The Syracuse Journal, Volume 22, Number 15, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 8 August 1929 — Page 7

| The Blade of Picardy | 'By Fred McLaughlin Copyright »y The Bobbe-Merrlll 00. • W. N. TJ. Serrlee

CHAPTER IX—Continued —ll—- — was no Indifferent swordsman, but he was plainly not a match for Madrella. He fought defensively only, for therein lay his safety. Had he possessed skill and strength commensurate with his ■craftiness a different story of that '•duel might be written, for Madrella fought with a reckless sort of daring jthat. I think, he would never have assumed with me. At last Lcstrange, seeing an openting. thrust with lightning speed. His steel, missing Madrella’s throat by less than an inch, pierced his shoulder, drawing from that worthy a rasping oath of pain. Now Madrella became a raging beast. He bore [.estrange down with a brilliant that no man could <have withstood. [.estrange parried wildly, despairingly, his breath coming and going In great choking sobs. And Madrella. undoubted master at last, began to talk: “There is terror in his eyes ■senorlta; he fears a traitor’s death. Do you see how helpless he is? Do you care to look upon this, the end. for death is an evil thing? If you do—just watch. How pale he is. If you do not care to see, my lady, cover your eyes, for it is finished . . there!” His adversary’s point showed for an instant between Lestrange’s shoulder blades; then, even as the captain’s limp body swayed. Madrella drew out his sword and thrust again with the speed of light The heavy carpet softened the sound of his fall, and Lestrange. clutching convulsively with futile fingers. whispered: *T have loved thee, Anita!” She went to her knees beside the •prostrate figure. “Ah. Dios,” she sobbed, “Dios, you have killed him; you, Francois ... any one tn all the world but you!” A great hurt, a great disappointment, lay tn her voice: “Yon have killed him, Francois—and you have killed my love for you as wellI" He must have heard that with mixed ■ emotions, but the wretched rogue laughed aloud. “Your loves are legion, senorlta; -one more or less is a matter of small .moment. You have dispensed your •I >ve with a lavish hand, gaining questionable ends thereby.” Mon Dieu—and I, Francois de Vlg>ny, was saying all this! Why did 1 not step from the gloom of my re ’treat and take up the sword that had fallen from the dead hand of Captain [.estrange? Why did I stand "thus, helpless, while be sowed the seeds of hatred in her heart? “The worst that you may say to mie, senor, is less than 1 deserve; but 1 have done with intrigue. Never another plot against the Empire shall ;be hatched in this house of mine. You may tell your emperor that!” She stopped a moment for a thought, then, raising her head proudly, continued: “That he has lost, Maximilian is doubtless well aware, for Louis Naipoleon of France, who cares less for Mexico than he does for his mustache, (has withdrawn all support; and now the people of this free country will ■rise up to crush your emperor as they have arisen before to crush the only •other emperor that Mexico ever had. You gave me this day. Captain Vigny, the life of Pablo, my cousin. (He winced at this.) You should not have •made so great a sacrifice, for he Is •unworthy.” His broad shoulders sagged and he ‘Studied the floor for so long a time that I could have cried out in my impatience. “Then this cousin of yours, senordta, has lost your—regard?” “I could have loved you, senor, had dt not been for—this.” She indicated •the still form of Lestrange. “Sapristl,” he gasped. To have drilled Lestrange tn the fullness of ■his. jealousy, and then to have dls--covered that his victim had no place in her heart, must have been a griev--ous shock to him. “Then, senorlta. all 1 can say is good-by.” He turned toward the hall and came face to face with Miguel Lopez, who. with a giant Indian mozo, stood in the doorway. “Colonel!” He fell back a step, then bowed, laughing. “This is my night, my colonel; you are sec■•nd on the list!” Lopez took a step toward Madrella. “You are under arrest. Captain Vig<ny—for murder.” Madrella swung his steel in a ven•omous arc. “And if I laugh at you. •my colonel?" Lopez took another careful step. “1 ihsi'* warned you, Francois, that you fare arrest; if