- : THE MEYERSDALE COMMERCIAL, MEYERSDALE, PA. .
rm
Love
nsurance
By
|
SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE
Copyright, 1914, the Bobbs-iierrill
V
1 it ux clothes
: r+ jou a hand-
£ ¢.o to wed. Mr,
Mino. wd sworn they were
- to wed.
He kept the bitterness from his tone
as he greeicd them there amid the
soft magic of tae Florida night. To-
gether they went inside. In the cen-
ter of a magnificent hallway they
found Mrs. Bruce standing, like stout,
Cortez on his Darien peak, triumphant
amid the glory of her gold. :
Mr. Bruce slipped out of the shadows
Sato the wearimess of another formal
@inner. Mrs. Bruce glittered, and he
wrote the checks. He was a scragsgly
Nttle man who sometimes sat for houra
&t a time in silence.. There were those
@nkind enough to say that be sought
jack, trying to recall the reason that}
Rad led bim to marry Mre. Bruce.
Whea he beheld Miss Cynthia Mey-
sick and knew that he was to take her
faito tamer Mr. Bruce brightened per-
None save .a.biind and deaf
announced Spencer Meyrick.
expostulated
| thing wasn’t worth the publicity that
: would result.
{ be kept out of this.”
part—ensued. Suzgestions galore were
! offered by the guests. But in the end
EARL BE RR BIGGERS | aereed not to call in the police.
Author of { ing smile on the face of Martin Wall.
smelling salts and the whole party
more or less in confusion, the return
Company to the house started. Mr. Psddock
| gaded sare
| with thes.
1 Genly and put his hands on Minot's ' |
‘| shoulders. ‘Mr. Minot," be said, ‘you : ii
| are here io.see that.nothing interferes .
reer
iy — < > 7 |
paypal 11 L0G SDROOY. ; “Who took this necklace from Miss |
“No matter, Harrowby replied. Meyrick’s hair?” asked Minot hotly. |
“Don’t give it another thought. my
child.” came from the manager's office, where i
they had evidently been closeted.
With the cablegram in his hand Mi-
not entered the elevator and ascended
to his room. The other hand was in
the pocket of his topcoat, closed tight-
ly upon Chain Lightning's collar—the
bauble that the Earl of Raybrook had
once wagered against a Kiss.
Mr. Minot opened his eyes on Thurs-
day morning with the uncomfortable
feeling that he was far from his be-
loved New York. For a moment he lay
dazed, wandering in that dim border-
land between sleep and waking. Then
suddenly he remembered.
“Qh, yes, by jove,” he muttered, “I've
been knighted. Groom of the back-
stairs scandals and keeper of the royal
jewels—that’s me.”
HG lifted his plllow. There on the
white sheet sparkled the necklace of
which the whole British nobility was
proud—Chain Lightning's collar, Some
seventy-five blue-white diamonds, pear
shaped, pérfectly graduated. His for
the moment! . RiG, Daal
“But how can 1 help”’—
«1 shall telephone the police at once.”
“I beg you'll do nothing of the sort,”
Lord ‘Harrowby. “it
would be a great inconvenience. The
I insist that the police
Mr.
Argument—loud on Meyrick’s
Lord Harrowby had his way. It was
Mr. Minot. looking up, saw a sneer-
n a flash he knew the truth.
With Aunt Mary calling loudiy for
walked at Minot's side.
“Rather looks as though Chain Light-
ning’s collar had choked off our gay-
ety,” he mumbled. “Serves her right
for wearing the thing in her hair. ‘She
spoiled two corking lines for me by
not wearing it where you'd naturally
expect a necklace to be worn.”
Minot maneuvered so as to intercept
Lord Harrowby under the portico. Y
“May I speak with you a moment?”
he réflécted:’ “The dear old top> Nice,
Another. perfect day shone: in that
: Yow Spanish str oe te Up in Manhat-
“Lord Harrowby.” said Minot, trying
to keep the excitement from his voice.
“I have certain information about one
of the guests here this evening that I
believe would interest you. Your lord- | 7
ship has been badly buffaloed. One of
our fellow diners at Mrs. Bruce's table
holds the title of the ablest jewel thief
in Americal”
He watched: keenly to catch Lord:
Harrowby's start of surprise.’ Alas,
he caught nothing of the sort.
“Nonsense,” said. his lordship non-
chalantly. “You mustn't Tet your im-
agibation carry ‘you away, déar chap.”
