Tjiv, 01 BVFffi I .. CHAPTER VII Continued "Why, you're nothing hut a lady's You've been honip five in ii Id, Jane. lays find I haven't had a chance tj say ten words to you. Now, don't misunderstand me. I'm fond of Aunt She's great fun, hut, hung it the censor of the stage all the time. It isn't fair. Jane. You can't go on being a slave to her. She" "She has always had some one to wait on her, Oliver," said Jane. "I don't mind. I am really very fond of her. And she Is just beginning to care for me. At first, I think she was a little afraid of me. She couldn't believe that I was real. The other day tn Chicago she suddenly reached out and touched my arm and said: 'It doesn't seem possible that you ever squalled and made the night hideous for me and your poor father. I can't believe that you are the same little baby I uted to fondle and spank when I' wasn't any older than you are now.' Besides. Oliver. I like doing things for her. It makes father happy." "Kilt It doesn't make me happy." he grumbled. Then his face brightened. "Wasnt she great last night when she got started on Uncle Horace and and all this hullabaloo he's stirring up?" The fourth day after his wife's return to Rumley, Mr. Sage blurted out the question that had lain captive In his mind for weeks. "If It Is a fair question, my dear, would you mind telling me just why you came hack to me?" She leaned back In her chair nnd studied the ceiling for a few minutes before answering. "I may as well be honest about It. rierby," she said, changing her position to meet his perplexed gaze with one that was absoluteiy free from guile. "I came hack because they were throogh with me cer there. I was getting passe In fact, I was quite passe. They were beginning to cast me for old women and character parts. Two or three years ago they started my funeral services by seeing what I could do with Shakespeare. I was through. My musical comedy days were over. The stage was crowded with young women who could dance without wheezing like a horse with the heaves and whose voices didn't track In the middle register. People Mdn't want to see me In musical comedy any longer, and they wouldn't see me In anything else. I'm Herbert between you and me. mind .you and Just the right age to be a 'preacher's wife. So I made up my imlnd to retire. You notice. Herby. I didn't cable to ask If I could come Jiome I cabled that I was on the way. Kow, yew know i he secret of my homecoming. By the way, I've put by a little money anite a sum, in fact so you mustn't regard me as a charity patient. We'll pool our resources. And when the time comes for you to step down and out of the pulpit for the same reason that I chucked the stage why, we'll have enough to live cm for the rest of our days. You won't have to wrile sermons and preach 'em. nnd I shan't have to listen to them. It's an awful thing to say. but we'll hoth have to mend our ways If we want our grand hildn n to love us." lie laid bis arm over lier shoulder and gently caressed her cheek "You are still pretty much of a pagan. Jo." was all that he uhl. but be was smiling. "Hut you are Jolly well pleased to have me back, aren't you?" "More overjoyed than I can tell you." "No doubts, no misgivings, no uneasiness over wh.it I may do or say to shock the worshipers?" "1 have confidence in your ability as an act rem, .losrphine," he said. "1 am sure you can play the part of a lady ns well as anything She flush-- d. "Score one," slie said. Then she sprntig tu her feet, the old light of mischief In her wonderful eyes. "Bui. Derby, wind's going ! happen when I spring nil my spang'cs in the Innocent public?" "1 jhudder when think of It." said he, llftin;: his eves heavenward. evi-r"I respectable costume I've worn in the hist ten years and Mime that are shocking. Twelve tri n! s fiill of them. I shan't "Never mln I. old dear. til, she's right smack In uy ucuryc n uzu r I iitL.uttucuu WNU Service Copyright. Bell Syndicate good thing you've got your Chinese army, because you won't be able to get anybody to work for you In this town." "I guess that's up to the authori ties," said the detective coolly. "I'm here to boss the job, that's all." That afternoon the sheriff and the prosecuting attorney stopped electioneering long enough to pay a hasty visit to Oliver. Half