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n ,. '; T, l 3 . i. i c ,. 3‘ . i‘ r for 14.1" .1." .LLLI 1"â€" CHAI’TER XXXIX .â€"( Continued) “That’s it,” Merritt whined, brok- "mIY- “Jus‘t as I was properly spoofing everybody as Iâ€"I mean just as 1 was getting used to a better life. But you can save me, miss; you can say as you were hard up for money and that knowing, as I knew the ropes, you got me to pawn it for you. Put it in that way and \ there's not~ a policeman in Englanc. as can touch me." “I had thought of it," Chris said, with a pretty assumption of disâ€" tress. “But, butâ€"Mr. Merritt, I have a terrible conic-Ssion to make. It was not I who started the police: 1t was somebody else. You see, the star was not my property at all. I ‘éI got it in London.” Mr. Merritt looked up with invol» untary admiration. “You don’t mean to say as nicked it?" he asked. “Well, Chris bent her face lowor to coal her agitation. Her were heaving, but not with emotion. The warmth of Merritt’s admiration had moved her to silent laughter, and she had made the exact impresâ€" sion that she had desired. “I have telegraphed to the lady, who is more or less of a friend of mine,” she said. to take no further steps in the mat-â€" ter. I fancy that she is a good and kind girl and thatâ€"but a reply might come at any time." There was a reply on the way now, its Chris know perfectly well. whole thing had been carefully ar- 'rangcd and planned to the moment by Steel and the others. ‘ I dare say they’ll let you down easy,” Merritt said, disconsolately: "but, it‘ll be hot for me. I’ve copâ€" ped it too many times before, see." “Yes, I see," Chris said, fully. “Mr. Merritt, I have made up my mind: if I had notâ€"erâ€"borrowcd that star, it would not have lost, and you would not have found it, and tltere would have been no trouble. My conscience would not rert if I allowed you to be dragged you well.” con- back into the old life again. I ami going to save youâ€"I am going to tell the police that you pawncd that star for me at my instigation.” Merritt was touched eVen to tears. There was not an atom of chivalry in the rascal's composition. He had little or no heed for the trouble that his companion appeared to be piling hcr.,e1f, but he .was touched to the depths of his soul. Home was a clever girl, who in her own way appeal ed to be a member of his prov fession, who was prepared to sacriâ€" fice herself to save another. Self- sacrifice is a beautiful and tender thing, and fiferritt had no intention of thwarting it. ‘lLJo life,” he said, hrskily. er went back on a pal yet. As‘i anybody as really knows me. ’l‘ain‘t as if you weien't one of us, neither. I’d give a trifle to know what your little game is here, eh?" Chris, smiled meaningly. Merritt's delusion was distinctly to be fosterâ€" ad. “You shall help me then. present- ly," she said, in a mysterious whis- per. “Help me and keep your own counsel, and there will be the big- gest job you ever had in your life. Only let you and I get out of this mess, and we Shall see what we shall see presently." Merritt looked speechless, admira- tion. He has] read of this class of high-toned criminals in the gutter stories peddlch by certain publishers, but he had never hopedito meet one in the flesh. He was still gazing openâ€"mouthed at Chris as two men (fame along the avenue. They were both in plain clothes, but they had “policeman” writ large all over them. “Cops, for a, million," Merritt gurgled, with a pallid face. “You can tell ’em when you're asleep. And “And I nevâ€" they are after me; they're coming this way, I’ll be all right present- ly.” “I here so," Chris said, with a curling lip. “You look guilty enough Low." Merritt explained that it was merely the first emotion, and would pass off presmtly. Nor did he boast in vain. 110 was quite cool as the officers came up and and call- ed him by name. “That’s me." Merritt "What's the trouble?" One of the officers explained. He had no warrant, he said, but all'ti1e some he would have to trouble Mr. Merritt to accompany him to More- ton Wells. A diamond star not yet definitely identified had been handed over to the police, the same liming been puwned by James Merritt. “That’s quite right," Merritt said said. cheerfully. "I pawned it for this1 young lady hereâ€"Miss Lee. Of course. if it is not her property, wliv, thenâ€"-â€"--” The officers were palpably taken back. He knew more than he cared to say. The star had been pledged by Merritt, as he cheerfully admitth but the owner of the star had lost the gem in London under suspicious 'mlww-Luâ€"gfllâ€"u-uâ€"LUâ€"L‘i'd =1 LL" HAMâ€""4444""‘34' hm ' ' shoulders . “I have urged he!