Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 21, Number 3, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 12 July 1890 — Page 2

chapter xkvin.

We followed the dog-cart at a safe distance, which was not very far off in the fog, until it stopped at" the stable gate. Then wo slipped post quite unseen on the other side of tite road, while Mr. Ili'.yiicr was busy opening the gatej and at the front gate Laurence left me, and I groped roy way down the drive as fast as I could, and got in some minutes before Mr. Kayner and his companion. And as I could rely upon the silence of Mre. Rayner and the cook, I said nothing to anybody else about my excursion.

After dinner Mr. Rayner asked the

It was not that I did not care for that opera, but a certain hardness of touch, which struck moat once as being unlike tho rich full tones Mr. Ray-ner-generally drew irom his loved viottiaalcd ayner struck by tho curious change of stylo in her husband's playing. It was as brilliant as ever tho execution of one of tho difficult passages in tho arrangement o! "Martha" was clever, rnoro perfect than usual but the soul was not there, and no brilliancy of shake or cadenza could repay ono for tho loss. It did not sound like tho playing of tho samo man, and my interest in tho musio gradually died'away and, after watching Mrs. Rayner curiously for some mltfutes and noting the intentness with vwhich. sitting,upright in her chair, ahe was listening!© tho violin, and at the same time keeping her eves fixed upon tho slumbering Mayuarrf, 1 gave mvself up to my own agitated thoughts. What vrss going on at "tho hall now? Would tho constables catch Tom Parkcs, and would Gordon prove to bo mixed np in it? I hoped they would capture the unknown James WKH|fall,

vvho

WARDEN.

FLORENCE

detective if he liked violin music, to was ten minutes after nine and Nap which he replied that he did not care for it much, it being rather a scratchy sort of an instrument. "Give me the concertina," said Mr. Maynard, genially. "Then I won't ask you to listen to my music," said Mr. Rayner. "I'm only a fiddler. However, I think I must console myself for this disgusting weather by a—a tune to-night out I'll be merciful and shut the doors. My "Wife ami Miss Christie will entertain you, and—let me see, it is half past seven—at nine o'clock I'll come and inflict myself upon you

again,

and

wa

jan nave a game of backgammon. Uo pou care for backgammon?" Mr. Maynard having declared that lie did, Mr. Ravner asked mo if I could 50 into the drawing-room and hunt Dot "La Traviata" and Moore's "Irish Melodies." I went obediently, and was on my knees turning over the great piles of music that stooa there when he same in softly and shut the

fore I knew Ho was near I feftTSomething passed round my neck and heard the snap of clasp behind. I put up my hand and sprung to my feet, itartled. Mr. Kayner, bright and smiling, drew my hand through his arm and led mo to a looking-glass. Flashing and sparkling round my throat was a necklace of red jowefs that dazzled mo by their beauty. "Don't I koep my promise? I said I would bring you some garnets. Do they please vou?"

But they did not at all, after what Laurence had said the magnificent present filled me with terror. I put up both hands, tore them oft', and flung them down with trembling lingers, and then stood, panting with fright at my own dnring, wondering what ho would do to me.

Ho did nothing. After looking at mo for what seemed to mo a long time, without the least sign of displeasure he nicked up the ncck.aco, slipped it into ais pockot and said, quito gently: "That is very pretty spirit, but is rather ungrateful isn't it? Nover mind you shall make amends for it by and by. Now will you go and help Mrs. Rayner to entertain our lynx-eyed friend You shall come back and fetch moat nine o'clock. Run along now, my dear."