an hour later they left Detective Malone nnd his partner, who had joined the county officials at the Baxter house, remained behind. They were smoking Oliver's cigars. "How long do you figure It will take you, Mr. Malone, to finish up the Job?" inquired the young man. Malone squinted at the tree-top"Our Instructions are to work slowly and surely. It may take six or eight weeks." "In other words, yon are not expected to be through before election day." "Unless we find what we are after before that time, Mr. Baxter." said the other. "It's a big Job, as you can see for yourself. Like looking for a needle In a haystack, eh, Charlie?" His partner nodded his head In silent assent. "We'll go out and take a walk around the swamp tomorrow," said Malone. "If you've got the time to spare, Mr. Baxter, you might stroll out with us now to the place where you last saw your fa'her. Then I'll want to question your servants. It seems that he Is supposed to have come home to change his clothes after he said good by to you." "He did not say good-hto me," corrected Oliver. "We parted In anger." "Do j'ou know a man named I'eter Dines, Mr. Baxter?" asked Malone abruptly. "Pete Illnes? Certainly. lie Is a tenant of my father's. Lives, in a shack up at the other end of the y it, you nnd he sat for some time on that log over lliere. It was a clear night and the road was very dusty. There had been no rain In over three weeks. Am I right?" Oliver stared at him In amazement. The other detective had turned down Ihe slope nnd was striding off towurJ the nearest ditch. "You seem to be pretty well posted," said he, his eyes narrowing. "Well, I am an Inquisitive sort of cuss," drawled Malone. "And I'm not what you'd call an idle person." "Who told we were sitting on that log? We did sit there fur 10 err 13 minutes. That was before we began tn quarrel. Then we got up and vvuiked on a little farther down the road. We stood there arguing for nearly balf-ahour. But who told you we sat on that log?" "If you don't mind, I'll not answer that question." said Malone. "You asked me a while ago If I had seen I'ete Hlnes that night. Was it I'eter Hines?" Malone hesitated. "Well, It was Pete Dines who Is supposed to have seen you. Mr. Baxter, but It was not he who told me about It." Author of " Toilers of the Trail." " The Whelps of the Wolf" J 1 s. vr ,4f "As I Underhand It, You and He Sat for Some Time on That Log Over There?" swamp, lie has done odd Jobs for us since I can remember, lie also does most of the drinking for Hie estate," he concluded dryly. e. 1 -- I'.'e--jo- - - LASCELLE3 Sl'NOPSIS. With David, half-breguide, Brent Steele, of the American Museum of Natural History, is traveling; In northern Canada. By a stream he hears Denlse, daughter of Col. Ullalre St. Onse, factor at Walling; River, play the violin superbly. He Introduces himself and accepts an tnvltation to make the post his home during his stay. lie finds the factor worried and mystied. The "log: chateau" Is a real home. From St. Onge he learns of the mysterious creature of evil, the Wlndlgo, and the disappearance of a canoe and Its crew, with the season's take of furs. Then at night the Wlndlgo gives a weird performance. Kven StPele Is mystified. David, Steele's Indian, and ed head-maMichel, St. Onge's leave for the scene of the canoe's disappearance In an attempt to solve the mystery. St. Onge tells Steele that Lascelles, the comn, CHAPTER VIII pany's manager at Fort Albany, seeks his ruin in order to compel Denlse to marry him to save her father. Steele and Denlse fall In love. Steele finis the track of the Windigro huge and much David finds the like a bear's. same thing. Indian In St. Onge's employ, is caught to Steele's talk with listening David and Michel, and roughly handled. Louis Laflamme, factor at Opoke, makes application for the hand of Denlse. Pierre, Indian from Ogoke, visits the Walling River post. A Blow for Sammy Malone changed the subject abrupt"That's a great fish story they .tell about the gypsy prophesying you'd be hung before you were thirty." "If you will excuse me, Mr. Malone, I must be getting back to the house. It's nearly 7 o'clock nnd I am expelling people to dine with me," said Oliver a little coldly. "I'm sorry I've detained you," said the detective apologetically. "I'll