!
THE BROAD HIGHWAY
A Talo of 19th Century England, Full of the Thrills of Adventuro and Spirit of Romanco
.ZZSs&z
ljrqucitlird only 10 fulnej lift) by the 1
Sima Maurice ("Duck- ) Vllart, a no- ,,
: ?',..... nriiit nahtrr and rake, a rouiln
Mf rtr, li left 20,000 pounds (ilOO.owi).
ltUT, axalnil th protestations of hit old
P friend Willi WDom no uvw, oir ivicnarii
afiatrather, decide! to 50 down "The Ilroad
lilehway" of Kent ar.d live, lie plana to
; w after the money la tone
1 nook I telli of hla exciting; adeenturca
nntll h reaches Blaelnehurst village, here
'becomes blackemlth In tha employ of
l;nlaek" Oeorfi. Jeier ora 10 ma in a
..cl.iA" hnuae In a hollow. The win-
I .ImI leatura In tha, first beok that 1'eUr
f. three times mistaken .for . hla rouln
P !!...... Tha only difference between the
B J-V 11 that Peter la clean ahaven and
E ffiurlce his a beard. At the and of this
wi Black" oeorie, convinced mat itu
Me tha Innkeeper'a daughter, Ioes
Ktef.' run away In a Jealous rage. Peter.
totriTir, merely coneldera her aa a child.
BOOK II.
CHAPTEU I.
ffWAB at sea In an open boat. Out of
lithe pitch-black neaven were- rusnea n
pilthty wind, and tho pitch-blaek seas
fabove me rose nign, nna over msuci,
rjecked with hissing white; wherefore, I
cut me face downwaras in my 111110 dori
thV I wight not behold the horror of tho
wa'teri: and above their ceaseless, surg
iV thunder thero roae a long-drawn cry:
"Charmlanl"
t .tnml upon a desolate moor, and the
ktless rain lashed me, and the fierce
tirtnd buffeted me; ana, out of the gloom
where frowning earth and heaven met
there rose a long-.drawn cry:
II "Charmlanl"
III started up In bed, broad awake, and
Wenlng! yet the tumult was all about
me sun '" "10B " "k """1 "
I tie sound of a rushing, mighty wlnd-a
wind that seemed to fill the earth a Wind
flhat screamed about me, that howled
above me, and filled tho woods, near and
1;,. -with a deep booming, pierced now
two then by the splintering crash of
rlFanlPPlng oougn or luiimt, uto. ahu ?,
' I f:' .hr in this f rlxhtf ul pandemonium
tf sound, blended in with It, yet not of
It seemea iu wo iub wo vi own
jointly echoed:
fhnrmlanl
r Eo appalling was all this to my newly
fawakened senses, that I remained, for a
ittae. staring Into tha darkness as one
fined. Presently, however, I rose, and.
, fanning some cioineo, iirciiucu um lire,
'which still smouldered upon the hearth,
Una, having filled and lighted my pipe,
Jut down to listen to tho awful voices
lot the storm.
UjJow, In a while, becoming conscious
Mat my pipe was smoked out and cold,
l reached up my hand to my tobacco box
hijon the mantelshelf. Tet I did not reach
fit down, for, even ns my fingers closed
(upon It, above the walling ot tho storm,
Yibbve the hiss find patter of driven rain.
there rose a long-drawn cry:
I "Charmlanl"
S?Bo, remembering the voice I had seemed
to bear calling in my dream, I sat thero
with my hand stretched up to my tobacco
lox, and my face screwed round to tho
reuement behind me, that, aa I watched,
took and rattled beneath each wind-gust,
U if tome hand strove to pluck it open.
IHow long I remained thus, with my
J I kind stretched tip to my tobacco box, and
.Tim eves unon this window. I am unable
fa mv. hut. all at once, the door of tha
"cottage burst open with a crash, and Im
mediately tho quiet room was full of
'rioting ttlnd and tempest; such a wind
M stopped my breath and sent up a swirl
jf imoke and sparks from the fire. And,
torne upon this wind, like some spirit of
the storm, was a woman with flying
draperies and long,, streaming hair, who
turned, and, with knee and shoulder,
itorced to the door, and so leaned there,
Nntlnr.
feTall she was, and nobly shaped. Her
dress had been wrenched and torn at the
Mck, and, through tho shadow of her
fnn hair, I caught the Ivory gleam
"ef her shoulder, and the heavo and tu
Bult of her bosom.
