| Show VTWO ON A TRAIL I I5y WILLIAM P HOWE Assisted by ABE HUMMEL Illustrated by I A 33 SIT Copyright All rights reserved Vy dis i Dr Hcnsbaw aind it exclaimed ex-claimed Herr Stcinmetz as he laid his great hand on the shoulder of a man walking rapidly past him on lower Broadway Yere haf you pin all ills time Hat you your old fronts forgot The doctor was in anything but an amiable frame of mind when his meditations medita-tions were suddenly cut short by this inopportune inop-portune recognition by an old acquaintance acquaint-ance With a deep frown on his brow he lifted his piercing eyes to Steinmetss face and curtly returned the greeting The German pulled him out of the way of the crowd to the edge of the curbstone and plied him with questions Was he still lecturing What was he doing in New York Where had he been buried out of right for so long He replied that he had settled down to practice h profession in New Orleans and had had no opportunity to meet his former acquaintances He was spending a few days In the city to transact business of the utmost ut-most importance and he was then on his tray to keep an appointment that he could not delay as it was already getting lat So said Herr Steinmetz bud you must gome and see me My gousin Hein rich Nouberger your olt manager i here and ho will ant to talk vid vile wi tlk Yd you ie you stay in New York Cant you come t nideI I think I can returned the doctor who was shifting around anxiously and evidently desired to make the interview as j short as possible He was perfectly willing will-ing to promise to see his former manager i but if there was any one man he had particular j par-ticular reason to avoid that man was Heinrich Neuberger You must goine to my goncert continued con-tinued Herr Steinmetz Id sill bo antI ant-I haf disgofered a new Camilla TJrso a prcader blayer dan Matam Urso ever She vill make her deput touide at Steinway halL You are a musician you must hear herPutting Putting the proffered complimentary ticket into his pocket the doctor to end this interview said Goodby and liar liod through the first door he noticed through the Schermerhorn building to Wall street and then down past the sub treasury and the custom house to the Hanover Han-over square station of the elevated railroad Henry Henshall who had been dowji town to see his father happened to be riding rid-ing en the siine train as the doctor but he was so deeply engrossed in his thoughts that he did not notice the former husband of his fiancees companion as he passed through the car looking for a seat The young artist was downhearted and as the train sped up town he wondered what to do with himself to while away the evening 1rT 1c t He lifted his piercing fac eyes t Stclnmctes I He did not care to go to his club he had no reason to go home and he had told Miss him until Saturday Hartman not to expect unti day When the guard yelled Fourteenth street he suddenly determined t lee the train and take a table dhote dinner atone at-one of the Italian restaurants in that portion por-tion of the city After his meal he enjoyed a good cigar and then started to walk leisurely over toward ward Union square along the north side ar of Fourteenth street Before he had taken I j his artistic attracted many steps atitic eye was attrctd i by the well rounded figure of a girl just t ahead of him who carried a leather music roll in her hand Thero was something i familiar in her appearance and he quickened j quick-ened his pace t get a bcter look at her j The next moment he knew that she a the ideal with hom his brain had been filled since he first caught a glimpse of her i in the I Wagner car His first impulse was to lift his hat and address her but he restrained himself knowing that she would undoubtedly resent re-sent his impertinence He resolved to find out where she went however and permitted her t get several feet in advance but not very far a he i feared to lose sight of her in the crowd I that was hurrying along the thoroughfare toward the places of amusement I As the girl reached the corner of Irving place she came suddenly face to face with i a man in whom HenshaTl recognized the younger of the two men who had been traveling with her on the New York Central Cen-tral railroad She looked down and tried I to him t pass him I am very glad to meet you thus unexpectedly unex-pectedly Miss Crawford sarcastically remarked re-marked hand the doctor detaining her with his hand I Let me go I have nothing to say t you she exclaimed looking up at him appealingly and shrinking from his grasp I k For a moment Henshall stood irresolute He saw that the girl wished to escape from the man who seemed determined not t I let her go but he could not tell what their relations had been or how his interference would bo taken I Again he heard her plead t be let alone and she turned her eyes toward him a i to appeal for help He saw that great dewy tears were stealing out upon her long eyelashes and he hesitated no longer What do you mean sir by insulting unprotected lady he cried jumping forward for-ward and giving the doctor a shoo with such violence a t nearly throw him over the iron fence around the Academy of Music He pushed forward in front of the girl who immediately and he shook his fist in the face of her astonished acquaintance ac-quaintance You deserve to be thrashed within an inch of your life he continued and I feel very much inclined to give you a t severe chastisement to eaach you better manner Come get away from here I will not Btand any more of this nonsense renliecl f o the physician I shall call a policeman i you interfere with me I shall not allow anyone to insult a lady in my