EVENING LEDGER PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1915.
IT
THE BROAD HIGHWAY
.
A Talo of 19th Century England, Full of tho Thrilla of Adventure and Spirit of Romnnco
Cepyrleht, 191S Little. Brown & Co.
n.,,,. Ibart an Kngll.lj aOiolar, d-
A,V,n upon hi. uncle Bir iieore vioan,
tTtJueatVed only 10 guinea. (. 3) by tho
L man. Mauri. t Uuck ) Vlbart, a no
firinui rrlio fighter end rake, a cousin
."'Sl:..p i. u.t 20.000 wound, (iiou.oum.
IwJr aialnit tho protestations ot hi, old
?!2ISS with T whom ho lived. Sir Menard
i4'iiftrulhire?lde lo odon "The llroad
i tmhwa) or Item ana me. iiuh tu
?ioTli alter tho money i
t"B5 I telle or hi; o
one.
xcttlng adventures
'.'SrS. rpi.hei SlMinkhurit Tillage, where
.becomes a blatkimlth In tho employ or
M.i neons.. 1 eter goci to III. In a
SwiMa'' hxniae Inn hollow. Thj win.
27 (taint In the fhit book It that Veter
tVrie time mlitaaen lor mi couein
.orlce! Tho only dirferenca between thj
i? la that Peter cln shaven and
ft
iaiwiea ha a beard. Ai mo ma oi im
! J -il-J'ST lealoVT. r.V ritarT
.. ,. a. n&aa iiaiiarifpr. inTnn
Jjl.r merely consider, her iw a child.
I0?'.. .h bMlnnln of Hook II. 1m
' VaS.1 awakened by a man'a voice call
ffi'Vcnarolan"1 ' Iluihlng from hi. bed
i "- V. r niida a itrange woman about to
1 St a a man entering hU home. It I. hi.
awwj aj rt whom ho beau Into In-
"?!.,. :..- n.rto itruiKle. A POi-
f" h.lpi I'eter remove, tho proitrato
? The Utter itarti back to hi, homo,
"fiui to tho ground, overcome by
BOOK II.
CIIAPTEP. III Continued.
NOW presently, as I lay thus, spent and
ick I became awaro of a soft Blow.
. brightness that seemingly played alt
Ld me. -wherefore, lifting; my heavy
VkMO, beheld o, ray of light that pierced
L gloom, a long, gloaming vista Jew
ftUed by falling raindrops, whose bril
liance was blurred, now and then, by tho
kitting ihapes of wind-tossed branches.
Xt eight of this my sircnswi n"i ""
"ililnz. I staggerod on toward this wel
Lm. light, and thus I saw that tt
breamed from the window of my cottngo.
rren then, It seemed, I Joumeyod miles
Lfor I felt tho latch bonoath my fin
ra. and fumbling, opened the door.
"5m.j in nnrl closed It after mo.
I For a space I stood dazed by the sud
M.."L. ... . hnn llttln bv little, no-
ucea that tho table and chairs had been
Hll.-j h.t thn fire had .been mended.
Had that candles burned brightly upon
&. mantel. AH this I saw but dimly.
'for there was mist betoro my eyes; yet
1 was conscious that the girl had leapt
p on my tntrance, and now stood front
ing me acoBs tho table.
"TouI" said she. In a low, repressed
'l Now! w'sho spoke, I saw the glitter of
rteel in her hand.
Keep back!" she said, In tho same sub
'Jutd tone, "keep back-I warn youl"
But I only leaned there agnlnst the door,
'evert as she had done. Indeed, I doubt
if I could have moved Just then, had I
1 tried. And, as I Btooa tnus, nations
" nnnwprinir her. sno
lumped her foot suddenly, and laugh
iri a short, fierce laugh.
ti"So-he has hurt you?" she cried; "you
are all blood It Is running down your
tece-the Country Bumpkin has hurt
,.i oh. I am glad! clad! glad!" and
ih laughed again. "I might have run
iway." she went on mockingly, "but
tou see-I waB prepared for jou," and
the held up the knife, "prepared for
wu-and now you are pale, and hurt,
Mid faint-yes, you are faint the Country
Bdmpkln has done his work well. I shall
Mt need this, after all see!" And she
tong the knlto upon the table.
fc'Yes-lt is better there," said I, "and
I thlnk-madam Is mistaken."
