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Show W : A.LLEN GRAY; ' ' -on,- jy fcMysleryofTnrley'sFoa jl Solnar a Fow Roman tlo Chap tors " w tfrom.tho Llfo of a Country F - " Editor. t& t . trpton or " Wai teb Unow.-trizi n," "tibuim ' Laxikaw." "DAWMiior litDronu," AMD Omxn Stouieo. 4 2 i I Cinrfiti,tU,ly tht J. jr. JTilhjt Aj0' . , " Comixtny -' 'J1 ' ' o,you think yovThave a real remarka- J Ile novol, Miss Hopklnst" liu uskod. s . "I know It, I know it I Just lot mo road a 5' few pagbs to you." t ) . Somehow, nmatours patronizing country newspapers always insist en reading I their own productions to Iho editor. Llko , tho ltrst-born infant, they aro too delicate to ' ' entrust to othor than parental hands. Miss Hopkins began: "THE MYBTEItY OP TOE HOCK HOUSE ' ON TUE HILL; J. 7" tp cnosT'a LAST WALK OK rim Bwrr. g i A rjf of Uft and Dttl, Ion cnJbupvnat- fh ,' ' ' tint.'" J" M,Youee,Ianjsomothln:rllkoHawthorne, ' delf lng (ato the supernatural," said Kiss i lipklns, Willi a sniuo which dlsplayod her -V loUo teeth. ' 1 8oolerv0 please, proceed," said tho editor, trying very hard to ho Interested. '"It nmndlsnnllyil.irkiilcht. Tho winds J sighed n, mournful rcquiuui tln-ouijh tho treoloVs, and -it jvi(s (it tliat bewitching , bbur when gravcyardj yawn and ghotts slallt orth-i' Thq rtidtr rauned to ' mnrlfthoefTi'itonJicr Uarcr Uosatun-t Uosatun-t mocrtbj-thoriirllhicbct'iiuting. and sho u, aslted iliim huw bo lil.rd it. Very well, ho P thought, lind fOJdn'.'Kytn.l' fciic cnt on. 2 , JtwasocrudostoryfulJ of ImprobjUo In-1 In-1 cWcnt nrftlgush.ng over yit!i tear-stained lore scenes. 1 ho licrplno wivs huch n . i Jir- ijl tietlttcd creature, ordhAuUuh a ttndcucV 1 to burst into tears, that tho reader soon bc- . camo disgusted with such imbecility1, ahd iJfV vnxs 'n constunt drca4 of anolbordxploslon. wVt ' ,r . lo funnr waft was tt'stroluedtbaracter at -r-i'lrfv v-.keaCra wa feajtafJJfUk WU'jQcaAUt. "Wr v (bo witty. thMajT, t,bq story wnjflat and'ln.v t ,i fpid, ahdwhUo' tho editor Laew'Ua'eoUld not usd It, ho had b great dt3co4y 'in ,ci- prenslne bli real pnlnVf otlvf ' . "Vyhat do ) ou (nir.u ot it, Air. Uruy i ' finally asked. ", ' Allen was ai a crljicol point. Thcro sat tho authoress btforo him, holding tho dearly dear-ly bclovrd crcaturo of hir imaginUttonHn hor hand. Ho would as j'oon thinfc of telling tell-ing doting notUcr that her child was M:ly pa to oxprcr;. hKTcal optnlo.i of this sto-y to MIjj Utr.iltba. Bho had Inllucmiu I friends, persons of jreatttrp'li nndaeuir.i-n. j who had km;; mco dlscoorcd ti womtcrfill cmbryotlj genius In lua I-crtliy To re jeet her story was to lusalt tluiriutcn gonco and lnfluonrc, vhllo to publish it wa1 to taalce hteniclf t!io butt of ridloulo by ui thlnklngpcdplc. Ipuld rcqyiro &Ullfu management to steer clear of his many ! complications, but Alltn was quol to the f cmcrjciioy.- ' ' 'Wo couldn't publish n scrlnl story in the ' Mffnf" II'V t"c "ow, H'ss Hopkins," he J said. "Wouldij't it bo bettor to scud it to Harper's!" , ' TJio rcaddr nay nsls whatlrrm tho Hnr- ! . Pcf!s had done him that ho should wish to tnSct thl punishment en litem. But we j must remember tUnt Allen v.