The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE TEN - S-- [T "OSHAWA, 'ONTARIO, THURSDAY; MAY 4,-1922 » A --_-- lie, when Mme, de Castiglione came baek an old, old woman, and told us how, when she had grown old and had lost her beauty and was very Jlonely, she would no longer live in the great house which was so full of torturing memories, but toek a small apartment near by, where no At the "Villa Ross" BY A, E. W. MASON CHAPTER XV (Continued) But as he passed he caught a sentence spoken suddenly hy Weth- ermill, "Well, it is true; I must have money," And the agitated voice and words remained fixed in his memory. He 'heard too, a warning "Hush!" trom the maid. Then they passed out of his hearing. But he turned and saw Wethermill was talking volubly, What Harry Wethermili was gaying he wag saying in a fool- ish burst of confidence, "You have guessed it, Helene-- you alone," He had mortgaged his patent twice over--once in Prance, once in England--and the second time had been a month ago. He % had received a large sum down, which went to pay his pressing cred- itors, He had hoped to pay the sum back from a new invention, "But Helene, I tell you," he said, "I have a conscience," and when she emiled he explained, *Oh, not what the priests 'would call a eon- science; that I know, But none the less I have a conscience-- a conscl- ence-- a conscience about the things which really matter, at all events to me. There is a flaw in that new invention. It can be improved; 1 know that. But as yet I do not see how, 2nd--I cannot help it--I must get it right; 1 cannot let it go im perfect, when 1 know that it can he improved, when I am sure that [I shall sooner or later hit upon the needed improvement. That is what I mean when -¥ say I have a con- science," Helene Vauquier smiled indul- gently. Men were queer fish. Things which were really of io account troubled and perplexed them and gave them sleepless nights. But it was not for her to object, since jt was one of these queer anomalies which was giving her her chance. "And the people are finding oul that you have sold your rights twice over," she said sympathetically, '""That's a pity, monsieur." ' "They know," he answered; those in England know." "And they are very angry?" "They threaten me," said Wether- mill. "They give me a month to re- store the money. Otherwise there will be disgrace, imprisonment, penal servitude." Helene Vauquier walked calmly on. No sign of the intense joy which she felt was visible in her face, and only a trace of it in her voice. "Monsieur will, perhaps, meet me to-morrow in Geneva," she said. And she named a small cafe in a back street. "I can get a holiday for the afternoon." And as they were near to the Viila and the lights she walked on ahead. Wethermill loitered behind. He had tried his luck at the tables and had failed. And--unec-- he must have the money. He travelled, accordingly, the next day to Geneva and was there pre- sented to Adele Tace and Hippolyte. "They are trusted friends of mine," said Helene Vauquier to Wethermill, who was not inspired to confidence by the sight of the young man with the big ears and the plas- tered hair. As a matter of fact, she had never met them before they came this year to Aix. The Tace family, which consisted of Adele and her husband and Jeanne, her mother, were practised eriminals. They had taken the house in Geneva deliberately in or- der to earry out some robberies from the great villas on the lakeside. But they had not been fortunate, and a description of Mme. Dauvray's jewelry in the woman's column of a Geneva newspaper had drawn Adele Tace over to Aix. She had set about the task of seducing Mme. Dauvray's maid, and found a master, nol an instrument. In the small cafe on that after- moon of July Helene Vaugquier in- structed her accomplices, quietly and methodically, as though what proposed was the most ordinary stroke of business. Once or twice subsequently Wethermill, who was the only safe go-betweem, went to the house in Geneva, altering his hair and wearing = moustache, to complete the arrangements. He maintained firmly at ais irial that at none of these meetings was there any talk of murder. "To be sure," said the judge, with a4 savage sarcasm. "In decent con- versation then® is always a reticence. Something is left to be understood." And it js dificult to understand how murder could not have been an essential part of their plan, since-- But let us see what happened: CHAPTER XVI On the Friday beiore the crime was commenced © Mme. Dauvray and Celia dined zz ine Villa des Fleurs. While they were drinking their coffee Harry Wethermill join- ed them. He stayed with them untii Mme. Dauvray was ready to move. and then all three walked into the baccarat rooms together. But there. in the throng of people, they were separated. Harry Wethermill was lovking carefully after Celia, as 2a good lover should. He had, it seemed, no eyes for any one else; and it was not until a minute or two had passed that the girl herself noticed that Mme. Dauvray was not with them. "We