r-r-l T T V I fTT V TT T x f- T"l T VI T T T T7 VV TI 77 T7 TT T -c -o -d -a -a liY o- t t- o c-
ML K1LL1INO Of rtLlA nAKriAiN tom gallon
1
ft j 1 1
HKI.IKVK that It w.is chiefly because busi
ness was so t ni.u h... l ly dull In Iorid m. and
It-fLapS II tilth: I'M lei OUT" of splihg i lor,
Unit I - ii t ln-1 in' , I lamp-hlr.-, mi, I Into
tlie w -liii.li 1 1 ..I iu Mrv Wood. 1 think I had
KM I'll . I II. It I l-Ught H' i Ul r SIHnc pllot'l-
giaphs uf woodland seoi.tty mi. I l.iul life,
w ii' 1 1 w , mid .i int - it si mg ti 1 1 . i ( r" ill ;i I inn
w It li xin h rniitti i s. 1" i halm I was a nxiniis ntilv fur a holi
day. I'liiihiliiiK my lr-Jm t to Kim. h nyi Ii, lure slatt
ing. In' was Miner tn Jiiin Hie. n ml we ih It rniim-d to have u
few divs In the country tun. 11. i r.
Ti e i.i Ul, I "ii 1 i.f tju.it i y Woods, on the very bor-
di rs i.f the N. w l" n :-(. is a siiigulniy wild anil .ictur
i sou" mie. (. put up ,t an oi l fashioned inn. ami look -tl
forward i i'tii, nti illy to a few dav.i away from the noise
"nil hustle of I. melon. Already. although 1 had been In
the l only an hoof. I h oi lo,.k.d atMiiit me and had
men that there wn an, pie subji- ts for my camera. And
liow. after an old fashioned, i oiiif.ii table dinner, Knoi h
Vovie and I were Heated In the pallor of the inn. glad of
warmth of a mod st lite, and fe. link perhaps a lit t lo
When ho stopped at li-t he stood In a little natural clear
ing, that had for its h.c kgr'uuul the tM'M nial bushes
fioin whl.-h he hid inicig-d. To make toy own position
i-battr, I may s.-y Ih it it was almost n u.ouu'i I had
he i-mihl 1" k down at the hreeeli of It rlosi
then dropped It Into the hollow of his aim
In a eiiiiniis fashion 'o set hiins. If. and tie
to his flee.
He ta elne.l
. nl'h load
1 !.' I man.
Th.
visy striding, fwaii-
in we hoi known ti tore, with the gun
arm, nnd wit' his fact staring straight
tn en in the gall, rj of I tle-atei
U Ht-lKf Oil W i i ll the II. Mil .li
that t hi dim. a, I i t ,v . n us
( mild ha ' e I.. I, in a I h- a t i
Pud. I id.. . t .. ho., '
1 km w I. im at ..la . . 1 t w a i
straight to w a t d.- v. In t 1 h.
pace or two av.av he stonp
to grasp ti - nun i li ,
aid I el I"
d. ;l." -mil
Was llillfh
1 i ,1 d.iw n upon
I : ft Pi f nee being
ai .iter than It
ollsc A 11,1 1
.1 ii up : : i
i h ti ami. c
It. just
le-.t non
1 In the
'lute i no n.i I a out her man
Felix n an. and he w alked
m, hi s' mil lm king at him. A
1 1 s.t w Inn h ft hand go out
in tii'- . r, ...I of Ms 1 I g I t a rm.
erect, matiind on towatdw the I
li s eh illy nil 1 1 1 t' l K he had shun
sky ahoye him. that he had left
laislii I.
1 did r.i't qolie know what to do At titst I had an
Insane fi.'iij that I would go i own nv a wimlinu piih I
l.titw, to in.,, him hefori he pot to the house-e en to tell
him what I had seen, lint my l.ii"wledi.e of the man, and
mi r in n ilfa nei
I
.f tie w
, sli
a,oti I,.
.1 to a
I mid w hii h
e no- piu.i-:
i on. !! i; .- - K
g, i ' Kellx Ma
In 1 he ero.ik of 1
towaids us.
Tin la.niKot llasheil upon 111 y mind that he would know
Inmit'tly winte we had heeti 1 : luuild tu't hae known
uu ti what tn pay had he i luilh n!cd us Hut, to my titter
a tn i lie nt . he hii'ii sttaiht on towards us, and Miind
ai is for ,i ii mill ii:, ami then nt on, without o much
as a salutation. 1 t hi n n 1 luurmurcd H fei hlo " Hood liioni
Inis!" hut !. did not seem to hear.