IHere i reached down my tobacco box
raj mechanically began to fill my plpo.
etching her the while.
(Boddenly she started, and seemed to
hten. Then, with a swift, stealthy
soTement. she slipped from before the
esiioor. ana 1 noticed that she hid one
3wa behind her.
tieunarmianr
The woman crouched back against the
ui, w)tn her eyes toward the door, sd
tvtyi her right hand was hidden in the
iolSi of. her petticoat. So we remained,
1st watchlnc tha door, and I her.
I'Charmlan!"
ITbe vplce was very near now, and, al-
wi immediately alter, there came a loud
;ew hallo," and a heavy fist pounded
Won the Annr
JOh, Charmlan, you're there yes, yes
astee 1 know you are. I swore you
row never escape me, and you shan't
"oar a hand fumbled upon the
ih, the door swung open, and- a man
ea, as he did bo I leaped forward
caught the woman's wrist. There
a bllndlnir flaah. n. loud rnnnrf. and
Wlet burled Itself somewhere In the
overhead. With a strange, re
cry, she turned unon mo an flerrn-
at I fell back, before her.
newcomer meantime had closed the
' latching it very carefully, and now,
tog before It, folded his arms, star
t her with bent head. He was a
tail man, with a rain-sodden, bell
ied hat crushed low unon his brows.
japped in a long, many-caped over
do ssiris or wmen were woefully
and torn. All at once ho lauched.
ftly and musically.
70U WoOld have killed m . would
CsArmUn-shot roe-like a dog?" Ills
son as his laugh and equally
and yet neither waft irnnd in
''So you thoucht you had lost me.
W, when you gave me the slip a
tin) T.. . tk.-.. -
Wt I tell you I would search for
"y ana night hunt the world over
round you, Charmlan-untll I
you," said he. noddlnev hla hnri
Mklng almost In a whisper. "I
I. tiv n.it.
'wpman neither moved nor uttered
f wy her breath came thick and
yjner eyes gleamed In tha shadow
f t00d faclntr Kach nlhr llba ton
los, each measuring the other's
. without appearing to be con
ox my DreaenrA; 1nAA iViA aM
J o much as looked tbward me
:' "aa struck up the pistol.
"I With fiverv mlnnl. T .... - l.-
--- -'" ...... mw n ucviill-
.""' CUliOUS tO SIM thla mnn ..
JJ as It was In the shadow of his
!- m onm. Yet the Are burned
BLaVm!l.3!?e..erC BpUflre' weren,t
i.. . - "" v all 1,41 D DQKig
wice; hot, ond fierce, and proud-
-- wiMia me ice I knew that,
L'a. " Dr for It; and so
linCQ tO Win Vmi Pha-mlsM t
whether you would or no. And
-v .irong-Bo tali, and glorious,
. Charmlanl"
ee had sunk to a murmur again.
W a alow ateD nearer tn hr
wonderful you are. Charmlan! I
Jtit. ,?f0Ur houlder and that
Nte throat. LovedT Worship-
-. wprswpped thorn I And to
L "! usel. and I felt, rather
ml mat he Wll mllfrt.v A
a2"J'ou.!? hv WU me. Char-
1. ZZ" 301 Bi I would
1 Jrt,rfnt' YU have flouted.
' co and mocked me for
Ma. Chlrmfnn M ,t.
? Killed manrf T....IJ i
& wTS'srjLy .""
rrw;n .w';xr .. " 'pur
i,ur utterly at variance with
VVT '-0 and passlon-
iH. IPfgBtf toward hr wiln
w rros. But, quick as lie, she
EVENING
By JEFFERY FARNOL
eluded htm n.,4 uf... t. 1 ..-..
.ri,8,eppcd between thsm.
sir, said I, "a word with you."
i . .n,y wnv' humpklnl" he relort
m, mid, brushing mo aside, made after
Jier. I caught him by the skirts of his
Jong, loose coat, but, with a dexterous
twist, ho had left It In my grasp. Yet
'" ohk, momentary though It wn's, en
aided her to slip through tho door of
that room which had once been Donald's,
and, before he could reach It, I stood
up&ti the threshold. Ite regarded me for
a moment beneath his hat brim, and
seemed undecided how to act.
