THE
TANGLED
WEB
By Elhcl Watls-Mumford Grant
AoAm cl "Dupn." "Whilrwuh," Elc.
CopyraiHt. 1908, br Den!. B. Himpon
CHAPTER IV.
Once within the room Mrs. Gay
nor took the young woman by the
shoulders with gentle firmness and
turned her toward the light. "Look
at mo. Your eyes are bloodshot;
your head Is paining you again."
She was answered by a look of
dumb agony.
"Never mind." she continued with
Insistent gentleness. "You are not
to help me dress; you are to do
just as I say," she added In a sharp
er tone, as the girl made a feeblo
gesture of protest. "Come, I can
help your head, you know there,
now." She forced the girl quietly
into an easy chair, with a gentle
laugh at her resistance. "There,
now, rest, rest poor little thing,"
she said softly ns she bent over the
relaxed form. She made a gentle
movement ns If to brush back the
girl's heavy hair.
There was one observer of this
odd little scene. Alice Rawlins, on !
her way down the corridor had
paused at Mrs. Gaynor's door, which
had sprung from Its catch. She had
peon the kindly movement and
heard the gentle orders dictated by
a rarely sympathetic spirit.
"Gee!" thought Alice, ns she
moved on toward her room, "she's
a brick, that woman! It Isn't one
In a million that would be that con
siderate. I'd just like to do her a
good turn for that." With which 1
deeply philosophic comment she i
dismissed the subject.
As the dinner hour approached,
Mrs. Gnynor was the first to reach
the drawing room, her pallor and '
weariness accentuated by die languid
line and dark hue of her velvet
gown. Presently her hostess ap
peared. Her dress limp-lined and
colorless as her character, left one
wondering whether her dressmaker
possessed a sense of humor. Miss
Ilawlins, true to her affected boy
ishness, appeared in her traditional
evening costume of black velvet Nor
folk, a fine linen shirt and ruffled
stock. Her hair, still in the inevita
ble "club," was held by a diamond
bar and a black bow.
"Woof," she said as she entered,
"wait till you pipe the Lawdon. She's
sporting a frock that gave me a sun
stroke. She has twenty-seven yards
of gold gauze wiping up the par
ciuette, the diamond belt, and one
gilt suspender."
"Rowdy!" reprimanded Mrs. Eve
lyn. "Who me or Mrs. Lawdon?"
Mrs. Gaynor laughed. "One sus
pender don't make a rowdy. Good
evening, IJoyd." She bowed over I
Alice's head to Wendham, who stood
in tho doorway.
His eyes sought hers with admira
tion. "Did you take my prescrip
tion and a good rest, this after
noon?" he inquired. j
"Yes," she nodded briefly.
"You worldly dervishes are al- J
ways compelling me to send you to ,
sanitariums."
"Yes," Interrupted Mrs. Evelyn,
"I do think this racing fever of
hers "
"Oh, nonsense!" Mrs. Gaynor
apoke with some Irritation. "I have
to help make my living, and as long
as I'm successful "
"But you needn't be so extrava
gant," objected the hostess.
Mrs. Gaynor shrugged. "Needn't
be! I can't help myself. And after
all, I don't play bridge."
"Because the stakes are too
blamed low," said Alice. "As for
me, give me penny ante."
The. doctor's face was serious. "My
dear Alice, you will never lose your
nerve. But Mrs. Gaynor Is made of
different stuff, and I'm trying to con
vince her that she must ease the
strain. She knows best where the
tension lies."
"What is the amount of your fee7"
Inquired Mrs. Gaynor coldly.
Wendham blushed scarlet. "For
give me for forcing my professional
opinion upon you it was only my
real interest. I have seen so many
lovely women transformed Into
nervous wrecks."
Wendham spoke warmly, Ignoring
the delicate position in which all
the speakers wero placed by this In
trusion Into the personal realm of
one of tho circle. The mad extra
vagance and lovo of excitement
which characterized Nellie Gaynor
concerned him deeply. They stood
like unseen but Insurmountable bar
riers between her magnetic personal
ity and his growing lovo for her.
