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Show ' Ht 1 - - THE reached out ure be bed first seen again came into view and grappled with the intruder. electric light The bis hud for the outline af n knife In the upraised them thought bet- hand of the robber w aa plainly shown switrh ter of it. There oss no noon, against the curtain, nnd Curtis' but the eoft summer eight save plen-- tj blood chilled In horror at tbe thought of light by which be could eee the that be waa tbe helpless witness to bottle and the seltaer Hphon were a murder. and he inclined to make a high-bai- l, Splendid!' the night area too intolerably clou Curtte started. He bad forgotten for reading, lie puffed at hie cigar tbe girl by tbe dining room door. It and wheeled am eay chair to the li- waa she who bad made the remark-Probablbrary window. tbe murderer bad bellied He was Tether aorry be bad not her over tbe fence before be bad begone to ins club to atny. The houae gun to climb to tbe roof of tbe exsmelled atuffy from being cloved, tension. Perhaps only robbery had though below atalrs the caretaker been planned at first, discovery makIcecbeat. At any bad a well-fille- d the greater crime necessary, rate he would aleep In hie own bed. ing though It scarcely seemed reasonable That waa aomethlug. would select a lightthat a He put hla feet up on thn window ed roomburglar tor hla entrance, particun ncroen and nt the Bill glanced larly when It had Just been shown of the uext street. It was occupied. that bloat of the curtains were up and Now the assailant bad been thrown ba derived much amusement from to one aide, now he had closed with bla observations. la onn room n atout the other man, and slowlyand Handeld fellow pulled industrloualy into n clnrlonette, Hopping occasionally ily the knife began to descend. He stronger than the man be eought to reward bln efforta with wallowa was to kill and wan bringing the kiufe from a huge ateln. nnd meanwhile down through sheer strength. filling the air with hie dolorous All through the struggle the girl noises. A young father played with a child la the next window, whlla in was uttering soft little erlea of utte-fstrloand approval. a third a patient HttlJ mu meekly Now, just as the knife waa about listened to a curtain lecture deliverto descend nnd n womans form was ed by hla energetic better half. From the north a light breeae Interposed to recetvn tbe fatal thrust, nprang up, blowing pleasantly into the girl clapped her hands softly as the open window, and Curtte lit hla though applauding. Again thn knife rose nnd fell, this second cigar. Ha found It very pleasant being home,, after all, nnd tbe time to be hurled la the bark of the entertainment serosa thn way pleased defender, who was now bending over the form of the woman be held In him. He was aorry when the lighted ob- bla arms. Again the knife wan raised longs began to show black an the on high, but (be light at that Instant lights were extinguished nnd hla was extinguished and he could see neighbors went to bed. He had about no mom, (Sickened with horror, Curtte turndecided to turn In blmaelf when n light noise In the yard aroused him. ed hla attention to tbe girl, who at til A curly brad was rained above the sat on the eteiw humming n gay litfence, there waa a flash of while lu tle air. There waa a pistol on the the starlight sad a girl dropped light- library table, lie caught It up gnd ran lightly Into thn dining room. ly Into the yard. 11c had opened the door and had Curtte drew back into the window, letting t be lace curtain fall hark over raught her by tbs wrist before Hiee the opening. A woman burglar would realised what waa happening. Quick-lithdrew her inside. With hla free bn g decided novelty: Perhaps the hand ba turned on tha light and open window might tempt her. fthe came straight across thn tiny found hlmaelf looking Into a most grass plot and up the aiepe leading Sttrartlvn face. Tbe girl was a little more than to the narrow plum nt the dining room extension. Here ehe crouched average bight, her head crowned In the shadow ond remained quirt. , with masses of soft brown curls. The Curtis wondered if she waa rut- eyen were dilated with horror nnd ting through the lurk f the dluing thn face was white from fright, but room door, hut hi quick ear cjght not even her terror could rob her o sound of knlfn or naw, and ha features of their attraction. Slit did not riruggla to get away, hat coat decided to wait for developments. They came from a moat unexpect- anxious eyes toward tha done. If you are aspect Ing your confeded quarter. From tbe houae Just rrosn tbe way rante n glimmer of erate," said Curtte, dfyly, I ahull be light, apparently from tbn second must pleased to receive him. You tory, nnd presently n man's form aeem to derive considerable amusewaa outlined against tbn white ment from murder." I that wby you caught me?" To Several times the figure hade. talked back and forth and then, ap- Curtis amaaemeut aha