Harry. ' "Of course," repiied Celia. "There is, after all, no hurry," said Wethermill, witha a 1augh; "and perhaps she was not unwilling to leave us together." ~ Celia di ed to a smile. "Mme® uvray is kind to me," she said, with a very pretty timidity. "And yet move kind to me," said Wethermill in a low wpice which | brought the blood imate Celia's cheeks. ' 3 : But even while he spoke he soon caught sight of Mme. Dauvray stand- ing by one of the tables; and near | will' find her easily," said she it | to her was Adele Tace, Adele had not yet made Mme, Dauvray's ae- guaintance; that was evident. She was apparently unaware of her; but ! she was gradually edging toward ! her, Wethermill smiled, and Celia caught the smile, "What is it?" sre asked, and her head began to turn in the direction of Mme, Dauyray. | "Why, I like your frock--that's all," said Wethermill at once; ana Celia's eyes went down to it, "Do you?' she said, with a pleas- ed smile. It was a dress of dark blue which suited her gell. "I am glad. I think 'it is pretty." And they passed on. Wethermill stayed by the girl's side throughout the evening, Once again he saw Mme. Dauvray and Adelé Tace, But now they were to- gether, now they were talking. The first step had heen taken. Adele Tace had scrapeu acquainthnce with Mme. Dauyray. Celia saw them al- most at the same moment, "Oh, there is Mme. Dauvray!" she cried, taking a step toward her. Wethermill detained the girl, "She seems quite happy," © he said; and, indeed, Mme. Dauyray| was talking volubly and with the nt-| most interest, the ;eweis sparkling | about her neck. She raised her head, saw Celie, nodded to her affectionately, and then pointed her out to her companion. Adele Tace| looked the girl over with interest) and smiled contentedly. There was nothing to be feared from her. Her | youth, her very daintiness, seemed | to offer her as the easiest of vic- tims, _ "You see Mme, Danvray does not want you," said Harry Weth- ermill. "Let us go and play chemon- de-fer", and they did, moving off into one of the further rooms. It was not until another hour had passed that Celia rose and went in search of Mme, Dauyray. She found her still talking earnestly to Adele Tace. Mme. Dauvray got up at once. "Are you ready to go dear?" she asked, as she turned to Adele Tace. "This is Celie, Mme. Rossignol," she "said, and she spoke with a marked significance ahd a note of actual exultation in her voice. Celia, however, was not unused to this tone. Mme. Dauyray was proud cf her companion, and had a haoit of showing her off, to the girl's discomfort. The three women spoke a few words, and then Mme. Dauvray and Celia left the rooms and walked to the entrance doors But as they walked Celia became alarmed. She was by nature. extraordinarily sensitive to impressions. Jt was to that quick receptivity that the smuc- cess of "The Great Fortinbras" had been chiefly due. She had a gift of rapid comprehension. It was not that she argued, or deducted, or in- ferred. But she felt. To take 2 metaphor from. the work of the mai she loved, she was a natural re- ceiver. So now, although no word was spoken, she was aware that | Mme. Dauvray was greatly excited | greatly disturbed, and she dreaded | the reason of that excitement and disturbance. While they were driving home i the motor-car she said apprehen | sively: | "You met a friend then, tonight | madame?" "No," said Mme. Dauvray; "I made a friend. I had not met Mme Rossignol before. A bracelet of hers came undone, and I helped he to fasten it. We talked afterwards She lives in Geneva." Mme. Dauvray was silent for 2 moment or two. Then she turned impulsively and spoke in a voice 0' appeal. "Celie, we talked of things"; and the girl moved impatiently. She uu- derstood very well what were thr things of whieh Mme. Dauvray and her new friend had talked. "Aund she laughed. . . I could not bear Celia was silent, and Mme. vray went on in a voice of awe: "I told her of the wonderfu' things which happened when 1 sat with Helene in the dark--how the room filled with strange sounds, hov ghostly fingers touched my forehead and my eyes. She laughed--Adele Rossignol laughed, Celie. 1 told her of the spirits with whom we held converse. She would not believe. Do you remember the evening, Ce- » n 11] "Saved My Little Girl! Mother tells how her little Ethel's life was saved. That is what one woman wrote us re- sently, and then she goes on 1p say :-- "Ethel, who is just past eight, caughta bad cold last August. The child is of a highly strung, mervous temperament ind could not be kept quiet in bed We tried everything we could think of | to cure her cough. But, the cough became worse and from a rosy, healthy, sturdy girl she hecame pale and thin. Nothing we did seemed to siop the wough and by this time regular spasms of conghing had developed. These coughing spells left the cluld weak and completely tired ont. I believe that in a short time the cough would have reached the child'slungs. Aftertrying sverything I could thnk of, 1 saw an Dau- one knew her; and how she used to walk out late at night, and watch, with her eyes full'of tears, the dark windows which had once been so bright with light? Adele Rossignol would not believe, 1 told her that I had found thé story afterward in a Volume of memoirs, Adele Ros- signol laughed and said no doubt you had read that volume yourself before the seance." Calie stirred guiltily. "She had no faith In you, Celie, it made me angry, dear. She said you invented your own tests. 