presence said the artist who felt that he had to offAr some justification for his conduct to the throng that had already collected around them This i ridiculous I spoke to an old friend of mine was the final reply vouchsafed vouch-safed to the girls champion who allowed hmsal t be put aside a the furious doctor doc-tor moved away Henshall followed thinking that he might again have the opportunity of stepping step-ping between his ideal and one from whom she was evidently anxious to escape Ho was crossing Irving place when a carriage drove p tHe recognized it immediately im-mediately a Edward Hartmans He hoped that the occupants would not notice hop he wa disappointed Ho was walking ahead when ha heard a familiar voice calling his name He turned and saw Mr Hartman beckoning t him Tho carriage had stopped in front of the academy acade-my and the banker and h daughter were alighting Lena thought she would like to go to the theatre this evening said Mr Hartman I Hart-man after shaking hands with him s a she never saw The Old Homestead I have brought her here I have a box and I want you to come in with u unless you have some special engagement I want to see a friend said Hen shallYou You can go out between the acts and KG him I may want to see a man myself and 1 know that Lena will excuse u said the banker with I facetious wink to the young man I Tim artist came t the conclusion that u the young lady in whom he felt a much more lively interest than he did in Lena Hartman had probably gone too far for him t overtake her and so he allowed his fiancee to persuade him to enter the academy acad-emy I really have some business on hand though he remarked and I shall be obliged to leave before the end of the performance He had seen Denman Thompsons play before and he was far too much engrosser in his own thought to take any interest in the quiet rustic scene on the stage Inthe meantime Dr Watson a the evil eyed one chose t style himself for the time had Fourteenth street bciag gone along as quickly as his legs could walk When he reached Union square he looked I around in the vain hope that he might catch sight of Miss Crawford She had disappeared and he did not know which way t turn People surged around in every direction and he knew that if the girl had tried to escape she migHt have taken a horse car a long as she had reached the corner ahead of him I Curse the luck he muttered if it hadnt been for that young idiot on the block above I should have had her in safekeeping safe-keeping before now I I He went over to the Morton House cafe sat down at one of the tables and ordered a glass of absinthe I thought I had time to catch her again I before she reached Union square he I mused I wonder if she rpally walked I that whole block Shecouldnt havo taken one of the green cross town r a I did not notice any prss there Lets see where I could she have gone Xo to any of the I places on the south side of the street thats very sure She might have entered Steinway Stein-way hall By Jove she must have done it This idea impressed him a being very good and he told the waite to bring him some more absinthe As he sipped the liqueur his mind was active I Of course that old fool Steinmetz i bringing out a new fiddler and sho would brngng I naturally want to attend the concert Supposing Sup-posing no it is not possible yes it is though she might have sought work there herself I do not know but that she is out the new Camilla Urso herself Ill find Louisa Neville may be Edna Lewis he thought It is not probable that sho would appear under her own name or under un-der the alias adopted by her father To settle the question t his own satisfaction satisfac-tion he walked around to the nearest florist and bought a large bouquet Then upon a blank card he wrote car With the sincere regards of an old St Louis friend who has often enjoyed in private pri-vate the accomplishments that the public are now given an opportunity to applaud EDWIN ST LEONARD He instructeu a young man to deliver the flowers to Miss Neville off the stage and to say that heliad been sent by I S Leonard Fifteen minutes later the Lonard miute messenger senger returned When I handed Tier the flowers he reported re-ported she said she was surprised to hear that Mr St Leonard was in New York and she told me to thank him for her I am glad t have that much settled Now I can lay my had on Edna thought Dr Watson Those infernal inancgers have hold of her thats the only trouble I cant very well take her by force and Im afraid it i too late t get the old gentleman down hero before the concert closes Ill try though II Returning t the Morton house he wrote this letter I MY Dan Jn CRAWFORD My efforts have at last been crowned with success I have discovered your daughter She is I now at Steinway hal and if you will comedown come-down here without a moments delay you may be able to see her tonight In haste G L WATSON He procured a messenger boy and by aid of a liberal tip secured the promise that the note would be delivered in the shortest possible time at Kowenhaven place near Sixtyseventh street He then stationed himself near the door of Steinway hal t await developments i Not long after this he saw his whilom assailant i sailant pass him and speak to a friend I Henshall had sat through two acts of The Old Homestead by the side of Miss Hart man and believing that he had done h full duty to her ho pleaded the engagement engage-ment he had mentioned when he met her and bade her good night In front of Steinway Stein-way hal he met a brother artist whom he had known for years Come in here with me said his friend A musician who heard the new violinist play in private yesterday