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Show "Does Tony think ma I defaulter?" Con"No, he does not. He and stance and and myself were the THE MISSING MAN hor of "The Bank Tragedy" Copyright. lS'i, !y Lee L od Slirpard CHAPTER "Yet, I will tell you why I stayed The man looking at him wondered; so long when ' I meant to have rebut he did not know Mr. Hamilton, sol turned in You will won-hwondered less. Presently, how-- i der" greatly when I tell you; that I ever, as a quiver went through her lost all knowledge ot my ow n identity, eyelids, her husband dropped on his my very bame. even, soon alter I left knees beside her and clasned hei Gmvedale. My memory was gone to hand in one of his, but timidly, tie tally, absolutely. What I did, or saw, watcher thought, and said in a low, or where I went then. I know no more than you do. It was as if I had sunk hesitating voice: "Constance, my wife!" into a dreamless sleep after 1 left you. And she opened 'her eyes and looked That, Constance, is the reason I did at him, vaguely. at first, then with a not return." Constance did, not speak, and he questioning, half frightened manner. The mar. gazed into her face as if continued : blank for many he would drink his fill of its sweet "My mind 'was lineaments. The eager gaze, did not weeks, or perhaps I should say ray seem to please her, and she drew past was a blank.., for I somehow- manaway her hand. aged to support 'myself, through; man"There is much to explain," she ual labor, perhaps, for when I regainsaid gravely, for she was now quite ed my, consciousness I was at work recovered. with a gang of men in Seattle, Wask- "You are right, Constance, andhis kingloa." is not the place fc. you now." aSd he ' "When." she asked, "did this .loss of glanced at the monument. ne:niory come to you?" " think about the time I Reached Casual as was the look, it bought the color to her face, and shei.arose Portland, for I recollect some incidents of the journey there in a vague and drew wwjrnr veil. Mr. Hamilton and his wife passed, way, but nothing clearly." u out together and up the street to their "O' vou recollect a woman1- -, .on the. street before you house, both silent, both evidently constrained by deep emotions of which took the cars at Grovedale;. fane '. they did not speak the one to the came out of the Essex House.',' "Yes. I recollect that perfectly. 'She other Ull they reached the Hamilton was a stranger, a very pretty woman grounds. hair, almost Mr. Hamilton held open the gate for with curiously tinted his wife to' enter. hd it reacted-witgreen, or am I mistaken?" he asked, with a puzzled look. a bang that made her1 start 'nervously. "You are hot well." Said her hus"No; they said she had green hair," said Mr. Carter. "She ought to have band, "and ro wonder.'5 Well, what "No, I am not well, and, as you traveled with Barr.um. of want she did it you?" no is wonder." say, "She thought she knew me. at first; They were soon at the .door, and they entered the house together, but but I assured her of her mistake." "But did she not go on the train Constance with a hesitating step. Finally, as they stood side by side in with you to Portland, or part of the the sitting room, she whirled sudden way?" asked Constance. Not that I remember, and yet ly about and cried hysterically "Whs lid you leve me? Why did stay! That is one of the vague reeollections I alluded to. It seems some- you leave me?" I would times as if I did see and talk with "Constar.ce. can you believe leave you willingly. By heavens! you her on the train. " "You certainly did. Vane; the con- are the most beautiful woman I ever e . . - j speak-ingr&',yo- . . j din--wlt- only ones who believed you Innocent. Henderson, too, thought as I did; but, of couie. we were obliged to settle ihe bonds." Bonds? Did it go so far as that? Then something was taken from the It must have been a burglar bank. who entered and deceived Tony some- By MARY R. P HATCH how." "No. not that. Nothing was actual were ly missing, and the Hut it was the notes, one all right. of Bowles & Estes, the other of C. B. pass-book- 6 ALONE ,. deep thought. "Yes, two of them; private detective Bruce, and Swan, of the police headquarters in Boston." 1 AT CHRISTMASTIME By S. s Cotton." AiidhJj(5 "What of them?" "Simon Low declares you presented those very notes, I mean Bowles At Estes, which he deposited in the National Bank, and he says that he paid you five thousand dollars for it on the The note was but spot as collateral. live hundred dollars originally, until the amount was altered." He got up and walked the room in great agitation. "What about the other note?" "That was presented in the same way, the face altered to read four thousand dollars instead of four hunThe cashier could not dred dollars. swear It was you, but he supposed everything to be all right.' Low declares he could not. have been mistaken, for he knows you as well as I do." "Yes, Low knows me. but I beI will lieve he has been deceived. see him and' talk with him. Nine thousand dollars. Is that the sum?" "Yes." "And my bondsmen had to pay It?" "Yes." "Well, it shall be paid back, every cent of it, if it can be really proved that it was I who took it. But as the matter now