THE DOUBLE CROSS LQ CHAPTER XII—Continued so Be “Not idyllic!” cried Stanley. “Why, what’s wrong?” “Oh, nothing serious, but—oh well, when the wife has most of the money—" “Ah,” cried Stanley, as if his point of view had suddenly broadened. “Yes—devilish awkward at times!” “Well, well,” continued Stanley ge- nially, “we must find a way to set you on your feet again. By the way, what became of all the old office staff? | didn’t recognize a single face the oth- er day. What happened to Higgins?” “Oh, he landed on his feet. He's with Lane and Adams.” “Good—fine chap, Higgins. And that—what’s her npame? Oh, yes, that Morgan girl?” This was the last name that Water- man had wished to hear. He was a trifle startled, but he did his best to conceal it. “Why, what about her?” he asked, shifting uneasily in his chair. “Oh, nothing—she just flashed Into my mind. Rather a vivid personality, flon’'t you think?” “Yes—yes—" “lI saw her the other day.” “Where? How?” He could not ex- clude an accent of alarm, but Stanley ignored it. “Oh, on the Avenue.” de “Did you speak with her?” TAS “No why?” vad “Oh 1 just wondered.” “Driving uptown—just caught a flash of her face in the crowd,” Stan- ley sontinued. “And by the way—do yor 2emember our last afternoon in the dffice together? [I mean that fate- fet afternoon when we tossed a coin t® see who should first propose to Doris.” “Oh, yes, yes,” said Waterman. He raised his arms over his head, stifled a yawn, and said, “By gad, I'm get- ting sleepy, sitting here in front of this fire. I think I'll turn in.” “Oh, my dear chap,” cried Stanley, “no, not yet! I have something most interesting to show you—something rather extraordinary.” “Well—" said Waterman feebly. “Yes, it's a thing that wouldn't hap- pen once in a thousand times, and— oh, that makes me think. I had a lit- tle talk with Doris before you came downstairs just before dinner. She told me something that explained many things.” His voice was still kindly, still ge- nial, yet Waterman’s apprehension in- creased. “What did she tell you?” he asked. “Why—er—" Stanley went on, feel- ing the other’s gaze as he spoke, “she said that on that very night I've just been speaking of—you know, the night you won her and | lost her— some woman came to her and told her a scandalous story about me.” Waterman thought it necessary to affect amazement. “Really?” he said. But Stanley gave him a slightly mocking smile, “Oh, come now, my dear chap—no use pretending you don’t know it, because she told me that you do.” Waterman fidgeted. “Well, of course,” he said, with outspread hands. “Oh, 1 know you promised her you wouldn’t tell, and—you were always the soul of honor. However, as she has told, you needn't pretend any longer.” Waterman could not suppress a wave of discomfort. “Well,” he said finally, “it’s her business.” “Yes,” agreed Stanley, “and mine— just a little. I suppose you don’t hap- pen to know the exact details of this woman’s story?’ ” This put Waterman in a hole. Be- ing in complete ignorance of what Doris had told Stanley, he hadn’t the faintest idea how to answer. But after a moment's hesitation he decided it was safer to deny knowledge of the matter. “Why no—no,” he said. “Nor who this woman was?” “No—no—certainly not.” Stanley smiled again, still amiably. “Naturally,” he remarked, “I'm a bit curious to know what villainy I'm ac- cused of.” “She—er—she didn’t tell me,” stam- mered the other. “Said she’d prom- ised.” “Yes—well, I'm glad to see that Dorie has finally come around to your opinion, Rolly.” “My opinion?” “Yes—oh, she told me how you had defended me. Thanks, old man— thanks. 