Richmond Palladium (Daily), 24 January 1906 — Page 3

THE MOBNIITG J?ALLADITJM WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1906. PAGE THREE.

IT I

THE ' MAN ON THE BOX

By HAROLD MacGRATH Author of "Tb Grey Cloak," "The Puppet Crown.'

Copyright, 1904. The 9 VIVOPSIS. CHAPTER I. Introduces the hero, Robert Warburton, a well to do West Point graduation duty in Arizona. After beln? wounded by an Indian resigns hia commission in the army and leaves for Kuropoan tour. CHAPTJift II. Introduces the heroine, Miss LJetty Annesley, daughter of a retired array ortlcer living iWar Washington. A beautiful, representative young American girl, whom Warburton has seen in Tarls. Is ismitten. and follows to New York. Seeks introduction on board jteamer but falls. CHAPTER III. Upo"n. reaching New York Warburton locates hotel in which the Annt'hlevB are guests and dines there In order to see Miss Annesley once more. Chagrined to see young Russian count whom he met on steamer bring Miss Annesley In to dinner. Next morning the Count and the Annesleys had disappeared. CHAPTER it. A FAMILY REUNION. Warburton had not been In the city Of Washington within 12 years. In the past his furloughs had been spent U his brother's country home In Larcumount, out of New York City. Thus when he left the train at the Baltimore and Potomac station he hadn't the slightest Idea where -Scott Circle was. He looked around In vain for the smart cab of the northern metropolis. All he saw was a line of omnibuses and a few ramshackle vehicles that 20 years back micht very well have passed for victorias. A grizzled old negro, in command of one f these sra-going conveyances, caught Warburton's eye and hailed Jovially. Our hero (as the good novelist of the past generation would say, taking their readers into their Innermost ronfllences) handed him his traveling case ind stepped In. "Whar to, sub?" asked the com moSore. ' "Scott Circle, and don't pommel that old nag's bones In trying to get there. I've plenty of time." "I reckon I won't pommel him. Bun. Skt! skt!" and the vehicle rattled out into broad Pennsylvania Avenue, but for the confusion and absurdity of its architectural structures, the handsomest thoroughfare In America. Warburton leaned back luxuriously against the faded horse-hair cushion and lighted a cigar, which he smoked with relish, having had a hearty breakfast on the train. It was not quite nine to'clock and a warm October haze lay on the peaceful city. Here were people who did not rush madly about in the pursuit of riches. Rather they proceeded more soberly, even leisurely, as If they knew what the clay's work was and the rewards attendant, and were content. Trucks, those formidable engines of. commerce, neither rumbletl nor thundered along the pavements, nor congested the thoroughfares. Nobody hurried Into the shops, nobody hurried out. There were no scampering, yelling newsboys'. Instead, along the curbs of the market jsat barelegged negro boys, some of them selling papers to those who wanted them and some sandwiched in ibetween baskets of popcorn and peanuts. 'There was a marked scarcity of the progressive. Intrusive white boy. 'Old negro mammies passed to and fro with the day's provisions. Glancing over his shoulder, Warbnrton saw the capltol shining in the sun Tike some enchanted palace out of Wonderland. He touched his cap, conscious of a thrill in his spine. And there, far to his left, loomed the Washington monument, glittering like a shaft of opals. Some orderlies dashed by'on handsome bays. How splendid they looked, with their blue trousers and broad yellow stripes! This was before the army adopted the comfortble but shabby brown duck. How he longed to throw a log over the back of a good horse and gallop away Into the great green countrybeyoml. The only things which moved with the hustling spirit of the times were the cables, and doubtless these would have gone slower but for the invisible and immutable power which propelled them. But now he was passing the huge and dingy magic treasury building, round past the executive mansion with its spotless white stone, its stately portico and Its plush lawns. "Go slow, nncie; I haven't seen this place since 1 was a boy." "Yes. suh. How tY y Hfcc It? Wonldn' y like.t' live in dat house, stub?" the commodore grinned. "One can't stav there long enough o please me, uncle It taVes four years to get used to it; ami then, when you b?uin to like it. o;i have to pack up and clear out." v "It's de way dey goes.' suh. We go crown' Lafayette, er do yuh want f see tie wa, depa'tmcnl. suh?" "Never mind now, uncle; Scoit Circle." ."Scott Circle she am. suh " The old ark wheeled round Lafayette Square and finally rolled into Sixteenth street. When at length it came to a stand in front of a beautiful house, Warburton evinced his surprise openly. He knew that his brother's wife had plenty of money, but not such a plenty as to afford a house like this. "Are you sure, uncle, that this is the place?" "Here's dc Circle, suh, an' yuh can see de oumbuh fo' y'se'f. suh." "How much do I owe you?" "I reckon 'bout fifty cents 'II make !tshV . . .

