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Show THE MISSING MAN By MAR Auhor of -- V R. p. HATCH The Bank Tragedy" lHU'i, by I.ee CHAPTER XXIV. Continued But I recovered my composure sufficiently to play ray part of the returned husband. It was not unsuccessfully done. The children clung to me from the firsi, Mr. Carter was like a father in his kindness, Constance only was cold. But did not wish to remove the barrier between us. I was not such a villian as that, and from the first my calculations had only extended to i he position held by my brother in the bank and mill, not to that in his wife's affections. I was married, and Lenora loved me. But my plans changed. saw that It would not be politic to take the position of cashier, even if it could be obtained, and 1 decided to renounce it and, for the present, all designs of appropriating its funds or those of the mill; for my overpowering love for Constance increased day by day while I lived under the same roof. And then the tempter came in the person of Marks. "Marry her," he said, "for I see you love her. She is rich, and you can help the rest of us. Business does not prosper as it used; our operations are too well understood." "Marry her!" I echoed; "how can I. when Lenora is alive?" An evil smile lit up his face, but he only said, "Lenora may die, she is far from strong;" but I thought nothing of all this, for I did not think he was bad enough to attempt her life. Now I know that he was. I know that it was he who sent the poisoned ring in my name to her. I saw a notice of her death in a newspaper which, no doubt, he sent to me. But there was nothing concerning the suspicions regarding the cause, and, indeed, I do not think they awoke until Bruce began his investigations in the claimant case. I had long ceased to love Lenora though I appreciated her single-heart- . 1 1 'I owe it to your 1 I 1 he reasoned I would pay rather than suiTer the niatier to become known. But I never even mistrusted it until his Vane recovered reason and brought suit against me. Then love. jealousy, fear, and the old instinct to pit my faculties against the world arose within me. There seemed no other course open than to oppose the suit, and everything seemed in my favor. This was at the outset. But as the days went on, and I saw the anguish of Constance, the dejection of Vane, a great, shuddering pity for them both, and horror for myself. awoke in my soul. I would think of our mother, of her love for us both, of her dying request to Vane, of his long search for me, of my treachery in al-- j lowing him to fall into the clutches of the law in my place, of his reeov-- j ery to reason, only to find me in his place, and the cumulative wickedness of my course would grind me as if I had been fastened into the tortuous iron frames used upon criminals in olden times. But slowly up from under all this anguish of mind there grew up a firm resolve which comforted me, comforted while it made me wretched. I determined to let matters take their course, play my part to the end, and when that end should come, which I was confident would establish me in the eyes of the law as Vane Hamilton. I would go away and give him his rightful place. Vane was arrested, and I remained free. That was as I expected, but I lingered a few days on the scene of my quiet, happy, yes, happy life, for it seemed hard to cut myself I do not mean to off from it all. preach, but I want to say that good people know little about what so they condemn rapidly; they know little and seem to care little about the lives of the poor creatures faithfulness, ed devotion to me. But now that she was dead, said to myself, exultantly I would press my pretended claims upon Constance as I never had done. But I said nothing about it to Marks, with whom and all my evil associates I determined to break; for, strange as it may appear, I fully decided to begin a new upright life, to be in reality what Vane had been. I would persuade Constance to marry me on the plea of beginning a new life together, and then I decided to be so kind, so good and true, that she would never mistrust 1 was not the real Vane Hamilton. The good, pure moral atmosphere of Grovedale seemed to have uplifted I had my soul to better things than ever known. I began to see that honor really existed, that there were true hearts in the world. Little Clare would kneel beside me when she I prayed prayed, and sometimes and in heart, my with her, fancied I was struggling to free itself of the terrible tolls of sins; but how could I think that foror that it was mine, giveness could come to me in the midst of the wicked deceit of my dally life! About this time I began to feel conregarding scious of an uneasiness mist rusted Primus Edes. Not