IMG TOM THURSBK,
How He Showed That There Was
Method In His Madness.
By SARAH BRYCE VAUGHAN.
ICopyrtght. lOTO. by American I'resa Asso
ciation.]
One night, or, rather, one morning,
about fifty years ago n group of young
men were standing before a sideboard
In the city of Nashville, Tenn., drink
ing mint Juleps. They were all In
fancy costume, for (hey were attend
ing a masquerade ball, and strains of
music and laughter came in from the
adjoining rooms. The season was the
beginning of autumn, but in that south
ern location warm weather llugered.
Indeed, the "galleries" were Inclosed
to gain room for the guests.
"What shall we do for hunting this
season?" remarked one of the young
men at the sideboard. "The country
Is all taken up, and every estate has
a sign up forbidding shooting on the
premises."
"I..ast year," said another, "we were
permitted to shoot on the Woodbridge
estate.. There was no one there ex
cept caretakers and servants, but now
Miss Woodbridge has returned from
the east to take possession of her in
heritance, and I see that a notice
against trespassing and shooting has
been put up."
Among these young men was one
Tom Thursby, a graduate of the Uni
versity of Virginia, who had come out
to Tennessee to practice law. Some
called him "Mad" Thursby, but wheth
er that was because he was crack
brained or Insisted in doing things as
no one else would do them Is a ques
tion.
"1 think," said Thursby musingly,
sipping his JuJop, "that 1 shall shoot on
Miss Woodbridge's estate."
"What!" exclaimed one of the group.
•Trespass on the estate of a young
lady?"
"No; I shall gain her permission."
"She has already refused it to oth
ers; she can't consistently give it to
"MAT I BKO A BOOK T
:you. What Influence do you propose
to bring to bear upon her?"
"None."
"Do you know her?"
■"No; I have never seen her."
"Very well; I'll bet you SSO you don't
shoot this fall on Miss Woodbridge's
plantation."
"I take the bet."
The rays of the rising sun were
streaming in through the windows, the
music ceased, and the revelers began to
take their departure.
It was about S) o'clock that Virginia
Woodbridge was out among her dew
covered tlowers—none had yet been
nipped by frost—when she heard a
voice behind her.
"May I beg a boon?"
Turning, she saw a young man
dressed in white satin. Ills coat, trim
med with gold braid, was cut in the
fashion that we call "clawhammer,"
with two long extensions iu rear reach
ing almost to his ankles. From his
vest escaped a profusion of ruffled
lace. His breeches were tight to the
skin and reached only to the knee; his
stockings were silk: his shoes were or
namented with enormous silver buc
kles. In the hollow of his left arm
■was a gun; from his shoulder were sus
pended a shot pouch, a powder flask
and a game bag. As to head covering,
there was none. The figure was bow
ing low before her with his right hand
on his heart.
The first idea Miss Woodbridge bad
of this singular apparition was that he
was supernatural; the next, that she
was confronted by a lunatic.
"I have called," said the visitor, "to
ask your kind permission to shoot a
few birds ou your plantation."
It occurred to the lady that to refuse
the man v. ould be tantamount to an in
vitation to shoot her. No man In his
senses would go hunting in such cos
tume, and, although this poor dement
ed creature looked harmless enough, it
was Impossible to say that a refusal
would not rouse him.
"Certainly," she hurried to say as
soon as she could gain speech. "Hunt
all over the plantation."
The lunatic bowed again, thanked
her for her kindness and strode away.
As for Miss Woodbridge, as soon as
his back was turned she darted into
the house and locked the door behind
her. Then when she was sufficiently
recovered she sent for her overseer,
told him how by her presence of mind
sbe had saved herself from being shot
by H lunatic and directed him to send
to the insane asyluui, a short distance
south of her estate, and ask them to
send at once and capture the lunatic.
By this time a perpetual "bang" was
heard without. A darky rushed in and
began to talk with eyes wide opened.
"Missy Ginnie, dere's a ha'nt down
In de medder klllln' all do bobwhlte.
He dressed like a ghost, all In white,
with stars and things on he breast
Wha' ail gwine to do?"
"For heaven's sake, don't try to stop
him." said the mistress. "If you do
he'll kill you?'
