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Show chosen threes Wilson, Howard, and I. Tbey are dry old sticks, with no wives THE to talk to, p.nd 1 Can't you trust 4me?" f 4 4 4 4 f4 4 4 "Oh, sir," said the prisoner, "I By E. F. Spence. would trust you with my life!" .The young man walked up and "Well, it's quite simple. You tell us the your secret under a solemn oath of flown, up and down, feverishly; working of hia face showed Intense secrecy. If we are satisfied, and tell anxiety, since In a few minutes his the Court that we are satisfied, they fate would be decided. The other two will take our word that you were elsemen looked on sadly, for they pitied where at the time and acquit you. It's Mm; he was the pet of the regiment a bit irregular, but you may rely on the best at polo, the crack shot, the us." freest with his money and lightest The face of the young man was that with his tongue. Even his beauty, his of Tantalus nt his acutest moment. indisputable manly beauty, found "I can't, I can't it isn't honorfavor with them, and Terence said, able!" monotonously, "lie's a handsome lad, "Would I advise you would we adand can win a girl quicker with a vise you to act dishonorably?" glance of his eye than most with a "To tell her name to three men?" bushel of words." Up and down, up I her servant knew and down, with clenched hands, set the"Well, suppose can trust us as and secret, you eyes; up much. teeth, and she refuse to couldn't Why, and down, like a prisoner waiting for if she were asked. You you, the hangman. Suddenly came a knock permit don't object to Wilson or to Howard? words at the door, some honorable men who would die and an elderly man entered. The two They're rather than You betray the secret. privates saluted, and, on a brief word believe don't they're honorable, you?" of command, disappeared. The young man made a gesture of Tho men stood face to face; one in assent. the gloom, the other In the light, "Then you don't trust me?" which fell on the haggard, handsome "Oh, Colonel, you are the soul of face of a man of thirty a dark face, honor; but I can't, I can't!" rich in beauty of a sensual type. The "Can't tell me? Why not?" was handsome, too, though "I didn't say that," was the stam, almost old at least with a mered answer. countenance rather finely ascetic in "Why not why not?" came the restyle, exquisitely cut, but hard in line. ply, fiercely. "There can be only two "Frank," said the elder; "Frank." reasons; either you won't trust mo, "Yes," In a needless whisper came from the other. A long, aching pause. "Frank, all the Court believe in "Or yes, by God, it was your wife!" your innocence, and The young officer's eyes dropped; "You do, Colonel?" : the Colonel sprang forward and struck -Yes." him in the face, so hard as to send The young man rushed forward and him reeling back; immediately, by in clasped the hand of the Colonel, a stinct, the Captain clutcned at his cold, dry, limp hand. scabbard. "Thank God! Thank you. Colonel!" empty "I oughtn't to have struck you; but, A strange smile glimmered in the curse you, now you may rot in jail!" Colonel's face. "Yes, I; but" "You don't know how I was temptThe pause was awful. how long I resisted, how miserably ed, "But the evidence is overwhelm- weakness has made me!" my ing-"And I, the old fool who married a "We can't help ourselves; the evi- - lovely, penniless girl, young enough to I be his dauguter. and find that she and aence is overwneiming. son of his old friend, the young the Yet you believe?" man to whom he's been a second fath As man, yes; as a tribunal? You er Oh, God, I can't believe it. can't see, Sanderson, a man of twenty believe she was so base and you that years' valuable service and unim so ' contemptible: " peachable character, swears that The prisoner stood silent, a pitiful "Oh, yes, I know; let me be in fifure of shame. peace. "I can't believe it. and. great Heav You must listen swears that he I don't believe it! You scoundrel! ens, mw you climb down from the window, ou damned blackguard! It's a lie, a You and then look round carefully. a trick to catch me! You were could not see him, for he was behind trap, tho and you think in this way thief, a bush. You came from the room to mouth and make me save my stop where the regiment keeps it little in to protect my own order you treasure of trophies, and tinder one honor." arm bore a burden." He raised his hand again. The Colonel, Colonel!" man made no defensive moveyoung He followed you to your rooms. ment. bot daring to speak to you, an officer, Colonel." he said, gasping, "I'm and you entered very quietly with so vile as that! I'm bad enough. not . He made a report, unfour latch-keyGod knows, but not so mean as that!" fortunately, to Ueauclere, who hates "I