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OR, THE HOUSE IN TH RUE BARBETTE CHARTER V, By I Onoe clear. of the Albert Gate mansion, the barrister was bound ito confess to a sense of indefinite- 'ness, a feeling of uncertainty which 'seldom characterized either his thoughtg or his actions. He ad- 'mitted as much to his companion, for Brett was a man who would not 'consent to pose under any circum- stances. 'It is quite true,"' he explained, "that our first duty must be to find Mr. Talbot, and it is still more certain that we will be able to ac- 'complish that part of our task; but there are elements in this inquiry which baffle me at present." "And what are they, sir?' said the detective. "I fail to see why Mr. Talbot was 'dragged into the matter at all. On ithe straightforward assumption {that Turks were engaged in the k pleasant occupdtion of taking other Turk's lives--an assumption to "which, by the way, I attach no great amount $f credence-why did "they not.allow Mr. Talbot to gob ; quietly to his own hofe? It was 'mot that they feared more speedy | 'discovery of their grime, . The Jor "'was then late }'it yas tolerably cer- "tain that he Would make no move which might prov&injurious to them "until next morning, and then thie 'whole aaffir was bound tp be dis- |: Licovered by the police in "ary course of events." © © 'I don't quite follow you, sir.'* _ said Wipter, with a puzzled tone in "his voicp. They had; for the sake jof quietude, turned into the Park, 'and were now walking toward Hyde © Park Corner. "What do yéu mean . by. saying that Mr. Talbot would "make no move in the matter until next morning?' ' 'Oh, I forgot," said Brett. 'Of course, you don't know why the diamonds were stolen?' - "For the same reason that all * other diamonds are stolen, I sup- se." . ! "Oh, dear no," laughed the bar: rister. 'This is a political crime." "Political I" said the amazed po- liceman, "Well, we won't quarrel about © words, and as there are perhaps 3 no politics in Turkey, we will call % it dynastic or any other loud-voiced " adjective which serves to take it out of the category of simple felony." '"What beats me, Mr. Brett," caid the detective, viciously prod- ding the gravel path with his stick, + "is how you ferret out these queer facts--fancies some people would call them, as I used to do until I knew you better." "In this case it is simple enough. By mere chance I happened to read this mornidg that there had been some little domestic squabble in royal circles at- Constantinople. I don't know whether you are ac- quainted with Turkish history, Mr. Winter, but it is a well-recognized principle that any Sultan is liable to die of diseases which are weird and painfully sudden ; for instance, the last one is- popularly supposed to have plunged a long sharp scis- sors into his jugular vein; others drank coffee that disagreed with them, or smoked cigarettes too highly perfumed. In any case, the invariable result of these ecceutri- cities has been that a fresh Sultan occupied the throne. Now, don't forget that I am simply theorizing, for I know no more of this business than you do at this moment. but I "still think that you will find some connection between my theory and that which has actually occurred. At any rate, I have said sufficieat to prove to you the importance of not being too ready to make ar rests." : "I quite . see that,"" was the thoughtful rejoinder. 'But you] 'must not forget, sir, that we in Beotland Yard are bound by rules of procedure,' Perhaps you will not "mind my suggesting at, a word | Arom you te "the Foreign: Office might induce the authorities to com- smunicate officially with the Home Department, and then instructions could. be issued to the: police whic would leave the matter a little more Sen than we are able to regard it, 'under the existing' conditions." 