you— ’’ Pablo’s ready blade leaped like a •thing of life, and the colonel, voicing ;a harsh, gasping cry of dismay, ■reached for the table, clutching at it wildly for support. “You will p-pay tfer this, Francois—your life shall pay for this!” Madrella, sword tn hand, made for <the hall. He stopped in the doorway and blew an airy kiss toward the Senorlta Arrellanos, then he disappeared, and his mocking laughter floated back to us. t Now. for one brief instant, 1 con sldered this thing. Lestrange was dead, and as Lopez would doubtless receive every attention, there was no urgent need for me. Besides, 1 hesitated to fare La Anita’s scorn, and 1 longed t« deal finally and definitely with Madrella. Twice we had met: this time. I determined, would be the last. I pulled the shutter aside, cleared «the grilling, and leaped, landing on ■hands and knees tn the soft grass. (Getting hastily to my feet Iran around the house at all speed—head down, arms swinging. 1 came in violent contact with another speeding figure. The

shock of contact threw us to the ground, but we were up Instantly and at each other with the ferocity of beasts. Bis bard fist dealt me a stunning blow behind the ear. I got slowly to my feet, shaking my head to free it from the extra constellations that were floating through it My gradually clearing vision discovered the capable and resourceful Pablo standing before me, sword in band. He was laughing softly. "In very truth, senor,” said he, “this is my night Three in the space of an hour!” "If I had a sword —" “Droll," he said, to the moon, “droll; if he bad a sword. How stupid of me not to have brought two, yet 1 find in this scene much that pleases me. A sword in your hand, senor, would make of you a more potent foe than I care to meet this night for I have many things to do.” My head had cleared now, and bal aneing on the balls of my feet, I pre pared to spring upon him when opportunity offered, but he must have read my mind, for his voice carried a deadly menace: “If you make one move, senor, J shall not hesitate to run you through This is no time for the niceties ot fair play. It is a source of great regret to me that I cannot kill you as you stand, helpless, before me. but you must be saved for a less kind fate, for the noose awaits you. You have been most clever. Captain Vigny; quite too clever for a Frenchman. There must be Spanish blood tn you.

“You Should Not Have Made So Great a Sacrifice.” If I did not hate you for so many things i could almost love you for your cleverness.” “I suppose,” said L touching him at once upon a tender spot, “the senorita is the basis for your principal hatred.” “Carraca!" he growled. “I was minded to visit with you, but you render it impossible.” He raised his sword and aimed it at my chest “If you move ever so little, senor, this blade will seek your throat.” • I stood motionless, wondering what the rogue would do. ▲ quick thrust drove his point into my shoulder, then he drew back swiftly and, on guard, waited. I bit my lip to keep from crying out as the red-hot pain raced through me. “Some {tay, Madrella. I will kill you for that—l will kill you with my bands. I gave the senorita your life today, but when we meet again . . CHAPTER X Odyssey I dragged my weary way across the patio to our quarters, where I found Neville and Cupido engaged tn a listless game of cribbage. They took off my coat and shirt, and Cupido cleansed my wound and bandaged it with the sure swiftness of a surgeon and the gentlenesn of a woman. “Lestrange could not have done this,” said Neville; “it requires a defter swordsman than Lestrange to pink' our glade of Picardy." “Painful, Francois," volunteered Cupido, “but not serious. His point went under the collar-bone, but—l am sure —did not touch the lung. With care and a couple of weeks of rest you will be as good as ever." “Lestrange did not do it” 1 said; “Madrella.” “Then he gave up his trip to General Juarez.” Neville thought a moment. “Is he —dead, now, Francois?” 1 for Cupido’s ministrations and a glass of wine had brought about a restoration. “Hardly." “But, Francois—surely the man could not have—” “I had no sword, my friend, so I was helpless.” “And he stabbed you, dear friend, when you possessed no weapon? Why did he not give you a mortal thrust?” “That i do not know; he chose his point of attack with the greatest care. What motive Madrella may have had in thus wounding me 1 do not know, yet he must have had good reason, for there ts usually method in bis madness.” “Tell us, Francois." So 1 told them, but while I was speaking my account abruptly reached an untimely end. The sound of marching feet came from Avenida Tusayan. 1 judged it to be a squad of perhaps a dozen

