2 fThe Man on T the Box J By HAROLD MacGRATH \ Author of " The Grey Cloak," "The Puppet Crowu." * ■ Copyright, 1904, The Bobba-Uerrill Company. CHAPTER IV.—CONTINUED. She stepped back, wondering whether to scream or run. "Hi, Jack! I say, you old henpecked, where are you?" The dining-room door slid back and a tall, studious-looking gentleman, rather plain than otherwise, stood on the threshold. "Jane, what is all this — Why, nob, you scalawag!"—and in a moment they were pumping hands at a great rate. The little maid leaned weakly against the balustrade. "Kit. Kit! I say. Kit, come and see who's here!" cried John. An extraordinarily pretty little woman, whose pallor any woman would have understood, but no man on earth, and who was dressed in a charming pink negligee morning gown, hurried into the hall. "Why, it's Bob!" She flung her arms around the* prodigal and kissed him heartily, held him away at arm's length, and hugged and kissed him again. I'm not sure that Mr. Robert didn't like it. Suddenly there was a swish of starched skirts on the stairs, and the most beautiful woman in all the world (and I am always ready to back this statement with abundant proofs!) rushed down and literally threw her self into Mr. Robert's eager, out stretched arm 3. "Nancy!" "Bob! Bob! you wicked boy! You almost break our hearts. Not a line in two months! —How could you!— You might have been dead and we not know it!"—and she cried on his shoulder. "Come now, Nancy; nonsense! You'll start the color running out of this tie of mine!" But for all his jest ing tone, Mr- Robert felt an embarrass ing lump wriggle up and down in hi 3 throat. "Had your breakfast?" asked the humane and practical brother. "Yep. But I shouldn't mind another cup of coffee." And thereupon he was hustled into the dining-room and pushed into the best chair. How the dear women fussed over him, pressed this upon him and that; fondled and caressed him, just as if the beggar was worth all this trouble and love and affection. "Hang it, girls, it's worth being an outlaw to come to this,"he cried. He reached over and patted Nancy on the cheek, and pressed the young wife's hand, and smiled pleasantly at his brother. "Jack, you lucky pup, you!" "Two years," murmured Nancy; "and we haven't bad a glimpse of you In two long yoars." "Only in photograph," said the homeless one. putting three lumps of sugar in his coffee because he was so happy he didn't know what he was about. "And you have turned 28," said Kit, counting on her fingers. "That makes you 24, Nan," Jack laughed. "And much I care!" replied Nancy, shaking head defiantly. I've a sneaking idea that she was thinking of me when she made this declaration. For if l didn't care, why should she? "A handsome, stunning girl like you, Nan, ought to he getting married," ob served the prodigal. "What's the mat ter with all these dukes and lords and princes, anyhow?" An embarrassed smile ran around the table, but Mr. Robert missed it by several inches. Jack threw a cigar across the ta •ble. "Now," said he, "where the deuce did you come from?" "Indirectly from Ari/.ona, which is a synonym once removed for war." Jack looked at his plate and laughed; but Mrs. Jack wanted to know what Bob meant by that. "It's a word used instead of war, as applied by the late Oen. Sherman," Jack replied. "And I am surprised that a brother-in-law of yours should so far forget himself as to hint It even." "By the way, Jack," said my hero, lighting the cigar and blowing the first. puff toward the ceiling, his face admirably set with nonchalance, "do you know of n family named Annes ley—Col. Annesley?" I knew It would take only a certain length of time for this question to arrive. "Col. Annesley? Why, yes. He was In the war department until a year ago A fine strategist; knows every in and out of the roast defenses, and Is something of an inventor; lots of money, too. Tall, handsome old fel low 112" That's the mm. A war volunteer?" "No, a regular. Crippled his guu flngers in B <>me petty Indian war, and wa.