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Show 4jg4. be murmured, "in honor of the vtaft BY WHOSE HAND ? Amthor Copjrifht, 1889. By EDITH SESSIONS "By a Halr'M SnxHt," Tht bj Willr4 Flicker A Co TUPPER, Black Dimcmoal, Copjritbt, 1900, fcr Eta Street k Smith. CHAPTER X. Continued. fair English, interlarded with Spanish oaths and stage slang. Yes; there was the announcement. d In flaunting capitals, that the She was crafty, coarse and sensual. Her mouth, her eyes, her attitude, bethe only Rama Bojanta , the famous Hindoo spoke the wanton. Though she adwould, as usual, appear that evening. dressed her conversation chiefly to After I had breakfasted, I went out Hamilton and Fortune, I was perfectly to find some friends, and on my way aware she was constantly regarding called at the box office of the theater me with furtive glances. where Bojanta was performing, and The boxes containing her serpents bought a couple of tickets for that were in the room, and, rising, she put back the soft blankets and fur robes evening. Then I sought the office of Bafdl which wrapped her pets, and drew out which she extravaFortune, a lawyer, who a was a classmate of mine, and a prince gantly fondled 'and caressed for our ,of good fellows. benefit. He was surprised and delighted to As she coiled it about her lithe see me. We spent the day together form, a faultlessly attired young man and decided that, after dining, we entered the room. He was greeted by would look in on the world-famou- s my companions and presented to me ithe only Bojanta. as Mr. Osgood. Remembering his relationship to Bojanta, with some curiCHAPTER XI. osity I watched him as he approached It was with quickened pulse and and spoke to his mistress. She gave beating heart that I watched the prep- him a smile of indulgent contempt, arations on the stage that evening for and endeavored to throw a coll of her the appearance of the woman who I serpent about bis neck. 'believed was the murderess of ReginHe beat a hasty retreat, and she, ald Dalrymple. laughing immoderately, then restored Two attendants brought in a large the snake to its place in the box. box which they handled with gingerly "The coupe is here, Rama, called eare. Two others followed with a her protector, from the doorway, second. "wont you and your friends come There was an Intense silence home and have supper with us? this through the house, which was broken to Hamilton. by loud plaudits, as a tall, slender Yes, yes," cried BoJaijta, "come woman in black tights, with an orange and sup with us. There will be four satin sash twisted about the hips, of us that is right. I have some came hurrying on, delicious salad and partridges waitI leaned forward and anxiously ing, and Van can make an enchanting scanned her face and form. She an- punch. Then, too, you shall see my swered perfectly to the description beloved, my beauty, my lnferna, my both of Cpnverse and the professor, cobra! Have you one?" 1 "You 'cobra! being dark, supple, and almost as slender as one of her serpents. asked. She bowed with perfect grace, and Yes, its too preciou8 to show to then quickly opened one of the boxes the vulgar herd. It is only the select and drew out an anaconda, which she few that are permitted to gaze upon Next she It. Come, then, and see it. wrapped about herself. I wanted to go; I might not have brought forth a python, which she I could stroked and caressed and coiled about another such opportunity. her arm. More and more she took see that Fortune did not care to ac- world-renowne- Snake-charmer- well-know- n J at your new acquaintances, yon, mj darling, shall have a treat, Going to the mantle, near by, she took down a jar and opened it. I instantly recognized the contents as she poured them Into the palm of her hand. The bits of roots were exactly like those which Boileau had shown me in his room. "Is that the arrac root? I indifferently asked, as I watched her feed the serpent. "Yes! she cried, as If astonished. How did yon know? It is the food of all foods, the dainty morsel for the cobra. She put one or two pieces in the reptiles cage, and it devoured them with avidity. Now that you have supper, my pet, we will do likewise,' she gayly cried, as she closed the cage. "Come then, one and all, I am famished. We followed her to the supper-room- , where a delicious luncheon was prepared. She drank but little, though she smoked Incessantly. She grew more audacious as the evening wore on, and, much to my uneasiness, her glittering eyes expressed her bold admiration of me. Hamilton and Fortune were secretly enjoying my embarrassment, and as for Osgood, he was drinking too heavily to notice what was going on. I drew a long breath of relief as we left the heated, perfumed air of her apartment. It was good to feel the night breeze upon my flushed face and to see the cold, white stars sparkling far above us. I listened patiently to the chaffing of my companions as we walked with Hamilton to his office. After bidding him good night, I strolled slowly along with Fortune to his rooms. Hs asked me to go in for a final cigar. I entered, and, sitting