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Show n THE TIMES-NEW- S. IN HEAVEN PART FOUR 15 Broken Harmony 7 Miss Davles, Mrs. Stockley's only remaining sister, placed a marker In lier book ; then laid It down upon a small table. Her face assumed the complacent expression of one about to perform a pleasant duty In accordance with her conscience. "I think," she observed decisively, "Hugh sUfruld be warned." TfflPrStockley glanced up from the stole she was embroidering. "Abou what?" she asked. "Barbara." Her sister made a gesture of annoyance, which caused ber to prick her finger; this Increased her irritation. "I wish you would for once be explicit, Mary I You have thrown out dark hints about Barbara ever since (ye heard of her rescue. Why should Hugh be warned?" "Are you so stupidly dense as you appear, Alice? Or are you wilfully blinding yourself?" "I am no more stupid than the rest of my family, I hope !" snapped Mrs. Stockley, with much meaning. "Well, then," continued her sister. Ignoring this improbability, "you must realize that Barbara will most likely return very changed. Indeed, from her one letter there seems no doubt about It. That was queer very queer !" Mrs. Stockley Impatiently hunted among bundles of colored silks. "Of course she will be changed. She Is two years older and has suffered ghastly experiences. She was very ill at Singapore: you couldn't expect long chatty letters!" She spoke with unusual asperity. Two years of her sister's undiluted companionship had Increased an in herent instinct toward contradiction. alertwhile developing a ness. Both were necessary In the radius of two sharp eyes ever quizzing through their lorgnette, two ears which seemingly reached all over the house, and a caustic tongue ready to reduce other people's foibles or few Ideas to shreds. Such gifts used at the expense of common acquaintances are a dif ferent matter, of course. . . . "Ah !" Miss Davles returned to the promptings of conscience with renewed relish. "You are as blind as Hugh, Alice. I saw him this afternoon, quite excited over meeting her tomorrow, He wants to have the wedding after Christmas of course It was not my business to sny anything!" could Whether this have been maintained had not other people been present. Is open to ques tion. . . . "You don't understand Bob as well as Hugh and i do, you see," returned her sister complacently. "No," she agreed, "but I understand Man !" Her lips closed witli a snap, to give effect to the world of meaning In her words. "Don't you realize, Alice, that Barbara was attractive? And she has been flung, unchaperoned, for two years, into the society of a man who well had extremely loose Ideas, and Bohemian ways a man whose Influ ence would be most questionable for any young girl." Mrs. Stockley flushed. "Are you In sinuating that Bab would be weak enough to allow him to Influence her? After her careful upbringing, too? Why looseness of any sort would be abhorrent to her! Her surroundings have always been strictly moral." "I don't Insinuate anything; but I wouldn't trust that man far, In such circumstances ! We have yet to learn how he behaved." "She did not allude to him In her letter." "No. But she did her utmost to get taken back to search for his body I Surely her chief desire should havo been to hurry home to Hugh?" Mrs. Stockley smiled Impatiently, "You are making mountains from molehills, Mnry! She did that purely from humanitarian motives; It was only right and natural. Hugh though: so. He liked Captain Croft." "Hugh Is too trustful : that's why I am sorry for him. Frankly, Alice, I do not believe 'a man and woman could live In such Isolation without coming to grief. I have seen too much of human ... nature" "My dear Mary! what do you nienn? You Her sister held up a dignified hand "You must to stop all Interruption. don't" face 'It, Alice! Everybody Is talking and wondering. Of course. It depends entirely upon the man. I "don't Imply that nil men are beasts as some worn en would who had seen as much of the world as I have. If he had a strong spiritual nature a clergyman, perhaps. But that man!" She pursed her lips. Mrs. Stockley gnr.ed at her, her own fine paling, her finger twitching the forgot ten stole. "'Coming to grief!'" she repeated, horrified. "Ho you dare suggest my diiugl.ter would so disgrace her name My dear and family as to allow Mary! It Is preposterous! I would dis But Barbara! own such a child. Why, I woul4 trust fur alone with any man, for forty years I She wouhln t dream of such things. Besides, Cap tain Croft wss Mrs. Field's cousin, of food family himself1 Martha, the old servant, hustled !n at this moment with bedroom candles. She plumped them down Upon the table, and her old face beamed at an excuse for garrulity over Barbara's re turn. When, annbbed, Ihe departed. By CLIVE ARDEN Copyright by The Bobba-Merrl- ll Co. lights she had left there, to trim the little lamps of her Darbury home. II Mrs. Stockley faced her sister, candle In hand, with an air of outraged