threw back parently from the roof of the exten- her head and laughed. The color sion, n second figure climbed into the lowly returned to her fare and her room, but without disturbing the yea twinkled with fun. T thought you believed me to be curtain. Curt In waa ctlll marveling at (be a thief," ehe explained. That' wm apparent impoBlhlllty when tbn fig why I wan neared. I wan afraid tha: LINTON G CTBTI3 ui y The command wan addressed to a saw her applauding the buthery from I dont see what all thte haa to from across a stream, ao the you might send for the police. T ahull," ba assented. I believe newcomer who Hood la the door- the steps outside." do with tha murder said Curtte, come too close, he Then 1 suppose you will not be sharply. that tbe police do not regard mnrder way. There was some resemblance a great fake. We win bu?hw.U as ao trivial a thing aa It appears to between the mao and lha girl from willing to believe me when I any that to that. I'm getting quiet summer at tha hotel Im coming which Curtis argued them to be 1 am tbe murdered man!" laughed ready to haunt a house." you." away from the other But It wasnt u real murder, she brother and sister and took some the other. possible, and we win m.JJ or do Are assatiscraxy, n 1 am you I you And I was satisfaction tbe the Imagine tie money lu the tbe girl u suppose that la aid, earnestly. thought; Why. bargain. exdemanded am?" irritI that te faction unable to waa Curtte. killed." be was totally sassin!" suggested That who Curtly like this every something unComa White you aat over on my eiei plain. sufficient. ably. slowly forward ." aald Curtte 1 thought you would come after til I can reach C alarm la tbe and applauded your own death?" be must believe tically. you Neither, though always th. 1 be went on. I am not aware your accomplice, butter's pantry." said, with sarcasm. me craiy. I am a showman, in tha me, the yacht, Newport and BaTiw over bor we and over again." winter go through the country expuS ,? u i If If, with a motion picture machine and And we envy you that," mu illustrated songs. Nell alnga and I I ffocse you never work the machine. Ita no good In 20 milea from the railroad ., summer. Thera are too many open to take the landlord to air shows. lu the hope youd makS And ao you resort to murder to enough there to pay hla enlarge your Income?" I wish I could." he n.1 Precisely. Pictured murder! There lr. It must be ao eadofJ? is a hotel up in the mountains that quite envy you and your huiUm..1 features a glen back la the valley. Brother," die aald. Curtis Tbe proprietor thought it might adhad thought ao, but ha vertise the place to have a haunted He waatedj make aura. mill and he hired me to fix It. Well taka you along I had theca pictures made and wrote a story to fit them. We are of weeks next winter." oltara?! going up tomorrow to start lu at tha with a tough. "You can haunting business. Wa were trying youre a landlord. If you'll coo. out tha pictures. I wanted to know to my room I'll show you tha bow they looked from tbe outside. we took lust aeaaon. These houses are all closed for the Curtte followed inti tha summer and the caretaker ait out and pored over tha map; a next m. on tha front atepa, so I boosted Nell dotted with marks lu red .taUmu ink over your fence ao that aha could sec the towns away from the raUimJ tha effect. The extension cuts off We can moat a the view from our yard. Wa did not never reach. get wherea lot There, of aura know that you were henna." in aomn of the towns" litCurtte relaxed hla alertness a Im going to hold you ta you tle. That sounds reasonable," he prom tee," declared Curtte. But the pictures are admitted. 'kta hold NellSheto her prom Is. " tartingly Teal. I should Ilka to suggested aald wtmra Tony. make aura." have some upper." I can go hack and do them over There were only sardine and illm again, you holding Nell aa a hostage, usage and crackers, washed don or you can come over and see the mawith beer that Tony brought fan chine yourself. the corner, hut Curtte enjoyed It id Come over and v, will have some because of the No sap. rapper afterward, offered the girL per nt the clubstrangeness could compare with We owe you some return4or all the this, nnd later Tony told atortea ( trouble we have caused you their experiences that him to I'll come, said Curtis, suddenly, terested until the clockkeptfrom the be I should though think the supper church tower on the corner proclaim S win-dow- su, pnolS n . 