A 5 TS Ra — - . ew BE Rs A Band of Velvet Ribbon By JOHN Y. LARNED An Important Occasion By JOHN TURNLEE HUNTING A SPY * — By DONALD CHAMBERLIN At a summer hotel in the Adirondack mountains, where there were the usual quantum of young girls and the usual deficit of young men for them to flirt with, Albert King, who needed recre gtion after too much work, found him- pelf in demand. But King was not ®t ladies’ man,-and he demurred. Nevertheless, there was one girl who During the summer hegira of Ameri- cans to Europe Miss Virginia King’ met on the steamer outward bound David Red wood. He dawdled with her through galleries in Dresden and Mu- nich, cdmbed mountains in Switzer- land and parted with her in Paris, he being obliged te return to his native land early in September. The result of this sightseeing was an engagement, and it was agreed that Mr. Redwood on his return to Ameri- ca should seek the acquaintance of | the young lady's father and make a | formal application for her hand. She was of course to write her father of 1 attracted him. She was not one of the rocking chair brigade, as the ladies who pat on the piazza were dubbed, for she was not admitted to their charmed ecir- ele. Why, King did not know King made her acquaintance and was thereafter taboo by the patricia: girls, who bad no use for a man who | would divide his attentions to them | with one of another caste. But he did not mind this, for Ellen Bickford. the young lady in question, interested him and relieved the monuiony of his stay in the mountains. Besides, he discov: ered her superiority in one respect, courage. for when a large party were caught out on the lake in a terrific squall and it looked as if their boat would be swamped Miss Bickford dis played no terror whatever, while other girls were desperatety frightened. Miss Bickford never wore short sleeves to Ler dresses except at the hotel dances, when she displayed a well ronnded neck and arms. But at such times her right arm was inva- riably encircled with a broad strip of velvet. The fact that this part of her arm—midwuay between the shoulder and the elbow—was never exposed soon began to excite comment. That there was something on her arm to be concealed wus evident: curiosity stepped in and would know what it was. But there was a dignity about Miss Bickford that caused curious per- sons to abstain from making inquiries. 80 the matter remained unexplained. King was ignorant of the gossip con cerning what kind of blemish was hidden under the velvet. He had noticed the fact of Miss ‘Bickford's wearing it. but had not troubled himself as to the cause. If he thought of it at all he very likely set it down to the conceal ment of a scar, probably caused by vaccination. was the daughter of a common sailor who, when she was a child, had tat tooed on her arm an anchor. Since | King had been smitten with the young | lady this report naturally interested ; him. Whatever he may have thought of Miss Bickford's origin, it seemed to him unlike her to conceal any mark of it. He would rather expect her to | t the whole world to know hes | for exactly what she was. Miss Bickford, it seems, was as much attracted by Mr. King as he was by her. Moreover, she noticed that after a cer tain period he seemed disposed to draw away from her. She knew that what she was concealing was causing a smrothor~d commotion among the young | lac. le hotel and inferred that 80m+« ou: ¢’ the many stories that were foating about concerning it had reach- ed him. One day she frankly said to “MT. King,’ ndve you heard the story that T am thre" ‘daugliter of 4 common “gafior ‘who tattooed’ an gHchor on my arm?’ HY have” “#&% an nec thd ‘only person in this house - whosé 'opitiioh 1 care for, but 1 ‘do éare for yours’ and ‘do not wish, so “Fdras you are eonderned, to sail under “Palse colors.” Sy father is or was a ‘landsman ‘and“had Hothing to do with ‘What 1s ‘under the ‘dirclet I wear. But 1 do wear ito ‘conceal something that hay’ been tattooed oh my arm.” “Thank you very much for the pref- erence you have shown me and your frankness. For the first time my cu- riosity as to that ribbon has been ex- cited, aud since you have caused it I look to you to gratify it.” “I assure you that it is nothing to be ashamed of.” . “Is it anything to be proud of?” To this she assented haltingly. “In that case I insist upon seeing it.” After some persuasion she pulled the rbbon down toward her elbow, and there in blue ink under the skin were the letters “Heroine.” King looked at the word, then up at the girl’s face and, with a smile, said: “Come; tell the story. I am dying to hear it.” “It is not much of a story. For years my family had a cottage on the sea- coast. My summers were spent there from the time I was six years old. I learned to swim like a duck and could handle a boat as well as a boy. Our cottage was on one