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The Price of Liberty OR, A MIDNIGHT CALL. L . CKAl'TKK VI.â€" (Continued.) , "There .swiuB to be no way out of | Jt," he suid. "I can see one," IMarley suggested. "Or couiho, it would siuiplHy uiat- ters enorinouKl.v if you merely told | me in confidence whence came those , notes. Vow se«, as 1 have the nuin- bers, I could verify your statement beyond gucslion, and â€" â€" " Marle.v paused ugain and shrugged his shouldcns. Dosjjite his cold, offi-I cial mnnner, ho wus obviously | prompted by n desire to serve hisj companion. And yet. simple as the BUggestion seemed, it was the very last thing with which Steel could comoly. The novelist turned the matter [ over rapidly in hi.*? mind. His quick i perceptions (lashed along the whole' logical line instuntnneousl.v. lie was i lllte a. man who sudrlcnl.v sees a mid- i night landfiiope by the KJare of ai da;:7.1inR flash of li^;htning. ! "I am sorry," he siiid, slowly,! "very sorry, to disappoint you. Wero ' our Kituallons rcvoised. I should take up your po.'^ilion exactly. But' it so happens that I cannot, dare not, tell you whi'rp I got those; notes id was in North Street. For the lime Ijeing he had put his woric aside altogetlier. ITe could not have writ- j ten a dozen consecutive lines to save; the situation. The more elTort to preserve a cheerful face before hia | mother was a torture. And at any time he might find himself forced to meet a criminal charge. i The gentlemanly assistant at I^ock- j hart's remembered Steel and the I cigar-case perfectly well, l)Ut he was, afraid that the article had been sold. No doubt it would be ijossible to ob- j tain a facsimile in the cour.se of a few days. | "Onl.v I required that i>nrticular one," Steel said. 'Can vou tell mo from. So far as I' am concerned they came honestly into my hands in Dayinent for special .>;eivicos render-' ed. It was part of m.v contract; '' that I should reveal the s<'crct to; nolx>dy. If 1 told you the story youj would decline to believe it; you would say that it was n brilliant ef- ! ; fort of a novelist's Imagination to [ get out of a dangerous position." ' "I don't know tliut 1 should,"' Marle.v replied. "I have long since j ceased to wonder at anything that' , happens in or connected with Brigh- < ton." ! "All the .same I can't tell .you, j Marley," Steel said, as ho rose. "My; Jips are absolutely sealed. The] point is: what arc you going to do?" j "For the present, nothing," Mar- 1 ley replied. "So long as the man in! the hospital reqnains unconscious l| can do no more than pursue wliali Beaconslielil called 'a policy of ma.s- ' terly inuctivit.v.' 1 liavc told you a good deal more than 1 had an.y right to do, but J did so in the hope that I you could assist nie. Perhaps in a| day or two you will tliink better of I it. Meanwhile " | "Meanwhile 1 am in a ti.ght jjlaco. ' Yes, I see that perfectl.v well. It is just possible . that i nin.v scheme Koine way out of the (IKticully, and ' if so I shall bo only too pleased to let you know. (ioodiiighl, Marloy, i and many thanks to you." i Hut witii all his ingenuity and fur- 1 tllity of imagination Uavid couli see no way out of the trouble. lie sat up far into the night, scheming; there was no lluvor in liis tobacco; I his pictures and flowers, his silver j and china, jar-red upon him. lie wished with all his heart now that 1 he had let everything go. It need ^ only have bi-en a teinporar.v matter, and there were oilier t'ellini tan- kards, and intuglioH, and line en- gravings jn the world for the man Willi money in his piir.se. ' lie could .see no way out of it at : all. Was it not possible (hat tho whole thing had lieeii deliberately | planned so as to land him anil his' brnins into tho hands of some clever, gang of swindlers? Had ho been tricked ami fooled so that he might: become the tool of othiMsV It seem- ed hard to (liink so wlnui ho recalled the sweet \()ice in (he darkness and its passiona(e idea for help. And yet the ver.v cig;ir case that he had been told was the one he admired at, I-ockhart's had proved be.vond i|Ues- tion to be <mo purcha.sed