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Show Randolph Mason would evao hoar bli history to tha end. I bad no bopo of bl aailitanco for young Oarry; bla cate bad nona of the element of lnjuatlce, bringing It within Mason tone of IntereaL I expected to ste Maton search him mercilessly for a moment, and then drop him at a prospector would a spurious nugget. Young Gerry entered and remained standing by on of the bookcases near the table. Mason looked at hhn care-fullfor a moment; then be said, "How much do you oweT" Winfield Gerry glanced quizzically at me. I reassured him with a nod and he answered, "In round numbers, one hundred thousand dollars. "For what? said Mason. "Borrow ed money," replied Gerry. "For what? Mason repeated. The young man hesitated; then be said, "1 am thought to be rather reckless where money matters are concerned. Horses that are not fast enough, women that are too fast; usually an explanation la required to go no further 1 Auld readily see that he vii hoping to evade tbla query, "Wbat la the truth about It? said y CopjrrigUl by On the evening of the twenty third of December I was one of a party at bridge at the residence of Baron von Hubert on Elghy-slxtstreet. The baron was the American agent of tbe Berlin banking bouse of Weissell & Co. The charming Madame von Hubert was Sarah Lemarr, the wealthiest debutante at Newport when the baron met ber. A brilliant woman, who was vainly endeavoring to establish In New York a salon after those of Paris under tbe Empire Perhaps 1 should bav omitted the word vainly, because one met almost everybody having any claim to distinction in tbe drawing rooms of Madame h Adolph von Hubert. Tbe little party on thla evening consisted of Madame von Hubert, tbe baron, Winfield Gerry and myself. Young Gerry, who went everywhere among people of leisure, waa taken to be enormously rich. Hla brother, Marcus Gerry, was certainly one f of the wealthiest men In New York. He was tbe largest stockholder, and fiDancl&l National dictator, of the bank Winfield Gerry was under thirty, a courtly young fellow, almost as hatidsome as a girl. He waa extravagant, daring, It was said, and reckless. He had been brought up from boyhood on tbe continent, I think, and was colored with the Latin temperament. 1 do not remember ever to have been so fortunate at card as on tbla When we arose from the evening. table, 1 bad won $700, of which sum the baron lost two hundred Tbe remainder waa the loss of Winfield Gerry. I waa glad of thla distribution of tbe loss. Young Gerry was reputed an Idle young fellow wltb millions at his finger tips. Tbe baron, keeping hla money, like a Teuton, In gold, handed me ten Mr. Gerry said that he would give me a check at the club, and asked me to ride dawn town with him In his carriage. We were scarcely seated before he turned to me and said. In a quiet, even voice, as though be were announcing a score. 1 cant pay you, Mr. Parks I turned in astonishment to ace if he waa Jesting. The electric light In tbe carriage showed me a face distressingly drawn and tired. There was no pleasantry behind that counte-nanc1 he solution came to me Instantly. Thla man, posing as a gentleman. wah in fact a cad; he was about to question tbe regularity of the game, the regularity of a friendly at bridge lt .Wic house of such people as the vtfh Huberts. I bristled with indignation. Aflff ffl!iyT Inquire, I answered frigidly, "why la It that you cannot pay me, Mr. Gerry? The man did not at once reply. He took a cigarette from hla pocket, lighted It and leaned back on the cushions of the carriage. , For the beat reason In the world, Mr. Parka, he answered, 1 have at thla moment, to be entirely accurate, doljust two hundred and thirty-eigh- t cents. lar and seventy-fivI waa greatly relieved. "My dear I do not expeet you air, I laughed, to carry about a cash drawer. I knew an Englishman onee whose Income was something like a hundred thousand sterling, and who did not have a shilling in his pocket from one year's end to the other. I should be glad of your cheek. I should be glad of any You are alone there, he said simFifty-eight- h double-- eagles. 5 alt-tln- g e ply. My annoyance returned. I detest I trust, 1 said, passages at banter. that you will permit me to understand you." Gerry took bis cigarette from his mouth, ground the lighted end against the panel of the carriage and threw It on the floor. It would be better, I have no doubt," be said, looking me evenly la the face. I have not intended to be either obscure or facetious. The sum which I have Just mentioned represents all the money that I have in the world. My reputation for wealth Is a mere shell. I owe ninety-fivthousand dollars, exclusive of this little debt to you. Stable and tailor bills, various club dues, run fifteen hundred more. 1 owe twelve hundred In over drafts. It la near a hundred thousand, you see. Agaftist this, 1 have perhaps five thousand dollars of