says she is simply a marvel and that she i bound to create an immense sensation I bought tickets and intended to come here in time but was delayed I hope we havo not missed her entirely I en-tirely Dr Watson did not lose sight of Hen I shall until the swinging doors closed behind be-hind him I I II I I VL CHECK TO THE WRONG ON3 I By PAULINE TTATT Illustrated ty Miss ALICE M L07ETT Copyright l rights reserved As Henry HenshalJ rent into Steinway hal he caught eight of Dr Watson stand i I ing over at tho right hand entrance Their eyes met and each felt that it was war to L thn I lifa between thorn va tI d > l What rascalityis ho up to now the J I young artist muttered to himself a he followed his friend into the hall r It was well filled The now violinist had been thoroughly advertised It was claimed that she was the greatest of her sex in the use of the violin and that Ole Bull Joa chim or Sarasate could not bring more clear and passionate tones from the instrument instru-ment I Henry Henshall read this ou the pro i gta mo with a smile The concert was well on in the second half and a woman was singing a solo when they entered The next number was by Schumann and was to be by the brilliant Louise Neville I I The hal was so full that Henshalls friend said they would stand In the rear a it would bo a bother to go way down to the front of the house where his seat a I and besides lie wisnea to remain wun len shall who had only purchased an admission I admis-sion ticket I The young artists attention was distracted distract-ed by his reveries on Dr Watson I must get Mrs Smith to make a charge against him that will lead to his acrest i it becomes be-comes necessary to protect my ideal from 1 him But she must still be under his fascinations cinations for she wishes to avoid this i possible I At this moment the applause drew his attention to the stage The audience had evidently been carried away by Miss Nev illes playing for they were greeting her appearance for the Schumann number with that hearty capping of hands which is the artists most cordial and inspiring greeting from the public He glanced at the beautiful girl who advanced with a dignified manner to the front of the stage slightly smiling her recognition rec-ognition of the greeting which had been given t her One glance told him that Louise Neville was his ideal of the Wagner car The fair face was that which had haunted him so constantly waking or sleeping Give me your glass for a moment he exclaimed excitedlyto his friend almost snatching it from hisihand He leveled it straight at the girls face She had put the violin under her chin and the fingers her left hand were lightly touching the strings string S Yes It was she The dream of tho artist art-ist soul stood before him fairer than ho had imagined She was dressed very simply sim-ply in a gown of white satin with a large sash of white silk afc her slender waist He felt 1 thrill of delight She seemed Tiof Tnr tn liim tV 3T ATTAT ThA mrmnuft which he had sworn in the Wagner r car when it seemed so wild and impossible t carry out now seemed to the excited young man a very easy matter He felt that her position as a public or professional performer argued some difficulty diffi-culty in her family and he was not slow to think that in this way the beautiful girl had sought to escape from the hateful gr Watson The next moment he was entranced A strain of music of tho most delicious sweetness streamed from her bow a she lightly swept it over the nut brown instrument instru-ment which she held so caressingly I Henshall was passionately fond of music He had heard her wonderful playing in the I car and it had held him in thrall but that could not be compared to this I Edna was inspired by the occasion to her best effort In the inspiration of the moment 11 mo-ment she forgot all but her art The dainty melody of the great German floated to on another the air like a lullaby sung by one spirit jt she went on ho felt that some occult influence was at work within the girl Instead I In-stead of the free spontaneous movement and the entire absorption in the composi i tion there seemed a tense nervous agitation tion in the performer which betrayed itself to him he hardly knew how The tempo j I was quickened and the bow seemed t I bite into the catgut while her smooth forehead fore-head contracted into a faint frown her nostrils dilating slightly now and then I Was she going t be overcome at the moment I mo-ment of her triumph Could nervousness i be asserting itself now after she had triumphantly umphantly conquered her public and when the house was hanging breathless on I her playing He felt in himself a sense of discomfort which he was attributing purely t his sympathy with tho young girl But it seemed to augment At last by an attrac j j I tion which was almost against his will he j I felt his head turned to one side a if drawn there by some subtle influence Not five yards away from him was Dr Watson I Yton His eyes were bent with growing earnestness t earnest-ness on the girls face They were hot and seemed almost starting from his head i It was evident that the hateful man was concentrating all the power of his soul into that look By his side stood Mr Crawford I I Henry Henshall understood the situation at a glance His own creeping disgusted I sense of being under some influence seemed explained by the magnetic attraction of j this devilish man He knew too that his 1 1 t 1 IU Utvuu ShaLL llUUb yin wuusu artistic temperament must answer to the faintest impression was being overcome by that terrible glance which Dr Watson was directing toward her ijvJi I I I I I i I u She had put the violin under