I I'll e i h a "f 11 'A o' d. our h aiu'ics w i re loo Helled, nnd
v. i,, t in i.. .1 ' - t'. " I'm 1 ..lartrd by nrikliiK n
the
h!i epy as the i (Tiit iif si rout; air and Millet sun oundinKS.
1 was sniokitiK, lane h oi r neer sou. kid.
Sud. h nly we In aril a heavy tread outside the ihrnr, a
man deep toiu s. and the n spe lful reply of the land
lord. Then the door was thrown open, and a tall man In
a knlekei hoeker twed suit strode in. lie arrled a mm
In the iiook of his arm lie looked ah iut, an though re-
entful Ht fimlihK any i ne else In the place.
However. Knoch and I y.ivr Idin " (iood cvenind!"
and he in know h iIki d i ur salut.itii n Wla n. In a moment
or two. the lan.lli.nl eeme In with a tray enntalninu a Jui
of ale and a fclnss. the stranger heeaine more soi lahle,
and pr. si nily lit a i ii n and b gan to rh.it. I had pl'imi'il
fiom the li, inner nf the landlord that our visitor was some
county ii, annate, who l ad i oiiih sepinled to patronize the
Inn on his way home after a day's si tinn; and my sur
mise pioved to he correct.
lie vvas obv iously a ko ntlrui.m. though somewhat over
biarii.K and arroktaut III manlier. 11" was pleaded to ex
press ib-op Interest in my work. alihouiUi obviously he
kin w Utile about phn'o(.'i a phy. even In an amateur way.
Ileiiinx that I had come down 111 the hope of takinn pho
tnMiaphs of parts of the Quarry Woods, he Informed inn
that liny ivi re his piopirty. and nave tue Instant permis
sion to visit them at any time I i.ind to do so.
"My n. line Is Harm, in- Felix Harmai
In
woods
said. " and
U you ii,,;
ami let t a'
im a Ion. ly
I live at (Juurry I Inii.-i", adoulim the
any uoml results, you n.ixht come and s e nie
have a look lit them. You will lie weliomo; I
num." he ndded.
We expressed nut' wtllitiRne.s and our gratitude to him
for t hu Invitation. A fter chatt itm up. .n 1 ml Iff. -rent suhji i ts
lor a time. Iu roue nnd took his leave, svvauyerlnir out of
the place us Iip had iWa(,rKenil Into It. I noticed that
Knocli Vnyr out for n Iuiik lltne looking at the door
throni!li which he hud gone, and scratching; his chin
thoughtfully. 1 nsked what lie was thinking: about.
" I'm IhlnkliiK tliHt our new friend Is not the nicest
person in the world," said Voaa shaking1 his pray head.
" Hully In writ large over hlni, and there Is a shifty look
in his eyes I don't like. Ilowvvcr, as ho has Invited us
tr go nnd see hltn, we may take the opportunity, 1 suppose,
of looking him up."
The leather proving glorious, wp sppnt rntnp consid
erable time in the Qui. try Woods during the next few
days. It was u wild spot, exceedingly beautiful, and. of
course, finite uncultivated. I'aths ran through It here nnd
there, trodden nut by adventurous spirits; nnd, ns the
name suggested, it must at one time have been n huffe
Hiiarry, now completely overgrown. Sleep embankments
and rocks cropping nut among the trees and luishes sug
gested this clearly enough.
I h ml gone out alone one morning, and was lying flat
under some bushes In the very heart of the woods. In the
hope of getting a photograph of a sitting bird that had
ballled me for a couple of days, when a shadow falling
across me caused me to look up. I saw standing over me
the man who had called himself Felix Harman. Ho nodded
without speaking, and I went on with my work. When
1 had finished I got up and greeted him.
" You're mil early.' he remarked. "So nm I. for the
matter of that. I like to rumble, through this place nt this
hour."
He made a handsome picture, standing there In the
clear morning light, with Ids gun in the bend of his elbow
and his hands lightly crossed .n front I drew back u cou
ple of paces and took a snapshot of him. he laughed.
"1 should like to I ave a copy If It comes out well,"
he said. " It w 111 be hetti r than the stiff things one usually
gets when one is posed."
lie turned n way abruptly, and went off towards his
house, which showed dimly through the trees. Puring the
day I developed the photograph, and found that It had
come out remarkably clear. I thought no more about
il at the time, but put It away amongst others.
