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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Times, 1914-12-03, Page 7December 3rd, 1914 10101621.111.4.1M1•10.11110.14.1IMOIMIMINMIII..0i.1.11010 91 . Jt * Uhe SECRET of . -m fiffi (0 ; LONESOME COVE ;.o - le IM (0 r, 1! f.0 1:0 1.6 By Samuel Hopkins Adams IP fb 1.ft fi) fl‘ Copyright 1912 by the, Bobfss-Merril ConaneerAY In 't ----;lq' ....,. -,--• . 'certain the affair was substantially this; On the evening before the wo- man's body was found Wilfrid Blair, •who had been exhibiting symptoms of :melancholia, left the house secretly. o one saw him o, but about the time that he left the unknown woman Ng 'was seen in the vicinity of Hedgerow house," "By whom?" "By a half breed Indian, a devoted .servant of the family, who was prac- tically young Blair's body servant" "Gansett Jim! That helps to ex- -plain." "Whether or not Wilfrid Blair had arranged a meeting with this woman Is not known. As you know, she was •found with her skull crushed eu the sea beach. Blair was afterward dis- covered by his half breed servant mop tally injured and was brought home te "That is Alexander Blair's version of the tragedy?" "As I understand it." "Wilfrid Blair never was brought home." "Ah? In any case Alexander Blair is striving to conceal some scandal, the nature of which I have no wish to guess. By the way, I should have add- ed that he suspects a third person, an artist, resident not far from his place, •of being his son's. assailant." "Francis Sedgwick." "Ton know the man?" "It is on his behalf that I am act - lee 4ng," replied Kent. -MP- "My informant, however, inclines to ;the belief that Alexander Blair is wrong; that Wilfrid Blair killed the woman and then inflicted mortal -wounds upon himself. Perhaps you would better see my informant for :yourself." "Unnecessary, thank you. Mr. Blair not telling quite all that he knows, believes, if I correctly follow his :mental processes—that Francis Sedg- •wick met his son on the night of the A -tragedei by chance or otherwise, and vs,. ;that in the encounter which be be- lieves - followed Wilfrid Blair WaS kill - .ed. Unfortunately some color of mo-. 'bye is lent to this by the fact that ;Sedgwick had fallen desperately in love with Mrs. Blair." "Impossible! Marjorie is not the wo- man to permit such a thing." • "'Without blame to her or, indeed, to .either of them. She also believes now 7that Sedgwick killed ber husband." "And—and she was interested in your friend?" asked the old scholar • slowly. "I fear—that is, I trust so. Circumotantial evidence is against Sedgwick, but I give you my word, sir, it itj wholly impossible that he should have .killed your niece's husband." "To doubt your certainty would be crassly stupid. And are you hopeful of clearing up the circumstances?" "There I want your aid. The night of the tragedy a person wearing a dark -garment embroidered with silver stars ,was on Hawkill heights. I have rea- ijon to believe that this person came there to meet some one from the Blair ifiace. It is to ran him down that I -have come to Boston." "A man wearing a dark garment em- broidered -With silver stars," said the ,philosopher. "Surely a strange garb Ln this age of sartorial orthodoxy." "Not for an astrologer." "Ah, an astrologer! And you think he came from Boston?" "I think," said Chester Kent, draw- ing some newspaper clippings from his pocket, "that somewhere among these advertisenients taken from the news- Dapers which are subscribed for at gedgerow house he is to be found." "There 1 ought to be able to help. Through my association with the ea- eult society j have investigated many THE WEAK SPOT IN THE BACK. When the kidneys 'get ill the back eves out. But tha back is not to blame. The ache cornee from. the kidneye, •which lie under the small of the back. Therefore, dull pain in the back, 'Or •sharp, quick twinge's, are warnings of ,sick kidneys —werninge of kitluey trouble. Plasters awl liniments will not cure .11 bad back, for they cannot reach the 'kidneys which eauee it. Doom's Kidney Pills reach the kidneys :tie:env:Ives. They are a rpecial kidney and bladder medielle. 'racy heal the diseased serfaec of kidney; and bladder, nand help them ta act freely mei naturally. 1•Ite. Cheet.r Remain, Viet Coulon:TA "1 heel beee troebleci with fc;.13 LAO,: irev. loAr ye.