her chin I i He felt that something must be done Ate A-te more of this occult violence and Edna might break hopelessly down He was her knight constituted to be sure but with the fond hope that some time ho might receive from those soft brown eyes the sign that he was not an ungrateful defender de-fender His course a quickly decided on He walked behind the hateful form of the doctor and after standing a moment turned turn-ed aroundsharply and n if by accident struck tho man in the back so heavily that he turned in wrath and surprise Oh I beg your pardon Dr Leopardi he said with a stress upon the name He darted a glance at him a he said this that sufficiently conveyed his feeling It was to be war to the knife Dr Leopardi looked at him in return with I deadly hate You are mistaken sir he said hotly without a moments hesitation My name is not Leopardi J Henshall felt that his ruse had succeeded in what ho chiefly intended Ho had broken the fatal current which streamed from Dr Watsons eyes and which was slowly but surely unnerving the fair girl who struggled strug-gled so bravely against the malign influence influ-ence enceHe stepped close to his ear and hissed into it I you do not withdraw at once and cease persecuting that innocent girl I will bring one that will prove you are Dr Leopardi and a thief and a villain Go quietly and at once and 1 will do nothing more at present but otherwise beware for know you much better than you do meG me-G S Leopardia brown face grow sallow white and his eyes looked like an aqsrj snakes I I L 1 wlIHbe even wren you some nay na said inla low tope of intense revengeful neslT f never forget a debt like this J Then he turned and said something to Mr Crawford who hud been watching his daughter too persistently to have remarked this side scene After amoment apparently apparent-ly of hesitation on the old mans part he turned and with an agitated air left tho hall with the doctor What tlid you do to that fellowasked his companion a Heushall returned to his side sideI scotched a snake he said his lip curling with disgust and scorn Edna Lewis had completed her solo triumphantly tri-umphantly and twice she was obliged to return t bow her acknowledgements to the applauding house She was deadly pale and there was a strained look in the 1 1 1 nnn hnh nlp 1nnhlla uu uun l J 1 l l very soul He could not leave her unprotected Ho must wait and see her safely home Dr t Watson and old Mr Crawford were nowhere no-where in sight but that did not dispel his fear i Ho waited until the crowd had disappeared i disap-peared Then he saw a slight figure agleam a-gleam of white satin showing beneath the I long fur trimmed cloak which he recognized I recog-nized as the same that his ideal had worn I at the time he had rescued her from Wat sons persecutions watI She was so heavily veiled that he could not detect asingle feature approached her humbly and raising his had said in the most deferential tones I Miss Neville pardon my again intruding intrud-ing upon you but it i only in your own 1 regard that I do so I have a cab here forI c0 I you which will bear you at once to your I home and if you will permit of my escort 1 shall feel safer to know that you arrive I I thero without any molestation She bowed but seemed too nervous to I sneak As if distraught one little gloved I hand fluttered out toward him and grasped grasp-ed his ow but it was instantly withdrawn with-drawn and she hastily entered the coupe I he bad engaged engaged I She gathered her robes close to her and left a place at her side for Henshall Where shall I tell the driver to goP he I said as he leaned toward her In muffled agitated tones the number of a west up tow street was conveyed t him He hastily repeated it to the cabman andthen boldly entered the coupe and seated himself by her side J The cabman drove of Henshalls fair rnnrnnninn Lonf VIOT hnnr11orr > h5nf tr IIOT face and seemed to labor under an agitation agita-tion that she could with difficulty repress He made no attempt t converse with her He had said a he closed the door of tho coupe Dear Miss Neville you will surely acquit ac-quit me of want of respect under the circumstances cir-cumstances You know my ono desire is to be your most trusted guardian should you need any Do not try to speak My only wish i t see you safely housed The agitated girl underwent some violent throe of feeling but did not attempt to speak The carriage bowled rapidly along over the pavements and soon drew up at the door of a large flat Henshall sprang out and rang tho bell The janitor opened the door and then only did the fair maiden spring lightly from the I coupe and run up the steps into the hall She turned vith her hand upon the door removed her veil and with a mocking mock-ing smile called out Thanks awfully 1 Good night The next instant she had closed tho door in his face and was flitting up stairs Hen shall with amuttered curse turned paid the cabman then scowling took down the number of the house and strode away The face he had seen was that of the young singer at Louise Nevilles concert They must have changed cloaks he muttered to himself Then as he walked mself a on despite his chagrin he had to laugh I VII ONE 7 THREAD BREAKS By INSPECTOR 11 BYBEES Illustrated by BEGIHALD < T SPEEBY I Copyright All rights reserved Henshall did not know whether to laugh or to swear when ho reflected on the way in which ho had been played by the singer He felt glad that he had made sure of her number He meant to see her the next day and find out if he could where Edna Lewis was living The interest which he bad felt in this girl who represented to him so fully his ideal was quickened