dig- nity. "Mary" she said, "your conversation tonight has shocked me Inexpressibly! I Insist on your never breathing a word of your suspicions either to Hugh or Barbara. If she has any painful memories she will confide In me. Of course, I did not know Captain Croft well, nor like him ; but poor child! Her Bufferings may have been worse than I ever Imagined. Good night !" With unusual decision she opened the drawing room door, and went to bed. But she lay long awake thinking over her sister's remarks. One alone stood out clearly, gathering force with every minute: "Everybody is talking and wondering." Everybody eagerly devoured all scraps of news; but the supply was scanty. After being brought to Singa pore, the heroine remained there, ill. unable to be moved for a time. . . A certain reticence surrounded this 111 ness, prostration being given as the natural cause. No trace of a white man's body was found by the expedltton sent, post-hastto search the Island. Only the charred remains of a hut, and a few dead natives, were dis covered In the north. In the south, a small tribe of furious, armed savages offered a wildly hostile reception, mak ing approach difficult, refusing any In formation other than a poisoned ar row. . . . Babooma had presura ably recovered and wreaked his ven geance upon the body of his late an tagonist. . . . When well enough, the girl had Im plored frantically, as one distraught, for facilities to return, herself, to search. This awakened a new Interest, adding piquancy to the situation. But e, The boat train was late. Little groups of people, wrapped in heavy coats and furs, stood about the platform at Charing Cross chatting together; or promenaded slowly, eying their fellows with furtive interest, or absorbed In their own reflections. Hugh became convinced that both the had station clock and his wrist-watc- h stopped ; yet the watch appeared to be ticking when, every few moments, he exclaimed it. lie sighed, turned on his heel, and for the twentieth time started to walk the length of the platform and back. Impatience was a novelty, also the state of excitement In which he found himself: he hardly knew how to cope with such sensations. . . . Two years In his usual comfortable groove hud changed Hugh very little. He managed his father's property, hunted, shot, played games, as of yore. If the tragic loss of Barbara had taken the keen edge from his enjoyment of life, making him a little older and graver, it had not destroyed his interests In the wholesome occupations which came his way. After the first shock had abated, he found himself a forlorn hero among his many friends, who took lilrn to their hearts and filled his days so that brooding became Im possible. Perhaps more than mere sympathy lurked within the minds of mothers with marriageable daughters; but that suspicion never penetrated his brain. The girl who was part of his very life had gone: to none other did he give a moment's thought. And now this Twentieth century miracle had tlappened ! After what seemed a dull dream he awoke Just where he was, when, so to speak, he fell asleep. His feelings were abso lutely unchanged, except, perhaps, that they were Intensified by loss. The possibility of any alteration In their relationship never even occurred to him. As has been mentioned before, he was not blessed or cursed with lmagina tlon. ifiC' Impatience Was a Novelty. madness could not be authorities. Wliat could a girl accomplish where hosts of men had failed? No! The Island had been thoroughly explored. The hostile faction of the natives was In possession; her return would be mere suicide, or worse. She was sent to England as soon as practicable. But the De Borceau brothers, ever thirsting for adventure, understanding perhaps more of her sufferings and the true facts than they chose to publish, carried out to the end their oath to Croft. Only on the boat did they bid her farewell then they returned to their charts and their seaplane. Nothing save death, so they vowed to her, In their exuberant French fashion, should deter them from learning final news of the man whose personality had won their generous admirasuch quixotic Indulged by tion. . . level-heade- d . The key to more Intimate, romantic drama was not forthcoming. Speculation flourished. What would be likely to happen In such circumstances? Would propinquity bring love in Its This entailed endtrain? And. if so less discussion, heated arguments. What would be right, and what wrong? Which would need most courage: to There were women who resist or thought the reverse. The fact of the girl being already engaged shed a further glamor of the drnmatlc over the adventure, making the uncertainty all the greater. Per haps no problem had arisen after all. . . . But If It had? Did the two themselves have clear convictions on either side; and. above all, courage to be true to them? This was the vital point all longed to know. The pair becume Invested Women laid with romance their bends together and wondered. . . . Park surmises