••srl, emi could let nothhort w ay good until heard ei Docas Lidney Ping. .1 uot tire' aid tcok then: and now I ain ce• epletely cured." Doan's Kideey Pills are 50d n bREo fur 41.25, at all dealcrs or mailed iet on 'receipt of price by The T. tii- .iurn Co., Limited, Toronto, Ont. Whenerdexing direct speeify "Doan's.", Orth-argerre 3.7:r them." I "Whom would you consider the most able of the lot?" The old man set a finger on one of the clippings. "Preston Jar," said he, "is the shrewdest of them ail. Some- times I have thought that he had dim flashes of real clairvoyance." "Probably he is my man. Anyway, I shall visit him first, and if I find that his office was closed on July 5"— "It was and for a day or two there- after as 1 chance to know, because one of the occult society's secret agents Was to have visited him and could not get an appointment." "Good! I shall see you, then, tomor- row, sir." * * * * * * * Ten o'clock of the following morning found the Harvard professor formally •presenting his friend, Chester Kent, to Mrs. Wilfrid Blair at the house of the demise with whom she was staying. "My dear," said the old gentleman, "you may trust Professor Kent's judg- ment and insight as implicitly as his houor. I can give no stronger recom- mendation and will now take my leave." Kent resisted successfully a wild and fearful desire to set a restraining hold upon the disappearing coattails, for em- barrassment bad again engulfed the scientist's soul. "I don't know exactly how to begin," he said. "Theu I will help you," said she, be- coming suddenly grave. "You are here to speak to me of :pule topic wholly distinct from one forbidden. phase." "Have you lost any jewels lately, Mrs. Blair?" The girl -widow started. "Yes. How did you know?" "You have made no complaint or published no advertisements for them?" "I have kept it absolutely tecret Father Blair insisted that I should do so." "They were valuable, these jewels?" "The rings were, intrinsically, but what I most valued was the necklace of rose topazes. They were the Gros- venor topazes." "A. family relic?" "Not my oWn family. My husband's mother left them to me. They came down to her from her grandmother, Catnilla Grosvenor. She was rather a famous person in her time. C. L. El- liott painted her—one of his finest por- traits, I believe. And—and she was remarkable in other respects. She was a woman of great force of character and great personal attraction, I be- lieve, though she was not exactly beau- tiful. ' When she was still under thirty she became the leader of a band of mystics and star worshipers. I believe that she became infatuated with one of them, a young German, and that there was an elopement by water. This I remember, at Jeast—her body washed ashore on the coast not very far from Hedgerow house.l' "At Lonesome Cove?" - "Yes. The very name of it chills me. For my husband it had an uncan- ny fascination. He useno talk to me about the place." "Would you know the face of Camil- la Grosvenor?" "Of course. The Diliott portrait hangs in the library at Hedgerow house." Kent took from under his coat the drawing purchased from Elder Dennett "That is the same," said Mrs. Blair unhesitatingly. "It isn't quite the same pose as the finished portrait, and It lacks the earring which is in the portrait But I should say it is surely Elliott's work. Couldn't it be a pre- liminary sketch for the portrait?" "Probably that is what it is." , "Can you tell me where it came from?" "From between the pages of fln old book. Tell me how your necklace was lost, please." "I don't know. On the afternoon of Ally 5 I left H'edgerow house rather hurriedly. My maid, whom I trust im- plicitly, was to follow with my trunks, incruding my jesvel case. She arrived a day later, with part of the jewels missing, and a note from Father Blair saying that there had been a robbery, but that 1 was to say nothing of it." CHAPTER XVII. The Master of Stars. s, is ULY 5," remarked Kent,with his lids dropped over the keen gaze Of his eyes. "It was the follow- iteg morning that the uOltnown body was found on the beach near Mr.