stands, it looks to me like a foul conspiracy to rob me. of my Though why any one good name. should want to do it I can't conceive. It Tony must have been mistaken. must have been a burglar." "So we thought until we heard from Ixw." "Have you had detectives at work?" asked Mr. Hamilton, after a period of "Shall you be dining out asked the girl. "I oh. no! I have none to I know no one here." Shall you be "And this evening. going anywhere?" I have nowhere whithI oh, no! er to go." So we parted, and I ascended to my made up the fire, and sat room. down and reread the newspaper. There was much in it about the approaching feast. I had the illustrated papers. They had issued Christmas supplements, with pictures of happy Father family gatherings, of Old Christmas, of waits and carol singers. I might perhaps hear the waits and singers. I should certainly hear the Christmas bells. That would be all. I sat I had done with mv papers. before the fire in a brown study, and ray spirits sank lower and ever lower. I recalled the old Christmases I had spent at home with my parents. I remembered how I had looked into my stockings on the morning to se if Old Father Christmas had visit-- d me in the night and had left there some presents for the Good Boy. Alas! No Father Christmas would visit me now. All that was of the past the utterly and irrevocably past. I could I did not light my candles. read no more. I needed no light for mv thoughts, they were too dark to be Illumined thus. As I stood thus musing, I heard a tap at my door, and shouted: "Come in!" There ensued delay, and I called again: "Come in!" Then the door opened and I saw some little heads outside, with golden curls and flushed cheeks, and a child's voice said: "Please, Mr. What's your nwie, will you come to our tree dowu BARING-GOUL- D 1 and holiest Is there can there be- - a man more clung all my sweetest lonely than one returned from a far thoughts: to buy thqre a little land, country, who has been out of his home to tread the old paths, ramble in the land fur 20 years, and cornea back same woods, look upon the same when his parents are dead, his old scenes, dwell among the same people. a home in the same place. friends dispersed, and the old nest And But now? Could it be? has missed to other occupants? As I walked back to my lodgings, can his loneliness be more emphasized than when his return syncroniies with through the street and by the market Christmas? place, folk were hurrying in all direcThat was my condition when I re tions, sone with bunches of holly in visited tho mnthar i.nnmrv With a their hands, a girl or two with a sprig a and heart beating straining eyes 1 hail of mistletoe slyly hid in her muff, looked for the first sight of dear old man wheeling a Christmas tree on a America after having left it as a lad, narrow, uutguera uo j"'""1 for the morrows dinner. Plum pud- hardlv a man. some 20 vears ago. I was back not to home I had no dings and mince pies were displayed The confectioners' home now shops. Mv heart hesran to fail in the me, my spirits decline, when I reached chemist, the hairdresser, the seedsthe Uttle country town near which 1 man, the draper had stuffed their winhad been born, and where I had fleet- dows with toys, toys, toys. He who ed the golden hours of childhood. No had come to earth as a little child had filled every heart with thought ono knew me. In the churchyard laid a wreath on the graves where of the little ones, and desire to make to them. lay dear old father and mother. I Christmas a day of joy looked at our house It had been re- had no tiny ones of my own, no little built and was occupied by strangers. nieces and nephews, no small cousins for whom to provide anything. I was -- e 1 1 alone utterly, desolately alone. saw a tall, As I pursued my way slim girl walking before me with a basket on her arm. and I noticed that the bottom bad come out, and that the contents fell on the pavement. Of this she was unaware. I stooped and picked up a little woolly lamb, then a something wrapped in paper then a silver match box breaking out of its covering. 1 stairs?" "I! I!" Gathering them together, I ran after the girl and stopped her. "Excuse me," said I. "Are you a female Hop o' my Thumb, dropping tokens whereby your track my be known?" I showed- her what I had collected. She colored and thanked me. Then I recognized her as the daughter of my landlady. "You must allow me," said I, "to tie my handkerchief round the basket, and to carry it for you. I believe that we go the same way." "You are very good," she replied. "We are about to have a Christmas tree for the children this evening, "and I have been making some trifling purchases as presents for my brothers and sisters, and for papa and mamma, who must not be forgotten." Good." Are "You Very I ex"There go. the,, candles!" The little claimed, as a 'cataract of red. yellow f trar.t through the village. over them. and green tapers shot aft of the bas shops had fresh names The old rector who had baptized me ket. "'And there's1 an orange!" said she, was dead. The old school was gone. forth The ancient church had been reno as one of these fruit bounced vated. The village inn was in new and fell, and rolled away into the hands. The old