1 SLOWLY AND STEADILY THE KN IFE BEGAN TO DESCEND. Just one moment, Mr. Curtte," that there la anything In my man- must trouble you to keep your hands I auppona ner to suggest that I an is easily up until I am able to provide .a re- pleaded the Intruder. . , that you are Mr. Curtte?" gulled as all that" ception caaUtyUJeu You don't, understand,' she beHe saw the murder, explained How do you know my name?" You gan. the girl, I waa just about to tell "We know the names of all tha Her explanation waa broken short, him when you came in." people on this block. Wa Ilka to Ht aa Curtte raised tbs revolver and I trust that your explanation la In the window and figure out which more sane than her," said Curtis, millionaire we should rather be If pointed It past her. 8he waa trying to makn me we had our choice. Nell has the room Throw up hands," he com- tartly. I have the drop believe that aha waa the woman who In which you ufw tha murder done. manded, atearnly. on you." waa kilted acres tha way, wMla I I have tha hall room." - . . on me. eH followed' th- man Into tha fence At tha he made u stiryard. rup of bla hands aa an acrobat does and almost before Curtla realised It tha girl waa lifted to the top o tha fence and with a whisk dropped down on the further side. Curtte waa next and l." 'y came the nian. I might Introduce myself aa Tony Templeton," the man aald, aa he paused at the entrance to hla own Better walk raft, for moat bouse. of the hoarders are asleep." He led the way through the dimly lighted balls to the rear of the second floor. The familiar picture machine stood against the wall with the rubber gaa hags used for the calcium light, and after drawing down the black shade behind the white Tony started Jhe machine again. We've picked out a window where they will have to view the g boats od I. With an expression of regret, Cw. tte sprang to hla feet and aada kb adieu. I am grateful for u boh ant evening when I expected moot intolerably pleas to te bored by myislf," he aald aa hla hand dosed over tte tiny Ungers Nell offered. I aa box grateful to you, Mtea Templeton, hr your spectacular murder. I may m up to tha Creaaklll house thta turner and view n public perfonnaoca It waa with n heating heart ttet Curtla climbed the fence to hia on yard. "I suppose that tha Batter will make an awful howl," ha aald u te switched off the lights, but If m - take that theatrical trip must be a honeymoon. next tall, I Their few u la aa ffood aa oura and there new ily waa n girl quit Ilka her. I'm ghd that I waa lu on that' murder, alia It is going to lead to matrimony." FOR HIS MASTER aat at hla master's feet, with approval lha GENTLE glrileh figure acroee tha tiny lawn. Spooner was also regarding the girl, but hla eyes were clouded and his ryebruVs knit to- gether. If Dorothy would only permit It he would Ilka te help her with the garden, hut though he had been the tenant of Briar cottage for almiwt a ' month, aha had not shown thn desire to he neighborly. alight-c- Moat peraona In the little village clawed him aa ona of them actor fallen, though the lecture platform te but dtetautly related to the stage. He "assured himself, with grim humor, that the rest hla phyalrans had ordered aa n cure for the breakdown after an arduous aeaaon, waa likely to be uninterrupted by any on the pari of the villagers. For the greater pari of them ha cared nothing at all. But Dorothy Deertng was different. He had seen her that first morning when he had come out on the Heps to enjoy the fresh air. She had been working In her garden, nnd he had strolled over to the fence In friendly fashion to comment on the beauty of the fluwara. She had made acknowledgment of hla morning greeting, hut after that she had turned her back and hla other re neigh-borllne- - at ae mark had fallen upon apparently deaf ears. He had gona hark tha houae with a scowl upon hla fare and Gentleman George had trotted alongside, hla Hump of u tall hanging dejectedly. Even hla friendly barlu had been alighted, and though Uen-tte- a fin's waa anything but suited to the contraction of hla name, he waa accustomed to not lee and shared hla master'a feeling of rebuff. Matters had grown worse Instead of better. After that, Dorothy generally went Into the house when he rama out, and once, when he raised hla hat In pamlng her on the street, fchqhad coldly cut him. She thinks wa are trying to flirt. Gentle," he explained to the dng. She dost not know what , and eminently correct peraona wa are. Gentle rose to hla feet and plared hla head on hla master'a knee in quiet sympathy. If we only had a chance to explain, went on Spooner, whimsically. we could tell her what excrllent peraona we are and how averse we are to flirting." Gentles stubby tall wagged an enthusiastic assent, and Spooner went on. Seeing that you arc ao interested, might ask you for advice, but 1 guess we'd better give the conun well-behav- ' drum up." Gentle's wagging tall seemed to Invite further discuss ton, hut the postman's whistle sounded and ha went dashing off to the gate to bring up tbe mall. Spooner waa soon lost in hla letters and waa only roused by a cry that sounded from the garden. Gentle had wandered off and, finding some pickets loose, had slipped through to get a better look at tha girl bending over her plants. Dorothy, glancing np from her work, hud encountered the steady glare of Gentlea eyes, and for n moment Hood transfixed with horror; then, with a rry, she had fled to tha tiny nimmer houae