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The House of Mystery » « '^ Whan Jeatouay Ca«U Ita Ugly Shad- ow Acrosa the Path of Trua Lova, Only the Unexpeetad Can Avart a Tragedy. To Phillppa and Nad, the Jealoua Young People of Thia Thrilling Story, There Came Sud-jwas a good supply of coal. deniy a Peril Which They Had to Face Together or Pariah. By Richard Atwood. Phillppa Bxeter, tbe handsome, well- huUt girl riding in the second rank â- of the cycling club on Its way to Rlverdown, flushed crimson at a fresh witticism. It was lucky, she thought angrily, that it waa too dark for her sudden color to be noticed As quietly as she could she let her- self drop back to the tail of the team. It was too bad, she told herself bit- terly, of Kitty Claire. Just because Phillppa and Ned Keither had been good friends, Kitty had been sudden- ly moved to make them the subject of her Jokes all day. Amusing to Kitty, perhaps. When she had suggested to the rest that Ned Keither, rather shy and nervous , as he was, and the reserved Phillppa were in love, things had become try- ing for them at once. The two had grown ' awkward â- Straightaway, and half way through the day's run had openly quarrelled much to the joy of the mischievous Kitty. "Kitty Claire's a Jealous little cat â- and Ned is an awkward fool," Philip- pa told herself. Just then she heard a sudden pop. A puncture* "111 catch the rest of .you up In a moment," she told the boy in front. A minute later, alone in the â- dusty road, with the red reflectors â- of the team growing dim, Phillppa dis- mounted, and e.xamined her tyre. In her present mood she didn't want help â€" ^from anyone. Nevertheless, ft wsw a nasty job. A quarter of an hour passed, and found her still patching a nasty tear, by the light of her lamp propped up â- on a bank. She was making headway with Ao Job when she was interrupted. A cyclist cams spinning down the road, â-  and dismounted by her. "Hallo, PUilippa! What's keeping you ?" She looked up. "I don't see that It's any business â- of yours, Ned Keither," she told him coldly. "I'm not so anxious for your company as you seemed to think thi.s •afternoou. anyway." "The rest sent me back tor you," lied Ned, awkwardly. "Let's give a â- hand, aiijw.iy." He mended the puncture In silence, except tor an ley "Thanks" from the girl. They mounted and rode off aX- ter tho team. "Have to catch them up," ventured Ned, breaking the silence suddenly. "Obviously," Phillppa told him more freezingly than ever. In the distance a growl like thunder was heard, and rain begau to fall. The two put on speed. The team were stopping at Riverdown that night. "1 say," said Phillppa suddenly. Neces.sliy forced her to speak. "Loolt -at that sigupcst! 'VVe'va off our road! We must have taken, tha wrong turn- lug." The pair halted. It was the fact, â- and tUiuss looked nasty. ChaVmlng OS was Iho countryside tho club had chosen Cor ts wceli-end spin. It was de- •bolate. They had not passed a soul. They took w'aat seemed tho most hopcCul route, but another halt-hour found thsm still far Crom anywhere. anO very wot. 'The first houso we come to, we put up lor Iho nishl!" suggested Ned. ''hllippa was goius to answer sar- castically, but mutual misfortune had bl;:nt;d tho edge of the Quarrel. "Aud t'ae .sooner we get to one the <)etter. 1 say, it was decent of you to «omo bacli lo luo. But I wish I hadn't got you iulo this mess, too." "A sootl tUins I am here," Ned told toor. "Look, there's a light." They" slowed down. Across the fields, a good way off In the dark, a dim yellow light flickered. Ned dis- inoutiti:;d, aud made fur a gap in the Ucdge. "Shelter at last," ho suggested. Phillppa laughed ,aud the wet pair pushed their machines up a muddy track towards the guiding light. Farther off then had expectod, a big house rose up against the night. The â- only light was tvovm the back. They pushed on up the drive to the steps before the front door, and Ned knock- ed heavily. There waa no reply to hla repeated knocks. As he turned puailed to Phillppa, who was at the foot of the steps holding their machines, she ex- claimed: "Look! the light's gone out!" "P'raps they've Just gone to bed," suggested Ned. "Well, round to the back we go. Thoy can't refuse us." They n\ade their way to the outly- ing wing at the back from where the light had come. They found the door. Ned knocked, and, getting no answer, tried tho han- ' die. After a moment's hesitation, they stepped into a stone kitchen. N«d detached hla lamp aAd put it on a table. "Come on In," he said. "I'll go and Had the people iiere, and