VOL XXXIX fTHE+MODERMtore 8 3 S Is now Open for 3 | Business. I £ A New Firm in a New Building—A New and $ Uk Complete stock of Dry Goods, Ladies' and S Men's Furnishings and Millinery; and 4k new conveniences for our customers. u Among our assistants ycu will find C| jn MlhS IDA MABDORF, of Butler, and 5 m MISS JESSIE SAWHILL, of Washington, g M in ch'a ge of Millinery Department, which will be a sp.cial feature of this store, containing a private fitting rooai, novel in every respect. # MISS BERTHA EISLER, of Butler, S MISS LILLIAN EELLERMAN, of Chicora, £ (formerly with Boggs & Buhl); (R MISSES NETTIE ALLEN, jR $ AGNES MANNY, - * 2 MYRTLE SHAW, £ K (Carbon rtlock); ji MISS LEAH WALTERS, of Butler, M 2 (formerlv ot Evans City); J5 MR. WILL MARDORF and MR. LEON FLOYD JF W will be btrc ready to fill the wants of the people in a courteous manner »l jf p all H j;] g n( j a comfortabl' room in which to rest snd meet your |p| S friends, have >ouv package* checked, etc. fx W You are ccrd : ally invited to attend our opwnng and see our up-to date 0 \ store. Yours truly, 1 Eisler-Mardorf Company.^ S 22i5outh Main St Opp Arlington Hotel, S BUTLER, PA g M Bell Phoue 221. Mail orders 0 75 People's Phone 2a 1. prompt); fillfcd. A Man, Woman or Child J in this town or county that A , cannot be satisfactorily (to ggSgHm > him, her or it) fitted out right i i here in my store, and my M * J translation of "satisfactory" P reasonable, there's f W no chanee for a | g; Huselton's. e | IS 4tk 4k Oj Fall and Winter Weights l'. I f\ \ti Have a nattiness al>r>ut them that J] *rt fm L lilM / J Q niark the wearer, it won't do to ''J W| \ Xh! \-!\ W wear the last year's output. You l? V li won't get the latest things at the ir / F"j lw stock clothiers either. The up-to \f JV r t date tailor only lan supply them, I [¥4 TTtVi O ou want not only *' le latest I \ 1 I] flflu I things in cut and fit and work i If If/ I niatiship, the finest in durability, I I ill I I i where else can you get comhina 'l I 111 1 11 tlons, you getihem at KECK G. F. KECK, Merchant Tailor, I*2 North Main Street All Work Guaranteed Butler,Pa » subscribe for the CITIZEN THE BUTLEH CITIZEN. jalyOl « fiVCA JLm ™ JHbakes short roads. AXLE JL flkand light loads. QKEASE for everything that runs on wheels. Sold Everywhere. Nasal JffeLYsS^ CATARRH fm&pl cleanses, soothes and heala 1 the diseased membrane. It coif* catarrL and dx» ves away a cold in the head quickly. Cream Balm is placed into the nostrils,spreads over the membrane and is absorbed. Relief is im mediate and a care follows. I?is not drying—does not produce sneezing. Size, 50 cents at Drug gists or by mail; Trial Size, 10 cents. nn H Johnston's pj| M Beef, Iron and Wins M Blood Pnrifier. !b 1 Price, sf* pint. L* Prepared and Pi 9 sold only at V J Johnston's >1 1 Crystal 4 < Pharmacy. 3 i j R. H. LOO AN, Ph. O . m Mana(?«r, r 1 I IOC N. Muld St., Butler, Pa Both 'Phones 0J y Everything in the kl drug line. ri I ft| want .;■/ \y every ' reader SW jfltfc.this at our store for a / Free Sample OF Mermen's Talcum Tlie best powder for the toilet, for the baby and for cliaped and roughened skins. We carry a full line of household drugs and toilet articles. You will find our prices lower than most. Try us with your next prescription. Reed's Pharmacy Cor. Main and JcfTcrs jh Sts. , Butler, Pa s -i , \vuluT m !/S *y / "T.V.jr- a J 0 ?/ dwM \; v ■ bywfy 1 - s g To rj t> s Q k^ Necessary Trifles In spring jewelry comprise many articles that can't 1* done without. llat pins, brooches, link buttons, mid scarf pius are some of the indispensablcs; also an immense stock of watches, chains anil r'ngs, comprising all the new and up-to date designs just received. Kodaks, Cameras, Photo Supplies, Washburn Mandolins, Guitars, Columbia, I'.dison and Victor Talking Machines a r c also to be found ill our str>ck R. L. KIRKPATRICK, Jevyeler and Graduate Optician Next to Court House ♦ i n a DTfcTUDC I feiJAL a AlilndlO I cJb «? «i * 5$ ; S By HOWARD FIELDING §2 §5 * * r $2 fx c$ Copyright, 1901, by Charles W. Hooke. 