"Oh, no. I'm not gwlne to stop him.
As soon as I sor him 1 run like de
debbil was after me. Ebery time he
shoot, down conies a thousand quail."
"Never mind the quail. I don't care
how many he kills If he doesn't kill
any one else before we can get rid of
him."
At this Juncture the housekeeper en
tered the room and asked what was
the matter. When informed of the
facta she smiled and said:
"I saw your lunatic go by my win
dow. He's Tom Thursby, that Virginia
scapegrace."
"And sane?" asked Miss Woodbridge.
"Perfectly."
"Then why appear here in such cos
tume and ask permission to hunt?"
"I don't know. There was a mas
querade ball In the city last night, and
not an hour ago 1 saw some of the
masqueraders rolling along In their
carriages ou their way home, rerhaps
Mr. Thursby was one of them and
took a fancy to do some shooting."
"But why in such costume?"
"No one knows what Tom Thursby
will do. He's singular. But I have
heard he Is very bright. He'll prob
ably break his neck some day riding
across country. He's a terrible man
on horseback."
"That would be a pity," said Miss
Woodbridge sympathetically—"he's so
handsome."
Whether the lady meant that it did
not matter If homely men broke their
necks is not of Importance to this
story. The order to send to the asylum
was countermanded, and Mr. Thursby
was permitted to bang away till mid
day. when he came to the house with
a bagful of quail and asked to see
the mistress. She met him, vainly en
deavoring to suppress a smile.
"I have only killed these birds," ho
said, "for the pleasure of the hunt. I
leave them for their rightful owner."
"You are Mr. Thursby, I believe,
from Virginia."
"I am, and at your service." A low
bow.
"That you may not think we Tennes
seeans less hospitable than the people
of the Old Dominion I will ask you to
remain for a dinner on the birds you
have shot."
"That will certainly bo an honor as
well as a pleasure." Another bow.
Miss Woodbridge entertained Mr.
Thursby till the quails were cooked
and the repast was announced. Then
she took his arm, and they went into
the dining room. Never a smile cross
ed Mr. Thursby's face. His hostess
said nothing about having mistaken
him for a lunatic, and he made no
reference to his fantastic dress.
The servants on the plantation either
had not heard the explanation as to
the guest's habiliments, or, if they
had. It made little Impression on them.
The opinion among them gained ground
that he was a ha'nt, though many of
them declared that he was a lunatic.
The braver of the colored children
flattened their noses against the din
ing room window panes to observe the
specter. Aunt Eunice, who had been
Virginia Woodbridge's "mammy," was
very much disturbed.
"Wha' fo' yo' niggers let yo' wlst'ess
alone wld dat lunatlcker fo'?" she
asked the men. "Yo" gwlne lot him
■hoot her?"
At this white beaded Uncle Peter
went off and returned with his gun
and aald he was "gwlne to klver de
ha'nt" Miss Woodbridge, while dis
secting a quail, discovered blm stand
ing in the doorway leveling a shotgun
at her guest.
"For heaven's aake, Uncle Peter,
what are you going to do? Don't
shoot!"
"Don' yo' bodder. Missy Ginnie. I
got de drop ou him."
"Oh, that's nothing," said Thursby.
"I've seen him for some time. It
hasn't spoiled my appetite."
And he helped himself to another
quail.
I'ncle Peter was finally persuaded to
go away with his gun, and the meal
proceeded. Then when it was finished
Miss Woodbridge and her singular
guest spent some time together In the
drawing room, after which the guest
departed.
Miss Woodbridge was so well pleas
ed with Mr. Thursby that she deeply
regretted he was so freaky. But when
the next day she received from him
several dozen pairs of gloves, with a
letter stating that her leniency with
him had enabled him to win a bet that
he would shoot with her permission on
her plantation, she did not consider
; him so freaky after all. Indeed, she
considered him very clever.
After this Mr. Thursby continued hla
mad pranks at horsemanship and oth
er feats, devoted himself to Miss
Woodbridge and practiced law. His
associates were divided as to whether
he were really crack brained or very
clever till he won an important suit
by an expedient similar to the one by
which he had won permission to shoot
»n the Woodbridge premises. From
that time forward all agreed that if
lie were tnad there was a lot of meth
od in his madness.