from Wal- en's. If he decided to violate his promise and tell the whole story nobody would bilievo him. The thing was altogether too wild and iniprobablo for that. And yet, he redected, things ulmor.t as impossible happen In Hrighlon every day. And what proof had he to ofler? M'ell. there was one thing certain. At li'asi three-quaiters of ^hose bank- notesâ€"die iiurlioii he hiid collocloil at the liou.se with the crimson nlind â€" could not poHsibli; 1h! traced to the Injured man. And. again. i( was no fault of Hioel's (lia( Marle.v had ob- tained poSNOBHion of the numbers of the no(os. If (he detect Ixe chose to feriet oi*t facfs for himself no blame could attach (o SleiO. If (hose peo- ple hud only chosen to I<m\o out of the (|iie.°tion that confounded cigar- cascl David's (rain of thought was brok- en ns an idea came (o him. It was not so long bince he linil a facsimile cigai-cuse in his hand at Lockhart's. in North Sin-et. Soniobody connec- ted with the m.VKteiy must have seen him admiring it and reluctantly de- rlinlng (be pmchasi!. bei-aiise tho Voico from the telephone (old him that the case was a pre.son( end that 1( had coiuc from the famous North ft reel ehtablinhment. •Hy Jove!" David (Tied. "I'll go to liorkharl's to-morrow and nee if Che cam is still theie. If so, I inuy tic able to trncn it. " Fairly early the next morning Dav- w'Ken it was sold and who purchased - it ?" I A junior partner did, and could | give some kind of infiiiimu ion. Sev- j eral people had admired the case, | and it had been on the point of sale | several times. Finally, it had imss- j e<l into the hands of an American! gentleman staying at the Melropole. ; "Can you tell nie his nameV" Dav- ; id asked, "or describe him?" â-  "Well, I can't, sir." the junior I partner said, frankly. "I haven't | the slightest recollection of the gen- tleman, lie w-rote from the ibaro- polc on the hotel paper describing the case and its price and inclosed the full amount in ten-dollar notes 'â-  and asked to have the case sent by i post to the hotel. Wlien we ascer- j taine<l that the notes were all right \ wo naturall.v posted the ca.se as de- ' sired, and there, so I'ur as we are I concerned, was an end of the mat- j "You don't recollect his name? ! "t)h, yes. The namo was John i Smith. If there is anything wrong " David hastily gave the desired as- 1 surance. He wanted to arouse no [ suspicion. All Uie same, ho left j I^ockhart's with a plethora ot sus- 1 picionn of his own. Doubless the I jewellers would be well and fairl.v I satislied so long at) tho case had! been paid for, but from the stand- 1 point of Da\ id's superior knowledge [ the whole transaction fairly bristled i with suspicion. ! Not for one nioirient did Steid be- ; lieve in the .American ut tho Metro- pole. Hoinehody stayed there doubt- j less imdci' tlii; name of .lohii Smith, ', and that said .soineboily had i)aid for i tho cigar-case in dollar notes tho j tracing of which might prove a task' of .years. Nor was it the slightest use to inquire at the Metropole, where prnclicall.v everybixl.v is ideii- tilicd by a number, and where scores come and go every da.v. .lohn Smith would only have to ask for his letters an:l tlien droji (|uietly in- to a sen of oblivion. \i'oll, David hiid got bis inldrnia- tion, and a lot of u.se it was likel.v to prove to h'im. As ho walke<l thoughtfully homewards he was de- bating in bis mind whether or not ho might veiit^uri' to call at t>r write to 21!!, llrunswick Sipiare. and lay hi.<i diflicult ies before (he peojile theie. At any late, he reflected, with grim bitterness, tbe.v would know that he was not romancing. If nothing turned up In the meantime be would certiiinly visit Hrunswick Sfpiare. lie Sat in his own room puzzling the matter out till his head acbeil and till! tlow<Ms before him rcelsd in u da/zlmg whirl of color. He. looked round (or inspiration, now desperali"- ly, a.s he freiiuently did when tlio \var|) of his <lelicu(e fancy tangled. The smallest thing sometimes fed tho machine again â€" a patch of sunshine, the chip on ii plate, the ilamaged â-  edge of. a frame. Then his e.