-as only n hu- a f rar.n being lu a great strait. Drown.Ianu.cu i will catch at straws, and Alien, lLo 1! k other non, Mas oniUtM to uhllt thu 1? id h; I bore upon tLo sh.uldrs rf on cse e. . Moving uneasily In her nut, Miss IJojiUiib ts replied! Ij? . "I don't Iblnlc It worth whllo to send thn WL ' J to the Harper's, Mr. Oruy, llAy rre too oK Yi fogylsh to cen dlseovor truo goplus, you u n' know. Llko all tho established publishers, ,-fl , thoy have got to going in lines and ruts, 'B J which now genius struggles to break away H ' ' from. Ono can't do it with thoio publishers. M? ,- Nono of tho largo mngaiinos over dovolop W ' any things thoy pro nlrap'y cblo to buy tho 'm' jowob which somo poor minor 1ms dug up M AH of our successful authors mako their JB start on ob3cmo publications" ,B - "Ibcllevo you aro mistaken, Miss Hop- kins. Harper's would road jour mauustrlp. fj " cpd docld.o fairly upon It." K "I am suro they would not," sho per- I slated. "If thuy don't find thU out of Hit Ir 1 rut, thoy havo somo spoclal fovorltuwliojo I nronuserlpt Is Just ahead of mine, and the) '11 j sond It back with a printed apology that Its ft ' rojoctlon Is not necessarily a U-U of literary merit, but becauso they have bomcthlng llko It on hand. Tlioso Now Yoil; publlshors pro not In sympathy with now authors." Miss Hopkins was a wuraan of literary experience, ex-perience, and was not to bo Inducod to givo Hcrpcr'n tho inflnito pleasure of rejcetlng bor manuscript. "1 am Borryt but I I really havo not spaco for your story at present, Miss Uop- J kins," said Alien. Being nblo to put but ono 1 Interpretation on his refusal, sho asked : ' "Aro you going to commonco ono of Mr. Barnes' storlcst" "No, wo cannot possibly uso a serial at present," ho answered. ft "Wbyf W ' B,ccaus8 0ur people think that In order jdufj t(J build up this town all spaoo possible W .should bo devoted to It. Besides, tba fall ' t' i olectJon la coming on, and the canvnss will necessarily demand a great deal of spaco." t 'Miss Hopkins looked ycry much dtsap- , pointed, but after a fow moments sho sold ( i' Can you uso a'poam occasionally I" J I think I can." ',,4 , TUs only partially repaired her ! - polntaent, jh, dtclarod tho poodIq i .j-,, ,s.i --v- r- -T,r- . l y s 1'oint must do very ignorant to retuso uth n novel as " Tho Mystery of tho nock House cu tho IIU1," and bewailed the f Jto jf struggling genius, hold down by tho Iron ihand of projiidlco. HIio took bor manuscript and loft tho oQlco with a look of disappointment and a .icavy heart. Wo consolo oursclvca that Miss Hopkins Is not tho only author who has mot u 1th disappointments. Her visit had temporarily led Allen Uray'a mind from tho subject which had becomo so paliiful, but when sho wai gono It returned with doublo lorco, and nil bla efforts to forget Bertha, oy plunging Into business, wcro unavailing. That beautiful being who had grown so dear to his heart was always present. "Oh, Bcrttfa, Bertha I will this crushing weight never bo rcmovodt" ho askod him-aolf. him-aolf. His. reveries Wcro Interrupted by tho abrupt opening of his sanctum door. Mr. Tonl Blmmons, tVlth faco Inflamed with anger, boldly entered. "Bcohorol' ho cried, with tho air of an unraged master, ' what'fl this I hearl" Allen told hint that ho had no Idea what ho had beard. "Incarycrgola1 to play mo foull" "What do jou mean by playing foul!" Alton asked. " You'ro goln' back-on tne " "In what way!" " You ain't agoln' to supprtm.w . " Who