This lm esslon continued to grow
till It was oncluded by the people of
Mr. Thursby's section that they had
better send him to represent them In
Washington, and he was elected to
roncress, He took Miss Woodbridge
with him.
De Halleylooyah Comet.
O ainneh, jo's a-smllln' en a-wlnkln' on
de paff.
But lie Halleylooyah comet gwlne ter flick
yo' wld its wraft!
Hit's a-bollin' on de up grade lak a red
hot train o' cxhi
Dat's a-maktn' up de los' tlm» whilst hit
whizzes thoo do stahs.
So be good, Mlsteh Slnneh,
Caze de fac's en flggehs say
Dat de Halleylooyah comet
Am a-rushln' on de way.
To" aay dey wan't no Adam en dey neveh
was no Eve,
En yo' 'low dat talk 'bout Noer Is a thing
yo' doan' believe,
But dey ain't no dead-en-goneneaa In de
Bto'y dat dey'll tell
When de Halleylooyah comet coma en
make de slnnehs yelL
Bo look out, Mlsteh Stnneh.
Betteh change yo" mtn' terday
Wld de Halleylooyah comet
Dea a-t'ahln' up de way.
—Chicago Post.
Willing.
"Jane, at the table te wish to be
served with alacrity."
"All right, mum. Will you have it
after the soup?"— London Answers.
Kindness is the golden chain by
which society Is hound together.-*
•TV —*—
■
People of Note
Snapshots at Celebrities
Talked About
&
IT'S ail over!
£ J Mighty unpleas
ant things are
being said about
Master Cup!d, and
life has lost Its
charm for three
dukes and a prince,
' ':*■ \ to say nothing of
'* A scores of others
'• *3'*- j w '• ° would not
know what to do
" with a title if they
CAVALtEnt. h !U i onej for that
much courted and beautiful prima
donna, Lina Cavalier!, has made her
choice of a husband. The lucky man
Is Bob Wlnthrop Chanler of New York,
a member of the rich Chanler family,
known to art, finance and politics and
the wilds of Africa for a generation.
When Bob recently proposed to the
famous singer she was about to sail
for Farls, but told hiui she would think
It over and cable her reply. How the
days did drag along! At last it came,
with the one word "Yes," and natural
ly ho is the happiest man alive. On
the day the decision arrived Mr. Chan
ler rushed out of his apartments, show
ered the servants with change and
commanded:
"Grin, and grin good and hard, all of
you! 1 want to see everybody else
grin today, and then I won't feel so
foolish myself."
When asked If he would live abroad
after the wedding he said;
"What—me, elected by a discerning
New York constituency to be sheriff
for three years, togo abroad! I'm not
that kind of an American, son."
Professor E. It. Ilaenell, who has
been selected to lecture at Columbia
university as the "Kaiser Wllhelm
professor," comes
from the University
of Kiel, Prussia, and
Is considered one of
the foremost hlsto- mRKW
rlans of Germany.
He only a
teacher, but a deep
thinker and one of
the men who have J
made the study of r
history a new sci- '
ence In Germany by
considering events PROFESSOR DAE-
In connection with
all the Influences and factors actively
shaping the course followed by men
and peoples.
The "Kaiser Wllhelm professorship"
was founded about five years ago and
corresponds with the "Roosevelt pro
fessorship" at Berlin university. Ths
first American ltoosevelt professor at
Berlin was Professor Burgess of Co
lumbia.
The passing of former Police Inspec
tor Thomas Byrnes of New York, who
has been 111 so long, recalls the busy
sareer of the man once such a terror
to crooks and evil
day 1809 when
110 entere d the po
retired in 1895 Mr.
i Byrnes' life was a
stirring romance of
murderers, thieves
natural leader and
tiiomas byrnes. worked his way up
with wonderful rapidity.
In 1880 "the czar of Mulberry street,"
as he was called, completely reorgan
ized the detective bureau of New York
and a few weeks later was made In
speetor. Then he established his fa
mous Wall street "dead Hue." which
has been given a worldwide promi
nence In the annals of the underworld
He was then made superintendent of
police and ruled as an unquestioned
autocrat until his retirement. Once
King Humbert of Italy offered Mr.