“ The ' 37011 . th ought- - been ‘ that, and I'm your pal for! :w:ni IliCPIlCttll Liberty 3 on, A MIDNIGHT CALL l ‘E J ismswâ€" _â€" 'circumstances in which Miss Lee was mixed up. And at present it was not the policy of the police to arrest lMiss Lee. That would come later. i “I am afraid that there has been I a misapprehension altogether,” Chris lsaid. “Allow me to explain: Mr. ‘Merritt, would you step aside for a glnoment‘? I have to speak of private imatters. Thank you. Now, sir, I lam quite prepared to admit that the {ornament pledged does not belong 'to me, but to Miss Henson, whom I met in London. I took the star by mistake. You may smile. but Iliave one very like it. If Miss Henson had searched her jewols properly she Would have found that she had my starâ€"that I had hers. I heard of the business quite by accident, and teleâ€" graphed to Miss Henson to look searchineg amongst her jewels. She lhas a large amount, and might eas- ily have overlooked my star. Here ‘is a boy with ,a telegram. Will you take it from him and read it aloud? It is addressed to me, you willfind. It was. It was Signed “Enid Ilenâ€" lson"; it went on to say that the asender was fearfully sorry for all the trouble she had caused, but that she ihad found Miss Lee’s star with her jewels. Also she had telegraphed at lonce to the police at Morcton Wells to go no farther. “Looks like a mistake,” the oflicer muttered. “ .lut if we get that tele- gramâ€"~” “Which has reached the policeâ€" station by this time,” Chris inter- Irupted. “Come into the castle and i ask the question over the telephone. I suppoSe you are connected?" The officer said they were; in fact, they had only recently joined the Ex- change. A brief Visit to the tele‘ i phone, and the policeman came bacx, with a, puzzled air and a little more deference in his manner, with the inâ€" iformation that he was 'to go ljack at once, as the case was closed. “I’ve seen some near things in my time, but nothing nearer than this,” he said. “Still, it's all rig-ht ‘now. Very sorry to have troubled you miss.” The officers departed with the air ‘of men who had to be satisfied, deâ€" : spite themselves. Merritt came for~ lward with an admiration almost ifawning. Ila did not know quite how the thing had happened, but Chris had done the police. Smart- ness and trickery of that kind were the highest. form of his idolatry. I-lis admiration was nearly beyond words. 5 “Well, strike me,” he gasped, "Did 'ever anyone ever Sec anything like lthat‘? You, as cool as possible and {me with. my heart in. my mouth all the time. And there ain’t going to be no trouble, no sort of bother over , the ticket.” ’ “You hand over the ticket to me, iChris smiled, “and there will be an Eend of the. matter. And if you try Ito play me false in any way, why, iit will be a bad day for you. (live line your assistance, and it will be the best days work you ever did in your life.” Merritt‘s heart was gained. price was touched. 1: His “Me go back on you?” he crie hoarsely. “After what you've done? word, only give oh: (all, and it's pitchw those days Only say the Jim Merritt a and-toss to manslaughter for pretty cycs of yours. Good \vcrkl 'Aye, for both of-us." 1‘.an Chris thought so too. CHAPTER XL. Waiting with the eagerness of the hound in leash, David Steel was imoro annoyed and vexed over the gdisappearauce of the wounded V'an iSneclr. than he cared to admit. He :had an uneasy feeling that the un- iscen foe had checkma‘ted him again. | 1 , And he had built up so many .hopes upon this strangely-uninvited guest jof his. If that man spoke he coild Cross and would {tell the truth. And both £13011 had declared that he ; not die. j David found Cross in a frame of linind something like his own. It was late in the afternoon before it transpired that Van Smock was gone and, unfortuiately, David did not ,know where to Ind llell just at the “moment. Cross had very little to say. “A most unpleasant incident," be “But these things will We have been so busy ilatcly, and our vigilance has been ! slightly relaxed. Oh, it is impossible ‘to guard against everything, but he lis ceitain to be found.” I “You don't think,” David suggest- cd, “that anybody secretly connectâ€" ‘ed with the man’s pastâ€"" i “No, I don’t,” Cross snapped; I “that would be impossible. The man ghad something on his mind, and so lfa’r as Lodin condition was concernâ€" ed he was getting. quite strong again. In his dazed state he got up fand dressed himself and went away. 