side of a neck of land, and a life saving station was on -the other side. One day on our side a ship came ashore. The life men did ot know of her being there, and there as not time in which to tell them. There were six men about to drown I pulled out in my boat and saved them. I was but thirteen years old and didn’t know enough to refuse to permit one of the life savers to tattoo my arm.” “You havé hurried through your sto- ry,” said King, “as though it was something to be ashamed of. I'm glad what you are is indelibly written on your person, and if you were mine 1 would never consent to an ghismpe to eradicate it.” In time she became his, and there was nothing he: was mors proud of than the proud title his wif .eontinued to eonceal. | the acceptance of her suitor, and as she was prone to decide things for berself the only part Mr. King was to take in the matter was to go through | the formalities. | i On Mr. Redwood's arrival he wrote Mr. King a note, stating that he had met his wife and daughter abroad and with their kind permission would be happy to call on Mr. King if he would inform him what time and place would be agreeable. The young man was in- vited to dine with his prospective fa- ther-in-law on the following evening at his suburban residence at East Ar- lington, a dozen miles from the city. On the train Redwood sat next a gentleman who, when the conductor came along, offered a commutation ticket to East Arlington. “Pardon me.” said Redwood. *I see you are from East Arlington. Can you inform me what direction 1 shall take to reach the residence of Edward King?" “Edward King? Oh, yes! I can tell you where he lives. I go right by his house. I'll show you the way with pleasure.” The gentleman—Barbour was his name—proved quite genial, and before their journey was ended Redwood had in Europe, and since King had told Mr. Barbour of his daughter's engage- But one day the rumor | reached his ears that Miss Bickford | ment the latter was not long in divin i ing the young m@n’s errand. { “Is Mr. King a—ahem—a genial man, a man of the world?” asked Redwood. | “On ‘the contrary, he is very strict. Can't tolerate tobacco; never drinks | any wines or liquors and is very at- | tentive to formalities. But if you are | going to see him on a matter of im- | portance I would advise you to beware of him. He has a way of finding out ! about people by throwing them off their guard. They say that before em- ploying a man in his business he will pretend to be a roisterer to him, and | if there is anything wild about the fel | low it will show itself.” “Thank ‘you very 'much ‘for the in- formation,” said Redwood, and 3arned the subject. On the arrival of the a the gen- tleman showed Redwood ‘to the King residence and went to his bwan home, The visitor was admitted by a ‘butler and told that Mr. King was dressing for dinner and would be down present- ‘ly. Then the butler disappeared and returned in a few minutes with a cock- tail and a box of cigarettes on a’ salver, said Redwood,’ ther drink nor smoke.” But the butler left the refrestyments on a table and departed without a word. Mr. King came down and: received his visitor cordially. Naturally &now- ing the object of the call, he was a tri- fle disconcerted. “I see you have not drunk your gogk- tail,” be said. “Do so, and I will join you in another. C ear; bring two cosk tails.” Redwood protested {hat be never drank wines or liquors—they didn’t agree with him—and, as for smoking, he regarded it a filthy habit, Mr. King looked at him with an expression of disapprobation, When the butler brought more refreshments he drank hig cocktail, apparently much disgrun- tled at being obliged to drink alone. | Then they went into dinner. A bottle of champagne was on ice beside the host’s chair, but Redwood declined to drink any of it. Of course Mr. King could not urge his guest to break through his accustomed habits. During the dinner Redwood muster- ed the necessary courage to go through the formalities of asking Mr. King for his daughter, and the matter being over with the host regretted that his prospective son-in-law would not join him in a glass of wine to the health of their beloved Virginia. It was hard for the young man to resist the temp- tation, but, fearing he was being test- ed and might lose the girl he loved if he yielded, he stood firm. During the awkward pause that fal- lowed there was a ring at the door bell, and the gentleman Redwood had met on the train entered. Mr. King's expression changed. “Hello, Jim!” he exclaimed. “You're Just in time to preveut my drinking alone Ginnie’s health upon her en- gagement. This is Mr. Redwood, to whom I have just given her.” With a twinkle fn his eye, Mr. Bar- bour took up the glass that was filled for him and said: “Pray excuse me, Mr. Redwood, for perpetrating a buge joke on you. The temptation was too strong for