5 '-O-VT *> >c«c>ex>#o»o>o#o*o* ©♦©♦©♦OVC*t%»vO-*0»v; Cf^&i -C CHAPTER XII. irnnvES a.vd hearts. iuNCAN M ACT,AXE i "tSEE' | v was a man whose as ? S M , pcl should have been (Ir 3 dignified and impres- St< sive. It bad been so pay lndeed still was when his nerves were under control, but th:it as a rare Cvudition lu his latter days On the occasion of bis morning call at St. Winifred's, while lie waited f-jr Brenda's appearance, it was to him as If bis nervous system walked the floor unclothed In flesh or garments. This is the state which New England old ladies describe as "jumping out of your skin." and the phrase fits it nicely. Be fore I>r. Kendall took him out of the reception room to a more private place he was an object of sympathetic in terest to several poor persons waiting there, for they supposed that he must have some near relative at the point of death in the Institution. His pockets and his hands were full of newspapers, and they were to a con siderable extent accountable for his condition. The marvelous dellneative power of the modern press had been rxerted u|K>n the mystery of Elsie Mil ler with a ri-sult which tlie young wo man herself bad but dimly foreseen when she- had spoken of it as so abso lutely horrible as to extinguish the vir tue of politeness altogether The story was told from fifty points of view, and ever the stately and beautiful figure of Brenda Maclnne moved through it like a stage ghost, having a carefully wrought effect 3f Intangibleiicsa and transparency, yit steadfastly attended by the calcium li^ht. No one accused Brenda of the small est wrong, no one ventured to identify her with the "mysterious woman" seen by Dr. Blair, yet with great clever ness the plot was so arranged that Brenda's figure In the ghostly light stood best displayed upon the very spot where the mysterious one seemed to have sunk out of sight as if into a grave. "Brenda. my child, what shall we io?" exclaimed Mr. Maclane. and he extended toward his daughter two trembling bands that were full of newspapers. "Do?" said Brenda. "About what?" "The papers are crowded with it!" ho groaned. Look at this! Look at these pictures!" "Well, I think this one Is rather good of me," replied Brenda. "I wonder where fhey got the photograph. Oh, but see Mr. Alden! They've made him look like the pirate Kldd." "You seem to take no serious view of this!" he cried. "Father, why should we?" she re plied earnestly. "Here Is a dear little girl that has escaped a dreadful peril, and I am so glad of it, so religiously, prayerfully glad of it, that tills public ity affects rne not the least." "I think you have lost your wits, Brenda," said he. "Why, you're nil mixed up In it. They practically ac cuse you i f going to that house"— "I did go there," replied 'Srcnda. "I mean before the deed—at the very moment of It"— "Let me see," said Brenda, who was already scanning the reports. "I don't see anything here that isn't true. They are much fairer to Mr. Alden than I ' "The paper* are crunited with It!" he groaned. would have supposed. Let us read tho reports calmly. Ah, so! This mention of my poor little romance might bu somewhat trying to n sensitive nature, like my father's, which I fortunately did not luberlt." "This linking of your name with this woman's," lie groaned, "is most unfor tunate. She is continually referred to as an actress." "She is one," said Brenda, "and, be tween ourselves, I think she must be exceptionally clever. 1 hope Clarence will not make her leave the stage yet until she has had a career of her own— a year or two before she effaces her self by marriage." "It seems to me," said he, "that lu trying to bo fair to this woman, lu try ing to set aside all prejudice and nat ural resentment, you have gone to au absurd extreme upon the other side. You can never have anything lu com mon with her. There can be no ques tion of friendly relations"— "But there can," replied Brenda. "Forgive me for contradicting my dear old father, who Is always so worried about me and always so good to me. I shall make her my friend, if I can, and you will be glad when you know her." Maclane raised bis hands toward heaven, sprinkling the floor with frag ments of newspapers as he did so. |t was his usual gesture of defeat. "Aml now," said Uremia. "to use your favorite l expression, let's get down to business. lam here to take care of Miss Miller, and you will not ask mu to desert lier when you learn that l»r. Kendall nays I am a wonderful nurse. Hy the way. you see 1 am In the very best society, for there can't be any thing above the old Philadelphia Ken dalls. However, to return to business, I see clearly enough where all this Is tending. The jut pets speak only good of lie this morning. Private gossip will scarcely know what to say for a ilay or two. but in tho end, unless some thing Is done to prevent It. 1 shall bo come identical with this mysterious woman anil the actual object of suspi cion. That. I admit, would lie a mls fortune, for if the case remains u mys- BUTLER, PA.. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1002 tery. as I think it uiny, 1 shall never be clear of the taint of it." "liut doesn't tlie Rirl know who ilid it?" demanded Ma.lane. '"l'liey hint that she is shielding some one. and you will find some very unpleasant things übout Aiden." is entirely Innocent." said Hren da. "Of course you know that as well as I do The l.est thing for all of us is to establish the faet immediately that the crime was the work of a thief." "But suppose it wasn't?" "Then." "aid Brenda. "it must be made to appear so." "I see what you mean," replied be, "and 1 will eonsult my lawyer about it 1 have already discovered that tie un derstands the police thoroughly. Per haps something may be done by the use of plenty of money. Meanwhile I would like to be satisfied about Mr. Ai den. It is not fair to you that he should conceal his defense. If he has one. The sooner the ease is thoroughly cleared of that mystery the better for us." "Reduced to a theft," said Brenda, "the papers wiil cease to print much about it." "You are quite right," replied Mr. Machine. "But in;; first move will be 111 Alden's direction. I must know where he stands, or there will be no safety for you In any Hue of action. If he is guilty, we must not appear as his accomplices after the fact" "That is monstrous," Insisted Bren da. "Do not consider It." They spoke for some minutes of mi nor matters, turning over the papers together, while Brenda selected such portions as sljk thought that Dr. Ken dall might permit Klsle to see. The sight of these stories with their abun dant illustrations set Mr. Machine's nerves on edge again, and he was In a most wretched frame of mind when be left the hospital. It chanced that as be emerged from the structure he encountered Aldcn, who had Just come from Kendall's room and was full of good will to all mankind as the result of the conversa tion with the doctor. lie felt that Mac lane had a just grievance against lilin, and he began at onee a most earnest at tempt to repair the Injury. Maelano was relieved to find Alden In a pliant mood--the rarest of all Ills moods, by the way-arid the two walked toward the avenue together lu an atmosphero of cordiality such as surrounds some times the unfriendly victims of a com mon misfortune. I'pon arriving at his ofllee Alden met Detective Elmend 'if, with tho result already disclosed. Profiting by tho ad vice received In the course of this in terview and by his memories of many stories of crimes, criminals sleuth hounds of the law, Alden succeeded In eluding both the shadow of "trouble" nnd the shadow of "business," nnd his doings for an hour or two were wholly unknown to the police. At 3 o'clock ho appeared at St. Winifred's hospital, where he was Informed by I»r. Kendall that Klsle would receive him presently. At that moment Elsie was confiding to Brenda her opinion that Mr. Alden would suffer a grievous disappoint ment. "He won't expect to see rae like this," she said. "I look like death's head on a handspike, as my cousin. Billy says. Billy was In the naval re serves duriiiir the war and prevented the Spaniards from capturing New York, but that's another story. Brenda, if I should put on Just a little bit of rouge— I don't want to frighten hi in." "You don't want to think of rouco for ten years," replied Brenda. "And besides, my dear, you haven't any. Moreover, he won't know how you look; he will be too glad to see yo;} alive." "Of course you think I nm very trivial and absurd," said Klsle, "but do you realize that he may not see me again? No one can know precisely how I am hurt. This wound may be nearer to a vital spot than I)r. Kendall suspects or will tell. A break of a wall as thin as paper, 11 little blood spilled here beneath my hand, and 1 am gone In a moment. Perhaps tonight; per haps even while ho sits here beside me. And this last sight of me will be the memory he will*carry as long ns ho lives. I want it to blot out the face of every other girl that be will ever see." "Then don't blot out your own with the contents 'o of the vigilant Ken dall, who had softly stepped to tlio head of the bed, upon the other side, checked Ibis plea. Alden writhed with the effect, but Ills will held him. "I mustn't worry you," lie said; then, with half an eye on Kendall: "Klsle, ! who dlil this? Tell me. little girl." "I don't know; really I don't," she sun vered. "Why do you think that 1 do?" Again the doctor silently protested, and Aldeu took heed. "I had not heard it from you." he said. "But let us put it out of our ininds. What can I do for you? Is there anything you need? We will hold a conference on the subject." "Brenda would get me anything In the world." replied Elsie. "She has been as good as two mothers to me. Brenda. what do I want?" "Rest and an easy mind and your real mother as s on as she can come." replied Brenda. "As to Mr Aiden's contribution. I vould suggest a pretty picture or two