WHEN BiLLV
WENT PLAIN.
The Story of a Man Who Re
formed and Was Tempted.
By WAYNE S. BOROUGH.
ICopyrlsht, 1809, t.y American Press Asso
elation. J
O'Neill stepped to the door of the
saloon, holding his glass so he could
see the colors of the sunlight through
the liquor. The street was compara
tively deserted, for when cowboys were
In town it was customary for the in
habitants to betake to needed duties
Indoors. The color of the liquor prov
ing satisfactory, O'Neil's hand dropped
from its significant position on his hip
pocket, and his eyes swept the street.
"Hike here, you fellers!" he yelled
suddenly. "Vender's Billy I'atterpat
turning the corner. cover the
street and corral him and then make
him dance."
"Huh!" drawled another cowboy,
who was leaning against Ihe counter,
Emptying glasses and flinging them at
whoever he thought might not lie able
£N A FEW MOMENTS HE WAS IN THEIR
MIDST.
to dodge and holding Ills revolver in
readiness to meet possible objection to
his playfulness. "I'atterpat won't
dance. He's joined the little party of
Mennonites up country and gone plain
Ain't you heard? Billy ain't frivolous
any more."
"We're going to give him a drink
tlrst," significantly. "There won't be
any trouble then. You used to know
Billy."
The figure at the counter straighten
ed. "Why, of course, of course!" he
conceded. "A good drink will be oil
for Patterpat's feet. I did used to
know Billy. The only trouble with
him was that all his brains aud fun
and everything was jest in his feet,
and with them gone plain there couldn't
be no I'atterpat any more. We'll oil
'em with Billy's special limberer."
As they tiled out a newcomer from
Texas looked discontentedly at O'Neil.
"Any special inducement 'bout that
Patterpat's feet?" he Inquired. "I've
been pretty comfortable sitting on the
counter. We have dancing down to
Texas."
"Betfer go back there," curtly, "or
stay sit 011 the counter if you like. As
to inducement, there ain't only one
dancer, and that's I'atterpat. I've been
to Frisco and to Kansas City and to
Chicago, and I've seen dancing—least
ways, what they called dancing. But
I've never seeu but oue Patterpat.
Only he has to be limbered up with
great jags of whisky first. Then his
legs are all wheels and parabolas and
ricoshays and scintillates. Now you
stay right here and I'll santer out to
the middle of the street. That's him
coming yonder and beginning to dodge
already. That's the way he used to
do, aud we had to round biin like we
would a wild mustaug and then fill
him up."
Billy Patterpat was a block and a
half away, cmlng on slowly and look
ing from side to side for some avenue
of escape. The gradual spreading of
the cowboys across the street brought
up memories of past experiences, and
his eyes had begun to grow troubled
and full of apprehension. At length
he stopped and looked hack, but it wa?
too lato now. Several of the cowboys
were near their mustangs, and as lie
turned they swung into their saddles
and dashed up the street. In a few
moments lie was in their midst, strug
gling aud protesting, his eyes big with
terror of what lie felt was coming.
"Don't you give it to me, gentlemen!"
he pleaded, "I'm plain m>w, and it
would not be right. 1 ain't danced 111
six months aid ain't tasted a drop
Don't you malic me now."
"Look at that. Billy," said O'Neil,
holding up a bottle between Billy's
eyes and the sun. "Don't that look
good? Just see how It smiles. It's the
very best In town, and we've got more
bottles waiting. There's a dozen
glasses for you, Billy; all you can
drink. Think how It'll feel running
down your throat and remember how
it smells. Dordy! I feel like drinking
the whole thing myself. But here.
Billy r
He reached out the bottle suddenly,
and Billy's hands, both of them, went
hungrily toward it. His eyea were
sninlng, his lips trembling, his whole
form inn quiver, but even then, with
an almost superhuman effort, lie forced
his arms back to his skle.
"Don't, O'Neil!" he Implored. "Don't,
don't, don't!" Ills voice rose quaver
ingly. "You know how 'tis with ine.
Please don't. 1 don't want it."
"It'll do you good," inflexibly. "You're
getting thin from going without It so
long, and It's better to enjoy the stuff
trickling down your throat slow than
to have it poured down in bottles full.
You know what we say goes, Billy,
and you must drink the whole thing."
Billy dropped upon his knees.
