Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1913 — Page 2

The SABLE LORCHA

By HORACE HAZELTINE

SYNOPSIS. Robert Cameron, capitalist, consults Philip Clyde, newspaper publisher, retarding anonymous threatening letters he Sas received. The first promises a sample of the writer’s power on a certain day. On that day the head Is mysteriously cut from a portrait of Cameron while the latter Is In the room. While visiting Cameron In his dressing room a Nell Gwynne mirror la mysteriously shattered. Cameron becomes seriously ill as a result of the shock. The third letter appears mysteriously on Cameron’s sick bed. It makes direct threats against the life of Cameron. Clyde tells Cameron the envelope was empty. He tells Evelyn everything and plana to take Cameron on a yacht trip. The yacht picks up a fisherman found drifting helplessly in a boat. He gives the name of Johnson. Cameron disappears from yacht while Clyde’s back is> turned. A fruitless search is made for a motor boat seen "by the captain just befnre Cameron disappeared. Johnson is allowed to go after being closely, questioned, Evelyn takes the letters to an expert in Chinese literature, who pronounces them of Chinese origin. Clyde seeks assistance from a Chinese fellow college student, who recommends him to Yup Sing, most prominent Chinaman in New York. Clyde goes to meet Yup Sing, sees Johnson, attempts to follow him, falls Into a basement, sprains his ankle and becomes unconscious. Clyde is found by Miss Clement, a missionary among the Chinese. He js sick several days as a result of Inhaling charcoal fumes. Evelyn tells Clyde of a peculiarly acting anesthetic which renders a person temporarily unconscious. Murphy la discovered to have mysterious relations with the Chinese. Miss Clement promises to get Information about Cameron. Slump In Crystal Consolidated, of which Cameron Is the head, is caused by e. rumor of Cameron’s Illness. Clyde finds Cameron on Fifth avertue tn a dazed and emaciated condition and takes him home. Cameron awakes from a long sleep and epeaks In a strange tongue. Evelyn declares the man Is not her uncle. Evelyn and Clyde call on Miss Clement for promised information and find that the Chinaman who was to give it has just been murdered. Miss Clement gives Clyde a note, asking him to read It after he leaves the mission and then destroy It It tells of the abduction of a white man by Chinese who shipped him back to China, The man Is accused of the crime of “Sable Lorcha" In which 100 Chinamen were killed. The appearance tn New York of the man they supposed they had shipped to China throws consternation Into the Chinese. The brougham in which Clyde and Evelyn are riding in held up Jbv an armed man. Clyde Is seized by Murphy and a fight ensues. Evelyn and Clyde arw rescued by the police and return home. They find Yup Sing and the Chinese consul awaiting them. Yup tells Clyde the story of the crime of the "Sable Lorcha," in which 97 Chinamen were •deliberately sent to their death by, one Donald M’Nlsh. whom they declare Is Cameron. They declare that M’Nlsh can be Identified by a tattoo mark on his arm. Clyde declares that Cameron has no such mark. The nurse is called In and describes a tattoo mark on his patient’s arm. Clyde goes to Investigate and finds the patient attempting to hide a letter. It is addressed to Donald M’Nlsh. The from the man’s mother in Scotland and identifies the patient as M’Nlsh. Confronted by the sole survivor of the ‘Sable Lorcha"—who, it develops. Is Soy, a half-breed Chinaman, recognized by Clyde as Johnson, the fisherman— M’Nlsh shoots him and kills himself. Miss Clement gets the whole story from Soy before he dies. Murphy, whose right name is Moran, had been a partner of M’Nlsh In the nefarious Chinese trade and jnter became his most relentless pursuer. He was the author of the threatening letters Sov was responsible for the mysterious happenings at Cameron’s home by the aid of the ether of invisibility. Cameron was drugged and shipped as a member Of the crew of a tramo steamer bound for Hongkong. Clyde. Evelyn and Dr. Addison, who has discovered his error In mistaking M’Nlsh for Cameron overtake the tramp steamer at Port Said and rescue Cameron.