were murmured concerning that Illness at Singapore. . . Sentimental girls forgot thplr . matinee or cinema UMs and cut Croft' photograph out of newspapers, half wishing they themselves had been wrecked with him. , . . Meanwhile, through the darkness of winter nights and drsbness of mount onous days, the ship plowed her way to England which bore one from the closed gate of an "earthly paradise. with agonized eyes still dazzled by the . . . When he had nearly reached the bar rier, a sudden tension became apparent conversations ceased, everywhere: heads all turned one way, a flutter of expectancy passed over the scattered groups. Hugn turned quickly. The huge en gine, approaching, glided slowly along side the platform, followed by the train which broupht far travelers home agnin from distant lands. . . . Within a few minutes all was bustle and hurry. The platform swarmed with excited passengers, harassed por ters, barrows, luggage. . . . He searched hither and thither for the figure he sought, anxiety slowly As the crowd rising within him. thinned, he took up his position Just inside the barrier, where she was bound to come. Peering through the murky light, he hastily scunned each face that passed, without success. When at last but a few stragglers re mained, he made his way further down the platform a dull feeling of dlsap polntment adding to his nnxlety. Casually his glance traveled over a thin figure In a dark coat and hat seated upon a bench, a kindly, grayhaired porter standing near, suit-cas- e In hand. As he passed by, a voice he had once thought never to hear again caused him to turn sharply, with a leap of the heart. "I shnll be better In a minute. . Thank you, porter. . . "Bab !" With probably the quickest movement of his life. Hugh reached the seat and seized the girl's tremb bllng hands In his own. . . . Then all other words of greeting faded upon his Hps : he was conscious of a sense of shock, a nameless apprehension The general features of the face quick ly raised were those he knew; but that was all. This woman with the heavy, haunted-looklneyes, the strained set lips, the curious rigidity of expression bore no resemblance to the sweet faced. Impulsive girl who hod clung round his neck at parting. In the cabin of the airplane. He felt checked, curl ously embarrassed, as If with a strati ger. Still clasping her hands, he gazed at her silently, noting with alarm the oshen hue spreading even to her lips, Several times she essayed to speak and failed. The porter, scenting romance, discreetly moved a few steps At last Hugh heard hi away. name uttered, ngaln and again, In a voice so charged with misery that hi apprehensions deepened, and a sudden mistiness enveloped the surroundln scene. For she was clinging to hi hands like one In deep torment who, for the first time amid a storm of suf fering, finds the anchor of an ol friend. . . . And yet he received th Impression of fear In her manner; sli seemed loath to meet his gaze, unnhl to talk to him. . . . He was frankly puzzled; but an Englishman, with hi horror of scenes, can be trusted to bridge over any threatening chasms. Sending the porter for a taxi, he sat er skW, still holding her down by hands, ftnd took refuge In the protwlc. "Come and have some tea or brandy he suggested. or something. Jin "There'a just time." She shook her head. "But you you dash It all! Ton don't look fit to travel. What la It, ... ... g ... NEPHI, UTAH "I hated It ! she cried huskily, free ing ber hands. "It was all unbear- ble dy after day the monotony, the people oh ! I hated it all !" Her eyes roved wildly over the platform, then she abruptly turned toward lilm. I wuut Mrs. Field. Is she In London, or ot Darbury?" "Neither. She's In Russia." The girl's hands twined convulsively together, and she said no more. It was relief to both when the porter ap peared to lead them to the waiting taxi. By this sudden act of traveling overland, she had successfully thwarted publicity. No curiosity was evinced In her arrival. She sank back In a cor ner, witli throbbing head, bewildered It all seemed by the noise around. part of the nightmare which hud been going on for so long, In which various parts of her anatomy moved, spoke, ate and slept, while she herself was numbed or dead. The movements around appeared as unreal and de tached as the life of a gay city to one In a lying, blind and darkened room. Hugh turned to put his arms about her, as they drove away but again something Intangible checked him ; Instead, he took her hand once more, almost shyly, and leaned toward her. Bab," he asked diffidently, "won't you aren't you going to kiss me? After all this time?" She drew away quickly, sharply. For a moment she laid her hand upon the door, with the mad Instinct to escape which some trapped animal might feel on Its way to the zoo, Its heart ever away In the wilds with Its lost mate. . . . Then, drawing a long quivering breath, she leaned back and looked up at him. In the light from passing vehicles, she saw the hurt wonder