“Irnagination nothing! 1 Know what
I'a’ talking mbout™ And ‘thén “Minot
sarcastfonlly, “Sorry 46 ‘bore you
a 0 Perr
wire ‘held “dp by 106" in thi Fivert Tig
Quaintance of the San
raft FB UIIRUEYLL
‘SNe. Whats that?”
dig a g that?
His lordship Innghed.
“Right-o, oM. fellow. I'm not inter
eated."”. "
Bat haven't you just lost’—
“A diamond ‘necklace? Yes.” They
bad’ regched ‘a ‘particularly dark and
sécTaded spot beneath” the ehanopy’ ‘of
palm lenvesis Harrowby ‘turned sud.
{ “trust you are determined to do your.
biuty 18 your euiglofes sds
““AbSstutel THES why = column om page 1, has tis $0
“Then reptiéqd Hirrowby quickly, «The impecunious but titled Bight
“1 ‘Ho pottid! to ask You! to tak charge man WHC has arrived th our midst re-
example; Muse: "On: Dit, writing bw her
i
po mous toy that it was,
ae”
‘| rapidly toward the house.
of this for me.” ‘8700 cently” with’ the iden of ‘cd
Suddenly; Minot: fe't something cold with certain American has aw
and glassy Jin-his hand. Startled, he« fhteresthig time ulead of Hin if "tu-
looked down.. Even tu the dark Chain: mor speaks:ttues The little 4peident
igntning's col'av sparkled like the fa~ in the lobby of:a-locai hotel the other
evening—whioh was duly reported in
this column .at the time—was but a
I can only’ mild beginning, The gentleman in
“Yor 1ofdsaip!” !
“T'“tannot’ explain now.
il tell you it is ‘quite’ necessary that you charge '6f ‘the claimant to ‘the title held
help mie at ‘this thine if you Wish'to do’ go fealotsly by our British friend prom:
your full duty by Mr. Jephson" ises immedidte “developments: which
«Who took this necklace from Miss will be rich, rare and racy.’ ”
Meyricks hair?’ asked Minot hotly. “Rich, raresand racy!’ repeated Mi-
«I did. I assure you it was the only not thoughtfully. “Ah, yes; we were
way, to prevent our plans from going to watch Mr. Trimmer! I had almost
awry. Please keep it until 1 ask for forgot him in ‘the excitement of “last
: | evening. BY ‘the ‘way,” does the Mail
know anything about’ the “disappear-
ance of Chain Lightning's collar?”
“Not ‘as yet)’ smiled Mr. Paddock,
And, turning, Lord Haxrowby walked :
“The brute!” Aungrily Mr. Minot
‘Stood turning the necklace over in his “although Mme. On Dit claims to have
hand. “So ‘he frighiened the girl he been a guest at the dinner. By the
Hc Beheld, Cnarkling In Her Hair, the
Perfect Diamonds.
elub men,” a horsy girl from West
chester, an ex-ambassador’s wife and
daughter, a number of names from
Boston and Philadelphia with their re-
spective bearers. And, last but not
least, the two Bond girls from Omaha
~—blond, lovely, but inclined to be snob-
bish even in that company, for their
mother was a Van Reypan, and Van
Reypans are rare birds in Omaha and
elsewhere.
Mr. Minot took in the elder of the
Bond girls and found that Cynthia
Meyrick sat on his left. He glanced
at her throat as they sat down. It was
bare of ornament. And then he be-
held, sparkling in her lovely hair, the
perfect diamonds of Chain Lightning's
collar. As he turned back to the table
he caught the eye of Mr. Martin Wall
Mr. Wall's eye happened to be coming
away from the same locality.
A half hour later Mrs. Bruce's dinner
party was séattered among the palms
and flowers of her gorgeous lawn. Mr.
Minot had fallen again to the elder
girl from Omaha, and blithely for her
he was displaying his Broadway ig-
norance of horticulture. Suddenly out
of the night came a scream. Instant
ly when he heard it Mr. Minot knew
who had uttered it.
Unceremoniously he parted from the
Omaha beauty and sped over the lawn.
But, quick as he was, Lord Harrowby
was qui for when Minot came up
be v wby bending over Miss
M t upon a wicker bench.
vhat i$ it?” Harrowby was
f
ildly of her
ick felt Ww
is’ to marry—the girl he is supposed to = way, what do you make of last night's
love’ — melodramatic farce?’
What should he do—go to her and | “I don’t know what to make of it,”
tell her of Harrowby’s amiable eccen- answered Minot truthfully. He was
tricities? He could bardly do that— suddenly conscious of the necklace in
Harrowby had taken him into his con- his inside coat pocket.
fidence—and, besides, there was Jeph- | a —
son of the great bald head, the Peter | .