1 knew [I could always de pend upon your loyalty,” and he put his hand affectionately on Water: man’s shoulder. “Well now—help yourself to the port—to get back to that afternoon in the office—oh, just a moment—"" He rose, walked to the desk and pressed a button. After a moment the little door behind the desk swung open and Wilson appeared. “Frank said Stanley. “1 want rou to fetch that machine here. if you please—you know the one 1 mean.” Wilson looked at him an instant and swallowed hard before he said, “Very well, sir.” and went out. Waterman made a heroic effort to shake off his growing uneasiness “What is it, a radio?” he said. “No.” smiled Stanley, “it's not a radio. [It's—well. | suppose we might call it a sort of accounting machine It was once used in our old office.” Acceounticg machine—aceounting— Waterman somehow disliked that word. “Didy't know we had any ac @runting (aa2¥nes,” he observed By A. E. Copyright, By Dodd, . W. N. THE PATTON COURIER THOMAS Mead and Company, Ine. U. Service “Well,” returned the other, “we had this one, and I rather think you'll rec- ognize it.” At this moment Wilson reappeared. In his hands he carried the audi- phone. “Set it here, Frank,” commanded Stanley, indicating the desk, “and you needn't sit up any longer. 1 sha'n’t need you again tonight.” Wilson fixed his eyes upon him— “Are you sure, sir?” “Oh, quite, quite,” easily. Wilson had another brief struggle with himself. He opened his mouth to speak again, then shut it with a snap and slowly went out, closing the door behind him. “What the devil’s the matter with the fellow?” demanded Waterman. “Looks as if he'd seen a ghost!” “Perhaps he has—1 told you the house is full of them.” Waterman shook himself slightly, as if to get rid of an uncomfortable gar- sald Stanley; ” TRWIN MyERS - “What the H—I Do You Mean by That?” Cried Waterman With the Abrupt Violence of a Crash, ment. He rose and walked to the desk. “Accounting machine? Why, it's nothing but an audiphone.” “It looks like one,” agreed Stanley, “but before we're through with it 1 think you’ll admit that it bas some- thing to do with accounting. “You see,” he went on. easily, “this thing stood on my desk in the office the last day 1 was there and I had it sent down here that night. 1 had been dictating and—er—by the way, you never used one, did you, Rolly?” “No.” “No, you prefer—stenographers. Well, I'd been dictating, as I say, and I thought I'd clear up a lot of work over Sunday. So | sent this thing down to the house. But I never came here again for over a year, for rea- sons that you know very well. The day I entered this room for the first time, here stood that machine. Out of idle curiosity 1 started the thing, and—well—you shall hear what | heard. It’s extraordinary—an audible recreation of the past, after a year Remarkable!” He sat down, lighted a fresh cigar meditatively, and appeared to fall in- to a muse. After a time, unable long- er to endure the silence, Waterman said sharply: “Well, well—go on, go on.” “Aren't you a little impatient to- night?” asked the other. “Sorry.” “lI wouldn't be in any hurry, if 1 were you.” “What the h—l do you mean by that?” cried Waterman with the abrupt violence of a crash. “Why, Rollin!” Stanley reproached him gently. The other controlled himself with an effort. “] beg your pardon, I'm a little un- strung tonight—I1 haven't been very well—" “Perhaps you smoke too much— Well, to get on with our little enter- tainment, and that last afternoon in our office.” He rose, and went back to the machine, “Why are you always harping on that!” cried Waterman, his irritation mounting. “Eh?” said Stanley, in bland sur prise. “You made a proposal,” snapped Waterman. “I accepted it. You lost, I won. For God's sake, forget it!” Stanley turned and cast upon the other a glance of sudden savage pene tration—a glance which froze Water- man into silence and immobility, “Listen!” he cried. He bent ower the machine, and touched a lever. With strained attention, waiting for he Rnew not what, Waterman heard these words. “Of course, there is always the pos sibility of error in these calculations, and it would be wise to allow a con- siderable margin of safety therefor; but on the whole we are in a position to say that we think well of the prop- osition. If you wish, I shall be glad to discuss the matter at length and In detail. Very sincerely, yours.” Again Stanley bent over the ma: chine, and the voice ceased. He smiled at Waterman and inquired easily: “Recognize the voice?” Waterman had recognized it— “It’s yours, of course,” he said. “Swear to it In a court of law, wouldn't you?” Waterman rose. He had a feeling that he had best be on his feet. “Sure. What of it?” “Wait—there’s a little more. Ex- traordinary, isn't it? After all these months. the faithfulness of this ma- chine. ' Sit down, sit down. This will interest you, I promise you.” There was no doubt about Water- man’s being interested. He sat on the edge of his chair, his hands gripping its arms, and glared upon the ma- chine. Again Stanley bent over the desk and touched the lever. Instantly the machine went on: “Don’t worry about that, I'll attend to the details.” “Splendid—splendid. 