-i transferred to the department lie wis a widower. If my recollection of Mm Is correct; and had t lovely daughter," "Ah!" There was treat satisfac tion evident in thi- syllable. "Do you l%ii»-v where the colonel Is now?" "Not Ihe faint.Mt Idea lie lived somewhere In Virginia. But he's b en on the travel for several ye-irs. ' i Hulwrt stirred his roffee and took a M "»itful and dropped ihu spoon 1 i tuii»t lu*« putin a quart ot sugar. n you spare mo nnother | cup?" "Annesley?" Nancy's face bright- ; ened. "Col. Annesley? Why, I know 1 Hetty Annesley. She wns my room- j mate at Smith one year. She was in my graduating class. I'll show you [ her picture later. She was the dear- J est girl! How she loved horses! Rut why are you so Interested?"—slyly. "Iran across them coming home." "Then you met Betty! Isn't she just the loveliest girl you ever saw?" "I'm for her, one and indivisible. But hang my luck, I never came within a mile of an introduction." "What? You, and on shipboard where she couldn't get away?" John threw up his hands as a sign that this information had overcome him. "Even the captain shied when I approached him," said Robert, gloom ily. "I begin to see," said the brother. "See what?" "Have a match; your cigar has gone out." Robert relighted his cigar and puffed like a threshing-machine ei gine. John leaned toward Nancy. "Shall I tell him, Naiv?" Nancy blushed. "I suppose he'll have to know sooner or later." "Know what?" asked the third per son singular. "Your charming sister Is about to bring you a brother-in-law." "What?" You could have heard this across the street. "Yes, Bobby dear. And don't look so hurt. You don't want me to be come an old maid, do you?" "When did it. happen?"—helplessly. How the thought of his sister's mar rying horrifies a brother! I believe I can tell you why. Every brother knows that no man Is good enough for a good woman. "When did it hap pen?" Mr. Robert repeated, with a look at his brother, which said that he should be held responsible. "Last week." Robert took in a long breath, as one does who expects to receive a blow of some sort which can not be warded off, and asked: "Who is it?" Nancy married? What was the world coming to, anyhow? "Charlie Henderson," —timidly. Then Robert, who had been expect ing nothing less than an English duke, let loose the flaming lons of his righteous wrath. "Chuck Henderson?—that duffer?" (Oh, Mr. Robert, Mr. Robert; and af ter all I've done for you!) "He's not a duffer!" remonstrated NaiTcy, with a flare in her mild eyes. (How I wish I might bave seen her as she defended me!) "He's the dear est fellow in the world, and I love him with all my heart!" (How do you like that, Mr. Robert? Bravo, Nancy! I may be a duffer, true enough, but I rather object to Its being called out from the housetops.) And Nancy added: "I want you to understand distinctly, Robert, that in my selection of a husband you arfc not to be con sulted." This was moving him around some. "Hold on, Nan! Drat it, don't look like that! I meant nothing, dearie; only I'm a heap surprised. Chuck is a good fellow, I'll admit; but I've been dreaming of your marrying a prince or an ambassador and Henderson comes like a jolt. Besides. Chuck w ill never be anything but a first-rate politician. You'll have to get used to cheap cigars and four-ply whisky. When is it going to happen?" "In June. I have always loved him, Bob. And he wants you to be his best man." Robert appeared a bit mollified at this knowledge. "But what shall I do after that?" he wailed. "You're the only person I can order about, and now you're going the other side of the range." "Bob, why don't you get married yourself?" asked Mrs. Warburton. With your looks you won't have to so far nor begging for a wife." "There's the rub, sister mine by law and the admirable foresight of my only brother. What am I good for but. or dering rookies about? I've no business head. And it's my belief that an army man ought never to wed." "Marry, my boy, and I'll see what can be done for you in (he diplomatic way. The new administration will doubtless be republican, and my influ ence will have some weight,"—and John smiled affectionately across the table. He loved this gay lad opposite, loved "'him for his own self and be cause he could always see the mother's eyes and lips. "You have reached the age of discretion. You are now traveled and a fairly good linguist. You've an income of $1,500 and to this I may be able to add a berth worth $2,000 