Pan eyes. Nothing to do but wait. CHAPTER VIL
Returning to the hotel from Mrs.’ After the Trained Seals.
Bruce's villa, he found awaiting him a INOT and Paddock returned
cable from Jephson. The cable as- late, and their dinner was cor-
respondingly delayed. It was
8:30 o'clock wher! they at last
sured him that beyond any question
the man in San Marco was Allan Har-
strolled into the lobby of the De la
Pax. There they encountered Miss
rowby and. like Caesar's wife. above
suspicion. > it
Meyrick, her father and Lord Har
rowby.
Yet even as he read Lord Harrowby
walked through the lobby, and at his
side was Mr. James O'Malley, house |
detective of the Hotel de la Pax. They movies,” said Miss Meyrick. “He con-
‘ fesses he’s never been. Won't you
come along?’
She was one of her gay selves to-
night—white, slim, laughing, irrisisti-
ble.
After the third picture the lights of
the auditorium were turned up, and
the hour of vaudeville arrived.’ On
to the stage strolled a pert, confident
youth ' garbed in shabby grandeur,
who attempted sidewalk repartee.
| When the young man had wrung
splendor Captain Ponsonby’s troupe
of trained seals.
J
/
es ——————
“What's Harrowby up to, I wonder?" |
pleasant: little: ‘party: if. a: policeman:
should find this in my pocket.” =i
he inquired. Harrowby bowed, and | ooo ip trical : R; M.A
they stepped into'the shadows of the aa ties od ThE Dy EN.
Ne. y : '¢ | ing hinge plies of gow with poaters #n-
haughty: friend, Lord Hareowby. Fer -
the last encore from a kindly aundi- |
ence the drop curtain was raised and
revealed on the stage in gleaming !
gregation they proved, balaneing bails
on their small heads, juggling flaming
torches and taking as’ their just due
lumps of sugar from the captain’s
hand as they finished each feat.
Harrowby remarked.
Ponsonby
“Clever beasts, aren't they?” Lord
: And as Captain
took his final curtain his
iordship added:
“Er—what follows the trained
seals?”
The answer to Harrowhys query
tame almost immediately, and a
startling answer it proved to be.
ped Mr. Henry Trimmer.
Into the glare of the footlights step-
His manner
was that of the conquering hero.
' ciate this reception.
“We're taking Harrowby to the
“My dear friends.” he said, “I appre-
As I said in my
handbill of this afternoon, I am work-
ing in the interests of justice. The
gentleman who accompanies me to
your delightful little city is beyond any |
question whatséever George Harrow-
by, the eldest son ‘of the Earl of Ray-g
brook; and: as such he is entitled to
call himself Lord Harrowby. I know
the. American people well enough to |
feel pure that when. they realize the
facts they will démand that justice be |
done! ‘That is” why’ I have prevailed
upon ‘Lotd Harrowby té meet you here
ig: this, yeur temple of amusement,
aiid put discasg before your His :lord-
ship will talk to youifor: a: time with
a ‘view to getting -acquainted. He has
chosen ftw the subject of his discourse
“The OM Days at Rakedile Hall’ La-
des" and gehtiemen,” I have thie honor
to ‘Hitholiate thé red] Lovd Harrowby.”
i hd tool hid'du@iinte ;
ete 16i° visto A hebOlD the * Manetve
I , J
{HE weal aw hiough
neys, thé pdited gables; the mufioned’
windows and the walls baif hidden by
tvy, creeping roses and honeysuckles
werp revealed to them. Fe tok them
throtigh the house fo the servaiuts’ .
quarters—which he called “the offices’
~oll¥ ‘inte the ‘Kiteher gardens, ‘thence |
to the paved quadrangle of the sta-
bles arith ite mrclied gateway awd the '
chiming clock above.’ Tennis: courts,
grape honses,: conservatories, they wis-
iteg breathlessly... They saw over the
row of the hill the low square tower
of the oid church and the chtmneys of
the ‘vicars’ modest” hotse, ‘and far
awidy” they’ beheld’ the ‘trees ‘that fur:
nished ¢over to the ttle! beasts it was |
the “Earl of Raybrook's: pleasure to |
hunt in'the:season. G ,
. Beceming: more. specifie, he spoke. of 7
the. neighbors, and a bit of romance |
crept in in. the person of the fair hair
ed Hon. Edith Townshend, who lived
to the west of Rakedale Hall. He
. for Chain Lightning's collar.”
cup tiie bremd avenus' bors
i
¥
described at length the picturesque per- |
sonality of the “racing parson,” neigh-
bor on the south and in full accord
with the ideas of the sporting Earl of
Raybrook. :
Next the speaker shifted his scene
to Eton, thrilled his hearers with the
| story of his revelt against Oxford, of
his flight to the States, his wild days
in Arizona. And he pulled out of his
| pocket a letter written by the old Earl
of Raybrook himself profanely expos-
tulating with him for his madness and
begging that he return to ascend to the
earldom when the old man was no
more.