tell them we want shelter." Phillppa brought in the machtnea, while Ned, taklns a lamp, went oS tito the vaaoa«e beyond. "Soaethlnc fuuy, PhtMppA,** he toU ker. Trm kaea vrw the houae, ud it's eaiptyr N« peopleâ€" I called •n| M eveiy floorâ€" •nctloftHy ao fur- â- ItoNb Beaa. OTwywhore oxcept the cellara; the door leading Oowa to locked." "But there wm • light!" proteated Philiiypa. And there bare been peo- ple here Utely. Look!" They inspected the stone kitchen In which they were atanding. On a table were some dirty cuji,. In a cupboard were wood and paper, and in a paU before the empty heorth A ketUe stood In the grate. "Might almost say we've wandered into a house of ghosts," auggested Ned, cheerfully. Phillppa shuddered. Intuition told her something was wrong about this mysterious house of vanishing lights and unseen inhabitants. She didn't say anything to Ned, however. "Well," she remarked, "the best thing we can do is to make a Are. We shall be warm and dry then for the night. I don't believe In ghosts, any- way." .^ I few minuter later found Phillppa, with Ned's assistance, persuading a rather reluctant fire to light up. Half-way through the task Phillppa spoke suddenly. "I say, Ned, I've been an awful pig to-day, and I'm sorry. It was really Kitty Claire's fault, suggesting we were in love and trying to make us both look fphls. ... So that we tried to show wa weren't, and quarrelled. Phlllppa's rich, dark complexion grew crimson as she spoke. Perhaps, though. It was just the reflection from the burning wood. "It wouldn't be such a bad idea it we were," suppested Ned, hopefully. An amused light sparkled in Philip- pa's dark eyes aa she carefully laid on another piece of coal. "It would make Kitty mad, any- way," she laughed. The fire was now burning cheerfully. "And now," suggested Ned, rising, "I've got an idea. I saw some rugs in one of the rooms upstairs. They'd be something to sleep on â€" better than stone, anyway. I'll go for them." A little later he returned with a few rugs. There was hardly a luxurious supply of them, but Phillppa, who al- ways took her troubles cheerfully, laughed as Ned regarded his meagre findings ruefully. "Better than nothing at all events. I think I'll take my shoes off, any- %vay!!" remarked Phillppa. "P'raps there are more," suggested Ned, optimistically. "I'll go for an- other prowl." He picked up his lamp, and went off once more. A few minutes later, re- turning, he looked round the room in amazement. Phllappa was gone! He flashed his lamp round the kit- chen, and called her name. There was no answer. Ned could hardly believe his eyes. What had happened to her? Her shoes were on the floor, still warm â€" but the girl had vanished as complete- ly as if the floor had opened up be- neath her. He stood for a moment puzzled. An eerie sensation crept over him. This forsaken house of lights that disap- peared like ghostsâ€" what strange and terrible things might not happen here ? Ha pulled himself together, though, and set off, lamp in hand, to search the house, it was as empty as ever, and no Philippa answered his anxious calls. After wandering through the dark passages of the ramblng old mansion, he found his way back to the kitchen. Then, with a sudden idea, he moved to the door. Might she be outside? It was locked! Ned went pale tor a moment. Whoever was responsible Cor Philippa's disappearance was de- termined that he too should not leave the house. They were both trapped â€" far from help. At any rate, Ned decided, there was a human agency at work! Someone, unseen, was looseâ€" perhaps dogging his footsteps! He glanced round for a weapon. On the cupboard door was a soiled towel on a roller. Ned detached the roller and felt it critically. It would be of some use against the mysterious marauders! Then Ned thought rapidly. There was only one place where they could have been hidden when the cyclists came in- in the cellars, below the birred door, and one, one of them was loose in the house, waiting to catch him unawares. For, while he was touring the house, someone had returned to lock the kitchen door. Ned made his plans. He took off his shoes and stole noiselessly to a corner by the barred door. There, with uplifted roller, he waited for the raider to return. His plans were well lad. Five min- utes' suspense: then quiet footsteps were heard, and Ned In his corner caught sight of a man coming down the pafBsage. Just as the man put his key to the door, Ned brought his roller down. It did its work effectively: the man fell stunned. Ned dragged his prostrate enemy into the shadows, opened