stroll back with you, If eou don't mind." "Where is your partner?" inquired Oliver, looking out over the swamp. "Charlie? Oh, he'll be along directly, lie seeing about how long It would take a man to walk out to the edge of the mire and back," said Maly. Tete-Boul- CHAPTER V - half-breed- CTi-Pl- y. j With the cximing of the canoe with news from Feather lakes. Wailing River was again thrown Into a panic of fear of the night prowler. After a hurried talk with St. Onge, Steele starteTd up 4he rivet, bound, for Rig Feather lake. He had little hope of discovering anything which would throw light on the mystery. But one thing piqued the curiosity of the three men. They were keenly Interested In finding tracks similar to those near the post, for they carried the exact measurements of the latter, and In case they tallied with those at the Feather lakes, forty miles away, they would have discovered a new and most peculiar trait in animal habits, namely, a beast with feet strangely like a bear's, which had ranged forty miles within a few days. On the morning of the second day the canoe was traveling In the easier water Inshore, when Michel, poling In the bow-- , suddenly exclaimed: "Keqnay! Look!" On the shore, ahead, were the remains of a firp and near It what resembled the body of a man. With a few strong thrusts of the po'es, the canoe was driven to the beach. The men en peel ashore. I'.cfore them stretched beside the dead fire. lay nn Indian, hideously mutilated. "He has been literally torn to pieces," stuttered Steele. "A bear alone co"H lave done this, and yet I never heard nf such a thing." David was on hi knees searching for tracks In the dry loaves, when a cry from Michel drew the attention of the others. "Look ! Track on de shore !" and tht Iroquois pointed to n patch of mud churl y marked by the prints of huge 1 ' feet. e ' Great Discovery The lits! gn nt iistrotioiiile-adiscoy. cry made by the use of lite telescope was the achievement of (hillleo. wIki, ."ill; years ago, eli.. covered the mitel-lite- s of Jupiter. This was known us a planet l the f'ba 'deans. It Is said, some ".OPii years before the Christian tii, but It re'imilned for Cailieo to c!i. cover It atfeiicliiiit tiatdlltes, four In l iiU'iiber iitbrr remarkable discoveries Inin n's ring. tii na-.'cluded spot a and lie Marry nature of the M:!ky nay. Jalib'o, win, met with a great deal of opposition It, upholding the I rtilh of ti e Ce.pernican system of astronomy, died January 8, liWJ, cm Its uimiv ersiiry of tils great dlcoverr. Continued The grave face of the Indian had suddenly assumed an expression so sinister as to arouse the white man's curiosity. "By gar I We are de fool!" "What d'you mean?" For answer, Michel leaped Into the canoe and poled rapidly upstream for a few hundred yards, while the puzzled Steele looked on. Then the Indian swung the nose of the boat down river and paddled past them In midstream. "What In thunder Is he driving at, David?" "We are de fool for sure," was the laconic answer as Michel swept by with his ej'es on his friends, then threw the bow of the canoe to the shore and landed. "He nevalre pass here wldout seeln' dls camp." Michel's maneuver was explained. "Dat Pierre pass here two sleeps back," said Michel, joining Steele. "Dees man bin dead t'ree, four day an' de tracks on de shore are old one. De riviere rise after de rain twe sleeps back. De Windigo mak' dem tracks here before de rain," and Michel pointed to some footprints which were barely covered by water. "Suppose he did not notice this camp, what then?" "He was hongree an hunt for game ; he sees dees camp for sure." David nodded In agreement. "Then why did he not tell us?" "Dat ees w'at I ask heem tonight at Wailln Riviere." "Cut why should he come so far to make trouble here, as you say? What CHAPTER VI Is behind It all?" For an Instant, Michel seemed on The twenty miles of hard running the point of making a revelation. Then, river down to the fort was covered by evidently changing his mind, with a the three skilled canoemen In a few shrug of his bony shoulders, he an- hours. On arriving, they hastened to swered : "We see some day." the trade house. Steele opened the Steele and David exchanged puzzled ponderous slab door and entered, follooks. What could Michel have In the lowed by the two to learn bnck of his head? that Wailing River had a visitor. us-s'.