'er seems to have been seeking for somebody or something for days. We are certain to have him again ibefore long." With which poor consolation David returned home again. He was rest- less amd desirous of human compan- ' remarked. happen. . down WW-” ionship. He even resented it, as ai kind of affront, that his mother had. chosen at this time to go to Has’l socks to Stay with an old friend for, a couple of days. That Mrs. Steel] knew practically nothing of her son’s trouble counted for naught. There- fore it was with something akin to pleasure that David found Ruth Gates waiting in the drawingâ€"room for him when he came in from his walk on the following afternoon. Nothing had been heard of \‘an Sncck in the meantime, but thanksl to Chris's telephone message late thel previous night he had got in touch with Bell, who was coming south without delay. i There was a look of shy pleasure in Ruth's eyes and a deep carmino flush on her cheeks. “You don;’t think that this is very bold of me?” she asked. “I am pretty Bohemian in case,” David laughed, as he looked fondly into the shy, SWeet anyl “And I’m too overjoyed to‘ eyes. see you to think about anything .else. I wish my mother was at home. No, I don’t, because I have you all 'to myself.” “David! On an occasion like this you ought to be the pink of pro- priety. Do you know, I believe that I have made a great discovery?” “Indeed, little girl! 'And what have you found out?” “Well, you must tell me somethingl before my discovery seems valuable; David, you are a close student of' human nature. Is it possible for men of phenomenal cunning to make; careless mistakes? Do the most‘ clever criminals ever make childish? blunders?" “My dear child, if they didn't the police would have \cry little chance. For instance, I have discoveFe‘d how: those enemies of ours got hold of the notepaper that lured Van Sneck here. They sent a messenger to Carâ€" ter's, in East Street, presumedly- knowing that my dies were there, and ordered a quarter of a team of paper and envelopes. These wore to be sent to an address in East Grin- stcad in a hurry. Now, that was very clever and smart but here comes the folly, Those people, in the‘[ stress of business, actually forth to y‘” The Incubator cent exceedingly well. eggs. living chickens. 1y equi Post, Leamiugton, Ont. chicks our. of 119 egcs. satisfaction. Out. amount of usage Incubator. I Mention this paper. , I had purchased. This is our proposition : you have to pay a tent in cash. It is very easily operated, and so far has required attention for only a. few minutes per day. first lot of eggs. 110, on examination I found that. 53 were not. fertile, two otlieri were broken accidentally, and I but 51 chicks or about 90 per cent. of the fertile The second trial of 110 gave me 93 The brooder gives good satisfaction. The young broods are doing well. J. E. JOHNSTON, Editor Leamington tunity of recommending the Chatham machines to my friends. fully, MRS. SIDNEY SMITH. Scot and, lcarefully. in an incubator or brooder. case, of dry material that has been there They are finished in antique oak, regulator that insures a successful hatch. such an offer as this made in the whole world. advantage of this offer, the more time you will have before October, 1903, to make first payment. for our booklet on the way to raise chickens, what it costs and your profit. You will obtain all information regarding the Chaiham WWW m... . ascertain the cost and pay for thel paper, so that it was dowri yesterâ€" day in my last quarter's bill. 011,; yes, I assure you, the most brilliant; criminals do- the most incredibly! foolish things.” Ruth looked