men. They turned into the patio; we beard a sharp command and the crash of grounding arms. Neville put an arm over *tay shoulder. “1 will go out and see, Francois; remain here.” Neville’s voice, demanding to know the reason for this intrusion, came clearly—as well as the sergeant’s answer: “I have orders. Lieutenant Neville, for the arrest of Captain Vigny for the murder of Captain Lestrange." “Anything else?” cried Neville, forcing a laugh. “Yes, sir; for an unprovoked attack on his superior officer. Colonel Miguel Lopez 1” “My G—d!" gasped Cupido. “Are you mad. Francois? This is your death-warrant!” My death-warrant! Now, considering this thing tn the light of reason I knew that it was. At last Madrel la’s allusion to the noose was clear to me. I found my cap and put It on “I will see if Captain Vigny is home; I will be out in a moment, sergeant” Neville came tn and. under the lamp, his face was as pale as death Very tenderly he put his great arms around me. "Francois.” he wlspered “Name of G—d—Francois!" “There is no use for me to deny —?” I began. “There is np time for dentals; death awaits you. With Lopez against you there is no hope. Escape is hardly possible. Ah. dear friend. It is the end—and we love thee!” “Escape ts always possible." said Cuptdo the practical. “This window opens on to a narrow cobbled alley, and the soldiers in the patto are on the opposite side of the house. Out on the street you have a fair chance for freedom, for then the city 1s open to you, and all the vast mountain and forest area that surrounds us. Besides, you are Madrella, as well as De Vigny." Each took a hand, then those two good friends of mine—believing me guilty—helped me through the win dow. As the window out of which thej had assisted me led from my own room. Neville and Cupido were safe, for the sergeant, on forcing my door and finding the window open, would assume rightly that I had escaped. So I directed my steps southward, turned west into Avenida Manzanillo, thence south again. From a trusted officer on the staff of Maximilian, with eight years of honorable service distinguished by recognized deeds of valor, and a future brighter by far than many an officer of the French army, I had become, tn an hour, a fugitive from justice, a murderer whose very flight way an admission of guilt. Yet, with Colonel Lopez against me. I was sure that a court-martial would be a matter of form; I was condemned ere I appeared before it. La Anita, in spite of what She may have desired, would have to testify to what she thought was truth, and say that she had seen Captain Vigny kill Lestrange, receive a wound in his own shoulder, and attack Lopez. Was there any defense that 1 could make? Even to the last detail of my wounded shoulder the case against me was complete. Besides, my murderous attack upon a superior officer would have hanged me in any military court in the world. Defense, therefore, was useless. Now. hopeless and utterly miserable, I came to the outskirts of the city. 1 took the broad, tree-lined Tlalpam road. A mile along this boulevard brought me to the Candelaria gate, which was an outpost, and here a sentry put a gun across my path. He saw only the mark of my rank, for the night was a wall of tmpen etrable darkness, and rain came down in an overwhelming flood. He saluted, and I passed on; free, at least, from the lines of the city. 1 forced my failing faculties to the utmost, for I must reach the shelter of the woodland before the night had gone. North of Coyoacan 1 left the road and took to the fields as the clouds broke away and the rain ceased and a deep purple sky—with its pinpoints of sprinkling stars—began to show. As the night waned, and the gray of dawn began to fill the world, I climbed through fields of small grain and of hay, through orchards, and over a double line of low pomegranate