6 A SILENT MESSAGE. Trembling I wont to gaze upon the dead With fear some nameless horror there to see. But to inf h»art Its sculptured silence said: "O quicit and strong, be not afraid of me! "There is no terror in this science white, This muted pause in life's activity; Bpare expiation vow, memorial rite, But for thine own heart's ease weep over me! "Fast on my closed and heavy-lidded eyes Lie youth, love, passion, age. eternity, The deep sea soundings of the centuries— E'en life itself is but a part of me! "Touch me or not upon the lips and brow. Love will not wrong me in its memory; _ Love cannot pierce my isolation now; Give to the living all thou owest me! "Matters it not the pyre, the sea, the soil. For this that was the mortal part of me. Foarless take up thy sacramental toll; Fearless meets death, life's crowning victory!" —Marguerite Merington. in New England Magazine. My Strangest Case BY GUY BOOTHBY. Author ol "Dr. Kikola," "The Beautiful White Devil," " Pharos, Tha Egyptian," Etc. righted, 1501, by Ward, Lock i Co.] CH APT ER 1 v.— CONTINUED. "Now," I said to myself after he had gone, "this looks like developing into an affair after my own heart. I am irost anxious to discover who my mysterious enemy can be. It might be Grobellar, but I fancy he is Btill in Berlin. There's Tremasty, but I don't think he would dare ven ture to England. No, when I to think of it, this business does not seem to belong to either of them." I took from my pocket the watch which was to have played such an important part in the drama and consulted it. It was just half-past eleven, therefore I had exactly half an hour to get to the rendezvous. I called Wilson and congratulated hi in on the success which had attended our efforts of that evening. "It's a good thing you came out of it so well, sir," he said. "They were a nasty pair of chaps, and would have thought as much of 'outing* you as they would of drinking a pot of ale." "But thank goodness, they didn't succeed," I replied. "As the saying goes, 'a miss lias never killed a man yet.' And now, Wilson, you'd better be off borne to bed. Turn out the gas before you po. Good night!" "Good night, sir," he answered, mid then I put on my hat and left the office. I found when I stepped into the street that the character of the night had changed. Thick clouds obscured the sky, and a few drops of rain were falling. At first I felt in clined to take a cab, but on second thoughts I changed my mind, and putting up my umbrella strode along in the direction of St. Martin's church. The theaters were over by thia time, and the streets were beginning ] to grow empty. I passed the Gaiety ! where a middle-aped gentleman, de cidedly intoxicated, was engaged in a noisy altercation with a policeman, who was threatening to take him to Bow street if he did not go quietly home, and at last approached the* spot for which I was making. I took up my position on the darker side of Holywell street, and waited. So far I seemed to have the thoroughfare to myself, but 1 had still some three or four minutes to wait. At last midnight sounded, and as I heard it I concealed myself more carefully in my doorway and watched. I was not to be kept long in suspense, for the new day was scarcely three minutes old when a hansom drove up to the other side of the church, and a man alighted. He paid off the man and wished him good night, and then came along the roadway at the back of the church. From where T stood I could see his figure distinctly, but was not able to distinguish his face. He was dressed in a black cloak, and wore a deer-stalker hat upon his head. That he was the man I wanted I felt sure, for what would anyone else be. doing there at such an hour? That he was surprised at not finding his bravoes awaiting him was very certain, for he looked up the street, down the street, peered into Holywell street, where, thank goodness, lie did not Bee me, then along the Strand in a westerly direction, and afterwards came and took up his position within half a dozen paces of where I was hidden. Presently he took a cigar case from his pocket, opened it, se lected a weed, and struck a match to light it. The flame illumined his face BO that I could see it distinctly. If I had not had myself well under con trol, T believe I should have uttered an exclamation of surprisejfhat oould not have failed to attract attention. The man who had set those rascals onto try and get rid of me was none other than Mr. Edward Bayley, the managing director of the Santa Cruz Mining company of the Argen tine Republic! Here was a surprise indeed! What on earth did it all mean? CHAPTER V. I must confess that the discovery I had made bah in d St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me. What pos sible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me? Only the morning before iie had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruf fciu* to prevent me from doing wj work. If not to take my life. Wlien I reached my hotel and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavoring to arrive at an under standing of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution. Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind. As soon as the city offices were open, 1 would call at that of the Santa Cruz Mining company, and put a few ques tions to Mr. Bayley which I fancied that individual would find difficult and rather unpleasant to answer. This plan I carried out, and at ten o'clock I stood in the handsome outer office of the company. "I should be glad to see the man aging director, if he could spare me a few moments," I said to the youth i who waited upon me in answer to his question. "He's engaged, sir, at present," the lad replied. "If you will take a seat, however, I don't fancy he will be very long." 1 did as he directed, and in the in terval amused myself by studying a large map of the Argentine Kepub lic, which hung upon the wall. I had ! practically exhausted its capabilities | when the door opened, and a tall, j military-looking mm emerged and passed out into the street. "What name shall I say, sir?" in- ! quired the clerk, as he descended from his high stool and approached me. "Fairfax," I replied, giving him my card. "I think the manager will | know my name." The clerk disappeared to return a few moments later with the request I that T would follow him. Preparing myself for what I fully expected would be a scene, I entered the di rector's sanctum. It was a hand- ' some room, and was evidently used as a board-room as well as an office, j for there was a long table in the middle, surrounded by at least a dozen chairs. At the furthest end a gentleman of venerable appearance was seated, lie rose as 1 entered, and bowed to me. "in what way can I be of service to you, Mr. Fairfax?" lie inquired, after I had seated myself. "1 am afraid there has been a mis take," 1 answered, looking about me for Mr. Bayley. "1 told the clerk that 1 desired to see the managing director." "You are seeing him," he returned with a smile, "for I am he." "in that case I must have misun derstood the gentleman who called upon me two days ago," I replied, with some surprise. "Do I understand you to say that a gentleman from this office called upon you?" "Yes, a Mr. Bayley, a tall, good looking man, of between 38 and 40 years of age." The old gentleman stared, as well he might. "But there is no Mr. Bayley here," he said. "We have no one of that | HE ROSE AS I ENTERED AND BOWED TO ME. name in our employ. I fear the man, whoever he was, must have been playing a trick upon you. I sincere ly trust he has done no damage. Might I ask what he called upon you about?" | "lie called on me on behalf of your j company," I answered. "He informed j me that for some time past you have | ascertained the gravest suspicions I concerning the manager of your ! mines in the Argentine. He said that information had reached your ears to the effect that the man in ques tion was in league with a notorious swindler it* New York, and, though you could not bring any proved charge against him, you were equal ly certain that he was robbing you in order to fill his own pockets. He appeared to be most anxious to per suade me togo to the republic at once in order that I might inquire into matters and report to you. 1 was to be away three months, and was to be paid £5,000 and my ex penses for my trouble." "My good sir, this is really pre posterous," the old gentleman re turned. "I can positively assure you that there is not a word of truth in his assertion. Our manager in the Argentine is an old and valued friend, and I would stake my life on his fidelity. Nothing would induce us to think even of sending a detec tive out to spy upon him." "1 am beginning to believe that I should like to meet Mr. Bayley again," I remarked. "He has a fine imagination, and, from what you tell me, it seems that I should have : looked a fool had I gone out to ; South America on' such an errand." | "It would have been exceedingly i inconvenient not only for you, but ! also for us," said the manager. "I I shall report this matter at the board meeting to-day. We must endeavor I to discover who this man is. and also ' las reasons for acting as he has dune. CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, MAY 22. 1902. Should we hear anything further upon the. subject, we will at once communicate with you." "I should be glad if you will do s<», n I replied. "1 should Hke to get this matter cleared up as soon as possible. There may be something behind it that we do not under stand." 1 thanked him for the interview, and then" took my departure, more puzzled by it than I had been by any thing for a long time. When I reached my ofliee I took the card from a drawer, which Mr. Edward Bayley had sent to me, and dis patched it by special messenger to the office of the famous mining com pany. That afternoon another sur prise was in store for me. Shortly after lunch, and when I was in the middle of a letter to Kitwater, a message was received through the telephone to the effect that the man aging director of the Santa Cruz Min ing company, whom I had seen that morning, was ou his way to call upon me. "Something has evidently come to light," I reflected. "Perhaps the mystery surrounding Mr. Edward Bayley is about to be cleared up, for J must confess I do not like the look of it." A quarter of an