- Galileo' e, 10 lone coolly. Oliver looked at him sharply. "So that's the idpa, eh?" he remarked, after a moment. "We Intend to conduct this Investigation in an open and above-boarmanner. Mr. Baxter." (TO UK CONTINICD) (Copyright by the Penn Publishing N. JJ. Service.) (TV. u "And I shall be open and ahove-hoarwith you. Mr. Malone," said Oliver, a trace of Irony in his voice. "I hope, therefore, that you won't take It amiss If I suggest that the sensible thing for your man to do wocilfce to make his calculations at nlchjl'when 'A frent progress would Ilaturally deal slower and i Infinitely uitW hazardous." "I've taken that into account." the detective, looking straight ahead. "I was about to say that it's going to take n good deal of tight squeezing. Mr. Baxter, to get you indicted, tried and executed inside of the next 30 days. The time is pretty short, eh?" He laughed jovially. Oliver turned on him. "i n knock your d d head off, Malone. if you make any more cracks like that. thot. will you?" he cried hotly. Malone was genuinely surprised. He went very red In the face. "Y.s." he Ki;!,l illicitly. be sure to remember It." Oliver apologized to Malone as they were on t lie point of separating iu front of the house. They had traversed the hundred yards or more in sib nee. I am perry I spoke to you as I did Mr. Malone. I hope you will overlook it." Malone held out his hand. "I've been spoken to a gom it rougher than that in my time. Mr. Baxter, an.I never turned a hair," he said "I don't h nine you fr culling uie down. I guess I was fresh. I;ut I e you I didn't mean to be." A little later on Oliver sat on hi? front porch waiting for his, guests to arrive. Mrs. Crimes, in her snug black silk dress, rocked Impatiently In a chair nearby. The gue.sla w i re late. "It's Josephine Sage," she observed crossly, breaking a long silence. "Sbe'i the one that's making "em late." He lool ed at h!.i watch "It's eetdy Thcv'rc only l.V ":". Aunt Serepta. minutes late. I've been losing my tem-pr again." Iip said g'oomlly. "Probably made an enemy of that defective. Malone." "What difference docs that make? Ile not a voter In this county." salj the olel lady compose, ;iy, "Dere they (cue. (loudness! The way that I'nrr hoy drives! He ought to be locked up for " But Oliver wns at the hn'fom of th step waiting for the automobile. It swv.ng around the curve In the drive and came to on unbelievably gentie stop. ices By GEORGE MARSH d "A sou-eb?" "I've never known him to be completely Holier and I've never heard of dr. ink." bim hein T.v llii' vva. have ou ever seen un betore today?" "Not to my knowledge." "Well." said Malone, with a twinkle In his eve- - "I've been h inging tiron.j ti'.is bmg sitie last Monday five days, in nil I'm the fellow that Hold Mrs. et of (iriaies the I .e.iu: ICul illustra.t .lane Ausien s woiv;s day before yesillKgrnee yei'i. I've got a few rosprtu s terday. I also sold an iinexpur-'ale- d I will vet of the- - Arabian Nights to Mr S. mip! on in private fur von heart, II r iv, il Ti't look so hor- nd Parr. II" tells me your fattier earI've m.H got tn v waning-- ' th d a SIo.ixki life policy. I tried to sell rified. certificate though find only knous a s"t of fiickoos to l!ev. Mr. Sage, an I .v here it is." nccee ii. il in havl ig a long talk with lie cleared his throat. "I've gut it, his dacg'Uer. I've- had with Von nogle-tetu tni.c It Mr. Sil.es nnd Mr. I.'nk. Haul er I. an my dear. away with joii when you Ic.'t." slig. .tohti f! il'ips atid a number of it was (Cher cl'izciis. male and female" She smiled. "Well. I dare-a- y lie safer with you llmti It would have lac;r'i(l iu. t!y. "(If course, lie- boo' will never b- - delivered. Mr. Buster been with inc." Khali we stroll down to the s.vrtip. It was the fourth week In Septem- Mr. Baxter, or would you rather wait n ber when the detective arrived In day or two? We're in no hurry, you see " Burnley. The city editor of th- ! I hn. Interv e M.i'eue. Detective "This Is obvious." patch (IIv,r cirtly. the chief operative In char:" of vvh.it "I mint not fy you, Mr. M.t!ot.e. that If in man was joco-elthe leu or any of your workmen slip Into clitierT to HaMa'f v as the "i ."1.! ifin." one of