CHAPTER XXVlll.—Continued. “Why didn’t you explain, dear, to the captain?” Evelyn asked, with one of those bursts of nalvette . that contrasted so charmingly with her usually abounding good judgment. Cameron smiled. “I couldn't get near the captain, my child," he returned, indulgently. "It wasn’t because I didn’t try. The officers ridiculed my assertions as pipe dreams, and. when, at each port, I pleaded to be allowed to communicate with our consul, I was only kept under stricter guard.” And so his story continued, interrupted at Intervals by questions from one or another of us, until we had the whole wretched tale of cruelty, including the final chapter which preceded the rescue. When he learned that every stoker and trimmer, save himself, had been ordered on deck, still hoping against hope that the outside world had at length been moved to intercession in bls behalf, he demanded to be allowed to go with the rest And when his demand was refused he rebelled, fighting his way to liberty with an iron bar from a cinder-tub, which he had purposely concealed for such emergency. I have no inclination to test patience by detailing all the events and recording all the dialogue of that happy day. Much that happened and much that •was said I must leave to the imagination of those that read. But I cannot refrain from the statement that Cameron’s meeting and reconciliation with his old friend Dr. Addison was one of the brightest spots in a delectable constellation. The meeting between ®velyn and her uncle was an episode, too, to touch the sensibility of the most apathetic. And if there had lingered a single doubt as to the wisdom or expediency of accepting their companionship on my expedition of rescue ft must have been dispelled by the emotional thrill which these scenes provoked. Our homeward voyage, which all of us were anxious should not be delayed, was by way of Naples. Hartley, who appeared to be able to go and come as be pleased, accompanied us that far, and our farewells to him, on the deck of the Koenig Albert, were combined with a fervor of gratitude

that exhausted our powers of expression. Evelyn begged me to be permitted to kiss him good-bye, but there I was forced to draw the line. Her caresses In my own direction had not, up to that moment, been so lavish that I felt I could spare any of them, even for this young Englishman, notwithstanding my abundant appreciation of the inestimable service he had rendered, and that was precisely what I told her, when on the first evening out, she had demanded to know my reasons for refusal. “You’re a very selfish man,” she retorted, with a pout. "And I’m not at all sure, now, that I shall ever kiss you again. Besides—” And there she stopped. We had reached the after end. of the deck in our post-dinner promenade, and had paused there, leaning on the rail, to watch the phosphorescent gleam and glitter among the turbulent white wake-waters. Cameron and Dr. Addison were talking over their cifears in steamer chairs amidships,., and the girl and I were alone together for the first time since her uncle’s restoration. “Besides?” I repeated, questioningly. TJie big blue eyes she turned to me were never shore rbgulsh. "Besides," she said, low-voiced and with a just perceptible quiver, "until you keep your promise, I don’t see that you have any right to dictate to me?’ I knew very well what she meant. Ever since Cameron had come running backward around. that deck-house corner—l think even at the minute I recognized his naked, smut-covered shoulders—l had had that promise in mind, and had longed for the moment of its fulfilment. But till now not even the briefest opportunity had offered. Nevertheless, her present mood was too entirely wlnsomely lovable to be'neglected, and the impulse to prolong it by teasing too strong for resistance. “Keep my promise?" I queried, mingling with assumed perplexity a certain suggestion of injury. "Have l ever failed you in anything?” She turned away now, silently, and the eclipse of the eyes I loved left me suddenly repentant; still I persisted. “Have I ever failed you?” I asked again. Quickly her gaze came back, and her eyes had taken something of the cold, snapping fire of the phosphorus. “Since you don’t remember,” she said, “it's of no consequence. Only you were so sure that you couldn’t forget.”

■ "Give me a hint," I begged, still cruel. “When did I promise?" "I couldn’t be so unmaidenly,” was her retort, looking away again. “Was it before we came over here, or since?" "Before," after a pause. "Long before?’’ "Not very.” “Where? At your house?" “Yes.” “In the library?” I asked, with a glance behind for possible Intruders. She turned quickly and found me laughing. “Oh, you dear, silly, lovable, delightful child!" I cried, and the echo of my words was carried far astern, as my arms went about her and held her close, and my kisses fell thick and fast on her ripe, tender little mouth. “What need had I to keep such a promise?" I asked, when in mercy I paused that she might get her breath. “Why should I ask you to tell that you loved me, when I could read it in letters as long as your glances and as bright as your smile?”