me. My friend Ned King is a temperate man, but not such as I pictured him to you. fF am g to join you both on this very happy occasion.” And the three drank the health of ; the absent one 1 with great gusto. told him that he had met the Kings | “Thank you; you needn’t legve that,” looking at ‘the iiquor: and the cigarettes longingly. © 3 ‘nel Back From The Dead By EDITH V. ROSS A Fortunate Meeting By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS Shortly before the war broke out in the Balkans between the Turks and the allies I left Adrianople one even- ing about dark for Belgrade. There was one passenger in the compartment besides myself, and I noticed that while waiting for the train to start he was very ill at ease. When the guard shut and locked the door he seemed to breathe easier, but was still evi dently impatient for the train to be off. When at last it began to roll out of the station he put his head out of the window eagerly. Following the direction of his eyes | saw a man, whom I knew to be a Turk by his fez, running for the train. He ran like a deer, my fellow passenger watching him breathlessly. The latter occupied the window so that I could not see if the Turk caught the train, but presently my eompanion fell back gasping. “Lost!” he moaned. I had some knowledge of one or two of the many languages spoken in the Balkans, so that [I' understood the word. 1 also spoke some French and German and tried the man in both, getting an understanding in the latter tongue. “What is your trouble?’ 1 asked. “Are you German?" he asked instead of replying “No: American.” “Oh. American. You then are a lov- er of liber: Certainly you have no sentenced to death. While waiting to be, executed | caught my guard pap ping and escaped. 1 hoped to get away by this train. but this man, in whose charge I was placed. will go through the train when it stops and recov- er me.” Then, taking out a pencil and rear- ing a bit of paper from an old letter, be wrote ‘his name and address on it and handed it to me. “When you reach Sofia,” he contin- ued. -*will you tell my wife what 1 have told you and what follows? Say that my \ast thoughts were of her and our dear children.” “It you are sure to be executed. why not take the chanee of jumping trom the train?” “1 am going to do that, but death is as sure as if | suffered myseif 10 be taken back to Adrianople.” “You may strike soft ground.’ " By tbe time | had spoken the words he was out on the footboard 4 put my head out through the windaw and saw his dim figure not far from it. It was very dark. Lreseutly 1 covpsed to see him and believed that he bad Jumped. The first stop the train made was at Techivmen, which we reached in.about half an bour after the spy had disap peared.. ;The guard unlocked the, door, but would not jet me alight til) after the compartment. had been examined by she man whem 1 bad seen rupning for the train. As soon as he had pass- ¢d lL. stepped down on. fo the platform andsfollowed him to see if he got his quarry. He, «did not find him, and the in moved on. 1 wondered what had. become of the PF. He must have jumped or he world: have - been found. on the train. Nearly all the passengers were Turks, and I noticed the moment 1 alighted that, there was a. chair of men wear- ing fezzes, surrounding the train, prob- -ably.passengers who had volunteered to help the official. in bis efforts to ar- ‘Pest the spy. Before we passed over the Turkish line’ to. enter eastern Roumelia the train stopped for a long while, and 1 felt gure that it was for the purpose of making a final search for the spy In time we started on and in a few minutes were among a different nation ality. “What a pity,” I said to myself, “that the man could not have conceal- ed himself on the train till we had passed the border! In that case he would have been safe.” The first stop we made in Roumelia was at Hermani. There I alighted to stretch my legs, slowly walking toward the forward end of the train. I saw a man coming who I supposed was a coal shoveler on the engine, only he was blacker than ny stoker 1 ever saw. What was my surprise when, rushing toward me, he threw his be- grimed arms around me. “Don’t you know me?” he said. “I am the spy.” Then in the blackened features I rec- ognized the man with whom I had sympathized. “Is it you, and alive?’ I asked. “Yes it is I, and very much alive,” “How did you do it?” “I walked forward on the footboard till I reached the locomotive tender. Climbing over the coal, I told the en- gineer, who was a Servian, miy story. He suggested that since the train would be searched I had better hide under the coal. So I lay down on the floor of the tender, and they covered me with the coal.” When we reached Sofia nothing would do but that I should go to the man’s home with him. I did so, and so bégrimed was he that his family did not at first recognize him. His ger. He waa a week overdue, and she had given him up. Covered as he was with coal dust, she embraced him. I was entertained royally at his house and left it with regret. sympathy with Turks. [ am doomed I have been in Adrianople spying on the fortiticaiions, I was arrested, and | drawings were found on me. | was | wife knew the errand on which he | had been to Adrianople and its dan- | “Oh, papa!” said Georgie Trevor. “What do you think?” “What do I think? Why, I think my little boy looks very happy about something.” “I saw mamma in the park!” A pained expression came over the father's face. His wife, the mother of the boy. had been dead a year. The child was at the time too young to understand the nature of death and had been told that his mother had gone away and would not come back to him. When the father recovered from the shock his son had given him he said: “You were mistaken, Georgie. You couldn't have seen mamma, for she is in heaven.” : “Yes, I did. While Nanny and 1 were walking in the park I saw mam- ma sitting on a bench by the fountain. I ran up to her and said, ‘Oh, mamma. where “have you been so long, and why don't g&u come home? “And w 7 did mamma say?’ “Why. she kissed me and said, ‘I can’t come to you, but you can come and see me at my home occasionally.’ Then | asked her where that was, and she said. ‘I'll tell your nurse, and she can bring you.'” The father took his boy in his arms. kissed him and. putting him down, | sent for the nurse and questioned her. She told him that the lady Georgie had referred to was the image of his lost wife: that she had humored the boy and had given her address, at the same time telling her that she might , uring hilu’ te see her if she found he was louzing for her. The hext day Georgie asked to be taken to see his “mamma,” and the nurse, having referred the matter to his father and received his assent. took the child to se¢é the lady, Miss Marian Hill, who petted him! and gave him candy and sent Lim ‘home loaded with favors. Many ‘tines durfng his visit she was about to expldin to him that she was not His mother, that he had made a mistake. but that he might con- sider her #s such. aiid she would love him the same as if she were so, but the child seemed so sure about her identity, and it wus evident that she would only pain him by setting him | right, so she could not bring herself to correct his error. When he parted from her he said: “Why don’t you come home, mamma, and see papa? ITe looks so sorry be- cause you went away!” Miss Hil' found it more difficult to parry this part of the error than any of the others. Ilowever, she was no prudé and yielded to the necessities of the case. Her heart was touched by the motherless boy. and she placed his ‘comfort ‘above all else. “You can bring papa to see me if you like,” she said - “And then: will you come home with us?’ The lady kissedithim and said that she couldii’t “do ‘that ‘and she couldn't explain to“ him why. but doubtless his fathér would AiAderstand. © So ‘when (+éorisie%s father came Home that evening’ thie boy: told him that mafama’ ‘couldnt come. chome to- see him, but he could go to-see ber. + One afternoon. /Mri4Trevor made a call-on Miss Hill. #f¢ was struck with ber likeness to tiigilost wife and was not surprised ‘that>@Georgie. had mis- taken her for ‘His'mother. «+ 3 “I would have broyght Georgie with me,” he said. but’ thought that we had better tirst arrange what we shoyld tell bim to satisfy Lip, that: oy stories may not disagree.” “I fear. that I shall. Baye: to rely, on you to ‘tell him that I am not his. moth- er. I fear I have not the heart to do 80.” “1 will think the matter over. There is uo need for haste. I am not sure that we could make him understand his mistake even if we tried to do so. For the present we may permit him to remain in ignorance.” Miss Hill made no reply to this. She knew that it would be embarrassing for the child to continue in supposing that she was his mamma, living in an- other home than theirs, Mr. Trevor also realized this, but be had thought of a remedy. The moment he saw Miss Hill he was sejzed with a desire that she should fill the gap left by the wife he had lost. Indeed, from the time he thought of this possibility he became a different man. Being a wid- ower, he knew how to lay siege to a woman's heart and realized that his motherless child had opened a way for him. When he arose to leave after his first call he had formed a definite pur- pose that would bring him a compan- ion and his boy a mother. HE began by sending trifling gifts by Georgie when he went with his nurse to see his mamma, principally flowers and books, following up these by invitations, which at first were such as might include Georgie. From this be stepped to invitations and gifts of such frequency that his ultimate in- tentions were obvious. One