"Dou't." lepeated dully: "I dou't
want it. If I smell 1 can't stop thou.
You anil me's been good friends.
O'Neil, and I've danced and- and
drunk a lot for you. i.ot me off this
time. And—and if you don't mind, I'd
lite to say why."
"Oil. let the poor devil make his con
fession, O'Neil." interposed one of the
cowboys good naturediy. "You know
how 'tis with I'atterpat. If he smells.
IB he says, he won't slop easy. It'll
be two mouths before he sobers up.
Let him start in right."
Billy shot the speaker a grateful look.
"It's like this,"he said, with a pa
thetic eagerness in his voice. "Sir
otoliths ago 1 happened to be up In the
country, and I saved a girl's life. She
was caught by a bear, and—and I sup
pose I acted some brave. Anyhow,
■he and her folks I nought so and took
me in. Since then I've been up there,
and I ain't tasled a drop and I've been
feeling that mebbe I could make some
thing of myself sometime, like I
used to think a—a long while ago."
There was •! 111 lie catch in his voice,
then lie went 011 in lower tones: "Me
and the girl was to be married. I
?ame down today for a ring and li
cense. They believe in me up there,
nnd I've Joined in with them, and," [
his eyes suddenly becoming steady j
and aggressive at a giggle from one of
the cowboys, "if't wa'll't for Ihe whis- j
ky I believe 1 could be a good man :
again—a heller man llian you could
ever lie, I>anny. Ilut. of course." his |
voice again dropping and his hand I
reaching mechanically toward the hot- [
;le, ••this will linisli ii up. Over there
the.v don't have anything strong to j
drink, and—and they never suspected
1 was that way. When I hey lilid this j
out it'll he over with us. I'll run j
through myself soon's as 1 can, and—
and the girl and they'll feel sorry. Hilt |
you'll have your dance carnival, so |
we won't all lose. .Now you can give j
me the bottle. O'Neil."
But O'Neil was holding the bottle up
between his own eyes and llie sun. j
"Seems a pity to spill such good j
stuff," lie said regretfully, "but it's 1
got to be." Then ill a louder voice: '
"Here, you fellers, sue that stone over j
t'other side the street? Well, every
one who's got a bottle shy at that, and I
the one who breaks into the most I
pieces will go with Billy to see about
the ring and license. Then we'll all t
club in for a present, and"—
Billy's head went up suddenly. Ilis
eyes were moist.
"No. no!" lie protested. "1 don't :
want no present, gentlemen. I've been j
working hard up there and have got j
sotue ahead. I'm all right long's 1 can
keep away from that stuff."
"Shut up. Billy!" O'Neil retorted un- j
graciously. " 'Tain't you. It's a pres- j
ent for the bride. And 1 reckon we'd 1
belter make it two of our best ponies j
They'll be bandy's anything up among j
I hem Menuonite farmers. Now, fel- j
lers, one. two. three and crash!" And [
with the last word a half dozen or I
more bottles, delivered from as many
unerring hands, crashed 011 the stone. I
As soon as the bottles had been
smashed the boys began to take meas
ures for the procurement of a wedding
present. O'Neil was appointed col
lector. One chipped in a ten dollar
note, another a bag of gold dust, an
other a gold watch chain (to be melted
down), a fourth a United States gold
double eagle, and so onto the last,
who said:
"Fellers. 1 hain't got 110 dust, no
bills or no coin. But I tell you what
I have got. and I think you'll all allow
It's appropriate for a weddin'."
"Well, what is itV" asked O'Neil.
"My boy Jim has larned to walk."
"Your boy Jim wouldn't do for no
weddin' present."
"I don't mean Jim. 1 mean his baby
carriage, lie don't need it no more."
"Oh, that wouldn't do," said O'Neil.
"It wouldn't be polite to give that at a
weddin' s'long's there hain't uo chil
dren. It 'lid be an Insult."
The rest of the party having been
convinced that a baby carriage was
not only out of order at a wedding and I
could not be utilized, the collection
was closed, and O'Neil was commis
sioned togo to the city and purchase
the largest and handsomest article that
could be got for the money. He re
turned with an enormous clock
When the stage came along the wed
ding gift was loaded on it, and the
wedding party, consisting of the groom
expectant. O'Neil and tho others, got
aboard and started for the bride's
home. The clock was too big togo In
the boot, so it was laid across the top
of the stage. Consequently at the first
rut it was precipitated In tho road and
smashed.