relieved. Her features relaxed into a smile. “Then I fancy Reginald I-Icnsor. has done so," she said. “I fancy I. have solved the mystery of the cigar-i caseâ€"I mean, the mystery of the onel I bought.” i “And which was changed for the; one purchased at Walen's, hence‘, these tears. But Lockhart’s say that our case was really purchased; by an American.” l “Yes, I know. And I fancy that‘s the manager honestly thought 50.: But I think I can explain that.” pretty It was David’s turn to look up eagerly. I "Do you mean it?” he exclaimed; “It will make a wonderful difference if you can. That has been one of the most bewildering knots of the whole puzzle. If we could only trace ' the; numbers of those notes, I suppose! changed at the same time as the! cigar-case." l “Indeed they were not,” Ruthl cried. “I have ascertained that the case was changed by Henson as you and I have already decided. Henson made the CXChange not at the time we thought.” ; “Not when you left the package on i the table for him to see?” "No; at least I can't say. He had the other case then, probably, pass- ed on to him by Van Sneck. Or perhaps he merely ascertained what That was sufficient for his purpose. Of course he must] have found out all about ourl scheme. After I had laid my cigar-E I case on your doorsth a man quietly it for the other purchased changed But this is the alternate" at Walen’s. theory only. lutely certain that you got exactly the same notes that we had placed in the original case." “That might be,” David said.| thoughtfully “But that does not exâ€"' plain the fact that Lockhart’s sell your case to an American at too Metropolc." An Incubator Without Until October, Wild ~ Any way, I am absoâ€"l "I fancy I can even explain that, dear. My uncle came down suddenly to-day from London. Lie wanted certain papers in a great hurry. Now those papers were loced up in a drawer -at 219 given over specially to Mr. 1-Icnson. My uncle promptly broke open the drawer and took out the papers. Besides those documents the drawer contahed’a package in one of Lockhart‘s big linenâ€"lined enâ€" velopesâ€"a registered letter envelope, in fact. My uncle had little time to spare, as he was bound to be back in London to-night. He suggested that as the back of the drawer was broken and the enxelo_ e presuma 21y contained valuables. I had better take care of it. Well, I must admit at once that I steamed the omelupe I shouldn't have done so if open. Lockhart’s name had not been on the flap. In a little case inside I found a. diamond bracelet, wl job I have in my pocket, together with a. rcceipted bill for seventy odd pounds made out to me." "To you?” Da id cried. mean to say that " “Indeed I do. 'l‘he receipt was made Out to me, and \\i'h it was a little polite note to the effect that Messrs. Loclehart lad made the ex- change of the Ligar-ctse for the diaâ€" mond bracelet and that. they hoped Miss Gates would find the matter perfectly satisfactory.” (To be to tinted.) ;‘ *‘fifl DIPLOMATIC WOMAN. 1 Mrs \V’iseâ€"J’The new girl Mrs. I-I'O'skeep's got must be a. jewel." Mrs. hewcombâ€""Whv. she com- plains about her more than any of the Others.” Mrs. Wiseâ€"“Of course. she the rest of us to think the isn't worth stealing.” “Do you wants girl IT WAS A HABIT. Theâ€"“Queer habit Miss I’assay has Winn you're- talkinr to her.” theâ€""i oesn't she listen?" Hieâ€"“Oh, verv attentively; 'but she keeps holding h=r head and inter- jecting ‘Yes. yes,’ all the time." Sheâ€"“1' think she has fallen into that l'a'bit waiting for some man to propose ” There is big money to be made in raising chickens with an Incubator. Great Britain. orders. sturdy chicks. times its cost. A Chatham Incubator We have perfected an Incubator absolutely the best in the world. We other incubator that can approach the The No. 3 incubator ,\ on sun; me me is wo--l;iwr . . i " r1 ht,wehatched out of 109 fertile Tue caved tneiu all. we gut 39 ducks and 32 geese; to! Yours truly. other in ke. We have hundch I have used your No. 2 Incubator for keeping BMTCd Plymouth ROC‘JS. three hatches, and am so well pleased with it that I ordered a. No.3 which your agent, Mr. Tumbull, brought to-day. M y third hatch come off yesterday Mm 112 Bronze Tinkeys. ADAMS, Birtle, Min. Ynnts res )ert- Yours