L'llUtaken?" she cried, with a sudden
Itch in her voice, "what what do you
lnt" , . ... , rK
i'That I-am tho Bumpkin!" said I
Now, as I spoke, a black mist enveloped
Ml things, my knees loosened suddenly,
.,( atiimhllnir forward. I sank Into a
ch&lr.
E"I am very tired!" I sighed, and so,
t It seemed, J- fell asleep.
f CHAPTER IV.
HUE was on her knees beside me, bath-
,) ing my battered face, talking all the
While in a soft voice tnai i inougni u-
rfully sweet to hear.
"Poor boy!" she was saying, over and
er again, "poor ooyi Aim, untr n
A aaid it nerhaos a dozen times, I
ened my eyes and looked at her.
Murium. I nm 251" said I. Hereupon.
ionge In hand, sho drew back and looked
. me.
'A wonderful face low-browed, deep
ed, full-lipped. The eyes were aarK
id swiftly changeful, and there was a
ibtle witchery in the slanting shadow
ef their lashes.
?Twenty-nve!" she repeated, "can it
Hally be?"
"Why not, madam?"
"So very young?"
"Why " I began, greatly taken aback.
ndeed, I-that IS "
WBut here she laughed and then sho
;hed, and, sighing, shook her head.
Poor boyl" said she, "poor boy!" And,
len I would have retorted, she stopped
e with the sponge.
Tour mouth la cut' said sheTarter a
lie. "and there is a great gash In
ur brow,"
'But the water feels delicious!" said I.
"And your throat is all scratched and
willen!"
ii'But your hands are very gentle and
uingi"
'I don't hurt you, then?"
uii tne contrary, the tno pain is very
, thank you."
Tet you fainted a little while ago."
Then It was very foolish of mo."
t-oor ' she hesitated, nnd looiting
at her through the trickling water, 1
r'that she was emlllng.
' fellow!" said she. And her llns
W very sweet and her eyes were soft
s lender for an Amazon.
Antf when she had washed the blood
my face- she went to fetch clean
r from where I kent it In a bucket
Ull .nm..
rNow, at my elbow urjon the table lay
knife, a 1iaw. plumxtf rnntrlvance
had bought to use in my carpentry, and
nv mechanically, picked it up. As I
o the light gleamed evilly upon Ita
: blade.
"Put it down!" .tin flnmmanded! "nut it
P-t is a hateful thlngl"'
ij. or a woman's hand," I added, "so
Poeouriv unfcmlnlnol"
"enj men are so hatefully hideously
icuiinep she retorted, her lip curl-
"I ear.netAHli1mftnri vnn nm tnr
ly Uka him
''A to that." duM T "T mnv tinvn the
we colored eyes and hair and be some
Bn of the same build "
V she nodded, "It waa your build
3 the eolne f .a t.i tht
r-jUrikd me." ' '
i, after all." said I. "the similarity
enhr ikln a a. ... ahf'
s. he answered, kneeling- beside me
"(.no, you are only l" And as
this her eyes were hidden by
.tBty-flT l S5"
said I, more
"Why do you
K than before.
Water la all ririnnlnir from vour
and ch.ini gtoop lower over the
yet," said I, as well as I could
OUnt of (ho HrVllnv ivsl.r fnr
F,ibaUng my face 'again, "and
t inuii ue years younger than I."
Ski ' BOm women always feel
' n a man mnrA ranrrtallv If ha
!( r "
VOU.u MM T (KunU vniif ullfl
Lyn of ft scratch or so, I am
wunib clumsily against the table
1 winced, with the nudderi pain of
5uU u yr hand?"
J" thumb,"
rf '" Obediently I gtretched
tS. I thirk,"
raUy swolet!"
By JEPFERY FARNOL
"Yes," said I, nnd taking firm hold of
it ttlth my left hand, I gave It a sudden
pull which started tho sweat upon my
temples, but sent It lack into Joint.
"Poor- "
"Well?" said I. as she hesitated.