there, told him of my errand in San Francisco. CHAPTER XII. He listened to my story with unbounded amazement. It seems incredible," he said, as I finished. It is like some East Indian tale. I doubt not your present theory is the correct one. But how to trap this woman and extort a confession from her is quite another question. From what I have seen this evening, 1 should judge that you can handle her better than a detective. The creature was not at all shy of you. If I were you I should go to see her alone, and let developments decide your course I think often the accident of an hour will give us the results which the careful plans of days cannot accomplish I know Osgood and his ways well, and I will find out when he is likely to be away from his rooms. You can go there with a confession all prepared for her to sign. Who knows? you may catch your bird at once. I determined to follow his advice, and the result Justified its sagacity. Within a week Fortune informed me that on a certain night Osgood was to attend a ball, which would leave tys mistress quite alone. I Immediately sent a note to Bojanta, asking if she would receive me that evening. The messenger brought me an answer in an envelope whose seal bore an effigy of a coiled serpent with uplifted head and forked tongue. I hurriedly broke it open. Bojanta would be charmed to see me. ForMy plans were soon made. tune and a detective were to await me in a drug store about a block from the s apartment, whence I could easily summon them if necessary. I could not quite determine upon my course toward Bojanta, but finally decided to trust fate to teach me the way to master her. Little did I dream what lay before me as I knocked softly at her door at the appointed hour. I knew full well that I was about to play a desperate game with a woman as cunning as one of her own serpents, but I underestimated her craft and depravity. (To be continued.) snake-charmer- frora the boxes and twisted them cept this invitation, but at last he about her willowy form, until it was yielded and we all left the theater toa marvel that she could stand beneath gether. Her coupe was waiting at the door. their weight It was at once a revolting and fascinating spectacle, and As she stood on the steps, buttoning her long gloves, Let me see, she held the audience spellbound. Gruesome, isnt it? asked For- said, "Van, you must show these gentune. "How is it. Severance, that you tlemen the way. I shall take one with did not chance to see her in New me. Now which will be the favored York? ; "I dont "I know, I answered. never cared to. "She has set this city quite agog, not only by her proficiency in handling these snakes, but by her dresses, The her jewels, and her Intrigues, latest delicious bit is that Van Osgood, one of our jennese doree has furnished superb apartments for her, a id there are rumors of midnight suppers which are decidedly racy. Rama Bojanta was unmistakably the feature of the evening, and after her act was over there was nothing of any interest to witness. We according made our way into the lobby, where Fortune greeted a young man who was standing there. . He presented his acquaintance as Mr. Hamilton, a representative of one of the leading San Francisco dailies. "How did you like the snake act? asked Mr. Hamilton. "Clever, but crawly, was Fortunes terse reply. "Come in behind with me, said Hamilton. "Im going to Interview Bojanta. Fortune hesitated a little but I at once accepted. The way seemed opening fast for my investigations. Through a dark alley we hastened to the stage door, which swung open for us at a word or two from Hamilton. We picked our way over trapdoors and through stage debris of all sorts. A card was sent fo the snake-charmand a speedy answer obtained. Yes, Bojanta would see us. As we entered her dressing-rooshe turned from her mirror to greet us. She had exchanged her 6tage dress for a long, sweeping robe of black, dashed here and there with her favorite yellow. Her piercing eyes smiled a welcome, and, lighting a cigarette, she bad us be Beated. During the interview that ensued I studied this woman, who was destined to solve the mystery surrounding Dalrymples death. She spoke very one? she said softly, laying her hand upon my arm. I started violently as she touched me. It was with difficulty I could conceal the loathing I felt. But 1 realized I must enact a role, and so, professing to be delighted, I followed her into the coupe. She said very little on the way, but when we had entered her magnificent apartments, furnished with the most lavish luxury and costly appointments, she flung off her long cloak and coming to me slid her slim hands in mine, and fixing her low, narrow, slanting eyes on my face, said, with enthusiasm. "Cararaba! but you are a handsome man. You are so fair I adore fair men. I feared you would not come. You must come often now, and alene, and she pressed my hands significantly, Osgoods key rattled in the lock, and withdrawing her hands from mine, she quickly crossed the room and Bank into a great velvet chair. I was stunned. You, BIRTHDAY FOR EACH SEX. Every