Christmas was no gutter. We were forced to stoop and colNo frost, no snow, no icicles; more. the scattered wax lights, and lect a rain. and drizzling only sludge to tie my large handkerchief vn1 then 10 tne returned lroni my visit 1 the basket. would about In depression. deep lage a fortunate thing." said I, I a "What in had taken rooms to the haste house In the town, and spend my "that I have got a goon sueu wrcumi of one 01 tne miseraoie nnie Christmas Eve with my pipe and glass in place T'VlOt if .nlnA uu m" it. .1 Jm nwviw mat to an old not even rags dog alone, with 1 to old customs, cling is. because Ue at my feet and look up with speakI was a boy my mother al ing eves into mv face and sympathize and when dishwith me in my solitude. I would pass ways gave me something like a child said: ,the As I hesitated. "Please Annie told' us to ask you." And then I saw the tall girl whom I had assisted draw back into tha dark behind them. "Most certainly I will, as you are so kind as to invite me." So I descended, and there were my landlord and landlady, radiant with happineas, and the five children danced before me and said: "He Is come; Is it not nice!" Behind, presently, entered Annie, somewhat shyly, and pretending she had come from the kitchen. I was witness of the delight of the littlo ones over their presents the "Swan followed the river affair. You were thought to have been drowned or murdered. And Bruce He looked ui) the defaulting matter. fancied at one time that he got on the trail of you. or some one that looked like you. in the West, a man named Ashley. "What sort of a man was Ashley. "Rad sort: a bank swindler. Bruce saw his photograph; looked like you Bless my soul! who knows but he was the man Low saw.' "I thought of that but it seems too unlikely for belief." "Ashley had a wife named Lenora said Mrs. Hamilton. Is the name new to vou?" she asked, keenly. never remember to have "It is. lieard it." "And yet you said in your dreams the night before you went away, Le nora Nora a pretty name.' " He looked at her in amazement "Are vou sure?" woman "Yes; and the green-hairewho sooke to you was named Lenora and she was Ashley's wife." "I have no recollection of any such name. Dreams are hard to explain. But how do you know all this about Ashley and a wife named Ienora.' "It. was brought out by Bruce's in vestigations," said Mr. Carter. "You fitP InnkinP- cloth in BUT porlcet." see there was reason for suspicions." Then we proceeded on our way, and be This seems. not Ashley may it red "So into the building castles coals, mv double. Well. I shall look into the among them, but watching the tum when we went into the house, she re matter, talk with Low. and if I find bling down of old cottages, old farms, ceived the basket from me, and again leave me?" thanked me. "You must not remove beyond doubt, that I have been guilty old reminiscences, into ash. ihe kerchief till all is unpacked," I I had done well in the oilier land. of altering notes and other question Saw the Tall Girl. ductor says so; but she did not gv as able acts, I will set them right. be another dls- and had returned, not a rich man, but said, "or there will far as Portland." .1 ..f il,.. v... the ( liaise woolly lamb, a small cart, a cannon, ui iuc ..tiitoiitu jinil- then with a comnetence. (To be continued. "Did I?" doll the father over a pair of warm It had been my wish, my ambition. children will see what you have pro"Yes." stockings of Annie's knitting, the FIGHT WITH HUGE SEA BAT. to settle in the village about which vided for them." "I thought so. That is about the mother over a shawl, also of her only thing I recollect distinctly." work; and I stood smiling and happy, Fish That Leaps Into the Air and "Vane." said his uncle, suddenly, when up sprang one of the children a Somersault. Turns SPIRIT CHRISTMAS TRUE THE "do you suppose any of your actions and or plucked from the tree the 9llver Imagine a Jet black bat of fifteen were questionable 1 mean unlawful?" more match box. feet across, wilh a long, slender "I hope not," said Vane, looking "This," said the child, "Is for Mr. tall, the fins rising and falling like I don't know. . I "still Sister Annie said know startled; wings with a motion the perfection of I was it was for him." doing good honest work in Se- srracc: winirs iet black above, pure I was moved more than I can say. attle when I came to myself. Any white below; flashing alternately one can be assured of that by writing black and white as the fishes turned S0Sr,me had been thinking of me. to Barnacle & Co., Seattle, Washing- and bough I was only a lodger. swung alone, standing out against ton. There is something back of your the mauve tint of the bottom with "Look here, air!" said the father, hat Is it. vou're a stranger In the country, and questioning, uncle. bore wonderful distinctiveness. They at such a- - time as this there must be "Vane, you are looked upon as a de- a remarkable resemblance to bats and faulter here In Grovedale." no strangers. You must really sup wore the bats of the sea. I with us. and dine also with us to"A defaulter! saw nearer Why. I did not take moved As the dinghy morrow. .1 can promise you a good one penny of the bank funds when I that rare