The party, however, agreed that
there should be a wedding present, and '
every man doubled his subscription.
As soon as It was collected O'Neil gave
It to Billy that there might be no
more accidents.
Arrived at their destination, they all
entered the house. A parson was
called and (he couple made one. Then
every one of the groom's attendants
saluted the bride with a smack.
Never again did Billy touch the I
liquid which he could not touch with
out wrecking not only himself, but
everybody connected with him. For
several years h!s wire kept a careful
wat' h over lilin, an ! after that he was |
strong en,-.ugh lo go It alone,
Four Useful Senses.
The naturalist of WoEirook-ln the- j
Hills had pointed out a rabbit squat j
ting close under a bush, and the la- j
dies had declared lu chorus that they |
could not see the little auimai.
"Uow do you manage to see every- 1
thing?" asked one of the party, with 1
flattering inflection.
"Well," began the naturalist confi
dently, "'talu't altogether seelug.
Sometimes 1 see. but when 1 can't see
with my eyes 1 smell things with my
nose, and when I can't siuell things
with my nose I hear 'em with my
ears, and when I can't hear with dit
ears I prickle all over."
Husband Taming Club.
Young women of (Jrangevllle, Ida., J
married during 1000 have formed the
"1900 club." Tho brides refuse lo tell
the motive of the club, but it has
leaked out. The object Is for the ex- |
changing of Ideas as to the proper
governing of a husband, tbe best I
things to make him eat and how gen- i
orally to please him. At each meet
ing soiue one member of the brides'
club delivers a dissertation on some
specific branch of husband taming.
Then all discuss what has been said
and offer suggestions.
FORECASTS
MADE FOR 1910
Men cf Prominence Predict a!
Brilliant Year.
MARKED ERA OF PROSPERITY.
South Pol* to Be Reached Thi» Y»«r
and Air Travel In Five Years, Says |
Professor Willis Moore—Much Prog- |
ress In Aeronautics —Real Help For I
Poor Women.
Predictions of continued prosperity |
and a continuation of the wonderful
march in progress are contained in the
following symposium of New Year's
greetings from some famous men and j
a prominent woman:
By JOSEPH G. CANNON,
Speaker of house of representatives.
The year 100!) has closed with the i
I people prosperous. They are earning j
j more on the average than they ever j
j earned before. 1 see no reason for a
j change during the new year.
By JAMES BRYCE,
British ambassador to United States.
The twentieth century will be re
, nowned for commerce, for progress in I
the manner of living, for the success
| ful extraction from this world of ail
| the boons it offers to those who are !
j willing togo after them. Kvery 11a
tion will strive for commercial su
premacy, and this means that every
1 one of its citizens will have to work
I toward this end. The competition that
| will follow will be but an incentive
! toward progress. The era of prosper- |
ity before us will bo more substantial
1 than any In the past.
By WILLIS L. MOORE.
Chief of United States weather bureau. 1
If I were to make a forecast for the
coming year and longer I should pre
j diet that within twelve months the
! south pole will be reached and that |
; withiii less than live years passengers j
: will bo carefully tucked away in nln- i
j minium compartments, with air e »
| lons and electric lights and heat, «... . j
I glide through the air at the rate of
200 miles an hour over the route fol- j
i lowed by I'eary, encircle the globe and !
I return to civilization without having !
j landed.
By TvIRS. O. H. P. BELMONT,
Prominent woman suffrag>A leader.
As the old year died some of the i
j traditions that women have clung to
1 died with it. A new awakening has I
j coiue with the new year. This en- 1
I llghtenment will make slow but grad- i
ual progress with the women of the
nation.
The more fortunate woman has 1
awakened to the fact of her obligation j
to the self supporting woman not only j
in the way of charity, but in methods !
that do away with the necessity of j
charity. The woman who has every- J
thing is beginning to realize that she j
has it in her power to enforce condi- j
tlons wherein women less fortunate!
may benefit by her influence. The wo I
man suffrage movement Is producing j
this effect. The anti-women, who nre ]
unable to appreciate this, are still sat- j
isfied with the subordinate position of J
the sex in general—praiseworthy, per-1
haps, In some respects, but far from i
atl elevated standard.