And if we left Cameron and Dr. Addison much alone together during our homeward voyage, who that still remember? their own happy days of young love dreaming can blame us? For a long while there remained in my mind as legacy from the strange case of Cameron and the Sable Lorcha conspiracy a seemingly insoluble problem. On our return to America, my friend. In spite of all my urging, refused, with stubborn persistency, It seemed to me, to aid In the prosecution of those who, we knew positively, were implicated In the affair. Concerning Murphy, Yup Sing and a score or more of their satellites we could have produced evidence of the

most damaging character. But Cameron was not so minded. He even went so far as to discourage my appearance against the former for complicity in the plot to take captive Evelyn and myself on the night of our Pell street visit Indeed I have always believed that through O’Hara he was Instrumental In securing Murphy’s release. And I know for a fact that he provided so generously for the young French driver of the electric brougham, who was so badly injured in that Pell, street adventure, that the fellow returned to France a month before the trial'of his assailant. All these things, I say, continued to puzzle and disquiet me, long after the sharp edges of rancorous remembrance had been worn away. And invariably at such times there would recur recollections of those early days of the threatening letters and of that

JML t A C & COU

- - V... elusive something in Cameron’s manner which I was never quite able to comprehend or explain. The true interpretation was reserved for the night preceding my marriage with Evelyn, which, by the way, had, at her guardian’s wish, been delayed for nearly a year because of what he chose to regard as her unseemly youth. The celebration was to take place at Cragholt and the house was already filled with kinsfolk and intimate friends, including most of the wedding party. ' It was after midnight, and Cameron and I were alone together in his mahogany and green study; he at his writing table and I in the same adjacent leather chair in which I had sat a twelvemonth ago while listening to the story of the incised portrait. As was not unusual we had reverted to that time and to certain of the incidents therewith connected; and I had been trying to make clear to Cameron, as I had already frequently tried to do, the peculiar difference between McNish’s expression and his. “In individual feature,” I said, warming to my subject, "there never was in all the world before, I believe, such similarity. And in repose, the ensemble, I should say, was equally identical. But when it came to —” And there Cameron checked me. “Clyde," and his tone was strangely grave, it seemed to me, “you’ll pardon my interrupting you, I know. I understand what you would say, probably better than I could from your putting it into words. And I want to tell you why I understand. Indeed I’ve wanted to tell you for a long while, but whenever I’ve got to the verge of it, I have balked." He paused here to shake the ash from his cigar, reaching across his desk for a receptacle, and somehow the gesture reminded me of that of McNish as he had thrown out his arm which held the letter, and so exposed the telltale tattooing. "I have never told you, Clyde,” he resumed, his eyes turned on the glowing tobacco ember which he had just bared, "anything about my birth or my family. But now that you are to become one of us, in a way;, it’s only fair that you should know; for though Evelyn’s mother was but my half-sis-ter, still the girl gets the same blood through her grandsire." “Yes," I said, “I know that. Evelyn told me that much. I know, too, that you 'were born in Scotland; and the very name of Cameron is a pretty gpod guarantee of family worth.” “My father belonged to a rather poor branch,” he confessed, “and like many poor men he had a large number of children. There were ten, all tofd, and when my poor mother died, it became a serious problem how to take care of us little ones. I was among the youngest, not over seven, and I had a twin brother.” As he said this Cameron, who had been desultorily drawing figures on his writing pad with the end of a penholder, abruptly shot bis gaze to mine and caught the quick question of my eyes. “Yes,” he said, without change of tone, “yes, you see, now, don’t you?" “McNish!” I murmured.

Real Origin of the Pearl

Science Has Rudely Shattered Poetlo Idea That Has Been Held For Centuries. For many centuries,.even until comparatively recent times, it was the common belief that pearls were drops of dew that gained entrance into the shell of an oyster, and were there transpired irtto lustrous gems. Arab and Indian divers still believe that at certain seasons oysters come to the surface and suck in the rain-drops that later become pearls. Science, however, has rudely shattered this poetic fancy, and discovered the real origin to be' a worm. Dr. Hugh M. Smith gives some Interesting information on this subject in the National Geographic Magazine. We now know that almost any foreign body—a grain of sand, a bit of mud or shell, a piece of seaweed or a small animal —may by Its irritation cause the mollusk to cover it with nacre and make it the nucleus of a pearl; but the largest part of the annual pearl-crop of the world is due to parasites that normally pass a part of their life-cycle within the shell of the pearl-oyster. Minute spherical larvae of marine worms known as Cestodes become embedded In the soft tissues, as many as forty having been found In one Ceylon oyster. As the result of Irritation, the oyster forms a protecting sac about the Intruder, and then, if