8he sneered at them, A string across a cupboard! A child, she said, could manage that; much more, then a clever-young lady. Oh, she admitted that you were clever! "Indeed she urged that you were far too clever to submit to the tests of some one you did not know. I re- plied that you would, I was right, Celie, was I not?" And again the appeal sounded rather piteously in Mme. Dauvray"s voice, "Tests!" said Celie, with a con- temptuous laugh, And in truth. she wag not afraid of them. Mme. Dau- vray's voice at once took courage, "There!" she cried, triumphant- ly. "I wae sure I told her so. Celie I arranged with her that next Tues- day' -- 3 And Celia interrupted, quickly. "No! Oh no!" Again there was silence; and then Mme. Dauvray said gently hut very seriously: "@elie, you are not kind." Celia was moved by the reproach. "Oh, madame!" she cried, eager- ly. Please don't think that. How could I be anything else Lo you who are s0 kind to me?" "Then prove it, Celie. On Tues- day I have asked Mme. Rossignol to come; and" The old woman's yoice became tremulous with excite- ment. "And perhaps--who knows? --perhaps she will appear to us." Celia had no doubt who "she" was, She was Mme. de Montespan. "Oh, no, madame!" she mered. "Here, at Aix, we in the spirit for such things. And then, in a voice of Mme. Dauyray asked: "I: then, what Adele said?" And Celia started violently. Mme. Dauvray doubted. "I believe it 'would brenk my heart, my dear, if I were to think that: if I were to know that you had tricked me," she said, with a trembling voice. Celia covered her face with her hands, It would 'be true. She had stam- arc not 1) dread, it true, never forgive herseli-- would never forgive Celia." Her infatuation had grown so to engross her that the rest of her life would surely he em-| bittered, It was not merely a pas- sion--it was a creed as well. Celia shrank from the renewal of these seances, Every fibre in her was in revolt. They were so un- worthy-+so unworthy of Harry Wethermill, and of herself as she now herself wished to be. But she had to pay now; the moment for pay- ment had come. "Celie," sald Mme. Dauyray, "iti't true! Surely it isn't true?" Celia drew Ler hands away from her face . "Let Mme. Jlossignel gcome on Tuesday!' she cried, and the old woman caught the girl's hand and pressed it with affection, "Oh, thank you! thank you!" she cried 'Adele Rossignol laughs to- night; we shall convince her on Tues- day, Celie! Celie. I am so glad!" And her voice sank into a solemn whis- per, pathetically ludicrous. {It is not right that she should laugh! To bring people back through the gates of the spirit--world--that is wonder- ful." To Celia the sound of the jargon learnt from her own lips, used by herself so thoughtlessly in past times, was odious. "For the last time," she pleaded to herself. All her life was going to change; though no word had yet heen spoken hy Harry Wethermill, she was sure of Yt. Just for this one last time, then, so that she might leave Mme, Dauyray the colors of her belief, she would hold a seance at the Villa Rose, Mme. Dauvray dold the news to Helene Vauquier when they reached the villa, "You will be present Helene" she cried excitedly. It will he Tuesday. "There will be three of us." "Certainly, if madame said Helene submissively. looked around the room. "Mille, Celia can be placed on a chair in that recess 'and 'the curtains ,dyawn, whilst we--madame, and madame's friend, and I---can sit around this table under the side windows. "Yes," said CeNia,that, will very well." It was Madame when she was particularly pleased with Celia to dismiss her maid quickly, and to send her to brush the girl's hair at night; and in a little while on this night Hglene went to Celia's room, While she hrushed Celia's hair she told her that Servattaz's parents lived at Chambery and that be would like to see them. "But the por man is afraid to ask for a day," she said. "He has been so short a time with madame. "Of course madame will give him a do Dauvray's habit no doubt of it. Mme. Dauyray would holiday if he asks," replied Celia . re One woman writes: "A domestic science teacher said it was the lightest cake she had ever tasted or seen--but remarked that Iused atleast six eggsineverycake, ; She wouldn't believe | used only ; two--until I showed her exactly how I made it. Now she uses noth- ing but Royal." Made in Contains No Alum Mrs. G. S. "ROYAL BAKING POWDER Canada Leaves No Bitter Taste Send for New Royal Cook Book--It's FREE Royal Baking Powder Co., 4 St. Lawrence Blvd., Montreal Oshawa Bargain Store 42 SIMCOE ST. N. Special F Working