tenfold by the late occurrence He had protected her from one whom hejwas convinced by many reasons rea-sons she disliked and who boded her no good The glance that had shot from her eye as she darted off when ho had freed her from Dr Watson had spoken of gratitude grati-tude He laughed at himself for being tempted to think there was any other feeling feel-ing in that glance Yet I had only seen her once he said to himself a n to defend the absurd thought that she would feel any deep interest in-terest in him I saw her only once and she haslived in my brain and heart ever since What a soul she must have to play as she did What could have made that woman play me like that That woman was not the fascinating Edna but the singer who had decoyed him away from her He remembered that Edna at the concert had worn a white satin dress and the singer had worn a pink one Then they must have changed gowns And the long cloak he was sure was the same as that he had seen upon the young girl at the time he had come to her rescue and freed her from Dr Watson He recalled the singular change which he had remarked in her playing He also remembered the strange fact that he had turned his eyes directly from her upon Dr Watson The thought that he and tho girl ho was beginning to feel such an interest in could be swayed by a common sympathetic feeling feel-ing was pleasant to him but when he reflected re-flected that it was tho odious doctor who had apparently swayed both their souls by some occult magnetim hewas indignant He could have endured it for her but that he a strong man should bo drawn like a piece of iron filing to the magnet by this fellow whom he hated and whom he knew to be a villain mortified his pride hIt was only a chance coincidence he said angrily to himself The next morning ho called at the house where ho had been the night before with the singer He had lost his programme of the concert and could not recall her name Btt he trusted to his wit to find her A colored man answered his impatient ring at the bell I there a public singer living in this building HenshaU asked Yes sir theres two Mrs Bucks and Miss Dudley Where i the man who was on duty lat night at 1 o cock he inquired He doesnt come on till 6 this evening was the answer Well you can take me to Miss Dud leys he said impatiently I venture The elevator boy took him up to the third floor and pointed to the door on the left That is Mis Dudleys he said Henshall rang tho bell The door was opened after two or three minutes by a young woman whom he had never seen Can I see Miss Dudley for a moment he asked What do you want to see her for said the young woman IIti on a matter of private business bo re led TheUadys face was not at all encouragIng encourag-ing a she replied I do not know it Have you any objections t telling me why you and Miss Neville exchanged dresses last night and why you led me on tuch a wild goose chase V I t 11 I The ladys eyes twinkled a little with merriment a she recalled the incident Then she replied provokingly Why I thought the lert I could do after af-ter your goodness in supplying mo with a coupe to come homo in was to allow you to I accompany mea far as the door So you didnt mean to come with me at all she went on ironically How mortifying Miss Dudley Ive no doubt it was very tmusing to hoodwink me a you did But you have not told me why you changed dresses cloak with Miss Neville and wore her I cloakWhy you see she asked me to said Miss her and lookin Mi Dudley opening eyes looking very innocent And why did she ask you to retorted Henshall showing a little irritation I dont it is thi for suppose 1 common thing young women wno sing or taKe pare in tne same concert to change clothes with each other to go home in I Miss Dudley smiled again Then as i reeling that she had carried the matter far enough in this Unp she said decidedly and with a serious utcnance 11 have told you all I have to say about the matter I you wish to know more you will have to see Miss Neville herself and I uo not really know her address So I can I be of no service to you and I must beg you I to excuse me now Miss Dudley said Henshall softening I his tone you would not have acted as you have unless you were a friend to Miss Neville Believe me you would do her no harm by trusting mo as I amahema I true friend to the young lady I I had the pleasure of rescuing her from I a man who was annoying her with his attentions I at-tentions only lat evening I feel sure that it was the wish to escape him that led her I to propose this extraordinary change of dress Your being so nearly the same height and figure as Miss Neville made this an easy means of throwing him off the track Am I not right Miss Dudleys eyes had opened rather wide a he was speaking and when he was through she exclaimed Then you are not the man I am not the man I swear to you said HenshalL = r 1 111 It f Iff I I I I I OL = 0 fyi wfll I am not the man I swear to you The singer reflected for a moment and I then said I do not see what harm it can j do to tell you the truth in any case Even if yon are the man nothing that I say would do any harm now Who is the man she asked suddenly fixing her eyes on the young fellow He is an Italian mind reader whose real name is Leopardi I know him to be a villian replied Henshall at once I only asked that to see if you would have an answer ready Miss Dudley returned re-turned smiling roguishly again Well I I will tell you the whole thing After her last solo Miss Neville was strangely agitated I agi-tated She came to me trembling and said There is a man whom I greatly fear because be-cause although I detest him he has an influence in-fluence over mo