or $:i,000. Find the girl, lad: find the girl." "Honestly, I'll think It over, Jack." "Bob, there's a ball at the British embassy to-night. You must go with us." "Impossible!" said Itobert. "Re member my leg." "That will not matter," said Mrs. John; "you need not dance." "What, not dance? I should die of intermittent fever. And If I did dance, my bg might give out." "You can ride a horse all right," said John, in the way of argument. "I d for all his calling me a duffer (I learned of this only recent ly), he was mighty glad to see me, slapped me on the back and threw his j ".NO IiALL FOR ME." arm across my * boulder. And why 1 shouldn't lie have been glad? \W had been boys together, played hooky many a school-time afternoon, gone i over the same fUliing grounds, plunged j Into the name swimming-holes, and smoked our first of my father's barn; and it Is thej recollection of such things that ; cements all the more strong!) frit nd ship |n man and man. Wo tit e'lllcd a thousand episodes and es capade*, the licking* we got, und tlo IbHny. tin* ethers got in our stead, the |n-e(iy school teacher whom we swore to wed when we grew up. No body e|-e bail a chance to i;ei a word In edgewise. Hut Nanejr laughed aloud at time*, she had been a wltnemi t.i m 'ti> of long a-o pranks. bat' >oii are nut Koing to ihe bull? I it, ed, that be I wore only a dinner-coat and a pair of morocco slippers, i "No ball for inc. Just us noon as 1 you people hie forth, off comes this ' b'lled shirt, and I shall prol>al>ly inean- J dcr around the house in my new silk pajamas. I shall read a little from | llomer —Jack, let me ha\e the key |to that locked case; I've an Idea that | there must be some robust old, merry old tales hidden there—and smoke a few pipes." "But you are not going to have Mrs. Warburton and your sister to come home without escort?" I expos tulated. "Where the deuce are you two men going?" Robert asked, surprised. Some how, I seemed to catch a joyful rather than a sorrowful note in his tones. "An important conference at mid night, and heaven only knows how long It may last," said Jack. "I wish you would go along, Bob." "He can't go now, anyhow," said the pretty little wife. "He has got to stay now, whether lie will or no. William will see to it that we women get home all right,"—and she busied herself with the salad dishes. "Goto the ball, you beauties, dance and revel to your heart's content; your brother Robert will manage to pass away the evening. Don't forget the key to that private case, Jack," — as the women left the table to put the finishing touches to their toilets. "Here you are," said Jack.' "But mind, you must put those books back just as you found them, and lock the case. They are rare editions." "With the accent on the rare, no doubt." "I am a student, pure and simple," said Jack, lowering his eyes. "I wouldn't swear to those adjec tives," returned the scalawag. "If I remember, you had the reputation of being a high-jinks man in your class at Princeton." ITo Be Continued ] THE DARWINIAN THEORY. lOseiiiiillflotl In (lie Kplnoilr He luted of n Man and u Monkey. Miss Agnes Mahony, a missionary to Liberia, was visiting Philadelphia with two African slave girls that she had bought for? 15 apiece. Miss Mahony's pictures of Liberia were sombre. She relieved the gloom of her narrative with an anecdote of an African coast pilot. "This pilot," said Miss Mahony. "was once bringing a ship northward. The captain, toward sunset, bade him go below and help himself to a glass of cold tea. "After taking the tea, the pilot pro ceeded to munch a biscuit. "Now, the captain owned a large monkey, and this creature sat drowsing in a dark corner of the gloomy cabin. The pilot said: " 'A gusty day, sir,' and the monkey shrugged its shoulders. "The pilot with affable gruffness went on: " 'The south light is away on the port bow now, sir.' "There was no answer. "But the pilot was persistent. He continued: " 'We'll be over the bar, sir, in an hour.' "Failing to get a reply even to this pleasant information, the pilot went up on deck again, and, taking his place beside the captain on the bridge, said: " 'What a quiet chap your father is.' " GOOD THING AT BAD TIME. Wi»e and True Sajinu tluit Was tttercd nllli