Japanese Boy Is Supposed to Be Born on March 3. With the exception of the emperor there are no individual birthdays in delightfully interesting Japan. The people, however, make up for this neglect by having a sort of general birthday of everybody in common, which is celebrated with great rejoicing. There are two of these general holidays, one for each sex. The male birthday, which is known as the celebration of the boys, occurs on the third day of the third month and the fifth day of the fifth month. These days are generally put aside and receive boys and girls respectively presents according to their station. The birthday of the emperor, or Ten-o- , as he is more properly styled, is also a general holiday for the JapDid this creature contemplate makanese everywhere. The houses are ing love to me? I thought of Angele, but quickly all decorated with flags, and in the banished her from my mind. It was evening the streets are gay with the sacrilege to even think of her amid lights of innumerable colored lanterns. In the morning the highest authorities these surroundings. Then, suddenly, an idea suggested go to the palace and offer their conitself to me. Why should I not lead gratulations in person and the lower on and encourage this woman in her degrees offer them vicariously to their All the Japanese would, caprice, and through it gain control of superiors. her and in some way wrench the truth somehow or other, congratulate their from her? monarch on having another year to Though I revolted from this scheme, his age. it seemed the only feasible one. I decided to take Fortune into my confiHydrophobia Germs. Dr. A. Negri, at Pavl, announced dence, and between us we might concoct some plan which should place last March the discovery of the spethis woman entirely in my power. of hydrophobia. cific The cobras cage was in this room He now states that he has examined where we were sitting. She opened more than 100 dogs with natural or the door, and with caressing terms laboratory hydrophobia, and has nevoalled it to her. It came, terrible, er failed to find the specific microOn writing and undulating, at her com- organism in the nerve centers. the other hand, he has never found mand. it in other dogs. My beauty, my pet. my lnferna, micro-organis- THE FATAL REQUEST OR FOUND OUT f By A. L. Harrie Author of "Mine Own Familiar Ctpgright, 181, Capgrigkt, I kg a Cattail t, I CHAPTER II Continued. Mr. Burritts face became flushed, and he started to his feet with the haste and hot indignation which would have done credit to one of half his James! he cried, with pasyears. sion, is tty 8 the way you speak? is this the your treat your old Does lie fidelity of half a friend? life time count tor nothing? Why, sven your name has been preserved n inviolable secrecy, and at this very moment not one single soul, besides myself, is aware of the object of my iourney, or of the identity of the individual I have come to meet! and this is all you have to say to me! I bad better return home at once, with. out more delay! He was evidently much moved, and tae other man could not but recognize that the emotion he betrayed was genuine. So he, too, rose from his seat and, catching Mr. Burritt by the arm, said, My dear fellow, dont misunderstand me! Surely you did hot take me seriously just now. It is not that I doubted you for a moment, Silas; He passed his hand over but ms eyes, as though to clear away something which obstructed his vision. Then, after a moments hesitation, he I only landed in' the old continued: has country this morning, and it brought it all back again all the shame and sorrow, ajl the suffering ind remorse It seems as fresh as hough as though it had all happened resterday, instead of tweqty years ago. i cannot but realize the fact that, in iplte of all my wealth honestly iarned, too, every penny of it, I swear I am a pariah, an outcast. No, dont Interrupt me. I cell you with a bitter, mirthless laugh I feel more like a returned convict than anything else. james! exclaimed Mr. Burritt, "you shock me? you grieve me more than I can say! I His friend interrupted him. "You! kg rlend. etc. Pub tithing Campang. Btrtat Smith. excitement caused by the meeting with the old friend he had not seen for so many years. At any rate, whatever the cause, there was no doubt as to the effect; for he found it Impossible to sleep, or to do anything but toss from side to side, as hour after hour wearily wore itself away. By some peculiar action of the brain, he also found himself compelled to review all the past scenes of his life, and mentally, step by step, retrace the path he had trodden during those fifty years or so, which went to make up the sum of his existence on this planet. At last, in despair, he rose, and going to the window, looked out upon the night. It was a very moonlight night too much so, in fact. There was something almost weird and ghastly In its effect.. So he dropped the blind with a crash, and went back to bed again, hoping that, this time, he might be able to sleep. But it was the same thing over again. Only this time his thoughts concentrated