personal effects; horses worth thirty five hundred and a bundle of worthless stocks. I am beastly poor, atrociously poor, you see, Mr. Parka. I listened In astonishment. You will doubtless put me down a cad, he went on, "to join a game of bridge when I bad not the money to In fact, I did not Inpay my losses. tend to play. I called. Intending to tnaks my excuses to the baroness and depart. I found thla politely impossible, and I sat down to the table hoping that two hundred dollars would cover my proportion of probable loss' He paused and made a deprecating gesture. "It was no Idle fancy of the ancients to picture fortune a woman I might have known. Then he stopped, stripped off Us gloves, took out his purse, removed two rings, unhooked a jewel from his tie, and, before I realized what he was doing, handed them all to me. I He thrust the arput hack his band. ticles Into hla waistcoat pocket and dropped his hand on bla knee. 1 thank you for the courtesy, he said, but you would much better take them They will presently be listed bv the referee In bankruptcy. One Brazilian diamond, two and hatf carats, valued at three hundred dol lars One Imitation ruby, valued at fifty dollars. One baroque pearl, valued at twenty-fivdollars. The very jewelry la mostly sham. I am a rather complete pretenae, Mr. Parks. There was little to aay, and I said It with the best grace I could gather the usual platitudes Something would turn up In the morning, wealthy friends wero In abundance. I mentioned hla brother, Marcus Gerry. e e fc- J warti J Clod He said the name over slowly after Marcus Gerry. Then hia Ups set evenly along hla fine, sensitive mouth. But only for a moment. He gave me a swift glance and began to laugh. My brother la all right, you know; but be la a commercial factor. His financial sense la sound. A rotten ship is a rotten ship The captain of It cannot matter a two pence. Lei him step down and off, and the hull go to Davy Jones. Pension the captain perhaps, hut cut loose from the derelict. Thats Marcus Gerry. That's Mason. the sane view. Young Gerry shifted bis feet unWe were down town now. The carWell, he began weakly, riage was turning Into Fifth avenue easily. "won't that do for ad explanation? Tbe young man touched the driver How can It matter, anyway? The button. This Is your club, Mr Parks, I be- money la gone Mason continued monotonously to I am obliged by your lieve, he satd, kindness Won't you let me give you repeat hia question. The young man seemed to go through that period of the gewgaw? and hesitation common to uncertainty I no means, By answered, gelting the court who finds himself witness out of the cab do the me Please forced the examiner either to make by courtesy to forget our game of a clean breast of his story or stub- bridge." He laughed pleasantly Oh, I shall forget it, thank you. Seafaring folk al Bremen say the cable ought always to read, 'Der Kapitan glng mit selnem Schlffe unter Then he spoke to tbe driver and closed the -- arrlage me, door. I went Into the club and got a pony of brandy, a cigar and a chair by the fire. I was greatly sorry for young Gerry. He was an exceedingly pleasant fellow. Still, I could do nothing. I had thought the matter over fully. I could, of course, bring him to Randolph Mason, but of what use was that? There waa no balance of Injustice to be squared up here A reckless young spendthrift, come to the end of hla tether, was all. Mason would have that fact out In a twinkle, and close the door In his face It was out of the question to fool him, He would pick a man like a vulture at a bone till he got to the marrow. I threw the cigar Into the fire. Anyway, Marcus Gerry would doubtless pension the captain of the rotten ship. At the worst, he would probably be better off than the moat of us Then I recalled the German sentence Heinrich, I said to the club steward, what is Der Kapitan glng mi selnem Schlffe unter? Der Captain vent down mlt hla ship, replied the man. A great light came to me. I went over to the table and write on my tocard, Come to Randolph Mason The old ' IVdd morrow at eleven mansion off Broadway, below Wall street. Then I sent It to his address That would at least by messenger. gain lime; and perhaps the boy would Then I give up the Idea of suicide and took another pony of brandy walked to my lodgings. 