told you I was uotl" "s "Ihecr'dlt. It's the clnoral rumor." "Ooncral rumor It f Jlse, tten," was the firm answor. "I want it understood, r. Allen Oray," roared tho m raged Simmons, bringing his fist down with mphasls on tho desk, " that if jougobaekon me don't support moos ye promised jo would, I'll fllog overy thing lltlDtn your Way. 1 modo yo what yo ar'," to (hissed through his teeth. " Yes, sir, I tultyou from nuthlii1 lit tod yo right up out o' tho dirt, and Jist as I git somcthin' made out o' yo, by "to Lord yo 're gom' back on me. I won't Hand it. Why, If It hadn't a 'been for mo what would you boent nuthia' It Is npt pleasant to bo romlndcd that wo are under obllgatlons.to somo person for oui? ctlstcnco and prosoority. Allon Gray wkA so ungenerous us to become oflended. Un leaped to his toot, his- eyes flashing Jl re, an,d aeiilng" Mr, Himmons by tho. throat, had. the presumption to deny owing any of bts present wondorful prosperity to him, tfitxcmh aore!ttvlf.,f fc r v , j tfwald'I would glV-o'you ray support ho concluded, "Und so I w'H hen J the proper time comes, unless you oxaspcrato mo in,to breaking my promise; but I am detc'rmln'pd not td bo driven into making a fool of my-self." my-self." ' Why don't yo show yor hand,thon,cf yer fur niol" asked tho impatient Simmons. " It's not timo to show my hand yet, It'ft entirely too early, and you aro making a donkoy of yourself by insisting on It." "Well," growled BImmons, pulling on his soft felt hat, preparatory td golnfr, "when tho tlrao cpntf. you'vo got to show yor band." ' . CnAtTEIfVUI. ' noMrrnpo pmosiACAi. "Howd'you do to-day, Mr Crayl" asked Tonoy Barnes, entering tho editor's sanctum a low days affor tho events In tho last chapter. "Rather tired; bo soatod," Allon an-ancred, an-ancred, castlngu siisplclouu look ut a xu-dcrous xu-dcrous roll tinder Tone) 's arm. "I thought I would bring jou a atory," he sald,w;tla triumphant smile. "I heard ) ou was going to uso i no of Miss. Hopkins' novels, so I thought I'd bring you somo thing worth publishing, If 70U wucthavo a aorial." Allen assured him that ho wris in no neod of uny thing of tho klnd.nnd had never for a moment entertained a thought of publishing Miss Hopkins' story. "Not agoln' to publish It I" cried tho amazed Tonoy; " why, it's all over tho town and country, too, that you Intond runnln' her novel as a serial In tho Undrn JUpub-lie." JUpub-lie." "It Is a mistake" "I thought so. NothJn' sho writer is fit to bo lu print," said Tonoy, somewhat acrimoniously. acri-moniously. " Saya" sho used to contrlbuto to Harper, but I guoss 'twas to their wasto basket" "Tho number of wasto baskot contributors contrib-utors Is much greater than thoso whoso papers aro published." "Yes, I suppose so; but no onollkosto writu for tho editor's wasto baskot, it don't usually pay," returned Tonoy, "But Jot mo read you a fow chapters of 'Tho Blopriy Knlfo, or tho Wild Witch of tho Saatco Border.' "f " It would not bo worth whllo, Tonoy, for all our spaco is ongaged. Every inch that can bo spared lrom uows will bo devoted to adt crtlsoments." "Who wants to read advertisements I" said Toncy, with a look of disgust. "Thoy aro invaluablo to a coun'ry nowv papor. They brlug In consldora'jlo money, and without them wo rould lurdly cxUt " "I supposo it's money nn 1 nst tulnilt you