A couple of days later came the adventure which was
to end In so startling a fashion. I had not slept well,
ami had b ft the Inn quite c. tly lo take my favorite walk.
I cime Into the woods, not wit a any lib a of taking definite
photographs, although I had my camera with me. I lay
down In the grass nt the top of a high embankment, and
looked down Into the valley formed by the old quarry,
nnd drank In the soft, pure morning nlr. Only the birds
wen sill ring, nnd a rat bit or two scuttled through the
grass. So far lis human beinys w.-rc oncerned I seemed
to have the world to nil self
It was quite a long way down Into the valley, through
the bottom of which a narrow footpath ran towards the
house. Suddenly, as I looked through the bushes on the
edge of the little plat 'ail where 1 lay, I saw a figure mine
hesitatingly out from the trees and Ink.- this footpath and
face the house- the figure of a man. I rculd see hlni quite
ileal ly In the bright morning light. I saw that he was
ragged and unkempt, nnd that his boots were broken. He
looked like a tramp-In fact. I might have taken dm for
a poacher but that he appeared tn carry no weapon.
The curious thing about the man was that, although
lie seemed to know his way well, and to strike the path
naturally on coining out of the trees, he Jet looked about
hlni In sit.it Ingly. as thi ugh uncertain w hether to KO on.
A h ! ,:;
tV:' -s - -l -f .
, I . ' ' - it. . J wniitif
V -.?-' - '. f - "'"'-''St.
J?'-..? I t l .,- r vu,.HiMhiii.;,iViKwl-w
Y-t' -- - K
.".' -, -J- "
' -i . i -v. . . ..... - ....
"i'l,, . s.
Mt
t
" '- '-.. 'h., ;Kj -
t f N '-i ) . .-,..-. . -3 --.- s
Il
kr::i
'-'Ik' w:ZJ
II
h
iiC;- -k.
f .',''
Trrrr-
,1 w
' v.-
M
A.
? V
It'
'!V'
.',' 'I;'
V.;',s.
4
k
Uf.VC'fr-.VVv. - ...'. . f "' : .
v w.f.fis,'v5 " , .
and to bring It into position for use. It was almost aa
though he challenged the tramp, although of course at
that great distance I could not hear what was said.
I saw the tramp throw out passionate hands towards
him and once shake a Pst at him. Kvid. nily some strong
altercation was going on. And all the lime Felix Harman
stood there, with his head thrust a little forward, and
with the gun bhl In both bunds. lYo-i-ntlv I saw him
Jerk his head quickly, ns though signaling to tie other
mull to go: and tin- -nan b.g.iti to hark away from him,
turning, like a hunted dog. now an I tla-r to snarl at him,
but still always steadily moving towards the belt of tree:)
whence he had emerged. Just as they reached the
1 dge of the liearlng. in that posl'ion. an I in that dramatic
attitude, on the li'tle natural stage. I lev el. d the camera
and snapped the picture. As 1 r. ised my In ul again I
saw them disappearing -Ha: man driving the other before
him into th" trei s.
1 lay for about half a inlr.iit", gaKiuir at the spot where
luilh men had disappear, d: t tn 11 the whole air was star
tled by the loud u p t of a gun Itahbiis scuttled away;
birds Hew screaming ovtrhiad; then tle te was a great si
lence. Only dimly guessing what had hipp. m d. I lay still,
with my heart beating tumultuously, ;.,.l with my mind
slowly gripping the idea that I was priu". ic i itv ihe only
witness of what must have been a trnvr. dy. S i Mupcfy
iug an effect did It have upon me that I lay quite still
for what must have lain many minutes. I was only
aroused to action by ceing a figure tome out from the
belt of trees.
One figure only lint of Felix Harman. He stopped
on reaching the edge of the charing, and looked about
him quickly, raised the gun lie rani, d in his hands until
"You are not Felix Harman! You are trie tramp!
might lie better If I never told of thai scene, at all. So
I watched hlni go tn.vards the h itise. and I w nt back
to the Inn and tried to eat some breakfast; and I said not
a waird even to F.norh Ynyce.