" manl" said she, and touched the
swollen hand very tonderly with her fin
gers, "You do not fear me any longer?"
"No."
"in spite of my eyes and hair?"
"In spite of your eyes and hair you
see, a woman knows instinctively whom
the must fear and whom not to fear."
"Well?"
' And you are one I do not fear, and,
X think, never should."
"Huml" said t, rubbing my chin, "I am
onty Ml"
"Twenty-five is 251" said she demurely.
"And yet 1 am very like him you said
so yourself!"
"Him I" she exclaimed, starting. "I
had forgotten all about him. Where is
he what has become of him?" and ehe
gtnnced apprehensively toward the door.
"Half way to Tonbridge or should be
by now."
"Tonbrldgel" said she, In a tone of
amazement, and turned to look at me
again.
"Tonbrldgol" I repeated.
"But ho is not tl.e man to run away,"
said she doubtfully "even from you."
"No, indeed!" said I, shaking my head,
"ho certainly did not run away, but cir
cumstancesand a stone, wero too much
oven for him."
"A stono?"
"Upon which he happened to fall, and
strike his head very fortunately for me."
"WnB he much hurt?"
"Stunned only," I answered.
Sho wbb still kneeling besldo my chair,
but now sho sat back, nnd turned to
stare Into the fire. And, as sho nat, I
noticed how full and round and white her
arms were, for her sleeves wero rolled
high, and that tho hend, which yet held
tho sponge, was likewise very white,
neither big nor little a tr!H whl( per
haps, but with long, slender lingers.
Presently, with a midden gesture she
raised her head nnd looked at mo again
a lonfr, searching look.
"Who nre jcu? sho nskert suddenly.
"My name," sold, "Is Peter."
"Yes," sho nodded, with her eyes still
on mlrle.
"PctPr Smith.' I went on. "nnd by
that same token, I am a blacksmith very
humblv at your scrvkc
"Peter Smith I" sho repeated, as though
trying tho sound of It, hesltntlm; nt the
surname exactly as I had done. "Peter
Smith! nnd mine Is Charmlnn Char
mtan Brown." And here again was a
paufco between the two names
"Yours is a very beautiful nnme. ' "ild
I, "especially tho Charmlan!"
"And yours, sho retorted, "is a beauti
fullyugly one!"
"Yes?"
"Especially the Peter!"
"Indeed, I quite agree with you," Bald I
rising. "And now. If I may trouble you I
for the towel thank you!" forthwith
I began to dry my face as well as I I
might on account of my injured thumb,
while she wntched me with a certain
elusive merriment peeping from her
eyes, and quivering at me round her
lips, an expression halt mocking, half
amused, that I had seen there more
than once already. Wherefore, to hide
from her consciousness of this, I fell to
towelling myself vigorously f. much so.
that, forgetting the cut on my brow, I
set It bleeding faster than ever
"Oh, you are very clumsy!" sho cried.
springing up, and snatching tho ton el
from mc, she began to stanch the blood
with It. "If you will sit down, I will
bind It up for you."
"Really, it Is quite unnecessary," I de
murred. "Quite!" she said: "Is there anything
will Bervo ns a bandage?"
"There is tho towel!" I suggested.
"Not to be thought of!"
"Then you might team a strip oft the
sheet,1' said I, nodding towards the bed.
"Ridiculous!" said she, and proceeded
to draw a handkerchief from tho bosom
of her dress, and having folded It with
great nicety and moistened it in a bowl,
she tied it nbout my temples.
"There that Is more comfortable, Isn't
it?" she inquired, and with the words
sho bestowed a final little pat to the
bandage, a touch so light so Ineffably
gentle that It might almost have been
tho hand of that long-dead mother whom
I had never known. "That Is better, isn't
it?" she demanded.
"Thank you yes, very comfortable!"
said I. But as the word left' me my
glance by accident encountered the pistol
near by, and nt sight of it a sudden anger
came upon me, for I remembered that but
for my sudden intervention this girl was
a murderess; wherefore. I would fain
have destroyed the vile thing, and
reached for It impulsively, but she wns
before me and, snatching up the weapon,
hid It behind her as she had dono once
before.