that Constance of any wrong. Far from It. But I feared that site might have a romantic attachment for him, as he was said to resemble her husband In some degree. I called him to the office and talked with him. Tte resem blance existed, but not to an unusial I had not the slightest idea deeree he was Vane Hamilton not the slightest, for Vane, I wqs convinced, had been drowned. When he li ft the office after rejecting my proposal to give him a better job In another mill warned him to keep off my premises. My premises, and he the true owner' Marks was keener than I, and, I think, mistrusted him from the first. But he paid nothing lo me about It. It was hip hand that Bred th shot at Primus Eds, as he was called. Of that I am firmly convinced, though i I did not see him about C.rovedale. think he conceived the scheme of !enora and Vane from my TMth, and then of lidding It over me afterwards as the means of retting targe sums of BIOS) (ran me. which and Shepard my wife, first of all." oftenest found in their courts of jus- tice. have thought of this much in the past week, and have wondered what my life would have been if I had not been taken from my parents', but al lowed to grow up in the midst of good influences; and I have been, probably, as good a man as my twin brother and perhaps it is not too much to say that he might have been like me with the same environment. I go away, and I go a thief, a criminal in the eyes of the law. But I know Vane's heart, and I feel that I may hope for fcrgivencss, and that he will believe me when I say that I will repay him some time, if possible, the money I took while occupying his premises And. Constance, I promise jou thatI I will live an honest life herecan fancy your doubting my after. ability to do so; but I will I swear 1 1 it. Whenever I go I shall take with me the memory of your true, noble womanhood and wifehood. Vane may rest his soul in your truth and faithfulness, and I, in time, perhaps, may be glad to think of you as a sister; but not now not now. for fear of seeming maudlin I refrain from saying more. You must have known how I loved you, and you can realize what it costs to leave you to him.' VICTOR HAMILTON CHAPTER XXV Conclusion The husband and wife read the con fesslon together after he had been re leased and returned to his own home, and a great pity took possession of his soul for his unfortunate brother "He had great Innate nobleness," said Constance, "or he would not have given up everything when he might have kept It." ; "Yes, that proves It,' said her "but for this I might still be In confinement and awaiting trial on charge of murder; but I owe It to juur taitbfulntst, at) wife, fiisi cf all." The Hamilton continued to redid' in Orovedale. the children grew to be a tall youth and maid, and great comforts to their parents, and they were taught to feel pity, rather than detes atlon, for IK wicked, bus-band- After tiro or three years paiset away, a large box of fruit reachar them from Californi'i, and they Ie,T. sure the sender must be Victor, m five years came a check for one thou sand dollars. It was signed "Charles Rogers," but they were sure it cam.' from him also, particularly as othi r followed from time to time. They wrote to Charles Rogers, but receive ing no reply fancied that he did not dare answer, and so they would not write again. But at last they heard of him, ami in a way to create the utmost coc sternation. He had been arrested. W all read the account of a wealtln ranch owner who was arrested and held for trial on charges of (oncer dishonesty. How for years he had commanded the universal respect ot the community in which he liv how he had risen from being the mat, ager to the ownership of a large fruit ranch, and how his friends felt at his arrest. After a time the matter was dropped and we wondered at it. Long afterwards the reason was known to a few. Mr. and Mrs. Ham ilton read the accounts likewise, and immediately started for California They went to the governor and laid before him the whole story of his life, Vane and struggles. temptations, and Constance and pleaded, pleaded both were made eloquent by their great sympathy an.l emotions. The governor fortunately was a man of heart as well as of justice and die cernment. Perhaps, too, the grace and beauty of Constance touched him, for he was a gallant man. At all events, after some delay ami no little consideration, a full pardon was granted Victor Hamilton, and thenceforth he was free to travel as he would, and without fear.' It was not known for a long time that it was Solomon Marks who denounced him, because his demands of "hush money" not until the arwere disregarded, rest, confession, and death of Marks took place. He visited Grovedale, and such