trees, t where I filled my pockets with the questionably edible and exotic fruit Reaching the shelter of the timber at last I dropped to the soft blanket of needles under a giant pine tree, and, lying exhausted, hopeless—a prey to bitter defeat and discouragement—l watched the sun come up over the smoke-plumed crest of Popocatepetl, and I listened to the gentle chimes of the bells of San Angel. And lying thus, fatigue exacted its toll, and I slept. When I awoke the sun had gone and the moon had come again. My garments were dry. a bitter cold possessed me, and the pangs of a great hunger made me forget—until I tried to arise—the pain of a wounded shoulder. The pomegranates accorded me an hour of labor and slight appeasement of my appetite; then 1 sat and looked upon a moonpathed world. 1 bad. at least, another day of liberty, and the timbered fastnesses would be my refuge. In his dubiously dual role of Imperialist and Liberal, Lopez, I knew, would seek me through the channels of both armies, would turn the heart of every man against me. I would be. In very truth, an Ishmael of the mountains. Well, I could wait, I could fight. It necessary—and I could ..hope; so I turned my face toward the south. To ene who knows the woods many chan-

THE SYRACUSE JOURNAL

nels for obtaining food are open ('lev eriy concealed between the scales ot the pine cone are tasty and nutritious nuts, walnuts and pecan trees abound tn the plateau area, and berries of a dozen kinds are everywhere. So the days passed unnoticed. At first 1 moved otjiy in the night, sleeping by day, but, learning the ways of the woods, I became more bold. Two weeks and more had gone, and I had not seen a man." - Gradually the peace of the great forest entered my soul; away from man 1 became less of man, and more a creature of the ennobling forces of nature. And as my mind became attuned to nature’s moods I ceased to be a hunted thing. 1 took on a new Identity. The hatred that had filled my heart mellowed, and was forgotten; the wrongs that men had visited upon me seemed things of insignificance; my love for the Senorita Arrellanos purified until it became the sacred sort of worship that mortals offer up to saints. As the days yent by, another problem offered itself for solution. My wounded shoulder. Instead of healing, had taken a sudden evil turn. Fever spread along my arm and through my chest until the pain was such that sleep was impossible. My arm assumed a size twice its normal proportion ; periods of faintness and semiconsclousness came on. during which the sun went out and the earth billowed like the sea. and the giant trees wavered drunkenly. I cried out in my agony, stumbling blindly through the forest: falling exhausted and unconscious, then, when the spell had passed, arising and driving on again; moving because 1 could not rest, and resting when I could not move. Os food 1 had none; the labor and ingenuity required to get it were beyond me. Then, one day when the sun was high and the faint music of the bells of Cuernavaca came to me, 1 realized that I was going to die. and I determined —regardless of the cost—to seek my own kind again. Turning my face toward the sound of the bells I way as straight as any of the forest might have done. I dropped, exhausted, at the base of a mighty cedar, and looked out over the Cuernavaca valley. A pounding as of the hoofs of many horses came to me, and I sighed, feeling sure that this was only in my head. Now the mingling sounds of voices reached my ears—laughter and snatches of song. I knew this could be no figment of my fevered brain, so I dragged my wretched body around the tree until the great trunk might hide me from any one who should ride by. From the noise they made 1 ludged that these were six or eight horsemen. They stopped opposite my hid-