If the suffrage bill, as now promises,
shall pass the legislature I Should say,
as tho greatest boon of 1910, that the
wise men of the United States have at
last realized their Inability to stand j
alone in the government of the country
and that the extended help of the wise
women Is grateful to them.
By ORVILLE WRIGHT,
Famous aeronaut and inventor.
We are of the opinion that the new '
year will see much progress in aero
nautics not ouly in America, but In all j
the civilized nations that have taken *
up the art of flying. Better motors, j
greater speed and Improvement in de- 1
tails are some of the things we expect j
lu connection with the aeroplane. It j
Is almost certain also that flying will !
be taken up by amateurs to a great |
exteut during the next few months. |
Two big events that will arouse world- j
wido Interest will be held in America !
—namely, tho Gordon Bennett Interna !
tlonal balloon race aud the Gordon ]
Bennett flying machine cup event.l
Both of those will add much zeal to !
the flying business and nre sure to put j
aeronautics on a stronger basis hi the '
United States.
My brother and 1 will probably be '
busy manufacturing aeroplanes In i
1010. We expect to do little if any
fly lug ourselves and will devote what 1
j time we have to the scientific end of !
j the business la (lie hope of bringing !
our machine to greater perfection. One
other thing that we expect to do in the |
new year U to hulld some racing ma- '
chines. Wo have never built a ina- '
j chine especially for speed. Tho one
| we built for the United States govern
j inent was faster than our others, but j
| It was not designed for speed as much i
! !ls for capacity and long distance fly
J lng. Elut our intentions are lo build
I a machine especially designed for rac
j ing-
By Brigadier General JAMES ALLEN,
Chief sii.nal officer of I". 9. army.
1 he new year should be signalized
by the perfection of the Inventions and
discoveries which have so far added
to the world's material and moral ad !
vaneement. One of the possibilities !
of the near future is that the peace of i
the world may have to be preserved
by the best aerial navr.
Sarcastic.
A pompous looking lawyer ouce
chartered a hansom cab, and on reach- j
lng his destination he only gave his J
driver the shilling required by law.
The driver looked at the coin and !
bit his lip. Then in the most courteous
manner he said: "Do step in again, sir. I
I could ha' druv ye a yard or two far- j
ther for this 'ere."—London Fun.
Reckless Driving.
"What is the matter with your wife? t
I see she's p< t her hand in a slinj." 1
"Reckless dtlvlng."
"Horse V"
"No; nail."
IN TIME OF PERIL
I
A Story of Russian Love and Ad
venture.
By ARTHUR D. BRADFORD.
| fCopyrlght, iao9. by American Press Asso
ciation.]
| It is a wild -country northwest from
| L'st Ussa, toward the Obdorsk mouu-
I tains, with poor roads and few stop
ping places for travelers and deathly
! cold to light.
| At sunset it was below zero, and nt
| midnight, wheu they were a hundred
i and fifty miles on their journey, it had
i fallen 20 degrees more.
| With the speed nt which the automo
j bile was going the wind was like
! needles at first aud then paralyzing
i into numbness.
But Ilelga ricnavlk was covered
j deep in the furs, and her man Ivan
bent his fur capped head and urged
j the machine forward at reckless speed
| in view of the desperate nature of the
t journey. Since starting they had not
J once spoken.
| As they climbed the mountains the
i snow that at starting had been only a
I white blanket grew deeper and yet
deeper, but with a crust which at their
high rate of speed bore up the inn
| chine.
I As they flew on particles of ice and
snow were thrown to either side and
trailed out into a whirling cloud lie
| hind.
Then suddenly, an hour or so after
midnight, as they were Hearing the
j summit of one of the lower ranges,
, there came a solitary howl, a long dis
tance away apparently, but sounding
clearly across the snow. Ivan's bent
head rose quickly, but it was not until
an answering how) came from a dif
| THE MUSCUbAH ARMS ROSE AND KKLI,.
' ferent direction that he stopped the
! automobile and sprang to the ground.
; Ilelga uncovered her face from the
! furs.
"What is the matter, Ivan?" she
! asked. "Is the machine broken or the
! snow too deep?"
' Ivan did not answer for a moment,
j When he spoke his voice sounded
[ hoarse and unnatural,
j "No, Miss Ilelga," lie mumbled. "I
| am only giving the machine its full
J |»ower. It has been going several
j hours, you know, and the running is
j hard."