In the corner of the garden. This si ruck Gentle as being n very foolish proceeding, In view of the fact that the houae had no door, but he planted himself In the opening and assumed what he fondly believed to be n pleasing and amiable expression. The result waa still more terrifying to tbe girl, nnd she had screamed. Spooner came running across tha grass and, lightly vaulting the fence, nintle after Gentle. Tm aorry that he scared you, he said. He waa only trying to make friends." When he shows his teeth that horrid way? aha demanded. Hla smile, ' explained Spooner. legs, gravely turned about und rat of tha garden. It waa only u couple of- - day latar I waa busy with mr mail, and I down on hla haunches, sbe gave little laugh that broke the ice. that Spooner had an opportunity to suppose that he felt neglected. Once Spooner hud gained hla point. meet the remainder of the Deering "11a might have bitten me, she scolded, it Is dangerous to let a dog Ilka that roam loose. It 1s only hla face, not hla disposition that Is so savage, defended He would not hurt even Spooner. this," ha sighed ona afternooa, UBm they aat on the crest of Crow and rested after their climb. I nk go buck in August!" t u So soon?" aha asked. I thosfte you were here for the summer." "Only for a part," he anawmt It waa not very long ago tost I wa chafing even nt tha Idea of ihxt stay. Now to leave all this sad P back to tha city " But you can keep It lu your a Your teeny ory," aha reminded. Ilona of the scenes of trawl that you have u splendid appwfe' tion of beauty In nature." There te much to keep to bW nnd heart," ha admitted, as m bla gase wander from the glrra w wy out over the broad green wo ora through which the riverI wait But there la acmHhing taka hack with me." aha asked, Photographs? ly, though aha knew what hsawaH I want to take hack your " to marry me, h Ever Since I saw you that I log I have loved you, dear. know what I should have ( Gentle had not Introduced ua The girl let her hand M W-- I the dog's head, nestled In her owe u great deal to Gentle, oven tha man I aald, softly, t eat." ' They told me that he fought, that all actor's dogs fought," aha Insisted. I shall apeak to the constable." Gentle la no fighter," he pleaded, neither is he an actor's dog. I'm a You must have heard of lecturer. EuSpooner Saunters Through rope.' I am Darien Spooner." Everyliody thinks that you are an actor," she explained. That la no disgrace," he Insisted. I suppose that In these small towns you get rather bad actors. May I ask if that la why my efforta nt being neighborly have met with rack a scant success?" I dont like actors," she raid evasively. I thought you were trying to flirt. Gentle nnd I are exemplary," he SHE HAD BEEN WORKING IN HER pleaded. May I Introduce GentleGARDEN. man George?" At hia sign Gentle gravely ady, vanced and politely .proffered hla it was an euy matter to press hlafamlly, gnd tha rest cure that and when at last he returned lsed to be ao tiresome became a paw. Tbe girl took It, half fearfulto hla own yard, Dorothy stooped toglorified vacation, ly, but Genile'a manners were excepIt will seem ao hard to leava all tional, and when ha Hood on bin hind pat Gentle and give him the freedom prom-victor- THE SECRET DRAWER james Treadwell, bos. attitude of the other bidder, and he determined to have that box If It a Ixjndon hotel, and bad cost him n pound. The people around been for two weeks, when he him got on to the fact that he was a happened In at an auction rale of Yankee," and made comments that brtr-a-bron a fashionable atreet. It further determined him. was n rale of tbe gooda and chattels To the auctioneer's surprise the of a private bouse, and be mingled bids went up to 10 pounds. Mr. with the sheets lore entirely out of Treadwell would have rarrled them . to double that ram. but tbe other curiosity. He bad been lingering around for bidder rushed away to look for some half an hour when the auctioneer put one In the crowd, and, being afraid up box made of sandalwood, which of tultwing a good thing, the auche took for a handkerchief box. He tioneer knocked the trifle down to would not have been surprised at all the last bidder and It was handed to had It been knocked down for six- him und paid for amidst giggles of pence. In fact, that waa tbe first open laughter. bid, und It waa about to be knocked He felt that he had made a fool of down to u ferret-fare- d man when himself, and, with hla box under hla something Impelled Mr. Treadwell to arm. he left the spot in no pleasant make it nine. frame of mind. Hla hid was at once raised 100 pec He had not gone two blocks when cent, and the leer on the face of the a young woman overtook him. She other provoked him. The others bid explained that sha had been lady's was on of defiance, and waa ao ac- maid In the houae for a number of cepted. years, and coveted tbe box as n souMr. Treadwell waa a quiet, conser- venir of her dear, dead mistress. The vative man. but In