which I cannot resist From the way I felt while I was playing I believe ho was somewhere in the hall I desire above all things to avoid meeting this man happiness in life may bo destroyed de-stroyed if he should find where I am living liv-ing Will you not change dresses with mo and wear my wrap We are so nearly alike in figure that if you go out in these clothes and veil yourself well he can easily I mistake you for mo and will follow you I1 i feel as if he would wait until he sees me come out j She so impressed me continued Miss Dudley that I consented The fun of the thing tickled my fancy too Well when I camo out and you addressed me as Miss Neville and invited mo into the coupe which you had engaged I felt sure you worn the man I thought I was helping Miss Neville all the more by bringing you home with me Then it was a satisfaction to show you how you had been fooled I She laughed and then said earnestly And you are not the man at all then I No I am not tho man at all replied Henshall You acted a friendly part Now act still friendlier if you can a sti friendler one f I yon will help me find this young woman I believe she needs assistance and I shall gladly aid her I I Miss Dudleydarted a keen glance at his handsome face as sho answered I do not doubt it in the least But I know nothing I I about Miss Neville more than I have told you Still when I see her I will tell her I what you have said and if you leave your address with me will write to you what I she says I With this Henshall had to be content I He saw that the singer was sincere in what she said so far as he could judge He went to Stienway hall and got Heinrich Ncuber I gers address It was on Third avenue far j I II I up town t I I Ho decided to call at Miss Hartmans on his way up to lot Mrs Smith know that he had seen her villainous husband This would help to cement the confidence between them which he wished to inspire I When he rang tho bell ho told the servant ser-vant to give his card to Mrs Smith Ho penciled gvc it Come down for a moment i Do not say I am here He entered tho parlor and waited In avery a-very short time M Smith presented herself her-self him She seemed flurried but glad to see You came at a very opportune time I can trust you implicity can I not she asked looking at him fixedly i Certainly I want you to do so I want your help and will give you mine I saw I your husband lat night he added Read that and seo what it means said Mrs Smith drawing a letter from her pocket I Do not he afraid to do so because it is directed to Miss Hartman I have directec read it and her eyes flashed and I know he meant villainy by it Henshall hastily ran his eya over the letter I let-ter It was as follows I Miss LENA HARTMAN Mr Henry Henshall has any relations to you which would make his compromising another young woman o i interest to you ask him what he has toRlo with a girl who plays tho violin in public and whose stage name is Louise Neville He may dony that he knows her but you are entitled to this warning from A FRIEND Henshall raised his eyes interrogatively to Mrs Smith That note came this morning she said excitedly The handwriting disguised but I know the character of Leopardis Italian letters too well not to detect it I took the liberty of opening it thinking I had a right a his wife she said bitterly to know what he would write to a young lady engaged a young gentleman When I read it I decided not to let Miss Harman know anything about it and felt it va only fair to show it to you x I It is only his devilish malice perhaps said Henshall for he hates me But I do I not know how he could have found out H t 1 I L my name and my engagement to Miss Hartman He then told Mrs Smith the history of yesterday When he was through she exclaimed ex-claimed That man seems to me devilish at times Keep this letter at all events It may comp into play later When Henshall left her ho went at once t Neubergers What was his astonishment astonish-ment when that gentleman said to him Miss Neville has accepted an engagement to appear in San Francisco with a manager mana-ger named Rudh Opper She started I I for there this morning I Beaten again I said Henshall savagely to himself as he descended the stairs But I I will find her if I have to follow her around the world I VTTT rOLLJSIOXS AND rnTTTT SIONS By EELL NELSoN Illustrated by Mrs JESSIE DUETTS A Copyright All rights reserved Oh how good the fire feels said Miss Brown as she rolled over on the soft Persian Per-sian rug and presented her left shoulder to the open grate She lay with her elbows on the floor her chin in her hands and her feet crossed purring like some regenerated cat as she toasted herself a bright scarlet Oh how good it feels she repeated gazing into tho glowing coals through the iron bars of the grate and recrossing her neatly slippered feet The best fire that ever blazed I I ever get a home of my I own Ill have a grate in every room and a roaring fire in every grate nine months in the year I there a nothing else in lifo but hot coffee hot water and a hot fire it would still bo worth living I Coffee i the best thing that ever went down a human throat I know of no sensation I sen-sation to compare with 1 hot bath which i is a purification a solace and a benediction benedic-tion while a grate fire with a soft rug to I lie on is company comfort and consolation consola-tion Theres history in the burning coals and there must be inspiration only I havent brains enough t perceive it The present lies in tho whito heat Theres that Doctor of Devils grinning at me theres poor little Edna theres tho crazy painter and leaning against the brick is Mr Crawford scarcely able to support