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ro tem ee, $B ONE AUTUMN NIGHT. It was a dark, chilly October night, and one single, bright star was shin- ing in at the chamber window where Charlie and Will Rogers were sup- Posed to be wrapped in the healthful,' innocent sleep of boyhood. But for more than an hour Charlie had been gazing at that twinkling star, that seemed to wink knowingly back at him, and his thoughts were very, very busy all the while. And considering the fact that 'Charlie was a well-bred lad, those thoughts were very strange ones. Fin- 'ally he flung the quilts aside an turned over to wake Will with an energetic pinch. For the > Boys and Girls ied intently. No; that was no fallen !tree trunk. Charlie acknowledged that; but he could not tell what it 'really was, and then came such a : strange, unearthly noise. ! Again it sounded, nearer than at i first--the most hideous, awful noise they had ever heard. i All the stories of the lonely swamp came fresh to their memories now, and Charlie was the first to run. Never | before had they been known to run so fast, not even when the minister's barn was burned. But something ran faster than they. Each time the terrible noise sound- , ed nearer than before, and soon they could plainly hear the rapid steps V noise he made did sound awful at night in the woods." , "That's so. Well, no one knows it but just us, and I for one don't mean # that any one shall ever know." i | And Will looked inquiringly at his ff | brother. i "Nor I," replied Charlie. "If we can only get to the barn without being seen, that's all I ask." Mr. Rogers was greatly surprised on going to the barn to feed old Dob- bin to find his two boys hard at work, and the morning chores nearly done. "Out early, aren't you, lads? I thought I was going to surprise you. I didn't think you remembered it was your birthday. Lucky you was both born on the same day of the same month--it saves me a sight of bother. Come and see your presents. I got them from John Alton yesterday." And leading the way to the garden behind the house, he pointed gleefully to two new, white hives--two beauti- ful swarms of bees! The brothers were speechless with amazement and remorse. "I knew you'd be surprised, boys. 20h!" said Will, now wide of the something that was pursuing| One for each of you, or the two to own si e. i like I on' them. together--just as you like. And now say, Will! Do you like honey? come into the house. Your mother "Of course I do." "Do you want some?" "I shouldn't object." "Let's get it then." "Where?" "From old John Alton's apiary. There's lots there. I saw it to-day when I carried his saw home. He was at work among the bees. the most of it away, but there's lots left." "You wouldn't steal, Charlie?" "You don't suppose he'd give us any, do you, Will? He's too stingy for, questioned Will, as he hugged the He'd never miss what little trunk of the tree. we'd take, and it isn't so bad to take, No, it did not go by. On the con- that. anything from him. He's an old skin- flint, anyhow." "Oh, Charlie! As if stealing wasn't from!" "Well, anyhow, I'm going to have; some." And Charlie began feeling for his clothes. "Of course I'm with you, Charlie. I want some honey as bad as you do, but it doesn't seem just right." "We won't take but a little, and no one will be the wiser. Don't make any noise. Come on!" It is strange how each individual! stair will groan and every door will utter a moaning protest in the still- ness of night loud enough to awaken the soundest sleeper. The boys never had thought of it before. In fact, this was their first nocturnal raid. Down the stairs they crept, catching their breath as a stair creaked louder than asad under their cautious foot- steps, and reached the kitchen door without disturbing the deep snoring that came from the bedroom where Mr. Rogers and his good wife were peacefully slumbering, unconscious of the fact that their sons' footsteps were straying into forbidden paths. Suddenly there was a break in the sonorous sounds, a hush, the door creaked loudly as it was slowly open- stealing, no matter who we took He's taken tree they came to and luckily, each | Will. i lying quietly at the foot of the tree-- "Climb a tree, Charlie," gasped Will, who felt that he could not keep that headlong pace much longer. "Yes--come!" replied Charlie, as the noise sounded not thirty feet be- hind them. Darting across the ditch, they grasped at the low boughs of the first 'chose the same tree--a low-limbed spruce, among whose dense green branches they soon sat in safety. "Will it go by? Can it climb?" trary, it stopped directly under the spruce, and sent forth another awful roar or screech, the boys did not know t which to call it. But it did not climb. It was con- tent to watch at the foot of the tree, now and then making that hideous | noise to let them know that it was! waiting. "What time do you suppose it is?" said Charlie, at last. "The moon is up, what little there is of it. See if you can tell what kind of a beast it is, It's on your side of the tree." Will cautiously crept out on a large limb and looked downward. "It" was he could tell that much; but he was quite certain that he had never seen! anything like it. "How large is