on his face. All at once the cold rigidity encom passing her heart relaxed. With trem bling Hps, and eyes swimming In sud den tears, she laid her free hand on his. "Hughle !" she muttered brokenly, you must bear with me. So much has happened. I have to tell you. . . . I'm not I don't " The words quav ered away Into silence. How was it possible, at this first moment of meet ing, to blurt out the bald statements which would shatter his pathetic hap piness and trust? She could not bear, yet, to allude to what had become a sacred memory full of poignant, exquisite pain. "I can't tell you everything here," she continued. "Oh ! can't speak of It nil yet, Hugh ! Don't ask me. It It Is so unbearable Again her voice died away. Hugh pressed the hands In his, and laid them against his cheek. "Darling old girl I Has It been as bad as all that?" He had, she knew, entirely misun derstood ; but she made no comment. were Impossible, Just ExplunoTlons then. This meeting, fraught with such irony and tragedy, had bewildered her. Hughjs - presence, with its present strangeness and odd sense of famil iarity, brought with It a sense of shock, reducing her preconceived Ideas of It to chaos. When they reached Waterloo, she nerved herself to put the question she scarcely dared to frame that which was her only Interest In life at present. "Hns any news reached England yet from De Borceau?" Hugh looked grave and shook his head. "Of Croft, you mean? No. Poor I suppose I say fellow. eRess HW0REH-- LwJ in 53 IT J.miitii 1 in FF1 1 y iiii a fUi ! hi. i iiij -- J'UiJa ""J - r, A ' i7 Si in ; tjMiaMhf'ii' 39 3 I r to 1 ' Bab" ... "Yes?" "I suppose I've sometimes won dered was Croft quite decent to you. all the time?" A harsh caricature of a laugh Jarred on his ears. "Yes. Oh ! Quite decent !' Hugh knitted his brow at her tone "You are sure? 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Solution of Last Week's Puzzle. Stood by Papa Vartlcal. 1 2 8 4 B Man'a noma Small child Mineral Companloa Japaneae ahawl 7Inatead 10 12 Roaat Note of mnalcnl acala Dlphthons HOW TO SOLVE A CROSS-WORPUZZLE When the correct lettera are placed In the white apaeea thla paaale will both worda apell vertically and aorlaoatally. The flrat letter la each word la Indicated by a number, which refera to the drflnltloa Hated below the paaale. Thna No. 1 under the column headed borlaontal" deBnea a word which will Oil he white apaeea ap to fhe flrat black aquare to the light, and a number under "Vortical" deflaea a word which will Oil the white aquarae to the next black one below. No lettera go In the blaek apaeea. All worda need are dlctloaary word, except proper aamee. Abbrevlatloaa, alaag, laltlala, technical terma aad eaae-let- e forma are Indicated In the deflnltlona. RHYME firN URSERY poo-slbl- hlm" ., . mrrf Wji S3 could." "It was a beastly both. mm;'1 ml VnJw wrAni jy ry 1 Qt rnmA-t- tmf TOZL i ij I 7 H 4 paln-strlcke- ... r n position for you Especially as you didn't like "Here's the station!" she exclaimed, with a quick breath of relief. The taxi drew up at the pavement, and a porter opened the door. . . . The train was rather full ; but the presence of others In their carriage was a boon to Barbara. Hugh had sunk so far into the background that. In her recent anguish, the consideration of their position hnd held no place. Robbed with such cruel suddenness of both Alan and her future motherhood, there had ben no room, in the bitterness of her heart, for thoughts of the empty years ahead. Every throb of the engines bringing her away Increased the passionate craving to returnto search every nook and corner of the Island for remains of the man who meant more than life to her; then to lie down beside them and die, herself. (TO BE CONTINUED ) The Wonderful Baby "Now, then, ladles and gents," shout- ed the rosy-face- d showman, "walk up see the most wonderful baby on The charge for admission Is earth only sixpence. Walk up I Walk op!" A good many people responded to an' 1 the Invitation, and when' the place was full fhe showman brought forward a very ordinary baby Indeed In all respects. "What Is there wonderful about It?" asked one of the dfsgusted audience of the showman. "I've seen thousands of babies like It." "Well," said the showman. rt!n near an aperture In the booth, "all I can say Is that Its mother says It's dear"shall be all "I right," she breathed, the most wonderful baby on earth, at' "We had a bad crossing. I rough If the doesn't know who does? Tou'll cold. That's all, Hugh." bare to take the lady'a word for It 1" He watched her with, puckered brow, he yelled as be dodged an empty bot"What made you leave the boat at tle and disappeared trom tlew, Loo-do- n Ttt-BIMarseilles and come overland V dVv "Vr" P IF era jh-vr-- A- x-jrw. sxmf all the world were pp!e pia And doughnuu grew on tree, Td ral 'em when I liked, and hava At many at 1 pleated. Find throe other poroone tree; upper roht eernor Tone) of pie. Upper loft comer (two, feehln4 tfewn, on box; lower right oornor down, by treov |