Byrnes the title of chevalier and offi
cer of the Order of the Crown of Italy,
but the offer was declined.
If your heart palpitates ride the bi
cycle. If your heart, like the old
kitchen clock, misses a cog occasion
ally take a spin ou your wheel. If
your heart appears to have growt.
tired of doing business at the old
stand wake it up with a century run.
This sounds like u patent medicine ad.
or an attempt to
that Alvey A. SS.
Adee, assistant sec- \%5 J
retary of state,
their physicians'
Mr. Adee has Just A - A - AOEK.
gone abroad for another long tonr on
his wheel, which has been his custom
for several years. Some time »ifo,
finding himself in need of outdoor ex
ercise, he took up bicycling, and he
says of It:
"I was troubled with my heart at
ttuit time quite badly, but found thi»t
cycling benefited me greatly. I fol
lowed the exercise regularly, not (n a
strenuous way, !<ut In a safe and sane
way, and now the trouble has almost
disappeared. I attribute this cur® to
riding a wheel."
Sounded Queer.
"All right behind there?" called the
conductor from the front of the car.
"Hold on!" cried a shrill voice. "Wait
till I get my clothes on!"
The passengers craned their necks
expectantly. A small boy was strug
gling to get a basket of laundry
aboard.
The Real Trouble.
"Woman's ignorance of cooking is
the bane of married life."
"No; it's woman's ignorance of hex
ignorance of cooking."—Boston Tran
script
SHE READ HIS SECRET.
Which Led Him to Express an Opinion
on Married Life.
A young man from Kansas City was
talking to a young woman from the
same town whom he had met by acci
dent at a uiatlnee In New York. The
young wouian was married. The
young man was not.
"You've heard that we're to have a
new theater back home?" the woman
asked to make conversation.
"Oh, of course," the young man an
swered. "I get all the news.l get a
letter from Kansas City every day."
The woman began to laugh.
"So when you go back home for that
vacation you're going to be married?"
she mused.
"How did you know that?" the man
cried. "We both said we wouldn't tell.
And now she's"—
"You told me yourself a few seconds
ago, everything but the date," she an
swered. "Y'ou see, no matter how fond
your brother may be of you or your
uncles or aunts or your mother or fa
ther, none of these would send you a
letter every day. There's only one
person who writes a letter every day,
and that's a girl who's engaged to be
married. For the rest of my sentence
1 added two and two."
"You're right," the man mused.
"Say, a married man must have to
play close to the bases. It must be
like living with a mind reader."—Bos
ton Herald.
A CHILD GENIUS.
Ampere Dabbled In Mathematics at
the Age of Three.
Ampere, who left his name to the
science of electricity, was a child gen
ius. At the age of three he had taught
himself to count with the aid of peb
bles and bad found out for himself a
good many of the theories of arith
metic. At this age he became very ill
and was for three days denied food.
At the end of the fast he was given a
biscuit, but instead of eating it be
broke It up Into pieces to count with,
an operation he considered more Inter
esting.
He read everything with avidity.
His mind did not run in one channel,
and ho welcomed every volume that
came in his way. When he was ten or
twelve years old he went to a library
to ask for the works of a certain au
thor. The librarian toid him In amuse
ment that the books were In I<atln.
The boy went bome chagrined, for he
did not know Latin, being a sickly
child and held back from books as far
as possible, but after six weeks be ap
peared again and told the librarian ho
had learned to read the books now.
Ampere is on® of the few child prod
igies who seems to have been sickly
Ho had fits from tlmo to time, while
most child wonders appear to have
been physically normal In erery re
spect.—Exchange.
Fre»k» of Languaga.
A peculiar kind of blundering known
as "folk etymology" Is responsible for
some of the queerest freaks of lan
guage. An easy example will make
this clear. Our American word "car
ryall" for • kind of vehicle Is not •
compound of "carry" and "all," but a
slight distortion of the French "carri
ole, a diminutive ctr. The change
was made In obedience to the uni
versal tendency to assimilate the un
known to the known, to make words
mean something by associating them
with others which they resemble lc
sound. Often there is no etymological
relation between the words associated,
as when sparrowgrass is made out of
asparagus. This particular corruption
was once In such good colloquial use
that Walker, the lexicographer, wrote,
"Sparrowgrass Is so general that as
paragus has an air of stiffness and
pedantry."