"X3lve it to mc," said I, frowning, "It
Is on accursed thing!"
"Yet it has been my friend tonight,"
she answered.
"Give It to me!" I repeated. She threw
up her head, and regarded me with a dis
dainful air, for my tone had been im
perative. "Come," said I, and held out my hand.
So, for a while, we looked into each
other's eyes, then, all at once, she
dropped tho weapon on the table before
me and turned her back to me.
"I think " she began, speaking with
her back still turned to me.
"Well?" said I.
"that you have "
"Yes?" said I
" very unpleasant eyes!"
"I am very sorry for that," said I.
dropping the weapon out of sight behind
my row ot books, having done which I
drew both chairs nearer the fire, and in
vited her to sit down.
"Thank you, I prefer to stand," said
ehe loftily.
"As you will." I answered, but even
while I spoke she seemed to change her
mind, for she sank Into the nearest chair,
and, chin In hand, stared into the fire.
"And so," said she, as I sat down op
posite her," and so your name Is Peter
Smith, and you are a blacksmith?"
"Yes, a blacksmith."
"And make horseshoes?"
"Naturally, yes,"
"And do you live here?"
"Yes."
"Alone?" x
"Quite alone!"
"And how lone have you lived here
alone?"
"Not so long that I am tired of It."
"And Is this cottage yours?"
"Yes that is, it stands on the Sefton
estates, I believe, but nobody hereabouts
would seem anxious to dispute my right
of occupying the place."
"Why not?"
"Because It is generally supposed to be
haunted."
"Oh!"
''It was built by some wanderer of the
roads," I explained, "a stranger to these
parts, who lived alone here and eventu
ally died alone here."
"Died here?"
"Hanged himself on the staple above
the door, yonder."
"Oh!" said the again, and cast a fear
ful glance towards the deep-riven, rusty
staple,
"The country folk believe his spirit still
haunts the plape," I went, on, "and sel
dom or never enture foot within the
Hollow "
"And are you not afraid of this ghost?"
"No," said I.
"It must be very lonely here."
"PelUhtfully so." . . ., .
"Are you so fond of spHtua?"
"Yes, for solltudo Is thought, nnd to
think Is to live."
"And what did you do with thc-pls-to!?"
"I dropped It out of sight behind my
books yonder."
"I wonder why I gave it to you."
"Because, if you remember, I asked you
for it."
"But I usually dislike doing whnt I
am asked, and your manner was scarce
ly courteous."
.."You alio objected to my eyes, I
think?"
"Yes," she nodded.
"Hum!" said I,
The dark night, outside, ns filled with
malignant demons now, who toro at the
rattling casements, who roared and bel
lowed down tho chimney, or screamed
furiously round thn cntlKts! hut hnre. In
tho warm firelight, I heeded them net at
all, watching, rather, this woman, where
sho sat, leaned forward, gazing deep
into tho glow. And where the light
touched her hair it woke itrnnko fires,
red nnd bronze. And it was ery rebel
lious hair, with llttlo tendrils that
gleamed, hero and there, nrnlnat her tern
pics, and small, defiant curls that seemed
to strlvo to hldo behind her ear, or, bold
and wanton, to kits her snowy neck out
ot sneer Bravado.
As to her dross, I. little by little, be
enmo awaro of two facts (for whereas
her gown was of n rouch. coarse mate
rial such as domestic servants near, the
Btocicingea foot that neepert at mo be
neath Its hem (her shoes wero drying on
tho hearth) was clad In n silk so fine
thnt it could catch, through it, tho gleam
of tho white flesh beneath. From this
apparent Inconsistency I deduced that
sho wns of educated tastes, but poor
probably a governess, or, moro llkciy
still, taking her hands Into consideration,
with their long, prehcnsllo lingers, a
teacher of music, and was going on to
explain to myself her present situation
ns tho outcome of Beauty, Toverty and
tho Devil, when Bhe sighed, glanced to
ward tho door, shivered fcllghtly, and
reaching her shoes from the hearth pro
puicd to slip them on
"They are still very wet!" Bald I, do
precntlngly.
"Yes," she answered.
"Listen to the wind!" said I.
"It is terribly high."
"And It rains very hard!" said I.
