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Show he didnt come to the bank. ne Is THE MISSING MAN at the mill. Perhaps I "Without coming home, Tonyf Young Osborn bit his' lips and thought deeply, but each moment grew more bewildered. "Did you speak to him?" asked Mrs. Hamilton. "Yes, snd he spoke to me. Bankas Shepard ing hours are over at four, you know, Copyright, ISM, by and It was Just after dark that I saw him going Into the bank as I was Hullo! I said. It was the old fogies, and lazy lo boot. We put passing. I thought to say, for I was flrnt thing too much on his shoulders. I told him to see him so soon. Hullo, surprised so this morning. 'Carter,' saya I, he said, and laughed a little. Didnt Vane's been working too hard. 'I me back so soon, did you?' know It. says he. Vane has lost expect Then he went No, I said, 'I didn't. tweuly pounds lately.'" IA and Bhut the door after him, and I "Is that so?" asked Constance, went home." startled. Tony, that couldn't have been Mr. So your uncle said. S'iosed you knew It. Well, this will never do, Hamilton. It certainly waa. It was hla voice stopping to talk to pretty women when I and hla form, features, gait, heard, business is booming at the mill," and I couldnt have been miseverything. r the jolly on, passed leaving Constance to pursue her way home- taken." Tony," said Mrs. Hamilton, In a ward. low, terrified voice, I am afraid you How hollow the house sounded! It must have How still it was! What would life he have been deceived. without husband or children? Grim been a burglar. there Isn't the least doubt walls, staring pictures, lifeless furni- in Oh, no, world the that It waa Mr. Hamilton; ture do not make home, she realized none at all. forcibly as she sank into a chair and Waa everything right this mornfolded her gloved hands on her lap. Two weeks pasM so quickly," she ing?" "Yea." murmured. Sometimes I can scarceNothing nilsalng?" ly realize they have passed. When No, nothing at all. All that surhe oomua hack I shall ask him all about It I have never done It, but I prise) me la that he Isn't here." He would certainly have been If he will now. Secrets ought not to come between man and wife. I will tell him had come home. That makes me so. They might make trouble. They think you have been deceived. For answer Tony took from his vest do sometimes. Mr. Henderson thinks It strange, I could see that, and so pocket a small shirt stud of unique does Tony. I must tell Vane about design and handed It to Mrs. Hamilton. It when he cornea back." "I found it on the desk just as It As you may Imagine, with such conwould have fallen If It had become tradictory thoughts, and so much loosened from hiB shirt front." Constance find not did alone, the days Oh, Tony! What does it mean?" very swift in passing. Indeed, they cried Mra. Hamilton, with white lips. lagged terribly, though she made calls, What can it mean? It la hla. I gave practiced her music and did sundry him the set myself, and had them odd jobs of sewing, the accumulation marked with hla Initials. See, this la of the winter months. To add to her anxiety she did not V. I noticed It," said Tony, quietly, receive ono word from her husband. I was sure It was hla. Now, and seen she had and talked Meanwhile, It happen to be on' hie desk how did with Mrs. Fry about the green-haireunless it dropped out lady. Mrs. Fry brought to Mrs. Ham- this morning, ilton a basket of freshly Ironed mus- last night? "Perhaps It waa laid there, unnolins the day after Mr. Hamilton's desince he went away." ticed, and launched parture, Immediately I have dusted and Impossible. forth In a description of the greenput everything In order daily." haired woman. Tony's habits of order were Incon"Cannot yon recollect trovertible. whether he spoke of missing one before he went away, Mrs. Hamilton? No, he said nothing about missing one. "Then you will find that I am right, said Tony. Mr. Hamilton was at tb3 bank last night at about eight o'clock. He must have been detained vme-wherand will, no doubt, be here shortly. You may expect to see him coming up the street at any moment," he concluded, reassuringly, for he saw , that she was terribly rhaken. "I hope you are right, but I have felt worried ever alnce he went away." "Oh, hes all right, sound as a trump. I wouldn't worry, If I were yon, and Tony went down the stairs, but paused to aak, Shall I go around to the mill and aak Mr. Carter If he has seen anything of him?" "Yes, please do, and ask Uncle Carter to come up to see me, if Vane isn't By MARY R. P. HATCH Author of "Th Bank Tragedy" & SR; CROCKETT. .'Wfar of Tte&xdcJGa CHAPTER VII. In CHAPTER II. A Green-Haire- Woman. d Amos Talbert, the comlart;ilil, Rental landlord of tlie Essex llnuxc, had a wife and daughter; I hi la Hit unmarried, though not of uncertain acre, at she had not the least objection to any one's knowing that she was forty-two- . With her bright complexion, brighter eyes and manners, she was one of the inoat attractive ladles in Grovedale, and