him there was a ferret-face- d man had been bidding spirit of hit hack when be was pro- for her. Would Mr. Tread s ell voked. He didn't like the face or the the sentiment that actuated Mr. U. 8. A., waa registered ac i re-fcp- her and let her have the box for what every state and city had Ita ring of he paid? polltcal thieves, but he kept clear of It ao happened, firstly, that the saying ao. Not a thing did he any American waa an old bachelor and a that could have hurt tbe feelinga of an American babe. cynic, and appeals to sentiment didWhen Mr. Perkins had got through n't move him. Suddenly, he had gone to the trouble of making a fool of praising Uncle Sam's country and himself and was determined to keep children he turned to the subject in the box as a reward. The girl of- hand. It was his wife that had died, fered to double the price and there and hla furniture that had been told were teare In her eyes, but she did at auction. He waa an architect, and hud met. hla downfall by trying to innot get It. troduce Ideas Into England, The hotel had scarcely been reach- such aa American in ed when u Mr. Charles Perkins de- which twodark bedrooms, parlorawith to alt sired au Interview. Mr. Perkins was their knees people had and hot air touching, suave exceedingly suave. He waa furnaces hot air that produced only suave aa and gentle and courteous as the mouth of the manufacturer. if he waa going to ask for the loan from That sandalwood box had been preof 10,000 on a huckleberry marsh sented to bis wife by Queen Victoria worth 200. In person for making the best .pumpHe had been in America. He had kin plea In all England. She had seen Boston Common. Although he used It for 20 years to catch her tears was one of the most patriotic of her In whenever she wept. On many ocmajesty's subjects, he bad gased up- casions she had thrown It at hla on Bunker Hill monument and found head. his heart swelling with pride at the There were a thousand other sacred thought of bow bravely It had been associations connected with it,' and held against the redcoats. He khew he had called in hopes that Mr. that America waa the home of the TreRdwell could see hi way clear to robber trusts and grafters, and that taking the sum of 13 for the and Then he produced cord him up ao speedily and aacarw almost excite admiration. M . When he had finished hte took aside, shoved the body at Are papers, and ahook haste Mr. Trradwj hte coadjutor. ordered up a bottle of wlna. Th t forgotten to open Ittrouble. . now aaved him tha good wine, and they smHkre lips oTer it and complin American. mUa Then they winked at Wm enda the from their fingers noses, and walked eoftly ( It wee three long hraIf . eee waiter looked In to hte Wll kee" him Jumped Treadwell parted. Then Mr. tied end ungagged, a chargea peace extra placed against for being tied np end when he went to the lated the whole clrcumstanre JJ-j- m asked that Mr. Petklna era be run down, h was the officer; yta O, go home end ! Americana' taken place 15 years previously. Aa gave over grudgingly and slipped a are one of those near a could be figured out, the pa gag Into the mouth of hla victim. never to be allowed at ! d pers were valuable to complete a felt for the wave and establish a claim. Mr. Perkins but he couldnt pari man knew.lt, the The ferret-facewith the box. lie waa still mad at young woman knew It and tha ware the people who had called him a Mr. Perkins knew It. They were in "Yankee" and giggled over hia bar- cahoots to get possession, and not for gain, and he had begun to smell a one moment did Mr. Treadwell berat. lieve that any of them had a legal No sandalwood box waa right to the documents. 15 unless there waa some worth He hhd read them over and over, secret connected with It something and he aat pondering on tha matter, to which he might profit and get when hla bedroom door opened poft-leven. He, therefore, turned Mr. PerHe sat with hia back to lt and kins down and took tbe box to hla the hour waa almost evening. He room and examined It heard nothing nnd had no premoniIt seemed nothing more than a tion. plain handkerchief box. . Thera were The first ha knew two hands gripno traces of the tears shed by the ped bla throat and pulled him over dead and gone. If the late Mrs. Per- backward on tha floor. Then he kins had ever busted It by throwing looked up to find Mr. Perkins sitting it had been repaired again. Mr. on hla cheat, and another man lu tha Treadwell peeked sad peered and room. found nothing. Don't kill the bloke! whispered It waa only when he came to meas- the other man. "The documents are ure that he suspected a secret drawer right here under our noses, and we and at length found one. The con- ought to he obliged to him. tents consisted of a birth and marMr. Treadwell waa not throttled to Mr. Perkins had evidently riage certificate of the name person, death. and the death of that person had come prepared for such an event, but relic. reo-or- Mr. Treadwell d six-pen- y. |