"Yes " nnd she shivered again.
"It will bo bad traveling for any ono
tonluht," Bald I.
Charmlan stared into the fire.
"Indeed, It would be madness for tho
strongest to stir abroad on such a night.
Charmlan stared into tho tire
"What with the wind and the rain the
roads would be utterly impassable, not
to mention the risks of falling trees or
snntteicd houghs."
Charmlan shivered again.
"And the Inns are all shut long ago:
to stir out, therefore, would bo the purest
follj."
Charmlan stared Into the fire.
"One the other hand, hero are a warm
room, a good Are and a very excellent
bed."
She neither ipoko nor moved, only her
eyes wero raised suddenly nnd swiftly to
mine.
-'Also." I continued, returning her look,
'here, most convenient to your hand, Is
a fine sharp knife, in case yon are afnld
of the ghost or any other mfdnlght vis
ltnnt and so good night, madam!" Say
ing which, I to(?k up one of the candlo
and crossed to the door of that room
which had once been Donald's, but here I
paused to glance back at her. "Further
more," said I, snuffing my candle with
great nicety, "madam need have no fur
ther qualms regarding the color oftny
hair and eyes none whatever."
Whereupon I bowed somewhat stiffly
on account of my bruises, and, going into
my cuamDer, closed the door behind me.
CHAPTER V.
THE sun was pouring In at my lattice
when I awoke next morning to a
general soreness of body that at first
puzzled mo to account for. But as I lay
In that delicious state between sleeping
and -waking, I became awaro of a faint,
sweet perfume; and, turning my head,
espied a handkerchief upon the pillow
beside me. And Immediately I came to
my elbow with my eyes directed to the
aoor, lor now indeed I remembered all,
and beyond that door, sleeping or waking,
lay a woman.
In tho early morning things are aDt to
lose something of the glamour that was
theirs over night; thus I remained prop
ped upon my elbow, gazing appre
hensively at the door, and with my ears
on the stretch, hearkening for any move
ment from the room beyond that should
tell mo she was up. But I heard only
tho onrly chorus of the birds nnd the
gurgle of the brook, swollen with last
night's rain. In a while I rose and began
to dress somewhnt awkwardly, on account
of my thumb, yet with rather more than
my usual care, stopping occasionally to
hearMf she was yet astir. Being at last
fully dressed, I sat down to wait until I
Bhould hear her footstep, But I listened
vainly, for minute after mlnuto elapsed
until, rising at length, I 'knocked softly.
And having knocked thrice, each tlmo
louder than before, without effect, I lifted
the latch and opened the door.
My first glance showed me that the bed
had never even been slept In, and that
save for myself the place was empty.
And yet the breakfast-tnble had been
neatly set, though with but one cup and
saucor.
Now. beside this cup and saucer was
one of my few books, and picking it up,
I saw that It was my Virgil. Upon the
iy-leaf, at which It was open, I had,
years ago, scrawled my name thus;
PETER VIBART
But lol close under this written in a fine
Italian hand, v. ere the following words;
To Peter Fmlth, Kal. (the "Smith" under
iin.iii mirkimlth. Charmlan Brown
(Drown" llkewlno underlined) deitrei to
thank Mr. Hmlth. yet becauie thanki are
o poor ina email, .nil jmb vvrvive mu
great, needi muit ihe remember him at a
eentleman, yet nftener ai a blickimlth.
and mot of all. a. a min, Charmlan
llrown btw him to accept thli little trin
ket In memory of her. It li all she ha. to
offer blm. He may alo keep her handker
chief. Upon the table, on the very spot where
the book had lain, was a cold heart
shaped locket, very quaint and old
fashlonod, upon one side of which was
engraved the following posyj
lies who royne heart would keeps for long
Shall be a gentll man and itrong.
Attached to the locket was a narrow
blue ribband, wherefore, passing this
riband over my head, I hung the locket
about my neck And having read through
the message onoe more, I closed the
Virgil, ond, replacing It on the ehelf, set
about brewing a cup ot tea, and so
presuntly sat down again.
"I bad scarcely dona so, however, when
there came a timid knock at the door,
whereat I arose expectantly and immedi
ately sat down again.