want," sarcastically reluniM ho a a 'j t Allen smiUd, and then la . -a manner proceeded to explain tha ' ; very practical world, and eno o J :.l conduct business without doing "" ou '' l-ness l-ness principles. His story rahai bu v ry good, andust what somo ot'ow iuimt wanted, who wus tvllllnjto put n good pneu for It, but It was alueloss to him. " A doalor in dry-goods wants to buy dry-goods, dry-goods, and cau not bo Induced to psrchf.ftQ potatoes, no matter how good tho quality or how cheap they may bo offcrod him No matter how good your serial may be, I can not use It" Tonoy'a disappointment was eonslJerab'y allovlated by tho knowlndgo that Miss Hopkins' Hop-kins' storr had been roioctod also., A'tur J . - - -; vm thopollitc-lcampaiju Waio, 1, iv jn thought ho might pas d')ly bou'o.o-.u'.o n serial, nnd If ho fo ind 1 m-uif Ins n u position, would ba pleasod to iooi; i.t, 1 oa. y a manuscript leathering up thnt in'tor-u- rill, tho disappointed a jthoi It ft uj t !- vHhu sigh. Hottaano. tho fi'jt, no- . 1 1.5 bo tho iast,author to lieavo ol3h3 of d.mpp Jlnt-ment. Jlnt-ment. Oh, yo hard heartod pjblU'iT, what a dark account will yoar bo, wlion nil tho nlghs and tcari of dlannira.ntod authors aro arrayed uga.nst yoa ou thit final day i A day or two Inter, whllo Allen was struggling botweon nn urtlclo for tho up- ' building of Turloy's Point and tho mystery of tho great slono touno on tho hill, be heard a heavy -top at bis cldo and, looking look-ing up, saw Mr Strong. "I'm not ngirlno to stand It," cried Strong, ungrily. As mildly an ho could, tbo country editor askod for un explanation. " 1 "Yorplayiu' no toul." "You aro laboring ander a gravo mis-tako," mis-tako," Allen roturnoJ, making a groat effort ef-fort to keep nlj tempr. ' "No, I'm aot; fur I know yo nr'. Didn't yopronliamefaran' squar' yo'd support me fur sheriff I" "Yes." ' " An' yer gwino t' go bock on mot" ' "No, I'm not; unless )ou provoko me Into breaking ray promtso, yoa will re'celvo tho support sf tho" rrfcr cpiiint," i " But thoy'va got tho yarn 'gwino all over tho country that yer plodgod to Tom BImmons." BIm-mons." "orsherlff, I em plodjod tonq ono but yoursolf, Mr. Ktrong.nnd at tho pr&por Umo you shall roeeivo my hearty uppnrt," ld Allen, riling to his fost, hU fa:o miad with excitement " Now, pny no' attention to tho stories you hoar, nnd k"cp your intentions in-tentions to yourself, until tho Umo hascomo for you to mako your announcement" "I understand. Well, of yer gwlao to stand truo to mo, It's all right, but cf yo do go back on mo, I'm ugwmo to knock tbo props right out f ronr under yo, on' lot yo fall hard enough to break yor o7n neck; now wo understand ono anolbor, don't wo4" "I think wo do." "" ' "Vory woll, good-day." "Good morning, sir." ,j Although plodgcs had beon. renowed, and Via ambiUotis candldato fqr sheriff bad been reassured, It was evident that La w&s not tuUystlEodABoihhlmiolf,BUJTixn''Klro- 1 Jlll bciioVtnnffiJaruV'ttoy' waro s'usplcldus of o-, ory body. "Z 'ch f oarod that somo powerful iuCuenco, t'ut groat unknown prcsspra ivhtah politicians cniy como to drciul. wouJl bo brought to hour upon tho editor to allcnaU hint Thoywatchod oach other with hawklike oycs,andono net or, west to tho pr.nting 0OI00 that th o other dU not r.o.ico hiiu, aad at onco ourmiso that bo hid co-no to bny