It was no task, therefore, for Mrs. Hamilton to chat with her for a few moments. "Have you many gneHs in the house now?" she asked Miss Talbert. Very few steady boarders, but a good many 'transients." I wonder if the green-hairelady la gone yet. said Miss Chase, looking up from her work with a smile. Yes, she went on the seven o'clock train." "On the train with my husband," thought Mrs. Hamilton; but you may be sure she did not say this. Instead she repeated wonderlngly, as she looked at Miss Talbert with polite interest, a green-hairelady! "I am not surprised at your surprise," said Miss Talbert, laughing. "You would wonder still more if you were to see her. She came on the train last night and went away this morning." "But you don't mean to say her hair Is actually green, do you?" "Not a bright, vivid green, but a aheeny emerald tint hard to describe. The sea takes on such a color sometimes In the shadow of an overhanging ellff. You should see it, Mrs. Hamilton. She is Tery pretty, has lovely features, and a sweet voice. I was quite charmed by her. "I think she knows Mr. Hamilton," said the dressmaker, for she ran out to meet him when be came down the d d street Ah! perhaps you know her, too," said Miss Talbert, looking at Mrs. mill-owne- . -- d e, A. ' there. "All right." and he turned away. "I wish everything were all right, but I'm afraid Jt Isn't," he muttered. (To be continued.) Hamilton. Her name was booked as Mra. Anderson, Newark, N. J. and No, I do not," she answered, I have never heard my husband speak of a green-hatreacquaintance." This statement In regard to the meeting of her husband and the greenhaired lady coincided with the glimpse she had of It from her tower, though jat that distance she had not noticed (the color of her hair. An accidental jueeting, evidently; hut they went on II the same train together, perhaps in the same car. If friends, undoubtedly they rod together. Well, what of that? Friends meet each other at every turn. Her husband might In tho past have done the woman a kindness or some little service. It would be like him. He would tell her all about it on his return. And, with a pleasant adieu to Miss Chase, Mrs. Hamilton went away.. She called at the Savings Bank in passing, and Tony Osborn, with hla pen behind his ear, came at once to speak to her. Good morning, Tony; very busy, I suppose." "Awful, now Ham Mr. Hamilton is away. Did he tell you just w hen to expect him hack what day, I mean? asked Mra. Hamilton. No. In a week or two, he said. But it's all a Joke about my being busy, you know, for everything was put In shape before he went." "I'm glad to hear you are not driven, said Mrs. Hamilton, reflecting that her always cleared the way for others, hut took the roughest path himself. And then she went on her way. She met Mr. Henderson, who stopped to speak to her. and to ask when her husband would be hack. "Only been away six hours and we miss him already! No one can manage like Vane. In a week or two? Yes, thats what he told me. But, by George; he never told me where he was going. Strange! Always goes off in May. Of course you know. She murmured something about Boston and rest "He needs It. by George! Hope hel get It I shall need a rest when he gets hark. Our business grows. Mrs. Hamilton. Its double what it waa two . years ago. Didnt realize it while Vane was here." "He works too hard, Mr. Hender son." "1 know it. Ytur uncle snd I are d luir-ban- The queerest sight! though theres no denyln she's a dreadfol pretty woman." I cannot see how a woman with green hair can be pretty," said Mrs. Hamilton. You would the moment you aaw her. But you can ask Mr. Hamilton. He saw her and knew her, too, I guess. Are you aure? She spoke to him. Twas Jeat as I was a cornin' to the laundry an he a cornin down the street to take the train. You here?' she says. You are mistaken, says.he. Oh, yes, she says, I did think,' an she looked round at me. Mr. Hamilton looked at her pretty close, as If sort of think-I- n or studyin of her face, an' then he spoke again, hut what It was he said I didn't hear, because, of course, twan't none of my business. Besides, he spoke too low." Probably she was insane. No. I guess not. She seemed kinder troubled, though, and folks In trouble always go to surh folks as your folks. Or else she knew him. Whichever 'twas. she was a nice, modest woman, an a dreadful pretty one. What Mrs. Fry told her was but little- more than Constance had already heard, hut it gave her much to think about for several days, Indeed, until a week had passed. But at the end of that time an Inrident occurred which surprised and alarmed her not a little. One morning, hearing the door bell ring, Mrs. Hamilton opened It herself, Tilly being busy, and was surprised to see Tony Osborn standing there, idly (licking the dust from hie boot with a small cane. Ah. good morning. Mra. Hamilton. Jolly weather, isn't It? Very pleasant. Will you come In, Tony?" "Thanks, no. I Just want to see Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton! Surely