"Yes, I know that," looking at liitu
curiously. "But why have you slop
ped at this bleak spot to power up?
i There must be at least fifty more
i nilles in the machine."
I "We may need a hundred, with
|>owcr for a terrific spurt of speed if
necessary."
! "But why?"
i "Listen!"
j A third howl quivered menacingly
j through the silence of the solitude
I and night, nearer, yet from still an-
I other direction. Ivan's voice, even In
| its muffled indistinctness, had seemed
i strangely tense, and she had wonder
| ed. The howl, sharply re-enforced
from the same direction as flip first
| and second, explained,
j "Wolves!"
I There is no sound so calculated to
j strike terror Into a stout heart as the
bowl of a wild animal crying from
I hunger. Men who have escaped from
| prison, flying for their freedom and
j for their lives, subject to every danger,
j have said flint fills cry, especially iu
i the nighttime when all is still, lias
j gone further to take away their cour
| age than any other cause. The cry
i it the wolf has in it a dismal wail that
j renders it more dreadful even than the
j deeji roar of the lion.
| "Timber wolves, starving and so
| fierce and gaunt that the fastest race
horse iu the country would be only a
tortoise In their path. You"—
lie was interrupted by a startled es
; elamation. stilled. I'or a moment the
1 voice had forgctten its disguise.
"Alexiff!"
The man bent a little lower over his
| work; then he rose suddenly, erect.
! Concealment was no longer of use.
"Yes, Ilelga." he said.
"Why are you here?"
"To serve you. Ivan is a brave man.
but he has his own interests. My
only interest Is you."
! "But"-
! "I have not the courage and hard!
i hood for a desperate undertaking, you
; would say.'' simply. "You intimated
, that when yon refused me. 1 have
What She Imagined.
j "Don't Imagine," he snld after she
had refused him. "that I am going
away to blow my brains out or drink
j myself to death."
I "No," she replied. "I have no idea
that you will do anything ot that kind.
: You are going away to do some won
| derful thing which will bring you
wealth and fame and make me regret
all the rest of my life (hut I didn't be-
J lleve you when you Intimated that you
\ were one of the greatest little men
that had ever come over the asphalt."
J —Chicago Uecoril-Herald.
The world is a ladder for some to
go up aud others to come down.
beeu a society man, true, with no up
parent object but to spend my income
but you are more to me than society
Ilelga—more than estate, everything.
"When i suspected this fearful jour
ney your father is sendiug you on.it
which lie dared not trust your own
man with the secret, I determined tc
• übsiitute myself in Ivan's place and
be near.
"You are a brave girl, ilelga. for
that is iu the blood of your race, but
you may thank God that we have the
best automobile in the country and
that the summit of this ridge is only
teu miles away. On the other side it
will be down grade, and the roads
will be less obstructed by snow. Bet
ter the risk from terrilic speed than
from hungry timber wolves. 1 be
lieve we shall escape the animals, but
it will be against a hundred possible
accidents. There, now, we are ready."
He sprang into the automobile and
threw it forward with a bound, as a
race horse touched by the spur. And
as he did so there came a wild series
of howls circling them from all sides.
Ilelga raised a fur robe to shield her
face. Alexin bent forward to the cut
ting wind and flying particles us be
fore, but with ears open and eyes
keen.
A mile through the hissing wind—two
miles—five—and then shadowy forms
were seen sweeping toward them on
either side and even gaining 011 them
from behind.
The snow was deeper here, and in
some places the crust gave a little,
causing them to sway from side to
side, losing speed.
A dark form rushed down upon them
in front, bounded into the air, and the
speed at which both were going car
ried the car entirely under him before
the animal touched (he ground, claw
ing impotently into the snow to check
himself.
Other dark spots appeared and in ac
instant seemed to sweep down upon
them and passed. One g>>t his claws
upon the box in front and tried to
scramble into the car. Alexin struck
him off with his list.
"Ilelga," lie cried, "you must take
charge of the machine now and give
tier speed, speed, speed. Never mind
risk."
lie caught up a short iron headed
staff and swung it to the right, the
1 left, in front, and with every blow a
[ wolf fell back struggling upon the
i snow.
He was a powerful man, and it re
i quired but a single blow accurately
j placed.
