6 THE SONGS MY MOTHER SANG I hear thein In the whispering winds. The forests rythmic strain, Thi' chime of lulls, that sinks and swell*, The putter of the ruin. I hear them in the vesper call Of birds from copse and tree, 13;n h note prolongs the dear old songs That mother sang to ine. 1 hear them in the ocean's voice, The prattle of a child. Tie* dashing rill, the fountain's trill, The tempest llerce and wilii. 1 h'.ar them through the silent night In dreams they echo free, Since memory throngs with tender songs That mother sang to mo. I heard them when a babe I lay Upon h.'r loving breast. And when a child their charms beguiled My eager brain to rest. I hear them now, and some las; hour Across death's swelling sea. My soul shall wing, while angels sing The songs she sang to me. —Laiia Mitchell, in Farm Journal. "ofT -or? SaTj rytf Scoundrels 4 Co. ? IBy COULSON KERNAHAN jj Author ol "Captain Shannon," "A Book ol B Strange Sins," "A Dead Man's Diary." Etc. ti Copyright, 1899, by Herbert S. Stone & Co. CHAPTER VII.—CO.vt 1 NvKD. Number Two was speaking. "Come, hurry up with those tools," lie was saying. "The police are pretty sure to keep an eye upon the place still. The only wonder is that they haven't left some one in charge. Good God! what's that?" And then I heard another and a deeper voice— "Move a step, either of you, and I fire. They have left some one in charge. Will you surrender quietly or shall —" The next, instant there was the re port of firearms, followed by a scuffling noise and a cry. I waited to hear no more. ''l'm better out of this than in it, and for several reasons," I said to myself. "My explanation wouldn't satisfy either side, if I were called upon to make it. If the Syndicate of Scoun drels gets to know I've been playing the spy on them, there would be an other vacancy in the council, for the Villains would never rest till they'd poisoned, or drowned, or knifed, or dynamited me. And 1 don't know that I should find myself altogether popular with the police if I had to tell them my story. Besides which, they mightn't believe it, and, for all I know, I might find myself in the dock along with the other two. So I'll leave you to settle your little difference among yourselves, gentlemen." One can think in three seconds what cannot be written down in thirty. The report of the pistol was still ringing in my ears as I opened the door, and, stepping out, walked away at a pace which, though it was not so rapid as to attract notice, was, I can promise you, smart. Very glad I was too when 1 had turned the corner of the square, but it was not until 1 found myself in a crowded thoroughfare, and 1 knew that 1 had put a good 50u yards between myself and the place, that 1 began to slacken. The evening papers had no more eager reader than 1 that night, and it was with 110 little consternation that I saw the following announcement in a late edition: "A tragic discovery was made this afternoon at 89 Fassett Square, Dais ton, the house in which a quantity of dynamite was recently discovered by the police. Constable X 24 noticed when passing on his round that the front door was open, and on entering snd searching the premises, he discov ered in the cellar the dead body of the policeman who had been left in charge. The unfortunate man had been stabbed to the heart, but by whom there was 110 evidence to show, but that a struggle had taken place was clear from the fact that a revolver, one chamber of which had been discharged, and which has been identified as his property, was found lying beside him. It is, however, supposed that the crime was committed by some member, or members, of the gang by whom the dy namite had been concealed on the premises, and that they had revisited the house, not knowing that the police had left anyone in charge." And in the "Stop Press" space in the paper, which is devoted to late news, I found the following—to me— extremely significant announcement: "The police refuse to give any par ticulars in regard to the sensational murder of a policeman at Fassett Square, Dalston. Our representative, however, succeeded this afternoon in obtaining a short interview with the wife of the murdered man, who has informed him of a curious circumstance in connection with the case. This is that an empty beer barrel, which was lying in the cellar where the body was found, had been very carefully taken to pieces, and this she is confident was not done by her husband, who she as sured our