Tie gave me a gontlo hfctlo tap of dismissal, and. rather crestfallen, I returned to tho dining-room. But neither my entertaining powers nor Mrs. Kaynors wcro called into play for Mr. Maynard was already rather drowsy, and at'tor sleepily muttering "Bravo— very good!" as the last sounds of Schubert's "Adieu" died away on Mr. Radnor's violin, I heard tho regular broathing of a sleeoing person from tho armchair where ho was sitting. But I was paying little attention to him. Tho door being shut I had gone closer and closer to.it as if drawn by an irresistible fascination, as Mr. Rayner seemed to play tho "Adieu" as ho had never played it before. Every note seemed to vibrato in my own heart. When tho last notes of tho "Adieu" had died away, I listened for the next melody eagerly, end was struck with a chilly sense of disappointment as an air from "Rjgoletto" followed.

must

bo a desperate criminal from the eagerness with which the police had snatched at tho possibility of capturing him. Poor Tom Parkcs was probably only a tool in tho hands of this monster. And then I fell to thinking sadly of the deception Mr. Rayner had practiced oa me, and Mrs. Rayner*® warning came to my mind. But it stIU seemed as thouga there must be some explanation which would exonerate Mr. Rayner from intentional wrong doing. One does not quickly lose confidence in a friend who had been so kind as he had been to mew But when 1 realised the nature and strength of the evidence against him my tears fell fast Suddenly the silence in the house was broken bv a howl from Kap, Mr. Radnor's retriever, who was chained to

Ms

kennel outside. Mm Rayner started. Still Maynard slnraberetC looked, at the clock It was wveo minutes to nine. Another and another howl from the dor, followed by Kuid an Wo two* teamen other. tlsaat a word. I would have spoken: b?jt Mrs. Bayner glanced at the sleeping detective and 1 her finger

to her lips, Still the sounds bf the violin came to us from the drawing room without interruption.

When nine o'clock struck, I jumped op much relieved, opened and shut the door softly, crossed the hall, and turned the handle of the drawing room door. It was locked. I tapped, out there was no answer. He was playing a brilliant concerto, and I supposed ue had not heard me. I knocked again and said, softly: "Mr. Rayner, it is nine o'clock, you told me to come at nine."

It was no use to stand there knocking, so I went into the school-room. It

was barking more furiously than ever. I was so much struck by the noise the dog was making that I unfastened the shutters and opened the window about an inch to listen.

The fog was blinding. I could not see a yara in front of me, I heard nothing but Nap's barking for a minute then I saw the dim glow of a lantern and heard a muffled whisper through the fog: "WKo's that?" "It is I—Violet Christie, is that you, Laurence?"

4

di

Be-

'Hush! All right!" he whispered back. "Let me in." Ho got in softly through the window, and, rather to my alarm a middle-aged man in plain clothes, also with a lantern, followed him. Laurence himself looked more alarming than any thief. His face Was ghastly white with fatigue and dirtier than ever through long watching in fog. Ho listened for a nmute to too violm, then said quickly, mt still in a low voice: "Who is that playing?'* "Mr. Rayndr, 1 answered.

He turned sharply to tho other man, yho nodded as if to say it was just epe

How long has he been playing?" isked Laurence. "Ever since half past seven."

He turned to the other man again. "A trick," said the latter simply. "Who is with him?" asked Laurence igain. "Nobody," said I, surprised and rather frightened by these questions. •Mrs. Rayner and Mr. Maynard are in he dining-room." "MaynardP" "Yes. He is asleep."

The middle-aged man gave a snort disgust "Hasn't Mr. Rayner been In tho din-ing-room at all, dear, this evening?" asked Laurence, gently. "Not since dinner. I left him playing in tho drawing-room at fivc-and-twenty minutes to eight, and he told me to call him at nine. "But it is nine." "Yes. When I wont to the drawingroom door just now I found it locked, and I knocked bijt ho did not answer." "Will you go and knock again, and i#ay yo*t»wish to spoa)c to him particularly, dear?" said Laurence, gravely.

I hesitated, trembling from head to foot. "WhyP" asked I, in a low voice. "Because wo want to speak to him particularly," said the other man, gruffly.

But I looked at his hard faco and panted out: "You are a policeman, I knowl What do yon want with Mr. Rayner?" "Never you mind, my dear we won't hurt you. Just go ana say you want to speak to him. "No, I won't!" I cried—not loudly, for my voice soemed to grow suddenly weak. "Whatever you think ho has done, or whatever he lias done, I will never help to harm Mr. Rayner!"