don't believe you. and your trick rou." shan't save you, even if risk my I've wiped hia eyes at every game." honor." Deauclere called to see you early The true position of the matter was next day, and, coming in suddenly, by the prisoner, anxious now forgotten found in your hands the massive Bai to show that he was innocent of only ter of gilded silver and gems present this awful new charge. "I swear you ed by the Indian Prince and worth a are wrong. Colonel; by all that's holy, lot of money. Generally, you are hard I swear it!" ap, and you had no explanation." "If it is true. If It Is true Oh. I "Yes, yes, but" must know the truth! If It's true, you "There Is no but. All of us would mast have some proof, some letters. be In your favor, all would imagine Prove It, prove It. and I'll save you that Sanderson was mistaken and and send her to her parents without bat some enemy had hidden the scandal. I can't live uncertain about iropay lr. your room; but you said you her. You must have some letters." were absent when the thing was done. The young man was ix greatly agiind decline yes, refuse to say to notice how strange were the tated where you were. Wliat can we do? voice and bearing of the Colonel, or to So long as you refuse to tell, our duty see that they indicated rage and s as cl ar as It Is painful. We just than horror or sorrow. hatred rather ict on the evidence before us." can "I The young officer's face showed prove It," said Frank. "I havp destroyed all her letters save one anguish. "Well." continue! the Colonel, and the one of that night." He took a piece of paper out of bis k ctrange smile crept over his harden and ed, handsome face, "we consider that pocket, glanced at It. sighed, It handed to Colonel. the m alibi la your only real defense." Frank shuddered. "It's like an Old "My Darling. He rots tonight to s Winchester, and won't return till toialley horror!" he exclaimed, morrow. Do not come U fore 12 on "Yes, an alibi. We are convince.! our reputation as a libertine has led account of the servants. Marie will ." ts to the idea that you cannot tell us let you in. Ever, ever yours. e "Is that the only letter absolutely herc you were at the fatal time to 1o so you would have to com- the only letter you have?" "Yes, on my honor." promise some lady." The Colonel deliberately for The young officer started back, his the ace turned to the color of old Ivory. letter in a dozen pieces and tossed Compromise some lady," he mutter-d- ; tbem Into the fire; then he laughed thm murmured. "Hut suppose It it was an awful laugh. fere the. case, Colonel?" "You damned fool!" he said; "you "The present case Is one of being damned young fool! The Court never rummed out of the army and then sent me In to see you. I know you ried by some damned civilian and were her lover before t came In; and, Oh, Lord, more than that, I know you are innoprisoned as a burglar. rank! fo think of that, and your old cent of the theft. Sanderson, faithful ither, my dear friend. Look here. to me as a dog, carried out for me the Ve'Te thought It out. Of course, you trap I had laid for you." u t give away a woman; but we've The trap!" exclaimed the prisoner. COURT-MARTIA- 4- - terror-stricke- n half-inaudibl- e new-com- er fifty-five- or" I" I " e te-aus- -- "Yes," replied the elder man. "I wanted revenge when I found out that. I deterthat that you and she mined to have my revenge. Curse you! But duels can't be fought, and to have caught and killed you in an excusable way would have dirtied my name. So, I pretended to go to Winchester for tho night, and, when Sanderson saw you leave your rooms at midnight, he crept in and put in the trophy, to which he had access by my key. And now" and he laughed "and now you will be convicted as a thief; and you are a thief. You stole my wife and my honor, and you will be drummed out of the army and sent to rot in jail." The young man had sunk back in tho chair, as If paralyzed by the awful bld-eouus- ly discovery. "You shall pay, and she shall pay, too. There will bo no scandal, but a man who could catch you so prettily can find a way quietly to break a woman's heart, and I'll do it! I'd kill her but for the scandal. I can do worse." There was such an air of devilish joy In the man, such a look of loathsome glee distorting his handsome, hard face, that the young man saw there was no hope. "Colonel," he said, in a staggering voice, "you have your revenge. I have suffered terribly already. You had better let me die and escape the humiliation of coming before the Court. Why, you would like to have the pleasure of seeing me kill myself?" "That's true enough, and I suppose' you will do it, sooner or later, and It will hush up the scandal a little. So. for your father's sake " And he pulled out his