Two Smart Actors.
In a popular historic drama the nc
tor who takes the part of Napoleon Is
required to read aloud a document «>f
considerable length which is brought
to him by General Berthler. This,
being written at length, is seldom com
mitted to memory. \ short time ngo.
however, the property master at an
English theater mislaid the document,
and Napoleon, who was new to the
part, received Instead a blank sheet of
paper. For a moment he was aghast:
then, eager to escape from his pre
dicament even at the expense of a
fellow actor, he handed the paper t<i
General Berthler. saying, "Read It t<j
me."
The other actor was not in the least
confused. "Your majesty," ho said,
handing it back, "1 am only a p»>r
soldier of fortune, and you must ex
cuse me. Ido not know how to rend!"
Hla Emancipation.
Away back in 1771 Joslah Woodbury
of Beverly, Mass., thus published his
happy emancipation from matrimonial
woes:
Beverly, Sept 18, 1771.
Ran away from Joslah Woodbury, coop
er. his house plague for seven long years.
Masury OUI Moll, alias Trial of Venge
ance. He that lost will never seek her;
he that shall keep her I will glvo two
Bushel of Beans. I forewarn all Persom
in Town or County from trusting said
Trial of Vengeance. 1 have hove all the
old (shoes) I can And for Joy, and all my
neighbors rejoice with me. A good Rid
dance of bad Ware. Amen!
JOSIAH WOODBURY
Spontinl's Decorations.
Caspuro Spontini, the composer, re
garded himself in the light of u demi
god, and when Inspirations crowded
upon him hu donned n wide, toga
like gown of white silk with n border
of gold and a fez of white silk em
broidered lu gokl from which a heavy
tassel hung down. With great dignity
he sat down before his desk, and if
a grain of dust was vlslblo on the
paper on which ho penned his music
he rang the bell impatiently for hla
servant to remove the obstacle. Spon
tlul owned so many medals and deco
rations that they could no longer be
accommodated on his breast. At a
grand musical reunion at Halle an old
musician remarked to a comrade, "Sea
how many decorations Spontlnl has,
while Mozart has not one." Spon
tlnl, who overheard It, replied quickly,
"Moeart, my dear friend, does not
need them."
Engagement Broken.
Merchant— l have had hard luck
lost all my money. Suitor—Surely yon
would not wish to lose your daughter
also.— Fllegende Blatter.
AIRSHIP OF THE
NEARjUTURE.
What Two Authorities Think It
Will Be Like.
HUGE MODEL OF COMFORT.
Will Resemble a Flying Fiah and Be
Capable, It la Claimed, of Traveling
Seventy-five Mils* an Hour —To
Carry About 150 Passengers and
Craw of Fortytwo Men.
The most recent developments In
Germauj's efTorts to reduce air navi
gation to a science and the plans for
the transatlantic voyage above the
clouds proposed for about the middle
of May by the German aeronaut Dr.
Gans-Fabrlce, lately president of the
Frankfort Aeronautical exposition, and
Joseph Brucker of Berlin in two
dirigibles are discussed by T. U. Mac-
Mechen and Carl Dlenstbach, two au
thors of works on airships and dirigi
bles, in the May Century, and the air
ship of the near future Is described in
part as follows:
Frool the standard of present devel
opment the airship of 1915 may lie
conceived as having a hull of rigid
construction, 1,000 feet long and 80
feet beatn, with accommodations for
125 to 150 passengers and a crew of
42 men.
The new air liner will resemble a
submarine or, rather, a flying flsh. All
Its parts will be compactly built Into
the hull. Its underbody, 800 feet
long, 12 feet wide and 9 feet high,
will extend between the elbows fore
and aft where the hull begins to curve
toward Its pointed bow and stern.
The underbody will hold seven pas
sengers and eight operating sections,
after the fashion of a compartment
sleeping car. A continuous passage
way will extend from end to end.