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Bobbs - McirllJ Company. Warburton gave him a dollar, marveling at the difference between the cab hire here and in New York. He grasped his case and leaped up the steps two at a bound, and pressed the bell. A prim little maid answered the call. "Does Mr. John Warburton live here?" he asked breathlessly. ' "Yes, sir." "Fortunate John!" he cried, pushing past the maid and standing in the hall of his brother's household, unheralded and unannounced. "Jack!" he bawled. The maid eyed the handsome intruder, her face expressing the utmost astonishment. She touched his arm. "Sir!" she began. "It's all right, my dear," he interrupted. She stepped back, wondering whether to scream or run. "HI. Jack! I say, you old henpecked, where are you?" The dining-room door slid back and a .tall, studious-looking gentleman, rather plain than otherwise, stood on the threshold. "Jane, what is all this Why, Bob. you scalawag!" and In a moment they were pumping hands at & great rate. The little maid leaned weakly against the balustrade. "Kit. Kit! I say. Kit, come and see who's here!" cried John. An extraordinarily pretty little woman,1 whose pallor any woman would have understood, but no man on earth, and who was dressed in a charming pink negligee morninggown, hurried into the hall. "Why, It's Bob!" She flung her arms around the prodigal and kissed him heartily, held him away at arm's length, and hugged and kissed him again. I'm not-sure that Mr. Robert didn't like it. Suddenly there was' a swish of starched skirts on the stairs, and the most beautiful woman in all the world (and I am always ready to back this statement with abundant proofs!) rushed down and literally threw herself Into Mr. Robert's eager, outstretched arms. "Nancy!" ."Bob! Bob! you wicked boy! You almost break our hearts. Not a line in two months! How could yoti! You might have been dead and we not know it!" and she cried on his shoulder. "Come now, Nancy; nonsense! You'll start the color running out ol this tie of mine!" But for all his jest ins tone. Mr. Robert fell an embarrass ing lump wriggle up and down in his throat. "Had yo&r breakfast?" asked the humane and practical brother. "Yep. But I shouldn't mind another cup of coffee." And thereupon he was hustled Into the dining-room and pushed into the best chair. How the dear women fussed over him, pressed this upon him and that; . fondled and caressed him, Just as if the beggar was worth all this trouble and love and affection. "Hang It, girls, it's worth being an outlaw to come to this." he cried. He reached over and patted Nancy on the cheek, and pressed the young wife's hand, and smiled pleasantly - at, his brother. "Jack, you lucky pup, yon!" '.Two years," murmured Nancy; "and we haven't had a glimpse of you In two long years." "Only in photograph," said the homeless one, putting three lumps of sugar in his coffee because he was so happy he didn't know what he was about. "And yon have turned 2S." said Kit, counting on her fingers. "That makes you 21. Nan," Jack laughed. "And much I care!" replied Nancy; shaking her head defiantly. I've a sneaking idea that she was thinking of me when she made this'declaration. For if I didn't care, why should she? "A handsome, stunning girl like you. Nan," ought to be getting married." observed the prodigal. "What's the matter with all these dukes and lords and princes, anyhow?" An embarrassed smile ran around the table, but Mr. Robert missed it by several inches. Jack threw a cienr across the table. "Now." said he. "where the doner did you come from?" "Indirectly from Arizona, which is a synonym once removed for war " Jack looked at his phi to and laughed; but Mrs. Jack wanted to know what Boh meant by that. "It's n word used Instead of war, as applied by the late Gen. Sherman." Jack replied. "And I am surprised that a brother-tn-law of yours should so far forget himself as to hint it even." "By the way. Jack," said my hero, lighting the cigar and blowing the first puff toward the ceiling, his face admlrahly set with nonchalance, "do you know of a family named Anncsles Col. Annesley?" I knew it. would take only a certain length of time for this question to arrive, "Col. Annesley? Why, yes. lie was In the war department until a year ago. A fine strategist; knows every in and. out of the coast dafanset, and is something of A1X Investor; lots - of