1 was a little late in arriving on game Broadway the morning after-th- e of bridge As I stopped to open the old iron gate to Randolph Mason's bouBe, Winfield Gerry came across from Wall street and Joined me. He and wholesome looked We entered the house and crossed the wide hall to the drawing room, now used for an office. Aa I thre v hack the mahogany door, I ob served Randolph Mason leaning over the table in the middle of the room. He straightened up, cast a steady, searching glance at young Gerry that ran swiftly over hint to Ills feet, then turned abruptly and walked Into the adjoining room, dosing the folding-door- s behind him. We entered and young Gerry took a chair by the window. "Waa that Randolph Maaon?" he said. I answered that it was Until 1 saw his face, he continued, I could have sworn that It was the greatest surgeon In Europe. He has Llebach's hands, too. But the resemblance vanished when he looked up. This man's lean, sinewy, protruding jaw Is almost a menace. He ,1s not as gray as Llebach, either; and. besides that, Llebach has, once In a while, something gentle In hla face, if they do call him the Wolf, In Munich. This man's face looks metallic, as though It might ring If you struck old-tim- e Lie-bac- It I laughed, tossed him the morning paper, and begged him to excuse me while I ran over the morning mall. was scarcely seated before Pietro appeared, saying that Mr. Mason wished to see me. I arose and went into the adjoining room. Randolph Mason aat at his table, hla elbow on the writing pad and hia chin propped In the hollow of hla hand. Before him was a square sheet from his memoranda files. He began to volley questions In a voice that Bnapped like the click of a gun barrel into Its block. Is Wilder acquitted?" Yes, I answered; a per curiam The mandate will opinion yesterday. come down from the United States circuit court of appeals, Monday. The Atlantic Canadian Securities? Returned out of court, coupon paid up, costs assumed by the syndi1 . cate. Andre Dessausure? "Dead, I replied. At the word, Mason turm d over the memorandum, sheet on the table, folded hts arms and stared vacantly at the rows of bookcases lining the wall. This waa the enemy beyond him. The state department waited a day too long. The little Frenchman had taken to bis brazier of charcoal like an impulsive son of rhe Quartler Latin, and Mason had tailed. I seized this opportune mood to get an audience for young Gerry. Mr. Mason, I said, In the next room is another man booked to the same shipping point. He turned sharply In his chair. Bring him In, he said. I opened the door and requested the young man to come Into this private office, although I had little hops that and looked curiously about him at the rows of bookcaaes along the wall, the oriental nig on the floor, the scattered volumes on the table, quits as if Randolph Mason bad walked out of the room. Then be turned as if to go Into the outer office He was half facing the door, when Maaon 's chin went up. Instantly- - he fell into an attitude of attention. Are you related to Marcus Gerry? aald Mason. The young man crossed the floor and aat down In a chair. "He Is my brother, he replied. "Then, said Mason, "this thing Is childs play." The old listless cloud settled again over Winfield Gerry's face. Mr. Mason," he said, there Is no hope in that quarter My brother, Marcus Gerry, is not a sentimentalist, as I am He la a practical person. When one geta a dollar from Marcus Gerry, he leaves two In unquestioned securities nntll he comes back with the loan. His Instincts are those of a banker, human until It cornea to the money sacks. Do not misunderstand me. My brother would promptly knock down the man who assailed my name in his presence. He would go up to the door of states prison to crush my enemy. He would grind every moral precept me out of a bole; but into pulp l he would not pay out a hundred thousand dollars, nor a hundred dollars, nor one dollar, to wipe out this debt which I have assumed. I have gone over this matter more than once with him. He Is lying In wait for Egan Bedford, He has gone to great pains to cultivate amicable relations with him. Bedford & to. has become the Boston In the world to be taken for a tool. He would not cash checks on the Fifty-eightNational bank? Not his brother, not Marcus Gerry. Mason was under a violent Illusion shout any financial aid to he had from him. No such authority as Mason Intended would ever arrive from him. It was out of the question to tell Egan Bedford that the National bank would take care of the checks. What use was there to lie, when In a few moments by telephone Bedford could ascertain the statement was not true. He did not wish me to misunderstand him, he said. He had no mooning sentiment about paying Egan Bedford In his own coin. The devil ought to be fought with fire. It waa the only way to get through the hide of such a beast aa Bedford. Neither did he wish to give me a false Impression of his brother. Marcus Gerry would do everything on earth to carry such a matter through except pay money, and that waa the very thing which he must do under this plan. Egan Bedford would not cash the checks until the National bank that la, Marcus Gerry guaranteed them; therefore Marcus Gerry must pay them. A loss could not be left suspended In the air. It could not be made to vanish like a magic carpet; neither could Randolph Mason, great aa he waa, create $300,000 out of the naked atmosphere of Broadway. He had not the philosophers atone; had he? nor Aladdins lamp? nor a genius in a copper pot? I