The “real Lord Harrowby” finished
reading this somewhat pathetic appeal
with a little break in his voice and
stood looking out at the audience.
«Jf my brother Allan himself were
in the house,” he sald, “he would have
. to admit that it is our father speaking
in that letter.”
A rustle of interest ran through the
auditorium. The few who had recog-
nized Harrowby turned to stare at him
now. For a moment he gat silent, his
face ‘a variety of colors in the dim
light. Then with a cry of rage he
leaped to his feet.
“You stole that letter, you cur,” he
cried. - “You are a lar, a fraud, an
impostor.” .
The man on the stage stood shading
his eyes with his hand.
“Ah, Allan,” he answered, “so you
are here, after all? Is that quite the
An intelligent ag- | proper greeting after all these years?”
A roar of sympathetic applause greet
ed this sally. There was no doubt as
| to whose side Mr. Trimmer’s friend,
the public, was on. Harrowby stood
in his place, his lips twitching, his eyes
and ang
as uy ti
i
well, what d’you want?” he: de-
manded.
«A word with you, Mr. Wall,” Minot
answered. “Will you be good enough
to let down your accommodation lad-
der?’
For a moment Wall hesitated. And
Minot, watching him, knew why he
hesitated. He suspected that the
young man in the tiny boat there on
the calm, bright waters had come to
repay a call earlier in the evening—a
call made while the host was out. At
last he decided to let down the ladder.
«mime flies, and my errand is a press-
ing one,” said Minot. “Am I right in
assuming, Mr. Wall, that you are Lord
Harrowby’s friend?”
«Just what is yoar interest in the
matter?’ Wxll inquired.
«The same as yours. I am Harrow-
by’s friend. Now, Mr. Wall, this is
the situation as I see it: Wanted, board
and room in a quiet neighborhood for
Mr. George Harrowby. Far from the
street cars; the vaudeville stage, the
wedding march and other disturbing
elements. And, what is more, I think
“No—not yet, I believe.” Minot took | I've found the quiet neighborhood. I
the envelope from his pocket and {| think it's right here aboard the Li-
drew out the gleaming necklace. “Ab, | leth.” .
it's stil] safe’—
Harrowby leaped from the bed and
slammed shut the door. é
“Degr old boy! he cried. “Keep the
accursed thing in yeur pocket. : No‘ons
mist Bee it; I 8ay; whe's been séarch-| operii’house Tight DOW. 1-will call at
ing here? Do you think it couid have sad
pot Torn. He twisted tne EDnob o.
aoor. It was unlocked. He stepped
inside and flashed on the light.
His small abode was in a mad dis-
order. The chiffonier drawers had
been emptied on the floor, the bed was
torn to pieces, the rug thrown in a cor-
per. Minot smiled to himself.
Some one had been searching—
searching for Chain Lightning’s collar.
Who? Who but the man he had bump-
ed against in that dark passageway?
As Dick Minot bent over to pick up
his scattered property a knock sounded
on the half open door, and Lord Har-
rowby dopped in. The nobleman was
gloom personified. He threw himself
despondently down on the bed. :
“Minot, old chap,” he drawled, “it's
all over” His eyes took in the wreck-
age. “Eh? What the deuce have you
been doing, old boy?”
«} haven't Deen doing anything,” Mi-
pot answered. ‘But others have been
busy While we were at the—er—the-
ater, fond fingers have been searching
“The devil! You haven't lost it?”
. been O'Malley?’ away after his little \ introductory
“What is:0'Malley’s interest in your speech. I will ‘keep him away uatll
necklace? you and a oouple of your sallors—I
“Some other time, please. Bory to suggest the two 1 met se inforsially
hang on te i, wes't yet? Awful mix-’ Goville Wed at the stage door and gen
wp if you don't Bad mixup as 8 8° ty, but Hikaly, pardtiaded Mm to: coms
AS I watt whet’ 1 eames ta’ Ww all ght Dent.”
over.” i Xall isd
“What's all over?’ | CHAPTER WIL
“Bverything: The marciage my Ths! Kidnogpiog
ehunde for happinsse—Minot, I'm 8 WALE regarded ‘Minot with
moat: unlucky: ~ Meyrick has just a eynical smile. rion
postponed the. wedding in a frightfully “A choper- scheme,” he sedd.