too. Tali. lnn.I.-r.r.ie ftd fellow-?" t . ; . ''That's the rvi. A .i : :VvrS?T'f" "'No.'" a '.regular. Crippled his gun- i fingers In some petty Indian; war, and was transferred to the department. He ws a widower, if my recollection of him is correct; and had a lovely ; daughter." "Ah!" There was great satisfaction evident in this syllable. t "Do you know where the colonel is now?" -."Not 'the" faintest jdea. He lived somewhere in Virginia. But he's been on the travel for several years.'" Robert stirred his coffee and took a spoonful and dropped the spoon. "Pah! I must have put. In a quart of sugar. Can you spare me another cup?" Annesley? Nancy's face brightened. "Col. Annesley? Why, I know Betty Annesley. She was my roommate at Smith one year. She was in my graduating clas.f I'll show you her picture later. She was the dearest girl! How she loved horses! But why are you so interested?" slyly. "I ran across them coming home." "Then you met Betty! Isn't she just the loveliest girl you ever saw?" "I'm for her, one and Indivisible. But hang my luck, I never came within a mile of an introduction." "What? You, and on shipboard where she couldn't get away?" John threw up his hands as a sign that this Information had overcome him. "Even the captain shied when I approached him," said Robert, gloomily. ; "I begin to see," said the brother "See what?" "Have a match; your cigar has gone out." Robert relighted this cigar and puffed like a threshing-machine engine. John leaned toward Nancy. "Shall I tell him, Nan?" Nancy blushed. "I suppose he'll have to know sooner or later." "Know what?" asked the third person singular. "Your charming sister Is about to bring you a brother-in-law." "What?" You could have heard this across the street. "Yes, Bobby dear. And don't look so hurt. You don't want me to become an old maid, do you?'. "When did It happen?" helplessly. How the thought of his sister's marrying horrifies a brother! I believe I can tell you why. Every . brother knows that no man Is good enough for a good woman. "When did It happen?" Mr. Robert repeated, with a look at his brother, which said that he should be held responsible. "Last week." Robert took in a long breath, as one does who expects to receive a blow of some' sort which can not be warded off,' and asked: "Who is it?" Nancy married? What was the world coming to. anyhow? f "Charlie Henderson." timidly. Then Robert, who had been expect Ing nothing less than an English duke, let loose the flaming Ions of his righteous wrath. "Chuck Henderson? that duffer?' (Oh, Mr. Robert, Mr. Robert; and after all I've done for you!) "He's not a duffer!" remonstrated Nancy, with a flare in her mild eyes. (How I wish I might have seen her as she defended me!) "He's the dearest fellow in the world, and I love him with all my heart!" (How do you like that, Mr. Robert? Bravo, Nancy! I may be a duffer, true enough, but I rather object to its being called out from the housetops.) And Nancy added: "I want you to understand distinctly, Robert, that in my selection of a husband you are not to be consulted." This was moving him around some. "Hold on. Nan! Drat it, don't look like that! I meant nothing, dearie; only I'm a heap surprised. Chuck is a good fellow, I'll admit; but I've been dreaming of your marrying a prince or an ambassador and Henderson comes like a jolt..- Besides. Chuck will never be anything but a first-rate politician. You'll have to get used to cheap cigars and four-ply whisky. When is it going to happen?" "In June. I have always loved him, Boh. And he wants you to he his best man." Robert appeared a bit mollified at this knowledge. "But what shall I do after that?" he wailed. "You're the only person I can 'order about, and now you're going the other side of the range." "Bob, why don't you get married yourself?" asked Mrs. Warburton. With your looks you won't have to go far nor begging for a wife." "There's the rub, sister mine hv law and the admirable foresight of my only brother. What am T good for but ordering Tookie3 about? I've no business head. And it's my belief that an army man ought never to wed." "Marry, my boy. and I'll see what, can be done for you in the diploma! way. The now administration will doubtless be republican, and rav Influence will have pome weight." and John smiled affectionately across the j table. He loved this jrnv la.l opposite, ; loved him for. his own self and because he could always see the mother's eyes and lips. "You have reached the age of "discretion. Von are now traveled and a fairly good linguist. You've an income of St.r.OO and to this I may be able to add a berth worth $2,000 or $3,000. Find the girl, lad; find the girl." ' ."Honestly. I'll think it over. Jack." " Bob. there's a ball at the British embassy to-night. You must go with us." ' ' - -" "Impossible!" said Robert. "Remember my leg." t "That will not matter,"- said Mrs. "What, not dance? I shou.14 die of

money

Intermittent fever. And if I did danc. my tc rr.i'-iht give out." Vr.M rr.n ride a horse all rlrht," said John, in the way of argument. "I can do that easily with my knees. But I can't dance with my knees. No, I shall stay at home. I couldn't stand it.1o-.see all those famous beauties, and with me posing as a wall-flower."

"But what will you do here all alone?" " "Play with the kid, smoke and read; make mj'self at home. You still smoke that Louisiana, Jack?" "Yes." dubiously. "So. Now, don't let me interfere with your plans for to-night. I haven't been in a home in so long that it will take more than one night for the novelty to wear off. Besides, that nurse of yours. Kit. is good to look at." a bit of the rogue in his eye. . "Bob!" from both women. "I promise not to look at her; I promise." . .. , "Well. I must be ofT," said John. "I'm late now. I've a dozen plans for coast defenses to ?o over with an inventor of a new carriage-gun. Will you go with me, while I put you up at the Metropolitan, or will you take a shopping trip with the women?" "I'll take the shopping trip. It will be a sensation. Have you any horses?" "Six.""Six! You are a lucky pup: a handsome wife, a bouncing boy, and six horses! Where's the stable?" "In the rear. I keep only two stablemen; one to take care of the horses and one to act as groom. I'm off. I've a cracking good hunter, if you'd like a leg up. We'll all ride to Chevy Chase Sunday. By-by, till lunch." Mr. Robert immediately betook himself to the stables, where he soon became intimately acquainted with the English groom. He fussed about the harness-room, deplored the lack of a McClelland saddle, admired the English-curbs, and complimented the men on the cleanliness of the stables. The men exchanged sly smiles at first, but these smiles soon turned into grins of admiration. Here was a man who knew a horse from his oiled hoofs to his curried forelock. "This fellow ought to jump well," he said, patting the sleek neck of the hunter. "He does that, sir," replied the groom. "He has never taken'less than a red ribbon. Only one horse beat him at the bars last winter in New York. It was Mr. Warburton's fault that he did not take first prize. He rode him in the park the day before the contest and the animal caught cold, sir." And then It was that this hero of mine conceived his great (not to say young and salad) idea. It appealed to him as being so rich- an idea that the stables rang with his laughter. "Sir?" politely inquired the groom. "I'm not laughing at your statement, my good fellow; rather at an idea which just occurred to me. In fact, I believe that I shall need your assistance." "In what way, sir?" "Come with me." The groom followed Warburton into the yard. A conversation began in low tones. "It's as much as my place Is worth, sir. I couldn't SfcTTt, Bir.v declared the groom, shaking US) bead negatively. "I'll guarantee that you will not suffer in the least. My brother will not discharge you. H likes a joke as well as I Wo. You are not handed $20 every day for a simple thing like this." "Very well, sir. I dare say that no harm will come of it But I am an inch or two shorter than you." "We'll tide that over." "I am at your orders, sir." But the groom returned to the stables, shaking his head dubiously. He was not thoroughly convinced. During the morning ride down-town the two women were vastly puzzled over their brother's frequent and inexplicable peals of laughter. "For mercy's sake, what do you see that is so funny!" asked Nancy: 'Tm thinking, my dears; only thinking." "Tell U!, that we may laugh too. Til wager that you are up to some mischief. Master Robert." Please tell," Nancy urged. "IJater, later; at present you would fail to appreciate the joke. In fact,, you might make It miscarry; and that wouldn't do at all. Have a little patience. It's a good joke, and you'll he in it when the time comes." And nothing more could they worm out of him. (To be Continued.) Bent Her Double. "I knew no one, for four weeks, when I was sick with typhoid and kidney trouble,' writes Mrs. Annie Hunter ofPittsburc, Pa., "and when I pot better, although I had one of the best doctors I coaldL get, I was bent double and li.nl to rest mv hands on my knees when I walked. From this teriMc abaction I was rescued by Electric Bitters, which restored my health and strength, and now I can walk as straight as ever. Thev are simply wonderful.' Guaranteed to cure stomach, liver and kidney disorders; at A. G. Luken & Co.'s drug store; price 50c. X. B. Truth, St. Paxil, June 31, 'OS. I've lived so lone, I remember well when the Mississippi was a brook. My god health and long life came by taking Hollister's Rocky Mounty Tea,. 35 cents." Tor sale by A. G. Luken and Ce.

THESE BONES SHALL RISE AGAIN

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The winter brings Snow and 'Cold

ALWAYS HAS

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Nothing better can be had ' for ground than the FERTILIZER Made by Mr. Mertz It Has A (National Reputation SpriDg a ill soon be here, and with it planting time. You will need fertilizer See Mertz.

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Bone fertilizer makeshens lay Put up in ioo lb bags. ; THESE 1GNES SHALL RISE AGAIN

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