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Holding to the Tree for Support, Raised My Eyes to Greet My Own Picture. ~-1 .. tng-place, and, although I had started out to seek my own kind, I was filled with terror lest they find me. “Here’s a good place to tack him up," said a deep voice in French. I heard the light swift tapping of a hammer against a tree, and tbe party rode on. Now 1 crept out of my refuge, and, holding to the tree for support, raised my eyes to greet my own picture. Trembling, i read the printing beneath the reproduction of my face. I was wanted for murder, and a reward of one thousand pesos was offered for me—dead or alive. All and sundry were warned that an offer of aid to me would constitute a crime against the Empire, punishable by death, it was signed by Colonel Miguel Lopez—for his majesty, Maximilian. The whisper of wheels and light thud of a trotting horse broke upon ma I slipped Into tbe bushes across the road and waited. - A familiar ‘calico" pony came in sight, drawing a llgnt, two-wheeled cart. Upon the narrow seat sat two people, a broad shouldered Indian and a slim little figure in brown. My heart gave a leap of joy when 1 saw them, for it was Pasqual and his lovely little Dolores! Opposite the picture Pasqual pulled the horse to a standstill. Dolores gave a little gasp of happiness. “It is Pancho. Pasqual mio—is it not?” “Yes.” said Pasqual solemnly, “it is Pancho. He was in the service of the French, he has killed another French officer, and they seek him so that they may try him for murder It says there is a thousand pesos to be paid any one who captures him.” She pressed slim hands across her breast “BuL Pasqual. did be tell you that he served the French?" “He did not," said the Indian. Pasqual’s face was a study, “Yet he did not tell me that he didn’t serve the French.” In his earnest honest heart Pasqual was trying to be fair. Now. watching the face of this, my friend. I felt a vast regret that I had tricked him so grievously; and, as i had determined to surrender, I knew that I could uot have found a man who might better use that thousand pesos, so, parting the bushes, 1 stepped into the road and stood beside the cart. TO BE

pLEADING- •———| I RADIO PROGRAMS]

N. B. C. RED NETWORK—August 11. 3:00 p. m. National Sundav Forum. 6:30 p tn. Maj. Bowes’ Family Party. 8:15 p m. Atwater Kent Radio Hour. 9:15 p: m. Studebaker Championtu N. B. C. BLUE NETWORK 1:00 p. tn. Roxy Stroll. 2:00 p. tn. Friendly Hour. 4:30 p tn. Twilight Reveries. 5:30 p. -n. Whittall-Anglo Persians. 7:00 p. m. Enna Jettick Melodies. 9:15 p. tn. Light Opera Hour. COLUMBIA SYSTEM 9:00 p. m. Symphonic Hour. phony orchestra). 3:30 p. tn. Hudnut Du Barry program. (Musical program) 4:00 p. tn. Cathedral Hour. (Religious musical service) 8:00 p m. La Palina program. . 8:30 p. tn. Sonatron program. (Famous Broadway Stars) 9:00 p. m. Majestic Theater of the Air. 10:00 p. m. Arabesque. (A Modern Thousand and One Nights) 10:30 p. m. Around the Samovar. (Music by Russian Musicians) N. B. C. RED NETWORK—August 12. 10:15 a. m. Radio Household Institute. 7:00 p. tn. Voice, of Firestone. 7:30 p. m. A. & P. Gypsies. 8:30 p. tn. General Motors Family ~ Party. 9:30 p m. Empire Builders. 10:00 p. m. Gilbert and Sullivan Operas. N. B. C. BLUE NETWORK 1:00 p. m. Montgomery Ward Hour; 1:30 p. tn. U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. 6.30 p. m Roxy and His Gang. 8:00 p. m. The Edison Program. COLUMBIA SYSTEM 11:00 a. m. Ida Bailey Allen. (Talks to Home-Makers) 8:00 p. m. Musical Vignettes. (Musical pictures of all parts of the world). 8:30 p. m. Ceco Couriers (Popular musical program). 9:00 p. m. Physical Culture Magazine Hour. 9:30 p. tn. U. S. Navy Band. 10:00 p. m. Black Flag Boys. 10:30 p. m. Night Club Romance. N. B. C. RED NETWORK—Aigust 13. 10:15 a. m. Radio Household Institute. 6:30 p. m. Soconyland Sketches. 7.30 p. m. Prophylactic. 8:00 p. m. Eveready Hour. 9:00 p. tn. Clicquot Club. N. B C. BLUE NETWORK 1:00 p. tn. Montgomery Ward Hour. 1:30 p. m. U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. 5:30 p. m. Savannah Liner’s Orchestra. 7:00 p. m. Pure Oil Band. 7:30 p. m. Michelin Tiremen. 8:00 p. m. Johnson and Johnson. 8:30 p. th. Dutch Masters Minstrels. 9:00 p. m. Williams Oil-O-MS. tics. 9:30 p. m.' Earl Orchestradiaas. COLUMBIA SYSTEM 11:00 a. m. Ida Bailey Allen (Talks to Home-Makers) 2:45 p. m. Theronoid Health Talk. 8:00 p. m. Kotlarsky and Harding (Joint recital). 8:30 p. m Flying Stories (Aviation . news). 9:00 p m. Old Gold (Paul Whiteman hour). 10:00 p. m. Fada Program (Orchestra). 10:30 p. m. Story in a Song. N. B C. RED NETWORK—August 14. 10:15 a; tn. Radio Household Institute. 6:30 p. m. LaTouraine Concert. 7:30 p. tn. Happy Wonder Bakers. 