l)l»i>l<-ai*iiitf Effect. Mme. Bouguereau, the widow of the noted French painter, was Miss Eliza beth Gardner, of Exeter, N. H., "Mme. Bouguereau," said an artist, "has a fund of New England anec dotes, which she repeats with a droll humor. • "I heard her in her studio one day, describing an aged woman of Exeter. This woman was always saying wiae, true things at the wrong time. Her grandson got married, and a little while after the wedding she made the excellent remark: "'I am glad Herbert had the sense to marry a settled old maid. Young gals is hlghtty-tighty, the widders is overrulin' and domineerin". But old maids is generally thankful and willin' to please.' "And the aged dame crocheted away comfortably, with the consciousness of having said a good thing; but the look on the face of Herbert's new wife, as I she fixed the old lady with her glit tering eye, was suggestive of anything but meekness." Only IliniMt'lf to Illume. 9 A literary man who spent last sum mer at Kiverdale, N. V., was annoyed by a suburban fish peddler with a raucous voice and a tin horn, who passed the house frequently. Finally one Saturday morning he remarked: "That fellow has been by here every day this week. Such persistency In crime ought to be rewarded. I am go lug to buy a fish of him," which ac cordingly he did. Prepared for dinner the fish was found to be unfit for food. When the peddler ap|*earcd in the afternoon the summer resident went out and hailed him "See bet '," lie cried with some v.nrintb. "tb.it ti.sh wasn't eatable. It wan 100 old." "Well, dat wa'n't my fault, boss," j replied the fish duller indignantly. "I ii\>- oil two chance , evei \ das this v,. to bin d it (l«h, ai.i If you »u;i er lobster enough tow i t till It wis tcj)li*4 I dou'i see how yi « can blaiin We." - I'UiUii Iphu I'UlilK Ledger. ' Alpine Climbers. * According to HU.UHMCH of Alpine ac cidents, during im.r, the number of English who havi lost their lives by tool hardiness on the Alps Is surpassed by several other nations. The total nrmber of accidents were 165, ol which no lewer than <>s were fatal, and of thfse the greater number of acci dents happened to Swiss and German ! climbers. Distinguished Precedent. Police Magistrate—This is not. the j first time you have been before me, 1 but you have given a different name I from the one you gave me the other I time. Vagrant—Dat's all right, y'r honor, j W'en de wind changes its direction it j changes its name, don't it?—Shicago | Tribune. Still Offenders. The original "chauffeurs" were dis guised robbers who, toward the end of the eighteenth century, operated in the French rural districts. They got ; the title from a practice they had of j roasting the soles of their victims' feet | at a fire to force the revelation of hid ] den treasure. Great Events. ! "These are most eventful times," ] said one citizen. "I should say so," answered the j other. "One day Washington wins a ' game from Philadelphia and the next j there is an earthquake."—Washing ! ton Star. Tender Title. The Marquis of Granam, who was j persuaded recently by h.s fiancee, Lady Mary Hamilton, Britain's greatest | heiress, to run for parliament, failing of election, though the lady cam paigned vigorously for him, is now known as "Mary's Little Lamb." National Lawmakers. The name of the lawmaking power in the United States is the congress, in France the assembly, in Germany the reichstag, in Holland the states general, in Spain the cortes, in Greece the boule, and in Denmark the landst thing. Maryland Skeletons. Gigantic skeletons of prehistoric In dians nearly eight feet tall have beep discovered along the baiiks of the Choptank river, Maryland, by the em ployes of the Maryland Academy of Science. Mexico Oil Lands. It is announced that the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas con tain more than 5,000,000 acres of oil lands. But Standard Oil saw them first and owns more than 2,000,000 acres al ready.—New Orleans Times-Democrat. Maybe Plays the Organ. The Indiana preacher who fears that there will not be enough men m heaven to sing bass in the choir prob ably thinks he has a fine tenor voice himself. Nothing to Fuss Over. All is quiet in Santo Domingo again. 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