to put on the walls They would relieve the eye. Klsle lias asked for Tantalus, but the art com mittee, consisting of Dr. Kendall and myself, refuses him." "Tin- nrt committee is all right," said Aldeu. "I shall submit some pictures to it with confidence." Thus the talk drifted from topics too exciting, and some minutes were spent pleasantly and conventionally enough. Then, as Aldeu was about to take his leave, Elsie suddenly began to weep very bitterly and without apparent cause, for it was a parting for a few hours. To Brenda afterward she said In explanation, "To think that I might have died and never have seen him | agaiu!" As the matter seemed to involve the health of the patient and certainly the regulation of Mr. Aiden's visits. Bren da considered herself bound to report the remark to Dr. Kendall. "It Is all very mysterious to me," said he. "She loves him with her soul and body, but she believes that it is all over." • Site will not always think so," re plied Brenda. "That may be true," he said, "but 1 think I kuow her, and, so thinking, 1 hope my own wedding won't have to wait for theirs." "Your wedding!" exclaimed Brenda In surprise. "I did not know it was ar ranged." "Of I he three , ersons most Intimate ly concerned in It," he replied, "two are already to be counted upon myself and the clergyman. As *o tho other, there Is much doubt." "Let us hope it will vanish." "Hope Is a thin diet for the affec tions," said he. "but they live long on It sometimes." CHAPTER XIII. ELSIE CHOOSES A CONFIDANT. N' the following morning vV Captain Neale npoear y*9 ti il If 5 I demanding an Inter (| JV) view with Elsie. Ken dall had succeeded In refusing a similar do is/J ma nd upon the previ ous evening and would have been glad to do It again, for he dreaded Neale In a sickroom as If he had been the angel of septicemia, but the doctor could not honestly spy that Elsie's condition was such as to justify him In shielding her from all questioning. As for the captain, he was "up against a new game," to use his own expression. Never before had he been held back from the bedsides of the af flicted in Institutions wholly or par tialiv under municipal control, am) doubtless upon this account there were fortunate souls In paradise who might otherwise still have been struggling In this probationary state. When Ken dall demurred. Neale strong'y lutlmat i ed that he would "make trouble" for the doctor, but It was his own con science and not his fears which decid ed Kendall's action. "Vol' can see her," he said, "If you will behave yourself." And Neale was speechless In the pres ence of this audacity. It was not that Neale was a captain of police, for such an olllcer may or may pot amount to a row of pins: it was that he was Joe Neale. the man with a "pull." Therein lay the terror of his wrath. For as well as Elsie could be prepar ed for this Interview sho shuddered and turned pale when her eyes first rested upon Ihe peculiar, grimacing countenance of the captain, more dis tressing than usual at that moment be en use he was trying to look beneficent. Neale had a singular delusion that he could be and seem to be nil things to all people, although, in fact, his VQICO, Ills face and his manner were more rigidly Incapable of disguise than those of nny other man betwen the two oceans. Me had a monkey's pride In Im itation without n trace of the monkey's capacity for It, and upon this occasion he was engaged In counterfeiting the demeanor of n family physician be cause he knew that Kendall did not be lieve he could do It. And it was ills ex pressed conviction afterward fhat ho had made the doctor "feel foolish." "Good morning," said be, "Glad to see you looking so flue. You'll be out In a week, and by the first of the month you'll be throwing kisses over the foot lights again." Elsie's forehend reddened with wrath, and she opened her mouth to say something that would have shown more spirit than discretion; but, catch ing Brenda's eye. she suddenly closed her lips tightly. Neale turned 'o Brenda. "It does my heart good," he said, "to see you here taking care of the sick- a society lady like you. I call It great There's few that would do It. Now, I'll bet the limit that you've been up half the ulght taking care of this poor little girl. Yon need rest. 1 can see that. And what I say is that It wouldn't do you a bit of hurt to go lay down while me and the doctor looks out for things here." "I)o yon mean Mint you wish me to leave the room''" Inquired Brenda. with a glance at Kendall. The doctor's face was wearing that Indescribable expression Incident to the first stage of seasickness, lie nodded, and Uremia walked toward the