1 have only one slight suggestion to make as to the construction of your scenario.” “And what's that?” “l don’t like the name of your villain.” “You ought to, it’s your own.” “What the h—I is this?” cried Wa- terman, leaping to his feet. Stanley stopped the “What's the matter?” he gently. Waterman took a grip upon himselt —*“Nothing, nothing—only—" “You don’t recognize the voices, do you?” “No, no, certainly not.” Stanley was casualness itself. “Youn see,” he explained, “1 am naturally cu- rious and I thought you might be able to satisfy my curiosity—let me give you a little more of it.” Again the machine continued: “Yes, that’s the point.” “What are you getting at?” “l suggest that you strike out the name of Rollin Waterman, and substi: tute the name of James Stanley.” With a suppressed exclamation, Wa. terman again leaped from his chair. “Wait!” cried Stanley sharply, with a commanding gesture, and the ma- chine went on: “What?” “Precisely.” “You want me to tell Miss Colby that it is Stanley and not you?” “Stop that thing—stop it!” shouted Waterman. Stanley obeyed. “Do you recognize the voices yet?” he inquired softly. “No!=—No!” cried Waterman. “Ah—shall we have a bit then?” “No—I've had enough of this d—n nonsense.” “Are you afraid to go on?” “Afraid? No—why should I be afraid?” “Well, sit down then.” “No, 1 won't! And I'll thank you to explain—" Now when a man suddenly finds himself looking into the barrel of a revolver held by the hand of his friend, it naturally gives a slightly dif- machine. inquired more, ferent tura to his thoughts, To Wa. Barker Probably Is Is Shakespeare and Chestina, a col- ored cook in a North side home, had one thing in common, a wide scope of language. The difference was that when the English bard used one of the thousands of words in his vocabulary he had a slight knowledge of its de- notation; when Chestina used a word she did so because it sounded well, and impressed both herself and others with her learning. One day she overheard the “missus” talking with a friend. At one puint in the conversation, one of them used the term “indecorous,” giving it the preferred pronunciation with the ac cent on the third syllable. Chestina promptly appropriated it to her own use. The next day she was telling the ‘missus” about her previous night's engagement with the new barber around the corner, who, it seems, had tried to entertain her with a story slightly “off color.” “Well, what did you say %9 him? Still Looks | It Up Did you get angry?” the amused em- ployer asked, “What | mean, 1 got mad! And what's more, 1 told him he sure was indechoir,” she answered.—Indianapo- lis News. Louisiana Purchase In the treaty providing for the Louisiana purchase there was no defi nition of the boundaries of the terri tory. When the American commis sioners fhsisted upon a definition ot the extent they were informed that the boundaries were the same as they had been when the land was in the hands of the French; that is, accord ing to Barthier’s original treaty of retrocession It included Louisiana west of the Mississippi, Arkansas, Mis souri, lowa, Minnesota west of the Mississippi, the Dakotas, Nebraska. Wyoming. Montana, most of Kansas, Indian territory and Colorado east of the Rocky mountains. > terman it was as If the end of the world had come, “Sit down,” sald Stanley coldly. | “What!” “I say, sit down!” And the voice was the voice of fate, “This is the night of your accounting!” Slowly, feebly, like a man stricken abruptly with mortal disease, Water- man retreated till he felt the chair behind him. Into its depths ne slumped, and sat there, with his chin upon his breast, his hands hanging limply till they nearly touched the floor, Relentlessly Stanley stood and watched