All Cooking by Eleotriolty.
Below the bridge will be a hatch
way to the main passage in the for
ward undefbody of the ship, where
there Is a companlonway which Is the
ship's portal. Abaft of this will be the
captain's cabin. To starboard will be
gin the main passage and staterooms,
with all doors opening on the passage.
Next to the captain's quarters, In se
quence, will be officers' and engineers'
staterooms, officers' wardroom and
mess, the barber shop, the first motor
compartment, the toilet room, passen
gers' staterooms, passengers' living
quarters, a central lounging, reading
and dining saloon the width of the
•hip. At the stem will be the stew
ard's quarters, where all cooking will
be by electricity. Meals will be serv
ed In each saloon, the pantry service
being operated by escalator passing
through the "bold," which will be at
tached to the airship's entire onder
body. Table service will be delivered
through a trap In the saloon floor.
Telephone and electric annunciators
will connect each section with the
steward's quarters.
All bed covering will be of the light
est weights, because elektron heaters
carrying the hot exhaust of the motors
will keep the temperature automatical
ly even while flying at frigid altitudes.
When flying low In the tropica the air
ship may be perfectly cooled by ven
tilation. Only hand baggage will be
permitted for the quick passage.
Built to Float on tha WaUr.
The sides of the "hold." or tunnel.
Ave feet high and eight feet wide, will
be Uiied with continuous tuuklng, con
taining gasoline fuel, to be forced up
ward into the engine rooms as needed
The outside of the "bold" will servo
as the airship's rounded keel and will
enable the craft to float., ou water
Elastic buffers for luiiili;T„' will be
fixed under each engine suction.
The eight motor compartments wlli
each be equipped with one •_'<>' ir.se
power motor, transmitting eiit . „.v by
short steel belts in flattened tubes to
one propeller on the same side of the
hull and to auxiliary engines operating
pumps that will control the gas cham
bers, withdrawing expanding gas and
condensing It Into the airship's tubu
lar frame They will also drive pow
erful fans for ventilating the air
spaces of the bull and the llvlntc <iuur
tors
"Boats" to 8a Carried.
The top .»r tin- hull, now the Zep
pelin's observatory, will become a long
"hurricane <!eck" of thin, light plank
ing. with side rails Here will be
kept "service" Implements, two slen
der musts • :i. the "wireless"
antennae ant! the yellow "top lights."
observatories for cloud triaugulation
aud taking the altitude of stars,
searchlights, kite winch and the air
ship's "boats." two small, swift aero
plane "scouts," one fore, the other aft,
with ample space for launching aud
alighting. The deck will be reached
by small winding openwork stairs
through the bull. The hull will be di
vided Into twenty gas tight compart
ments for sustaining the airship In
space. Along the port and starboard
sides five seats of curved aeroplane
surfaces will help to lift and support
the airship or steer It up and down.
They will be "stepped" to avoid Inter
ference. Between be eight
propellers, four on each side, at alter
nating levels along the hull.
It Is believed that within five years
such an air liner will be capable of
traveling seventy-five miles an hour
ordinarily and often 120 miles In the
apper levels.
To Maka a Qlaas Cuttar.
A glass :utter can easily be mada
with an ordinary mapping pen and a
small piece of carborundum or car
bide of silicon. Cut off a part of the
nib to form a small tube. Fit a crys
tal or part of one of carborundum Into
the tube, take It out again and dip one
end In cement and replace it. Next
wind a piece of fine wire tightly
around the tube and part of the handle
and fix It In a notch cut In the latter.
Put It aside for a day to allow the ce
ment to harden. A glass cutter made
thus will do Its work as well as the
expensive diamond and a great deal
better than the ordinary wheel cutter.
THE SKELETON
IN CLOSET,
A Rattling of Its Bones That Ter
rified Its Keepers.
By GEORGE ETHELBERT WALSH.
ICopyrlght, 1910, by American Press Asso
ciation.]
Beverly Westlake drifted into Lake
rllle an obscure, poverty stricken man
and by dint of hard work and shrewd
business investments prospered until
be was by common consent counted
the leading citizen and merchant of
that enterprising metropolis.