yon have forgotten that he ia away. "But hasn't he got home?" Certainly not. I don't expect him for a week. "He was at the bank last night. Mrs. Hamilton. Of that, I am cer- COULD NOT BREAK AWAY. Baseball Shown by New York Incident. Baseball has a charm all ita own. Last Saturday at noon a promoter started down Wall street to take a steamer for British Guiana. With him waa an Knglishman who had never seen a hall game, having lived all his life on hla estate bordering the Esse-quibriver. The promoter was going down lo buy from him for a syndicate a vast tract ef forest land. A pack of youngsters from Water street, chased by a policeman from their native l.eaih. began to play baseball on narrow Hanover street. Just when the promoter and hla friend should have been Increasing their pare. So they stopped along with hundreds of others, from bankers to push cart men. The field waa- a narrow one; the batter faced the City eight-ye- a bank; right field was Worked by Brown Brothers, and left field by the Custom House. The catcher's hack-stowas the United States IJoyd's building. The play was sclent .fie. The Fnc Lehman was an apt student an. r Joined in the mar a a Into an iron shutter of the Custom House cleared the bases. Then followed a home run into an apple can on Wall street; those who chose to celebrate the play by picking up apples and eating them did so. The promoter finally dragged the Britisher away. They missed their steamer at that, and it took a lot of persuasion plus a yellow note to get to give chase. n busy tug boat cap-taiOff Buy Ridge 'hey hoarded their liner talking baseball. New York Sue. Fascinations of three-bagge- The Man Knows. beak A woman never Crimson Mr. knows what a man Is doing when he's out of her sight, but a man generally knows what a woman la doing. Mr. Crimsor.beak That's right. A man ia always pretty sure that a woman is talking. Disenchantment After Marriage. Did Chumpleigh marry the widow tain. that he couldn't live without?" Then where can he be nowT" " Yes. and now he's wondering how 'I don't know. I supposed he waa her first husband managed to live here, and I rilled ,ver to see him as with hr. Ten-- Tories Johann In tho Summer Palace. It waa with a beating heart Johann Pyrmont knocked at the door of (he summer palace. Enter!" said a masculine voice within, with startling suddenness. And opening the door and grasping hla papers, the secretary suddenly found himself In the presence of the hero of the tournament. "You have business with mq, young sir?" said the prince, court e--' oualy, turning upon the yo;lth a regard full of dignity and condescension. The knees of Johann Pyrmont trembled. For a full moment his tongue refused . ita office. I come," he said at last, to lonvey these documents to the meet noble He Prince of Courtland and Wilna. gained courage as he spoke, for he had carefully rehearsed this speech I am to Dessauer. acting as secretary to the ambassador In lieu of a better. These are the proposals concerning alliance between the realms proposed by our late master, the Prince Karl, before his death; and ow, it la hoped to be ratified and carried out between Courtland and under hla successors, the Princess Helene and her husband. The tall, Prince took the papers from the hand of Johann and laid them on a desk beside, him, without, however, breaking the seals. He stood regarding the youth, whose blushes came and went as he stood irresolute before him. "A modest lad, said the prince to himself, "this ingenuousness la particularly charming In a secretary of legation. I must see more of him. Suddenly a thought appeared to cross his mind. Why, did I not hear that you came to us by way of Kernsberg. he ssld. The blushes ceased and a certain pallor showed under the tan, which overspread the young mans face aa the prince continued to gaze fixedly at him. He could only bow In assent. "Then, doubtless, you would see the Ducheas Joan? he continued. "Ia she very beautiful? They say so. I do not think so. I never thought about It at all! answered .the secretary. The prince laughed, throwing hack hie head a little. That la surely a strange story to he eald, bring here to Courtland, whither the lady Is to come as s bride ere long! Especially strange to tell me, who I ask your pardon," said Johann Pyrmont, your Highness must bear with me. I have never done an errand of such moment before, having mostly spent my life among soldiers and (he was on hla guard now) in a fortress. For diplomacy and wordplay I have no skill no, nor any likPlas-senbu- fair-haire- d Pyr-moa- t, ing!" You have chosen your trade strangely then, smiled the prince, to proclaim such tastes. Wherefore are yon not a soldier? "I am! I am!" cried Johann eagerly; at least, as much as It Is allowed to one of my of my strength to be." "I doubt not, young sir, that you were one of the mighty army of 'admirers which, they say, continually " surrounds the Duchess of said the prince. Indeed, you are In great error, my lord, said Johann Pyrmont, with great earnestness and obvious sincerity; "I never in my life said ono single word of love to the Lady Joan no, nor to any other woman! No, said a new voice from the doorway, that of the Princess Margaret, but doubtless you took great pleasure In teaching them foreign customs. And I am persuaded yon did it well, too!" The Prince left his desk for the first time and came smiling towards Hohen-steln!