8:00 p. m. Ingram Shavers. 8:30 p. m Palm Olive Hour. N. *» C. BLUE NETWORK 1:00 p. m. Montgomery Ward Hour. 1:30 P m. U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. 7:00 p. m. Yeast Foamers. 7:30 P? tn. Sylvania Foresters. 8:00 p. m. Flit Soldiers. 9:00 p. m. ABA Voyagers. 9:30 p. m. Stromberg Carlson. COLUMBIA SYSTEM 11:00 a m. Ida Bailey AlleSi (Talk on Cooking). 11:30 a. m. Interior Decorating (Talk with Musical Program). 8:00. p. m. Hank Simmons’ Show Boat. 9:00 p m. United Symphony Orch. 9:30 p. m. La Palina Smoker. 10:00 p. m. Kolster Radio Hour. 10:30 p. m. Kansas Frplickers. N. B. C. RED NETWORK—-August 15. 10:15 a. m. Radio Household Institute. 8:00 p. tn. Seiberling Singers. 9:00 p. m. Halsey Stuart Hour. N. B. C. BLUE NETWORK ! 1:00 p m. Montgomery Ward Hour. ■ 1:30 p m. U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. 7:00 p. m. Lehn and Fink Serenade. 8:30 p. m. Maxwell House Concert. 9:30 p. ip. Around World with Libby. COLUMBIA SYSTEM 10:30 a. m. Around the World with Mrs, Martin. (Musical Prbgrain. Household Hints) 11:00 a. tn. Ida Bailey Allen fTalks to Home-Makers). 11:30 a. tn. Du Barry Beauty Talk. 2:45 p m. Theronoid Health Talk. 8:00 p. m. Vincent Lopez and Orch. 8:30 p. m. U. S. Marine Band. 9:00 p. m. True Detective Mysteries. 9:30 p. m. Light Opera Gems. 10:00 p. m. The New Yorkers (Concert). N. B. C. RED NETWORK—August 16 10:15 a. m. Radio Household Institute. 5:30 p. tn. Raybestos Tw ins. 7:00 p m. Cities Service Concert Orch 8:30 p. m. Sehradertown Brass Band. N. B. C. BLUE NETWORK 10:00 a. m. Mary Hale Martin’s Household Period. 1:00 p. m. Montgomery Ward Hour. 1:30 p. m. U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. 6:15 p. m. Squibb’s Health Talk. 6:30 p. m. Dixie Circus. 7:00 p. m. Triadors. ‘ 8:00 p. m The Interwoven Pair. 8:30 p. tn. Philca Theater Memories. 9:00 p. tn. Armstrong l Quakers. 9:30 p m Armour and Company. COLUMBIA SYSTEM 11:00 a. m. Ida Bailey Allen (Talks to Home-Makers). 11:45 a. tn. Radio Beauty School (Beauty talks), 7:30 p. m. Howard Fashion Plates. « 8:00 p. m. Hawaiian Shadows (Native Musicians). 8:30 p m. The Rollickers (Quartet). 9:00 p. m. True. Story Hour. 10:00 p. tn. In a Russian Village (Russian music). 10:30 p. m. Doc West (The old philosopher). N. B. C. RED NETWORK—August 17. 10:15 a. tn. Radio Household Institute 8:00 p. m. General Electric Orchestra. 9:00 p m. Lucky Strike Dance Orch. N. B C. BLUE NETWORK 2:30 p. m RCA Demoistration Hour. 5:30 p. m. Gold Spot Orchestra. COLUMBIA SYSTEM 8:00 p. tn. Nickel-Cinco-Paters (musical). 8:30 P tn. Babson Finance Period. 9:00 p •.. Nit Wit Hour. 9:30 p. tn. Temple Hour (Musical program). 10.00 p. m. National Forum from Washington. 10:30 p tn. Dance Music. Wetherbee on New Job One of radios pioneer broadcasters was lost to tiie industry when Wilson J Wetherbee, manager of station relations and acting assistant managei of the Chicago Division of the Na tionai Broacasting company resigned ills position to go into business ai Kalamazoo and Sturgis, Mich. Wetherbee, known to the radio and newspaper fraternity as “Scoop,’ originated tbe famous afternoon froi ics and midnight revue over KYW, the mid west’s pioneer station

Lesson for August 11 DANIEL AMONG THE LIONS LESSON TEXT—Daniel «:1-Z8 GOLDEN TEXT—The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him. and delivereth them. PRIMARY TOPlC—Daniel Is True to God. JUNIOR TOPlC—Daniel is True to God. INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC—The Meaning of True Courage. YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC—Tbe Courage of Faith. I. Daniel the Prime Minister of the Medo-Persian Empire (vv. 1-3). Sterling worth brought him to the front and kept him there. The new king was keen to discern bls worth 'and to give it recognition. 11. An Occasion Sought Against Daniel (vv. 4-9). 1. The reason for (v. 4). No doubt that which prompted this effort was envy and jealousy 2. Failure of (v. 4). Daniel’s official record was blameless. They could not even find an error. Envy- is still In the world. Those who excel In any line are sure to suffer in some way for their excellencies. The successful business man in relation to his competitors, the ranking pupil in school, the child of superior merit in the home, will be envied by the others. In politics many times those who honestly strive to do their duty are persecuted Even in the church itself we find that ministers are sometimes envious of their superiors. 