"Indeed," said Mrs. Gaynor, "1
knew broken legs could bo re-set,
but I didn't know that you posed as
a mender of character. Is tho opera,
tlon painful?" Her light tone treat
ed bis offer as a Joke, but this time
ha was not to be put off.
"Not at all painful," ho answered,
"for the most wonderful anaesthetic
in the world is the first thing ncces
unrv hvonoMsm."
"Rot!" exclaimed Alice.
"Really?" said Mrs. Evelyn.
Nellie Gaynor fixed upon Wend
ham a sudden glanco of terror. Sho
half raised her band as If to push
back a crowding presence. Sho was
white to the lips. "Never, oh, nev
er, never!" she gasped. "What do
you mean?" she added. Her hand
dropped to her side.
With Infinite pity nt his heart the
physician watched the slim fingers
twitch and tremble. "You wouldn't
be frightened If you understood It,"
he said quietly. "You see that's tho
specialty I tnok up abroad."
"Why." said Mrs. Evelyn, with a
face as blank as her pearls, "1
thought it was some sort of a vaude
ville thing, didn't you, Alice? Where
was it we saw the 'Mysterious Mari
ons.' who read your watch numbers
and things?"
The conversation ceased abruptly
as Mrs. Lawdon entered the room.
Even the impassive Mrs. Evelyn
could not restrain a smile, recalling
the vivid, if somewhat unconvention
al description to which Miss Rawlins
had treated them.
"How lovely!" she said yaguely.
"Blondes seem always to wear eith
er black or gold."
"It's a 'Paquin,' " beamed Mrs.
Lawdon. "I do love his frocks,
don't you?"
Wendham had not left Mrs. Gay
nor's side, and his calm, affectionate
gaze rested searchingly upon her
face. "I'm not joking," he contin
ued In an undertone. "Think it
over."
Her momentary fright had passed.
She had regained her old composure.
"You're very good," she said, "to
take so much Interest and 1
know you are right. Very soon, per
haps next week, I'll take your ad
vice some of It." sho added. '.'I'll
go away and rest take a cruise
somewhere."
"Please," he pleaded.
"Dinner is served," announced the
butler.
Wendham extended his arm. Nel
lie took it, conscious of the grateful
sensation of its implied protection
and strength.
"Yes," she admitted wearily, "1
am very, very, tired." She turned
to him squaicly as she reached her
seat and spoke quickly, almost in a
whisper. "Sometimes I feel as If
I weren't quite sane do you under
stand that? I can't realize that I
"HIS EYES HELD HERS AS
FASCINATED."
allow myselt my life my way ot
living I don't know why I tell you,"
she added with vexation. She
waved her hand lightly as if to dis
miss both his attention and the dis
agreeable truths he had brought be
fore .her, turning courteously to the
partner on her right.
Dinner over, bridge tables were
set out. Mrs. Gaynor did not join
in the game, but, seated at the piano,
let her fancy wander into soft Im
provisations. And Wendham, watch
ing and listening with all his science
and all his heart, detected ever the
jarring note, as a trained engineer
knows by the infinitesimal change
of sound or vibration that his en
gine is not running smooth and truo.
His reverie was broken by Mrs. Law
don's vibrant voice.
"Oh, yes, I will pay you now
I'd rather."
"Don't bother send a check,"
said the hostess in her faint, vague
voice.
"No, indeed; I'll fly to my room
and fetch my purse. I hid it before
I came down." She rose with switch
and glitter and parted the heavy
curtains. The light tapping of her
high heels echoed on tho polished
floor of tho hall.
There was a general rising and
buzz of talk, adjustment of accounts,
and reminiscent chat of honors,
points and leads. Mrs. Gaynor left
the piano and joined the others.
Wendham approached her, deter
mination written largo upon his face.
"Will you do me a favor. Nellie?"
he asked.
"Of course, delighted. What can
I do?" she inquired, cordially.
"Go to bed," he commanded.
Sho laughed nervously. "Dear me,
do you want to bo rid of mo so
soon? I couldn't sleep."