\e (ell on the (eU'phone and he jumped to his , feet. "What a fool 1 am!" he exclaimed. "If 1 had been ploiiing this business ' ou( as a story I should liavi- thought I of (liat long ago. No, I don't want ' any number, a( least no( in that I Way. Two nights ago I vas called ; u|i by (foniebody from London who held the line (or fiill.v half an hour ! or so. I've â€" I've t'orgotten the ad- dress of lu.y correspondent. but (f you can ascertain the number â€" yes, I shall be here if you will ling mo tJp when you ha\e got it Thanks." Half an hour passed before tho bell trilled again. David listened engerl.\ . At the rate, now he was .vfoing to know the niunber whence the luysterious messa.ge cniiu â€" IU)17, Kensington, was the number. David inutteriHl his (hunks and flew to his big (elephone directory. Yes, there it was â€" "(KMT. '1 lli, I'rince's tlulo, ; Gilend Gates." i The big \,.iumo dropfied with n j crash on the floor. DavId hutkcd 'down at the crumpled V(dume with 'dim, mist.v anui/eineiil. I "lliload tintes," he nuirmured. i "Quaker, millionaire, and philan- i lhro()ist. One of (he most highl.v- esteemed ami po|iular men in Kng- Inml. .Vnd from his house cnnie the I message which has been the source of I nil the misf'hicf. .And yet there are crilicn who say the plots of my novels are too fnntnatict" CHAITEH VII. Tha emotion of surprise seemed tet have left .Steel altogether. After the last di.scovery he was prepared to believe an.\ thing. Had iiiiylu.dy told him that the whole llench of Hishops wa.-i at tho bottom of the nlystery he j would have resuoialed that the sug- i gestion was highly probable. I "Still, it's what (he inimitable , Dick SwivelUr wuuld call a stagger- I er," he mulleied. "(iates, tho mil- lionaire, the one gieat capitalist who has the profound resjiect of tho labor world. No, a man with a re- | cord like that couldn't have any-, thing to i!o with it. Still, it must j have been from his hou.se tlint tho ] mysterious message caiiio. 'I'ho post i of'lice people working tin! telephone j trunk line would know thatâ€" a fact j probably escapi-<l the party who call- ed me up. I'll go to Ibunswick Square and .sw that woman. Money or no money, I'll not lie under an imputation like this." 'Phere was one thing to be done be- forehand, an<l that was to see Dr. Cross. From tho latter's manner he i evidently knew something of the charge hanging over .Steel's head, j Marle.v was evidently . keeping that I close to himself and speaking to no- bod.v. "(Jh, the man is better," Cross .said, cheerfully, 'He hasn't been i identilied .^et, though the Press lias; .given US every assistance. I fancy ' the poor fellow is going to recover, though I nm afraid it will be a long job." "He ha.sn't recovered con.sciousness, 1 then?" I "No, ai>;l neither will he for some lime to come. There .seems to be a certain pressure on the brain which we are unable to locate, and we i dare not try the Rontgen lYiys yet. Ko on the whole you are likel.v to escape with a charge of aggravated assault." David smiled grimly as he went his way. He wulki-d the whole distance to Hove along Xorlli Street and the Western Hoa:l, finally turning down Brunswick Square instead of up it, as he had done on thi^ night of the great adventure. He wondered vaguely why he had been specially instructed to ujiiiroach the house that way. Here it was at last, 219 Bruns- wick Square â€" 220 above and, of course, 218 below the house. It looked pretty w<'ll the same in the da.vlight, the same door, the same knocker, and the same crimson blind in tho centre of the big bay window. David knocked at tlie door with a Vague feeling of uncertainty as to going to do next. A oUl-fashioned footman ring and inquired his "No, nloce, and housekeeper. 'I^islsilk imderb.louse. It has a short is not my uncle's own house, he has ,voke-pieie across the back, from^ merely taken this for a time. But, which the back descentLs in a slight- Mr. Steel " jly outward ilarim? .squared section, • "Mr. Da^â- id Steel â€" Is my name fam- trifle Werdge shaped at the bottom, iliar to .you?" The centre-back is formc>d of on» David asked the question somewhat | wedge-like extension. finis»hed at it» eagerly. As yet ho was only feeling |„i(ip |jy ^ siihhed edge thvee-quar- his way and keenly on tiie look-out j ty,..; ^f ^^,â- ^ i,„.