oil tho editor, Koch bad a vuguo behef (hat tho other was to Lo en eppnen for the cfSeo to which ho himself nsV'ri'Jt Tit thoy should bo candldntoj for different nmocs novor sntorod -into tho miai of cither.' Allon Qray was riot ono to gli up n mystery mys-tery unsolved. Having fallon In lova with tho young lady at tho mystorlous house, ho was fully dotornilnod on a solution to tho mystery woioU scorned cloualug Her Ufa and crushing all hor hopos. Notwithstanding Notwithstand-ing sho had urged ti'.a for Klf sao and hoc own to kocp away frctn hA s'ne mansion, man-sion, on tho evening aftur his InMnrtmr with Mr. Strong he found hlnslf on hi way toward the houso on tho hill. It was dusk boforo ho started, nnd tho moon, which hod grown so old It would not shlno until lata In the night, would glvo him no old. Tho front part of tho houso was dark and silent as If It bad been descrtod for years. This tlmo ho ventured up to tho great atono stops and gazed through tho Iron wlckot-gate. wlckot-gate. Ho could boo tho broad path loading up to tho houso, which was composed of flat, drcssod stones. A fountal.1 waB nn each sldo of tho path, but both woro Ulo now. No sign of a living croaturo could bo discovered, dis-covered, nor from any ot timo groat, doop windows was thoro to bo soon u singlo ray ot light " I will go completely around tbo houso," thought Allen, " and moro critically oxam-lno oxam-lno It than I havo over done." On tho cast, west and north sldos of tho houso tho walls woro of oak boards standing stand-ing upright. On bis tour around tho grounds Allon froqaontly halted to poop through a nsiodns jo tfunool u qiJnoqt lojan,3annoa Aq ojh em ojji'ncpuo fcVAt oijm aoptUU un coAt o-i riu aiqt 0 poddo;s joaou oji punoja poiwiqnuo aq suai oq inqipoAop; oq jvi oq punoifl oq; poqonoj oq uoqA,v oran B.iuouora oinq pojiiboj niaj oq; puu 'poq puu Suoijb 'oa)itu tou oh mow o'll oi03 niPI panduiojd qojqAt 03ndtn uaiouhuu omos jo ojnnuoApo ttopiooj joipids u u em At, CAtopniAt oqt jo QUO U10JJ Su0qs Xpiipiq3i Xjujjios u Sua fiA 'uqq oaojoq ss3ui(Jtp oq; U (In Sujsit bsojijo; ouuozia ouios o:pi pojiooj 11 -fluipnnq oqi jo Jtoj puu uopJiiU oqt jo a0A paoa n pnq oq qojqAt qSnojqt 'l jo opts ono i zyoxo v SBAvoJOiij, 'paaopi puno; pun 11 pojj oji oinii u unqt joop u jo ojoiu oq ot bti aoqtod -0 osota os 'ipaioq jjro ojqi jo opura sAt qoqu 'ovil juoj uqt poqocoa oq )tui ir '.Com iq odooS ot poaioj sum noitv leitl W 01 araojoq Xpv3J puq iJUAt oqt 0 osop aiooS seo iprj oqt ajoqM 'soared ui 'Jfjup ajoa umojO Xpeojpi Iraq V3U oqt 'iqi'iptn aun SajnosqOifOtaiduioo isoaqn epnop viMS jOAOOp mou ou oitm pinoj ;nq 'hav oqt u ipui Uous we, which hu fought raanfully to resist, re-sist, kept creeping over hln. Jtraaonust ho pai))-l under the very trto where he tad a .1. 1 iul.-ct of his at-f at-f eeUons bathed In toars. To blm It was hallowed hal-lowed ground. "Cb. Uortlio. Bortha. are von still miser- x' f uiat hu 1131.UU uu.isu.r, nxmg his cyos on tho gloomy old cnstlo-llko houeo Ho was Insldo tbo wjII almost boforo ho know It, nnd did not find it terv dlOcult to Induco himself to go quite up to tlio houso nnd try to lcurn sometiic ' rf l-a inmalos. Ho followed fol-lowed a path lc ah ! t lrouqli a gardon, under un-der somo loafy bowers until ho camo to tho roar of that Immense structure, whoroho halted. In