"You can rest."
"Rest," sho repeated, "rest I
don't know the word."
"You must learn It, then."
"You are kind to bother so much
about me and as soon as I can
I am going to try."
In her weariness she had turned
to him with tho sweet, relying grati
tude of expression that raises woman
ly charm to its highest power. He
longed to take her In bis arms, to
comfort and care for her, to bring
IF
his knowledge and his lovo to her
instant need. "Go rest doctor's or
ders Nellie;" his Hps had framed
tho endearing name, when an excited
clatter and a choking, hysterical cry
brought tho party to their feet with
a common movement of anxiety.
CHAPTER V.
Mrs. Lawdon appeared at tho
door. The well groomed beautiful
woman of a few moments before was
almost beyond recognition. Her face
had aged ten years, her hair hung
in disorder, a huge rent in the gold
en gauze of her gown shbwed the
gleam of Its white satin lining
mute evidence of the hurried regard
lessness of her flight. And, as a last
detail of the incomprehensible, her
convulsive hands grasped a black
feather hat of enormous proportions.
For an Instant her tragic, ridiculous
figure was silhouetted against the
dark portieres. Then Vie staggered
forward, tripping over her long frock,
waving the crumpled Gainsboro,
stammering for speech.
"She's gone mad!" gasped Mrs.
Evelyn, catching at her husband's
arm.
Mrs. Lawdon found her voice.
"I've been robbed robbed
robbed!" Her voice rose in thin
soprano gradations. "My dia
monds my emeralds my ruby!
They're gone. I tell you! Gone!
Gone! gone!" She collapsed upon
a chair, flinging her body half across
the center table, where sho beat the
polished wood with her clenched
hands.
Alice Rawlins was tho first to
grasp the situation. "The hat box!"
she gasped, her eyes upon tho dam
aged millinery in Mrs. Lawdon's
grasp. "It's been opened!"
The victim raised her head with a
Jerk. "You. you, Alice Rawlins!
You know where they were you!"
She sprang erect. "You and Mrs.
Gaynor you were the only people
who did know!"
Alice's astonished face llamed
scarlet. "Do you dare!"
Mrs. Gaynor turned white to the
Hps, her great eyes blazed more
brilliant than the lost -Jewels. "Mrs
Lawdon is not quite herself." Her
voice, full of fine, high breeding,
fell like Ice upon .Mrs. Lawdon's fev
ered utterance.
Realizing tiiat she had lost self
control, .Mrs. Lawdon struggled for
composure, hut tho magnitude of her
loss again overwhelmed her. "You
must search at once at once, i
want the police send for the po
lice!" Mr. 15elyn rang tho electric bell.
"I will give orders that all the ser
vants be brought to the dining room.
We will examine thorn there. Vree
man," he continued, addressing the
butler, "I want everyone of my em
ployees from the -arden, house and
stables also the servants of my
guests to assemble at once in t ho
dining room. Permit no one to leave
the house or grounds on any pre
text!" The butler bowed, casting a glance
of awed inquiry at the excited group
before him. As he paused outside
the door his trained ear plainly
caught Mrs. Lawdon's protests.
"I won't have It, I won't! I want
the police, I want detectives! Char
He!" she screamed, "where's Char
He? He'll make you send for tho
police!"
The slamming of a distant door
and the approach of hurried feet an
nounced the men from the billiard
room. Charlie Lawdon rushed to
his wife's side.
"What's the matter what's the
meaning of this?' he exclaimed.
"Oh, Charlie!" she walled,
"they're gone all gone!"
"What's gone?" he asked, bewild
ered. Then his eye fell upon the
remmants of the picture hat.
"Robbed!' he said shortly. "Well,
I told you to have paste copies made,
didn't I?"
Mrs. Lawdon opened her mouth
to answer, but her husband placed a
restraining hand upon her shoulder.