sup-port himself u LL JLUB emuurs UL rumuuiuruuce in tiipjr dying glow picture the past and theres one fact that never fades I see it in the ashes after the last spark goes out and I shall see it in the coffin lid at my funeral and in my grave when Im buried God help her to forgive me and rolling over on her back she clasped her hands and raised them in supplicating appeal above her burning face Just then tho door of her room opened noiselessly and Dr Watson in slipjjprs and lounge coat entered and taking a cigarette from his lips stood for a moment watching herNot Not a sound was made nor a syllable uttered ut-tered but Miss Brown felt the presence of the hypnotist in an instant A shudderran through her body an excessive ex-cessive quivering agitated her eyelids Her eyeballs moved convulsively and quickly turning her face as close to the fire a the brass fender would permit she said by way of recognition Its you is it You have said it my dear Martha and i you dont mind Ill finish my cigarette here Damnation can have little terror for i I you by the way f How do you know l I Because you can stand such an infernal lot of heat Ive seen something of life and people but I never met a creature without feathers or fur who could stand as much roasting a you can and not get scorched Do you know I sometimes think that you lived in Hades before you came to earth for you are certainly the most fireproof young woman in my time You have said it my dear Martha Miss Brown rose to a sitting posture straightened out her skirts threw one cor ner of the fine rug over her feet and knees and lying down again turned her eyes to the fire and covered her face with her arm to shut out the demon gaze that made her soul writhe Without heeding her silence Watson I blew out some delicate rings of smoke I I wish you were not so prudish he said I like the lace ruffles o your skirt better than that rug They remind me of 11 the girl I married in Chicago That was your third wife wasnt i I she said venomously Well really Mattie to tell you the truth I dont remember her number but Snow that you betray some evidence of rationalism tionalism I have a little matter to talk about that will interest wi you Your truant mistress ha gone west and tomorrow if possible wo will take the same route I have given old Mortality Mortal-ity a powder to make him sleep for the next fifteen hours and i you have any packing to do you neednt ba afraid of disturbing dis-turbing him You have been a very useful assistant Martha and you can make yourself indispensable to mo now if you want to I I Miss Brown slowly raised herself rubbed her eyes with both hands and without looking at him asked In what wayS way-S In the same old way No Ive done all I intend to do in the same old way When I leave this house I leave your service for good I have enough on my conscience now to keep mo as wide awake as the Macbeths and I tell you Im sick of it and I intend to quit Youre never so good looking JMartha a when you reflect the fire you absorb I you were my wife Id keep you angry all the time Conscience Bah the thing went out of style before you went out of bibs Its indigestion thats bothering you Ill mix you a powder when I go to my I room Now Miss Crawford is expected in San Francisco Monday evening She will stay at I private house the name and number of which I will give you and I want you togo to-go to her with a letter her father has written writ-ten and look after her I am determined to marry her and you can help me And rhat if I refuse Im determined that you will not refuse and the sooner you understand that the better Do you hear what I am saying sayng Look at meP Let me go I Answer me first Unable to move a muscle under his grip Miss Brawn felt harsr Tr H c = slui = I gp his hideous gaze and for an instant was overpowered The doctor gave her arm a sudden twist that brought ibe girl to her feet Then fixing his black beady eyes on her and looking steadily at her trembling lids till she raised her eyes to his face he said clearly clear-ly and decidedly I You will do a I tell you Say you will I A shade passed across the pale face C L 1 the governess It W there an Insta and gone in an instant but Miss Brew was conscious of it for she raised her left hand to brush it away and a she did s4 gasped Yes and tore away the lad from her throat Now you are reasonable Sit down and listen to me T l Mr Crawford in the morning that you had n dream that you saw Edna on a sick bed neglected an4 alone Tell him you saw her mother What the devil ails you Dont say any more for heavens sakef I know what to tell him and she buried her face in her hands a if to shut out a visiop too horrible to contemplate I am willing and all that Dr Watson but I know I cant help you and its no nsd uE sending me Miss Edna does nottrust me She L dreads me and I t fear her I cant look L into ncr IKCC uuu uavo nu oeen aoie to I meet her eyes since the night I made her mother use your vinaigrette Asleep or awake its all the same and the older the daughter grows the stronger becomes the resemblance t her mother It is wasted time I cant stay with her or near her and I wont try I will go to California Califor-nia with the letter if that will do you any good but thero isnt money enough ia America to keep mo in her service And Yes that i final is it Does it occur to you that I have evidence evi-dence sufficient to convict you of murder Who ever heard of an accomplice nang ing and an adept scoundrel who has won success as thief bigamist forger and blackmailer escaping judgment There was profit in Mrs Crawfords death and you know who got her fortune and what became of her property Hold your tongue