My good fellow," said ho at last, "I
will buy your cotlago of you-for to
night nnme your price."
I shook my head. Hereupon he drew
a thick purse from his pocket and tosaed
it. chinking, to my foet.
"Thero aro two hundred guineas, bump
kin, maybe more pick them up.and go,"
and turning, he flung open the door.
Obediently I stooped and, tRklng up tno
purse, rolled It In the coat which I still
held, nnd tossed both out of tho cottage.
"Sir," said I. "be so very obliging as
to follow your property."
"Ahl" ho murmured, "very pretty, on
my soul I" And. In that same moment,
his knuckles caught me fairly between
the eyes, and he was upon me swift, and
fierce, and lithe as a panther.
I remember the glint of his eyes and
tho flash of his bared teeth, now to one
sldo of me, now to tho other, as wo
swayed to and fro, overturning the
chairs and crashing Into unseen obsta
cles. In that dim and narrow place
smnll chance was there for feint or
parry; It was blind, brutal work, fierce,
and grim, and silent. Once he staggered
and fell heavily, carrying the table
crashing with him. and I saw him wipe
blood from his face as he rose; and once
I was beaten to my knees, but was up
before ho could rench me agnln, though
the tire upon the hearth spun giddily
round and round, and tho floor heaved
oddly beneath my feet.
Then, suddenly, hapds were upon my
throat, and I could feel the hot pant of
his breath In my face, breath that hissed
and whistled between clinched teeth.
Desperately I etrovo to break his hold,
to tear his hands asunder, and could riot;
only the Angers tightened and tightened.
Up and down the room we staggered,
grim and voiceless out through tho open
door out Into the whirling blackness of
tho storm. And there, amid tho tem
pest, lashed by driving rain and deaf
ened by the roaring rush of wind, wo
fought ns our savage forefathers may
have done, breast to breast, and knee to
knee stubborn and wild nnd merciless
tho old, old struggle, for supremacy and
life.
I beat him with my fists, but his head
was down between his arms; I tore at
his wrists, but he gripped my throat the
tighter; and now we were down, rolling
upon the sodden grass, ahd now wo were
up, stumbling and slipping, but ever the
gripping Angers sank the deeper, choking
the strength nnd life out of me. My
eye stared up into a heaven streaked with
blood and fire, tbcro was the tnate of
tulphur in my mouth, my arms grew
weuk and nerveless, and the roar of wind
seemed a thousand times moro loud
Then something clutched nnd dragged
us by tho feet, wa tottered, swayed help
lessly und plunged down together. Ilut
ns we fell, the deadly, gripping fingers
flackened for a moment, and In that mo
ment I had broken free, and, rolling clear,
stumbled up to my feet. Yet oven then
I was still encumbered, and, 1 stooping
down, found the -skirts of the overcoat
twisted tightly about my foot and an
kle. Npw, aa I loosed It, I inwardly
blessed that tattered garment, for It
seemed that to it I owed my life.
So I stood, panting, and waited for the
end. I remember a blind groping in the
dark, a wild hurly-burly of random blows.
a sudden sharp pain in my right hand
a groan, and I was standing with tho
swish of the rnln about me and the moan
ing ot tho winds in the woods beyond.
How long I remained thus I cannot tell,
for I was as one In a dream, but the cool
rain upor. my face refreshed me, and the
strong, clean wind in my nostrils was
wonderfully grateful. Presently, rising
my arm stiffly, I brushed the wet hair
from my eyes nnd stared around me into
tho pitchy darkness In quest, of my op
ponent. "Where are you?" said I at last, and
thlo was the first word uttered during
the struggle; "where are you?"
Ileeelvlng no answer, I advanced cau
tiously (for It was, as I have said, black
dark), and so, presently, touched some
thing yielding with my foot.