"There, little woman, buck up
you're a bit off, of course. Tell us
what you know quiet, now "
Mrs. Lawdon brushed tho tears
from her eyes. "I owed Mrs. Eve
lyn eighty at bridge, you know. 1
I went to find my purse I'd hid
it it was my gold mesh one, with
the diamond monogram. I'd put It
in the same box with the ruby pend
ant. The key was all right but. when
I opened the trunk I found my purse
lying on tho bottom. At first 1
thought I didn't remember rightly.
Then I thought I'd look and every
hat was empty everyone!"
"Every hat!" exclaimed Mr. Eve
lyn In mystification.
"My wife had a strong box mada
like a hat trunk," Mr. Lawdon ex
plained. "Cases, you know, set In
side crowns; thought nobody'd ever
think of looking there "
"I know," Mrs. Gaynor inter
rupted. "Mrs. Lawdon showed them
to Alico and me this afternoon. Some
one may havo watched us."
"Ono thing is certain," Wendham
Insisted; "this must havo happened
Between tno ximo-ainr.LAWQon eanio
down before dinner and when sho
went for her purse. Now, as Mrs.
Lawdon came in last, and these la
dles and gentlemen have been in her
presence ever since, with the excep
tion of those who accompanied Mr.
Lawdon to tho billiard room, it is
safe to say that all these are beyond
suspicion."
"Naturally," Mr. Lawdon agreed.
"I suppose so," gasped his wife;
"but Charlie, I want the police, too."
"Wo will question tho servants
first ourselves." Mr. Evelyn roso
with decision.
Tho whole party nGjo'irnnd xr the
i iilninu room. Frightened !:. s
greeted them with timorous humility.
A dozen quickly authenticated
alibis reduced the number of sus
pects. Cooks, butlers, and stable
men were dismissed. Tho house
maids and personal attendants of tho
guests remained. Of these three
wero eliminated, their duties hav
ing kept them in other parts of the
house or in communication with oth
er servants. A frightened gardener's
boy who could give no satisfactory
account of himself, the Incorrupti
ble Ellen, Mrs. Gaynor's maid Adcle,
and the second housemaid in charge
of the guests' annex remained for
more searching examination. The
housemaid had been upon that floor,
even In and out of all tho rooms, as
was her duty. She had seen no ono,
heard no one, and protested her ln
noncence with tears. Tho garden
er's boy at last owned that he had
been making lovo to the cook's as
sistant through tho kitchen window,
the damsel reluctantly corroborating
his statement. Mrs. Lawdon's maid
had left the room the moment her
mistress had gone to dinner the
door was unlocked and tho window
open for which she bitterly de
nounced herself. Ellen, nervous and
incoherent, confused her statements,
which consisted of the simple facts
of having put her mistress' room in
order and gone below stairs, with
wails of contrition at having left
the apartment even for a moment.
Adcle answered without hesitation.
Sho had felt ill. Mrs. Gaynor, who
was the soul of kindness, had ex
cused her from her duties, and even
insisted on her lying down on the
divan, where, her neuralgia being
relieved, she had fallen asleep, and
only awakened when the housemaid
had entered. She had then put the
room in order and joined the other
servants. The housemaid told of
finding her asleep on the divan, and
Mrs. Gaynor corroborated her first
statement, adding, that as the girl
was not strong, she often allowed
her privileges of the sort.
"The fact remains, however," Mrs.
Gaynor added, "that Adcle is the
only person we find who was In that ,
part or tne nousc for nny length or
time." She turned to the maid
gently, whose honest eyes followed
her mistress with adoration. "Were
you at all disturbed did you wake
at any time, as if some noise had
roused you?"
"No, ma'am. I slept sound."
"What time was it." sho ques
tioned the housemaid, "when you
finished your rounds and you and
Adele wont downstairs?"
"About ten," said the housemaid
warily.
"Then from ten till a quarter of
twelve, when Mrs. Lawdon wont to
her room, there was no one on that
floor?"
There was silence.
"Adele," continued Mrs. Gaynor,
"you are on no excuse to leave this
house until Mrs. Evelyn gives you
permission, and you are to do what
ever she wishes. I know you- are
innocent," she added kindly, "it is
only that the right thing must be
done."