revolver and put it on the table. The young man took it up with a listless air. "I do not ask for mercy; I do not attempt to tell you what a mean hound. I feel for my treachery to you. Even your treachery to me does not wipe out that; but. Colonel, for God's sake pity her. She was young and gay, and you " "I am old." replied the Colonel, fiercely; "old, but not toothless! Oh, I'll make her pay for this! To have taken her from a shop, to have given her my name and position and money, and to be " "Oh. but pity her. Colonel; don't punish her!" "Punis-her! I'll make my revenge on her harder t'nan on you! Oh. revenge is sweet enough, and all I have to live for!" "You fool; you damned fool!" shouted the young man. In a Btrange voice. The elder man looked up, guessed, screamed "Murder! Help!" and dashed forward. Too late, for one bullet crashed Into his chest and the other sank Into his brain. The guards rushed In, but before they could lay hands upon the murderer he had fallen beside his victim with a hole drilled through his heart And the woman lives, the beautiful young woman still lives, and the images of two men haunt her. h COULDN'T LOSE HIM. Relative Who Was Not Wanted Thought a Mistake Was Made. A story is being told In Ixmdon about a man prominent in public life, whose name may not be mentioned, which Illustrates the Insecurity of human preparation, says Harper's Weekly. He was planning an entertainment, on an elaborate scale, to be given to various friends In the of his country seat. Unfortunately, his nearest neighbor, a close relative. Is highly uncongenial to himself and his Intimates, and he wracked his brains to det Ue j scheme by which he might a vol I the necessity of inviting the undesirable cousin to be among his g'tepfs. "I have It!" he announced to his wife at breakfast on the morning of the event. "I'll sen him some tickets for the play ton'zht in town. Of ourse he'll be delieh'ed. a he seldom has an opportunity of ing to the theater." re accordingly sent, The tickets and the host, with an eay conscience, proceeded to enjoy the company of his P.ut his satisfaction was of friends. short duration. At the height of the festivities in walked the objectionable neighbor. "Such a stuoid mistake you made," he announced, an h approached his cousin; "as soon as I heard a Unit your party 1 knew that you must have sent me the tickets for the wrong night, so I got them changed for tomorrow evening and came right over here as soon as I could." A neigh-Uirhoo- ANOTHER ABSENT MINDED MAN. ABOUT THE JAPANESE. How John Sharp Williams Dressed for a Dinner Party. A group of representatives, huddled around one of the smoking room fireplaces were talking the other aiternoou of the well known absent mlndednosa of Mr. Cannon, fca connection with the White Is the mourning color and till code la striot. In addition to wearini mourning the mourners abstain frou meat . Regular dates for vlsltlns tin graves are the 7th, 14th, 21st, 35th, 49tl and 100th day3, and the 1st 3rd, 7th mhj 23rd, 27th, 33rd, 37th, 50th am story of the speaker's having recently 100th years. cade his appearance at tho capltol Japanese national holidays are Foui wearing two collars and no cravat. Sides Worship, January 1; First Bo mind"Well, there are other absent ' Festival, January 3; Empevoi ginnJiag reed ones besides 'the old man,' Komol'a festival, January 30; Kigen marked a democratic representative 11; Spring festival February' Setsn, from the South. "Our own man. John 22 Jimmu Teuno featl March oidl-nar(about); Sbarpe Williams, ca;a forget the Autumn festival, Septem 3; val, April affairs of life himself pretty well 24 Kanname festival. Oo ber (about); soarwhen his mind is away aloft on a Novem tober 17; birthday, Emperor's ing kite. 23 Kiinarhe ber November festival, 3; "Williams and I roomed In the same are to there Iu these addition manj bouse here during the session three or as the plum, ciier four years ago. My room was rieiht fiowcr festivals!, such across the hall from his and I used to ry, wistaria. Iris, morning glory, lotus maple and others, on which days tin ;lrop in on him of evenings for a chut. goes out to view the blossom populace One evening I found him prs;iaring to trees, ing shrubery and plants. gro to a dinner. He had made a hot political speech In th house that day and The New Year day Is celebbrated at do was thinking it over thinking of a national birthday and tlvj Indlvldua' the gyod snappy things he had forgotare not specially observed ten to say, of course, like all the rost of birthdays The ceremony 13 slmplo. Th wedding l us who engage In these feature Is the tlmea post mortems. Anyway, he was a drink Bride three and times oul groom whole lot preoccupied. of three cups of different sizes. Thu "He had his