Tho man shrugged his shoulders, walkod to tho window, whistled softly. Laurenco put me in a chair, whispering: "That's a bravo girl!"—but with such an anxious, stern iace. And tho other man camo back into the room, followed by a policeman with his staff ready in his hand. "Wo must break open tho door," said tho eider man.

I started from my scat I wanted to rush to tho drawing-room door and warn Mr. Rayner but Laurence prevented mo, whispering, gravely: "My darling, you must loavo it to as now."

Every word, overy movemont had been so quiet that the musio still went on while they opened tho school-room door and crossed tho halL I stood watching them breathlessly.

Tho three men, Laurence, the most stalwart, foremost placed themselves against the drawing-room door, and by one mighty push burst it open. I ran forward to tne doorway just in time to sec Gordon, Mr. Carruther's servant, fling down tho violin and rush to the opposite window, the shutters of which were unfastened. But I heard the crash of glass and at the same instant two policemen dashed through the shattered French window, seized and handcuffed him. Then he stood between them, white and immovable, without a struggle.

£,lt's

no go. We know you're one

of the gang," said the middle-aged man. fame's np. We've got your leader." ••What leader?" asked Gordon, calmly. "James Woodfail.n "It's a lie!" snapped out the immov* able Gordon. "James Woodfail would' n't let himself be nabbed by such a1 yon." "Why not? We've got yon."

The man did not answer. "All his fault for getting soft on a girt. Wish 1 had her here !n Gordon muttered, presently.

Ho caught sight of me at the doorway and shot at me a sort of steely that made me shudder. Bat I did

tit

nd furious baiting* Psck«t and, withal raising it porat sat staring at each It at Laurence. With a I

touch tay arm—I uid not kno^r vviifesat first—bu* Laurenc^ sprung forward with almost a yell. Isat he was en cumbered with my form and, before he could pat me down, Gordon had wrenched himself

away

tors, and, snarling: "I meant to have done forherl"

dashed

dow into the fog

At that moment the elderly man left the window. "It's of no good, sir, I'm afraid. The one rogue's got off. as clear as the other. Can you tell me Where Maynard is, missP'

I got up from the sofa and led the way into the dining-room. 'Mrs. Rayner was still sitting, pale and upright with staring gray eyes, Maynard still sleeping. The other detective shook him, and glanced at the wine. "Drugged!" said he, shortly.

With a few vigorous shakes no succeeded in rousing Maynard, and, when he began to look round him in a dazed way, the other said, sharply: "Pretty fellow yon aro to he hoodwinked like that and drink and sleep under the very roof of one of neatest scoundrels unhung!" "Who?" said tho, other, startled. "Mr. RavnerP" JgJ!. "Mr. Rayner! Yes, *Mr. RayM!** to simple folks like yon but to me and overy thief-taker that knows his business—the missing forger, James Woodfall!**

CHAWEB XXlt.

As the detective pronounced the name of "James Woodfail," I gave a cry that startled them all. Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to mc. My wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rsyrner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years. 1 sunk down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word. And the three men quietly left the room. "Oh, Mrs. Rayner," I whispered, "it is terrible for yon!" "Not so terrible to me," she whispered back, wearily "I have known it for years—almost ever since I married But don't talk about it any more, said she, glancing furtively round the room. "Ho may be in the house at this moment and they might search and watch for months, but they would never catch him. But he will make ns suffer—me—ah, and yon, too, now. *You were so unsuspicious, yet it mnst have been yon who set Lanrence Reade upon the track." ••Not of Mr. Rayner. Oh, I nevei thought of such a thing!" 1 whispered, ring. 1 told her all about my so*

tough

shudde And pidons hall, it

look not

connect myself with his words. I was too bewildered to thick or to understand clearly what was going on until I saw him, handcuffea as he was, qnietiy draw a

revolver from his

r«Aht*l forward into the flnng myself ir f-vat of Lam I heard* a rep and felt

and

®tr'

of TomParkes, my visit to the my letter to said in it •'Mr. Reade has

mrmsE haute satubday evening mail &

from his cap­

through the win­

and

darkness.