"Very well, ma'am," said Adele
simply.
"They must be searched," said
Mrs. Lawdon. "Close tho doors,
please, and let the men go into tho
drawing-room."
The women were searched amid
tears and wails, Mrs. Evelyn presid
ing as if such occurrences were an
everyday feature of her life, Mrs.
Lawdon with frank brutality, and
Mrs. Gayncr with pitying anxiety to
spare the women's feelings.
Nothing was found. As the last
garment was adjusted, Mrs. Lawdon
burst into tears of vexation.
"This is all nonsense, all ridicu
lous," she wailed. "I don't care
what you think, I want detectives,
and I am going to have them."
Mrs. Evelyn realized the useless
ness of protest. "You'll be sorry,
but, of course, if you insist, we can
not do otherwise than allow you to
take whatever measures you may de
sire." "I should think not," sneered Mrs.
Lawdon. "It's all very well for the
Treadwells and the others to keep
close about it, but I notice they
don't get their things back, and I
mean to have mine I don't care
who gets punished."
"May these women retire now?"
asked tho hostess coldly. "Are you
satisfied that none of your property
Is upon their persons?"
"I want them kept together and
watched all the time!" demanded
Mrs. Lawdon aggressively. "And I
want every room in the house
searched now this minute."
"That Is being done," said Mrs.
Gaynor. "Mr. Evelyn Is attending
to that. Tho search will be thor
ough, you may bo sure."
Ninety Miles of Bookshelves.
The new New York Public Library
contains three hundred rooms, covers
nine acres of space, one ncro more
than the Congressional Library at
Washington, and has the largest reading-room
in the world. A little mat
ter of seven or eight millions is ex
pected to be the cost price.
Our Goddess at Emperor's Birthday.
A young American girl attended a
flower carnival last summer in the
Austrian Tyrol In honor of tho em
peror's birthday, and was surprised,
greatly amused, and also delighted to
see one wagon draped in American
flags carrying our Goddess of Liberty,
an American Indian, a Rough Rider, n
Puritan maiden, and a Colonial dame.
Her party were the more pleased
when they learned that the Goddess
of Liberty made the flam herself,
rime none co .a jo purclibed in 'nl
vicinity.
ifjort Jgjermcmg
For a
THEME:
Mot WttfkntM
By REV. JOHN J. DONLIN
ITnntfisuratioo Qmrdi, DrooUrn, N. Y,
Blessed arc the meek, for they shall ,
possess the land. Matt, v., 4.
Tho world doeb not esteem meek
ness. This virtue is looked upon as
Impracticable, because It is held as a
negative quality among the forces re
quired of practical living.
The error most persons make Is in
identifying meekness with weakness. I
But Jesus Christ would not havo
counselled meekness as one of tho
finer qualities of life If it were to
be a drawback to legitimate endeavor
in our workaday struggles. It Is not
reasonable to suppose that Ho would
have placed a heavy handicap on
those who seek to follow after Him.
No indeed. Christ left us In His own
life a beautiful example of what meek
ness may accomplish and yet He was
one of the bravest of men In that He
lay down His life for His friends. The
Scriptures, too, tell us that "Moses
was a man exceeding meek above all
men that dwelt on earth," but ho
stands out prominently as a man who
did things.
The meek man is a type of a great
moral force among us, for he Is capa
ble of self-control and self-denial. At
all times he is master of himself and
is able to limit his activity within the
bounds of solid principles. This is
the acme of perfect strength, to be
able to do and yet exercise restraint I
The meek man may be compared with
the stoic, but with this difference, that I
while the stoic made passivity of enio-,
tions the end for which he labored ,
the meek man exercises or restrains j
his passions out of lovo of God. He i
but follows the example of Christ, who
said 'Learn of mo, for I am mee1: and
humble of heart," and for tills came
the piomise of reward in the woidj
"and you shall find rest for your
souls."
The weak man, on the other hand,
never lias a chance of exercising
meekness, ile never overcomes, but
yields to the opposing currents of
nature. "The slings and arrows of
outrageous fortune" behold him bend-,
lug as the willow before tho storm.