themselves upon his family and his home life. He remembered, with a sense of remorse, that he had been a little only a little-irrit- able at breakfast that morning, and that he had spoken rather sharply when interrogated as to the purpose of his sudden expedition. Certain of his friends sayings had grated upon his ear, and caused re-a chill feeling of dissatisfaction and gret. Thank God! he had said when he heard of the deaths of those others, cut off, more than one of them, before they had attained their proper span. Mr. Burritt turned uneasily in his bed as he reflected upop this, and remembered that he was the only one left who knew all. The only one his friend had to fear. To fear! Surely that was not the right way to put it? t; aa falling from Immeasurable height and woke! he dream, What a hideous thought "How weird how awful-h- ow real! I would rather lie awake the whole night through than dream just such another. I wonder what the time is? He felt for his watch and the matches, and struck a light. Just halfpast three no more. As he restored the articles again to their places, he thought he heard faint sounds of movement in the next room. "Evidently 1 am not the only restless person, he said to himself as he I have a companion lay down again. morning in misfortune. we shall be able to compare experiences. Suppose I were to knock at the wall and speak to him? But then I might disturb someone else and alarm them. That would never do. I expect it must have been the cucumber that gave me the nightmare. I hope I shant have another such dream; if I do, Ill never touch cucumber any more as long as I live." His eyes closed, and in a few moments his deep and regular breathing showed that he had again fallen asleep. 'And again he dreamt, and the1 dream was as follows f He was lying in his bed, or at least, so he thought, and, after a while, it seemed to him that it became very hard and narrow, so that he had no room to move in it It was also very dark. He tried to turn over upon his side, but found, as in the other dream that he could stir neither hand nor foot. And what appeared to him a long time, he began to hear sounds over his head. Sometimes in one place, sometimes in another, ami at the same time he began to experience a difficulty in breathing. And still the sound went on the sound of some one hammering of some one hammering nails The sound of some one hammering nails into a coffin! And with that, all at once, the awful truth broke upon him. He was dead, and they were nailing him up in his coffin dead! His heart stopped beating as he grasped the full horror of the situation. They were burying him alive! Oh horrible! horrible! In vain he tried to burst the bonds of the insensibility in which he was held. In vain he made frenzied ef forts to cry aloud. The most franth endeavors were unavailing. He was unable to utter a sound or produce the smallest movement. Then it seemed as though some one were trying tc raise the lid of the coffin. There was a faint, creaking sound a faint glim mer of light was perceptible overhead It increased and widened! Oh, joy! He was saved saved! The coffin-liwas raised little by little higher and higher in another moment he should be free! It was done., He saw a face bend ing over him a familiar face the face of an old friend. Already he hailed him in his heart as his benefactor his deliverer. Then what were those words he heard? Words he had heard before when was it? You can ruin me whenever you please, but now you are in my powfelt himself falling d "What brings you he sneered, you are the Immaculate a past! citizen the man without What have you to do with such an one as I? There was a bitter sarcasm in his tone, a morbid jealousy in his look, Mr. Burritt refused to recognize the presence of either. "But you will return with me, will you not? he said, you will let me introduce you to them and make their acquaintance? Take us on your way, and spend at least one night under my roof. You are very good, Silas, said his friend. Ah, If they were all like you but you forget there are others who I Mr. Burritt interrupted him. know what you are going to say and will relieve your mind at once. Of all those and they were not many, six at the outside who were intimately acquainted with your past history and, he hesitated a moment, and that unhappy affair, not one is living besides myself. "What! cried the other man, in great excitement, All dead? All but myself," was the answer. "Thank God for that! buret from the others lips. Will you swear that this is so that they are indeed all dead who are connected with the past, except yourself? Mr. Burritt bent his head in reply. The strain of the interview was beginning to tell upon him, together with the hurried journey, and he felt the need of repose. "Believe me, Jim, he said, falling back again into the old familiar style of address, "you have nothing to fear. Your secret is safe enough with me He spoke kindly, never doubt it. even affectionately, but bis fatigue was evident, and his friend could not but observe it. "Silas, he said, you are worn out We will continue the