14F will see to that,' said the bar- iy When 'does the inquest the ordip./ a hich | ledge 'of the langu i Brett told the driver to stop' out- side the Carlton Hotel. The man whipped up. his horse and drove in| the irection of Constitution Hill, evidently intending to avoid the]: congested traffic of Picadilly and take the longer, but more route through the Green the Mall. ih "By the way," said Brett, "did the driver of the hansom which conveyed Mr. Talbot and his com- panion from Albert Gate on Mon- day night tell you which road he followed 1? ) * "Yes," said the detective, "he went this way." . Brett rubbed his hands, with a queer expression of thoughtful pleasure on his keen face. "Ah," he said, "I like that. It is well to be on the scent.' He did not explain to his pro- fessional confrere that it was a positiva stimulant to his abounding energy and highly strung nerves to find that he was actually following the path taken by the criminal ark and | whom he was pursuing. The mere 'tact Jent reality to the chase. For a niile, at any rate, there could be no mistake, though he might expect a*¢heck at the Carlton. Arrived thére, Brett alighted. » "'Are you going ) 'quiries in the hotel, sir' said Mr. Winter. Cia "Why should I%' said Brett. "You have already ascertained frond' the management that no per- son; éven remotely. resembling any of the parties concerned is staying at the hotel." Co 22 %¥gs, confound it, I know I did," cried the other," 'but I never told you 80." "That 1s all right,"" laughéd Brett. "Come"and see me at my chambers this evening when the in- quest is finished. Perhaps by that time we may be able to determine our plan of action." . Once left to himself, Brett did not enter the hotel. He made it an invariable rule in conducting in- quiries of this nature to adopt the French method of '"'reconstituting' the incidents of a crime, so far as such a course was possible in the absence of the persons concerned. He reasoned that a very plausible explanation of the unexpected ap- pearance of the three strangers jo the Albert Gate mansion on Mon- day night had been given to Jack Talbot. This young gentleman, it might be taken for granted, had not been selected by the Foreign Office to carry to a successful issue such an important and delicate mat- ter as that entrusted to him, with- out some good grounds fof the faith in his qualities exhibited by his su- periors. Brett thought he could understand the brother's charac- ter and attributes from his favor- able analysis of the sister, and : was quite reasonable, therefore, to believe that Talbot was a man not likely to be easily duped. The principals in this crime were evi- dently well aware of the trust re- posed in the Assistant Under-Sec- retary, and they, again, would not underrate his intelligence. "Hence there was a good cause for Talbot to accept the explanations, whatev- er they were, given him during the conclave in the dining-room; the effect of which, in. Inspector Sharpe's words, had been to "puz- zle" the young Englishman. Fur- ther, there must have been a very potent inducement held out before Talbot would consent to drive off with a stranger at such a late hour, and when the cab was dismissed at the Carlton, the excuse given would certainly be quite feasible. "Th 'must surely be this," com- muned Brett. '"The man explained that he was a stranger -in London, that he lived quite close to the Carlton Hotel, and that he found it convenient not only for the pur- pose of giving directions that would be understood, but also for payin fares. to direct the! drivers of hire vehicles to go there and not to his own exact address, which he had found by experience many. of them did not recognize, whilst his know- e was not am- ple enough. to enable um 19 seribe, the Jogality more It follows, them; mm uence, that Talbot was conveyed 5 some' place within a very short | distance 'of the ,spot, where d.' He, Jooked along. P: o Haymarket y leasant, | ° to make any in-|: ".4T ghould think I have," replied & m in 'unerring /se- 8 No other emollients do'so much for pimples, blackheads, red, rough and oily skin, itching, scaly scalps, dry, thin and falling hair, chapped hands and ghapeless nails. They doeven more for skin- tortured and disfigured infants. Although Cuticurs Soap and Ointment are' #0ld by druglists snd dealers re, a liberal ER oo he "Cu pt. 5Q, Boston, U. 8.4. y official authorifation from the Unit- ed-Secretary to inquire into the cir- cumstances of Talbot's disappear: ance and a promise that the Home Office should be communicated with, 4 : He desired to review -the: whole of the circumstances atténding this strange mystery of modern life, and. the result of his reflections quickly became apparent when he reached hig residence, for in the first in- stance he dispatched a. telegram, and then made several notes in his private