Jack Lecon entered Lakevllle under
a Pullman car. Jack was walking ou
Grand street when Beverly Westlake
swung around the corner and walked
toward him.
Jack's first Impulse was to ranlsh,
but on second thought he remained
passive and motionless, staring In sur
prise and wonder at the approaching
figure. His eyes were bulging, and
Ills mouth stood agape. With the con-
THKBK WAS A QCEBB LIMPNESS TO TH«
KECK,
fident swing of the successful and well
satisfied man, Beverly Westlake walk
ed along, scarcely noticing the silent
beggar on the until the
man's voice startled him violently
from his mental repose.
"Hello, Peachy!" was the irreverent
■alute of Jack. "Why, you're some
elegant! How'd ye get the lift?"
The leading merchant, philanthro
pist, financier and exponent of the
higher success wheeled abruptly, star
ed at the questioner, turned red, then
white, gripped his hands and moved
forward as If to pass without a word,
thought better of It, stopped and
frowned and finally mopped his fore
head with nervous agitation. Jack
Lecon was all smiles and his manner
as affable ns a man who had called a
bluff and knew be was stalking big
game.
"Quite a bit of time since we met.
Peachy," he continued, extending a
band, which Beverly Ignored. "Some
difference In us now, ain't there? You
got the swell cut all right and the Ag
ger to carry it out. but I—why, I ain't
good for much. I'm Jest sick and
down In luck."
The words trailed off Into a whine.
Then, with a sudden change of base.
Jack added, with a little triumph In
his voice:
"Hut I got ray discharge all right,
and you didn't."
There was a remarkable and pitiful
transformation in Mr. Westlnke. The
skin wrinkled, and the complexion
turned a sickly red. dotted with yel
lowish and purplish spots.
"I say. Jack—Mr. T>econ." he stam
mered when he could control his rolce.
"what do you want—money?"
"I ain't no bloated aristocrat that I
refuses it," leered Jack, with an In
gratiating grin.
Mr. Westlake fumbled In his coat
pockets and produced a roll of bills
that caused poor Jack to gasp.
"Take this," said the merchant, ex
tending a generous wad of the freshly
minted green, "and—and don't bother
me again. Jack—Mr. I.econ, I mean
that Is, If— if— Don't you want a
ticket to the Tactile coast, where the ell
mate Is very agreeable at this, season
of the year? I'll furnish you with one."
But Jack Lecon was no quitter when
on the easy trail of a victim. lie was
garrulous by turns and much addicted
to the use of strong tonics. At such
moments he tried to make love to
Alice, Westlake's brave nnd devoted
wife, and openly flouted his bene
factor. The uneasy head which wore
the crown of riches was bowed under
the burden thus placed so suddenly
upon his shoulders. But for Alice he
would have quit and confessed all.
"I'll go owny, my dear," he groaned
in agony of spirit, "or I'll kill myself—
-110, kill him! Fle's the devil Incarnate."
But Alice soothed and cautioned him
against rashness. Imagine the mortlfl
cation of having a low down brute In
stalling himself In your home, insult
lug your wife and making free with
vour money and servants and always
holding the threat of an awful expo
sure over your head—a veritable sword
of Damocles, but ten times keener of
edgo and suspended not by a thread,
but by a tiny spider's web.
"No; we cannot go away." Alice said
In a soft voice. "Wo must stay and
bear our burden for the present You
have lived down your early disgrace
and proved yourself a repentant man."
"But the law doesn't recognize that,"
bitterly complained the broken down
capitalist "If I escaped from prison
before my time expired I'm still a
criminal In the eyes of the law. Oh, If
I had been patient a little longer!"
Alice comforted him with words of
caressing affection, but the Iron had
entered his soul, nnd he continued to
cry out:
"To think this drunken brute should
have his freedom without fear of cap
ture or exposure! 1 •© wretch
ir
"No, dear, you wou't do any such
thing—for my sake."
Jack's excesses became so disgust
tng in time that even sweet Alice's
patience and endurance were sorely
tried. Her faith in her sense of duty
was showing signs of wavering whoa
suddenly without warning Jack's skel
eton kicked open the closet and fell
sprawling on the floor.