|, „ide, in plait or for anything in the way of a clue, j ^id,, luck elTect. This centre section He saw the face of the girl grow i j^. apparentlv an extension of t'h© white as the talile-cover, he saw thoi^.^ke. At the bottom the coat is lurking laughter die in her e.ves, and merely stitched. rho points drop the purple black terror dilating the ; ,„,^ ^^ ^.^^,^,. (^^ ^,^,J ^..^ gj^nt ''"'•T ^V 1. •. 1. w downward a little from the under- I â€" I knn-w you quite well by repu- tation," the girl gn.sped. Her little hands were pres.-^ud to her left side as if to check some dea<ll.v pain there. "Indeed. I may say I have read most of .vmir stories. I â€" I hope that there is notb'ine v. r.mg." (To be Continued.) «>-><«<"X~x->':":-:-:":'«><«**«>«**? larm .seams, with something of a ro- petition of the wedgi!-like back; the lower centre front swings out a bit from til-.; skirt belt, the latter beiag of the plaid malei-ial. Short coals of talleta will be very much worn this Fall. Of course thisr have not the wearing qualities of clo>tjhs and are prone to split or become glossy when worn consttint- l.V; but if »oft talleta is selected, it will wear nmch better .ind is bt>th modish and serviceable. The new designs iuive tall straight collais and show little trimming besides bends of the same meterials. It capelets are used they are also of tuf^els. If the present olTorts of modists succeeii, the very prevalent lace collars will give away to ex- tensive cinbroid'eretl elTects. Thist should not be bud news for the laoo makers, I'or lace will be in greater light shades will prevail. The bright 'demand than ever for house gowns- greens, tans, oraii.ires ami heliotropes "'"i evening dresses. Fashion ....Talk I LKHIT COIvOHS IN VOGUE. I'or the ni'xt few- months, at least, are shown in all 'he newest wool ma- terials. A chai'ining ro.'-"tiime is made of heliotrope voilc! over the same color silk. Tlie skirt has a circular yoke roumling away at either side | of the front iiuni!! w'hich is laid in ; two box plaits and stitched almost j to the kni.'es. lielow tlie hip-yoke the j fulness of the skirt is laid in tin.v" | plaits and two deep tucks at the j bottom form the onl.v other ti-im- niing. , The .girilli' is the distinguishing feature of the jacket. This is nunle very narrow at the back ami sides, but at thi? front it broadens into a high Hquare shaped band reefed to- gether with lavender silk coitls. Where the girdle is narrowest the jacket is stitched in tin.v tucks about four inches 'ligh, then released to blouse over the figure. The shoulder has a yoke composed of five tuck-like folds extmding in one piece with _the AUTUMN HATS. So far a very few fall hats have been seen, but it is expected that' another weelc will bring out many- new models. Tiie designs which have appeared are in white and pale blue* felts, very silky and soft in ap- pearance. The sailor and broad' gyps.v shapes are exemplified in theeei. models. These are wreathed with' one kind of (lower and set in a close garland without foliage, with still another (low.r at the front. A blue hat which conunends it.seU to all lovers of the beautiful is ol pressed felt, very light iu weight, with broad flat crovi'n and strtiight brim. The latter is edged with^ brown bands and two shades of soft brown silk i-ibbon are .S'hiri-ed around the crown and linishi'd with a bow at the front. From either side of the bow evolve paradi.se plumes of what he was very staid, answered his business. "Canâ€" can I see your mistress?" David stammiMed. The staid footman became, if pos- sible, a little more reserved. If the gentleman would send in his card he would see if IMiss Hiith was disen- gugi-d. David found himscdf vaguely wondering what Miss Kuih's surname might be. Thi^ old Biblical name was a great favorite of bis. "I'm afraid i haven't a card," he said. "Will you say that Mr. Steel Would like to seeâ€" erâ€" iliss liuth for a few minutes ? My business is