“McNlsh,” he echoed. ‘'Donald MeNish.” “But,” I began, "I don’t quite—” and I thought of the letter from McNish’s mother. ' "Oh, it Is clear enough,” he went on. "Some of the children were put out to live amongst neighbors, and eventually, my father and the rest of us came to this country. The others he left behind, promising to send each month the money for their keep. Donald he left with a couple named McNish, who had no bairns of. their own, and when the boy grew to be a big lad, and my father, who in the meantime had been successful here and married again; sent for him to come to America, word came back that he had been dead a twelvemonth.” "And your father believed it?" "Oh, yes, for they returned the back pay he had forwarded, and sent a lock of my brother’s hair, I think, and a trinket or two that had been his as a kiddie." "Afterwards, though, you learned that he was still alive?" “No," was Cameron’s answer. “We never heard. Had It not been for that marked resemblance gathering me Into the net spread for him, I should probably never have known. And, Clyde," he added, “ever since I learned of his having been there, in town, I have been wondering. Do you think it possible that he ever realized that he was in his brother’s house?” "Hardly,” I said. “It doesn’t seem likely, though; unless the name and the —He must—Oh, certainly,’’ I stumbled, “he must have realized that we mistook him for—yes, for some one named Cameron. He answered to It readily enough; he even insisted that he was Cameron. And if his mind was clear enough to put two and two together, why, knowing that he had a twin brother In America, It would seem—” And there I stopped my floundering, for Cameron had risen to his feet, and smiling, tolerantly, was waving a hushing hand at me. “Yes, yes," he said, “I’ve argued It all out In just the same way, dear friend. And yet we never can be certain, can we? Only I have thought, if he might have realized it, and have been able to have played the part, and stayed, and taken up my life and lived it for the rest of his, I might have gone on and taken his punishment to some purpose. For I have had more than my share of the good things, Clyde, and maybe If poor little Donnie had had even half my chances, it would all have been so very, very different." He still thought of him as the child brother he had parted from long years ago In Scotland, and as such he would ever remember him. I was glad then that he had stopped me when I had tried to draw for him the difference in their faces. For it was such a difference! Looking at Cameron now with the lamp of true greatness alight behind those plain features, I marveled that I could even have seen a vestige of likeness in the brutal, soulless face of his twin brother. And then, for the first too, I really understood.

the larva dies. Its body is gradually converted into carbonate of lime, and the pearly mass proceeds to grow with the' shell. If the larva lives, it may pass Into the body of the strong-jawed triggerAshes wtyich prey on the pearl-oysters, there undergoing further development Ultimately it reaches the body of the great rays, which in turn eat the trig-ger-fishes. In the nays the worms attain full development, and produce larvae that are cast into the sea and And lodgment In pearl-oysters., Thus the cycle is begun once more. We may literally accept the saying of a celebrated French investigator, that "the most beautiful pearl is in reality only the brilliant sarcophagus of a worm."

Blarney.

. Honest Barney McGuffey, the silvertongued orator of the Tenth precinct of the Twentieth ward, has Just got back. "I hear ye've been over to the old country, Barney,” said one of his admirers. “Sure and I have —and a Ane reception they gave me there.” “And did ye go to Blarney castle?" "I did that." “But a foine orator like ye’self would never need to kiss the Blarney stone.” “Well, that’s what 1 thought, but no sooner had I got into the castle, and before I had time to defend meself, mind ye, the Blarney stone Aung its arms atyrnt me neck and kissed me.” —Kansas City Star.

FINERY FOR THE BRIDE

INNUMERABLE ARE THE PRETTY '** THINGS IN EVIDENCE. Both for the Principal Figure and Her Attendants There Seems to Be No End to the Delightful Possibilities. * ——— * The Ideal bride Is a slender, girlish figure in a clinging gown of subtly simple lines veiled in vaporous clouds of tulle or filmy lace. Where the bride Is not built upon the ideal lines she tries to conform to them as nearly as possible, and so frills and furbelows. trimmings that cut the skirt length and sleeves or corsage draperies that widen the silhouette are all taboo. The princess gown, so long a favorite with brides, has to a large extent given place to the girdled frock. Many of the loveliest bridal gowns of the season are made with skirts ris-

Ing high to meet a simple, clinging little bodice chiefly or entirely of lace or other sheer material. Often this skirt is merely a satin tunic swathed softly around the body, the two sides crossing surplicewise in front, opening to show a glimpse of underrobe or petticoat of lace, tulle or other sheer stuff, and sweeping backward to form the long train. The upper part of the bodice is In the sheer lace or tulle of the petticoat Where the train is not managed in some such clinging, draped tunic fashion it is usually made separately. When it comes to bridesmaids’ frocks, there Is no end to the delightful possibilities. Models quaint, picturesque, artistic, or merely beautiful, Ip conservative fashion, are seen on every side, and extravagance is not necessary, for some of the most