3. The wicked plot (vv. 5-9). They trumped up a charge on the ground of his foreign religion. They were not careful about their method, so their end was attained. In spite of Daniels loyalty, the decree was signed by the king which would put him into the den of lions. 111. Daniel’s Noble Confession (w. 10Though Daniel knew that the wicked decree was signed, he knelt before God. as usual. Note the silence of heroism. Weak men bluster; strong men have little to say. L He continued his usual habit (v. 10). He knew that the civil law had absolutely nothing to do with his religion. God’s law is firsL Laws forbidding reading the Bible, praying, or meeting to worship God. have no authority over men. 2. Daniel reported to the king (w.. 11These wicked men watched to find out whether Daniel would pray before his God, and when they found that he continued his worship, they went to the king and reported that Daniel disregarded his decree IV. The Foolish Decree Executed (vv. 14-17). 1. The king displeased with himself (v. 14). He labored till the going, down of the sun to deliver Daniel, conscious that he had been entrapped. 2. The king helpless (v. 15). The proud ruler found that he was a slave. To snact laws which change not is the height of folly. 3. Daniel cast into the den of lions (v. 16). The king’s parting word to Daniel whs a poor, feeble excuse for his guilty conscience. 4. The double seal (v. 17). This double sealing shows the king’s purpose to abide by the unfortunate law. V. Daniel Delivered (vv, 1&-23). 1. Note the contrast between the night ih the lion’s den and the one tn the palace. In the palace there was no sleep, np mirth. Daniel's quiet ts as a picture of the safety and pence which are the portwfl gs those .who trust God and do His will. 1 2. The king’s question in the morning (v. 20). 3. Daniel’s answer (v. 22). God’s angel has done many wonderful works. The early Christians despised bonds, stripes and death. 4. Daniel delivered (v. 23). No manner of hurt was' found because he believed in his God. VI. The Doom of His Accusers (v. 24). They were cast into the den of lions and “or ever they came at the bottom of the den” their bones were broken in pieces. Daniel’s enemies go into the same trap which they prepared for him. VII. Darius’ Decree (w. 25-27). Men were to tremble and fear before Daniel’s God. As to whether Darius had a change of heart we do not know. VIII. Daniel’s Prosperity (v. 28). Daniel goes higher into the kingdom and continues in bis place of honor even though dynasties change. The Almightiness of God Let me truly feel that in myself I am nothing, and at once through eyery inlet of my sou! God comes in and is everything to me. And as soon as I feel this, the almightiness of God pours through my spirit like a stream, and I can do all things through Him that strengthens me.—William Mountford. Open Thou Mine Eyes The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to see something and tell what it saw in a plain way. Hundreds of people can talk for one who can think, but thousands can think for one who can see. To see clearly is poetry, philosophy, and religion, all in one.—Ruskin. Deny Thyself Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s the same shall .save It. —Mark 8:34, 35>

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What to Do With Old Love Letters rviRECTIONS for treating old love I L/ letters in the home: Take epistles between the thumb and forefinger and deposite one by one. or altogether, ac- , cording to taste. In the tireplace, tbe I oven, the good old furnace, according to accommodation furnished by th<» ; home. . - This recipe ts not going to be a , riot with my young readers, in fact. ; 1 can hear shrieks of protest from ev- ’ ery direction: “What? Throw away all those beeyootiful protestations .of i love which will mean so much to me when i’rn an old lady, toothless, and unadored?” And I can see bundles of letters beI Ing tied with blue ribbon and tucked away tenderly in the lowest drawer of i the old desk. What's the harm, you ask? What ■ possible danger can lubk in evidences of a love