ex- ,cee(lingly pressing." The staid footman led the way in- to tho dining-room. Kvidently this was no frivolous house, whore giddy but tei â- fli''S came and went; such gaudy insects would have been chill- ed by the solemn decuruiu of the place. David followed into the din- ing-room in a dreamy kind of way, and with the feeling that comes to us all at times, the sensation of hav- ing done and seen the same thing be- fore. Nothing had bwn altered. The same idiiiti, hand.some. expensive, furniture was here, the same tnaho- gany and engravings, (lie; same dull red walls, with the same light stain over the lire-place â€" a dull, prosperous S(iuare-toed-looking place. The elec- tric fittings looked a little dilTerent, but that might have been fancy. It was the identical room David had run his quarry to oartl-., and be be- gan to feci his spirits rising. Doubt- less ho could scheme some uav out of the tlifliculty and spare his phan- tom friends at the same time. "You wanted to see me. sir? Will .you he so good as to slate .your bus»- ine.ss?" David turned with a start. He saw before him a slight, graceful figure, and a lovely, refined face in a frame of (he most beautiful hair that be had ever seen. The grey e.ves were demure, with Just a sug- gestion of mirth in them; (ho lips wore mad(! for laughler. It was as if some dainty little actress wei-e mn»<iuerading in Salvation garb, on- l.v the dress was all priceless Ince that touched David's artistic percep- tion. He could imagine the girl us deepl.v in enrnesl as going through iire and wa^er for her convictions. -Mso he cciuld imagine her as Puck or Ariel â€" there Wiis rippling laughter \'\ evcr.v nolo of that voice of hors j "I â€" 1, eh, .ves," Steel stammered. "You see. I â€" if 1 only knew whom I had (lie pleasure of ad<lr<-ssiiig?' "I am !*Hss Ruth (iates. ut your service. Still, you asked for me by name." I David made no reply for a mom- lent. He WH.S tripping over surprises I again. What a fool he had been not to look otit l-lie name of the occu- pant of 2HI iu the directory. It I was pre((y evident that (Jilead Oates j had a house in Brighton as well as j one in town. Not only had that I t elephone. m;\sSttno emanuted from the I millionaire's lesiiieiice, but it had I brought Steel to the philanthropist's [abode in Hrighton. It Mr. (iates himself had strolled into the room singing a comic song David would have expressed no emotion. "Daughter of the famous ()il«ad dMtes?" Dnwid asked, feebly. colors are comldned perfectly tho effect is beautiful. tall collar. Pointi<i revets, also ot i^lark brown shading to white the fold.s. turn back from a lace vest lined with chilTon. The sl(>eves are sbirroil at tho top and gauged into two pufis below the elbow. The wristband is of heliotrope cloth, em- broidered with black and purple silk threads. The and wear ile- NKW DKSIGNS IN WHAP-S The highest art of the courturieres and tailoress is manifested in the new wraps. For dressy occasion> tl.e.'ie are almost always long, ail intricacy rat'her than a profusion of decoration. The el'iV>ct, however, is about the same. Ijqually fa.shion- able for gowns and wraps is mohair because it conies in so many weights and smart efiocts. Then it has the advantage of wearing well and she<.l- tlini; dii.s-t readil.v. The expensive qualities of this fabric ai-e .s-hrunken â€" and in the end it pays to get thr best for rain is likel.v to play strange pranks with mohair, shrinking it ii s|)ols ami niaking it shrivel lamei'i- abl.v along its hems. Nothing siunrter could be iiuagined than a fall coat of brotwe-colonsl niobair. almost an laiijiire elTx^ct, so 'nigh is the belt line. Despite this, though, several scalloptvl flaps are piped in the seams to define the real waistline. These are oi-iuimontt"d top and boltoiii wi(h big brown snlk but- trns. Over the shouhlers, there are two cai)es of brown silk, stitched and edgeil wiih fancy braid, but vei-y narrow. There is ti tall collar of the sanio material and the full sleeves have turn-back ciilTs of stif- fened mohair triiiuued with th(> large butttms. 