ono of tho basement windows ho now saw n BPeond light It was a very dim light, nnd could not bo aeon a fow yards from tho building Allen oupposed it was a light usod by semo of.tho norvantn cngngod In thoir hcuscbold duties Though ho listened list-ened long and cat ofully, no sound, not oven tho ticking of a clock, co.U bo heard. Long he stood ga:lng thronf It tho basement window win-dow down Into the, dl.nly lighted riom. His poraovoranco rcooivod its rcwurd nt last A pale, gliiitnko Ipra m I01151 wmto robo glided novas tho room It mndo no moro notso than n loathor being waflAl 1 across tho floor by tho breath of a pljrtal child I Despito his skepticism on supernatural I questions, Allen ti 1 told chills r inning up bis Bplno, whllo hh bnlr seemed to almost stand upon end. TL t oght bocajao niter. nnd moro ghost-like nd no cmtld hardly bo- 1 Uovohovas not t'azjjgitponftclngsof on- ! other' world tipo 1 bauud -o tlood crazing nt that m stlo nguro sliding as notsoicssly about tho room m if it uo-ned upon air, Ijto I put his hand upon tho window which was half aboto aad half iwlow tbp surface of the' . ground, and found It praincted by lrn bars ofoctually preventing; Ipgrsi o(' egress. "Thetioiut l a jjrwiui'" though Allen, heold bnstllo could nol hat olqokcd moro grim and terrible than that h4ust on'tEfs ' dark night ' Ho woht to nno'.hor window vplph he nlso found barred, but It wns so Intensely dark within that ho could r.t first sea uothlng As his cyos bjoaso moro njrustonied to tho gloom, ho mado out nn object that sucmed moving abott within. Wns It man or boaatt 1 Blowly It drew cearor nn 1 uear'ir to tho ' Window, until a pair of gteat bolloty eyes j seemed gazing Into bla fanq.. Was It men or tnoastorl Novcr had. ho yn euch a faco, .noyer bohold sucj blazing ejcB, las now 'jglarod nt Wm from, tho drrjtnoss of that jnystorlpas ohznt'ooh Pro?ibn,VitHaDtrango, unknown borrcrt'aondvuntufor stood gaz- infflntotuat-fteo. ) ,f Suddenly a wild, dunonlrcallnugq sccmod to shako tho old building tolU foundation stomal) ' Tbo t poll vntc.VcuaIn4ltaniM .upprpssnd cxelaafttlo.vof terror. icn.vt'xJn ix. cnAnnm wrrjl ia,ic;iir,nn Dospltonll his CoUrj-'ia'tl jlljjls skepticism skep-ticism inghootu.Allon.araT'f.-aa fijpvortomo with tetTor that ho sbrmk frpn tho window, win-dow, Thai hor.blo citntaroClgUrodat him through tba Jrua XiSi iouTJ cot bo hu-man hu-man ( - Hd had run ccrosn ilia Irtvn In the gardon 'boforo ha to i',d cJllJi-t hi 1 w is r,u21 lent to rcmem'w tvliero ho Was 11 i-cs liaston-Ing liaston-Ing through tin f.ird in w'1011 lib dlacovoral a llguro lu whi.o cutoiiuc it Hunimor houoe. Allon enmo to 1111 r.1i upt halt On that figure glided until JH-jJ dtoiip'xiarrd luildo tho summor houso, Thra isa-od therefrom a lqw, mu3lo.il yolcov a.vjiitor by far than thofalry'a nholl -li npUlnlic song. LSko tho enchanted boainnu, ho draw ucaror to listen. Thonb wai nuw to him, nnd, tho words being in 1'rciK.h, ho could nottlndor-. nottlndor-. stand lhemv I Tho slngor oearco onako r.bovo n whisper, yctcachnotowad'stlncta -dcNir Hlsfonr tvas gono lu a moment, ntidho stood tlirlllod with plenums nt i.rand of that fnmllinr volco. The falrsl:i;erhJhtd jooognizodos Brtha, nndb) d?!u.'n'aoJ uatwgoaway without auo'ln-u'.UTCiil, at lo.iat, to liavo an lntorview w.th bor "Oa,Borthe, Brr'ilif