respectfully, HENRY CHASE, Warren, Ont. Chatham Incubators and Breeders have every new improvement worth while The incubators are made with two walls casc'within uglin seasoned in our lumber yards. are built solid as a rock and will stand any They are fitted with a. perfect steel and brass There has never before been The sooner you take for years. Cut off the coupon and send The Manson Campbell Co. Limited 1 Manufacturers of Chatham Incubators and Brooders Distributing Warehouses at Montreal, Que., Brandon, Mam, Calgary. Alta, New \‘i‘cstmiurtcr, B.C., Halifax, NS. Factories at Cbafham. Cult, Detroit, Mich. Also Manufacturers of the Famous Camrbell Fanning Mills and Chatham Farm Scales ”‘ CHATHAM, ONT. 8 we are out {or the entire business in incubators. To demonstrate our absolute confidence in the Chatham Incubator we Wlll send one to you, freight prepaid, and you null:n your first payment in October, 1903. OR USERS HAVE TO SAY: We lie-l 111 the incubator at the same time, in the O.ll(’l' tray, 44 duck eggs and 34 goosie eggs, from which from 78 035.5, also hatchet 6 turkeys at the some time th 1'. the hen eggs were in. We recounnenl tho Chadian] Incubator a. .d Broodcr to be the best and surest to hatch, uner all circumstances. of any other makes, in our poultry business which we run on a large Scale at Birth), is all , eggs, .I wlsu to let you know of mv success 102 good strong chi ks, and the breeder "Vim 50‘” '"cubMW- 0‘"? 0f 1‘34 03‘s“! Ducks, Toulon Geese And Mammoth Yours truly, D. A. The No. 2 Incub tor I bought from We have also a. you is all you rer-onnnendrd it. to be. I Anna. Chathmn Fanning Mill which gives good put in 101 eggs. and after testing out the I will not lose an oppor- infertile ones, I have 7?. chicks. the machine first class in every particular and easy to run, if-directionslnre followed I find : Address all letters to Clintham. Ont. Canada exports annually millions of chickens to the United States and I The consumption. of poultry in Canada is increasing rapidly and the poultry dealers complain that they cannot get enough poultry to fill their One woman bought .a No. 2 Chatham Incubator the first of March â€"â€"she had five hatches. by July first and had four hundred plump, In six months her Incubator had paid her $100.00, several should pay for itself each hatch. and brooder. ‘Ne believe it is now have sufficient capital behind us, and \Ve know that there is no (:03 I. The fact that we sell our Incubators in this manner guarantees them to the fullest extent, Thirty days’ trial is a delusion and a snare. If you have good luck you may get off one hatch in that time, and even then you are uncertain, and if you reject the machine you will have to pay the freight both ways. But with us you send in your or.ler and we ship the machine prepaid. W hen it arrives, if it seems all right, start your hatch, and we will give you until~October, 1905, before We positively guarantee that the machine is a good butcher. Every machine should sell a dozen, and we will, on no account, allow a‘machine that is defective to remain in any neighborhood. ‘quT 51x comma manor? got 74 chicks, and out of my s-c nd hutch 1 got 94 from 106 ecgs. I fnd the mucuuieapure rue was if run acrorll'ng to directions. The broader is a wonder, and I have not lost B.('hlcl( in yet, and they are almost feathered. Yours truly, JOHN H. McKINNON, Collingwood, Ont. al, 71 Your No. 2 Chathum Incubator has gchn vcry go (I returns the first batch. Our. of 59 eggs, I had 42 chicks. 1 “"its rather nfmitl of wasting the eggs, and so (lid not fill the macnine, but when the clicks came, I was sm-ry I had not filled it. Will recommI-nd yrur Incubator to mv neighbors. Yours 3 ncerely, MRS. MARGARET Mcl.\’[OSH, four Pekin \‘lnitcwood, MRS. M. CAMPBELL FANN iNG MILL (:0. Limited CHATHAM. our. user. 34 Plcnnc send your descriptive Catalogue of the Chatnam Incubator, together willmll information about your special offer, whereby nacth .vill be paki until Octobsr, 1905. it in to-day a Il'amt Itautoo--uh-ao-nputlloulcoon-ooo P. 0. Adina: . . . . -.....‘.........---...-. A'mrtst Railway Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J ‘3 ,1. V ~clv . ~ My»nvrv‘v‘wwiwwiwwwvm’yxN" 7‘ rl’ Wk? ’t’ Air‘s)" .0“ y ‘- ’2 y. if. fx l 'i