door, which Kendall opened for her. while Neale bowed several times as she de parted. Then the captain drew up a el.air to the side of the bed, upon the edge of which he tail his enormous and hairy hand, clinched, with the knuckles uppermost. Elsie looked at It. fascinated, wondering If It could really be <■ hand. "Wc cot to have a little light oil tills homnn," said the en put In. "What woman V" inquired Elsie faintly. "The one who cr lied on you that aft ernoon," he rcplle I "Miss Miller hn« already said" Ken ''nil began, but the captain 'lfted Ids hand from the bed, thereby causing one side of It to rl " suddenly, and made n gesture of plot' t ".She'll dp the niiswcnug " lie said. "Who suys that ain woman called on me 7" demanded KIM*- "Now, don't get excited." responded the captain "li's well known thai somebody was there Dt Hliilr stiv her tearing the liouxe." Elsie remained silent for a moment. { 'I hen she said "There might have been fifty women I leave the house and I know nothing about It. What did this wottiau look like?" "Haven't you seen the newspapers?" asked Neale. "Ouly some little pieces—just to look at the pictures." she replied. "Dr. Ken dall didn't wish me to read the stories." "Did you see the pictures of the 'mys terious woman,' drawn from descrip tion?" "No." "Miss Machine didn't show them to you? Well, well! How singular!" "I selected the things to be shown to Miss Miller," said Kendall; "most of them." "And you cut out all about the mysterious woman?" queried Neale. "Why?" "It was not intentional," replied the doctor, reddening. "I merely happened to do it." "1 guess Miss Maclane helped you." said Neale. "What has Miss liaclaue to do with It?" asked Elsie. "A good many people think she was the woman," replied the captain. "It's beginning to be said all over, but there's otic person who thinks so and won't say so—yet." "Who's that?" said Elsie. "Dr. Blair." responded Neale. "You kuow who he is?" "I've met hint," she replied. "Mrs. Simmons got him to come to see me J once when 1 was sick. 1 think he was staying at the house then. What has he to do with this affair?" The captain explained. "It seems to me," said Elsie, "that t»uybody who ever saw Miss Maclane would know her uext time. If Dr. Blair says that be doesn't recognize her. then she Isn't the woman he saw." "Do you deny that she called upon you?" persisted tlie captain. "I certainly do deny It," replied Elsie, with decision. "Perhaps it was some other woman who looked like her," suggested Neale. "1 don't know nny woman who looks like her," said Elsie. "I never saw one who did." The captain glanced at Kendall and said slowly: "She doesn't know anybody who looks like Miss Machine." "Well." said Kendall, "what of It?" "Why, neither does nuybody else In the house." replied the captain. "So Miss Maclane Is the only woman of that kind, so far as we know, who could have any motive for going there. And somebody went." Elsie was beginning to be excited to the danger point, and Kendall cut off the interview, Neale yicldlug without a word of protest. v l>on't you worry; not n bit," said he to Elsie. "There nin't going to be no (rouble for anybody, except the guilty party." When the captain had gone, Elsie pleaded with Kendall to let her seo Dr. Blair. "All these stories about Brenda must rest upon what he says," she insisted, "and If I tell him positively, face to face, that it was not Brenda be will make n statement that will put nn end to all the trouble. And It Is Worrying Brenda. I'm sure of It. She tries to hide it front me. hut there Is sometlilug preying on her mind. Of course I have net understood what It was. but now 1 can see. We must remember how hard It is for a girl brought up as she has been, all surrounded by dignity and re finement, lo have her name In every body's tnouth In connection with such nn affair as this." Kendall was Inclined to tako a favor nble view of this suggestion. Ills own opinlou, formed from tho newspaper reports, was that Dr. Blair was a con scientious man who was trying to tell the exact truth in a very serious mat ter: that he believed It was Miss Mac hine whom he had seen, but was wise and Just enough not to say so upon nny other ground than positive certainty. Upon the other hand, he would not de clare openly that the woman was not Brenda until his mind wns clear of doubt. It. might easily happen that a talk with Elsie would result In thor oughly convincing him, and for Elsie there wns nothing to be feared, since Rhtlr ns a physician would know how to avoid exciting her. Accordingly Kendall said that he would send word to Blair during the afternoon. As It happened, he had leisure to go himself upon