the door and went down a flight of stone steps. There was a patch of light at the foot of them Then, roller uplifted, Ned emerged cautiously Into a big cellar. The enemy was not there. But in a cor- ner sprawled Phillppa. She had been tied up with rope and gagged by her captors. Ned ran across the cellar and un- tied the gas- While he undid the ropes, Phillppa explained in a rapid whlaper. "There are three of them In the hovao. Wo*To BtumMed upon lome •oont, and Ibggr doat ao«a ua to get oat i^e. I waa takes Sr MuvrlM ttiOk the ksek, gagged aad carried dowa here, tken, after stTtag â- â€¢ s tew kleka, the beaata went off to get you too." "Well, there'a one out of action," aald Ned cheerfully. The crisis found bint buoyant, hla nervousness gone. "We'll get the others now." Phillppa rose to her feet a little cramped, but ready for action. She tossed her black hair out of her eyet, and glanced round for weapons. The cellar, lit by an oiMamp, was practically vacant. A heap of loam lay in a corner, and some strange tools. As she was glancing round, a sound of footsteps was heard above. The other two were coming down! Ned and Phillppa, tenae with excite- ment, crouched in the shadows, wait- ing to make a sudden spring. Un- luckily, Ned's roller was on the other side of the cellar. But, as It was, the two Intruders were taken suddenly by surprise. Ned flung himself on one with a sudden jolt to the jaw that sent the map rolling, while Phillppa collared the other and brought him to the ground. Taken unawares, the two raiders nevertheless fought desperately. They were both beefy, beery individuals in very bad training; their opponents were both athletic young people. Ned was thin but wiry, and as his man staggered up he sent him reeling again with another uppercut to point. Phillppa had scrambled on top of her fallen enemy, who was still makng frantic efforts to rise, against the wall, the cyclist's keen eyes noticed the man's hand go to his pocket. Like a flash he was on him, his sinewy hand on the other's wrist. Ned dragged out a revolver â€" and the flght was up. Ned didn't know how the revolver worked, but that didn't matter, for his enemy was un- aware of it. His hands went up like clockwork. He stepped back, and by Ned's dl- lection moved alongside hla partner While the cyclist covered them with tho revolver, Phillppa tied up their hands and feet with the cords they had used for her. Ned and Phillppa dragged down the other man, who was still unconscious, and ranged him against the wall with the rest. Ned surveyed his three dejected and ruffianly prisoners. "Well," he told them cheerily, "the game's up now, you know. I'm going to get the police to take charge of you all. I rather fancy, since you were so anxious to keep some secret, that they will be very Inberespted. "Now, one of you can teill me the best way to the nearest police-station. It had better be the right way, too, or you'll get hurt when I come back." After a few minutes, one of them sullenly gave him the necessary di- rections. While Ned mounted guard over the captives with his revolver, Phillppa cycled off to the station. About forty minutes later, she re- turned with four policemen from Rlverdown, telling them the tale on the way. They handcuffed the prison- ers. "Well, sir," a constable told Ned. "it's no wonder they were anxious about you flnding the house. They're forgers â€" these are some of their things on the floor. They fixed on this empty house to use, and like tools gave themselves away by showing that light. It you two young peoplo hactp't come across them like that, they might be free men still. "I suppose you two will come along with us to the village. A bit more comfortable than here, for the rest of the night. By the way, there's an item of news, sir, that'll be of interest to you and your young lady. There's quite a biggish reward out for these men. Come in handy for getting married on." He winked at Ned. "I thank you're about right." said Ned. But he said It as a question, and he looked at Phillppa as he spoke. "So do 1," answered the girl, glanc- ing downwards as she spoke. O^ â-  â€" â-  â- fSt Bishop of Ripon Who advocates closing of scientific laboratories for the period of a de- cade. Sour Cream Some New and Attractive to Add Zest to the Menu by the Use of Sour Cream Ways To keep sour cream, pour into a clean glass bottle, cover and set in a cool place. In this way several days' remnants can be combined and used when needed. Bake slices of halibut In sour cream, for a delicious variation of the usual baked fish dish. Or use sour cream in