vest and coat on when 1 Is a social sidelight on the wedding liopped in on him, and was putting' ihe ctremouy and corresponds with the 3nlshlng dabs to his necktie. Then he western wedding reception. Marriasc auttoned up his vest, and turned to m3 Is a civil contract only, and IU leg tlit " 'Say, do I look all right?' he asked rests In the registration. As this Is of me. ten omitted, divorces are easy auj fre " 'Well, I've seen worse,' I told him. quent. which Is a handy thing m a land But say, don't you think it Mould be where there are 000,000 more men than .he au fait kink for you to don a pair worn eta. it er trousers?' A Game of Tops. "Yep, he'd forgotten 'em , and he more This is fun than a "box ol lit-JI told blushed a lot when him of his monkeys." oversight. You can keep a party of frieadfj eu " 'By George,' he gasped, when he !iad got fixed out all right. 'I'm u!ad tertained for an entire afternont oi :hat you happened to come in, old evening playing It. Played with spinning wheels? No nan!" Indeed. But with tops. Ordinary tops may be used, but it Hanna's Lincoln Story. would be better to get a kind that have The late Senator Hanna was th? tara attachment. All one has tc spring get for more kinds of Bryanite abuse wind is dc to the spring, wlthuraw :han aay other man in the republican the and the rest jf the toj section top arty. He did not mind it, though, al In the maddest will whirl instantly hough on one or two occasions ho ever saw. you spin q.oke sharply of Bryan. In the ceo-laigSuppose you have a progressive spin of 1900, when Mr, Bryan nad party. Go about It in this way. nhig seen particularly personal in hi? First send out your Invitations. Say Mr. Hanna said to a group in will be a spinning party. That that it epublican national headquarter? In will tell Just enough to excite everyChicago: "Boys. I have this cousolabody's curiosity. ion when Bryan gets sassy about me. When your guests arrive give thene President Lincoln at a particularly cards of cardboard cut in tor tally loublous time of the great war. was as and decorated any way joc shapes uiiied by one of his critics In a partie-JlarlMark each "Table A" or "Ta pease. emphatic way. All his advisers ble B." etc., according to which of yout leard the yapping, and were more or tables you wish your guest tc spinning ess concerned atiout the president's to. There should be four guests at go Velings, but he appeared not to be table. each 'roubled with any feelings. Somebody A top is also given each guest and a Inally ventured to ask him how he to spin It on. plate Vt about his detractor. He said The two at each table whose top " 'My father used to have a little dog ind this dog went out every night ind spin must start their tops a spinlarked at the moon. He barked as if ning. The two at each table whose topi tils life depended oa It. And whr.t do spin the longest are the winners. They rou suppose the moon did?' "'Why,' concluded Mr. Uncoln. 'the put down their scores and progress. At the head table the winners re aooti Just sailed right along.'" New main seated, while the two losers go Fork Sun. to the foot. y post-prauJia- three-three-nin- e e -- n y d 1 - mm. Wedded Beside Open Crave. tb Elbowing his way through mourners assembled at the grave ol Mrs. George Stevens. "Sam" Smliey aged 39, stopped a funeral sermon In a Danville 111. cemetery laig enough to be married to Mrs. Anna Wagner r gpd 27, from near neck with. It was a runaway match, and Smiley explained to Rev. .1. E Gieening. th Methodist pastor, ha! telatives of th blushing Woman by Ms side were rn their way to stop the rrairh. He Insisted that the ceremony be performed at once or he was afraid the purnuers would stop It. The Intrusion of the betrothed couple treated a stir among the weeping relative, and friends. All thought that such a sudden Ir.lerruption could mtan tu'thine le.s than some terrible cil.u.i ity. They fell back In consternation. Rev. Mr. Greening was the firr.t too astonlslid for utterance, but a bit an hr, aoccde, f0 .Smiley' wishes r fli-r e i v th open grave Smiley - 'rr ,V'gner Joined hands and the n in a rPW hurried word r.ai!i thm one. were many congratulations t showered upon the bride and ride proom hr the mourners, who wer In rlinel to be resentful. But the pair did not seem to mind that and hurried IRONY. A dispatch from Constantinople say away, with no thontht of the grief they that Russia had asVH permission of tm 8h That's a queer oup; fit that left behind them New York He'ald sultan to allow several warships to pasi able; they havn't spoken tr each otb-t- r in twenty minute. through the Dardanelles for the Fai There may be room at the top hut 1 II suppose if his wife. Cast. can cam the elevator In a few a a at tim: only Not, sky-scrap- |