him— Relentlessly, too, the machine went on: “Exactly.” “Well, of all the— Perhaps you will tell me why on earth I should do that?” “I'll tell you with pleasure. Be- cause you're a business woman. Look here now. If you teil Doris Colby the truth, you get nothing but revenge on me.” “] expect .to get something for not telling her the truth!” “Well, you won't get it.” “No?” “No. Because I haven't got it. No, listen, I’m practically down and out.” “You're a member of this firm.” “Nominally, but my interest is so small it barely gives me a decent liv- ing. Stanley owns the works— He's the lad with the money—always has been. What's worse, I owe everybody in the world. I’m short a lot of stocks in a bull market. I'll be wiped out tomorrow, if the rise goes on. In short, I'm all in. Only one thing can save me—marriage to a rich woman. Well, Doris Colby is just that—a very rich woman. Now you stick by me—and I'll stick—" Silence fell. It was broken only by the heavy breathing of the strick- en Waterman. Stanley sat down up- on the corner of the desk and looked at him. “Do you recognize the voices yet?” he asked. “No—No—" stammered the other. “It’s a frameup, I tell you, and you know it—a d—a& frameup!” “How about the woman who went to Doris and slandered me? What did she tell her? Haven't we just heard it?” “I tell you it’s a lie,” shouted Wa- terman. “You've framed me!” He made as if to take a step toward Stanley. “Better sit down again,” suggested the latter quietly, with a slightly sug- gestive gesture with the revolver. Rebelliously, Waterman obeyed. “And,” continued Stanley, “there's | Just one other little matter.” He took from the breast pocket of his dinner jacket a little yellow cham- ois bag. “Do you know what this bag contains?” he asked. Waterman was silent. “No? Very well then, you shall see.” And the next moment, in the brilliance that fell from the crystal chandelier, there flashed the myriad lights of the Colby necklace. “Well,” asked the inquisitor, “have you had enough?” “I—I don’t know what you mean,” stammered Waterman. Stanley knew that the crucial mo- | ment had arrived. | “l mean, Rollin,” he said in that! same cool, level voice, “I mean just this. You've betrayed your friend; vou've stolen your wife; you've ruined her happiness, and finally, you're a thief, and these are the stolen goods!” Again Waterman staggered to his feet, and this time Stanley did not stop him. | “I tell you, it’s a lie!” he cried. “You've framed me— You're jealous of me— You've cooked up this whole plot to steal away my wife!” He shuffled nearer to Stanley with each word. Stanley let him come, but answered, “You know that that’s a lie!” For a second Waterman hesitated— What would he do? Everything hung on that. Then, to the other’s intense | relief, Waterman hurled himself on Stanley. The latter struggled, not too successfully, and in a second Water- man had wrested the revolver from his hand. “Now,” he cried, backing off, “now we'll see! Take the cylinder off ha | machine and give it to me.” “Oh, no,” said Stanley. “At once, or I'll take it!” | “Never!” was the stern answer. “Then stand aside! Stand aside or by G—d, I'll kill you.” Now for the final insult. “Oh, no, you won't. You haven’ the pluck, even though you know that I'm going to publish this story so far and wide that you can never look a white man in the face again—the story of a gentleman who betrayed his friend. You're a skunk and a sneak and a traitor, but you haven't the | guts to Kill!” Waterman raised the revolver and | cried, “Stand aside, 1 say!” But Stanley made no move. “Then by G—d, take it!” He pulled the trigger. The hammer snapped harmlessly. With a ery of rage, Waterman broke the pistol, saw that its chambers were empty, cast it | aside and with a roar hurled himself on Stanley. Crash went the table upon which the two men fell—the glasses. the bot- tle, the ash tray. Savagely they fought, rolling upon the floor. "Ere the issue was decided, the lights went out. The struggle continued in the darkness. (TO BE CONTINUED.) | lives of the blind. | this period. MAY REPRODUCE RADIO COOK BOOK Recipes May Be Reprinted in Braille for Blind. (Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture.) Radio