this errnud, Elrtf looked nt it, fascinated. and as outdoor nlr would liavi the charm of novelty for him he tock *d va til ago of the opportunity. lie was surprised at Ihe meager furnishing of his professional brother's small and dark waiting room. It wns neat 'lud not altogether destitute of comfort, but It was destitute of pa tlcuts and had not the look of n place that had ever been overrun with them. A servant's rap upon the door coinmutikallng with the office brought forth llhilr. to whom Kendall made himself known. The office was a large and dreary room, with a view ,of hack yards. There was a broad couch In a corner with a plh' of cheap sofa pillows, ii: ainst which the doctor had probably been reclltrng. At the foot of the couclw and oddly propped against the back of a chair was a sln(.de silken pillow b' iiutil'd einbrohlciTfl. From a professional standpoint the room lacked many things that money cuu buy, and t>> Kendall, who was so fnr removed from the need of fees that he had almost forgotten the possibility of any doctor having to subsist upon them, the place spoke loudly of pov erty. As for ISlalr himself, he match ed his surroundings, for his ufOod was far from cheerful. "What can I do for you, doctor?" he asked In the tone of one who Ims ceased to expect good from any Inter view. "Miss Miller, who Is my patient nt the hospital, wish -s to see you," said Kendall, "and I called to ask you to j coiue over." "I hope a consultation Isn't neces sary," said Rlalr, with a faint smile. "I understood that her recovery wns assured." "II IfC-ln regard to Miss Muclnne," ! responded Kemh'tl, with considerable embarrassment. 11l ill- falnllj -loaned. "I wish I had kept my mouth ahut," ho said. "Of course tf I can do any thini? to please Miss Miller." he added hastily. "1 shall l>e delighted. I know her slightly, and she Is a very charm- Ins girl. But really this matter »>f Miss Machine Is wearing uiy life out. Policemen. reporters, unidentified vagabonds"— "Aud, last of all. a doctor." added Kendall. —"have worried the flesh off my bones," continued Blair without no ticing the interruption. "They Insist that 1 shall identify Miss Maclane as the woman I saw. They present threats and bribes. They offer all sorts of ridiculous plans for bringing Miss Maclane and me together so that I may be sure of her. But I have seen Mjss Maclane already, and I have said all'that I have to say upon the sub ject." "You have not said that she was not the woman," suggested Kendall. "No. and I won't," responded Blair promptly. "Why should I?" "Unless you are sure," said Kendall, "you may feel like delaying a final statement, but I can't help thinking that your course takes little account of Miss Maclane'* welfare; I might al most say of her rights. However. I must not get excited about It." "You seem to take a considerable In terest," said Blair. "You have known Miss Maclane for some years, I am told. But that is none of my business. What does Miss Miller wish me to do?" "She believes that she can convince you that Miss Maclane Is not the wom an you saw," replied Kendall. Blair was silent for some moments. "I don't see how that is possible," he 6aid at last, "but I would bo very glad to oblige her, or you, if I could. There Is, however, such a thing as the truth, you know." Kendall was beginning to feel pain fully anxious. There seemed to be a strong probability that Blair was per fectly convinced in regard to this mat ter of Identity and that he was reserv ing his statement until the nature of the case should disclose Itself. If Elsie should die. there was little chance that a man of Blair's type would withhold his evidence, fos in that some body would be directly accused, and a Just person would feel that all the evi dence should be brought forward. Blair's present position was such that Kendall did not know how to attack It, aud so he fell back upon the matter of his real errand. As to that there was no difficulty. Blair promised to call at the hospital within an hour. Having received tills promise, Ken dall returned at once and notified Elsie of the approaching visit Her manner was very significant. She was evi dently bracing herself for a consider able ordeal. There could be no doubt that she had determined to save Bren da from the annoyance to which she was being subjected and from the much more serious trouble that might follow. As she bad expressed a wish to speak with Dr. Blair a few minutes aloue there could be but one Inference she 'intended to tell him something which she had withheld up to that time. As Blair was the first physician" who hail been called to attend her she could claim the right of a patient and put him upon his professional honor not to disclose what she might say. Indeed, certain questions which she asked made Kendall sure that she bad considered this phase of the situation. It was possible that she might intend to go to the length of confiding to Blair the actual facts of the case, for by naming the author of the crime she could most surely relieve Brenda from any further suspicion. Even upon the supposition that Brenda bad really gone to that houso and had been seen by Blair be would probably consent to ibleld her from offensive publicity If be knew her to be entirely Innocent Kendall was conscious of a strange, boyish feeling of discontent that Elsie should not have chosen him as the re cipient of this confidence. He could understand that there might be rea sons why Bbe should tell Brenda ev erything. and. as to that, Indeed, he had no positive knowledge that she bad not nlrcady done so. Moreover, to have told him would have been merely to let another person Into the secret, what ever It might be, since It was not be, but Blair, who had the power to check flic attacks upon Brenda. Still, be could not help feeling Isolated, the more because of his reflection that Brenda might already know all. From this youthful frame of mlud be passed to one more mature and practi cal. It might be that Blair was not worthy of this confidence. Without pretending to know what Elsie's secret might be. Kendall surely did uot wish It to be betrayed. All consideration of abstrnct justice bad vanished In per sonal Interest. He was for Elsie with a genuine loyalty, and Blair had not impressed him favorably. He seemed a mortise and discontented man, with an unsatisfied craving for something, probably incrtey, and he had not a per fectly bonesl eye. Supposing that El sie's secret Involved Alden and that Al den had really become rich In a way in visible to his closest friends—well, in that case It might bo that Dr. Blair would be able to afford a better office. Willi these thoughts In mind Kendall ventured to caution Elsie against the evils Incident to nn unwise trust In the discretion and the pftiulses of one's fellow erentures, but Elsie seemed to have nn excellent opinion of her own good Judgment, as often happens with the young. When Klnlr appeared, Kendall men tioned to hiiu that Klsle desired to see hlui alone for a few minutes, adding, "t unit not aware you made it a matter of coimcicncc." "She stems lo linve some communica tion which Is In the highest degree con fidential." "I slinil treat whatever she says as a matter between doctor and patient," replied Klnlr, somewhat too promptly, as Kendall thought. Nothing of Importance occurred dur ing the time when Hreiula and Kendall were present with lilalr In Elsie's room. It might have Iwen one of the doctor's regular professional calls. The private conference lasted not more than tlv« minutes, and It pro duced uo very notable efTect upon El sie, but Dr. illnlr seemed to have re cti wU A cuimMwratite surprise. KFT» No. 14 dall vvas far from satisfied with the man's looks. He was not only agitat ed. but he had the air of one who Is both scared and pleased, like a man who sees an opportunity the nature of which both attracts and frightens him. Aud the thought came to Kendall that this secret might affect Brenda, whose father was very weak in the nerves and very strong in the pocket Oil the face of the matter, however. It appeared that Elsie had achieved a notable success, for Blair said to Bren da: "Miss Miller tells me that yon are much disturbed by the absurd attempts to Identify you with the so called 'mys terious woman' in this unfortunate af fair. I tbluk I can put a stop to these stories." "Was It for that that she asked yon to come here?" demanded Brenda, who, by Elsie's request, had not been in formed In advance of this attempt "Oh. no: It was merely Incidental,'* replied Blair, "aud my conclusion de peuds partly upon my having seen you again. Your word should, of course, have been enough for me, but I have not taken a proper view of the serious ness of the matter. I shall now state positively that you are not the lady I saw." "I would prefer that you say nothing at all," said Brenda after a brief inter val of reflection. Blair showed his surprise. "I do not understand," he said. "Surely you wish me to speak the truth?" "I was not aware that you made It a matter of conscience," replied Bren da, slightly iucllnlng her head by way of dismissal to Blair, who was upen the point of leavlug the room. w [TO BX COHTUUm.I SHAM DIAMONDS. Are More Common Than la iienerally Imadaed. A point In favor of the diamond la that Its imitation Is more or less easy of