—neer the Nook." Marjorie flee° shelved no corn - prehension. "t have heard nothing of tiny body," she replied. '‘Diti none of the talk torte to your eaorumnie eootacsotrvole Nyman found at t "Xo. Wait, though. After the fa. neral one of the cousins begat, to Lspeakkta mystery, and Mr. Blair Out THE WINGHAM TIMES biTh "Your feet:Mace was naive from that body." Her eyes grow wide. "Was she the thief?" she asked eagerly. "The person who took the necklace frOul the hotly Is the one for whom I am searehieg. Now, alrs. Blair, will you tell nee in a word bow your buss band net his death? Yew father -in. , law gave you to understand, did he not, that Wilfrid Blair met aud quar- reled with—with a -certain person and was killed in the encounter which fol' lowed?" "How shut!. I over free myself frotn the consciousness of my own partin ' It?" she shuddered. "Don't—don't speek of it again. I can't bear it." "You won't have to very long," Kent assured bei'. "Let us get back to the jewels. You would be willing to make a considerable sacrifice to recovey, them?" "Anything!" . "Perhaps you've heard something of this man?" Drawing a newspaper page from his pocket, Kent indicated an advertise- ment outlined in blue pencil. It was elaborately displayed as follows: Your Fate Is Written In the Heav- ens CONSULT THE Star Master Past, Present and Future Are Open Books to His Mystic Gaze -Be Guided Aright In Business, Love and Health Thousands to Whom he has pointed Out the Way of the Stars Bless Him for His Aid. CONSULTATION BY APPOINT- MENT Preston Jax Suit 77 Mystic Block, 10 Royal Street Mrs, Blair glanced at the announce- ment "I want you to go there with me to- day," said Kent. "To that charlatan? Why, Professor Kent, I thought you were a scientific man. I can't understand your motives, but I know that I can trust you. When do you wish me to go?" "I have an apointment for us at high noon." As the clock struck 12 Kent and Mrs. Blair passed from the broad noon- day glare of the street and were ush- ered into the tempered darkness of a Strange apartment. It was hung about with black cloths and lighted by the effulgence of an artificial half moon and several planets contrived, Kent conjectured, of isinglass set into the fabric with arc lights behind them. A. faint, heavy but not unpleasant odor as of incense hovered in the air. The moon waxed slowly in brightness, il- lumining the two figures. "Very well fixed up," whispered Kent to his companion. "The astrolo- ger is now looking us over." In fact, at that uaotnent a eontem- plating and estimating eye was fixed upon them from a "dead" star in the ' farther wall. Preston Jar did not, as a rule, receive more than one client at a time. Police witnesses travel in pairs, and the starmaster was of a sus- picious nature. Now, however, he be- held a gentleman clad in such apparel as. never police spy nor investigating agent wore, a rather puzzl'ing ness" (the term is culled from Mr. ! Jax's envious thoughts), since it ap- peared to be individual without being In any particular conspicuous. The visitor was obviously "light." Quitting his peep hole, the starmas- ter pressed a button. Strains of music, soft and sourceless, filled the air (from or es us or.. "Yonder is your star," declat;ed the astrologist. a phonograph testified in rugs). The moon glow paled a little. There was, a soft rustle and fluctuation of wall draperies in the apartment. The light waxed. The sitrooth shaved starmas- ter Stood before his visitors. They beheld a man of undistinguish- ed size and form eked out by a splen- did pomposity of Manner. To tills his garb contributed. Ali the signs of the Udine had lent magnifieence to the long, black, loose robe With gaping illeeVes Which he wore. Mrs. Blair noted with vague interest that it was all hand embroidered. With a rhythmical motion of arms and hands he dame forward, perform- ed a spreading bow of Welcome and armee back, putties hio hand to his HAD A BAD COLD WITH PROLONGED COUCHING. TRIED NEARLY EVERYTHING FINALLY DR. woogrs NOPIWAY P/NE SYRUP CURED HIM, Mr, Wallace H. Grange, Vancouver, B.C., writes: "During a cold spell here about the middle 4"Of last October (1913), I caught a cold which got worse despite an treatments I could obtain, until about November 22nd, a friend said, Why not try Dr. Wood's Norwey Pine Syrup?' Really, I had no faith in it at the time as I had tried nearly every other remedy I had heard of, to no avail, but I thought I would give this last remedy a trial. I purchased a 50 cent bottle, and in three days I was feeling a different man. My