representative had no tools on the premises by which the work could have been accomplished." "This is bad news!" I said to my self as I laid down the paper. "The scoundrels have not only got clean away, but they have evidently accom plished the object of their visit, and succeeded in taking the dynamite with them. It makes me feel very un comfortable about the whole business; although even if I had gone down to the cellar I should not have been in time to save the poor fellow's life; and after all, if the police don't take proper steps to guard premises which the.' are in charge of, it's their affair, not mire. "Hut now that I know the scoundrels have sot possession of the dynamite, and that they intend to use it in blow ing up I'Ord Orant horpe's house, I will make it my business to see that they don't do anything of the. sort; end, Knowing what I do of them and their plans, i think I shall succeed, though 1 fancy I'm setting myself a risky job." CHAPTER VIII. I BECOME A PAVEMENT A ItTI.ST. As the council was to meet again in seven days, the probabilities were that Number Two would take no further action until he had had an opportunity of consulting his colleagues. But I knew him to be a consequen tial personage, ever ready to act on his own responsibility; and what was more likely than that so ambitious a man should go further than his in structions, and seek to strengthen his position as a candidate for the chieftainship by some master stroke which would confound and astonish his colleagues? If at the forthcoming meeting he could inform the council that not only had he performed the task entrusted to him, and had ob tained possession of tlie dynamite, but that he had actually put the explosive to the use for which it was intended, and had blown up the house of the of fending nobleman, his zeal in the cause could not fail to' win the com mendation of the executive. In view of such a contingency, I deemed it wise to keep an unwinking watch upon the condemned house; and 1 did not think I could better effect my purpose than by buying out the bus iness, good-will and stock-in-trade, of a "pavement artist," who had installed himself not far from Lord Cranihorpe's residence, but on the other side of the way. Plantagenet Square consisted of a circular space, laid out in grass plots and gravel paths, and bordered by trees and shrubs. The whole was framed in by four rows of solidly built, but ex cecdingly English looking and ugly houses, which constituted the "Square," the central enclosure being surrounded by high iron railings, that had a broad pavement running around them. Here it was that the artist in question, by dint of much chalking and finger smearing, had succeeded in producing a highly-finished picture of a purple faced and apoplectic-looking person """•p V- —'• '. r —rn I BAT UP, RUBBING THE BACK OF MY HEAD. in widow's weeds, which bore the loyal and not unnecessary legend, "God save the Queen." Much as this portrait of Her Majesty was admired by patriotic passers, the most critical were of the opinion that, as a likeness, it was not quite up to the level of a portrait of a mackerel, which formed the companion picture. But the gem of the collection —in the opinion of materially-minded folk at all events —was a rasher of bacon, in \\ liich even such detail as the section of sawn bone was pictured so faith fully that one patron of art declared that it made him hungry to think of it frizzling in the pan; while for lov ers and people of poetic temperament, a moonlight scene done in dark blue chalk with white effects, a sunset that glared in crimson and yellow, and a shipwreck in black and gray with a white lifeboat putting out to the res cue, completed the exhibition. Having disguised myself as a work ing man, I wai'.od until I knew there would not be many people passing, in order that I might ask the artist if he were willing to enter into negotia tions for the sale of his business. He was sitting with his back to the rail ing, his cap being displayed beside him to invite the.casual copper. "What is it?" he said suspiciously, when I told him I wanted a word with him. "Nothin' much, mate," I replied. "Only I've got a little money laid by, and thought o' settin' up In your line myself and wanted to buy a business. How much'll yer sell this yer show — stand and all —for, eh?" To my surprise he leapt to his feet excitedly, and grasped the lapel of my coat, he peered into my face as if he expected