was his genial nature and manner that he was well and even cordially received, for his story was well known as well as his subsequent reformation. Then he returned to his California ranch. As he shook hands woth Constance at parting she said to him: The "You should marry, Victor. ranch needs a mistress." "Never," he said. "You have spoiled me for any other woman;" but his head was uplifted and he breathed a full breath at thinking he had been able to give up his chance of winning her when in his own hands was held her. fate. "Cherish his brother's Vane, as you would cherish your own life, for she is a jewel." "She is more than my life to me,"' said Vane. "When will you send for me to keep house for you?" asked Clare, daV.ng out into the sunshine before him. "Next year; and when the conquering hero follows as no doubt he will in a week we will have a grand wedding at the ranch. How does that strike you, missy?" Clare blushed a little, for the conquering hero was not a myth, and the wedding actually took place last summer at the ranch as her uncle proposed. Her parents and brother were present, and the ring used at the cer& mony was the one left in trust by the sorrowing mother years before, and whose spirit must have been present to bless them all. The End. Bunker Recognized the Sand. It is the boast of the hardy fishermen and coasters of Cape Cod that they can tell where they are without any instrument but the lead, and with no other observation than a scrutiny of the sand brought from the bottom upon it. A few years ago one Capt. Bunker was on a cruise, and, being confined to his cabin by sickness, he directed that the lead should be brought down to his berth for his inspection. The craft belonged to Nantucket, and was in sand ballast. The mate of the vessel, somewhat of a wag, and doubtful of the captain's infallibility, greased the lead, and, dipping it into the ballast, carried it down tc the berth. Old Capt. Bunker's eyvs dilated with astonishment as he asked: "Do you say you got this sand by rounding?" "Yes. sir." "Then, by the great hornnpoon, Nantucket's sunk, and we are rigUt over flipper's Hill!" Name Well Discarded. Some writers are trying to restore disthe name of placed In recent times by the more manageable Roumania. of remoteness had a sound proper to eastern Europe, and a mys-rtoo much mystery for the Prenct lady to whom, some years ago, an interesting young stranger waa "And now," she asked, presented. raising an admiring and benevolent y eglasi to receive his bow, "tell me what you are" "Madame," he replied, "What!" am a cried the vivacious hostess, with still more interest "So young, and yet a V.oldo Wallachlan!" Moldo-Wullachl- Moldo-Wal-lach- oat Washington Day by Day News Gathered Here and There at the National Capital How a Serviceable ist" "Literary mean ?" "Bran the n chemist? booV what do yoa he writes is a drug on arket." Illogical. Slmklns Chatterton Is a great fcl low to argue. Isn't he? He Titnklm Oh, I don't know usually drops a subject before he hat grasped It One Can Be Made from Carriage Brace. DURING I have a plan of making a latch for have used and 5orn crib door which found to be very satisfactory, writes i farmer in Prairie Farmer. I took m old buggy top joint and bolted one. end to a door, as shown in the illus- NOT IDLE CONGRESSMEN SUMMER RECESS tration. allowed the other end to swing loose. Next I spiked a 2x4 to side of crib and bored a hole in the end on level with latch. The carriage, top bar is bent as shown by dotted 1 WASHINGTON. Notwithstanding the fact that every member of he senate and house is now drawing nay at the rate of $7, "(00 a er cent, more than the salary before March 4 not a few of them will be Found! during the summer earning an houest penny by entertaining the public with their particular accomplish' ments. The echo of the vice president's gavel had not died away when Senator Tillman, of South Carolina, was on his way to fill a lecture enWith but gagement at Baltimore. me or two exceptions he will deliver his famous lecture on the race ques-tioevery week day evening from now until congress meets in December. His pay is reputed to be $200 a lecture, so it will be seen that whether the sun shines or not Senator Tillman has a lucrative haymaking time ahead of him. Mr. Beveridge. of Indiana, will be much before the public both on the platform and in print, but the speech-tnaklnhe does will not yield him a year) cent. Hut his writings probably will add largely to his bank roll, for the debate on national issues likely to fig lire in the next national campaign, which he is conducting through the columns of a western magazine, is one of the greatest things ever at The do tempted by a publication. bate already has opened