tho e pits of mire out there nr. I "Wher" do yon Iniend to be. in ex never come cp rgain. I urn li"l to be cavafire. Mr Malonc?" Inquired the held accountable." fdifor. niehoo in b.ml. "Itil.tn:" said Malone cheerily. Mr. .Viilotie v.h very fmrk about it. The;, we're weil around the rnrm-of " I ini.w en Ha ir way to the s.vamp "In China," said lie, "We're t'oing to work from li e I ol!o:n up. If voull road hel'Te Oijw r spok" nga'n. "Vo l are at libe-fto go a f ir cc;t to fitll to tiie swhc ;i towe rrov and h i ve-- er Mr. Maioiie." i;t tour ear to ihe groua I jit'i'II bear a you l ph i if. "I "I said Ma'one lien's voices but jem won t understand l he speakm' f tn nil old h and at fhi business. I n word they s.iv. J 'ii'neM'." don'? believe such a Ihi'ij exists as a The eit lor evel hlfii 111 n cold, 'ti'ml-e-- i' bottomless p;t Now, J'ist where Was I'uitim l. "f'tiiph!" lie grunted, It tint you and your fjther (nried bui. "It' S COIPpllTIV ti i't night AS I l id'THlHUd fl.j.v'r;- - ' TlK-y'l- yEPHI. UTAH S d fifty-thre- el-e- ." TTME-NFW- 'They're ringer for the tracks nenr the post," said Steele, and he took froi hi pocket strip of rawhide of the dimensions of the footprint which had frightened Charlotte. Tn breadth, len jh nn.i character, the tracks in the mud were Identical with those near Itlvrr. Tin-- three friends Walling Ionl:d blankly at each other. "U the same bird." said Steele. Dmld removed his felt hat and scrafHied hi broad forehead. "No hearlravel forty mile nn. back twev.ty onle somct'ing drive beem," he Insisted "Hit bear don't mutilate bodies like th!s."ndded Steele. "Wl." muttered Ihe Ojibway. "dee one niak' de mess ov dees poor feller all de same. W'nt you go!n' do?" A Ihe feature were obliterated, Michel was busy examining the kit of the d'td man In nn attempt to Identify hitn as nn Indian trading at the post, "He pun ee French company gun, but de kettle and knife I nevalr see before, i I fink ect pes not Walling Itlvlere Tiunter." "Who'cnuld ho be, then, traveling on this fver o late in the year?" "I"et rts ver' strange," muttered the hcndir.n I Ti.e ; "I'cf t bear ee de Wlndlgo," Dn Ie face contracted In a oi;w r!i kle. n J e grinned at Steele, "i at we do den?" vhl' e , v. net-wnr- W!nd't or no Wlndlgo. David, he's he rtcn In front- nf m " ttieefilf i or yours Maiinllcl Why, what's Uie nifitc Michel?" Co. bing it Into the skeptical Lascelles. bona-tid- e Windigo In this valley, monsieur a most interesting situation to a scientist, 1 assure you. The Indians are in a panic and you will have difficulty iu keeping them on their trap-line- s tills winter." "You, a scientist, believe In Indian sorcery and superstition?" demanded the Frenchman, sarcastically. "Well, now, that Is somewhat difficult to answer, monsieur," badgered Steele, to the delight of the two swart-face- d men with whom he nad entered. "I have heard the Windigo wail in the night; I have seen his tracks; and I have just returned to report to Monsieur St. Onge that we have found up near the mouth of Stooping river the remains of an Indian torn to pieces, evidently by this same Windigo." "What do you say?" St. Onge was on his feet. "This morning we found the camp and body of a strange Indian the tracks were identical with those you saw near here on the trail." Then Steele suddenly changed the subject. "Where Is that Pierre who came here from the Feather lakes the day we left? Michel wishes to ask him some questions." "He left this morning. Didn't you pass him on the river?" A muttered curse from Michel met Steele's backward glance. "Too bad I" exclaimed the Ameri"You have a can. "I suppose, monsieur, you attribute the loss of our furs to this same Windigo?" broke In Lascelles. "Oh, undoubtedly, inspector," replied Steele, with a suspicious curl of the lip. his blood slowly rising at the tone used by the man from Albany. However, above all things, he had to consider St. Onge and Denlse. he told himself, and not to allow this follow to lure him Into a hostile attitude. "I see you are Joking," rejoined the Frenchman, flushing. "On the contrary, I am very far from Joking when I tell you that there are mysterious things afoot In this valley which neither my experience nor scientific knowledge are able to Yon had better go nprlver fathom. tomorrow