place of milk in preparing white sauce for codfish. Potatoes mashed in hot Sour cream have a fine texture and excellent flavor. Sour cream poured over to almost cover scalloped potatoes while baking makes a delectable dish. But do not cook sour cream too long or it will curdle. In many countries the beat cooks stir two or three tablespoons of fresh- ly soured cream Into soups Just be- fore serving them. Beef, chicken, tomato and beet soups are especially improved by it. Hot sour cream seasoned with salt and a little celery seed and then poured over chicken fricassee gives an indescribably good flavor. Grated horseradish used with sour cream Is a favorite salad dress- ing in many households. Veal With Sour Cream Bone and cut short as many veal chops as are needed. Lard on one side. Have ready four tablespoons of butter, one cup of sour cream, one well-beaten egg yolk, salt, pepper and flour. Season the chops lightly with I salt and pepper and dip the unlarded i side In flour. Put the butter in the frying pan and when hot add the chops. Pry slowly, turning to brown evenly; this will take about twenty minutes. Place them in a pan, pour sour cream over them and bake slow- ly twenty minutes more. Just be- fore serving, pour the sauce from the pan onto the beaten egg .volk, mixed with a little cream and serve on the cliops. Sour Cream Johnny Cake One cup of sour cream, one teaspoon of soda, one teaspoon of salt, one- third cup of sugar, one egg, three- fourths cup flour and three-fourths cup of cornnieal. Beat the egg well. Add salt, sugar and flour and mix until very smooth. Add the sour cream and cornmeal. Dissolve the soda In a little boiling pltu a sharm in promts A Real Estate Investment combining tho faHovtas "â€"""I adTaatagW to the investor: 1. An assured Interest return of eeraa per oant. 2. A perpetual ownership In The Commerce ft Tranaportatloa BuUdiag and a participation in dlvidenda after the original iBTeatmant haa been returned with seven per cent. Interest. 8. A bonn» of common etock and a vote la the management of one of the finest buildinga in Canada. i. An interest In one of the moat prominent comers in the City at Toronto, rapidly increasing in value and importance. For further particulars fill in the attached coupon and mall to G-ASTINSONsa UMITED The Oldest Bond House in Canada EST. 1863 300 BAY ST. TORONTO For JH years every Bond Issue recommencUd and sold 6y O. A. StitMon (ft Co., Ltd,, ha* paid interest and principal wh«n dae. Without obligation a end me further parttealars. NAME ADDRESS W.L. Apple Recipes In 'September and October one can often pick up apples for nothing or celery, with a dash of mayonnaise and for so little that it seems a shame { a bit of currant jelly as a garnish. not to add them to the winter's sup- ply of appetising food. Just a few minutes spent in the kitchen in the autumn will mean many pleasurable meals a little latw. Sweet Pickled Apples Break Into plecea a two-inch stick ] is very soft. of clnnaman and tie it tn a cheese- ; in the oven. make a combination as delightful to the taste as to the eye. Apple Butter Wash apples, core without peeling; cut into pieces and cook with as lit- tle water as possible until the fruit This may best be dona Put tho fruit through consistency is flne for apple sauce and pies. Thoroughly cooked without sugar and sealed securely in sterilized jars, the apples keep well. Sugar may be added as needed, when it will prob- ably be cheaper than during the can- ning season. Canning of this kind Is easily done in the oven while other baking is going on. The rack from the broiler may be set on the bottom of the oven to keep the Jars from getting too hot. The sauce may be partly cooked over tho flame and finished by baking in the jars in the oveu, or the apples is added. Seal with paraffln. Apple CatsL-p Wipe, core and quarter 16 large cooking apples, cover Ihem with water and simmer until the.v ave wel; dcn#. ^ Rub through a sieve and to each i I cupfuls of pulp allow 2 tr.ispoonfuls i of while pepper. IH cuptuU of sug!>r, i 1 teaspoonful e.ich of mu.stard and all- I spice, 1 1 '3 te.Tspoonfuls of ciriiiamon, 1 1 tablespocnful of salt, 1 large cnicn, i grated, and 2^2 cupfu'.s of cider vjn> ] gar. .