1 ike mohair, voile makes handsome nftoi-noou wraps. Ii is ' oft and graceful, leiulii.g It: !' adnii nly to the tab and battlei form so important ioiiuble trimn-iiig.';. and slitche<l with a KNin^ED COATS. Knitted jackets for outdoor are being shown in many new signs. DesigncHl rather for style than real setAice is a white Kton of knit- led wool. 1"he excuse for its abbt-e- viation is that it will protect the chest and back until the very cold' weather demands a change to the with ih'Uger Norfolk design. White and red will be the fashionable colors} for these jackets. ( etfe which e part V t fnsh- Ibovily (Inish-.d lit lie haiwl em- bioiderv or Jirniding at Iho throat, voile wraps are disti vtl.v attrac- tive. They will take ' •:.• place ot pongees, which hav>e bev-i so popular. PUAIDS TO BE l.ARGKR. Without being what i.s conimonl.v ii\press<'d as "loud" tie new plaid I materials may be call- .i conspicuous. jlhcy mn.v not be all '(e<l by ultra- conservative women, \ et thei\( is no- [thing about them that is undosinible. jlii .so many in.stiuice.' the.v iii-e »ub- I dued by sonibi-e braid-^ and slitohings | horse On the I that one forgets t'.ic s-ize of the i checks. The api>'':>ve I color combin- 'nlions are black ami white, brown â- ami white, blue and white and blue I and gr/en. Black ard white, how- lever, enjo.v an uiupi.- tionable lend. !A costume exceediii.'"\ simple in its I outlines shows the t' : -l with a plain hi|i .voke. fitletl sdhk thly b.V goring; this yo>':c dips down t^< both the front j and back, ending e .. h side of the j front iwinnel (hat .lends from belt jto hem. The jiipe i s<'t on to this hip-.voke by the liiie.-.t ntui scantiest of "s«'rntch(\l" got hers, each line of gathering bein'j- held securely in place. THE BACK OP JACKKT.S. The iaf^iet is short enough in the liacJr *« permit a glimpse of th« <UUt« MOUI-DER AND LINQUIST. Mr. John Tinz. a German, Speaks Six Languages. .'V twentieth centurv rival to Klihu Ihirritt. the poly-lingual blacksmith, is at present an employe at the Gur- ney Foundry Works, Toronto. John Tinz is an iron-moulder and a good one. Six feet two in his boots, he i; built, to correspond, the beau i .'eal of a man to handle masses lit iron. But 'Hivz is a man of cull tire, for he can S'|i'''ik six languages. ISng- li.ih. tiermaii, Russian, Finnish, I'^rthish and l>atlish, and write three of them, which makes him valu- able as an inlerpi-eter round the Gm^ iiey works, where a large proportion ot the eiTijiloyes are foreigners. Mr. Tinz was born in Stettin. Ger- niiin.v. near the border. ..\t an i urly age ho went to Scotland to learn the iron trade. He worked J 2 years llieio, and it was there that he be- gan his linguistic, studies which made him a useful man as interpreter among the fyiilors. l,ike Burrilt at his bellows he del\c:l into books while engaged as an iron-moulder. Mr. Tinz has visited Russia three times, atnl has been pnictically all over the Kussian F.miure from* St. Petersburg to \ladivoslock. In '99 he made his last journey through the land of the Czar as interpreter for Mr. Ballantyne, a Scotchman in search of iron ore. They spent sev- eral months in the Ural Mountains .so faiiiiliai to our school-book geo- graphy da.\s. Here (hey drove hun- dreds of miles in sledges ovor the narrc>w trails, drawn by three horses in a string. "And you ought to st>c a Kussian driver hit the lead horse, with his long whip, " ho suid, "the handle of tho whip is only a foot long, but the lash is !" giving a graphio description of how the lash cuts -the car on its backward stroke. "Did you .see any Nihilists in Rus- .sin?" a.<»ked tho ix^fxiiter. "No. Wo had no trouble with poli- tics," he said gravely. "We wont fot- iron ore. We had pass|)orts. No Iroublo to tt-avel." "How did you like llussia?" "Very well, thank you." he replted. "My trade is good there. Lots o) iron workers and plenty of ore." "Then you are not a Russian rab- bi?" "No. 1 am just a moulder. Some- times I go down to the York street mission to heli> them interpret. That is all." "How did the Russians write youf name." And the burly linguist good-nattn^ e<lly wrote for the r<>|>orter "John TiMt" as It is in UuMtan.