on state's rights lines, Mr. Beveridge taking ad foi vanced ground and contending what he calls "nationalism." Former Senator Fred T. Dubois, ot Idaho, quit public life on March 4. be cause his opposition to the Mormon church cost him his seat. Hut he prob ably will make more money and create more sentiment during the next yeai than he has ever before done in a similar period. The women's organ! nations which fought to drive the Mormon apostle, Heed Smoot, from the senate, all are now clamoring foi lectures from Mr. Dubois on the Mor a mon question, and he has rich suing of Chautauqua lecture engage ments to fill. FATHER SPKCK VON" STERNBURG, German ambassador, showed young Theodore and Kermit Roosevelt how to jump hurdles just beyond Rock Creek park, the other day. He taught them so well they beat their lather, the president, who tolled to t clear a hurdle. Baron Stern burg was a hussar in the German army in the war with Prance and what he doesn't know about horses is not to be found in the best literature on the subject. He learned the art of riding from the ground up. for he enlisted as a private and worked his way along to a commission in a crack cavalry regiment. The lesson that Baron Bternburg gave the Roosevelt boys was not their first under his tutelage. He has been out with them several times "on the quiet" and has managed to bring them to a state of efficiency that already gives them the confidence and ability to follow the hounds. Capt. Fitzhugh Lee, of the Seventh cavalry, is assistant tutor and the president also takes a hand occasionally, but leaves most of the instruction to the German ambassador and the army officer. The Roosevelt boys had the time of their lives. There was tonic in the BARON five-foo- HURDLING AT air and the animals they rode at fence and hurdle were full of mettle and in spired with the spirit of the sport Two of them were the president's own mounts, Roswell and Audrey, mag nlflceni blooded hunters of a line ot hunters. The horse that was first sent at the jump was Gray Dawn, a gift to Theodore, Jr., bv Capt. Seth Bullock, ot If he lacks the style and Deadwood. conformation of Roswell and Audrey he makes up in ginger and endurance The jumping started at four and feet. The boys cleared this with little difficulty, but the president only topped 'he hurdle by a supreme effort Then Baron Sternburg put up the bars to five feet, and the two boys tried it again. There were one or two balks for each, but they finally got over, their father and other spectators applauding. The president was not to be beaten by his boys if he could help It, so he put Roswell at the rail again. Roswell started well, but the rail was too high and his rider too heavy so he quit al the bar. Again and again the president tried, but in vain, and to the delight of his sons he had to admit that he was beaten one-hal- II til U Hill III mil I Ml A Door Latch from Carriage PRESIDENT'S BOYS BEAT Brace. line, the end is inserted In hole 2x0 and then pulled down Into lock. I have found by experience that this latch cannot be rubbed open as is so often the case with other latches. CORN MUST BE TESTED. The Only Method to Be Certain Germinating Qualities. of A good many people think they can tell when corn will grow, and when Hunit will not, without testing it. dreds of young men from all over Iowa come to the college at Ames for he t wo weeks' short course. One year I let each member of a large class take 40 acres to examine and study for two days and see if he could tell which would grow and which would not. They did not know that 1 had set a Utile trap for them by mixing Up good ears and bad ears and ears of weak vitality, all of w hich I had tested in a germinator ten days previous If. When (heir judgment of each ear was compared with my record of ils test it was seen that they had all made mistakes. When we were through asked if there was anyone of them who thought he could pick out corn that was safe to plant without testing it. and not a single hand went up over the audience. You may often tell by examination when a kernel is dead, but you cannot tell when it Is weak or low in vitality without the germinating test. Prof. P. G. Holden. i I bt ENGLISH TARRED ROADS. WHITE HOUSE PET DOG NAUGHTY - Hygienic Value Demonstrated mingham, England. IS BANISHED at Bir- The hygienic value of roads painted with tar is thoroughly appreciated The road in Birmingham, England. is first thoroughly cleaned by dry He became petulant and retiring been banished from the ROLLO has House. The time was when disliking the company of either man Several times members ol sweeping, then rpughly distilled taiRollo, big St. Bernard pup, was the or beast. most prized of all the White House the president's