I kept my secret for a whole day. The next morning,
unable to hold il any h tiger, I roti.ed Kin nil Voyce at an
early hour, and. with my mouth close against his car,
whispered the ili'.aiirul thing to i.in. lie listened intently,
and made no common'. He got up al nin e and .lie-setl,
and together we set nil In sih tu e for the woods. It s emed
lo be so inucli an un b rstood thing between ns tl.it we
must discover what uad happem-d that we tool: the direct
road without so much as speaking of our Int. nil ,n. And
so came at last Into the little clearing, and to the edge
I the belt of trees.
it was i ally; not a soul to be seen il. the woods any
where. Knocli Voyce led the way and parted the bushes
aiql went on cautiously. I'resrntly lie stopped, and I knew
that lie had found the man.
He lay a little on i ne side, with Ids bai k to us; lie
might have been asleep. One ham had fallen h. -ide the
body, and lay, pilm Ipwurds, wi'h the lingers a little
cijibd on the grass. It was a singularly white and deli
cate hand, nnd It had upon the third finger a thin old,
worn gold ring. We ' ti pped past the body aiaj I lnoki d
down at it, and uttered uu exclamation. For the dreadful
thing was that the firing of the nm had shattcrt.l the
ft til ten of the tramp, so as to in ike them uin a rn. t : at do.
We (ame out into the clearing again, and took ; he
path which should lead us towards the house, and from
wldi h another path would carry us back to the inn Nei
ther of us spoke; we wire too deep in thought for that
Suddenly, as we walk d. we look' d up to see n men no-
suggestion as to the whole business
"After all." I said, "lis nol our business. It Is evi
dent that Felix llartnan met this tramp. There was an
altercation-pi rhaps ev in a struggle for the pun. The
unknown man Is dea l, and his body will be discovered.
W hy should we bring i niselvas into it? If any one sus
pects that Harman Is res i n.lble for the death, and points
to him, It's his I n i Ml in s to char himself; certainly I. for
my part, couhl only make matters worse for him."
"(lie tiling oci urs to me." said Knoi ll Voyce; "our
friend ought to he w lined that we know. In the event
ot trouble, he may .held" that it would be wise to call
you. Kit ti nhiiry, as navlng seen hlni attempt to turn the
man out of the wood. You mav. nf'er all. prove a power
ful f i. lor in tin di fi .ise. Ce' tainly. I think he ought to
be t .1.1. liy the way. " added the ild man abruptly, "did
nu noli e iiiivilin pei ullar about the body?"
"1 saw that the nan had particularly delicate hands,
and that there was a rh g on one of them," I replied.
"Yes. I iio i ed that." said oyce thoughtfully. "Do
ymi think ii possible that the tramp km w Harman. and
that this was something more than tie encounter between
a couutiy gentlemen and a trespasser' In other words,
did they know each nlnr?"
That point had tint struck me before. I was unable
p. Hive any solution of the tnu 1 1 r. Voyce, however, still
Mgi .! that we should -ec Harm. in and tell him exactly
w hat w knew ; and a little later in the day we went up to
Quarry House and Im aiiied for him He was not there
was sild to I,,- out shouting. We left a message, asking
l i ii to come and smoke a frh tn.iy pipe that night at the
inn.
'bout ti o'clock that night Kellx Harman was ushered
THE BIRTH OF A SOUL
BY JOHN GRAHAM.
T11K professor sat, as lie had done for
an hour or more each tone that
he had Vlsitid the M'ulpltjl 's studio;
vet his eyts for the tirst tunc caw
the object on which ttuy had In in
f, , usi d. ll was a woman's head, and
un tint. g .about it was v.igui ly fain. liar.
What was it? His brain, idle for once now
t: at his great Work was tit, la. tent Usen
et gas to finding the answer to this trivial
pr hh in.
The sculptor unswtnd I. is one spoken
qui slum hi li tly. The Wi lli. Ul ',,! las
inoihir. That did in.t in Ip Hi. pioi. s, r
much: for out of the mists of tin pan a
li.r.g forgotten fact shon. dimly. It was
ul'.i r!y dffertnt in form and f.nlun .
stampi d t vt n w ith the impi ess of ar.otln r
i. ita: ! thin- was mini thing in common
tu t w i n t In two.
" Have you tvir reiii.uktd on the likt
li m that liiu) i x st lft 1 1 n two U, ss.niilar
pirsoiis? ' ht- lliqinri d.
Th. voung sculptor noddtd and w..ikid
.ai H.s sib nee had saliatlid the professor
I, thiitn. Today It nntMi.vid him.
"ll)W do you txphllll it?' he asked ln
h'S Ci'llti mptunus voict.
The oil i r Hlll.b d.