I knew I had been shot in the arm, for the blood trickled through my sleeve. Laurence did not join in the chase after Gordon, but tore off tho body of my frock and bandaged my arm himself. He wished to go to Beaconsburgh for a doctor, but I insisted that the injury was trifling, and his bandaging would serve until the doctor came in the rooming to see Sarah. "Now tell me about the robbery. Did you find the policemen in the park?" Then suddenly I sprung np from the sofa. "Where is Mr. Rayner? Why was Gordon here instead of him? Oh, Laurence, my head seems to be going round! I don understand it at all. I am getting quite bewildered. Why was it?" "Let me tell yon about the robbery," said he, very gravely and gently. I found the policemen in the park and stationed them in the shrnlv oery, and I stood myself, with that man over there, ana one other, as close as possible to the back ontrance of the house and there wo waited until nearly half-past seven, when a man came up through the fog and tapped at tho door. One of tho maids opened it by appointment as it turned out, for she was expecting him, though I don't believe the poor girl suspected what his real business was for it was TomParkes. And, when thev went inside, Tom went last, and left the door ajar. A few minutes later another man came up and slipped in 30 quietly, so quickly, that we could hardly have sworn in the dense fog to his going in at all. Then presently 10m anu tne girl came out lie saia ood-bye to her, walked a few steps Iway, until she had shut the door, hen returned and crept alongside the eall of the house nntu he was, under he strong-room window. There were our of our men stationed very close 0 that, and their ohief, who was with ae, crept along easily under cover of he fog, which was as thick as ever, to ointhem. I followed with the other nen. In a few minutes we heard a oft whistle from the strong-room winlow, as we guessed. Tom answered another, and we saw a third man tome up and join Tom. I was so slose that I saw a bundle let cautiousdown from the window by a cord., t'om handed it to the third man,: yhom we allowed to walk off with it —followed, however, by two police-' nen—in order to watch the further, oroceedings of the other two thieves., Another bundle was let down, which fom carried off himself and then we, watched anxiously for the next movement of the man in the house. The 3trong-room window is about twenty feet from the ground but the man jumped down and landed on his feet in an insUnt five of us were upon him, but, though I think each of us in turn thought we had caught him, he eluded as all and got clear away, and in the Fog escaped us. But theT man at the window there, who has beta so nrany-" years on the force, recognized him and identified him as James Woodfail, and 1 recognized him, too." "You, Laurence! I didn't know you had ever seen him!" I oried.

Laurence and all

shown energy and

inersry he will

courage," said she. "But he will snf-

fer for it too. Yon don't Know that man yet He wifl never let Laurence marry yon. Evtn if ho were In prison, he would manage to prevent it"

Lanrcne* toea came l» and. toll ns they had failed to capture Gordon ox any of tho others. He wonld retcra and with the constables and sleep at the hing hall bnt Maynard and two

^ould remain at the Alders to keep toes r.pe by the back v.-ay? watch. Then he said, very gently, lo know tne house was watched? Mrs. Rayner:

I "Will you forgive me for the bib# I hive innocently brought on vou?" f"Itis no blow to me," said she, raising her sad eyes, to his face. "That rian—my husband—would have got rid of me long ago, but that he hated violence and dreaded it Every thing siort of that he has tried," she whispered "and it is not my fanlt that my wretched life has lingered in ?~ite of him." -Laurence ground his teeth. ••The wretch!" he said, in a low voieei "But he shall pay for it now. X»U ransack he whole world till we have unearthed him." '••You will never do that," said she, calmly. He dares too much for that He is no coward to lie in a corner," she went on, with a sort of perverse prido in tho man for whom every spark of lovo was long sinco dead. He will brave yon to your faces and escape yon alL But you have done your best Yiou area brave man, Mr. Reade. You would help mo if you could. Goodnight"

She shook hands with him and left the room. He turned to me quickly. "You must both leave this place," said he. "The long-continued suffering has almost turned that poor lady's brain. But she is safe from that vile wretch now and you, too, oh, my darling, thank Heaven!"