"'Come in!" said I. The latch was
slowly raised the door swung open, and
the Ancient appeared.
"Peter, I have noos for ye," he said.
"News?"
"Noos as ever was nooa aa '11 surprise
ye, Peter."
"Well?" I inquired.
"Well, Peter, Black Jarge be 'took'
again."
"What?" I exclaimed,
"Oh I I knowed t would come I knowed
e couldn't last much longer, I says to
Simon, dy afore yesterday It were,
'Simon.' I says, 'mark my words, 'e'll
never last the month ou,t no.' '
'JIow did It happen, AncleotT"
(CONTINUED TOUORROW)
A0A1NST
S-DL 1CU sa- cq
BC3C3
553 ma
3 C3C3
l-JJ"?
j 7-gl
t-aj
London Mall.
Aggreslo Spinster Sir, why aren't
you In khaki?
The Victim Madam, why haven't
you a war baby?
Great Horror!
"Tremendous number of casualties, I
see by tho paper."
"Whnt paper?" t
"The fly-paper." London MalL
Columbus
Teacher What Is the capital ot
Ohio?
Johnnie I forget.
Teacher It Is the same as one of
tho greatest men on earth. Now what
Is It?
Johnnie Home-run Baker.
The Day Before
ronsby I wish you Joy, my dear sir.
You will always look back on this day
as the happiest In your llfo.
Lawson Thank you; but I am to be
married tomorrow.
Ponsby I quite understand that,
inig m HS-g
mv?xsiMi , ,, tLm sa
w 7vNgsjPsflLgBHHKtfl I WVJ fluid .HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIillBa to pwr
I "' m gFf--s''' J W
yi jjvj
AND THE WORST
,, .. . i " -"-"" - -
l'LJLj
MjjT'J 'iBpiiiiTu' ""I1
a-)tirv&-
SCRAPPLE
LAW
ITACHOOMU.
Father Your friend has a very open
countenance.
Daughter Therel I told him to keep
his mouth shut.
HELLO' BILLY WE ARE.IilsT
GowoirtToaitine. svxowj
UETTEK COMt fM-ONC
Ort'THt CHECK, PiA I
8flOLETHE5EEWr)OTi
DID I DO WITH MY ROLL$
BTGE0gGE.mEU5riT
A Hard Science
U.lWcSuv. ',
V
Osteopathy (Webster's definition)
A scientific manipulation of the bones.
He Have you made up your mind
to stay In?
She No; I've made up my face to
go out. Cornell Widow.
IS YET TO COME
car caB4 a
i(i
U f&h.
THE PADDED CELL
WHAT S T VIE PUT
ALU SUrArAfeR AMD
ON
TAKE: OFF ALU
VMNTE-tt?
.
53fi
-RE.CUS.
DID IT EVER HAPPEN TO YOU?
ortiu.cerooRyroo
I Wr300iT 60IKG TO
GET THEM
MUCrt ObUGED BlLLOLDfOPA
KEEP THE
VVELOCKIEPHY ROLL ALL
RICHT.COSHlDlOTHIftKrD
LOST IT. I'LL CH hVEM WITH
KrrrlGE FOR
WOUKTIP
P.TOU ounn utvr
GERMAN BREACHES OF
Laughinc-gasilng the British
Ilovy Rudel
Fay--Professor A'lcgretto called at
our house yetterday. He just, raved
over toy singing
EUe How rude' Why couldn't he
conceal hU feelings as the rest ot Us
-zv s
&X. s. t sM"7
TJSfP JQ
iSC X Ofcr UN
a
5j
w
- (ALSO FURfc
Fl HE SHOW. 0PP03 I
YtEGOftrtDrjETABlTEl
TO EM.EH.BU.?i
GOODNIGHT BILL".
VJt HrMJE HD IS
JHEBV reE.TlH&
THE HAGUE CONVENTION
-The Sketch,
betoro an advance In close formation,
Oh!
Air
- . Air
Warlatrate Ycmjety fee dl4 twa
single blow atJg4frki by aiqtMlfr
WUnea-Hif. '
lt;Ltrie-t ' lew I .mi.
AMtneet-Xc, It. is, Me btow uui ton