cold was so hard, and the coughing so prolonged, that vomiting occurred after a bard spell of coughing. I carried the bottle in my pocket, and every time I was seized with a coughing spell I would take a small dose,. eaa mo'st heartily recommend Dr. Wood's Norway Pine Syrup to anyone with a severe cold, as its powers are most marvelous, and I never intend being without it at all times" When you ask for "Dr. Wood's" see that yoti get what you ask for. It is put up in a yellow wrapper; three pine t7ees the trade mark; the price, 25e auti 50; manufactured only by The T. Milbuea Co., 1.1.nited, Teronto, Ont. .7.; a 'ETC.:" lre—firriTh7171 "Gets.on one's nerves, you know. Awesome and all that sort of tiling 1 fussing with the stars." • "Fear nothing." said Jae. "The star forces respfend to the master will of him who compreheuds them, Madam, tbe date, year, month and day of your birth, if you please?" "March 15, 1889," replied Mrs. 131air. Propelled by an uuseen force, a celes- tial globe mounted on a nickeled stand- ard, rolled forth, The starmaster spun it with a practised hand. Slowly and more slowly It turned until, as it came to a stop, a ray of light, mysteri- ously appearing, focused ou a constel- le Lion. "Yonder is your star," declared the astrologist. "See how the aural light seeks it." "Oh, I say!" murmured he of the monocle. "Weird, you know! Quite gets on one's nerves. Quite"— "Sieleh-hl" reproved Preston Jar. "Silence is the Biting medium of the higher stellar mysteries. Madam, your life is a pathway between happinesS and grief. Loss, like a speeding comet, has crossed it here. Happiness, like the soft moon glow, has beamed upon It, and will again beam, in fuller ef- fulgence." With beautifully modulated intone-. tions he proceeded, while one of hie, visitors regarded him with awe struck reverence,. and the other waited with patience—but unimpressed, so the ora- tor felt, by his gifts. His voice sank, by deep toned gradations into silence. The ray winked out. Then the woman spoke. "Is it possible for your stars to guide me to an object wbicb I have lost?" "Nothing is hidden from the stars,"• declared their master. "You seek jew- els, madam?" (Kent had let this much out, as if by accident, in the morning's conversation.) ••yes.11 "Your birth stone is the bloodstone. Unhappy, indeed, would be the omen if you lost one or those gems." (He was fishing_and. came forward toward YOU CAN HELP PURE FOOD CRUSADE By HOLLAND. EVERY ONE appreciates the hnportance of pure food. All appreciate the danger in adulteration, the risk in substitution. You can aid the pure food movemerit and at the same time aid yourself. flow? Merely by buying articles that are of Is.nocvn purity and merit How can you know these ar- ticles? By watching the ad- vertising columns, in this pa, per and in other papers,/ Man- ufacturers who advertise have confidence in their goods and are willing to have themselves and their prod- ucts known. Makers of sub- stitutes and "just -as -goods" unally hide behind anonym- ity or use a meaningless firm name or brand. PROTECT YOURSELF BY PROTECTING THE ruurao There can lee no better ginerantee Of the purity and merit of an article than the fact that it ix widely Aver - dm& lier almoNt7 brushing Kent.) "But 1 say," cried Kent in apparent- ly uncontrollable agitation; "did your stars tell you Viet she bad Jost some Jewelry? Tell me. Is that IloW you knew?" In his eagerness he caught at the astrologer's arm, the right one, and hie Jong fingers, gathering in the ample folds of the gown, pressed riervously upon the wrist Preston Jex winced away. Jell tlie excited velridltY Passed from Kent's speech at once. "no jewels which this lady has lost," he said very quietly, "are a set of unique rose topazes. I thought—in fact, I felt that you conld, with or without the aid of your stars, help her to recover them." Blackness, instant and impenetrable, was the answer to this. Kent raised bis voice the merest trifle. "Unless you wish to be arrested- I advise you not to leave this place. Not by either exit." "Arrested on what charge?" came half abokingly out of the darkness. "Theft" "I didn't take them." "Murder, then." "My God!" So abject was the terror and misery in the cry that Kent felt sorry for the wretch. Then, with a certain dogged bitterness, "I don't care what you know; I didn't kill her," "That is very likely true," replied Kent soothingly. "But it is what I must know in detail. Find your foot lever and turn on the light." The two visitors could hear the as- trologer grope heavily. As the light flashed on they saw, with a shock, that he was on all fours. It was as If Kent's word bad felled him. Instant- ly he was up, however, and said: "What am 1 up against? How did you find me?" Thrusting his hand in his pocket the scientist brought out a little patch of black cloth, with a single star skit - fully embroidered on it. "Wild blackberry has long thorns and sharp," he said. "You. left this tatter on Hawkill At the name the man's chin muscle throbbed with Ills effort to hold his teeth steady against chattering. "What do you want?" "A fair exchange. My name is Ches. ter Kent." The starmaster's chin worked con- vulsively. "The Kent that broke up the Co-ordinated Spiritism Circle?" "'Yee "It's all bargaining with the devil," observed Preston Jax grimly. "What's the 'exchange?" "I do not believe that you are guilty of murder. Tell me the whole story plainly and straight, and I'll clear you in so far as I can believe You Inno- cent" For the first time the seer's chin was at peace. "The topazes are cached under a rock near the cliff. I couldn't direct you, but 1 could show you." "In time you shall. Cele moment As you realize, you are under presump- tion of murder., Do you know the iden- tity or the victitn?" "Of Astraea? That's all I know about her. I don't even know her last name." "Wily Astraea?" 'That's the way she signed herself. She seemed to think.1 knew all about her without being told." "And you played up to that belief?" "Well, of course, I did." "Yes, you naturally would. But if you had no name to write to how mild you answer the letters?" "Through personal advertisements. She had made out a code. She was a I can tell smart one in some ways, you." "Hoye you any of the letters here?" "Only the last one." "Bring it to me." Obediently as an intimidated child, the astrologer left the room, presently returning with a plain sheet of paper with handwriting- on one side. With drooping head and chin a -twitch the master of stars stood studying Mrs. Blair and Kent while they read the letter together. It was in two handwritings, the date, address and body of the letter being in a clear running character, while the signature, "Astraea," was in very fine, minute, detached lettering. The note read: All is now ready, You are but to carry out our arrangements implicitly. The place is known to you. There can be no difficulty in your finding it. At two hours after sundown of July the Sth wo shall be there. Our ship will be in waiting. All will be as before. Fail me not. Your re- ward shall be greater than you dream. ASTRAEA. Kent folded and pocketed the letter. "Ilnd you ever been to this place be- fore?" Kent asked of Jax. "Then bow did yon expect to find "She sent me a map. I lost it—that night." "What about the ship?" "I wish you'd tell nee. There wasn't any ship that 1 could see "And the reference to all being as it was before?" "You've got me again there, In most every letter there was some- thing about things I didn't under- stand. She seemed to think we used to know cads other. Maybe we did, Hundreds of 'ern come to rue. I can't remember 'era all. Sometimes she called me Hermeen. My name ain't Hermann. Right up to the time I saw her on the heights 1 was afraid she was takieg Me for somebody else and that the whet() game would be queer. ed as soon as We came face to face." "What did she say when she saw you?" "Virby, She scorned just as tickled to set eyes en UM as if I were her Her- mann Mee Over." "Exactly," replied Itont, with oaths. Patin. "Well, how do you :mount for Immonmennommosnam. 712,ePropt____leraryorPa.___teralledieineAd. AVegetablerreparalio»fonise sirnitatin:lhl:FolsdatuiReeular.• jinglheStomachsandaowelsof ; gli 1••••••••••.• Promotes DtgestionElicerful.:: ness ataest,Contaittstteiau. Opimu.Morphitte rtornaeral., NOT NARC °TIC, .RettPoofOlilDallaELPITOICR ilotyklt &of- ilvseana Path& Safts- Anise &al • tag; $ rx Rim Tad elitrilletattger • Tantetkreert Flaw, Aperfeet Remedy forConstipa- lion, SourStomach,Diarreeee, Worms,Convulsions,Feverish- ness and LOSS OFSLEER TacSimile ignattireof Tee CENTAUR CO1VARY. 1401,1TM/8:NEW YORK Mothers Know That Gemiine Castoria Always Bears the Signature of 111 Use For Over Thirty Tears Exact Copy cf Wrapper. IA THC CKNTAOR COMPANY. tocw YORK CITY: WeleesPeeeeeelea'•:?;e:VaeriligSfiiiieene)e.zeo,e vlee'i•Fe !.teeeiee.,:./sel.Yeetele•tieseiecen- Pliissing over the query, the other proceeded: "Now, as 1 understand it, you put yourself he my hands unre- servq1y." "What else can I do?" cried Preston Jax. "Nothing that would be so wise. So do not try. I shall want you to come to Martiudale Center on call. Pack up and be ready. Come, Mrs. Blair. Remember, Jax, fair play, and we shall pull you through yet." In the taxi Marjorie Blair turned to Kent. "You are a very wonderful person," she said—Kent shook his head—"and, I tbink, a very kind one." "You are a very wonderful person," she said. Kent shook his head again. "lie kind to me and leave nee to go home alone." Kent stopped the cab, stepped out, and raised his hat. She leaned towerd him. "Jitst a moment," she said. "Per- haps I ought not to ask, but it is too strong for me. Will you tell me who the woman was?" gent fell back a step, his eyes wid- ening. "You don't see it yet?" he asked. "Not a glimmer Of light—unless she wes some — some unacknowledged member of the family." "Ni; not that." "And you can't tell me who she • was?" "Yes. but not just now. Try to be patient for a little, Mrs. Blair." --1'ery well. Yonr judgment Is best dout•tless. Of course you know whose lined wrote the body of that letter?" "1 es; try not to think of it," advised New. "It isn't nearly so ugly as it seems." She looked at him with her Straight, fvii loss, wistful gin nee. -Tilot it should have been roy newt who gave the thing most pre• clues lo me to another. woman! But why •110 he write the letter to r'reston lax foe her to sign?' chester Kent toe head. CHAPT: The As1r. IDNIGI! • hotel r' 111111 11, P(1,/1!0 111PASMY 'Malt lIrst, in the rw 44470101, 10C.t f ale. teret in his ick brought announe. m say was, Isrief note; formidable looking document. The note began "Esteemed sir," concluded "Youra re- morsefully" and set forth in somewhat exotic language that the writer, fear- ing a lapse of courage that might con- fuse his narrative when he should come to give it, had "taken pen in hand" to commit it to writing and would the recipient "kindly pardon haste?" Therewith twenty-one typed pages. "Quite enough," said Chester Kent. Ind dived into the turbid flood of ivords. And behold'. As be turned, so io speak, the corner of the narrative, ;he current became suddenly clear. The reader ran through it with in- weasing absorptian. Preston Jax, whose real name was John Preston, end, after a rebellious boyhood, run. rway to sea, lived two years before ;he mast, picked up a smattering of sducation, been assistant and capper !or a magnetic healer and had finally formulated a system of astrological prophecy that WW1 him a slow but in - Teasing renown. "This Astraea affair looked good. !rem the first." So began Preston lax's confession, as beheaded aud ;tripped down by its editor. "It looked ike one of the best. Yon could smell money in it with half a nese. Her first :otter came in on a Monday, I recollect. frene, my assisteM, had put the red pencil on it when she sorted out the mail to show it was something special. But don't get her into this, Professor Kent. If you do it's all off, jewels and ill. Irene has atlWayS been for the graight star business and foreeast ;rime and no extras or side lines. Be- tides, we "WCEO married last week, "She quoted poetry, swell emery. Pirst off she signed hersi.ilf An Adept.' I gave her the Personal No. 3 and fol- lowed it up with the Special Friendly No. 5. Irene never liked that No. 5. She says It's spoony. Just the It fetches them- hut not this one She began to get personal and warm heart- ed. all right, and answered up witk the kindred goal racket But COMO ti, E3ON/1111? MO a move! Said she zonhin't Time were reasons. It leok- ,efle ti k h id nra ene—el It ter . beaded . TO BE CO is.71NUED1 rli."01144=1 1 The Army of Constipation Is Growing Smaller Every Day. CARTER'S LITTLE LIVER PILLS ere toponsibie—they not only give relief— theypninanently cure Constipa- tion. Mil - Boni use them for ness, Indigestion, Sick Headache, Sallow Skim Small Pill, Small Dose, Small Prime, Genuine must bear Signature •t/....0Z/-ze