it?" asked Charlie. "Larger than old Bruno, and you know he weighs most a hundred and fifty pounds. Maybe--oh, Charlie! maybe it's: an 'Indian devil? © Tom Jones says that they will never climb a tree their intended prey is in. Is it--oh, Charlie, is it?" And Will shook with fright as badly as he had done with the cold. "I--don't--know--I'm sure," ans- wered Charlie very tremulously. "I wish we'd never thought of coming-- that is, I wish I hadn't. You were not to blame, for I coaxed you." has got up a birthday breakfast for you. Then you can spend the day as you like. Birthdays are holidays." And the worthy man led the way to the kitchen, where "mother" and "the girls" were waiting with their sur- prises, unconscious of the lesson his dutiful sons had learned during the darkness of the night. The birthday breakfast was a boun- tiful spread of everything dear to the appetite of a healthy, growing boy hands; but the boys saw nothing but a great dish of golden honey that oc- cupied the centre of the well-filled table. "I knew how fond you were of honey, dears, and Jane ran over to John Alton's yesterday to buy a box especially for your breakfast. Next year, if you have good luck, you can eat your own honey," said Mrs. Rog- ers, with a motherly smile. The girls brought forward their gifts. The boys praised and thanked, ana got through with it somehow. They never really knew how. But one thing is certain. Even to this day--and they are men with boys of their own --+they never see a box of honey with-| out thinking of that cold autumn night | thick-limbed spruce tree, while a don- key stood guard at the foot. 2, ---- i that could be prepared by loving when they shivered in the top of the -- PETER failed to win the reader's heart. Toronto friend. McARTHUR Well known writer, who died on Oct. 28 in a London hospital. of Ekfrid was a genial and philosophical humorist and his writings never This picture was taken by A. S. Goss, a The Sage rie tim] A Mystery Man's Mystery Wedding. There are few more mysterious fig- ures in the world to-day than Sir Basil Zaharoff, who is thought by some to be the richest man alive. Nobody really knows who he is or what he does! His fortune has been estimated at one hundred million dollars. Sir Basil is interested in banking, in oil, in armaments, and in a hundred and | one other things, including the Casino 'at Monte Carlo. He shrinks from all | kinds of publicity. His only hobby is | cooking, and he has Invented several | new dishes. Now Sir Basil has married as mys- | teriously as he has done everything else! His bride was the Duchess de la Villafranca de los Caballeros, a is the culmination of a long romance. | Twenty years ago Sir Basil swore his: devotion to her. Not until now 'has she been free to marry him. Only a few friends were present at the cere- mony, and Sir Basil and Lady Zahar-| off disappeared immediately after-' wards. | In "Spunyarn," Sir Henry F. Wood's i book of reminiscences of his adven- Stories About Well-Known People The Only Way. | low dropped his pipe and tumbled over with laughter, nearly rolling off the divan. He clapped his hands--and the horses were forthcoming." An Awkward Question. Few men have a bigger fund of Fleet Street stories than Robert Blatchford, the veteran author and journalist. One that he is fond of telling con- cerns a brother newspaper man who was holding forth te a mixed company of literary men, amongst whom was a well-known novelist, The journalist was saying that he had recently been engaged in revising the obituaries held in readiness by his paper. Turning to the novelist, he added: "I've just been writing you up." The novelist, who apparently had not been following very closely, woke up with a start, and said, eagerly: "When is it going to be published?" Ll a Sera + Arms and the Man. I saw a ragged laddie in the street With capless head and bootless, grimy feet; | His face was dirty, yet it wore a grin That plainly proved a happy thought ed by Will's hand, and there father's| "No, you didn't, Charlie," averred | tures ashore and afloat, a story is told within volts wes Toatds Will, eagerly, ready to bear his share joi a visit to a Malay Chist at S88 wy. 05010 he have this boy, 16 ZFin "Who's there?" of the blame. "I needn't have come | pore, who had forgotten all about an | about? 1 : "Quick now, Charlie!" whispered in, if I hadn't a mind to. But I wish 'offer of horses when the visitors! Surely, if anyone's, his luck was out! Will, as he slipped through the small] We Were at home, and I never, never'll called. I looked him up and down, and under space, not daring to open the door |g to steal again," groaned the poor Pre "There was no one who could speak stood further. boy, as he crept to his seat by the The Sole Use of a Slipper { English: . . . Turning to my compani-| ype jie to the Poor urelin seemed They tiptoed through the woodshed | tree trunk. Soterh Mok pper, | on, 'Look here,' I said, 'we shall never | 50 gool " . . . tae 3 2 1 : r : and slipped behind the rain barrel by Nor I, either," said Charlie, em- di Sta ol er: Oswald's trouble iS get the horses this way! Down you A 'cont 100 Taree. a9 well os old. he the onteide door. phatically. "No wonder father says|® complex, doctor, I'm