- world why, because you are ready to fall down and worship, this young man or any other should be compelled to do likewise." And right princess-likshe looked as she pouted .her proud little lips and with her foot patted the polished oak. But," ahe went on again to her brother. If you have done with this noble, youth, I have a fancy to hear him tell of the countries wherein he has sojourned. And, In addition, 1 have promised to show him the carp In the ponda. You have. It aeema to me, spent half the day in each other's society. The tolerant prince laughed. He was evidently accustomed to his sisters whims, and knowing how perfectly harmless they were, be never Interfered with them. A good day to you," he said to the If young man, by way of dismissal. I do not see you again before you leave, you must promise me to come back to the wedding of the Duchess Johanna. In that event you must do me the honor to be my guest on that occasion." I hope to be your guest, most noble prince," said the secretary, looking up at him quickly as he went through the door. It was a singular look. For a moment-it checked and astonished the prince so much that he stood still on e "TLen you are' tne Count vo LoenT" said the princess. " seem to have heard that name somewhere. Tell me, are yon the Count voa. Loen? "I am certainly the heir to that title," said the secretary, grilling with in and wishing himself a thousand miles away. I must go directly snd tell my He will be back from the brother. cathedral by this time. I am sure he did not know. And the estates are-theIn your sole right?" The estates are extensive. They are not encumbered, so far as I knew. They are all In my own right," explained the newly styled count wltli perfect truth. A new thought seemed to strike the princess as he was speaking. But so young, so handsome, she ao apt a pupil at love!" murmured, Then aloud, she said, "You are not deceiving me? You are not already betrothed? Not to any woman! said the deceitful count, picking his words with exactness. The gay laugh of the princess rang out prompt as an echo. I did not expect yon to be engaged to a man!" she cried. "But now conduct me to the entrance of my the threshold. Where have I seen a look like that before? he mused, as be cast his memory back Into the past without success. Surely, never on any mans face before." Which, after all, waa likely enough. But putting the matter aside as curious, but of no consequence, the prince -Twiqi away toward that part of the city srom which the towers of the minister loomed up. A couple of priests bowed low before him as he passed, and the people, standing still to watch his broad shoulders and erect carriage, said one to another, Alas! alas! (he truest prince of them all to be thus thrown away! And these were the words the secretary heard from a couple of guards who stood at the gate of the rose garden, as they, too, stood looking pensively after the prince. Walt, said Johann Pyrmont to himself; wait, I will yet show them Vhether he Is thrown away or not. The rose garden of the summer palace of Courtland was a paradise made for lovers' whisperings. Its bowers were Trees met over paths bedded with fallen petals, a shade In sunshine, a shelter In rain, delightful in both. It was natural that so fair a princess, taking such a sudden fancy to a young man, should find her way where the shade was deepest and the labyrinth most entangled. Do you know," she began, that I might well have lodged yon In a dungeon cell for that which In another had been dire insolence?" They were pacing a long, dusky avenue of tall yew trees. The secretary turned toward her the blank look of one whose thoughts have been far But the princess rattled on, away. heedless of his mood. Nevertheless, I forgive you," she said, after all, I myself asked you to teach me your foreign diatoms. If any one be to blame. It is I. But one thing I would Impress upon you, sir secretary, do not practice these creeper-tangle- d. ' . out-lan- d peculiarities before my brothers. Either of them .night look with prejudice upon such customs being observed generally throughout the city. I came back chiefly to warn yon." It was with an effort that the secretary detached himself sufficiently from his reveries upon the Interview In the summer palace to understand what the princess was driving at All this mighty pother, sll because I kissed her on the cheek, he thought. A Princess of Courtland is no such mighty thing and why should I not? Oh, of course, I had forgotten again. I am not now the person I was. But what need to tell with what Infinite