and see for yourself. You seem skeptical regarding the whole , matter. "Have you never seen a dead man before, monsieur?" derided Lascelles. "I fear It has gone to your head this Windigo matter." St. Onge excitedly half rose from his chair, as the cool gray eyes of his guest slowly surveyed the man from Albany, from moccasins to hair; and then fell back relieved, when the American, flushed, but In control ot himself, drawled : "Monsieur, you were formerly a man of wnr, a soldier, while I am only a peaceful man of science. To you It Is but natural that violent death should be a familiar sight, while to me It Is most terrifying. Why, I find It most repulsive eve n to clean a fish." So Innocuous was Steele's smile, and so guileless his manner, that Lascelles, conscious of tolng played with by the rugged American, found no words to reply, but sat in Impotent Then the retreating hacks of Michel and whose David, shaking shonhlers betrayed their suppressed mirth, spurred the I'.evlllon man to answer: "If you are so afraid of Hood," he sputtered, "why are you hunting this Windigo?" Steele smiled down good nalurpdly at the man he would have blithely buttered with his fists, and leaving the two men at the trade-house- , sought out Denlse St. Onge. welcome "Oh, back! Monsieur Steele," she said, forcing a smile, "1 have Just heard that you have made a terrible discovery." "Please, we will not talk of that " he Insisted. "I have something to say to you before I go. tomorrow. Tonight there will be no opportunity." He wondered If Lascelles had seen her s'nee hi arrival that afternoon, but It did not matter. "We are lo make n wide circle of the country," he went on. "nnd will be away until I leave for Neplgon." Her sens't ve fii'-quickened with emotion a she Ilstenod. "Mademob elle St. On?p." he liesran, "I have no right to sk this from you, but in Jiritlce to yourself I must." She slatted to speak, as If In protest, then her troubled eye squarely met his. -- J4i9f"iy ra-r- With a Smile Steele Extended Hand. His St Onge behind the trade wns a short, thick-se- t si ran- Seated with counter ger, wearing a cap with an insignia in gold braid. "M'sien Lascelles," whispered Michel over the shoulder of the American. St. Onge nnd Lascelles were evidently In the midst of a heated conversation In French, for they Ignored Steele's entrance. "You are as superstitions as you claim the Indian to be. I am not Interested In this Windigo Rtuff," Lascelles said when St. Onge, glancing toward the door, saw Steele. "You are back so soon, monsieur? And you have news?" The factor appeared relieved at the appearance of the man he thought far uprlver. Brent Steele's back stiffened as he advanced to meet the man who had the power In his hands to crush the g'rl over In the factor's quarter, whose rare qualify he would never sense, whose soul he would never know. As lie walked around behind there was a set to the his heavy shoulders, a glint In the gray eyes, which did not pass unnoticed by the me-- he approached. "Momleur Steele, this Is Inspector Lnsceiles of the Itevillon Frerea." With n smile Mteele extended n band, hnrd h a spruce knot, nnd grasped the fingers of the puzzled and curious Lnscelle. "I missed meeting you at Albany, Inspector, In August. You were over at Moose when I called." The l"ick eyebrows of Lascelles ro.--e n he now Identifier! the stranger whose presence at Waiting River lie found mot t annoying for hi plans. "Oh, ye, Mon-ieu- r Stride, the American scientist; I thought yon left Albany weeks ago hound for the he suggested pointedly. but I stumbled on "I el!d, monsle-nra most Interesting situation here relit In my line, you know. I found what I have been fenrrhlng for, for jenrs." Steele was losing no time rub trade-counte- N'ep-Igon- ," , man-eatin- g I Is Lascelles in the plot, too? Or are three suitors pressing their suit each In his own way? (TO JIB CONTINUED.) Combinea Fan and Fountain One of the most reiinirknlile pnltn tree In the world I to be found In West Africa. lis branches grow In the shape of a fan, nnd always east lo west, and are filled Willi a cool, plea, ant tasting liquid, which often Save the live ef travelers whoso water supply has rua thert. Los Angcie Time. The eternal sfnr hfn .vjt rs I dark enough i'arlTi na It mum