! Another five minutes, with his arms
! rising and falling like pendulums, or,
rather, like steam hammers, and then
the automobile swept over the summit
and dropped upon the down grade.
"Now speed, Ilelcn," he yelled as he
struck a wolf back upon the snow even
before Its feet had touched the car.
"There are a hundred of the brutes
crowding upon us. raster! More
speed! More speed!"
A wolf was climbing into the car
from behind, another on the left, a
third rising into the air in front. The
muscular arms rose and fell threu
times.
j Thwack, thud thwack, thud
thwack, thud—and the three wolves
were lying struggling and disabled up
on the snow, with the snapping teeth
of their companions closing upon them.
The automobile was now rushing
| down the slope at fearful speed. An
other wolf was struck away; two
I more, and then the animals began to
fall behind. A mile farther, and Alex
lff's hand touched Ilelga's shoulder.
"Slow a little now," he said. "We
have distanced them, 1 think, so will
just try to keep ahead. You may get
back under the furs."
She returned to her seat, covered
j herself with the furs and for a time
| was in a partial swoon.
The danger she had passed was too
much for her. She could not get the
savage beasts, their loug jaws aud
sharp teeth, their hungry eyes, out of
her mind.
Again she saw them climbing into
the automobile aud again she saw the
brave uiau who had fought them rain
i ing blows upon them,
j It had seemed to her every moment
j that he would be overpowered, and
that meant a frightful death, not only
to him but fo her.
I All this made him to her what he
had never been before, lie wus not
only a hero, ho was her protector—he
had saved her life.
Six hours later they swept into Aka
kla, through the turbulent streets and
ou to where a mass of Russian cavalry
and Infantry were about to reduce a
monastery which had advocated re
volt. Poll-emeu sprang forward to
stop the at*otnobile, soldiers moved In
front, but Ilelga held up something
which filitt(*ro*l in the sun, aud at the
sign they all fell back. She went
straight to the officer commanding.
lie turned at her appearance, his
face darkening.
"1 have no time for visitors now,"
he said liar. lily. "Wait until 1 punish
these rebels."
"You have time for this," replied
Ilelga, giving him a paper and rais
ing her hand, where shone the sign
of her authority.
The officer muttered something and
took oft his hat. Then he read the
paijer.
"Very well," he said sourly. "1 will
wait twenty-four hours, and then"—
"You will do well to wait," interrupt
ed Ilelga sternly. "This is a time for
compromise, not slaughter. Within
twenty-four hours you will receive con
firmatory orders through the regular
channels."
Then she said something to Alexiff,
and he turned the automobile, and they
swept back on the return journey.
But her hand rested on his arm for a
moment, and he understood. She ac
knowledged that he was a brave man
as well as a strong one, and he might
come to her and ask again.
Depressed.
"I am afraid Bllgglns has met with
reverses."
"What makes you think so?"
"He goes about with a gloomy look
saying there Is no such a thing as dis
interested friendship. That Is almost
a sure sign that a man has been try
ing to borrow money."—Exchange.
Reasons For Love.
Tatlence—All the girls just hate him
because he's going to marry me. l'a
trico—You love him for the enemies h«
has made, I suppose.—Yonkers States
man.
I How the Trick |
I Was Done j!
Showing the Ingenuity of ail jj
Able Emissary. s? j
By HELEN INGLEHART. j j
Copyright, 1910, by American Press | ]
Association. || |
"Mine. Cliapellier?"
"Tes."
"His excellency ban directed me to j
admit you as soon as /ou called."
The attendant led the way to the
private office of the minister of foreign
affairs, opened the door and announced:
"Mme. Chapelller!"
"The government,*' snid the minister,
"appreciating your past services, is de
sirous of adding to the amounts al
ready paid you another 50,000 francs."
"And I doubt not the government ex
pects me to add to my past services a
corresponding amount."
"Can you leave for London tonight?"
"I can go anywhere at any time."
"Very well. I will explain."
The minister cast a look about the
room, habitual with him before enter
ing upon a matter involving secrecy,
leaned forward in his chair and spoke
in a low tone.
"The British government has made a
treaty with the ambassador of the sub
lime porte nt London by which the sul
tan grants valuable concessions to
Great Britain. We have been negotiat
ing with the sultan's ambassador here
in Paris for these same privileges, but
we are too late.