There was a tap at the door, and the voice of the elder detective said: "Are yon ready, sir?" •All right" said Laurence and then added, in a voice for me only: "I'm ijot ready a bit I should like to stay arid comfort you forever. Take care of your poor little wounded arm. Good-night good-night mv darling!"

I fwoke next morning feeling ill and arose with a hot aching head and with ny arm paining me not a Jittie. Xbi» loctor called during the forenoon and it once ordered me off to bed.

Although my faith in Mr. Rayner was mtirely gone my affection for him was gradually coming baek. The wicked hings he had done I only heard about ind how could the impression so given mtweigh the stronger one of his contant kindness to meP And to think I iad drawn down justice upon him— 'or it was justice I sorrowfully admitted—caused xae bitter remorse.

Laurence told me, in one of the little lotes he kept leaving for me all day ong, that it was expected that Mr Rayler would brave

every

I promised, and that night when Jane came up to my room for the last time, I made her leave tho doors open when sho went down.

The sense of being on tho alert made me wakeful, and two or three times during the night I rose and stood at the top of my staircase, listening. Arid the third time I did hear something. I heard a faint crv, and presently the soft shutting of a door, then steps in the corridor below, and whispering. I crept half way down the stairs the whispering continued. 1 got to the bottom, and recognised Sarah's voice muttering to herself. I would rather have again faced Gordon with his revolver than this madwoman but I was so anxious about Mrs. Rayner that after a few minutes spent in prayer I ventured out from the doorway, and found Sarah crouched in a corner mattering to herself- The wretched woman started up on seeing me, but instead of attempting to' approach me, she hung back, moving her still bandaged head and her ona tree hand restlessly, and saying: ««__lVe done it—I've done it Hell come back now. Tve done what he wanted. He can marry the Christie girl now."

With a terrible fear at my heart I dashed along the corridor to Mrs. Rayner's room and went straight in. The atmosphere of the room was sickly and stifling. went np to the bed Mrs.

Rayner was lying with a doth over her face! I snatched It off. It was steeped in something which I afterward learned was chloroform. Thank Heaven, she was alive!—for she was breathing heavily. rushed to the two windows and flung them wide open, pulled the bell-rope until the house echoed, and moved her arms np and down. The cook and Jan* camo in, terribly alarmed, in their night-gowns. I

It

A.

thing and return

the Alders sooner or later, if only !or a flying visit, and that in conse|uence, the search of the house which must take place was to bo postponed, ind the place watched, with as muoh jaution as possible, from the outside. 3y letting the life at the Alders go on is usual, 16 was hoped that he might be lured back under the impression that he was not expected to return there.. Laurcnce had telegraphed to my mother to toll her that I was quito safe and the journey put off, in order to allay her fears about me. Mrs. Rayner brought one of these notes up to me late In the afternoon. In addition to her usual pallor, she had groat black rings under her eyes and, in answer to

Jnquiries, sho confessed that she itrk 5T8j3b ft.11 night •.'I have something to tell you," she whispered in my ear. "Mrs. Saundora drinks, and is not a proper guardian for Sarah. She is afraid 01 Mr. Rayner but last night, knowing he was not in the house, she was in nearly as excited a state as her patient, and was very rough with her. Sarah's room is nearly opposite mine, and I opened my door and heard what sounded like a struggle. Maynard, who was in the room next to the dressing-room, either did not hear or did not like to interfere. But now he is gone and I ought to be used to terrors, but I am afraid and she shuddered. "Surely there is nothing*to be afraid of if youlockyour door, Mrs. Raynefc?" "I havo no key. Will you leave your door open and the door at the foot of tho turret staircase? I know you must not leave your bed, but it will be s6me comfort to know you are within hearing."