subject some other time. They turned to leave the room together. Mr. Burrlntt passed out first; his companion lingered behind , him. As he did so, his brief assumption of cheerfulness fell from him; his face changed and darkened, and the whole expression altered. AH dead but one, he whispered to The and that one himself tence was .eft unfinished. CHAPTER III. Midnight Reflections. Burritt passed a very restless night. Perhaps his dinner had Mr. agreed with him. More probably it was the result of Mie agitation and here' To fear! Could it be possible that his old friend believed that he had cause to fear him? But what had been his own words on the subject? "You can ruin me, Silas, in the eyes of my child, as well as in those of the world, whenever you please! The question was, had he, at the time, really meant what he said? Had him he, for an instant, believed capable of such baseness as this? If so good heavens, it was a dreadful thought would he not have still greater reason to exclaim, thank God! when he heard of his death? He scarcely dared to brqathe it to himself, but the idea, having once occurred, clung to him, and refused to be set aside, but returned again and again in spite of his steadfastly rejecting it as unworthy and dishonorable. At the same time he found himself wondering whether his friend, the object of these painful thoughts, who occupied an adjoining room, .was also lying awake and indulging in unprofitable reflections. Or perhaps he was more pleasantly employed in thinking of his daughter; anticipating their meeting and picturing her as she would be after five years separation. Whatever else he might, or might not be, he was evidently an affectionate parent, devoted to this one child. Mr. Burritt was getting sleepy at last ' No doubt it was something which he had eaten at dinner that had upset his digestion and filled his mind with all these morbid . fancies. There was nothing like Indigestion for making one see everything in a bad light Then he slept, and as he slept he dreamed a dream. He thought he was lying on the edge of a precipice a precipice which went sheer down many hundreds of feet But although he occupied such a dangerous position he felt no uneasiness at first, only a little gentle surprise as to what he was doing there, and a little wonder as to what was going to happen. Then a hand came up and out of the abyss and grasped him, drawing him nearer and nearer to the giddy verge of the precipice, and he felt himself dragged slowly but surely to destruction. In vain he clutched at the grass and stones and projections of the cliff; he was still drawn on, until, at last, he was poised upon the very edge and could look down into the depths of the chasm beneath. For a few seconds during which he seemed to experience a lifetime of agony he remained in that wful position. Then er! The lid was clapped down again, leaving him in utter darkness. The He made hammering began again. one last tremendous effort and woke. Woke to find himself sitting bolt upright, with the perspiration streaming from him. Woke to find the man, whose voice even now seemed to ring in his ears as he hent over the open coffin, standing beside his bed, in the faint, grey light of morning. What brings you here? gasped Mr. Burritt, as soon as he had realized the fact that the terrible ordeal he had just passed through was only a dream. I couldnt sleep, was the response, "and I couldnt lie still any longer, so I came to see whether you were awake. (To be continued.) A Chess Village. Near the Prussian town of Magdeburg lies the little village of Strobeck, which has earned for itself an interesting celebrity. The village contains 1,200 inhabitants, who are one and all chess players. They may be said to learn the game in their cradles, for among the first lessons taught to a child by its parents are the moves is chess and the first playthings it receives are chessmen. The smallest children are to be seen in their playtime sitting quietly together with a chessboard before them gravely considering the moves and in- - the evening the old people meet to play their favorite game. At stated times in the year there are chess tournaments In which both the grown-upeople and the children take part, prizes being given to the victors.' Many people come to Strobeck during these competitions to watch the peasants at their games. The children even receive instruction in chess in the p schools. A Collection of Pens. The Carna valet Museum in Paris contains a collection of pens which, while interesting from n connoisseurs point of view as works of art, are no less attractive to the historian. Every time a sovereign visits the town hall in Paris he is begged to sign his name in the visitors book, and for this purpose a richly ornamented pen is handed the royal visitor. For the intended visit of the king of Italy the city of Paris has ordered a special pen of the Italian silversmith Froment Meurice. The design is In XVL century style and is in exquisite taste. The penholder is ornamented with a little enamel cartridge bearing the arms of the House of Savoy. i v |