But as only he who bears the brunt of
battle really knows the danger of the
light, so also it is only the man or
strong impulses that knows the difil-'
culty oi conquering them. "Do thy i
works in meekness," says Ecclestiu3-
I ticus, "and thou shalt be beloved i
above above the glory of men." It is, ,
moreover, a nr.stake to fancy that
meekness can come by flying from ;
your fellownieu or by living fa life of
do-nothing, for meekness is not to be !
1 found in conditions, but in the hearts !
j and characters of men in a heart j
I that palpitates with a fellow-feeling
1 and In a character that grows broadar j
! with loving activity.
I in the acquirement of meekness'
j neither submission, surrender nor self
i effacement count unless these are
forclfied by the enduring grace of en
lightenment reflected in the Gospel's
I teaching. To be like clay In the pot
ter's hands, to pssume a "worm of the
dust" a'.tltude, to become a door mat
for all men thl3 is not meekness,
but a degradation that affronts God,
who n.ade men to His own image.
So the task of the meek man is not to
crush the thought of his mind, to
train it; not to bieak his will, but .o
strengthen It; not to drag out of him
his affections, but to purify them. And
in this way he shall grasp the golden
cup of opportunity and drink of it
whenever it Is passed. In this manner
the meek "shall possess tho land," be
cause such a man shall command
e ery resource within reach; he shall
compel permanence of perfection; hei
shall house superabundant energy for
proper moments, but with all there
bhall be a perfect unfolding of his
soul in the calm of a fixed purpose, co-,
operating vi'.h Him who was the per
sonification oi meekness, who was in-1
deed
Meek and lowly, pure and hoi;,
Chief among tho blessed three.
"Be Hopeful, Ye Sinful Ones."
Yonder are the men we seek! For
lorn and lost, full of .evil and self
condemned you who feel as if you
were possessed with evil spirits, lep
rous with sin, in which Jesus will find
ample room for tho display of- His
holy skill! Of you 1 might say, as
He once said of the man born blind:
You aro aero that the works of God
may be manifest in you. You, with
your guilt and depravity, you furnish
the empty vessels Into which His
grace may be p.iured; the sick souls
upon which He may display His
matchless power to bless and save. Be
hopeful then, ye sinful ones, and ex
pect that even in you Ho will work
great marvels! C. H. Spurgeon.
Tho Panacea.
The realization of God's presence
is the ono sovereign remedy against
temptation. Fenelon.
Form the Habit.
Habituate yourself to seek for the
Kingdom o Con in your own r-car.
Fenelon.
HOMB
9y OutUttm SCarifa.
LADIES' CIRCULAR APRON.
Pattern No. 421. This becoming
apron Is cut in two parts, a circular
skirt, which buttons close around the
waist, and a bib, which is stitched In
a point Just below tho waist line in
front and ends in straps, which cross
In the back. This pattern makes a
garment that Is graceful and at tho
same time very practical.
Cut in 3 sizes, 32, 36 and 40 bust
measure. Size 36 requires 3 1-8 yds.
of 27 inch material.
PRETTY JUMPER DRESS.
Pattern No. 432. Brown challU,
spotted with white, is the material for
this pretty garment. The trimming
is blue silk checked with brown and
Is put on in straight bands and used
to cover the buttons.
Cut In 4 sizes, 4, 6, 8 and 10 yra.
Size 6 requires 2 3-4 yds. of 27 inch
material.
LITTLE GIRL'S DRESS.
Pattern No. 455. Red cloth is the
material used for this pretty little
dress. The collar, cuffs, belt, revors,
and facing between revers Is white
cloth. A black tie Is worn and black
serpentine braid trims the edges.
Cut in 3 sizes, 4, 6 and 8 yrs. Size
6 requires 3 7-8 yds. of 36 inch ma
terial. HOW TO ORDER PATTERN8.
Send ten cents for each pattern de
sired to Charlotte Martin, 402 W. 23d
Street, New York. Give No. of pat'
tern and size wanted.