The key was held by a quiet, thick
set man of dark complexion, \vh r
called one evening to iutervlew Mr.
Westlake in the quiet of his study.
Alice was there and hung over her
husband as if to protect him.
"Mr. Westlake," announced the quiet
stranger, "you have in your employ a
man of the name of Jack Lecon, I be
lieve?"
Beverly winced a little at the word
"employ," and he was Inclined to laugh •
at the Irony of the thrust. Yes. lie ;
was In his employ, but a rather ex- '
pensive employee. He nodded, with a !
smile, to indicate his comprehension.
"Well, sir," continued the stranger. \
"this man Is a convict—escaped from •
the federal prison some months ago."
Beverly Westlake saw all kinds of.
pink and white spots, and he glanced i
up to see if the electric lights hml j
changed their colors. Incidentally h» I
felt the strangulating constriction i t
his wife's crms around his neck. I!a 1
realized thai he was pale and that hit '
heart had almost ceased to beat. 112
"There Is nothing to fear. Mr. WVst«'
lake. The house Is surrounded, nr.d
we will capture hint without any out
cry. lie 1; a desperate character
killed his guard when he escaped—aud
we have made special plans to copturn
him without danger to you or your
household. 1 merely called on you to
prepare your wife for any strugglo
that may follow. You understand?"
Yes, Beverly understood, and Alice too.
"Alice," he said slowly, "you had
better retire to your room. I will g<i
with— with this man to Und Jack."
Intuitively she caught his meaning.
She hesitated but a moment and then
kissed him as If to withdraw.
"I don't tUlnk we shall need your
services," the officer said, with a con
fident air. "Our plans are all carefully
laid, and by this time Jack Lecoa
should be a prisoner. I came here
p«rtiy to engage your attention while
my men secured him. 1 think now,"
consulting his watch, "the struggla
must be over. We will go and see."
They passed through the groat hall
in solemn procession and then turned
to mount the broad stairs to Jack's
room. He lived la comfort and luxury
away from the servants as a man sat
apart for special favors.
But they did not ascend the stair?.
A swift figure glided down the polish,
ed marble and intercepted them—a li y
ure that baited but an instant a;:d
then would have passed on with In.
slstent purpose. The officer, startled,
by the movement, turned hurriedly
aud asked:
"What ia it, Sheldon? Anything
wrong?"
The gliding figure came to a reluc
tant halt and replied respectfully:
"Yes, sir: he escaped and Jumped
out of the window. But Jansen aud
Ilolden must have him. They were
below."
There was a hurried exit from tin*
house, and Alice forgot her dignity
and scant footgear. The moon was at
its zenith outside, and the crisp wio
try air made the blood tingle. Th*
frozen ground was as hard as rock,
and little frost bulbs gathered on ev
ery tree and shrub.
A voice from out of the muffled al
ienee of the night smote their ears a*
they turned a corner of the house.
"We have him, sir," It said calmly,
"He jumped and fell on his head—
hurt a little, I guess."
They gathered around a dark heap
on the silver frosted ground where
the twisted limbs of a man were
1 sprawled like the four corners of a
star. There was a queer limpness ta
the neck when the head was raised,
and Alice covered her eyes and shud
dered. If she divined the meaning of
It she did not confess it even to her
self. It was Jansen who pronoun<"e<%
the verdict.
"Neck broken. I guess." he said cool,
ly. "Yes, sir, and dead as a doornail."
The leader of the men knelt over th<*
prostrate form of Jack I.econ, and aft
er a close examination he said, wltti
finality In his voice:
"Yes. he's dead."
Turning toward the Westlakes, h®
said In way of examination and apolo
gy: "I'm sorry we couldn't take him
away without creating a scene. Rut
I suppose now it must come out In th<»
papers. The coroner must be sum
moned."
Alice drew a deep breath, and Bev
erly wiped the frost gathered on hi*
mustache with a hand that trembled.
His lips only mechanically muttered
the commonplace words:
"You have only done your duty, of
ficer—only your duty—and I thank
you."
They turned slowly and walked up
the steps of the spacious piazza and
entered their palatial home. Their
family skeletou was back In the closet
and carefully nailed up and sealed.
Would it ever break out again?
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