took the boy up rather aharply. I reminded him that he was pretty far over the side of the ship to be striking at the hand reached down to help him. What other plan had he? A pistol a bottle of acid, a manufactured accident? Suppose the plan failed, was he any the worse? The pistol, the acid, the accident remained to him But the plan would not fail. I did not know any more than be how the But thing was to be accomplished. Mason knew. He must go to Boston and follow hts directions to the letter. The result was the affair of Randolph h Fifty-eight- h te Fifty-eight- Mason. And so h hammered at him, through the office rooms, out of the door and down the flag path to the street. Ft nally, at the gate, he promised to go to Boston, open the brokers office as Mason had directed, and wait for the Of telegram from Marcus Gerry. course never come, he said. One might as well wait for the coming of Arthur. He would take the thing as a sort of Gideon sign. If it came he would henceforth believe in miracles, and go on with every detail as Randolph Mason had Instructed him to do. I was not present at the conference of Marcus Gerry with Randolph Mason. He came on Tuesday evening, when I was at the Cloverdale Hunt German. By request from Mason, Coleman Stratton, Mr. Gerry's counsel National and that of the Fifty-eightbank, accompanied him. I have it from Pietro that the conference ran up to midnight and that half the books In the private office were on the floor In the morning. At twelve oclock Marcus Gert-- sent a telegrant to bla brother, saying to go ahead aa Mason Pietro took thla telehad directed gram to the Western' Union office on When he returned he Broadway. passed Marcus Gerrys carriage leaving the house. So the Gideon sign arrived In Boston before It was required. I know accurately what followed . On Monday morning Winfield Gerry went to the banking house of Egan Bedford & Co. and explained to Mr. Bedford what he wished to do, as Randolph Mason had directed Bedford requested Gerry to return the next morning. He then called up the Fifty-eightNational bank by telephone and Inquired about the checks. The bank replied that Winfield Gerry had no deposit there, but that it would guarantee the payment of his checks ur o $300,000, and to send It all the checks together by Adams express at the close of banking hours on Saturday. Bedford replied that this arrangement was satisfactory; but he required it sent to him by cipher telegram and also by letter, which was accordingly done. The next morning young Gerry presented hts checks, which were cashed. This he continued to do, until on Thursday evening he had drawn out $297,000 and had paid all the creditors of his fathers old firm of Gerry & Bedford, including the two hundred thousand of debts which he had personally assumed. On Friday he closed his office In Boston and came to New Tork, the most puzzled man who ever entered the Borough of Manhattan. Saturday evening the banking house of Egan Bedford & Co. sent the bundle of checks to the Fifty-eightNational bank of New York. This bank refused to pay the checks and returned them Mr. Bedford came at once to New York. He could not understand this refusal of the bank to pay the checks, but he was not alarmed; he held the guaranty of the bank In writing; it was one of the wealthiest financial Institutions in America; It was as solvent as the government. Some misunderstanding of a clerk was doubtless the explanation at any rate, he was safe. Mr Bedford went to the bank upon his arrival, but got no explanation from any one of the clerical force. An explicit direction to refuse payment on the checks was all they knew about It. An effort to secure an Inter . view with the president, Marcus brought only an appointment for Mr Bedford with the general counsel of the bank at the office of Coleman Stratton, on Broadway, at four o'clock 1 waa present at this conference at the office of Mr Stratton at the invitation of Winfield Gerry, who called for me at a quarter before four We walked over to the building. Young Gerry was amazed at the Incredible situation. It was unbelievable all the way through. One dreamed of such But th's affair things on occasion. bad gone on in daylight. It belonged In Bagdad, yet here it was, on a Monday In January, In New York! Ke waa under an almost breaking strain to see the close of It. We w ere taken at once to Mr. Stratton's private office. Egan Bedford and his counsel. Judge Hacker, had already arrived, and were conversing In low tones In a corner In a moment Mr. by the window. Stratton joined us. He was a clean-cut- , gray man, radiating vitality. Gentlemen, he said, can we not I h Tlason valfed wd5ouf apparent interest bornly refuse to answer anything at all. He chewed hts lips nervously, fumbled with the buttons on his the waistcoat and Btroked gently angle of bis Jaw. Mason waited without apparent Interest Finally, he arrived at his conclusion. He dropped his hand