day he made his boy dance for joy by telling him that “mamma” was coming home. “1 knew she would come some time!” cried the child, clapping bis bands. “When is she coming?” “Papa is going to take her for a short journey. and when we come back she i: will be here all the time.” Georgie never knew but that he had | found his mother, who for some unac- countable reason had gone away, but had come back to him. “There’s a new boy coming!” Half a dozen youngsters ran to the porte-cochere of Mr. Sanford’s boarding school to see the new pupil. He jump- ed out of the carriage, and when be had done so stood stock still, staring at one of the boys who had come to look him over, all the others staring at him. : “Why, he’s Bob Archer!” was the ex- clamation of several of the self con- stituted reception committee. “Are you Bob Archer?’ asked the newcomer of the boy who was gaping at him. “Yes.” “Then you're my twin brother.” “Reckon you're right.” Mr. and Mrs. Edward Archer eight years before this meeting had sepa- rated, having made an arrangement that the father should have one of their twin boys, aged four, and the mother should have the other. Thom- as had gone with his father, Robert with his mother. From the time of the separation these two divisions of the family had never met. Their par- ents, unknown to each other, had sent them to the same school. The affection twins have for each other is accounted for physiologically. Tom and Bob Archer from the time they met at the Sanford school were inseparable. “Bob.” said Tom one day. remember father?” “No. Do you remember mother?” “Just a little.” “What do you suppose was the mat ter between them?” “Don’t know. [I don’t think tathers and mothers have a right to gnarrel, ‘do you? It's mighty hard on the kids.” “No. I don’t. When vacation comes 1 suppose we've got to separate again “I move we don't.” “What can we do?” “I'll write father that I’m. going to spend . my vacation with you some where, and you write mother yours going to spend yours with me.’ : “It would knock mother out not to have me with her.” *Humph!™ I don’t think it would trou *do you ble father. so much to part with me. but it might. Fathers don’t show’ wha, they feel so much as mothers.” “Where can we go for our vacation?” “Let's go to a farm.” ; The upshot of this conspiracy was that the boys wrote to their respective homes that they would not be separaf ed and were going to spend their sum- mer vacation together on a farm.’ This struck each parent with consternation Mrs, Archer wrote ber husband to know if he had any objection to ber spending July and August with the boys. Mr. Archer replied that he bad Then each boy was informed by the parent with whom he lived that he must come home; if he remained away no remittance would be sent him. The boys, who had come to their resolution to Stay together some time before the end of the term, had saved up the mon- ey sent them from home for spending, | and each had enough to pay $2 a week board for eight weeks. So they wrote that they could get on without remit tances. There was a farm a few miles from the school that they had often visited, and there they made arrangements to pay $2 a week each for board and do $2 work a week, which consisted prin- cipally of milking. On leaving school they went to this farm, and since the work was a novelty to them they quite enjoyed it, Mrs. Archer endured her son’s ab- sence as long as possible; then gave way to a desire to see both her chil- dren together. So, filling her'purse with money and her suit case with good things for them, she went to see them. Putting an arm around each of them, ‘she sat weeping that she could ‘not have both of them with her always. She remained with them two days, when, fearing that her husband might hear of her presence there, she bade the boys goodby, intending to go home. She was embracing both ‘at once, tears streaming down her cheeks, when the door opened and there stood her hus- band. Now, Mrs. Archer in her troubles with her husband had yielded to irri- tation and when he said disagreeable things to her had hurled them back in kind. She had never resorted to wo- man’s trump card, tears. Her husband, seeing her embracing their boys, weep- ing, began to weep himself. Tears, like laughter, are contagious, and, see- ing their parents weeping, the boys followed suit. The father approached his sons to embrace them, shedding a few tears over Bob, whom he had not seen for years, and thus got mixed up with Tom and the wife and mother. Their arms were around each other promiscuously. “Belle,” said Mr. Archer, “these boys have got ahead of us. We can’t con- tinue the situation without its pertain- ing to them. In separating from each other we separate ourselves from them. If you'll come home and bring them with you you’ll be welcome.” “Do it, mother,” pleaded both the boys. That