"Sir Bradford Chichester, one of the
younger members of the British diplo
matic corps, has engaged passage by
nea for Constantinople in a ship sail
ing on the Hth. He will carry with
him the British-Turkish treaty for sig
nature at the Turkish foreign office. It
is our purpose to delay him either at
starting or on the way."
Mine. Chapelller reached London the
next morning and reported in person
to Baron la Brun. the French minister.
"In order to assist you," he said. "I
give a dinner this evening nt which
Sir Bradford Chichester will be pres
ent. Have you costumes?"
"Everything except appropriate jew
els. I shall personate a wealthy Amer
ican widow—Mrs. Worthington Wood."
"Where shall 1 send them?"
"No. l'orrnian square."
"Very well. I shall expect vou
at 8."
At the dinner given at the French
embassy Mrs. Worthington Wood, who,
though born of French parents, had
lived the first lifteen years of her
life in America, was taken into din
ner by Sir Bradford Chichester. She
knew that bis family, though ancient,
were not rich and that he would glad
ly take a wealthy wife. She manifest
ed so much Interest in seeing his coun
try seat, the Dunes, on the Irish chan
nel and some "00 miles from London,
that he, thinking to benefit in the
matter of a courtship—should he deem
such desirable—arranged a house party
togo there to remain till the 13th. when
he must return to the city to lie ready
to sail on the 14th. Of course Mrs.
Wood was invited.
The next day a small number of
guests assembled at the Duties. It
was winter, but the house was cheer
fully lighted and logs blazed on every
hearth. Sir Bradford devoted himself
to the young widow. There are wom
en who possesa the knack of carrying
an impressible man quickly off his feet.
Such was Mrs. Worthington Wood.
She administered, so to speak, a love
potion. There was in it a reasou—to
cause her victim to feel that be could
j never aspire to possess her. lives that
shot a spark to kindle passion, feigned
innocence to excite reverence.
Sir Bradford, Mrs. Wood aud see
eral others of the house party had gone
up from Loudon on the same train and
In the same compartment. Mrs. Wood
noticed that Jier host carried a leather
hand bag that be never lost sig'it of.
If he left the train for a moment at a
station he took the bag with him: if
he went Into the smoking compart
uient to enjoy a cigar the hand bag
went with him.
Mrs. Wood also noticed that when
he entered the family equipage to ho
driven to his home, while he ga v up
his rugs, umbrella and other such be
longings to the servants, he held on
to the satchel. She deemed it nei-ps
sary to her plans to know where I lei
hand bag would be deposited, ltut as
soon as the host entered the bouse,
leaving his guests to be sliowu to their
rooms by the housekeeper, he disap
peared. When Mrs. Wood next s,nv
him the satchel was not with him.
"1 have brought with me," she said
to him, "a few of my finest jewels,
not daring to leave them in London.
Have you a safe in the house?"
"Certainly." he said. "One moment.
I will call the housekeeper. The safe
is iu my bedroom. She will go with
us."
"Us? Is It necessary for you togo?"
"1 never allow my safe to be opened
except by myself."
"On second thought. 1 will keep my
valuables locked in my trunk."
There waj a fain*, reproach in 'he
glance she gave him and her tone.
"Pardon me," lie said. "I would
trust you, but my housekeeper"—
"You would not trust?"
"Certainly. I would trust yon both,
but there Is property In that safe that
•Joesn't belong to me. Would I be jus
tilled in permitting any one. however
trustworthy, togo In there?"
His tone was growing more de.-Metl.
Interests oC state were asserting tlieru-
Helves.
"Yo« would be a fool to do so. Here
is my box. 1 Intrust it to your care."
A temptation came to him not to be
outdone in a matter of confidence, but
he resisted it. Taking the box, in
which there were only a few gems for
informal occasions, be went away and
placed It In bis safe.
The next evening at dinner the young
widow was entrancing. She seemed
to be in a light, happy mood. She
told the story of how the host had re
fused to permit ber to visit bis safe
without bis being present and set all
the guests laughing by its humorous
telling. The host laughed with the
rest, and had be not been coining un
der a spell that would have ended the
urn iter As it was lie winced. There
was underneath Mrs. Wood's humor
u faint suspicion of ridicule. Ho tried
to excuse himself, but only got tangled
In bis own excuses.
"I>ou't you think." said the bnly to
the others, "that Sir Bradford owes
oie some reparation?"