spectacle a huge ray turn went away. I remember that per- completely over, throwing a somerdinner, for It is of Annie's making." I was a stranger All was changed. of a fectly." picture sault as it swung around, I was lonely me in: took and declares they you arace. vet never losing its position, "Yes, but Tony Osborn friend. a me of , made ind they came to the bank on the twenty-secondpresenting for a few seconds beautiful Christmas day. 10:0 p. m. at about seven o'clock in the line attuned to nerfect grace. I was I returned to my room upstairs, evening." fascinated by this singular perform iiade up the fire, and seated myself "He must have been mistaken." of these giant ance. characteristic before it. I had spent a very pleasant "No. he is positive; and besides, fishes, and might have remained In befora there Is proof of it." lay, and a pleasant evening ...!.... iiu.i nut the rilnffhv reached a I 1id not now feel so discouhat must "What proof?" was apparent they point when it "You spoke to him. 'Hullo.' says .;ee us. rsed, so hopeless. That was a nice rantiiy, very friendly and considerate. I Tony: you said the same, and that he permitted one, two, three to go nd I began to build In the fire. I so see to didn't you expect probably slowlv whirling on, then, selecting I saw as ...V onlv ruins 111 He said he didn't, and passed one that was headed up the lagoon ii soon. ot out home II a were, pleasant I hurl on. You opened the door with your ihe direction of the looked face a and pleasing the coals, own key and went. In." the quivering grain pole into the black much like up at me out of them very "Strange! What does it mean? Did shadow iust as It was about to tilf. Ah! if the old home of Annie. that saw the I come here?" I heard the quick thud, pole was gone, might I not build one that "No, you evldenlly came as far as ban from the socket, heard tne in would be new. I need no longer live the river bank, and there all trace dlan plying his oar to bead the dlnrthy in the past, but look to th future, and om hot seemed swallowed up, We thought .in the reel, ami then the very would next Christmas, please Cod A of the drowned ea seemed to rise Into the air you might have been but I Annie if is that be not alone, man was found In the river his re- hs ihe iinat balllke creature rose will cousenr. to put an cannot say of mean and Constance had IhhIIU from a maelstrom of spray, mains. end to my loneliness and help in that them buried at her expense." f' ring a vision of beating wing building up a tutura, I it to Men name know lioat and occupants: "But how do you the river?" fell with a resounding crash, he big Of Interest to Stockholders "Your traveling rap and one of your waves from the impact careen ng tne has shirt-studwere found there, the last dinghy Metropolitan Magazin Jaspar I hear that Santa Clans rouuds. railon the his Italian an yearly up employed given by roe! ,f Modified. road, the first by Tony Osborn. An .lumpuppe You don't tell lias lie actved awas found on the Green They say 8harpe Jependa other shirt-stuJaspar Yes ComSalaries tin on dc-- l, at the bai k the morning after unon his wits for a livelihood regular position dr Ha a mistake. corporatlous. ,, of various That's It Brown tees" big yon pntered It." imnn tho aliwnre rf- Wit ID mmm 'TMill Town Topics. "Who says so?" "F" others. "Tony" ; 1 - .... ' - "Why dd you I saw," walking away from her in great agitafiflWJ "But yeu are tired. Your I will unci?' will be here explain all then. Meanwhile, you must rest. Go to your room and I will sit. here." She looked at him gratefully. Then as if a sudden recollection seized her she murmured something about the children. "Yes, they will be home from school suppose. I must wait. They soon, will find I have not forgotten their commissions." he said, smiling. Constarce stood watching bim while he talked, and thea, with a dazed, questioning look in her eyes, walked toward the door. "I will do as you' say." she said, "for I am very tired." His look followed her from the room. Then, as the swish of her long, silken gown died away and the door closed behind her, he turned his face away and struck his breast with his clenched hand, but no word broke the stillness. Perfectly immovabe and rigid, he stood in the middle of the room for Then he walked several minutes. about examining the pictures, books, and the view from the window, as Is the way with one who has been long absent. And upstairs in her room, with her door looked. Constance lay eyes gazon her bet with wide-opeing at the ceiling and thinking, StudyI n Mr. Carter arrived. At Mr. Strangely enough no tidings of Hamilton's return had reached him, and it was. therefore, a positive shock to see him sitting there with Perley in his artjis and ("are beside him. while Constance, with grave, preoccuwas bttsf about some pied trifling household matter. "Bless my soul, Vane!' he cried, and stopped, gasping. Vane grasped him heartily by his band and "You hadn't heard jof my arrival. then?" Well. "Not !fc word, not Mf word I am glad, more than glad, to Mt you unback. hey. Constance?" vaguely stillness. niece's easy at his not "Yes, uncle, but he ha was 10 gou long " he why yet tea-tim- e : s 1 What's-hls-name- 1 I s d |