casts a ray of light into the Among the most enthusiastic radio listeners are the persons for whom the light has failed and who must depend upon touch and sound to “see” the world in which they live. Now radio {is teaming up with Braille, the special form of printing for the blind, just as radio and the usual sort of printing have gone to- gether in educational programs for persons of normal vision. “Aunt Sammy’s Radio Recipes,” a cook book issued by the radio service and the bureau of home economics of | the United States Department of Ag- riculture, will be reprinted in Braille if the wishes of blind women listeners are followed. “A group of blind women from dif- ferent parts of Michigan who recently met at the biennial convention of the Michigan Association for the Blind, have asked to have ‘Aunt Sammy's Radio Recipes’ reproduced in Braille,” Charles F. F. Campbell, director of the Detroit League for-the Handicapped, has written the Department of Agri- culture. The league, which has a small fund for reproducing in Braille reading matter for the blind, is considering the publication of the radio ceok book in special Braille edition for the blind readers. Some 185,000 copies of “Aunt Sammy’s Radio Recipes” have been distributed to listeners of stations broadcasting the department feature for home makers—the “Housekeepers’ Chat,” a daily program supplied to some 100 co-operating stations. Spinach Timbales With Vegetables for Supper Timbales made with vegetables are suitable for a summer lunch or supper. Like all custard mixtures, timbales should be baked at low temperature. These directions for spinach timbales are from the bureau of home economics 1 tablespoon melted butter % teaspoon salt Dash of pepper 4 eggs 1 cup milk 1 cup finely chopped cooked spinach Hard-cook two of the eggs and chop fine. Beat the other two eggs, add the milk, cooked spinach, chopped hard- cooked eggs, melted butter, salt, and pepper to taste. Pour the mixture into greased custard cups and cook in a pan surrounded by water in a medium oven for 25 to 30 minutes. When set in the center, remove, and serve hot. Hot Food in Summer Few people are so foolish as to wear heavy clothing when the mercury mounts and mounts, but many eat food during hot weather which is just as | out of place and inconsistent as would | be furs and woolens for this season, says the Farm Journal. Vary the meals with the changing weather. About the same amount of food is needed in summer as in winter, but it is better to serve less meat and more milk, cheese and eggs during Plenty of vegetables are not only tempting when appetites | lag, but healthful as well. WOOL CHALLIS IS GOOD FOR CHILD Change to Warm Clothing Must Be Planned. (Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture.) Winter months, especially north of the Mason and Dixon line, mean weather be planned for all the members of the family, if they are to keep well and feel comfortable. Warm wash able dresses may be made of some of the heavier close woven cotton fabrics such as pique or broadcloth Light-weight wool material may be preferred. Washable wool challis, al- batros, and wool georgette are all practical. While these materials will require washing from time to time Simple Little Dress. they stay clean several days if pro tected with aprons while at play anda fewer garments are needed in the wardrobe. The bureau of home economics sug- gests this simple little dress, made with raglan sleeves for comfort and width across the chest and back. Fullness is provided by taking four large pleats in front. The wide col- lar is in two parts. They are bound with a bias binding harmonizing with the colors in the fabric. Binding is also used on the cuffs. One button and a loop make the fastening. The material in this case is a wool challis having red and blue figures on a tan background. Since this dress does not have bloomers to match it is made two inches longer than if it were with bloomers of the same ma terial. Separate bloomers of sateen or jersey harmonizing with the tan background of the fabric would be suitable. Egg Sandwich Mix hard-boiled egg, finely chopped, with mayonnaise