sure--what go on your marrowbones, giving him A : "Strange!" said their father's voice. "I'm sure I shut this door, and here the way of the transgressor is hard." Then they waited in silence for the treatment would you prescribe?" Old Fashioned Doctor--"The sole use of a slipper, madam, I think would 'a push forward. ! "QOyer he went, ; and as he placed himself in the familiar nursery atti- His father's, I imagine, long before-- And 'neath its tatters, rakishly dis- a it is open. It must be the wind is day to dawn, two cold, shivering, Ye do" ; : played, rising and blew it open." pentant boys perched among the thick i 3 | tude for daddy to give baby a ride, I mhere stuck ten inches of a bright tin "We're in luck, Will," said Charlie, | branches of the spruce tree, with an » | sprang upon his back and began spur- blade! "Father thinks the wind blew the door | @Wful "something" at the foot of it. He has not learned the lesson .f life ring him with my heels, whilst I beat You who were young once, you know open. Come on, now; the coast i) Slowly the darkness gave way to| who does not every day surmount a him behind with an imaginary whip. how he felt" ! clear." | the gray dawn, the weird, fantastic| fear.--Emerson. | The effect was magical. The old fel-| gq conscious of a cutlass in his belt! a iy Then they crept across the yard, | shapes around them took familiar -- He was no ragged urchin; in his climbed the fence ond ran rapidly form in the rosy daylight, that was, heart along the highway toward John Al- never half as welcome before. | He played some reckless and romantie tor' honse, "Look now, Will," said Charlie, as: part; To reach there, however, they had | the first sun rays lighted the dark, His Glasgow was not Glasgow grey to cross a dark, dismal swamp near SWamp. : and cold, the lake, and many fear-inspiring. _ Painfully Will crept out on the! But some wild city full of loot and stories were told of savage, wild ani-! limb, his body aching with the nip of gold; mals that inhabited it. No one had the keen autumn air and the cramped For all I know he stood, that lucky actually seen anything terrible, but Position on the limb. I one, many were ready to affirm that they had heard unaccountable noises .in the gloomy swamp at nighttime. "I wish we were there and back again," said Will, as they entered the darkest part of the swamp. The trees nearly met above their heads, and the autumn wind moaned and sighed through the tall ever- greens. : "What's that, Charlie?" asked Will, with chattering teeth. And they both stopped to listen. "That? Why, that's only a hem- lock stump. Come on. Don't be a simpleton. It'll be morning before we get our loney, if we don't hurry," answered Charlie ,with a show of bravery he was far from feeling. In fact, Charlie had much rather be safe in his bed watching the twink-! ling star as it winked through the' window of his room; but he wouldn't say so, nor turn back--oh, no; not for, the world. "It isn't a hemlock stump this! time," said Will, grasping Charlie's hand. "Listen!" Once more they stopp=¢ and listen- i Just at that moment the "some-! thing" jumped up and leaped across { the ditch into the road. ! | "Charlie!" : t Will nearly fell from the limb in his surprise. | "Will!" | Charlie had never felt so ashamed {in the whole fourteen .years of his { life. And for what? | { There, in the road, his dull eyes {staring into the astonished faces of | the boys, his long ears expectantly l erect, stood--not a dreadful "Indian " devel," no, not even a black bear, but '--Peddler Shugerean's old gray don- key! i i "I guess," began Charlie, laughing {in spite of his chagrin--"I guess we'd better go home and do the chores. What do you say, Will?" i "This is the last expedition of this { kind for me." On stout deck planking warped by salt and sun, Or else--for he was quite a tiny boy-- He had no dreams clear-cut, but just vague joy Because he bore a shining sword, and ; knew It was the thing that proper heroes do. i | S| FROM AFRICA TO TO A lion and a lioness destined for "] think it would be a good plan," protest as they were placed with their travelling cases of cak and iron aboard agreed Will, as he slid to the ground. | a Dominion Express car at the Canadian Pacific Windsor Station, Montreal, ! } i RONTO VIA DUBLIN | the Toronto Zco emitted no rears of | | Th Magic "Nama: I heard the wind go crying through the grass And making child; little sounds like any | The yellow leaves would hardly let me pass Until I told them why I walked and smiled. { And when I spoke your name to them, the wind Broke .ato laughter as a child whe | recently. The male of the specie was born in South Africa about three years "And me, too," said Charlie, as he "started the animal toward home. "Not {to know Shugerean's donkey! Will, we ought to hide our heads. But the Royal Zoological Gardens, Dublin, Ire a present to the Toronto Parks Commis { ago while the lioness first saw the light of day about the same time in the ind, frem whence they have both come, . . | sion. The Toronto Parks Commission | I will shortly send a pair of deer to Dublin in reciprocation. { | stands { And sees a butterfly, while far behind The yellow leaves were clapping tiny hands. --Herbert 8. Gormsa.