long since dead and buried? j Well, you never can tell, little girls, I just how harmless these packets of ' romance may turn out to be. There are on record at least fifty I thousand cases of old love letters , which have sowed seeds of distrust and unhappiness in peaceful little homes. Dozens ot young busbands ■ have come on tender effusions, packed away out of sight and confronted their wives with angry accusations. Just as many more have resented knowing that their wives still eared enough for old forgotten b. f.'s to keep : their letters around the house, clutj tering up valuable drawer space' > Peggy’s little romance busted up ' four years ago—and Peggy savefl all j the evidence, and one fine day : her young husband came borne too ' preoccupied to remember to kiss tier, she had a good cry and read a few of Bob’s effusions—Bob being the ex- < sweetie—and felt better. After that she always read the old love letters when domestic crises arose and her sentimental soul began to crave a sight of the wonder-man who’d gone away and left her. He had written beautiful letters, and John was so tafce-it-for-granted, and : she wondered whether Bob's eyes were still brown, etc., etc. Sounds incredible but it’s an actual | fact that Peggy evolved out ot her own imagination a sort of dream-man who made John’s personality seem dull and tiresome, in fact, she compared him so much to the plain homespun husband of everyday life that she grew pretty bored with the whole thing. No. she didn’t run away from home or do anything dramatic. She just lived on with the dissatisfaction and discontent she herself had created and nobody was the wiser and nobody was the better. The Sensitive Soul FOR some reason or other the sensitive soul is enjoying a certain amount of favorable attention these days. ,5. Fiction writers are giving her a big blow —songs are written around her—- ■ the stage portrays her being sensitive all over the place— altogether it's considered rather smart to be sensitive. But let me urge all you shrinking young things who flaunt your sensi- ' tiveness about —not to go in too heav- . ily for tiie new pose. However lovely the sensitive heroine ' sounds in books, she doesn't last long in real life. She’s killed ell het by ridicule or by her companions' neglect Although she may enjoy being rather delicate and overfastidimis, she don’t enjoy being overlooked and delij cately snubbed. Let her become tiie victim of her own sensitiveness, and she will never know one minute.- ease. There’s nothing beautiful aboUi tiie sensitive soul who goes about the world, looking for trouble, terrified and i hurt when she finds it, watchful and i resentful at not finding more. Have you ever nad a •sensitive friend? Did you find her particularly soothing as a companion? You did not You were on tender hooks while with her. because you knew est slip on your part—the slightest discourtesy, however unintentional, Would be fatal. In an instant ber smiling good humor would change into a sullen resentful rage, her offended soul would shrink into its shell—and there would be bitter words, heart-broken sobs, and what noL Ob, believe me, one finds soon enough that it’s better to ht\ve no friends at all than to have them all sensitive, lovely souls, who find themselves just a bit too thin-skinned for this coarse, brutal world. The considerate people of this world —the tender, thoughtful kind—will shield the sensitive plant from the cold winds of criticism and ridicule, as best they can. Don’t hatter yourself that you’re a sensitive soul—and make a practice of behaving as an s. s. is supposed to behave. Just thank heaven that you have an average thick skin afid can fake your place among rhe average people of this world, where all the happiest, most peaceful souls reside. (© by the Bell Syndicate. Inc.) Purposeful Man Wins The man without a purpose ts like a ship without a rudder—a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose In life, and having it. throw such strength of mind and muscle tnlo your work as God lias given yoth—£hrlyle. * Japan’s Gift Unique There are 12 Japanese chefry trees within the White House grounds that were sent from the Imperial gardens, in Japan, and are said to be the only trees of their kind ever presented from those gardens.