dressing and spread on slices of buttered bread, preferably graham. Chopped olives may be added to the egg mixture if it is de- sired. TESTING CIRCLE SHOWS VALUE OF CLEANER Comparing Value of Two Vacuum Cleaners. (Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture.) One activity which has become popular in connection with home demon- stration club meetings is that of the “testing circle,” by which the merits of various kinds of household equipment can be tried out under home condi- tions. Labor-saving devices of all kinds Interest the farm homemaker, and if she can have an opportunity to see whether a given article answers her special needs she is in a position to know whether or not to invest in it. Sometimes manufacturers or retailers loan the articles to a home demonstra- tion «club to be tested, and sometimes one of each type is purchased and tried in turn by those interested. A Virginia woman is comparing two | vacuum cleaners before making her selection. so much colder that a def- | inite change to warm clothing must Makes if Sweeter \loo much to eat—too rich a diet— or too much smoking. Lots of things .q.18e sour stomach, but one thing can correct it quickly. Magnesia will alkalinize the acid. rake a spoonful of this pleasant preparation, and the system is soon sweetened. Phillips is always ready to relieve - listress from over-eating; to check all widity; or neutralize nicotine. Re- member this for your own comfort; for the sake of those around you. Endorsed by physicians, but they al- ways say Phillips. Don’t buy some- thirg else and expect the same re- DHILLIPS Milk of Magnesia Many Will Consider Tramp’s Logic Sound Dr. John H. Latane, professor of history at Johns Hopkins, said in a Y. M. C. A. address in Baltimore: “Parents complain that nowadays they're not respected by their chil- dren. Well, the answer to that Is that parents never were and never will be respected by their children un- less they deserve respect. “It’s like the ease of the tramp who held up the benevolent-looking gentle- man with white whiskers and asked for alms. “But the old gentleman fixed his kindly eyes on the tramp's red nose and said: “My friend, I have no money, but [ can give you some excellent advice. “Aw, rats, snarled the tramp, as he snapped a pair of dirty fingers in the old gentleman's face. ‘If ye aiv't zot no money it stands to reason that yer advice ain’t worth listenin’ to.'” The Skirts Look It Hardware Clerk—I'd like to borrow a yardstick. Dry Goods Ditto—We've nothing but a foot rule. We sell dress goods now by the inch.—Montreal Star. Perhaps it is the rapid revolution of the wheels that makes the loco- motive’s head light. Dogs don’t mind being slapped om the back; they are that human, COULD NOT GET OUT OF BED Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound Strengthened Her Elkhart, Ind.—*T had a tired feel ing and was unable to get out of bed without the help of my husband. We heard of the Vegetable Com- nound and de- cided to try it. I am still taking it and it sure is a help to me. I can do my work without Testing before I am through. I know that if women will give the Vegetable Compound a trial they can overcome those tired and worn-out feelings. I cannot ex- press the happiness I have received and how completely it has made over my home.”—Mgs, D. H. Steer, 1326 Laurel St, Elkhart, Indiana. INDIGESTION RELIEVED . « « QUICKLY Carter’s Little Liver Pills Parely Vegetable Laxative assist nature in its digestive = duties. Many times one of hese little pills taken after meals or at bedtime will do wonders, especially when you have overeaten or are troubled with constipation. Remember they are a doctor’s prescription and can be taken by the entire family All Druggists 25¢c and 75¢ Red Packages. CARTERS ZZ PILLS Tn EL Aes Phillips Milk of ° — BERGENTHA WHERE CUD A GOIN IN HURRY PUCK (Copyright, W. N SUCCESS STORY epee ABE GOULASH HA HAND SO SHAKY ™ VICTUALS SLID FRC HIS KNIFE. DID A GET DISCOURAGED AND QUIT EATING NO! HE INVENTE! GRAVY-COLORED \ WHICH SOLD BN Tt MILLION AND MA HIM SO WEALTHY NOW EATS WITH A FOR — V——— |Clar No a By PERCY 2O.0y the ut
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers