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mB. ^ gâ€" .- / V'iii'i[|»niifiin>ii't >f«i5 nnriiTiiiT.TiTininniiin nn 'm! : L'U The Price of Liberty OU, A MIDNIGHT CALL i'iiOtitiTininprji!i'.m-uuiiij fjTusiunUjii^ii^^uiiw. ujiiiiinflj CHAl'TKU XIA'I.â€" (Conlliuurd.) "Aro you nol K<)ing to kiss me, dear?" slio askuil, swoeily. I'niiik l.illinu'r nceilfU no further Invilation. It wus quiet uiul secluded there, and nobody could jjossihly see then]. With a little sigh Chris felt h(>r lover's arms about lior and his kisses warm on li«r lijjs. The clever, brilliant girl liud disappeared; a pretty, timid cieature stood in hor plac\) for the tlinc. For the moment Frank Littimer could do no more than gazo into her oi es with rapture anil amazement. There was i>lcnty ol time (or explunalions. "I-et us go into the arlior," Frank suggested. "No, I am not going to release yoir hiuid for a moment. If I do you will lly away again. Chris, dear Chris, why did you servo me 8o?" "It was absolutely necessary," Obris replied. "It was necessary to deceive Reginald llensoii. Hut it was hard work Ihe other night." •'You mean when 1 came here and " ••Tried to steal the Hcmbrandt. Oh, .vou i;cedn't explain. I know that you had to come. .\nd we have Henson in our power at last." "1 am afraid that is too good to ho true. Hut tell nio everything from the beginning. I am as da/ed and confused as a tired man rousted out of a sound sleep." Cliris proceeded to explain from the beginning of all things. It was an oxceelingly interesting and e.xciting narrative to Frank Lit timer, and he followed it carefully. He would have remained there all day listening to the music of Chris's vi.)ice und look- ing into her eyes. He had come there miserable and downcast to ask a question, and behold I'.c had sud- denly found all the joy and sweetness of existence. "And so you have accomplished all this?" ho said, at length. "What a glorious advent'ire it must have been, and how clever you arc! So is Mr. David Steel. Many a lime I have tried to break through the shackle;-:, but Reginald has always been too strong for me." "Well, he's shot his bolt, now," Chris smiled. "I have just been opening yom- father's eyes." Frank laughed as he had not laugh- ed for a long time. "Do you mean to say he doesn't know who you arc?" he asked. "My dear boy, ho hasn't the faint- est idea. Neither had you the f.iint- est idea when I made you a prison- er Iji.e other eilght. Hut ho will know soon." "<!od grant that he may." frank said, fervently. rie licnt over and pressed his lips passionately to those of Chiis. AVhi'ii ho looked up at;aiu Lord hitlinicr was standing before the arlior, wear- ing his most cynical ex|ircssi<)n. "Ho does kiiow," he said. "My dear young lad.v, you need not mov('. The exprcssioii of sweet con- fusion on your face is inlinitely pleasing. I did not Imagine that one so perfectly self-possessed could look like that. It gives me (luito a nice sense of superiority. And you, sir?" The last words wore uttered a lit- tle sternly. Frank had risen. His fare was pale, his manner resolute ond rcsiieclful. "f came here to a.ik Miss l.ee a question, sir, not knowing, of course, who she was." "And she betrayed herself, oh?" "I am sorry it I have done so," Chris said, 'â- jiut I should not have done so unless 1 had been tal<en by surprise. It was so hot thnt I had taken oft my glasses anil [tut my hair up. Then Frank came up and surprised me." "Yo I have grown an nxrciMJingly .proUy girl. Chris," l.ittimcr said, rriticnlly. "Of course, I recognise you now. You are nicer-looking than Mi.ss l-eq." Cbils put her glasses on and rolled her hair down rosolutei.y. "\ou will be good enough to un- derstand that 1 am going to con- tinue Mi.ss I.eu for the present," she enid. "My task in a long way f . om being finished yet. Lord LIttiiMur, you aro not going lo send 1 rank awa.\ V" Lit timer looked unilecldid. "I don't kiu)W," he said. "Frank, I have hoard u great ileal to-day to cau.sfl me to think that 1 might have done you a grave injustice. And yet 1 am not sure. In any ca.se, 11 would bo bad policy for you to remain here. If the news ramo to the ears of Heglnald llenson it might upset Miss MneliiaVellis jdans," "Thii; had not otcurod to mo for tho moment," Chris oxclalnuHl. "On tho whole, Frank had better not Btay. But I should dearly like to see .VoU two shako hands. " Frank Litllmer made nn involun- tar\ gi-Klure, and then he drew back. ••Vdâ€" I'd rather nol." he snhl. " M least, not until my chamfer has bi.'ii fully viiulicatoil. Heaven knows 1 have sutTered enough for a boyish indi.4cr«'tion." "And you havi- youth on v our 4tidp." I.itHmcr said, gravely. "Whereaa I " "I know, I know. It has been ter- rible all round. I took those letters of poor Claire's away because they were sacred prujierty, and for no eye but mine " "No eye but yours Ha%v them. T was going to send them back again. 1 wish 1 had." "Aye, so do 1. 1 took them and destroyed thpiti. Hut I taUo Heaven to witness that 1 touched nothing else beside.s. If it was tho last word I over uttered â€" what is that fellow doing here in that garb? It is one of Henson '.s most disreputable tools." Merritt was coming across tho ter- race. He i)au.s<!d susjiiciously as he caught sight of Frank, but (;hrin, with a friendly wave of hor hand, encouraged hlin to come on. "It is all part of the game," she said. "I sent for our friend Merritt, but when 1 did so I had no idea that Frank would be present. Since you are here you might just as well E'tti.v and hear a little more of the strange doings of Ueginnlcl Henson. The time has come to let Merritt known that 1 am not the clever lady burglar he takes mo fir." ]Merritt cnnio ii|) doggedly. Kvi- dcntly the pre.'^eiice of Frank Litti- mor disturbed him. Chi is motioned him to a sent, i|iiite gaily. "You are very punctual," she said. "I told you 1 wanted you to give I.,ord Lit timer and myself a little advice and assistance. In the first place wo want to know v.here that gun-metal diamond-mounted cigar- case, at liresenl for sale in Rutler's window, came fiiim. W'c want to know how it got there and who sold it to Hutter's peo'ile. .Mso we want to know why Van Sncck purchased a .similar cigar-case from Walon's of liaj^hton." Meiritt'r, heavy jaw dropped, his face turned a dull yellow. He look- ed round hidjjlessly for some means of escape, and then reliniiuishod the idea with a sigh. "Done," he said. "Clear done. And by a woman, tool A smart woman. I admit, but a woman all the same. And yet why didn't you " Merritt paused, lost in the Contem- plation of a problem beyond his in- tellectual strength. "â- ^ou have nothing to fear," Chiia said, with a smile, "'i'ell us all you know and conceal notl ing, and you will be free when we have done with you." Jlerrilt wiped his dry lips with the back of his hand. "I come peacealile." he said hoarse- l.s . ".\nd I'm going to toll you all about it." CHAl'TKU -XLVII. There was an uneasy grin on Mor- riit's face, n suggestion that he did not altogether Iru.st tho.se around him. Hard experience in tho ways of tho wicked had taught him the folly of 1)111 ting his coiiiidence in anyone, .lust for Ihe iMOiiient the impulse to shulllo was upon liim- "If I nay notliing, then T can't do any harm," be remarkod, sapiontly. "Host, on the whole, for me to keep my tongue between my teeth." "Mr. Henson is a dangerous man to cross, " Chris sugge:-.teil. 1'Hu is that," Merritt ogn'oed. "You don't know him as 1 do. " Chiis conceded the point, though she had her own views on that mat- ter. Lord Lit timer had seated him- self on the broad stone bench along the terrace, whence he wa.s watching Ihe scene witli the grontest -/est and interest. "You iinaglno Mr. Vlonson to be a friend of jours?" Chris asked. .Merritt lunlded and grinned. So long as lie was useful to TIcnson ho was fairly s.ife. "Mr. Men it I," Chris asked, sud- denly, "have J ou over heard of Hou- ben Taylor?" The effect of the (piesliun was elec- trical. Meiritt's square jaw dropped with a click, there was fear in the furtive eyes that ho cast around him. "I roud all about Ueuhon Taylor in one of our very smart papers late- ly." (.'hris went on. "It oppoars that Mr. Taylor is u person who no- body seoms lo have seen, b'lt who from time to time does a vast ser- vice lo the eommmiily at large. He is not exactly a pliilnuthroiilst, for he is well rewarded fur his labors both by the police and his clients. Htippo.se Mr. Mcrriit hero had dono some wrong." "A great ollort of imagination," Littinier mirniured. geiitl.N , â- "Had done .something wrong and nn enemy or quondam filenil Wants to 'init him awny.' I believe that is the correct expression. In that case he does not no to the police himself, because he is usually of a modest and retiring tlisposil Ion. No, ho us- ually puts down a few particulars in the wa> of a letter anil smids it to Keiiben Ta.N lor nndei coVer at a cer- tain oddrews. Is not that quite cor- rect, Mr. Morrl't? " "Highl." 'Merritt , said, hoarsely. "Some day w shall find out who Taylor is, and " •'Never mind that Do you know that Iho night before your friend Mr. Ilnnson loft the Cantio ho placed In tho |iost-liag a letter addressed to Mr. Keuben 'I'uylor? In view of what I read recently In the paper alluded to the name struck mu as strange. Now, Ml-. .Merrill, is it possible that letter had anything to do with vou?" Merritt did not appear to hear tho fiueslion. His eyes were Ilxed on s|iiice; then; was a sanguine clenching of his lists as if they had been about the throats of a foe. "If 1 had liim here," he murmured. "If 1 only had him hero! He's given me away. After all that I have dono for him bo's given me away." ills listeners said nothing; they fully appreciated tho situation. Mer- ritt's jiresenco at tho ('astio was both dangerous and ha'/ardous for Hen- son. "If you went awa.y to-day you might bo safe?" Chris suggested. ".Aye, I might," Merritt said, with a cunning grin in bis eyes. "If i had a liiiiidiod pounds." Chris glanced significantly at Litti- mer, who nodded ami took up the parable. "You shall have the money," he said. "And you shall go as soon as you have answered Miss Lee's (piestions." Merritt proclaimed himself eager to say anything. Hut Merritl's informa- tion provo<l to he a groat deal less than she had antiripatod. "I stole that picture," Merritt con- fessed. "I was brought down hero on purpose. Henson sent to London and said ho had a job for mo. It was to get a picture from I'r. Bell. T didn't ask any questions, but set to work at on'o." "Hid you know what the picture was?" Chris asked. "lilcss you, yes; it was a Hem- brandt engraving. Why, it was I who in the first place stoia tho first Hcmbrandt from his lordship yonder, in .\mstordam. 1 got into his lord- ship's sitting-room l\v climbing down a spout, and I took tho picture." "Hut the other belonged to \^an Sncck," said Chris "It did; and Van Siieck had to leave Amsterdam hurriedly, being Wanted by the police. Henson told me that Van Sneck had a second copy of 'Tho Crimson Blind,' and I hail to burgle thnt as well; and I had to get into Dr. Bell's room and put the .second copy in his ])ortmantoau. Why? Ask somebody wiser than me. It was all some deep game of Hen- son's, only you ma;* be prettj- sure he didn't tell mc what the game was. I got my money and returned to IjOikIou and till pretty recently I saw no more of Henson." "Put you camo Into the game again," said Litliincr. "Quite lately, your lordship. I went down to Brighton. I was told as Bell had got hold of the second Hcmbrandt owing to Henson's care- lessness and that he was pretty cer- tain to bring it here. He did bring it here, and 1 tried to stop him on tho way and he half killi:d mo." "'I'hose half measurt'S are so unsat- isfactory ," Litllmer stiiiled. Merritt grinned. Ho fully appre- ciated tho humor of tho remark. "Thnt attack and tho way it wa.s brought about wore suggested by Henson." he went on. "If it failed, I was to comn up to the Castle hero without delay and loll Henson so. I came and he coveiod iny movements whilst I pinched the picture. I had been told that he thing was fasten- ed to the wall, lint a pair of steel pliers nmde no odds lo that. I took the |)icturo home and two days later it vanished. And that's all T know about it." "Lame and imiiotent conclusion!" said Littimer. "Wait a moment." l^hris cried. "You toinil the diamond star which you pawned " for lo say as you've forgotten that." "I have forgotten nolhlng-." Chris salil, with a smile. "I want to know about the cigar-case." Merritt looked blankly at the speaker. Kvidently this was strange ground to him. "1 don't know anything about that," he said. "What sort of a clgar-ca.so?" "tiuii-metal set with diamonds. The .same case or a similar one to thai purchased by Van Sneck from Walen's In Brighton. Come, rack yoar brains a bit. Did you ever see anything of Van Sneck ahmit the time of his accident? Vou know where ho Is?" (To be Continued.) TIMING UANANA.S. It is generally known that banann.i arc .shipped while yet green and un- ripe, but few are aware of the car<^ ful and elaiioiale time calculations rispiired in selling out Ihe plants and cutting off tho fruit in order to insure Ihe arrival of thi Imnanius in I>ro|ier condil. n at their dertinatio;. When a plaiilation is begun. tho young plants are .sot out at certain j intervals, so that tlii-y will produce I at regular preilxed time.s during tho I year. .\ certain number of days 1«»- fori' the arriv;d of a steamer the ' griH-n fruit is cut. and a dose cal- ; ruhitioii of the time that will he j consiuued in the vo\ age must alwa.vs j be made, el.se the Imnanus will lie I spoiled. Fruit steamers carry sl(\-\m- ' heating apparatus to Insure a> uni- form temperature throughout the voyoge. The ripon-lng is rnlculalcd to occur oidy after the (riit ha.s reached tho retail dealer. The Dominion Permanent Loan Company Fourtesnth Annual Report. The Fourteenlli Ilogular Annual Meeting of the Dominion Permanent Loan Company was held at tho Olbces of the Company on Wednesday, March 1st, lUO.'j. A large nundicr of .Shareholdeis were present. The President, Iho Hon. J. U. .Stratton, occupied tho chair. Mr. T. P. Colfeo, Vice-I'resideut. was requested to act as .Secretary. The I'resident presented the following report of the JJirectors for the year ending lieceniber 31st, 1904: Your Diroitors are pleased to be able to state that active and profi- table oinployment has been found for the funds of the Company during the pa.st year, the demand for satisfactory loans being auflicient to call into requisition the available funds of the Coinjiany. The earnings for the pa.st year have enabled the Company to declare and pay dividends amounting to $0(),l.'t'L14. and to [lermit of the trans- fer of $4,';, 000 to the Reserve I'und of the Company. After payment of such dividends and Iho addition to th.i Reserve I'und of $45,000 artd the writing off of $1,441..'J4 off ofllco furniture and premises, there remains to ho placed to the credit of Profit and Lo.ss tho sum of -520,684.68. Your Directors are pleased to be in a position to congratulate the .Shareholders upon the gratifying results of the operations of the Com- pany during the past .voar, and have also i)lea.sure in testifying to the general efliciency character of the services rendered by the afRcials. agents and .staff of the Company. All of which i.'s respectfully submitted. J. R. STKATTON, •'. President. The Dominion Permanent Loan Co., Toronto. statement of Account for Year ending Dec. 31st, I9t?4. ASSETS. "" Mortgages and other Investments $3,1.53,93.3 72 Real lOstato ? 24,. 528 82 Ofiice I'remises and Furniture 12,293 00 .Sundry Accounts 2,2.50 66 Imperial Bank and (.'ash on hand 59,508 63 râ€" ' - 5;3,257,513 83 LIABILITIES. To the Public: Deposits and Accrued Interest ? 212,316 70 Debentures and Accrued Interest 1,603,020 83 §1.815,837 53 Surplus â€" Assets over Liabilities 1,441,676 30 To Shareholders: On Capital .Stock $1,223,241 71 Contingent Fund 5,96-1 C>8 Ueserve Fund 160,000 00 Unclaimed Dividends .50 07 j. Dividends payable .Jan. 3, 1905 31,7.35 10 Balance of Profit .•\ud Loss 20,684 03 $1,441,6715 30 $3,257,513 83 PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT. Dr. Interest on Debentures ami Deposits 9 87,177 51 Written ofl' OfiTice Furniture and Promises 1,444 54 Dividends 69,134 14 Transferred to lie.se''Vo Fund 45,000 00 llalance Profit and Loss 20,684 68 $223,440 87 Cr. llalance necomhcr ^1. 1903 $ 9,089 91 Interest, Ibrnt, etc., after payment of expenses, including sal- aries. Directors' feos, government taxes and fees 214,350 96 ?223,440 87 AUDITOR'S CERTIFICATE. We have examined '.he Cash Tran.sactions. Hocoipts and Payments, alTecting the accounts i<f the assets and investments for the .year onded I>ccember .31st, lilOl, and we find tho same in good order and properly vouched. We have also examined the Mortgages and Securities, represent- ing the assets and investments set out in the above account, and wo certify that they were in possession and safe cu.stody ns on December 31st, 1904. (Signed) HAHl'.Y VIGEON, \ ^. . . . , , Isigmd) O. M. HUDSON, / Chartered Accountants. Toronto, February 11, 1905. On motion of Mr. Stratton, seconded by Mr. Karn, th-c above report was unanimously adopted. The following lUrectors were then re-elected: Hon. J. R. Stratton. Pre- sident Trusts and Ouarantee Company D. W. Karn. President of the D. VV. Karn Company, Woodstock; C. Kloepfer, Manufacturer and Director Traders Hank. Toronto: if P. Coffee, and F. M. Holland, Toronto. At a subserjuent meeting of the Directors Hon. .1. H. Stratton was re-elected President and Mr. T. P. Cofiee Vice-President. rilK MASTIOUY. To lo.se self-i'oiitrol is to lose the key to any situation. No man who cannot hold himself in hand can cx- I>ocl to hold others. It has bt-en well said that, in any discussion or dis- agreement with another, if you are in the wrong, you cannot afford to lo.<«e your tempor, and if yoa aro in the right, there is no occasion to. Or, as a lawyer, his wittily put it, 'po'sae.ssion is nine points of the law; solf-i>o.s.se.ssion is ten.' PKOPI.K WHO UADIATE CHEF,U. Who can estimate tho value of a sunny soul who scatters gladness and good chtjor wherever he goes, in.sload of gloom and sadne.ss. Kvorybody is altract(?d to these cheerfid leces and sunny lives, and repelled by tho gloomy, the moro.se and sad. Wo envy p»'ople who railiat.o choer where- over (hey go and fling out gladnes.n from every pore Money, houses and lands hiok contemptible bosiilo such a iJisjiiiji-; ion. -4 â€" .Susie '.at hrr mnsir les^<oiv)i â€" "I'd lik< to catch nn old air 1 h'eard in the nwi.sic-room last night." I'ro- fesMuMn â-  What nir wa."* that?" .Susie jfdmiirely) â€" "Oh. it was a million- •"l'*at hateful Mrs. Nexdore ro- marki^l to me t»>-iUiy.' said tho ili>t- ly yxnuig wile, "that 'beauty is only skin lUvp." " 'Come now. " repliod hvr shrewd hiisbaml, "what are you lending \tp to?' ' "Well. I was just going to sa.v I'd like to have a little of it that was sonlakiii deop." A SEN.SF, OV l'UOrUlF.TV. "Vou woulchi't sell vour vole. Would vou?" "!<o, Kuh." answer«>il ^Ir I'.rastus I'iiikley. 'Ilut if u geimnwi whml'sj rtmnin' fob odUf was lo give m<- ! two dollahs. roounon gratiliKle tiould mnko mo vote firti hiir>." ILAUD WORK. .Stinja.vâ€" .See here, when are you going to p.iy mu. back that dolL-.r you borroweii â€" Hoirrough-su- Why. men alive, I eara- cd that dollar. I had to work with you for a couple of hours !jeforo I got it out of you. Professorâ€" "If a person in good health, but who inwiginoil himself ill. should send for you, what would you do?" Medical Studentâ€" "Givo him something- to make him ill. and then administer ,\n antidote." Pro- fessoiiâ€" "Don't waste any more time hei^!; put up your bra.ss name-plate." Friend! â€" 'â- 'You've never beon called in consultation, have .vou?'' Young liocloi^-'"'No: but Id like to bo. It's nice to charge tni times as n^uch as the other doctor for saying that you don't know any more about the ca.sc than h« does." "Oh, well." remarki-d the rejected suitor, "thoiv aro just as many good ti** in the .s\a as ever enme out of it." "Yos," agreed the d*msel, "ond ther« are not so many li.sher- nviii to-day as there were >-\»tvrday." "I don't understand you." "One of them." she explaineil, as .sho .•*owcd him a written proposal, "dropiHxI nie a lino this morning." The adoring mother surveyed her .small son with an ailmirinR oyv. "I ilou't know wha; to do with my Wl- lie. " Khe sjuid to h.'r r.oxt-ifoor noigh;- bor, "ho l\as such a large ht-ad!" TIk' neigMinr had children of hor own and was both re.-Jourceful ami nin»- ble-t(>n>j\icnl when it came to paying oil old scores. 'If there is any (hini^- cif his toppling over you might wcij'-lit his feet," she said, thought.! uUy.