4

left

them with Mrs. Rayner, while I ran down-stairs for some brandy. There was some on the side-board in the dining-room, I knew and I was returning with it when I caught sight of a man in the gloom ai the aid of the passage leading from tfcehaH. He had come from Mr. Rayner's study and d**appeared in a moment in the darkness.

was impossible to recog-

slse him, but I conM not doubt that it was M* B&jncx. Where was he going? Was he going

Dul he I made

a step forward, anxious to warn him, but he had already disappeared, and 1 dared not follow him.

I crept up-stairs, too much agitated to be of any use any longer but happily Mrs. Rayner was already recovering, and the brandy restored her entirely to consciousness. With cook's assistance Sarah was persuaded to return to her room, where Mrs. Saunders was found in a drunken stupor. As cook refused to watch there during the remainder of the night the best we Could do was to lock the door. Happily no harm came of this, and afterward Mrs. Saunders managed to keep pretty sober. This woman having been sent by Mr. Rayner, assumed about tho same authority that Sarah had exercised in tho house, and suggested that Mrs. Rayner remove to her old room in the left wing. The poor lady came herself to my room to tell me of this. "Why do you go back if you don't wish to do so, Mrs. Rayner?" I asked. "I expect it is by Mr. Rayuer's orders," sno whispered.

And, my strong suspicion that he was in the house acang like a spell upon me, I said no more.

But I was curious to know what was the mystery that hung about that bedroom in the left wing which no one was allowed to enter but Mr. Rayner and Sarah and I resolved that as soon as I could I would try to indued Mrs. Ravner to let me go in there.

As I lay thinking of the strange and horrible event? which had occurred I could not believe that Mr. Rayner was all bad. How could a man who was so kind have no redeeming qualities? And 1, who had never received any thing but kindness at his hands, had brought this calamity and pursuit upon him.

possihlo means ot communicating vith him occurred to me. In spite of he doctor'«v prohibition, I sprung out if bed, got my desk, and wrote a note isking nis forgiveness, and giving him full explanation of the way in which, all innocence, I had written tho letr er which had led to this pursuit of lim. I told him the house was being vatched, and was to be searched beore long, and begged that, when he iad got away, he would find some neans of letting me know he was in lafety.

4

'I do pray for you every night

ind morning. I can't forget all your sindness to me, whatever you nave lone, and I dVt wish to do so," I idded as a last thought in a P. S. And then I put on my dressing-gown, and, when I heard nobody about slipped down by the back staircase to his study, where I put the note, direot3d simply to "G. Rayner, Esq.," just inside the drawer of his writing-table and crept guiltily up-stairs again.

That day Sarah w\as removed to the county lunatic asylum and I never saw tho poor creature afterward. At four o'clock in the afternoon I insisted upon getting up and being dressed. I wanted to see Mrs. Rayner to learn if she had heard of Sarah's departure. I heard she had gone to her old room in the left wing, and, having taken the precaution to wrap a shawl round me before entering that long, cold passage. Ipasscd through the lieavy swing door, the very,sight of whioh 1 hated.

I was opposite to the store-room door when it was softly opened, and, without being able to make any resistance, I was drawn inside by a man's arm. I looked up, expecting to see Mr. Rayner, and was horror-sticken to find myself in the arms of Gordon, the man who had shot mo. "Don't tremble so," said he. "I meant to do for you before I left this house but this has saved you." And he showed me my letter to Mr. Rayner. .•• Do you kqow where he isP" I asked, eagerly. "No, ma'am," said he, in his respectful servant's manner "but I should say that he is on his way to America by now, where ho meant to have taken you." "Mo? AmericaP"

Fes, ma'am. Miss Haidee was to have been left at Liverpool street station,

and

brought back to the Alders."