hour later the manager was ushered into my pres ence. "Good afternoon, Mr. Fairfax," he said. "I have come to ask you, if you will permit me, a few questions, and also to tell you that I think we have discovered who it is that is mas querading as the occupant of my position. You gave me this morning a rough description of the individual who called upon you. Can you recall anything particular about his ap pearance? Any strange mark, for in stance. Anything by which we should be able to swear to his iden tity?" "I would swear to his identity any where, without a mark," I replied. "But since you do mention it, I re member that he had a small tri angular sear upon his left cheek." "Then it is the same man after all," said the manager. "That is certain ly extraordinary. When our secre tary spoke to me about him after you had left I had my doubts; now, however, they are quite removed. Why he should have called upon you in such a guise is a question I can not for the life of me answer with anv sort of satisfaction." "Perhaps you will be a little more explicit," 1 said. "You have not told me yet how it is that you have been able to locate the gentleman in ques tion. This morning you must re member you had no sort of remem brance of him." "In that case you must forgive me," he replied. "As a matter of fact I was so much carried away by my ex citement that I could think of noth ing else. However, I have promised you the story, and you shall have it. Some years ago, eight or ten per haps, we had a young man working for us in the Argentine as an over seer. He was in many respects a brilliant young fellow, and would doubtless have done well for himself in time, had he been able togo straight. Unfortunately, however, he did not do so. He went from bad to worse. At last he was caught in a flagrant piece of dishonesty, and was immediately discharged. When I tell you that that young man had a mark such as you described upon his cheek, you may be able to derive some idea of what follows." "Might it not be a pure coinci dence?" I replied. "Not in this case, I fancy," he an swered. "What makes me the more inclined to believe that it is the same individual, is the fact that our sec retary met him in Leadenhall street only a few days ago. He looked old er, but had evidently prospered in the world. As a matter of fact, Warner described him as being ir reproachably dressed and turned out. I trust his good fortune was honestly come by; but T must own, from what I know of him, that I have' my doubts." "But what possible reason could this individual have for calling upon me, and why should he have made me such an offer as I have described to you?" The director shook his head. The question was evidently beyond him. "I can assign no sort of reason for it,"he said, "unless he has some hope of being able to get you out of Eng land for a time." "I don't see how that could benefit, him," I replied. "I am connected with no cose in which he has any sort of interest." "You never can tell," the old gen tleman replied. "From what I know of him, Gideon llayle was always—" "Gideon what?" I cried, springing to my feet. • "Did I understand you to say Gideon llayle?" "That's the name of the young man of whom I have been speakin*' to you," lie replied. "But what makes you so excited?" "Because I can understand every thing now," I declared. "Good heavens! What an idiot I have been not to have seen the connection be fore! Now I know why Gideon llayle tried to lure me out of Eng land with his magnificent offer. Now I see why he set these roughs upon me. It's all as plain as daylight!" "I am afraid 1 do not quite tinder stand," said my companion in his turn. "But it is quite evident to me that you know more of Hayle's past life than I do!" "I should think I did," I replied. "By Jove, what a blackguard the man must be! He robbed his two part ners of enormous wealth in China, left them in the hands of the Chinese to be tortured and maimed for life, and now that he knows that 1 am acting for them in order 1o recover 'their treas'jxe, he euU.'t'ivora to me out of the way. Tint you've not •lone it yet, Mr. llayle," I continued, bring-in# my fist down with A bung upon the table, "and what's more, clever as you may be, you are not likely to accomplish such an end. You'll discover that I can take very good care of myself, but before very lon# you'll find that you are being taken care of by somebody else." "This is a strange affair indeed, Mr. Fairfax," said the manager, "and it is evident that I have been of some assistance to you. I need not say that I am very glad, the more so be cause it is evident that our company is not involved in any system of fraud. 1 will not disguise from you that I had my fears that it was the beginning of trouble for us all." "You may disabuse your mind of that once and for all," 1 answered, "if there is any trouble brewing it is for our friend, Mr. llayle. That gentleman's reckoning is indeed like ly to be a heavy one. I would not stand in his shoes for something." There was a brief and somewhat uncomfortable pause. "And now allow me to wish you a very good afternoon," the old gentle man observed. "Good afternoon," I replied, "and many thanks for the service you have rendered me. It has heljied me more than I can say." "Pray don't mention it, my dear sir, don't mention it," replied the kindly old gentleman, as he moved towards the door. "I am very glad to have been useful to you." [To Be Continued.] A MAN OF INTUITION. The Investment of n Small Sum of Money Tlint Wan Made to Good Ail vantage, "I had just come back to the store from my lunch one day," said the merchant, as burglarproof safes were under discussion, says the Detroit Free Press, "when a middle-aged man with a liard-up look entered my pri vate office after me. The object of his call was to strike me for half a dollar, and I am surprised yet that I didn't at once turn him down. I guess it was because he had the look of a first-class mechanic out of a job, and because trade was rushing with me. To accede to his request I had to open my big safe, and as I handed him two quarters he thanked me aud added: " 'Excuse me, sir, but isn't that safe of yours too dead easy?' "'How do you mean?' I asked. " 'Why, it's a four-number combi nation, but you have it set only on two. I think I could open it iu a couple of minutes.' "'lf you can, I'l give you five dol lars,' I said, feeling a little nettled at his disparagement. I shut and locked the door and stood back for him, and in less than 40 seconds he had swung it open. " 'I told you it was dead easy,' he said, without a smile. "'But how did you get onto the combination?' "'Oh, it's intuition, I guess. Bet ter call in a man and have the lock set on four numbers. It could be opened then, but it might take an hour or two. Thanks again, and good day.' "1 didn't let the grass grow under my feet," continued the merchant, "and from that day on I carried a heap less money in the safe. The man might, have been a mechanic, but somehow I've always had the idea that he was a safe cracker, and that I made a good investment when I handed over that $5.50. lie might have got $2,000 that night as easy as rolling oil a log." A Sweet, Seductive Voice. "You can talk all you've a mind to about romance," growled the man who can never keep anything to himself, "I've had enough of it." "Why, what's the matter?" "Well, you know 1 have always judged people more or less by their voices. The other day I got a call on the telephone from somebody up on Connecticut avenue, and the voice was sweet enough to make you dream of peaches and cream. It was a real sweet, coaxing kind of a voice. I looked the house up and found there was one unmarried girl living there with her father, a widower, and I got an intro duction just on the strength of that voice. "Well, she was 40 years old, with a voice like a bu-zzsa w. The girl who had come to the telephone was the maid, and she was about the color of good chocolate." —Washington Times. On the Street*. Ragged, barefoot, cheeks hollowed as if by hunger. "Mister," he said, "please buy my last paper. I ain't got no home, and—" "Neither have I," said the man, gruffly, and passed on. It was a wonder that the boy hadn't noticed that the man was almost as ragged as himself. The samej appeal to two well-kept passers-by, one of whom said as they passed 011: "As I was saying, you never ear. tell when these people are deserv ing." That's generally the stand the world takes in these matters. It "never can tell," and hasn't time to be told. But then—Christ died for all kind sorts of people.—Atlanta Constitution. NotliiiiK \ew, The scientist who is experimenting with a view to the life of man indefinitely is merely maintain ing the general scheme of things. Since the earliest times an elixir of life has been in the process of decoctios. — Washington Star. And Vina Versa, An optimist says that pesimists are hopeless fools.—Chicago Daily 1 JNov*. Ilia One Regret. "Henry," said Mrs. Peck severely, "I am inclined to think you have squandered a lot of money foolishly in your life." "I know it, my dear," replied the meek and lowly Henry. "Well, don't you regret it?" she asked. "Some of it," answered Henry, with a long-drawn-out sigh. "I've never ceased to regret the ten dollars 1 gave up to the parson who officiated at our wedding."—Chicago Daily News. Hix I'hllonopliy. "There are a great many things about this government that are not properly conducted," said the man who is always apprehensive. "Yes," answered Senator Sorghum, "but no matter what we decide on, there is bound to be protest and in dignation. And this being the ease. I do not see why 1 should not have my own way instead of letting the other fellow have his. —Washington Star. In (lie Near Future. The Cook—Oi'lll sorry, mum, but the walkin' diligate av th' Suprhame Or dlier of Cooks hov ordhered me t' throw up me job. Mrs. Subbub (tearfully)—Oh, No rah! What have 1 done? The Cook—Nawthin', mum; but yer foolish liusbind got shaved in a non union barber shop, th' day before yis terday.—Brooklyn Life. Very Much in Dcinanil, Towne—l see there's a new cashier at the bank. 1 suppose Smugley was discharged ? Browne—Not exactly. They're of ering double his old salary to get him back. Towne—Ah! Resigned, eh? Browne—Not exactly that, either. They're offering a thousand pounds reward for him.—Tit-Bits. Rather KKotinticnl. "I wouldn't marry the best man on earth," said the fair female, who had been up against a game of solitaire for some 40-odd summers. "Huh!" growled the old bachelor, "I see no reason why you should have permitted that remark to escape. 1 didn't ask you to make my life a bur den."—Chicago Daily News. The IlincouriiKcd Mnthematlcian. Oh. figures are too hard form« I'll never try again. I p!ay the horses I—l! 3 They finish S—9—lo. —Washington Star. A C KITE 111 ON". She —Jack, I'in afraid this dog you've given me isn't a good one. He—Not a good one! Why, what's the matter with him? She—l don't know, I'm sure; but I've had him a whole month now, and no one has even tried to steal him.— London Punch. Sent of (he Trouble. "Your sire objects to me, I fear," Sail! Jack, while they were rowing; "Not to your coming," said Edyth, dear. "He only kicks about your going." —Chicago Daily News. Not in lii* Line. "William, wake up!" she whispered. "I'm sure T heard a burglar down stairs. You'd better go down and see." "My goodness, woman," he replied, sleepily; "what a low opinion you must have of me! I'm not in the habit of hobnobbing with burglars."— Catholic Standard and Times. Too Much Free Trade. "How did you ever fail in the gro ecrv business with so many custom ers?" "Free trade did it." "But there is no free trade in your goods." "Yes. there is. My customers didn't pay their bills."—N. Y. Herald. I'rou <l. "Does Miss Billions think a great deal of the nobleman she married?" said one young woman. "Yes," answered the other; "she is as proud of him as she can be. She says he was such a bargain."—Washington Star. Two SortfS of Injuries. She—lt is said that an injury to the tongue is repaired by nature with more rapidity than is the case with any other part of the system. He—lt is very different with an in jury made by the tongue.—Yonkers Statesman. Without Enil. "Pa. why do they call it the sewing circle? They don't sit in a ring." "No, my son; but they start a piece of gossip and it goes round and round." —Philadelphia Bulletin. No Aid to Wit. Landlady—My lodgers are all so witty. Mr. First floor—Ah, there is nothing like hunger to sharpen the wits! —Tit- V - i Well llronfffct I p. Grateful Parent—What can I do, sir, to show my gratitude? You have saved my daughter from drowning. Ilescuer—Don't thank me. Thank yourself. She owes her life, and I owe mine, to the fact that j»ou brought her up in Boston. "Eh ?" "it is very simple. Most girls would grab a rescuer by the neck, and both would be drowned; but your daughter modestly waited for an introduction." —N. Y. Weekly. The II n in. The rain comes down obedient to The law of gravitation; II it went UEJ instead, 1 think, "J'wou'.d make a great sensation. —Judge. SEEN THKOIUU, Mary—So you think she is two faced? Jft net —Certainly; I have seen het when her own showed through.— Chicago Daily News. 311 m I.J' NI Sfineal, iekory, dock, tlie mouse ran ua the clock; He Rave his I-ast squeal When he tackled a wheel- Hickory, dickory, dock. —Cincinnati Enquirer. XIi M I'nfortiiunte Position, "I fear," said the friend, '"that you take your wealth too seriously." "Well," answered Senator Sorghum. "I don't know. Hut it seems to me that nearly everybody who comes near me is willing to take my wealth serious ly or any other way, so longas they get a chance to take it."—Washington Star. An Accompllaeil "Yaas," said Mrs. Newin Sassiety, "my deah daliter is perfee'ly devoted to music; she is of such an ahtistic tem perament !" "Indeed?" "Why, it would make youah heart glad to see that deah che-ild giving money to the organ grinders!"— Balt imore News. An Annelic Ambition, Little Dottie and Clarence quarreled. Dottie is four, Clarence five. "You ain't a good girl," said Clar ence. "You ain't going to Heaven." "I is a dood girl," replied Dottie, "an* I is a-doin' to Hebben. An' when lis a' angel I is a-tuiymin down an' 'en" (with energy) "I'll pull oo'hair." —Lit- tle Chronicle. She Hud Mined It. "Of course, you've read Homer's story of Ulysses and Calypso, haven't you?" , "No, I really can't say that I have. There's so many books keep coming out now, don't you know, that I just simply pretend to keep track of tlier all."—Chicago Record-Herald. Joyoilft SpriiiK. And now you note in farmhouse milk , A sort of chromo taint, j As the old cow on thegreen hillsi<? ' E-ats the artist's tube of paint. —Chicago Daily News. PItOMISIVG Gilt 1,. "What am 1 to do? The diamond in my engagement ring has got a flaw in it!" "Take no notice, by ("ear—love should be blind, you know." "Yes—but it hasn't got to be stone blind!"— Alley Sloper. Fn me. This thing called fame oft brings regret; Its ways art- light and breezy. The kind you want is hard to get; The kind you don't is easy. —Washington Star. OiiK'ht to He Perfoet. "If practice makes perfect—" "Well?" "Well, if practice makes pcrefct she might to be a penect fiancee. This is her eighteenth engagement." Chi cago Post. Quit Joking, "He proposed to her as a joke." "Yes?" "Well, she accepted him. lie does not regard himself as a humorist any more.'' —Brooklyn Lue,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers