go to Blackheath first and Nor
wood afterwards. Well,, this Injury,
as he would consider It, haii ran
kled In his wicked, scheming brain,
and all his life he has l'juged for venge
ance, but never seen his chance. During
the last year or two, thing liavo gone
against him secret speculation, I think
and he finds himself In a bad way. lie
determines to swindle his creditors, and
for tins purpose he pays laryt, cheques
to a certain Mr. Cornelius, who I, I
Imagine, himself under another name. I
have not traced these cheques yet, but I
have uo doubt they were hanked under
that name ut noma provincial town whern you!
Uldacre from time to tlino led a douole ex- "I I
regulations relating to saluting were faith
fully observed. One day a soldier who was
leading an obstreperous mule to watur and
hod both hands fully employed in the tank
was met by tho lieutenant. Tho soldier,
who had an occupation which demanded his
undivided attention, fulled to salute the
martinet, who immediately called him to
account for his remissness.
"Why do you not salute an officer when
you seo him?" he demanded.
"You hold this mule and I will," calmly
returned the man.
But the lieutenant did not insist, and the
regulations were broken. Philadelphia
"It was a Joke, my good sir a practical Ledger.
Joke, nothing more," he whined incea-
sandy. "I assure you, sir, that I simply Meeting; an Emergency.
concealed myself In order to seo the effect prof. Hiram Corson of Cornell Is not
of my dlH.-ippr arunce. und I am sure that ony a great Bhakesperean crltlo but also
you would not be so unjust us to Imagine a ,ierstm Who, upon occasion, knows how
that I would have allowed any harm to to meet an emergency with true Bhnke-
roady perfect to draw the rope tighter
yet round the neck of his unfortunate
victim and so he ruined all. Let us de
scend, Lestrade. There are Just one or
two questions that I would ask him."
The malignant creature was seated in his
own parlour, with a policeman upon each
side of him.
befull poor young Mr. McKarlnue."
"That's for a Jury to decide," said Les
trade. "Anyhow, wo nhnll have you on a
charge of conspiracy, If not for attempted
murder."
"And you will probably find that your
creditors will Impound the banking account
of Mr. Cornelius." said Holmeo.
Thf llttlii man started und turned his
malignant eye upon my friend.
"1 have to thulik you for n good deal."
said he. "Perhaps I'll pay my debt some
duy."
Holmes smiled Indulgently.
"I fancy that, for some few years, you
will find your time very fully occupied,"
suld he. "By the way, what was It you put
Into the woodpile betide your old trousers?
A il'ad dog. or riilibitH, or what? You
sperean elevation of soul. It Is told of him
und ull good stories In that neighborhood
are told of lilm that he was once uroused
from IiIh nightly slumbers by ids wife, who
had become frightened at a thunderstorm.
"Wake up, Ilram," sho cried. The pro.
fesHor turned uneasily on his couch, but
was Found asleep again In two seconds.
A blinding flash, followed almost instan
taneously by a terrlflo peal of thunder,
cauHed Ids terrified spouso to again cryi
"Wake up! Oh, do wake up, Hiram!" No
response came beyond an Inartlculute gur
gle from the professor, succeeded by the
regular breathing of deep sleep.
Another flash, more vivid than its pred
ecessor, lit up the room, while the wind,
tearing some bricks from tho chimney,
brought them rattling and banging down
won't tell'.' Dear, me, how very unkind of upon the roof, accompanied by the sharp
Well,
il.Htn
well, I dare say that a couple
wool 1 account both for the
Utence. He Intended to change Ids name blood und for tho chuired anhes. If ever
altogether, druw thin money, uud vanish, you write uu account, Watson, you can
starting life agulu elsewhi" make rabbits serve your turn."
detonation of thunder.
"Hiram, wake up! the lust day
come!" shrieked Mrs. Corson.
"Wha-a-at, in the night?" queried
professor. New York Times.
has
II
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