Shirts Special Blue Serge Pants Men's Spring Hats, latest style Men's Caps, regular $1.50, to Men's fine Black Boots advertisement for Carnol, saying that this preparation would build one up. I t a bottle from the druggist and efore it was half finished my little girl had almost completely shaken off her cough. - der cheeks began to get back their old colour. She started to puton flesh agaistand would run and play all day without being tired. Today, after having taken two les of Carnol, she is louking and Se better than she has ever felt ip her dife." Carnol is sold by your druggist and il you can conscientiously say, after you have tried it, that it hasn't done you | any good. return the empty boitle anc he will refund your money. Sold by Wm. H. Karn Oshawa, Ont. I Men's Overalls 50 pair boys' Bloomers, good make, with lining, regular $1.50, to clear ... Special in Blue Suits, Indigo Dye, guaranteed not to Means ssssssacarane a Basessesasessssans oa All goods guaranteed first class, if not satisfactory mone . efunded > M. ENUSHESKY Working Trousers, good make, with cuff Tweed Pants, reg. $5.00 and $6.00, to clear at Men's and young men's Oxfords, reg. $7.00 Men's dark Grey Suits, to clear at ................... 55 Rubber Belts, Black, Grey and Brown, to clear ... $2.50 to $4.50 , to clear at clear at arsessssasass sssasan sasane sarasansen wishes," | She | with a smile. "I will speak to her myself to-morrow.' "It would be kind of mademoi- gelle,", said Helene Vauquier. "But perhaps"~--she stopped. "Well," said Celia. "Perhaps mademoigelle would do better still to speak to Servattaz himself and encourage him to ask with his own lips. Madame has her moods, is it not so? She does not always like it to be forgotten that she is the mistress." On the next day accordingly Celia did speak to Servettaz, and Servet- taz- asked for his holiday, "But of course," Madame at once replied, "We must decide upon a day." It was then that*Helene Vauquier ventured humbly upon a suggestion. "Since Madame has a friend com- ing here on Tuesday, perhaps that would be the best day for him to go. Madame would not be likely to drive that aftermon, "No indeerd," replied Mme. Dau- vray "We shall all three dine to- gether early in Aix and return here." "Then I will tell him he may go to-morrow;" said Celia. For this conversation took' place on the Monday, and in the evening Mme. Dauvray and Celia went as usual to the Villa de Fleurs and dined there. "I was in a bad mind," said Celia, when asked by the Judge d'Instrue- tion to explain that attack of nerves in the garden, which Ricardo had witnessed. "I hated more and more the thought oft the seance which was to take place on the morrow. I felt that I was disloyal to Harry, My nerves were all tingling. 1 was not nice that night at all,"' she add- ed, quaintly. 'But at dinner I de- termined that if I met Harry after dinner, as 1 was sure to do, I would tell him the whole truth about my- self. "However, when 1 did meet-him, I was frightened, I knew how stern ; i , : he could suddenly look. 1 dreaded (Continued on page 12) \ hh "hii, Everything for your office Desks, filing cabi- nets and other office furniture--Iledgers, stationery--inks, pens, pencils -- everything for your office is here at its best and at very reasonable prices. \ELboraDO the master drawing pencil" has lead so smooth and easy-flowing that it "es writing a pleas- All 17 degrees r sale here (H B or general use). If vou have never used the Eldorado, try one 4 just to satisfy yourself. 17 We shall gladly advise ks , you which degree i: 3 best for your work. e REFORMER OFFICE Oshawa, Ont. AW \TREL y Iti ify, Sunlight and your washing machine Sunlight Soap, being the purest and best" laundry soap made, will wash your clothes beautifully white and clean in a shorter time and with the use of much less soap. Pare or chip half a cake of Sunlight into your washer, whip into a rich suds and proceed as usual, You will find the pure cozos- nut and palm oils blended into Sunlight make it the most efficient and economical p you ever used, You use less--as you get all pure soap. W ZZ SL SAN y FERTIL LB \ LEVER BROTHERS LIMITED HOGG & LYTLE. Limited FEED : Government Inspected. Farmers, Attention! We have a fresh supply of choice Seed Grain of the following varieties just arrived. TWO-ROWED BARLEY, SIX-ROWED BARLEY, MARQUIS WHEAT, ABUND- ANCE OATS and BANNER OATS. Complete lines of * CLOVER and TIMOTHY always in stock. BRAN, SHORTS, GROUND FEED, OIL CAKE, COTTON SEED MEAL and etc., at lowest market prices. Complete line of Garden Seeds, including NEW BRUNSWICK GROWN IRISH COBBLER POTATOES, PHONE 203. USE IT. HOGG & LYTLE, Limited -- Friday and Saturday SPECIALS e will deliver to the Lake ou TUESDAY AND for the summer months THURSDAY We also have a full line of cooked and smoked meats. 15 Bars Soap 10 Ibs. Sugar Flat Tins Red Salmon . Tall Tins Red Salmon .... Fresh Water Cress, ......... GROCERIES 30c waissn sieeninaesenne.. @ bunch 10c Special Blend Black and Mixed Tea '45¢ a pound. £2! lemens | TRH RNR ro RE a