condescension the princess took the young man's' hand and read his fortune, dwelling frowringly on the lines of Vve and life? You have too pretty a hand for a man. she said; Why is It hard here and here?" That is from the sword grip, said the secretary, with no small pride. Do yon, then, fence well? I wish I could see you. she cried clapping her hands. How splendid It wonld be to see a bout between you and Prince .Wasp that is the Prince Ivan of Mnscovy. I mean. He would give something to be sitting here teaching me how they take hands and bid each In Bearland. other good-byThey rub noses, I have heard say, a custom which, to my thinking, would be more I like than provocative The Prince was standing by a desk, your Plassenbiirg satisfactory. fashion better. bis sister. The impulsive Princess Whereat there was nothing for it Margaret threw her arms warmly but the secretary should arouse himaround her brother's neck, and then, self out of his reverie and do his as quickly releasing him, turned to part. the secretary, who stood deferentially I think !n some wise it were poslooking out of the window, that he sible to Improve upon the customs might not observe the meeting of even of Plassenbiirg," said the Prinbrother and sister. cess Margaret, after certain experiThis young man knows the Duch- ments; but tell me. since you say ess Joan of ' Hohensteln," said the that we are to be friends, and I have but admitted your plea, what is your forPrince; still smiling quietly; I do not think he admires her very tune? Nay, do you know that I do greatly an opinion he had better not even know your name at least, keep to himself If he wonld have a not from your own lips. quiet life of It In Courtland!" "My father was the Count von Loan, "Oh, cried the Princess, laoghlrg and I am his heir!" said the secretary alright. "Then is no reason in the carefully. e v- Found himself face to face with Prince Wasp, chambers (here she reached him I like you, she said her hand). frankly, looking at him with unflinchI am of the house of ing eyes. Courtland, and we are accustomed to say what we think the women especially. And before I carry out this wretched contract and marry the Prince Wasp, I will run away and wed a But perhaps I may do better than either!" ehe eald In her heart, nodding determinedly, as she looked at the handsome youth before her, who now stood with his downcast eyes upon the ground. They were almost out of the yew-tre- e walk, and the voice of the princess carried far, like that of most very It reached the impulsive persons. ears of a gay young fashionable, who had Just dismounted at the gate which led from the rose garden into the wing of the palace inhabited by the Prlnress Margaret and her suite. Now," said the princess, I will show you how apt a pupil I make. Tell me whether this is according to the best traditions of Plassenburg! And taking his face between her hands, she kissed him rapidly upon either cheek and then upon the lips. There! she said, VI wonder what my noble brothers would say to that! I will show them that Margaret of Courtland can choose both whom ahe will kiss and whom she will marry!" And flashing qway from him like a strong-wingebird she fled upward into her chambers. Then, somewhat dazed by the rapid succession of emotions, Johann the secretary stepped out of the green gloom of the yew tree walk Into the broad glare of the September sun and found himself face to face with Prince Wasp. (To be continued.) d Rural Love. The Kansas papers, discussing rural love, relate a homely idyl, such as Theocritus never sang, about a love affair Oklahoma Dave" Payne once had. Payne lived on a farm when a toy, and his raiment consisted of a llnsey sack with holes for his head end arms. He was deeply In love with a neighbor farm girl. One ovening he went over and sparked the girl while she was milking the cow. She sat on one side of the cow and he squatted on the other, so he could look her In the eye while she milked. Dave felt his love for the girl growing rapidly. It affected the boy In a peculiar way. Something warm would chase itself up and down his spinal column. Ic was a new sensation and In his in- -' experience he was sure It was love. Jest when the sensation was the greatest the girl remarked; Dave, the calf is chewing the back of your sack." Brooklyn Eagle. Great Is an Education. It is easy enough for a man to take a pencil and a cent's worth of writing paper and figure how he could irake $1,000,000 by running a corner on wheat. That is the advantage of having a common school education. A man may have gone through only two or three grades in school, yet he should be able to do this In a single evening without biting more than two inches off the end of the lead pencil. We should pity the poor, benighted Russians, many of whom cannot read or write, to say nothing of figuring: It would take them several days to work the problem out in their heeds snd by that time the glorious opportunity might have gone bj ZWaols State Journal. |