All bauteringly agreed that he did.
"Well, this Is the last night of our
Tlslt here. I.et him intrust me with
the key of his safe till tomorrow morn
ing."
All declared that such an act would
not necessarily he showing any con
fidence whatever, ltut the widow in
-1 sisted that it would satisfy her. and
she smilingly held out her baud for
the key.
The thought flashed through Sir
Bradford's head that the safe, being
1 in his own room, would be under his
| control through the night. There was
a pretty woman smiling at blm, daring
| him—a woman with whom be was
fascinated and whom be thought It
advantageous to marry. Neverthelesa
he did uot consent. Then suddenly
| there came a Hash from the woman's
I eyes, a haughty look as if she deemed
' such a denial of confidence insulting,
j Sir Bradford put Ids band In his pocket
! and tossed the key on the table be
fore her
< Amid a burst of laughter she seized
i It and placed it in her corsage.
The diplomat had no sooner yielded
to an impulse than he regretted his
, act. A man under a woman's spell is
: liable to rush from one extreme to an
j other. One moment be trusts her Im
plicitly; the next he fears that he has
fallen iuto the toils of a devil. At any
rate, such was the fear of Sir Brad
ford. Never lor a moment during the
evening did he leave the side of the
| woman who possessed the key of bis
safe—the safe where was deposited
t that which if it passed into the pos
' session of another would ruin him. If
! be turned away from tier for a mo
! ment it was that she should uot see
' the expression on his face when be
! cursed himself for a fool,
j The widow rallied bitn continually.
I "Aren't you going to give me one mo
| ment alone?" "Be comforted! I am
I not in the habit of visiting any but
]my own room when I visit." "Will
! you sleep with a revolver uude« ,Our
j pillow tonight?" These were some of
| the banterings she gave blm. much to
I the amusement of the guests. At mid
night. when the party broke up, she
bad made no move. She rose with
the others and went up to her room.
The moment Sir Brudford heard ber
door close he went up to his own
apartment. With bis eyes tixed on bis
safe be gave himself up to tumultuous
musing. It contained his possible ruin,
and the key was iu the possession of
j a woman lie had known but a few
I days.
| "Pooh, pooh! What an ass! Sh«
j only did It to bedevil me. Nonsense!
I I have a revolver under my pillow,
! and it any one should come in here
tonight— More nonsense! Who's to
come?" Thus he tried to dismiss the
' matter from his tulnd. But, oh. if he i
only had the key!
i He went to bed and tried to sleep. 1
| Slumber would uot come. Fancying
■ he heard a movement iu his room, he
! arose und struck a light, lie was
! ashamed of himself for doing so, but
left it burning. This made him feel a
| trifle more comfortable, aud toward
I morning he went to sleep,
j lie was awakened by his valet bring
l iug hot water. After a glance at the
| safe, which showed no evidence of
! having been tampered with, be arose,
! dressed and went down to breakfast.
1 A maid approached bitn and said:
j "i took the hot water to Mrs. Wood,
j room 0. Sho didn't answer when I
! knocked, and I went iu. She
j r.bere."
' Sir Bradford blanched. Like ligVt
' uing the thought flashed through his
| brain that the key of bis safe had gone
' with her. Then he saw that he was
| ruined. He was to sail that ufternoon
| for Constantinople. The only way to
I get the treaty was to break into Ull.
safe. But It was a new and perfect
I one, putin since be had entered the
i diplomatic service. Only In London
I could men be found of sufficient skill
to do the work, and London was 20(>
! miles away. Me put Ills hand to his
| bend, staggered up to his room and
i locked himself In.
i ****** *
j Twenty-four hours later the minister
' of foreign affiirs in Paris received the
card of Mine. Chapelller. He direct
j ed that she In- at once admitted.
! "Well?" he «aid.
] "I left the diplomat nt his home far
, from London with the treaty locked in
! his safe. There Is the key."
j "And how much time do you think
i we will gain?"
I She handed him an Item cut from a
| newspaper stating that Sir Bradford
I Chichester had sent to London for men
i to open his safe; that they had failed
j and others more skillful had gone up.
i lie had offered the latter £I.OOO if they
j would do the Job iu three hours."
I "That will do," said the minister.
I "Our treaty Is on the way."
He drew her a check for 50,000
| francs.
v mmmm m—i
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