"Come get up!" said I, stooping to lay
a hand upon him, "get up, I say." But
ho never moved; he was lying upon his
face, and, as, I raised his head, my fin
gers encountered a smooth, round stone,
burled In the grass, ond the touch of
that stone thrilled me from head to foot
Willi sudden dread. Hastily I tore open
waistcoat and shirt and pressed my hand
abovo his heart. In that one moment I
lived an age of harrowing sueponse, then
breathed a sigh of relief, and, rising, took
him beneath tho arms and began to half
drag, half carry him toward tho cottage.
I had proceeded thus but some dozen
yards or so when, during a momentary
lull in tho storm, I thought I heard a
faint "Hallo," and looking about, saw a
swlnkllng light that hovered to and fro,
coming and going, yet growing brighter
each moment. Sitting down my burden,
therefore, I hollowed my hands about my
mouth and shouted.
"This way!" I called; "this wayl'"
"He that you, sir?" cried a man's voioe
at no great distance.
"This wayl" I called again, "thla wayl"
The words seemed to reassure the fellow,
for tho light advanced once more, and
as he came up I made him. out to be a
postilion by his dress, and the light he
carried was the lantborn of a chaise.
"Vhy slrl" he began, looking me up
and down, by the light of his lanthorn,
"strike me lucky If I'd ha' knowed yel
you looks as if oh. Lord I"
"What is it?" said I. wiping tho rain
from my eyes again. The Postilion's an
swer was to lower his lanthorn toward
the face of him who lay on the ground
between us and point.
Now, looking where he pointed, I
started suddenly backwards, and shivered,
with a strange stirring of the flesh.
For I saw a pale face with a streak of
blood upon the cheek there waa blood
upon my own; a face framed In lank
hair, thick and black as was my own;
a pae, aquiline face, with a prominent
nose, and long, cleft chin even as my
own. 60, as I stood looking down upon
this face, my breath caught, 'and my
flesh crept, for Indeed, I might have been
looking into a mirror the face waa tho
face of myself.
CHAPTEIt II
MtOOD Iordl" exclaimed the Pos-
J tltlon, and fell back a step.
"Well?" said I, meeting Ms astonished
look as carelessly as I might.
"Lord love mar' said the Postilion..
"What now!" I Inquired.
"I never see such a thing as this 'ere,"
said he, alternately glancing from me
down to the outstretched figure at my
feet, "If it's bewitchments, or only en
chantments, 1 don't like it strike' me
pink U I dol"
"Byes," continued the Postilion slowly
and heavily, and with glance wander
ing still "eyes, same nose, 1-dentlcal
mouth, when not bloody, same hair, same
figure, same no, I don't like It it's
cnnafrali tha' what It is."
"Com, come." I broke in, somewhat
testily, "d'Jii t stand, there staring like a
fool you see this gentleman U hurt,"
"Onnat'ral'a- the word!" went on the
Postilion, moro as though kln hi
thoughts aloud than addxefiUmf M, 'It's
EEPqER--PHIEADEL-PHIA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER
a onnat'ral night to begin wlth-seed a
many bad una m my time, but nothing
to ekal this 'ere, that I lost my way
aren't to be wondered at; then him, and
her n-jumplng out o' the chaise and
a-runnlng off Into the thick o' tho storm
thats onnat'ral In the second placel
and then, his face, and your face-that's
the most onnafrallest part of it all
likewise, I never see one man In two
suits o clothes afore, nor yet a-stand-lng
up, and a-laylng down both at the
same l-dentlcal minute onnat'ral's the
word and I'm ongoing."
"Stop!" said I, as he began to mova
away.
"Not on no account!"
"Then I must make you," said I, and
doubled my fists.
The Postilion eyed me over from head
to foot, and paused, Irresolute.
What might you be wanting with a
peaceful, clvil-spoko covo like me?" ho
inquired.
"Where is your chaise?"
"Up In the lane, som'eres over yonder,"
answered he, with a vague Jerk of his
thumb over his shoulder.
"Then, if you will take this gentleman's
heels we can carry him well enough be
tween us It's no great distance."
"Eaayl" said the rostlllon, backing
away again, "easy, now what might bo
tho matter with him, if I might make
so bold-aln't dead. Is ho?"
"Dead-no. fool!" I rejoined angrily.
"Voice like his, tool" muttered the
Postilion, backing away still farther;
'yes, onnat'ral'a the word-strike mo
dumb If It aln'tl"
"Come, will you do aa 1 ask, or must
I mako you?"