detection. A real diamond cannot be touched with a file, and a false one. though it can be made to scratch glass, will not cut quartz. Its brillian cy also fades, while the real diamond Is. absolutely permanent It reflects all the light falilflg on its posterior sur face at an angle of incidence greater than 24 degrees 13 minutes, but its counterfeit only reflects half this light. But the Imitation of tho diamond may be more common than is imag ined. There Is a good story of one of the famous M. Bourgulgnon's custom ers. A lady went into the well known Paris atelier of sham gems and asked the price of n parure in exact imitation of the one she produced. "Was M. Bourgulgnon sure that the Imitation would be perfect? Had he observed the peculiar beauty and purity of the stones?" The reply came: "Be calm, madame. The same workman shall have the Job. You may rely upon an exact counterpart of his former work." Pulverized quartz Is used for these stones, and It is supplied In the sand from the forests of Fontalnebleau. Hundreds of nieu and numbers of wo men and girls are employed in the Bourgulgnon business, and they make not only diamonds, but pearls, emer alds, rubles aud sapphires. The girls line the false pearls with fish scales, aud wax, polish and color with mineral the other "stones."—Gentleman's Mag azine. Hla excellent Memory. "John," she said, looking at him se verely, "did you know that yesterday was the anniversary of our wedding?" "Certainly, my darling, certainly," he replied, pretending that he wasn't at all surprised. "Didn't they send that little thing out from the Jeweler's tbut I ordered for you? I shall go around today and see about It. Confound thoso people, anyway! They promised they'd send it yesterday without fall. If there's anything that makes mo mad, it's to have people lie to me about a thing of that kind. I'd have gone some where else if they had said they couldn't have it ready In time. Well, , I'll make such a kick when I get into town today that they won't forget next time, I'll bet Yes, 1 remembered it my dear. I thought of you all day and of that other happy lay. What a glo rious—why, my darling, what are you crying for?" "Oh, you 1-1-llarV* she sobbed. "It Isn't till next month, and you're de ceiving uiel Go awayl Don't you dare to t-t-touch me!" "Confound women anyhow!" he said as ho went down the front steps. "They're never happy unless they'ro making trouble for themselves!"—Chl- Comparlaon* Are "Odorom." "Well, I dou't see much difference between 'notoriety' aud 'fame.' " "You don't? Thcu you wouldn't be able to distinguish between the por fume of limburger cheese aud that of the rose."—Philadelphia Press. A Woman'a Way. Madge—l wouder why she bothers so much about her complexion? MarJorle— I suppose it's because she hasn't any.—Judge. Sponffea. Sponges grow in odd, fantastic shapes. Some of them have an over growth resembling huge warts. There arc some suggesting hands, liats mid figures of idols. These are curiosities and not marketable for practical use. In trimming them Into shape many small sponges are made which are used for ahlldren's slates, for black ing shoes and In making paper. The uses vary according to size. One of the largest sponges known Is In New York city. It Is fan shape and some three feet In diameter. For practical use it is worthless, but as an exhibit it Is valued at SIOO. The best sponges are Imported from the Mediterranean, although Florida produces very fine varieties. These vary in prlco from a cent to S2O apiece, although occasionally fine specimens bring SOO a pound. Tho best of these aro used In surgical op erations. Other sponges aro tho mandruka batt, tho elephant ear, velvet grnss and sheep's wool, which is best for washing. The cheap sponges aro used In wuslilng carriages and by painters. A Cnrlona Indian Custom. In the original settlements In British Columbia II peculiar Institution occa sioned gala times for the red men now and then. This was the "potlatch," a thing to us so foreign, even in tho Im pulse of which It Is begotten, that we have no word or phrase to give Its meaning. It Is n feast and merrymak ing at the expense of some man who has earned or saved what he deems considerable wealth, and who desires to distribute every lota of It at once In edibles and drinkables among the people of his tribe or village. He does tills because he aspires to a chieftain ship or merely for the credit of a "pot latch," a high distinction. Indians have I icon known to throw away such a sum of money that their "potlatch" has been given lu a huge shed built for the feast, and blankets and orna ments have been distributed la addi tion to the feast