diary. : i The telegram, in due course, pro-: duced an elderly pensioned police inspeotor, a quiet, reserved man, whom the barrister had often em- ployed. He 'explained briefly the circumstances attending, Mr. Tal- bot's disappearance, and added-- "I want you to find out the names, and if possible the business --together with any other informa~ tion you may happen to come across --of every person who lives within a distance, roughly speaking, of two hundred yards from- the Carl ton Hotel. The Post Office Direc- fory and your own observation will narrow down the inquiry 'consider- ably. Tt is the unrécorded balance of inhabitants with whom T'am par- ticularly anxious to become defi- nitely acquainted."" The man sa- luted and withdrew. Brett imagined that he would now be left in undisputed enjoyment for a few hours' rest before the Earl of Fairholme kept the appointment fixed for seven o'clock. But in this he was mistaken. Smith brought in some tea, which was refreshing after his walk, for the engrossing nature of the morn- ing's occupation caused him to for- get lunch. A cigar and evening paper next claimed his attention, but he had barely settled down to|™® the perusal of a garbled account of events at Albert Gate when his man again 'entered, announcing in mysterious tones the presence of Mr. Winter. Smith's attitude to] wards the myrmidons of Scotland] Yard who occassionally visited the barrister on business, was peculi- ar. He regarded them with suspic- ion, tempered by wholesome awe, and he now made known'the arrival of the detective in such a manner as caused his master to laugh at him. - "Show him in, Smith," he said cheerily : "he has not come to ar- rest me this time." Winter entered, and a glance at his face brought Brett quickly to his. feet. ; "What is the matter?' he cried when the door had closed behind the servant... "You have received important news?' A {he detective, dropping into a seat. "1 was just writing a report in the for by the' w 'this? grid * is "a hidden Selectric ud 4 {a Rematkably Strong Room | Ee a er y There ba ly one od ---- of Lond He fevels from the feat in 1671, The ol methods to be compared with the subiie rand scientific' ways oI the' modern cracksman, but eva the latter--did he possess the geains cof a dczen eses--cou new Jewel Room; which is now'com- pleted in the Wakefield the Tower of London. solid stone; "while a "new, steel grid has been built to enclosé sl gd glass regalia show-case. The bars tempered steel, the ends being em- bedded in the solid fasonerty of the roof:and flooring. Connected with alarm, which ingtantly.warns...the custodians of the, Tower if a bar The doors of fhe Jewel Room are in complicated locks. The jewels themselves will lie ifi automatically closing steel cases, absolutely burg- lar-proof. ~*~ While the room-is-be- ing completed the jewels are kept in the Government. strong-room, and when everything is ready they will be taken to' the Wakefield Tower under guard and mounted for public exhibition in their. new.cases. be- hind the grid. _ At one time it was proposed that a trap should be constructed, so that, if necessary, the jewels could be lowered through the stone floor into the dungeon beneath the Wake- field Tower.:: This dungeon, how- ever, is below the level of the river, and very damp; consequently the scheme was aoand As @mat- ter of fact, nothing has been housed in this dungeon since the Middle Ages, when prisoners languished in the Tower. --_-- a ' FOOD AGAIN A Mighty Important Subject to Everyone. A Boston lady, talks entertaining- ly of food and the changes that can be made in health by some: know- lédge on that line. She says: <'"An' injury fo. my spine-in early womanhood left me subject to se- vere sick headaches -which.would last three or four days at a time, and a violent course. of drugging bronght on constipation with all the ills that follow. =~ : "My appetite = was always light and uncertain and many kinds of food distressed me. . f 'I began to eat Grape-Nuts food two or three years ago, because I liked the tasté of it, and I kept on because I soon found it was doing good. J "I eat it regularly at breakfast, frequently at luncheon, and again before going to bed--and have no 'trouble in 'sleeping on it.' ¥ has relieved .my constipation, my -head- | aches have practically ceased, and I am in better physical