Joud tone of velo." oY | ~What would yeu say’ Wis the
“Postponed RY fied news Duy Jpb- fev idiinaping in Oe state”
son this, yet as he spels Mrz. Mined felt | “Oh, wily “up? asked Vubfiaet
3
E
A
.
— rE enthuniesmm won
me. nd # be ‘whe we $ GRE" :
“And ‘yeu con 40 a Jet Wateh ‘me
anti] JOU #68 me :
fi the bow. Them: Timmer and I
shall part company. for, tbe night.”
#0*T'm on,” said Wall, rising. ‘“Any-
thing, to - help Harrowbdy.. And this
won't be the first time I've waited at
the stage dood.” : 2
A | Fs HLH | “Rigntor sata Minot “But 'den’t
i CA TENTLHE stop’ to"buy a champagne supper fora
: THY trained “seal; ‘will you! I don’t want
to hive to listen to Mr.'Trimmeriall
night oor OUsHE | fail
They rowed ashore m company With
two husky’ members. of the yachts
crew, and ten minutes, later Minot
owas walking with the pompous Mr.
Trimmer through the quiet plaza. He
had told that gentleman that he came
from Allan Harrowby to talk terms,
and Trimmer wag puffed with pride
accordingly. { :
“So Mr. Harrowby has come to his
senses at last?’ he sald.’ “Well, I
thought this vaudeville business would
bring him round, although I must say
I'm a bit disappointed down in my
heart. My publicity campaign has
hardly started. I had so many lovely
little plans for the future. Say, it
makes me sad to win so soon.”
“Sorry?” laughed Minot. “Lord Har-
rowby, however, deems it best to call
a halt. He suggests”— ’
“Pardon me,” interrupted Mr. Trim
mer grandiloquently. “As the victor
in the contest, I shall do any suggest-
ing that is done. And what I suggest
“Minot, old chap,” he drawled. “it's
all ever.”
a thrill of joy in his heart. He smiled
the pleasantest smile he had so far
shown San Marco.
“Exactly. He was fearfully rattled,
was Meyrick. My word, how he did
go on! Considers his daughter humili-
ated by the antics of that creature we
saw on the stage tonight. Can’t say I
blame him, either. The wedding is in-
definitely postponed, unless that im-
postor. is removed from the scene im-
mediately.”
“Oh—unless,” sald Minot. His heart
sank. His smile vanished.
“Unless was the word, I fancy,” said
Harrowby, blinking wisely.
“Lord Harrowby,” Minot began,
“you intimated the other day that this
man might really be your brother’—
“No,” Harrowby broke in. “Impossi-
ble. I got a good look at the chap to- | is this—tomorrow morning I shall call
Bgat. He 8 no more a Harrowby than | upon Allan Harrowby at his hotel. 1
y JU Be. “ shall bring George with me, also some
give ihe your Word for that? newspaper friends of mine. In front
“Absolutely. Even after twenty
years of America no Harrowby would
drag his father’s name on to the vaude-
ville stage. No, be is an impostor
and as such he deserves no considera-
tion whatever. And, by the by, Minot,
you will note that the postponement is
through no fault of mine.”
Minot made a wry face.
“I have noted it,” he said. “In other
words, I go on to the stage now, fol-
of the crowd Allan Harrowby must ac-
knowledge his brother as the future
heir to the earldom of Raybrook.”
“Why the newspaper men?’ Minot
inquired.
“Publicity,” said Trimmer, “It’s the
breath of life to me—my business, mY
first love, my last. Frankly, I want
all the advertisement out of this thing
I can get. At what hour shall we
call?”
lowing the man who followed the train-
You would not consider a delay of
ed seals. I thought my role was that , :
of Cupid, but it begins to lock more a few days?" Minot asked,
like Captain Kidd. Ah, well, Ill do| _ S2ve your breath” advised Trim-
| my best.” He stood up. “I'm going : jeer pzompHy,
| out into the soft moonlight for a little :
| while, Lord Harrowby. While I'm
x ( you might call Spencer Meyrick
1 to do nothing defi
notnone
“Ah—I feared it,” langhed Minot.
“Well, then—shall we say 11 o'clock?
You are to call—with George Harrow-
yy.”
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