tennis cabinet hav ls poured over it and Spread evenly, pets. But Rollo fell Into evil ways. had to step lively lo escape a nip from after which sand is thrown on and When the French ambassador, M. Rollo. the road is Immediately ready for traf- After chasing ambassadors, cabinet fic. A fortnight or three weeks later Jusserand, came over to play tennis with the president, or Baron Speck ministers, and minor officials, Rollo a second coaling is applied, and in a von Sternburg. the German ambassasealed his doom the other night when short time the road has the appear dor, wandered about the grounds, Rollo evinced a disposition to make them climb trees or jump fences. All Of Rollo's troubles are blamed to Mrs. on a bull terrier presented Roosevelt several months ago. Hp to the coming of the bull terrier Rollo was the best liked animal anywhere. The terrier and Rollo apparently were awfully good friends. They were both about the same age and the bull terrier undertook to teach Rollo 'rough house" games. He would grab Rollo by the throat and roll him good and plenty. Rollo, who grew until he was about the size of a calf, tired of this, and the constant attacks of the terrier appeared to ruin his y A Literary Chemist. "What is Skrybbler'B profession?" "Well, he's a sorl of literary chen DOOR LATCH. be treed a couple of the watchmen from the navy department who were It appears, i,nce of an asphalt street. also, that a short stretch of road in the White House Beckenham was treated with tar oil, going through grounds about midnight urhich is poured over again and again Rollo wagged his tail, expecting to until the pores of the road exude the be commended for what he had done, This however, dries up preparation. but after It became known and disdoes not make an oily and quickly, cussed Rollo was sentenced to be ban- nasty mess In wet weather, and is ished to the farm of Surgeon General said to be much cheaper than the Rixey, down in Virginia, where he can tar process, but It requires more fre chase rabbits and butterflies. client, renewals. A comparatively small The bull terrier, now that Rollo Is quantity of the material is available gone, has turned his attention to Skip and this Is a difficult! In the way the little black and tan hound which of its general adoption. was given the president on his lion In Colorado. Skip, so hunting trip FARM WORK. the president says In his book, "can climb trees," but the terrier has not Thorough cultivation of the cornmade him do it yet. field before planting pays big. Have you provided a pasture for the hogs? Don't leave It out of your plans for the year. Take away the unsightly chip-pilIS ASKED TO PRESIDENT and put It on a thin piece of ground. The result will be more bushels of LECTURE ON THE CANAL corn or oats next fall. It's a good plan lo set an evergreen windbreak three rows thick around It will ready to face It. Let us not live at the house, barn and yards. drones In the hive of modern politics save fuel and add greatly to the combut Join, young and old, to work foi fort of everylMidy and every animal. our advancement and the advance ment of the grand old Republican par Irrigation In France. In Prance many of the Irrigation ty. football, science, tenpins, rate leg Islallon, boxing, hunting, literature, enterprises are under private man yachting, tawn tennis, olo and mili- ngement and are backed by private tary and naval supremacy. capital. A report recently made to the Academy of Sciences at Paris says "The next picture displays," etc. that the Ignorance and conservatism Eight congressmen who have Just oi the farmers stand as obstacles In returned from the canal zone, are pre the way of the success of enterprises paring to make a tour telling theh so hacked. The writer of the report Constituents the good news. udvocates government control of the The president has not consented o enterprises and of the selling of water be booked as yet, but smilingly admit by volume instead of by a fixed flow. ted that the suggestion W'stt be a This would make it possible tor each farmer to use just the volume ef good one water needed by his land. e MARSHALL '.f wants President Roosevelt to tour the west, giving 'travelogues" describing the Panama canal work. Arrangements have been made so that the president can have a moving picture machine accompany him If he desires, or just a plain stereoptlcon if he considers It more suitable. "Now, ladies and gentlemen," he will be expected to say. "the next picture on the canvas Is that of the awe- Inspiring Culebra pass. Right back if there I shot two alligators, which 'he next lilm display in their last igonles of depth. Death, we must remember, comes to all in time. "We should ' ! tht we are eer REPRESKN'TATI VP. - |