" It s a question of vttality, my unci
S.I s "
Tin prof, ,-s.ir looki d at him sharply. The
uncle was a hading iniiiistt r; the old man
fi'. r.tid battle ::r. l his t yis gn w Ir.gt.t.
" KenHy? And dots )eur uncle lilt.icjne
ti t vitality affects the f. aunts?"
The sculptor scraped a littie moit il.iy
fi.un the puny lower pait of tin face ovt-r-1'iirg
by that vast foichtad.
" He says that some people are ui.t-nn-M-lously
conct titrating tluir vitality all
tl.tir lives into one poitton ot nt. other of
ti e whole, either body, or iniiui or soul.''
H re the piot.svoi gaw ent to un ai gr
staff. He laid dt voU.l Hie best tal ol his
lite to disproving the (possibility of that
r, upei slit tous tain
" V"U can see niai.y faces t.tre that seem
to support his Uu-ory Those two. on Hie
right. hvr sacrificed every thu g to the
lilsl Slid srem to have no in ' e ! 1 ig e r. Ci hft"
The proltssor glanced at the busts Irdl
uttd. The Opts differed widely; yet the
iissi rtinii wjs ti ui
Ills
VV .1-
had
own I.
another insu.iu e to tl.t point. V,.
hit ll concentrated in lis east in tl, m .in.
having 1 he phy sir.tl sidi uii.o .up..'. Ilia
face was ascitic in col. tour, save l'-n the
grtat brow. He glanced back al tin wom
an's head which had startid thi- train ol
thought. What was iht-it ii. its t xpi i..n
tint lad suggtsted the other, lost tit.y
) t ars ago?
" The ht lit f In the sou;." he began m 1 ti r.-tlou-iy
. but I lu st iiiptor 1 1. 1 1 t i U ti d
" I know. Mv ur. cle spi ke of youi tl.t oi y.
His idea Is that you are right p rt i any.
Your vitality has been so ci iici nlia td n
m-ntal dt-vtl pinent that yi ur s, ul has
probably nt i opt. led. He is quilt pi t p in d to
admit that . u liav. lame."
The professor ro.-e hastily, t in ki d villi
wrath. This ymu g man had insulted him;
yit lie had no tlllllltdi.itt al.p-W.I. A h
ilid la t iiiimil 'hat any ore had a s id he
could not coinplaln of bt lug assurid that
he might possibly be witla ul i nt. Btiil
the partial agnemint Irrttat d him u.oit
than ttui f.trcest diatribes fiom the rl tho
di x party would have ih r.r Ti l- con
temptuous theory that he l,,m.' If might
be l.uk rg In what ethers considered an
essential of existence rankbd in his mind
tn the t xi lu-dorp. of all else.
He passed automatically from the room,
gained the sir. 1 1, and hurried i n. blind and
deaf.
The t i V ilijti d u i l Id lit.ird of till aitidil.l
to the celebrated pn fissor with loud t x
t'la illations of ri girl; and for three days the
hospital w as hisi.y. d by 1 1 p l 1 . I s I J t -lut
to him for providing topy ll.. dtad
season. Then he dii d. with ul i t-t-i-v a ring
consciousness; aid tlie leai i.ed s. ciely
rescinded lis i.idi-r foi Hit bu-l. Duly the
lu.i)i,i K't up a pubic tlueiilg aid sug-
ge.-litl a loillolal l. . 111. I la I In lilt- gliat
luilh For hi- pall, he said, bethought It
should lake the form of a statu- ol t iblet
to be placid in the ciuhedial Th uncle
made i.o oppo-.lt ton. ai d the inii g M-nlp'or
tiiMsluti his bust foi I he est lo -'i a 1. It was
as he ttii is hi d : I. it In saw sum lib g l.k a
speck of thistledown th at past and bury
iri the bronze.
TI i profi s.-or was hauntid by a sense of
Hi jilts, i. ee ,,f the wiiinan-he had loved,
atai i I' whom he had been reminded in the
scuii mi's studio. Af'nr that a sudden
ii, i kin ss nvei w la inn d him. lb hadastn
sa ; iei. i f st i ugglir.g f or i xisti tn-e. An aw
ful tenor seized him. lb felt like a ship
wit eked nan swimming in a stormy sea
w ill in, si. i n- in sight. , Kvery familiar
"iiject l ad In i n swallnwid up. He cmild
i. i tlitk: lit mind was incapable of I ea
- rug, vat lis i.irvts ngistiied lmprcs
i i i ci 1,1. ir.ereasii.g arguish; and. limit
Iv. lit spa ir.