condition ap the age of 63 than I was at 40; "I give Grape-Nuts credit for re- storing my health, if not saving my for it 'too, strong for me to en- dorse."" "Name given by Postum Co:, Battle Creek, Mich.' Read the little book, "The Road to Wellville,"" in pkgs. '"There's ae. above letter? A ; ET una nn Sr : - «TWO CRITICS. Pri A Speak ker oft proclaimed aloud * That he oid al ways hold a crowd; "He felt that he could prove it: ° Buf of a paper's work, said he; "The paper is"no 'uge to me; SRR r 1 am far above ib. Ali of the notorious ""Cplanci" are bot| ~ssaraaly hope: tof steal the mk Jewels from" 'the |} The floor and walls a¥ made of of this grid 'are made of the finest be wrenched ever so slightly, |= iron lined and fitted with the latest |: life, and you can make no claim/, when the. tamdus. Tries adventurer iy... i 4 "Colonel" 'Blood, attemntod the|fl = Tower of | §l" THE FORMATION OF THE § * Vegetation begins with th simplest forms of plants, s lichens and mosses, and course, very scanty at first. plants on dying become a the soil, all of the plant used by them beihg thus writes Mr. Alfred Vivian. Food that has once bee: plants is very readily ma able to succeeding cro the process of decay. now able to produce a 1 ds it contains the plant previous growth in add added through the agenc: above ug In this way the gro l more abundant. 'The plants upon decaying give rise to humus, and this increases the-fer- tility of the land both by being a source of plant food and by. increas- ing the water-retaining power. Hu- mus is a very important factor in fertility. During the - decomposi- tion of the plants, acid substances are formed "which - act upon the rocks in such a.w more of the plant food available." One of the products .of decay: or fermentation is carbonic acid,' and this is dissolved in the soil. water, and this 'gas-containing water is an important help in disintegrating the rocks. 1 . As the, nutritive materials iu- crease from these varigus causes the lower simpler forms of plant life are'gradually replaced by those which 'are more highly organized. With the 'advent of plants, like our common 'crops, which. bear roots, other factors in the forma- tion of soils are introduced, The roots secrete an acid substance that has. a solvent effect on the mineral matter of the soil, and the roots themselves also assist mechanical- ly in breaking down the rocks. All are; familiar with the. tre- mendous force exerted by plants in breaking apart rocks and stones if once their tender rootlets obtain a foothold 'in a crevice. * ~The roots penetrate "the soil sometimes to great depths. and as they decay after the death of the plant,, {hey leave little channels in the soil which serve to carry 'down' water laden with carbonic 'acid, as well ag to introduce 'the oxygen of the air, that, in its turn, is'a factor in bringing i A liz in 'the soil, which assist. in- ay .as. to, make |: plant food available. As a matter-of.factsall.the. pro cesses described take place simulsf taneously, . The lower "plants do. not wait for the rocks to be puls verized, for we. see such organisms' as the lichens growing on rocks frox which one would - think it impos- sible to obtain food. . He | If the lichen is remaved, grooves or furréws- will 'be found 'on surface of the stone, due to the action of the plant. - +. . | Nor are all soils formed directly from the original rocks, for one o the effects of weathering, etc:, is to separate such rocks as the gra-! nite inte simpler substances, with the result, for example, that huge deposits of limestone are formed. in' one place, and in another whole hills "of sandstone. ' | The soil is almost constantly] moving, for some of the same age d cies which form soils are continu ally carrying them away. Running' water grinds the rocks, but at the same time transports the fine par-' ticles to lower levels. It cuts deep' valleys in the surface of the earth' and carries away the debris, de- positing it at various - distances from its source.' og hed This study of the formation of . the soil 'then "suggests two: things that the farmer can do to' prevent' the exhaustion of tha fertility. is The first is to trout the scil 5 to assist ud hastén Satute inthe 8 of convertiag the plant fro Rito availabls ay by ia ' of good. tillage. PR pe Gar The second is 16° return soil ize the, { ~