"Why, I ain't got no objection to tak
ing the gent's 'eels, If that's all you
ask, though mind ye, it ever I see such
damned onnat'ralness as this 'ere In all
my days, why lrownd me!"
80, after some delay, I found the over
coat and purse (which latter I thrust
into the pocket ere wrapping the gar
ment about him), and lifting my still
unconscious antagonist between us, we
started for tbe lane; which we even
tually reached, with no llttlo labor nnd
difficulty. Hero, more by good fortune
than anything else, we presently
stumbled upon a chaise and horses,
drawn up In the gloom of sheltering
trees, in which wo deposited our limp
burden as comfortably as might be, and
where I made some shift to tie up the
gash In his brow.
"It would bo a fine thing," said the
Postilion moodily, as I, at h-nnth, cloned
tho chaise door, "It would be a nice
thing if 'o was to go a-dylng."
"By the looks of him," said I, "ho
will be swearing your head off in tho
next 10 minutes or so."
Without another word the Postilion
set the lanthorn back In 'n socket, nnd
swung himself into the saddle.
"Your best course would be to make
for Tombridge, bearing to the right when
you strlko the high road."
The Postilion nodded, and, gathering
up tho reins, turnod to stare at me once
more, whllo I stood in the gleam of the
lanthorn.
"Well?" I inquired.
"Kyes," said he, rubbing his chin very
hard, as one nt a loss, "eyes, Identical
nose, samp mouth, when not bloody,
same 'air, same everything, same Lord
lovo mo!"
"Pembry would bo nearer," said I,
"and the sooner he Is between the sheets
the better."
"Ah!" exclaimed the Postilion with a
slow nod, and drawing out the word
unduly, "and talking o' sheets and beds
what about my second parsenger? I
started wl two, and 'ere's only one
what about Number Two what about
er?"
"Her!" I repeated.
" 'Er as was with Mm Number One 'er
what was a-quarrellng wi' Number One
all the way from London 'er as run
nwny from Number One Into tho wood,
yonder, what nbout Number Two er?"
"Why. to be sre I had forgoten
her!"
"Forgotten?" repeated the Postilion,
"Oh, Lord, yes!" and leaning over, ho
winked one eye, very deliberately; "for
gotten 'er ah! to be sure of course!"
and he winked again.
"What do you mean?" I demanded,
nettled by the fellow's manner.
"Mean?" said he, "I means as of all
the damned onnat'ralness ns come on a
honcBt, well-meaning, clvll-spoke cove
why, I'm that there cove, so 'elp me!"
Baying which, he cracked his whip, the
horses- plunged forward, and, almost Im
mediately, as it seemed, horses, chaise
and Postilion had lurched Into the black
murk of the night and vanished,
CHAPTEn III.
CONSIDERING alt that had befallen
luring the last half hour or so, It was
not very surprising, I think, that I should
have forgotten tho very existence of this
woman Charmlan, even though she had
been chiefly Instrumental In bringing it
all about, and to have her recalled to my
recollection thus suddenly (and, more
over, the possibility I must meet with
and talk to her) perturbed me greatly,
and I remained, for some time, quite ob
livious to wind and ralrt, all engrossed
by the thought of this woman,
"A dark, fierce, Amazonian creature!"
I told myself, who had (abhorrent
thought) already attempted one man's
life tonight; furthermore, a tall woman,
and strong (therefore unmaldenly), with
eyes that gleamed wild In the shadow of
her hair. And yet my dismay arose not
so much from any of these as from tho
fact that she was a woman, and, con
sequently, beyond my ken.
Hitherto I had regarded the sex verv
much from a dlitance, and a little
askance, as creatures naturally Illogical,
and given to unreasoning Impulse; deli
cate, ethereal beings whose lives were
made up of pretty trifles and vanities,
who were sent Into this gross world to
be admired, petted, occasionally wor
shipped, and frequently married.
Women were to me practically an un
known quantity, as yet, and hence It was
with no little trepidation that I now
started out for the cottage, and this
truly Amazonian Charmlan, unless she
disappeared as suddenly as she had come
(which I found myself devoutly hoping).