as with a gesture of resignation this Is the Very well," he satd, a hole truth My father and Egan Bedford were financial partners. One day Bedford borrowed all the money he could get In Wall street on the firm's credit, and apparently used It In an unsuccessful effort to hold up a line of rotten securities, while In fact A little later h secreted the money the firm failed. Bedford cleared himself of the wreck In bankruptcy. My father paid up the losses out of hla private fortune aa far as be could. When he died I assumed the remainder of the loss, about two hundred thousand dollars. I have paid half of It; but 1 can go no further He dropped hla hand limply on hla knee, aa he had done the evening before In hla carriage. Again I waa astonished at the contradiction which I studied Winfield Gerry presented. his face. It was drawn and tired, aa It had been last night. I had been wrong about him, wrong about his character, his habits and the causes This boy of hla unfortunate situation. was breaking at the knees under the 1 underburden of anothers wrong stood him now. The air of reckless ness was 'assumed to explain these debts. He waa playing the loose spendthrift, while he strove to clear his fathers name and t? return what Bedford had stolen. Young Gerry pulled himself toI gether. hardly realize why 1 have laid this matter open," he continued, I I came here with no such plan. came, in fact, merely to put In the , , morning j There was something sinister In the like a way he spoke of the morning convicted prisoner, coming up to be sentenced at the afternoon sitting of a court Where is this man, Egan Bedford? said Randolph Mason Winfield Gerry lifted his face In You surely know Egan surprise Bedford, he said; he la the richest broker In Boston, Egan Bedford & Co. Is the firm name, but there Is no firm and no company. Its all Egan Bedford. He posed a few years as a financial unfortunate., then he gradually brought out the covered funds. Today he Is one of the largest private Then he bankers In Massachusetts added, wearily, The scheme of things seems to require a hell. Matters must be adjusted somewhere This one will be adjusted here, satd Mason Young Gerry smiled somewhat bitSuch a thing is Impossible, terly. he Bald; quite impossible. Randolph Mason Ignored the words His face lost Its gleaming vitality, as though a curtain were lowered behind It shutting out the light. The effect on Winfield Gerry was instantly noticeable. The atmosphere of stress was lifted. He stretched out hla llmba, ( Nacorrespondent of the Fifty-eighttional bank, which belongs to my brother. Marcus Gerry will repay Bedford In hts own. good time when the hour finally comes It has come, said Mason. Then he leaned forward In his chair and looked Winfield Gerry steadily In the face, as one does with a child when he wishes to Impress upon him the Importance of some direction. "Young man, he said, attend accurately to what, I am about to say. You will at once make a careful and correct estimate of the amounts owed by the estate pf your father and yourself by reason of Egan Bedford. This statement must be correct. Not a cent more, not a cent less, than the exact sum. You will at once dispose of any property you have in New York, and on next Monday go to Boston and open an office as a broker. Before the h end of the week you will receive a telegram from Marcus Gerry authorizing you to follow my directions. On receipt of it go at once to the banking house of Egan Bedford & Co., and say to Mr. Bedford that you wish to establish a temporary line of credit with his house; that you are about to draw a series of check on the National bank of New York, which you wish him to cash and for which you will pay him the usual commercial discount. Also tell him that you have no deNational posit in the hank subject to check, but that this hank will arrange with him about meeting the checks, and to take the matter up with It at once. You will say nothing more, and leave the bank. On the next day begin to present your checks, payable to yourself and drawn on the National bank of New York. These checks will be made out for amounts, respectively, In your statement of debts. With the money, as you receive It from each check, you will at once pay that creditor in folk This you will continue until all the creditors are paid It ought not to require longer than a Fifty-eight- Fifty-eight- h h Fifty-eight- h fortnight Mason arose as though to dismiss the audience with young Gerry; then he added, You will remember to do exactly as I say: do you understand that? I understand, replied the young man in amazement. But the thing is National The Impossible bank will never shoulder such a loss These debts aggregate $300,000 National bank of The New York, said Mason, will not lose Fifty-eight- h Fifty-eight- a dollar "Then, cried Gerry, now utterly Incredulous. I do not know how under heaven Egan Bedford can be got to cash the checks! It la sufficient that I know, said Mason Then he got up abruptly and w alked out of the room. I had a lot of trouble with Winfield Gerry after Randolph Mason left the room. He was politely Incredulous. The thing was certainly impossible quite too absurdly Impossible, he thought Randolph Mason waa nodding. Egan Bedford was the last man h h Ger-Yy- waive conventions and get at onee to ' this matter? The two men at the window turned around In their chairs? Egan Bedford arose, came over to the table and put down a pack of checks, "I do not see why the bank sends me to a law office, he said; "I want the money on these checks." "I believe, said Mr. Stratton, "that the Fifty-eightNational bank held no deposit upon which these checks h could be drawn. A light of cunning came into Egan Bedfords face. "1 know that, he GIVE BEAUTY TO THE PORCH but the bank is better than any mans account. I made the bank stand good for the checks. How? said Stratton, and I thought there was the faintest shadow of a smile fitting about the corners of his eyes. Bedford's broad face lighted with victory. He thrust his hand into the bosom of his coat, took out a letter and a ' telegram and spread on the table. "There, he said, "is the banks guaranty in black and white and yellow. Then he added, with a sneer, I guess your bank's not broke; is It? The lawyer moved some papers until he found a printed statement. The bank," he said, has assets valued at thirty-fivmillions of dollars; Its liabilities are some ten millions. That would be, I believe, twenty-fivmillions above Insolvency." "Then," said Bedford, "I want my said; e e money. ' Doubtless," replied Stratton. Bedford exploded with anger. "I am tired of this confounded nonsense! he shouted. "If the bank won't pay these checks, I will sue It. Then you will lose," replied the lawyer quietly Lose!" cried Bpdford. The bank guaranteed these checks, I tell you. There is the guaranty, dont you see it? and he pushed the papers across the table with his fat hand I see it, said the lawyer; but It Is not worth filing room. What? shouted Bedford. This guaranty of the National bank," continued Stratton, is utterly void. Bedford plunged baok on his heels like a man struck violently In the breast. He waived his fat arm at his counsel, whom he hitherto had Ignored. Judge, he gurgled, judge, do you hear that? Judge Hacker, whose knowledge of the law Is said to equal that of any practitioner In New York, arose and came over to the table. He nodded to us, then he spoke quietly to his confrere In the law. Stratton," he said, give me accurately your position In this matter. Coleman Stratton touched an electric button, scribbled a memorandum on a scrap of paper and handed it to the office boy who entered. Then he turned to Judge Hacker. This contract of the National bank with Egan Bedford & Co. is one purely of guaranty, and is ultra vires on the part of the bank. The Revised Statutes of the United States give a national bank no authority to guarantee the debts of another. A national bank, as you are aware, cannot exercise powers in excess pf those conferred, upon It by statute. Egan Bedford & Co. and, for that, all persons equally with the bank are bound to take notice of the statute The guaranty Is void and the bank is Boxes With Flowers or Vines Are a Ornament No House Should Be Without Veranda or porch boxes should b a food wide and a foot deep and the timber of which they art made should be of fairly good quality, for It will have to resist conslderabls pressure when the box Is filled wltb soil These boxes will be found most satisfactory if allowed to project outsld the veranda rail. They should be well supported by braces running from tht bottom of the box on tbe outside to ' the veranda floor. Paint them some neutral , color b fore filling them with soil If ordinary soil Is used you will bav only an ordinary development ftt tbi plants you set out to grow in It, whllt wbat you want Is vigorous growth. Procure soil containing as much decayed vegetable matter as you can No matter bow full of roots It Is, ths nutriment you are in search of is there and a few root more or less will not interfere with the plants you propose to grow in It. On the contrary, they will prove of positie benefit, as they will help to keep the soil light and porous Before filling the boxes with soil bore a few holes In the bottom ol them to allow for the escape of sur at least Fifty-eight- Fifty-eiglit- not h liable. Judge Hacker listened attentively. Have you the Revised Statutes?" he said. Yes, replied Stratton, handing him the volume Section 5136. Judge Hacker opened the book on the table and began to read it carefully. In a moment be looked up. Do you know of an authority construing this statute? he said. Mr., Stratton touched his bell, and the office boy came In with a cbpy of . Stratton the "Federal Reporter. handed the book to Judge Hacker. Page 825, he said. Judge Hacker took the volume to the window and went carefully over the case. Egan Bedford followed him, peeping now over and now under his arm, as though the lawyer were examining some Incomprehensible Infernal machine. His face was tense. The whole plan of Randolph Mason was now laid open. Plain, even to young Winfield Gerry. He slipped his hand into mine and wrung It. Presently Judge Hacker closed the volume and returned It to the table. Then he spoke to Stratton. You seem to be right about this, he said. This decision of the United States circuit court of appeals appears conclusive. The Fifty-eight-h National bank did not receive this money and consequently It cannot be taken to be In the position of obtaining a benefit by its void act. This money was paid to Winfield Gerry and not to the bank. Then he turned to Egan Bedford, You will have to look to Mr Winfield Gerry for the payment of these checks. Bedford raised his arms above his head and dropped them with a hopeless gesture. "Sue him, sue that fellow! he cried. He is not worth a tinkers dam. He hasnt a dollar! Young Gerry took out his purse, stripped off hts rings, unhooked his pearl pin from the tie and handed them to Bedford. "You are mistaken," he said; "here Is quite an estate g Egan Bedford struck his hand, the articles over the floor. Then he seized his hat and bolted out of the room. Judge Hacker followed, but paused a moment at the door to ofTer an apology for the violence of his client and to bid us good evening. I looked around me. Young Gerry was gathering up hts possessions, his hands trembling, but his face like the sun. The attorney standing by the table spoke the o:Jy word of comment "Mr. Parks," t, said, wtll you to Randolph present my compliment scaf-terin- .Mason ?" Vines Add Grace and Beauty to ths Porch.-- - In all probability there plus Water will be no surplus water to escape, but It Is well to be on the safe sljJ r When you put the soil in tfej.boww press it down firmly dumped In lightly, evaporation will be rapid and the roots of yourjdants may suffer In consequence. At thecutside of the box set vines of quick development, like German Ivy, Tradescantia, Money wortjr tbe Madeira vines. These will soon hide the box completely and after a little they will form a screen for all that portion of the veranda below the rail. Morning glories can be planted here and there along the box and trained up on strings and made to furnish Bhade for tbe veranda as well as a screen Other flowering plants can be selected to suit Individual taste Almost any plant can be used with reasonable chance of success If care Is taken to see that the soil In tbe box Is kept always moist. Strange Garden Creations. I often ask myself where in the world the strange erections that stalk through an increasing , number of American gardens that even cover not a few American verandas, staring-whitbare of foliage, and solid enough to support a are supposed to have derived their origin, writes H. G. Dwight, In the Atlantic ijonthly In some of tbe greatest Magazine. Italian gardens the pergolas are made of slender unplaned poles fastened together by withes, which are Invisible under the vines that cover them. The nakedness of American pergolas has sometimes been explained to me by the fact that grapevines must be cut down every year In order to bear well. What of it? The vine exists for the pergola, not the pergola for the vine. Even In countries so poor as Greece and Turkey thousands of vines are grown simply for their shade and beauty. If we called a pergola a trellis, and were done with it, we might be less In danger of disfiguring our gardens by a species of snow-sher, Sometimes It Seems So. Now, children, said the teacher, who can tell me what the word odorless means? Willie Jones wag sure he knew. Well, Willie, what does It mean?" Odorless means without scent, ha piped. Right. Now who can give a sentence using the word correctly? continued the teacher. You may answer, Jimmy. Please, maam, when you are odorless you cannot ride in the trolley ears. Youths Companion. School Grounds. It Is Btrange that towns and communities will decorate their cemeteries and allow the school yards to remain bare. for the legal principle Involved in this story tee the leading case of Bowen v. Needle Nat. Bank, et al., 94 Fed 825. Russian peasant Swindled. The reasant girls of Russia sell their hair for a sum which amounts to less than a dollar a pound, and their tresses bring $12 to $15 in the London hair market. Would It now be bet- ter to reverse the rule and care for the living rather than the dead? It is certainly too late to benefit those who rest in the cemetery and not too early to Instill a love of plant life Into those who attend school. Fitting a Cork. If a cork is too large for the bottle In which you wish to use It, lay It on Its side, and with a little board or ruler roll It under all the pressure you can put on It It will he elongated to St In a very few minutes. |