you jade Your wages will depend upon the success of your dream tomorrow morning We give up these quarters this week without fail and on second thought it will be better to have you travel with us as nurse or companion or secretary to Mr Crawford To save you the trouble of planning an escape I might as well tell you that I havo paid a private detective to watch you and that I am determined to have your assistance assist-ance So good night dear Get a much rest a you can for its a long weary run from here to Frisco r Banker Hartmans house in Stuyvesant square was a gay as a palace for a coronation f corona-tion Incandescent lanterns hung in the branches of the trees flooded the scene 0 1rntvith snfh lurlifc nnil ntsn clH tapestry of skeleton leaves and graceful branches over pavement street and wall From curbstone to doorstep stretched carpet car-pet and canopy one hung wit little chamber cham-ber lanterns from the jewels of which the light streamed in soft splendor and the otlior holrcd with date and fan nalms The alcove off the music room nau been turned into a nuptial bower An umbrella umbrel-la of white buds roofed the iaclosure the wall were tapestried with pink roses and just within the floral gates stood a pre dien of carved ivory and golden satin where Henry Henshall would kneel with his bride to receive the nuptial benediction Up in one of the sumptuously appointed guest chambers sat the painter in the attitude at-titude of u penitent desolate a a lighthouse light-house for he had locked the door and given gven orders not to be disturbed The marriage was set for 7 oclock and the neighborhood abounded in belfry clocks He had his gloves on and the ring in his pocket and he was listening for the knell t Confound it any way Why should I care he muttered rising abruptly and beginning to pace the floor Its the woman in me Men marry nurses and housekeepers and influence every day in the week and I can name at least live fellows in the club who have married for mere social position This thing of love is an involuntary sort of a sensation any way and a for swearing to keep it up its 1 balderdash for a fellow can no more hate all his life than ho can love Im in love with that small brown eyed musician yetI yet-I wouldnt marry her if I could but I mean to find her and know her and use her as soul an ideal i I have to sell my immortal Lena is a good wholesome girl ample in everything but imagination amiable and lenient and she loves me poor child with her whole soul A well the least I can do i to treat her decently And wish this ordeal with to gracious was over vitb My idea in hurrying the thing was to escape the gaping mob and the servant at the door told mo he had counted one hundred hun-dred and twenty I never could understand the whims of woman and her aversion to quiet weddings And then the nonsense of paying tribute to her intuition Ill swear that I havenc made love to her and I know for a certainty ceran ty that I havent kissed her three times She thinks she loves and she thinks she ha a heart and she thinks she thinks which i equivalent to the demonstration 5 of an absurdity Lena Hartman buxom blonde and warm blooded belonged to that vast army of women that thrives best on neglect She loved him Henry Henshall because she feared t himHe He had called her silly when she attempted at-tempted to be playful made fun of her theories and referred t her a dull in tistic and shallow pated He teased her unmercifully but what hurt her was the indifference he showed when she pouted expecting to be coaxed in the tactics Coaxing was not painters tcic i Ho could have soothed her with a handclasp hand-clasp if he had cared to do so but he didnt and by ignoring her moods he deified him self whistleandIllcometoyau II to a whistleandIlometoyou state of importance I Inadvertently Henry was training his I wife for future success Women are as easily spoiled a children and once indulged in-dulged they twine a man about their 1 fingers ec or play doormat with him a the hmer Lajix I Its the stinting of gram and grass that gives the thoroughbred fcesutr and g and just in proportion to the ceeking and stinting of his affection will a men hold and enslave the woman who i in love with him The velvet glove is very soothing t the touch but a woman wants to know that theres an iron grip under it p I Usary Henshall count the belfry c and waited for the resounding eaei to die away before unlocking the dcor 5 In the ball on his way to the bridal chamber he met Banker Hartman going to signal the leader of the orchestra for the march Ah old man glad to see you How are your knees Shall I get you a drink of something Lena No thank you Im all right Were LenaDear Henry how do I look I my veil on straight Im awfully nervous A youThe pale faced bridegroom was spared the effort of response by a burst of melody that came from the fifty strings hidden away in some placo overhead and offering his arm to the goddess in satin and pearled tulle he led her down the broad staircase along the rose trellised hall through the orchid scented drawing room and into the floral bower In the gateway stood the venerable clergyman book in hand straight a a sentinel and bright as a January rcse I The sweet strains of Oberon came from the pleading sobbing violins In su minutes by the watch of Broker Henshall his son was a husband and at 8 oclock the following evening Mr andMrs Henry Henshall Mrs Smith M Crawford Craw-ford Dr Watson and Miss Brown were In the Union depot of Chicago go waiting for the San Francisco limited I ITO BE CONTINUED Visitors patronize the Bodega Family Wine House 19 Commercial St for pure wines and liauors C c a |