IconldonlytAko you frnat this trt anl -iti yoi happy, I ttwrcU tv Vim ray rec-tk. U life was so-oomplbiksd,!" so-oomplbiksd,!" He roaclod tho summer houso, snd fearing fear-ing that ita abrupt oatranca cil;ht frighten hor, ho wont to tho roar and halted within n fow foot of wbcro t'ia banutiful singer sat. Sho ceased olnjiu ', n'acl a alf'a cleaning hor lips told t'io In' mdei thusha .mi Jul How was bo to ra-.:o hliuiJlf lmovn1 Even whllo ho wtipsUjiliuon thatmat-ter thatmat-ter sho 1-030 f root hor aoat nnd camo out nt tho roar door Tho clajjj whlo'i had obscured ob-scured tho faint starlight at this momont rollod away, and tho features ot both tbo intruder and astonished girl booumoquito distinct Sho stopped and gazod at him for a moment mo-ment In cllont nmazomont. Any othor girl would havo shrloLoJ, swoonod or Mod at tho sudden apparition, but Bortha was no ordinary ordi-nary poroonago. "Why did you como horo!" sho askod, In a Bod, reproachful manner. "I warned you novor under uny circumstances to en-tor en-tor thoso grounds, under ponnlty of death; Why do you lnjist In disoboying mo!" Allen won for several momentB unablo to answer, becauso ho had no rcasonablo ox-cuso ox-cuso to mako At last ho oald; "Do notroprovo jo, Miss Collins, lor las. suro you that It was no morbid curiosity that brought mo." "Could you understand tho danger In which jou placo youmolf by coming hero," said tho pretty glr), taking a fow steps nearer to him, "you would not do bo. It is dangerous to you and to mo. It would bo death to us both to bo discovered here." Allen Gray was ohly deeper pi jnged Into this dark mystery. Ho waa spcnchloss, bis brain socmo 1 stupoflod, and ho was Incupa-blo Incupa-blo of thinking. Ho stood dumb, amazed and almost us rwllid ns tho irirlbeforo him, nao camo quito ctoso tu auii, auu K)o-Ing K)o-Ing In a cautious undertone that could not bo beard a dorcn paces away, said : "Go away, Mr. Gray; go at once, and never como near ma again If you valuo your llfo." " Will you go with mo to tho gatcl" he askod. "Wlllvoulcavo thonl" "I gtvo you my sacred promlso that! Tl will," saldAllon, earnestly. B Ho took the arm of the trerabllnct (rrH. H wttliln hU own, nnd in alienee they walked' ,H to tho gate. Horo thoy halted, both casting, lH anxious glances at tbo great old houso H which roso up so gloomily before them. To1 H thorollefof both ull was qulot, and there. H was no ono In tho yard. I ,H " Oo, go," said Bortha, eagerly. Though, H speaking Inn whlspor, bcr volco trcmblod, 'B with passion nnd fear. "It -would bo 'fata, for you to bo discovered hero; It muld W HBVH your ruin death " Hlic boenmo choked with sobs, and Jorn moment wns silent) ' tHHBH " Bortha," said Allen, his volco straagelV calm, "jou are In. greia distrcas wlut U , 1 ui" "VjavaYI "Oh, donotaslc," she nHawcrod, contino-t ,HBVBb lng to sob. "lyOjivm o mjnilscrjr cod ''BBBfll ptornuldoom 1 nn '.ha ntcni WctcJiod off humanr. r.x; f us is txuJed, utd it Is uftiijoss) HBVH fpro'horoiiu.a.-.-.ia to:i,u j:o. ;tiruy-- ' IHH go n w ' ,' t r.