Tl.tr lis groping vitality found a plank,
i u i hit i 'i -s. sallies, exp. s il to winds and
waves. Most ti nihil- of all wis tl e hi axe
of light into w I h h tie st nm d to drift from
the prtcedii g darkness. He f, It as if
si nt. hid and blinded by ye sun. while
ti e roar of an ilnmi.tj! world was in his
i ars. He bu g. d to hide st. mew here. Hnd
thus became aware of an object like his
former dwelling place. Its hker.e.. drt w
him as with a mngr.p t and he er.teied with
a sense of gratitude at having found a
theltt r
Fi r hu g he lay there, resting afttr hli
aw fill t xperh u. es. Tlie bust was not more
impervious to slghis and Founds than
had train, d his body to hi come only tlie
wonibrful machinery of brain was absi r.t.
He could no hmgi r think; but he was con
t' i t In exist
He was mustd from this Hate by s .nm
t hi i g that fnrmi rly he was wont to despise.
A gnat tverl mini the tath.dral with a
thous.it 1 I- rsons all vibrating with motion-
Wavis of f t ling passed from one
sob in i he m ti r b. for. dashing upwards
l'k. stir"; m rat .van th- blol.z. was
p. intra'..! -nil Hip si. -i i.li ; spirit nwoki
Tie "' '-wop v.-id,. : y I'ai-h d.,v u s-,-los.
it fip.1i t;', il. i f light, color so Hints,
v. hi, h iii at. 1 1 1 . shr'v. I. .1 s..u with fr. sti
-. .i t- ts ..f l .'t,.r. an, I aw.- He l ad f.,r
H'lt.n the sci, nt itie explanations of how
riain eoinbinaitons r. suited In cerialn
.rt.cts. He bad U come ns a ..Hie i-lu.J
and gttw great with wonder.
THE SMITHY.
Tlie smithy's fiinnicp smoulilet s low
As dull the ilyitKj pmbeis tlow,
The window's bnrrpil find locked the docjr,
The smithy'll know the smith no more.
With sternly cIiiikj the h.'.t y sledije
No more shall l im.i while ylows the loirja;
The ni'jht comes on, tti.-t !.nlcs the d ly,
About the walls sttan'je shadows play.
The foi tie still shows a waiutuj spark
As aye it battles with the dai k,
It cliiiys to lite, is slow to die.
And rjlat es nnd ql in i met s fit I ul ly .
Faint forms sut round the d mcj blaze
The smithy knew in other tlay a,
Fur cane its fame extended wide,
It lonfj adorned the country side.
Here toiled the smith, a man ol paits,
A manual of met ham. at ts;
The arts with st ien e bet e combined
To lift, enlarge the i ustie mind.
ijhari) .steel bore tineas lo his skill,
While iron yielded to his will;
In truth, a rnettlt-tl man was he,
With wisdom filled to a degree.
Affairs of state, the nation's weal,
Oft came before him on appeal,
The word, unwilling, fiom his In t-ast
Was wrung that set all p- ants at t est.
Here Queen, in time, two masters knew,
Her lot d and him w ho nailed her slice,
Here, rowed at l...it, ulic take- her Ktand,
Her foot familiar to his hand
Hut now the dying 1 1 1 -1 . 1 1 ; i ! ..d.
These g hosts of other i la s ait- fu.l,
The smithy'll know tins s-mith nn mote.
For Death's lean hand has. lo. ki d the door.
-CHAHLES E MILROY.
in by ttie landlord This lime In carried no weapon, and
wa ill i sited In a iitl. I suit of d.uk cloth. 1 thought he
I, ohed lilsl i ust fullv at us whin first In- came In. lb
suit.il llmsilf at some lil'le disiame away, and turned
his hands nrrvousl) .me over the otlo r while he sp,,lt, .