to recognize me. Then he ex claimed in a voice hoarse with pas sion: "Come, drop it! None of your tricks with me; I was prepared for some thing of this sort! Who are you? A detective, eh? Speak up! for I'll stand none of your nonsense!" It was getting dark, but not so dark that I did not see a peculiar twitching of the eyebrows, which i had noticed as the only sign of excitement that Number Three had betrayed when, at the drawing of lots in the gipsy wagon, lie discovered that it had fallen to his share to assist Number Two in obtain ing possession of the concealed dyna mite. Yes, it was Number Three un questionably, and I had indeed made as pretty a mess of the business as was possible. Staggered as I was, however, I did not lose my presence of mind. "No! no!" I made haste to protest with ear- CAMKRON COUNTY PRESS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1904 r.estness, which was not all assumed, tor his hand was at his side-pocket, as if in search of a weapon. "I ain't no sneakin' 'tec. Strike me dead if 1 am! I'm a pore man.".lie yourself, mate, and I don't like the 'tecs no better nor wot you do, for if they knew what lay 1 was on, they'd nab me and 110 mis take, they would, rot 'em!" "What's your game, then?" he said shortly, but less aggressively. "Well, It's like this," I answered; "there's a man wot lives in this Square as I'm goin' to put a knife into. You're a pore man and I'm a pore man Fee! So you won't peach on me, I Know. This man—a lord he calls his self —he's took the bread out o' my mouth and out o' my kiddies' mouths, and out o' the mouths o' my mates and their kiddies. That's wot he's done, the . Lord Cranthorpe's his name, and some of us—them as is men and not chickens —'ave met on the quiet and talked over 'ow we could get even with 'im. We're men, we are, •not dogs to be kicked and starved an' lobbed, and our missises and kiddies starved, by the likes of 'im. And we've drawn lots which of us was to knife 'im, and I drawn the billet and got to do it. Well, my mates they sent the 'at round, and got a bit o' money to gether to 'elp me in doin' the job. So as your lay's just a-nigh 'is 'ouse, I \iant to buy out the business, so as 1 can 'an,a; around without 'aving no per i.shin' p'liceman harsking questions. Then I waits for my man when 'e's comin' in or goin' out when there ain't nobody by, and then I spikes 'im. See? You're a pore man and so'ni I. Eh? That's right, ain't it? On the square, too. Well, 'ow much do yer want for it?" "I don't want anything," he said "I shall go straight away and put his lordship on his guard, and then set the police on you. That's what I shall do." "That's what you'll do, eh, is it, yer bloomin' monkey?" I said, with a great assumption of fury. "Y'ou give I:information to the p'lice, yer perishin' pavement spiler! No, yer won't, not much; not if I 'as to swing for yer!" "There! there! my friend! That's ail right," he said. "I only wanted to see if you were made of the right stuff or not. How was I to know that you weren't a detective in disguise, and that all ibis talk of yours wasn't a plant to take me in? Xow look here! It' you are in earnest in all Uiis, so am 1.1 have a bone of my own to pick with Lord Cranthorpe, and that's why I'm here. Can't we work together? Two heads are better than one, and I can put you up to a better way and a big ger way—a thundering sight bigger way—of sending Lord Cranthorpe to blazes than by putting a knife into him." The words were hardly out of his mouth before I had jumped to the scoundrel's scheming. Number Two under whose direction Number Three was acting, had shifted the most dangerous part of his mission—the actual conveyance of the bomb to Lord Cranthorpe's residence upon the shoulders of his subordinate, who, in his turn, thought to make use of me as his catspaw in the same manner. To affect to fall in with his dastard ly plan would be the surest way to in duce the plotter to show me his hand; so, protesting with a profusion of oaths that I was ready to listen to anything that promised to make more terrible yie vengeance that was to be meted uut to Lord Cranthorpe, I invited him, (.1 suitable language, to tell me what Aa wanted me to do. Evidently grati fud, and perhaps not a little relieved by the success of the stratagem by which the decree which he dared not disobey could be carried out without risk to his own precious person, he took my arm, and leading me towards the shadow of some trees