was the end of the separation in the Archer family. Both father and mother placed a guard over them- selves, for they knew that as soon as { they parted the boys would part from i both of them. But time had changed them, and loneliness had taught them { that scrapping is the result of nervous- : ness and, after all, doesn’t mean much. | However, scrapping was never re i sumed between them. ORGAN RECITAL. Prof. Ebisch of Erie, Pa., will give =~ an Organ Recital in Amity Reformed church on September the 24th, under the auspices of the Guild. Proceeds to go to the organ fund. Executor’s Notice. Estate of John A. Shumaker, late of Harneds- ville, Somerset County, Pa., formerly of Hyndman, Bedford Co., Pa., dec’d. CLetters testamentary on the above estate having been granted to the undersigned by the proper authority, notice is hereby given to all persons knowing themselves indebted to said estate to make immediate payment, and those havirg claims against tke same to present them duly authenticated for settlement to the undersigned, at his residence in Meyersdale, Pa. NORMAN R. SHUMAKER. Executor. Baltimore & Ohio EXCURSION TO GUMBERLAND AND IJRETURN SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 "Hr $1.00 Meyeradale TRIP rain Leaves at 11:10 A. M. Spscial -8ilver dollars sewed along the seams, ot of a Horse. Thi horse is one of the most ingen». unexampled pieces of mechs; animal structure. The hoot c¢ouiii.: «+ a series of vertical and thin kinan.e of horn, amounting to ahout 500 add forming a complete lin- ine to it © tn this are fitted as many iminie belonging to the coffin bone, wht both «irs are elastie and adher- ent he od of a quire of paper, in- Serid Tear oy leaf into another, will couvey a sufficient idea ‘of the arrange- ment Thus the weight of the animal is supported by as many elastic springs as there’ are laminae in all the feet. amounting ‘to abun £000. distributed “in the moxt Secure manner, since every spring 1s ated on obliquely. Light of the Stars. According to some computations made by Dr: Chapman and. read. to the Royat Astronomical soctety.” the: total amount of light from the stars is about equal to that which would be given by 630 stars of the first magni tude. “The light given by stars of each mag- nitude decreases trom the tirst magni. tude down to the tenth, the decrease in brightness of the individual stars of the successive magnitudes being more than compensated for by the increase in the number of stars belonging to that magnitude. But below the tenth magnitude this is no longer the case, the light tall ) off rapidly as we descend ‘the scale. Peas and a Piano. : You have heard the ¢ld story of the great pianist who used to lay six beans —or was it peas?—on the piano and compel himself to play a most difficult and intricate composition through six times without an error. Every time he went successfully through he took up a pea and put it in his pocket. Every time he made a mistake he.took all the peas out of his pocket-and began:again, even if almost at the end, of, the time. Many of our young music pupils seem to think an error. makes no differ- ence. They expect to- make them, 80 of course they do make them. You can- not build: great achievements of art upon these. faulty founiations Chris: tian Heradd. J4 i "Cuban Bees Cannot Sting. The native bee of ‘Cuba, ‘unlike the American ‘honeybee, hds no stinger and can be handled without fear. An ‘American apiarist in a Pinar del Rio town imported some American bees re- cently, ‘says the Times of Cuba, and because of their superior armament they soon became masters of the sur- rounding sweetness, much to the dis- gruntlement of the native honey raiser. The American bees stung their rivals to death, carrying off the stored honey in triumph, “What chance has a Cuban got, against the Americans?” exclaimed one owner of vanquished honey gatherers. “They even arm their Dees!” | LOST TIME. The most reckless spendthrift is the one who squanders time. ships broken may be renewed, houses and lands may be sold or buried or burned, but may be bought or gained or built again. But whet power can restore the moment that has passed, the day whose sun has set, the year that has been numbered with the ages gone ? | “Queer People | Have Met” ° I'vg seen Kentuckians who hated whisky, Virginians who weren't de- scended from Pocahontas, Indianiang who hadn't writen a novel, Mexicans whe didn’t wear velvet trousers with funny Englishmen, spendthrift Ysn- kees, cold blooded southerners and narrow minded westerners and New Yorkers who weren’t too busy to stop for an hour on the street to watch a one armed grocer’s clerk do up cran- berries in paper bags.—From O. Hen- ry’s “A Cosmopolitan In a Cafe.” Money lost may be regained, friend- | : ~~, ¥ AT me nd 1 i a in AL a pal ad bd pee AOA sh A 0 Hh 8 A PAA wing and all o ceili effec pain + Ohi