\dd to the aiple pulp, bring i slowly to a bo;l and simmer until ct i the rigl-.t consistency, aboi:t lU hours, may be put into the cans as they aro g^^j ^^.j^.j^ ^^^ prepared, covered with hot water aud. ' . _, . . set into tho oven. The juices boil up ! Sweet Apple Pickle from beneath and cook the fruit. Syrup from pickled peache*; r.ai water and stir in the last thing be-: ! When done, fill each jar witli either pickled water^^^^^^^^ be usei tiiore boiling apple sauce or hut water, to mai^o ileiitious .ipp- p^i....e. b^tam sweet apples until they can be pierced with a straw, add to the reheated syrup, bring to a boil ani seal in small fore baking. Bake in a moderate oven twenty minutes. Serves six. , """^ ^''''' ''^ "^"'''• This bread Is delicious served with ' Apples for Salads and Dumplings a luncheon of salad and cold moat. I Apples that hold their shape when . ... , . tea and Johnny cake being the only j cooked are best for dumplings, sul- , ^ " ••' • hot dishes. Faquin Gras Grate five small, cold, boiled pota- toes finely. Mix with them five heap- ing tablespoons of flour, a saltspcon of salt and two beaten eggs. Mix well together, add one-fourth cup ot thick sour cream, in which has been stirred a half teasixjon ot baking soda. Drop by spoonful into deep, hot fat. These are particularly appropriate to serve with smelts or with any kind ot small ttsh. Enough tor four. . «i Hostess â€" "Yes, but always fast." Quest â€" ".Ah, early American! ads or garnishing for roast pork. When to be used for the two latter purposes, uupeeled, red-skiune<l ap- ples cut into halves give the prettiest effect, but care must be taken thoroughly to cook the skins. Baking is the surest means of keeping the pieces unbroken. As the fruit is pre- pared, drop each piece into scalding hot water aud when there is enough 1 for a pint can, pack the apples into ! the hot sterilized jar, pour over them enough thin boilin? sugar syrup to â-  cover. lay the sterilized cap on top and ; set the can in the hot oven. A little [ John, I wish you'd bring mo home ' '^d vegetable coloring added to tho ; one ot those toblolds." "The kind you ' "-V'""!' «''" â- "a'^e ^^^ f"""'' *ery attrac- i a lovely old clock, take with a glass of water?" "No; I "^'^ '•" ^ salad or as a garnish. When Ithe kind you take with a grain ot j the apples may be pierced with a j;j,lt." I Straw, till the jars, adjust the rubbers A Scene at Meadowbrook "A SAVE" A view of tho International Poo challenge cup match between the tour finest horsemen ot the British Arajr in India and the four beat in th United States. The Helpful Lemon. Patient â€" "So you thlnlv. doctor, a Iome:i a day will help?" Doctor â€" "I think you can count on tho lomon aid." Electric. A man was arrested and brought before the magistrates. Magistrate (to prisonerli â€" "What la your name, occupation, aiid what are you charged with?" Prisoner â€" "iVIy name la Sparks. I am an electrician, and 1 am charged with assault and battery." Magistrate â€" "Ofllcor, puf this man In a dry cell." : : â€" .yâ€"^ Health visitor (who, on a previous visit, had given a thermometer to a& old couple in a stuffy cottage) â€" "I hope you're not letting the red line go up above the 60 mark" Old John â€" "Oh, no. miss, as soon as <( finds It climbing up too high I takes It out la the garden and cools It down!" Widow (to daushtor)â€" ^"Whan are my ace It wUl bo dream ot a huahaad. "Yea. mamma, Ayr tbo and covers, and sea!^ Test for leaka and store In a dark place to preserve the color. Such apple cups on beds ot lettuce, flUed with chopped nuts or cloth bag with 1 teaspoonful each of j a sieve, and to each 3 cupfuls ot pulp whole cloves and the whole allspice. ; allow 1 cupful of sugar, V4 teaspoon- Add 3 pounds of light brown sugar to ful of ground cinnamon and a pinch of 1 quart ot vinegar; drop It In tho | ginger. Simmer down to the d'^slred spice bag and boil It for 15 minutes. ' consistency, adding more or other Peel, core and cut Into quarters rather ' spices to suit tho taste, if necessary, tart, well flavored apples, and simmer By taking every chance possible to them, a few at a time. In the sydup, cook hot pulp in thei ovtn instead of until they are almost done. It the over a direct flame on^-cuir ^tay^t , fmlt Is not delicate pink In color, add the waste ot considerable material and a little beet juice to the syrup. Pack time. I* a flame must be uset^ put tho apples carefully In hot, sterilized an asbestos sheet under the kettle. Jars and leave them In a hot oven Pour the apple butter into sterilized while the sydup is being boiled down glasses or a stnua crock and seal with rapidly for about 10 minutes. Fill the melted paraffin, hot jars with the syrup and seal, i Apple Hon'v These are delicious served with pork. p^^ ^.^^.^^^, ^^.^ .^ „' ^^^^^^^ ^, ^^^ » Apples for Pies and Sauce ^pple butter 1 cupful of honey. Heai Fruit that cooks up into a mushy slowly but do not boil artcr the honey '*