MUST HAVE MANNISH EFFECT

Four-In-Hand Ties to Accompany Spring Tailored Costume Will Be Very Severe. Wash silk for wear with spring tailored costumes will be accompanied by four-in-hand ties in mannish effect, if southern style forecasts are to be believed. At Aiken and Asheville women who golf and take long walks for “reducing"—which Is always much in vogue about this time of year—wear short skirts of corduroy or , tweed about boots of the new washable tan leather which mud does not stain; Jaunty Norfolk or Mackinaw coats and soft wash silk skirts with turned back link cuffs, flaring collars, that open rather deeply at the throat and four-in-hand ties of knitted silk. The very latest notion in such ties Is the rainbow effect, a broad tie In neutral toned gray silk, having crosswise bands of bright color set midway of the ends. Several colors are used in combination and the rainbow effect Is both smart and gay. • ,

White Coat Lined With Pink Brocade.

A beautiful little coat In Ane white French serge Is lined with deep pink crepe de chine brocade. The serge is Just transparent enough to show faintly the rose-colored lining through Its own texture, producing an exquisite effect. The trimming Is of polished cream white buttons, half an inch in diameter, and slightly rounded on top. These are set in close rows, three to flve In each group. A scarf of pink illk crepe, gathered into tasseled ends, la worn with thia charming little coat

attractive things for bridesmaids par* poses are comparatively simple.The frock of net and lace and it chiffon or charmeuse with quaint little coats of silk are admirable for the. bridesmaid, and there are innumerable models of . this kind. A model which would make a charming frock for the purpose is of pale pink charmeuse. The bodice is made with kimono sleeves. - The fronts of the blouse are cut with a shallow yokw and cross in surplice style. The skirt of the frock is also made with a yoke to which the lower part is attached in full draped folds. There is a girdle of pompadour ribbon with dull blue background strewn with pink roses. The ribbon girdle fastens at. the left side and falls in long sash ends. Another Bridesmaid’s frock is of charmeuse and shadow lace. The lower part of the bodice and looped-up tunic are of the shadow lace. The upper part of the bodice Is draped with chiffon. The lower part of the skirt

is of charmeuse.

USE FOR THE HANDBAG FRAME

Can Be Made of Much Service When It Has Passed First Period ( of Good Work. Long ago women learned to save the handsome frame of the handbag whose fabric portion was too old and too shabby to be tolerated in respectable society. And now comes the fancy workbag which needs a secure clasp, lest its lace and silk floss treasures get soiled or torn. Any metal frame of good quality may be punctured with an edging row of tiny holes (by a repair jeweler) and by means of these punctures may be attached to a balloon-shaped bag Of heavy silk, art canvas or some kindred firm material, lined daintily with satin or lingerie. That this may be considerably distended, the fabric selected is cut into a half yard square, doubled once, the sides securely joined and the tops gathered separately into a single box plait at the center. Converging from that plait are four deep side folds, the outer ones' being filled —as well as plaited—into the holes at the extreme ends of the frame. Instead of double hangers, these embroidery bags ar® suspended by a single broad and long strap of the silk or canvas, fastened to the center plaits below the edge of the frame , and concealing, its clasp. This one strap at the center of the bag is more easily slipped over the wrist than are two narrow handles and it better sustains the weight of the receptacle’s contents. On a smaller scale and in brocade or tinsel lace veiled-satin, these bags are suitable for opera glases or for bridge purses.

SHIRTWAIST OF WASH SILK

Always In Order, but Design Must -Be Left to Discretion of the Wearer. The soft wash-silk shirtwaist Is made more or less plain, according to the figure that its wearer possesses. For those who are plump the plainest models are chosen. But shoulders are long and so are sleeves. The neck of these waists Is finished with long sleeves and wide sailor collars as soft and rather high at the back. Cuffs are turned back, and link buttons are worn with some of them. By way of a little frivolity, Jabots of net or lace provide a finishing touch which seems superfluous with the four-in-hand tie, but is nevertheless in evidence. When made up fork slender figure these waists are set to a yoke in the back and fulled into the shoulder In front. The collars are widened. Soft waists of crepe cloth'are made plain with long sleeves and wide collars as well as In the regulation designs just decrlbed. Turnback cuffs often finished with crystal buttons. These waists are opened at the throat. —Woman’s World.

DAINTY TEA GOWN

Tea gown of white crepe richly trimmed with fllet lace and insertions. Ball fringe and embroidered bands are used as trimmings.

Beited Coat

A point to be considered in the new costumes is the development toward belted coat and blouse effects.

MARY DEAN.