-.t. It'il r.ot lmve to-) zlcnaln tb). H (tlstroao V.'liuliufU Tuil iu.j Uu.t i!"aaf HBpfl help you." HBVH " I can not, tlaro not tclL" HBVH " Bortha, you nro mlsorable herel" BBVJ A sob was tho only answer. HBVJ "Let mo tako you away from this lerrieto place." ' "Ncs.no, no; not for the world. Do Bet H think of that Iran not lenvo-I a feett flHnJ horo-Vy bands atrungor than Iron." IBbH ' How long Lavo you lived hero l" t ' "Not moro than bight months theagls 'BBBJ seems so munyngca."' ' HBVJ 1 Another memoul'a awful sIloBeeJbllowed,- H and tbon Alien, becoming dosporate, sJd;7 ' H "Bcrthn, 1 would aid you If 1"csh1(1-I-4 1 Wollld givo toy ilfo if uoocssary-V ' H "Hush hush-" sho quickly jn term jte3i-"' H solzbig bis arm, "You htuwVai what yo 1 0 H say. Ob, why don't jou fol Oo, laHoav- H en's munc, nnd let u Torgot that, 70 ever H met, 11 lam doomofi nnd why'aboul4 . H you wlstj to drag both jvursclf and myseU HH down to ruin I" and. oamploUily nrrrijamn. H sho buriod'hor beautiful faco In her band. H Dazed, oowlldorod ufid coujusod,. AUem B Grayttaggorcd and caught ut tho wall tor 1 support. What woa iio to do, tow could 4'H romovothapurdeu'fronl this object ot,kl aOSctionrit Ho imod to ,rocJljo aUt H wasjost, Jbsttohun lororcr,' ', . . , " 4 H A voice at talk moment; la the &rectl of ,. '-, H the great old liouso caused both to s4art '.H and,lhe.beautlfulgjrfngaia tolringhUJift .H ' "Willie Nimblj'M(Mur4jgAlUii leaped Ik ''H wall, nnd "lthliH Maff In ivhlrl, ai f O thousand 1 imictinff .tl.ojJghtr.'sWbyinff hi H hoart, inrnod to thevtUso. " n M The uivstcry mirrouiljlng, taeojisMn ..1 houso and its iniwitos eesred orpry.no- (H moot crowing im5ro cotnt ticafed. Alien H Gray 'ml nays prided bimsojf on nsvlng H a great dual of insight i)to humaiTchazao- ir, and lai.cloil thrtt her. could read pooplo as open pages, and horo was ono H who ocXlod all -bis dklU. Who was Has licrthal Her tueo mid her namo'wora H Anglo Haxon, but her education and mi- HH ners I'rcncli. That sho spoko tbo languag fluently, nd might bo mistaken for a nature H Krenchwomau bo did not loubtyet when H conversing in English tftcreuas notovea. H tho slightest foreign nccont on nertongiM.' H I3li0 was in cnlgmu, nnd tho Woro he strove" to oolvo tJio problem, tiio moro difllcult it be- camo of solution, -Aiidther Blcoploss night, another Ugbt H breakfast, and again nt Ids oftlcd with H a heavy hoart nnd uchJng honiL Ho wm H struggling manfully to fix his mind upon a ' H tbo bustnosa boforo him, whun tbo door eofw " M ly otwncd and n f armor entered. H " Yer tho editor, nlu't yo I " bo asked. H "Yos,sir." '1 "Well, I fotched yojtlttio piece about H our nbighboihood fur yo to print in 59'ufr H paper. Ef yo uso it I think I kin git yo sotn H sipiiorq out our way." " Wbcro do you livol" H " Down ou Billy's Crick," nnswored tbt H Ho was un nnprotcntlons author, wearing M his panto Jn hut thick uonhldo boots, Was ia -gH his Bhlrt oloovcs, nnd woro a soft broad- LiIIIh brjmmedhatonblshcad. Ills "gal uses" H wcro homo mndo, and ho bad all tho peculiar fl characteristics of 11 denizen of Billy 's Crook. ' H Allen took tho oil ot MS., and after much H "TKIt TUE EDITOn, AIN'T TBI" troublo unrolled and smoothed it out eo ' H it conld bo read. An amateur mnnusenct bI maynsnnllybo recognized by being rollod issl i so tightly that tho editor's patlonco is ex- H hausted boforo lio can get it In shape to H I read. Froquontly tho manuscript Is rejected fl I without being read for this very reason. .ijH Tho manuscript contained only a few now ,. . ,aM Items, as follows!, - '.cii"" H Continued noxt week 'H |