' I in souy to tn- lute. K. nil 'in n he said, and his
v ire was u 1 1. ii . -1 Kintlci -Hid mi let i r than I had heard
ii hi fore. "1 cam. illicitly I got your m.ssiiie. If thete
1 anything I can tin 'or you sin h old fi lends living hei e
so long "
His voice tr illed tT, and he vvas silent He ki pt Ins
cvis lowered. I was staring a- linn In ainaxeinent . won
lii nig w hat i .nib! have happi ned to the man. when Kti". h
ovie got up nhruptlv and walked nut of the room with
a murmured iiviogy. 1 oft-rid our guest a cigar, whlih
he took with a nod to Imply thanks: then he smoked In
silence. 1 beit. iii to feel sin i v for him. seeing bow greatly
the acchhnlal death of tin tramp. : I believed It to have
Inn. had afTected hlni Just wh.il. I was- wondering about
the matter, nnd ttvuu to ilii"Vir a sul-bet for conver
sation, Knocli came back Into the room and sat down
"1 wanted to see vim. Mr llnnian." I began, after
an awkward pause. " In cause 1 Ml that after your . our
tioiis ami kindly treatment of my friend Voyce and my
si If. during our few lavs stay hi'e. you ought to lie told
just what we know concerning what happened 111 the
fjuatry Wood" the other morning"
He .-.ai ud. and swallowed ipil. kly. and looked fullv
at me. then lowtied lis t yes again. Knocli Vovce was
sih lit. I pirn ceiled to tell what 1 had set n. and what we
both had diseoverid that day. And Kellx Harniaii. save
for a little i tilt K viu'r .it of the lips once, did not move
And he ncvi r ulteied c word.
" You see, Sir. Harman," said Knocli Voyce, breaking
the silence at last. " wt thought you ought to know, so
that you might not be unprip.iicd lor anything we might
do or say."
The man raised Vis head, and looked ipilokly from
Knooh to myself, and bin k again " W hat nie you going
to do or say? " he demanded hoars Iv.
"We nr.- going tn suggest, in the lii.t plan, tlitil Mr.
K.llx llariuan. of tjiiany House. Hampshire, knew this
tramp; that lime wis b.lwe. n tlu pi some bun: standing
enmity or wrong that bad t" he n.lr. ss-ed. that the
stronger man. armed nnd ready, kill. .1 the other.-
"Its a lie' Von don't know what you're talking
about:" tried Harm. in, springing to hi.- Int "The man
win a stranger-a trespasser I tried to drive him away,
as this gentleman has said -
"This gentleman's: inline h' ltatteiihni y." said Knocli
Voyce. in a curious tone " Have you forgolten thai?"
" I've forgotten foigiitten many things." retorted the
other. "I never imanl to kill him It vvas an accident.
I swear to you "
ln his excitement -ic had stretched out his hands with
u gesture I scented to n nieiiiber in another man; and in
n moment Kiiooh Vovce had seized his right hand and
turned It. with a deft movement, mulct the light.
"What have you hie doing with your hands?" he
demanded.
"Nothing; ht me go'" said the man. feebly struggling.
' What do you mean .'"
" I mean that In this pliofogiaph. taken a day or two
since, of Mr. K'lix l.,itniiii, by my friend Hattenbiiiy
In re. vour hands are white and deli. -He. as become the
hands of a gentleman, inunover, there Is a thin gold rlnu
Oft the right hand here " Kpoch Voyce had pulled the
photograph I had tale 'i from his poeke'. and was point -il
g excitedly to It. " Vour hands are stained nnd grimed
with hari toil; there bu t a decent nail to any of your
fingers."
I n mi lulu n il the white hand of the tramp, with the
gold ling upon the finger: a great light seemed to break
III upon tne. The man hud staggered back against the
wall and stood there as If at bay. Knocli Voyce was point
ing straight at him.
" Vou are not Felix H irman'" he said excitedly. " Vou
are the tramp! What is j our name?
"Hugh llnrimtn," replied the man. In u low voice.
" Felix llartnan was my brother."
"And you killed him!" exi Initio d Voyce.
"It was an accident." said the man earnestly, "lie
fore (iod. gentlemen, I swear '. aid not no an to kill him.
1 had tramped many miles to see hlni, hoping to move a
heart that had been always a he nt o,' stone towards nie.
He had treated me vilely; stolen what was mine by a trick:
driven me by persecution mil of the country. I came
back to plead with him for s nno help He drove me away
wltli threats, at the point of l is gun. We came together
Into the little wood, and he threatened tne ftirthei ; there
was a struggle for the gun, and in that struggle It went
iff and he wax killed. When I saw him lying there, so
disfigured, the thought came upon nie that I might claim
at once by a trick what was inhie by light. There was
an old shame held ag ilnst me that I had not been able to
live down, and that might be forgotten and forgiven with
my death. I changed clothes with hlni- every stitch he
had on: only the ring I could not gel from his finger.
Now" he flung out his hands with that desperate gesture
again- " what are you going to tfln?"