As I went, I became conscious that I
was bleeding copiously above the brow,
that my throat was much swollen, and
that the thumb of my right hand pained
exceedingly . the least touch; added to
which was a dizziness of the head and
a general soreness of body that testified
to the strength of my opponent's fists.
Ori I stumbled, my head benl low
against the stinging rain, and with un
certain, clumsy feet, for reaction had
come, and with it a deadly falntness.
Twigs swung out of tbe darkness to lash
at and catch ma as I passed. Invisible
trees creaked and groaned above and
around me, and once, as I paused to
make mors certain of my direction, a,
dim, vague mass plunged down athwart
my path with a rending crash.
0) I went (wearily enough, and with
the falntness growing upon me, a slckr
net 1 that would not be fought down),
guiding my course by touch rather than
sight, until, finding myself at fault, I
stoflped again, staring about me beneath
my hand. Yet, feeling the falntness In
crease with Inaction, I started forward,
grop'ng beforo me as I went, I had gone
but ii few paces, however, when I trip.
ped ever some obstacle, and fell heavily.
It waUd but this to complete my mil
ery, vd I lay where I was, overcome by
s deadly nausea.
JBONTINUKD TOMORROW.)
Dl
THE WAY
HHE QIHIl. r
Illllit t""?;' fMfrllP -V If
"If I try to kiss you will you cat, jour father?"
"Yes, but he's not home.
Tatlent Say, doctor your appear
anco Is misleading.
Doctor what do you mean, mis
leading? Patient You seem cheerful enough,
but most of tho time you're looking
down In tho mouth.
Higher Alms
"I suppose," said the husband. "I
supposo that you women want to vote
Just like men do."
"Oh. no." replied the wife, "that
Isn t the point. We want to vote a
great deal belter than tho men do."
Punch.
Doctor How do you feel. Colonel, when you have actually killed a man?
Colonel Oh, not so bad. How do you?
No Wonder
Hokus I would rather be good than
be great,
Pokus Well, it's easier. There's less
competition.
AND THE WORST
?ffiv-'f
7
SCRAPPLE
OF WIMMIN
The Bruto
Chlorlndc And her husband thinks
aho Is extravagantl
Dorothy Why?
Chlorlnde Just becauso she Insists
on having FIdo's monogram stamped
on his dog-blscults.
No Partiality
r
rllffllt ffM
W AFKtl
n?-r.uyp'
Barber Want a hair cut?
Customer No, I want 'em all cut
IS YET TO COME
jnwjc,.
fivLSJ
.SKfc.
W2Z1
A r-- "I
30, 1915;
THE PADDED CELL
I AMKE. SKRTTVmTvl SEE -AU
Varos vjiog. THIS A ?N HiM Back
FA.U. AM'NICKHIAA J lE B.XTRA
sWsmBsbs)bsbW Esa"1 C3 "fc-ti
gH?fVNAftri
y ' ' S. The Latest
X vm.KftCHocmiN S km A JUSrt, 1 -1 '
"You have no idea what you miss
by not being married."
"No, I eupposo not Do you count
your money every night and morn
ing?" Very Much So
"I wonder what the poet meant
when ho ' alluded to woman in her
hours of ease aa being uncertain, coy
and hard to please,"
"I don't know about the coy part,"
said tho saleslady, "but when It comes
to picking out a hat she's all the rest
of It." Louisville Courier-Journal.
SONGS WITHOUT WORDS
Explaining to the Wife Why You
Nan-Bhe's sorry enough she married
blm, I'll wager
Flo The Ideal How can you say
that? He thinks hir a perfect angel
and treat her
Nan-A thouh sfe ruily waja mm.
lis doow't buy ! a tisas U
15
.d
V3
Lady Can you suggest some suit
able songs for a summer resort?
Clerk Yes, ma'am. Here's a mos
quito song called "He Bit Me Oood
Bye." Not Mercenary
Mr. Qottrox My daughters, young
man, are both worth their weight In
gold.
Suitor The fact that I am asking
you for the smaller one proves, at
any rate, that I am not mercenary,
Chicago News.
Didn't Get Home Before 2 A. M.
.Lady-Look dim, H r efcw't (js
away I shall call a linMnsaWMi) Hoar
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