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 <S 4T\
AT THE TOP OF STYLE!
WE ARE Renoy WITH OOR feINE OF
Spring Clothing
The styles were chosen with critical discriminatioti and our mag
nificent display represents the best selections from the leading makers.
We Want More Men and Boys
To Know Our Clothing
We want more Men and Boyg to sec it. The better they know
our clothing the more they will be astpupded and delighted by its
qualities, styles-and all round excellence.
We are willing to rest our case on the goods themselves. Let
them do the talking.
Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money Refunded.
Schaul & Nast,
LEADING CLOTHIERS AND FURNISHERS,
137 South Main St., Butler.
JL .I—ll j .
KECK
jft> 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
»
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THE BUTLEH CITIZEN.
jalyOl «
fiVCA
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AXLE
JL flkand light loads.
QKEASE
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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 <tf a rouge pot," said
Brenda. "Hark! They are coming
along the corridor."
She stepped to the door ami ushered
In Alden and Kendall.
Alden had the pale, set face of
Nathan Hale going to execution. As
often happens with a man too strenu
ously prepared, his eyes failed to fo
cus, and he stared for a moment at
Klsle without really seeing her. Had
she been the wasted and pitiable ob
ject that his Inexperience led him to
expect lie would probably have borno
the sight of her with great fortitude,
but when her face emerged from tho
mists of Imperfect vision precisely
Elsie's, with every well remembered
attribute of beauty, it was an attack
upon an unprotected spot In Ills de
fenses. and every drop of blood In bis
body cried out With tlie voice of ono
great sob.
"This Is what I was afraid of," mut
tered Kendall. "Confound him! I
knew he'd break down."
Ho glanced uneasily at Elsie, but sho
seemed ijtilto calm. She extended her
hand toward Alden, and he kissed it,
failing on Ills knees beside the bed.
"You must not feel sorry for me."
said she. "I nm very comfortable, and
I waste no time in pitying myself. It
was very kind of you to send tho vio
lets."
"Dear little girl." he said, still kneel
ing. "every minute of my life shall bo
yours to make this right."
"You are uot to speak that way," re
plied Klsle, with that manner which
accompanies long considered words.
"You have your own life to lead. You
must not spoil it for me."
Alden's face was gray with anxiety
as lie looked Into Elsie's.
"Don't say we have gone back; that
It's all like long ago." lie begat). But
the warning c>'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