"But I wouldn't have gone." I beg your pardon, ma'am, but 1 don't think your will would have't tood out against James's—Mr. Raynor's. And, If this letter had not shown you to be loyal to him, I would not have left you here alive. I may take this opportunity of apologizing for having once borrowed a trinket of yours while you frere staying at Denham Court But as it.was one which I myself had had tho pleasure of assisting Mr. Rayner to procure from Lord Dalston's, I thought »it wisest to pull off the little plate at the back, for fear of its being recognized by Mr. Carruthers, in whose service I was when I was first introduced to Lord Dalston's seat in Derby* shire." "My pendant!" I cried. "It—it was real then?" "Yes ma'am. I had to remonstrate then with Mr. Rayner for his rashness in giving it you but nothing ever went wrong with him—daring as he is—till you came across his path, ma'am- 1 have nothing to keep me here now, ma'am so I shall be off to-night and, if you care to hear how I get on, you will be able to do so by applying to my late master, Mr. Carruthers."

He led me courteously to the door, bowed me out and shut himself in again, while I went trembling wad be* wildercd, toward Mrs. Rayner's room.

I knocked at tho door. At first there was no answer. called her by name, and begged her to let me in. At last I heard her voice close to the other side of the door. "What do yon want Miss Christie?' "May I come in, Mrs. Rayner?. 1 have something to tell you." "1 can't let you in. Can you speak through the door?** -No, no I must see you. I have "something very important to say about Mr. Rayner," I whispered into the. key* hole. '•^7 "Is he here?" she faltered.

No he has gone to America,' 3 whispered. She gave a long, shuddering sigh, end |hen said:— "I—I will let you in."

She turned the key slowly, while 1 trembled with impatience outside the door.

When found myself inside the room which had been a mystery to me for so long, nothing struck mc at first bat a

sense of cold and darkness. There w^s only one window, which was barred on the inside the fog still hung about the place and the little light there had been all day was fading fast, for it was five o'clock. But as I steppod forward further into the room, I drew my "breath fast in horror. For I became aware of a smell of damp and decay 1 felt that the boards of the floor under the carpet were rotten and yielding to my feet and I saw that the paper was peeling off the wet and moldy walls, and that tho water was slowly trickling down them. "Oh, Mrs. Rayner," I cried, aghast "is this your room—where you sleep?" "I have slept in it for three years," said she. "If my husband had had his will, .it would havo been my tomb."

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HWFEVER

Sense of Tim Us

mid Smell.

TRY THE" CURE,.

A. particle is applied into each nostril and is agreeable, Price 60 cents at Druggists by mall,registered.Wots.

KlYBKOR.

56 Wfttron Ht,! JS0W sOVK

OKATKyI) 1^—i?iM KOKTINO.

Epps's Cocoa

ft Aft KA

"By a thorough knowledge ot the natural law* which govern the operation* of digea* Hon and nutrition, and by a careful applies* tlon of the floe properties of well-*efected Coeoo, Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast table* with a delicately flavored be vert ge which mar nave us many heavy doctors* bills. It Is by the judicious use of such artides of diet that a constitution may be graduttlly built up until strong enough to resist every tendency to disease. Hundred* of subtle maladies are floating around us ready to attack wherever there in a weak point. Ws may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping ourselves well fortified with pare blood and a nourished frame.'*—{Civil Service

properly Gazette.

Made simply with boiling water or milk Sold only in half pound tins by grocers, la* beled thus: JAMES KVPH CO-

Bomaetatlile Chemist*. London, Kng

MAL730R

JSTthe gertlemar's friend. ***jF Our IVrf^tion If' with every Dam not Main. MrU+arr. Core* •rrfcuji and tilrrt in 1 to 4 4mr*. A«k »*nl to any for ®1.«S. JIAI/VDOB

IJI!»«•(t Ohio. For naif At

O A E E A E I N

Prof. Loisette's

DEI! DRY

DISCOVERT AND TRAINIMQ METHOD uiyrs^' •m .-wmr t.y wtitftld-be

Attempt* trim

to

lilt*

1,

Avenue,y.V

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