at the cor ner of the square, began to unburden his mind of the business. Scarcely had we got our heads well together, how ever, when suddenly, silently, and without a moment's warning, some thing whizzed between us. Though I was not conscious of any direct blow, I found myself flung forward as forcibly as if I had just been dis charged from an enormous catapult, and after whirling, a confused tangle of arms and limbs, in a sort of human Catherine wheel, and executing a couple of somersaults, 1 landed tinally on tlie pavement, where I lay listening to the music of the stars that were singing in my ears as well as staggering away before my eyes. A bicycle, going at racing pace, had run into 11s, and had knocked the conspiring pair of us apart as neatly as a couple of "kissing" bil liard balls are knocked spinning in op posite directions by the impact from a ball which conies piping hot from the stroke of the cue. I grieve to say that when I began to get some breath back in my body the first mouthful was put to no better use than the ut terance —the emphatic utterance—of the single and sinful word. "Damn!" "I quite agree with you," said a voice, the owner of which 1 was still too dazed to see. "A most sensible remark, I'm sure, and my own senti ments entirely. Say it again. It will do you good." I said it again. "Precisely," the voice went on; "it's not generally considered a word to make glad the heart of man, but in the present instance you couldn't have hit upon one to gratify me more. It was quite soothing in fact, for I thought at first I had killed you, and that word was the best assurance I could have that you hadn't yet gone to Heaven and become an angel. It was too human." I sat up, rubbing the back of my bead ruefully, and looked around. Number Three had gone—whither there was nothing to indicate; but a tradesman's cart had drawn up to the curb, and by the light of the lamp I saw standing over me, with what in spite of the levity with which he had spoken, was a face of concern, a tall, dark, determined looking man. Two of his fingers were clipping the under cut of his coat sleeve in order to stretch the cloth sufficiently tight to form an improvised brush, with which be was gingerly scraping away at the dust on his brown bowler hat; and I saw that his hair, which lit More short, was, though thick and curly, quita gray. Whether his fresh complexion, bright eyes and black mustache sug gested some sort of contradiction to his gray hair, and thus tended to make him look out of the common, I could not at first say, but as I stared up at him I was conscious that there was something unusual, if not of distinc tion, about the man. "Well —now that you have got your senses back—don't you think that you ought to be ashamed of yourself for obstructing the thoroughfare, pitching me off upon my head, not to speak of the damage you've done to the bicycle and to my arm?" He held up his left arm as he spoke, and 1 saw that the sleeve was ripped up, showing an ugly gash at the elbow. "I'm very sorry," I said, unmindful of my own hurts, and with a want of spirit which was probably due to the fact that my brain was still a bit con fused. "Tut! tut! man,"he stuttered, as if disarmed by my meekness; "the fault was as much mine as yours, for I had no right to be traveling at such a pace. I hope you're not hurt? Let me lend you a hand up." I took the proffered hand and leapt to my feet; but my haste cost me dear, for my right ankle twinged to such purpose that I squealed with pain, and speedily sank to the ground, where I sat groaning and squirming till the pang passed. [To Be Continued.l MARKED FOR MISFORTUNE. Even the Wind Wn» Agniiial Her When She Mmle Her September Trip. The talk in the Harvest Circle had been of misfortunes and their effect on those who endured them, says Youth's Companion. "There's some that sweetens and some that sour 3 under them," said Deacon Lawton's wife, with decision, "and I suppose it's meant in either case," she added, none too lucidly. "It's something to do with the kind of misfortune as well as the kind of folks," said Aunt Folly Rhodes, with equal firmness. "Loss of hearing's more apt to wear 011 the temper, though not always, of course, whilst loss of sight often mellows the whole disposi tion. Dyspepsia's a dreadful trying thing to bear up under, and so is chil blains." "Not knowing where your next pen ny's coming from is none too easy on the temper, nor neither is rheumatic