"That is scarcely 'he question; the real point Is what
ate you going to do?" asked Knocli Voyce. " With that
old grudge you had against .vour brother, you will at tmce
In suspected if the change of Identity becomes known.
That white, delicate hand, the ring upor it "
For answer, the m i l slowly put a finger and thumb
h.l i ills waistcoat pocket, and drew out a thin gold ling.
n silence he slipped it on to tin third linger of his right
hand. " I Went down to the body again today," he whls
p, red. " and managed to get it off. There had not been
time before. Ion t you see that w In n the body Is found
ll will only be that of a tramp, vho has perhaps had an
affray with some midnight ponchos, and been shot In
mistake for a keeper? There are a thousand explanations,
and not one of them points t-i I'ellx Harman."
" Is that tn be your name lor the future?" I asked.
" Uy find's help-yes." he ald. "And 1 will make It
sound better in the i,,rs of inch than It has done hith
erto." So, us a tna.lter of inct, It tain about. The body nf the
supposed tramp was lound, and 'lure were all sorts of
wild conjectures as to how be had mil with his death;
but only Knocli and I and nnothtr man knew the truth.
55555 ipCSpSCC5S555555
SAVED BY AN ACTOR'S ART.
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All J&k
I I ll" i-.IMItllT was tlie l.ell. of ill,. 11.11.. t.O.l.or ,1:1 I.. II
VT I w I.i. h she lived with her uncle. For a year she had kept company with Hairy
j j Friend, and in- had her nromise tn marry him in tin- sprite:.
vmiiook toe visions to till- viiiiige ill lite sunillier lalne all alliSt. Willi a
fast mating manner, Lierald Street by name. St i ing Nellie in her hsln r ilriss
he persuaded her to sit as a model for a picture ho was painting. When one
picture was finished another was started, always with Nellie as a model, so
that Harry used to complain that he never saw anything of his sweetheart.
The artist, while painting, ust d to tell Nellie of the wonderful London from which lie
came, and what a lot of money a good artist's model si. eh as she h.iMlf was, could
make in a short time. Nellie thought w hat a splendid lib a it would be for lo r to go to
lmdoii until the spring, silo- could make such a lot of money ( .wel ds lmusi kis ping
When she mentioned the matter to Harry, w ho was a fishi rinaii. lot begged her not to
think of such a ihlng, but eventually the fascinating artist persuaded her. and she made
up In-r mind that she would go.
ln vain her uncle and Harry exixiKt mated. " It's only f,,r a f w mouths," said Nellie;
"and just think what a help my mom v will be towards selling up housekeeping"
I shall have plenty saved by the spring. The fishing season will lie a good one. I'd
rather you didn't go." said Harry. " Vou remember I'issle tiretne. who went nnd never
came back. She was run ovt r by a, t ali wln-n crossing a road and killed."
" Milt I've more sense than two 'issie flreenes. and should look where I was going."
replied Nellie. "I'm quite capable of taking care of myself "
" fitlll, there are other dangers, and-besides -I'd rather y..u didn't go."
"I've promised Mr. ritreet. so 1 can't draw buck, evoi If I wished to. which I don't.
Give me a kiss, Harry, to show that you don t really iminl I'll be back at Christinas."
Christmas came and went, hut nn sign of Nellie. For a month or two after she had
left the village she wrote regularly tn Hairy and her inn h- Then the time came when no
letters arrived and Harry resolved to g i to Km, don. II. went, but could find nn trace of
Nellie, and lie it-turned home lit artbroki-ii.
One evening Itralisby Williams, the characti r a.-tor and mimic, was Impersonating
Din'l I'.-Kgotty from "liavl.l C...pi rlleld. " at ih.. Tivoll. His pi esenl.n nm of the yinf
and ngoiiy of I'eggoity when he hums of the tlixht of Kittle Km ly was so realism- that
tin- hex' day In- received the follow inn unsigned toiler:
"Hir: I have no doubt vou never think of yourself as a pieailur I was at the Tivoll
Wednesday ey- iilng. Hun e then I have decided to go home lo mv nneh He is a tlslu i
iiihii. and 1 was brought up by him. I left home as a lot of others do. but am going hark,
and by the tune you get this 1 shall pe with him. He is good. Vou must be good tn act
in tin- way you do. 1 shall try, now 1 am going back to him, to be u comfort and help In
him. and .-hall always remember and pray for you."
There wen great rejoicings In the little hshnig village when Nellie liilght returned,
and the wedding bells are soon m ring out.