joints," said Miss Sparrow, the village seamstress, straightening out the fingers of her right hand by the aid of her left. "Sorrow and disgrace—those are the hardest trials," said the minister's wife, softly. Mrs. Porter, ruddy with health, handsomely dressed, the wife of the popular storekeeper and mother of three lovely children, sat serenely in the center of the group. "You've 110 knowledge of misfor tune," said Miss Sparrow, turning to her prosperous neighbor with a touch of envy in her voice. Mrs. Porter let her sewing fall to her lap and bent a reproachful gaze on the little dressmaker. "Why, Rhody Sparrow," she ex claimed, "when you know—for you've heard me tell time and again—that every September, when I drive over to Shrubville to see Sister Lucy, I'm sure 10 have the wind southwest going and northeast coming home!" A ConqoeriiiK Fawn. A sambhur fawn I possessed in In dia, of the age of four to six months, made a practice of- chasing all dogs that came into the compound, and did so with every appearance of consider ing it the greatest possible fun. The dogs, on the other hand, fled with their tails between their legs. This fawn evidently imagined itself to be the guardian and protector of the estab lishment. I have a vivid picture in my recollection of the gentle little beast transformed into a perfect fury, its coat bristling on end to make it look twice its usual size, head and tail de fiantly erect, stamping sharply on the threshold with its dainty forefeet, dem onstrations intended to frighten away two pariah dogs who cringed before it on the veranda, yet showed a great desire to intrude into the house. The dogs finally sneaked off, depressed and defeated, and the conquering fawn swaggered back into the room to be praised by me, either for once dis daining to chase its foes or deterred therefrom by its strong dislike to the noonday sun.—London Spectator. All IriMli!iiaiii*M Mistake. Lord Snook's regiment was ordered to India; but before he went he gave orders to a local builder to erect a wall around a certain ruined castle on his Irish estate, which was being picked to pieces by excursionists. Then he went to India, feeling that, whatever happened, his ruin at least was secure. After long years he returned, and, lo! the wall stood as he had ordered it; but the historic castle had vanished even as a beautiful dream. "Where, oh, where is my beautiful ruin?" he demanded of the man to whom he had intrusted the contract. "What!" cried that worthy, "do ye mane that tumble down shanty that used to be here? Sure, I pulled it down, and built the wall wid the bricks." —London An swers. ITnele Itcnlieu Sa>n. So long as liberty was a persimmon growin' on de highest branch of de tree everybody looked up to it wid reverence. Now dat it. has becum a pumpkin kickin' around under foot no body pays any attenshim to it. —De- troit Free Press. . chiklien through derangement of the genera,* tive organs. Mrs. Beyer advises women to use Lydia. E* Pinkham's Vegetable Compound# T>EAII Mas. PINKITAM : I suffered with stomach complaint for years. I got so bad that I could not carry my children but live months, then would ha\e a miscarriage. Ihe last time I became pregnant, my husband got me to take L,v<li«i E. \ cgct«il)lc (Jo3ll pound. Aftei taking tlie hrst bottle I was relieved of the sickness of stomach, and began to feel better in every way. I continued its use and was enabled to carry my baby to maturity. I now have a nice baby girl, and can work better than I ever could before. I am like a new wo man."— MRS. FRANK BEYER, 22 S. Second St., Merkbn, Conn. Another case which proves that no other medicine in the world accomplishes the same results as Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. " DEAR MRS. PINKIIAM: — I was married fiSmßSt;; for five years and gave birth to two pre s mature children. After that I took Lydia E. Pinkliam's Vegetable Cont- BT ?<"«><'» and it changed me from a weak, ¥\ *1 * nervous woman to a strong, happy and AoCTpa healthy wife within seven months. With -7 ;JmgßS£sk two years a lovely little girl was born, Jffg wll ° ls the an d joy of my household. every woman who is cured feels as //' / / grateful and happy as I do, you must !Wf •/ / / J A have a host of friends, for every day I 112 * J / I | bless you for the light, health and happi ■ 'I ness Lydia E. Pinkliam's Vegetable Compound has brought to my iiome. Sincerely yours, MRS. MAB P. W NABRY, Flat 31, The Norman, Milwaukee, Wis." Actual sterility in woman is very rare. If any woman thinks she is sterile let her write to Mrs. Pfnkham at Lynn, Mass., whoso advice is given free to all would-be and expectant mothers. A p lijAfl FORFEIT if cannot forthwith prodnco tho original letters and eignaturea of \K| |I || I abovo testimonials, which will prove their absolute genuineness. lyditt IS. I'inkliaw Med. Co., Lynn, Mess. MINIMIZING THE PAIN. He Wanted the Bent Watch, Hut Didn't I.ike to l'tiy the I'riee All nt One Time, "What's that watch worth?" asked Mr. Kloce, pointing to one in tlie show-ca.«e. "Ten dollars," replied the jeweler. "I'll take it," said tlie customer, and alter pay ing for it lie went out, relates Youth's Com panion. Tiie next day he came round again. "This watch doe.-n't exactly suit me," he •aid. "What's that one worth?" pointing to another. "Fifteen dollars." "I'll take that instead of this one, if you don't mind." "Certainly." A day or two later he came again. "How good a watch l.ave you got for $23?" he inquired. "Weil, will get a pretty good time piece," said the jeweler, banning one out. "llt re'ii cue with a gohl-tilled caw, and lull jeweled, the movement is warranted.'' "I'll take it." He paid the diffei enee, took the watch and went away. After tne lapse of a few days l.e made his appearance once more. "Have you got a lirst-elass wateh with a solid gold case that you can sell ior sso.' he said. "Yes. Here it is." "Well, i'il take it," said Mr. Kloce. "Here's the other wateh and #25. 1 hat :i the one I really wanted at lir>t. but 1 hated to pay out all that money at once." Capitalization has proved to be a some what unsatisfactory substitute for capital. —Puck. COMPLJfiTJSLK RIiSIORJiiL Mrs, P. Brunzel, wife of I'. Brunzel, stock dealer, reshlenee3lll Grand Ave., Everett, Wash., says:"For fifteen years 1 suffered with tfKj „ terrible pain in my EL back. I did not know ft TJJrP what it was to enjoy a night's rest and arose in the morning feel ing tired and tin re freshed. My suffer- 1 -i\ ing sometimes was A-, •> A simply indescribable. »V \ \\ When 1 finished tlie g||?AV> S\ first box of Diinn's fsPaL > ' \ ' v Kidney I'illslfelt like ?* a different woman. I >»j •> ■>\ continued until I bad fSi'V J V» 1 VA taken five boxes. ■ * Jnp Don it's Kidney I'ills yet very effectively, very promptly, re lieve tlie aching pains and all other annoying ditlieulties. Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y'. For sale by all druggists, price 50 cents per box. Snfo. With the cares of business behind him, and thoughts of wife and babj ill tii» suburban home occupying his in.nd to the exclusion of everything else, Hiiltop hun ;ed down Cham hern street to tlx* ferry. II? paused for a moment at a boy ci ossing justi as a truck laden with kegs of fresh \ i rmunb maple sirup backed heaviiy aga:i:st tneeuib. Down came a tub Irom the top-most tier and Y)roke with a dull, sickening thud at Hill top's feet, lie looked in (.i-may at i is sirup covered feet and trousers and exclaimed: * "Here's a pretty mess!" _ "Well," responded the driver, "its not on me." —X. i. Times. To err is human; but few men have enough divinity in them to forgive without saying: "Don't let it happen again!"—• l'uck. 1 It is natural for a cannibal to love hi# fellow man. ('hicago Daily News. I Coughing is art outward sign of inward disease. Cure the disease with S 3 3hSl©lhi s 's Oare Ts° lc Luns and the cough will stop. Try it to-night. If it doesn't benefit you, we'll give your money back. Prices: S. C. WEILS & Co. 7 25c- SOe. 51 I.eßoy, N. Y., Toronto, Can. Tfea FREE Homestead I_E«,33LCIS» Of tar rac *' ons r 1 11 Millions of arppH of ninpr.lf.cpnt (iraln ft.'ul (itazinpr Lands to I" 1'«« I as a free (rifti or I»,* jnnchu:from l.'ailway SHSwflllS Companies, I.ftial Corpoiatioiife.ete. The Great Attractions GoodCroim, dell»Mfiil cllnuife* *|»l«-mti'l nchoii) nyhlfiij, |»t'rfi'ct ' y «OClltl COSHlilloim, O * «•«'p 11 Otl ttl ii I'iiilu iy ihlvaiKiitfct, . nil wealth /J aii.l nlHiiciice :ic«|liliuml easily. V Tho population of WF.HTKKM 1 112 \ \ \ 15 \ iiM-rfUi t.l 1 :s.«HK) \,y inimi. tJ. -ii •: nn. !• *OO Knlfl Writ-- t<» tlio i enro-t authorized i .iiHM* 1 '/!; :• »"■! .1 , i ion; of r „H,v , srri;!:l\T.:MM:M IMMIUHAr ■ ■»' ! Tl«)N, or :av\,»A.\A!>A:- U. 31. MI.LIASIS, U«r I'.uUtllng, Tolfdo, rbio. PATE ffl TS | IXZQERAXiD <x> (JO., Hu.t. IktWiwhingtoii, I). vJL
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers