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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1913-10-30, Page 7wwv The Siege of the Seven Suitors By imit_MEREDITH NICHOLSON ,Copyright, 1910, be Meredith Nicholson "Certainly, Arnold; you shall do as ;you like. Mr. Pepperton is a difficult .bird to catch, so we hope for you at ,luncheon, and of course we expect you $or dinner." Pepperton looked at me inquiringly. 1 Judged that he had known Miss Oc- tnvia n good many years—tbe tone of their intercourse was intimate, and yet he plainly was at a loss to understand just lion- 1 came to be so thoroughly es. tt:blisbed In her good graces. I confess -that as 1 glance back over these pages At looks odd to me! As 1 paced the hall waiting for a ;horse to be saddled, Pepperton led me ,out on the terrace above the garden. "I'm bursting with a great secret, old :man. Put going to be married." "What!" "I'm going to be married." I grasped a choir to -support myself, 'This was almost too much. Could it be possible that Hezekiah had miscal- culated the list of rejections in the sil- ver bound book, or that Cecilia herself died been deceived? Pepperton misread my agitation and with a bearty laugh <clapped me on the shoulder. "Oh, I'm not intruding on your pre - :serves, old man! Cecilia is the second finest girl In the world --that's all.. I'm ,.engaged to hiss Gaylord of Stock- bridge. I'm telling a few old friends, in advance of the formal announcement. to be made next week at a dance the 3aaylords are giving." 1 crushed his hand in both my own :rind, seeing that he misconstrued the ifervor of my emotion, 1 hastened to set • ,ntyselt aright. "You're a lucky deg as usual, Pep. But you don't understand about Cecilia Tlollister, It's not I—I'in not in the run- ,ating at all, but Hartley Wiggins is! I'm here trying to help ltiui score." "What's this? You're here to repre- sent Wiggy?" "Bell, be didn't exactly send me here, but when 1 came I found that 'Wiggy wasn't playing the game with quite the necessary zipology. There's more required than nppears—a little of the dash and soap of the old adventur- ers—the ready tongue, the eager, thirsty sword!"— Pepperton pursed his lips and looked me over carefully with a twinkle in his eye. "You are contributing those elements! You are Octavlalzed—is that it?" Pep• •perton laughed until the tears came. "I prefer Hollisterized as the broader term. Brother Bassford has it, too, and there's always Hezekiab!" "Ah, Hezekiah the unpredictable! 1 ,knew there was a skirt fluttering some- •wllere. I saw her yesterday—stopped .to see Bassford, who's a good old chap. Blezekiah of the teasing eyes was whitewashing the chicken coop, and 1llichelangelo couldn't have done it bet- ter." "Pep," I said, lowering my voice, "if you love me keep close to Cecilia all day. You're an engaged man and in practice. Give an imitation of, devo- tion. Keep her out of doors -keep ' male human beings away from her. Don't fail me in this. I've got to pull off the greatest coup of my life today. There's a band of outlaws hanging round here who will propose to Cecilia' the first chance they get, and they must NOT. Wig's got to speak before' night or lose out forever. No—riot a 'word of explanation. You've got to take my word for it." "I'll be the goat. Go ahead, but build a fire under Wiggins. I can't stay here forever." Pepperton's engagement smoothed out one wrinkle, and I felt sure that I $ETESIA$ could Hest hium as an ally. The groom was huldiug uiy horse in the put'te- coehei'e, niU 1 mounted and rode away to the Prescott Arms. I foetid Ormsby. Shallenberger, Ar- buthnot, Henderson, flume and Gorse glumly sitting lu a semicircle before the hall fireplace. Deepest gloom per- vaded the inn. L have rarely seen mel- ancholy so darkly stamped upon the human couutenance. They turned in- differently and glared as they recog- nized me. Shalldnberger alone rose and greeted me, "I hope there is uo bad news," he said chukingly. "Bad news?' "I mean Miss Hollister—Miss Cecilia. We were ail deeply grieved last night to bear of her sudden Illness. There's always something so terrible in the very name of diphtheria." My wits had been so sharpened by my late adventures that I readily ac- counted for these false tidings. Dick was absent. Dick abbe would have been equal to this diabolical plot for keeping his rival suitors away from Hopefield. The despair in those faces taxed my gravity severely. "It is extremely sad, but the first diagnosis was erroneous," 1 answered. "I think it more likely to prove to be chicken pox wben the truth is known." "Not diphtheria?" "No immediate danger of diphtheria, I assure you," I replied, "though of course with winter coming on artd ail that, one must be prepared for the worst." While he repented this to the others I sought the clerk, who promptly hand- ed me a note which Wiggins had left late the previous afternoon, to be de- livered in case I called. He had gone to spend a day or two with Orton, the playwright, who was at his country house, in the hills beyond Mount Kis- co, rehearsing a new piece, in which a friend of Hartley's was to star. I gain- ed the telephone booth in one jump, and in five minutes I was bawling wildly into Ortort's ear. I had known hien well in the Hare and Tortoise, and l he answered my demand for Wiggins with the heart breaking news that Ilartley had ridden off with some oth- 1 er guests in the house, Orton didn't know where. "I threw them out. I've got to re- write my third act. I don't care wheth- erI they ever come back." boomed Or - ton's voice. "If you don't send Wiggins back to me at Hopefield as fast as he can get there, my third act is ruined." "What?" "Tell Wiggins to come hack on the run, Tell him the world's coming to an end any minute." "I'll be glad to get rid of him," snap- ped Orton, in the harried tone of a man whose third act bas wilted in re- hearsal _ w CHAPTER XXIV, Hezekiah Partitions the Kingdom. Had Leaking Valves Of The Heart. Thought Nothing But Death Would End Her :Misery. iiriNlMilburn's Heart and Nerve Pills Cured Her. MRs. j, D. TAI,nt;r, 1776 3rd Ave., East, Owen Sound, writes:—"I have been a great sufferer from heart disease and leaking valves. I have had re- source to every kind of treatment I could think might help me, including the skill of several doctors. I suffered so for years that at times I have felt that noth- ing but death could erica ray misery. I was advised by a friend, who had suffered untold pain and misery, ju-t as I had, and had been cured by Dltr tit RN's lit3ART AND NIERVI1 I'tr.LS, to give them a. trial, so I decided to do s•). I am de- „ lighted with the result, as I atn now com- pletely cured, and can eat are: sleep as I have not done for year,. You are at liberty to use my ;:tante at any time as I ain convinced they are tate best pills .on the market for any form of heart disease." Price 36 cents pet I.ox or 3 boxes for $1.25 at all dealers, or will be mailed direct on receipt of price by The T. Milburn Co., Limited, Toronto, Out. S 1 came perspiring out of the telephone booth 1 found tbe suitors engaged in subdued de- bate by the hearth. They could hardly have beard my bleatings over the telephone, but they were greatly concerned about something. Shallen- berger, who was apparently the Only one willing to approach me, followed me to the veranda. "Those fellows iu there don't under- stand this. Dick told us last might, aft- er we had called at the house and been refused admittance, that Miss Cecilia was ill with diphtheria. 1 remember that it was Dick who rang the bell and gave our cards to the footman. It was quite singular, you know, our being turned away, unless something had been wrong." 1 bowed gravely. They had been turned away for the very simple rea- son that after unearthing Adoniram Caldtvell's effects in the secret rooms of her house Miss Octavia had not cared to be troubled with suitors. The haughty Nebraskan had drawn upon his imagination for the rest. "And I Understood you to say a mo- ntent ago that Miss Iiolilster's malady Is not diphtheria, but chickenpox?" Shallenberger persisted with almost laughable trepidation. "These gentle- men, 1 regret to say, go so far as to doubt your word." "That, Mr. Sballenberger, is their privilege. But it seems to me that when I merely tried to mitigate the ter- rible news imparted by Diek you are rank ingrates for questiotdug my far less doplt_t01 story. Anything between THE W1NG11ANI 1 l.M ; , OCT01114l; 30.111 you gentlemen and Mr. Dlek is, of course, none of my affair, for whether considered as a set, group or bunch I am done with the whole lot of you. Farewell:" I decided as I rode away that noth- ing was to be gained by going In search of Wiggins, Orton had purpose- ly made his house ditleult of access, and the roads in that neighborhood are many and devious. Orton hud"banished his guests that he might tinker with his play in peace and, knowing his temper, I was sure that Wiggins and the rest of them would keep out of his way till the pangs of hunger drove them back. I had ridden halt o mile toward Iiopefieid when 1 espied a woman rid- ing rapidly toward me, and as she drew nedirer 1 identified her as frieze - Web, mounted on a horse I recognized as one of the best in Miss Octavia's stables. Hezekiah rode astride, as a woman should, her bicycle skirt serv- ing well as a habit. She rode as a boy rides who loves freedom and quickened pulses and the nee) of wind across his face. She was hatless, for which the sun and 1 were both grateful. The big bow at the back of her head turned the dial back to sixteen. She drew rein and fished what seem- ed to be salted almonds from her sweater pocket. She filliped one of these into the nir and caught it in her mouth with u lazy toss of the head that showed the firm contour of her lovely throat. I had never seen tier more self possessed. "Do you care ranch for this horse?" she asked carelessly. "It's a good horse. I fancy Miss Oc- tavio thinks so herself. There are places, Hezekiah, where they hang people for horse stealing." "Thought 1 might need one today, so I borrowed him through the back way to the old red barn. The coachman is an ancient chum, and Aunt Octavia would never mind even if she knew, And she will know, all right! Any- how, my rear tire had been patched' once too often, and there is a satisfac- tion in a horse.' Where's our sensitive and impressionable Wiggy? Saw him riding over toward Kisco yesterday p. m. with chin on his chest --dreadful riding form." "Wiggins is at Orton's—the play- wright's, you know. I've telephoned him to bustle back, but he's out or our reach somewhere. 1 couldn't speak to him direct; had to leave a message for him." "Just like Wiggy to die on the last lap. What did you make out of Broth- , et* Pepperton?" "Your note scared me—blanks so much for your note—but he's 'all right. Engaged to another girl." "Ah," she sighed, "it's comforting that Cecilia couldn't keep them all going alt the time." We rode along together, our horses in a walk, and I told her everything I knew of the condition of affairs, in- k cluding a true account of my ex- periences at the inn the day before and of the finding of the old chest be- longing to Wiggins' great-grandfather --her brown eyes opened wide at this —concluding with the diphtheria strata- gem and Dick's menace to Cecilia's , happiness. 'He's really a bright Tittle boy. Com- ing home on the steamer he grave me a post graduate course In pragmatism that I've found helpful in keeping house for papa. It's too bad we have to lay a trap for Mr. Dick." "Is it? Just bow are we to manage that, Hezekiah?" "Oh, that will be easy enough. He's pretty desperate, and since the com- pact between the suitors bas gone to pieces lie knows he will have to show' Ids hand pretty soon. He thinks yon are wild about Cecilia. He lays great stress on his thinking powers, and he probably argues that you are hound to pop pretty soon. It's just as well be ,thinks so, but we must tlnish this up today. I91 he a nervous wreck if we don't close the books tonight. There's your friend Dick now." She indicated a high point in the main road, where it crossed the ridge from which she had shown me—it seemed, oh, very long ago!—the pro- t•ession of suitors crossing the stile. Uirk, mounted. was gazing elf across the fields toward Hopefield. Man and horse were so distant as to create the Illusion of an equestrian statue on a high pedestal. "Napoleon before Waterloo," I sug- gested. "He does look like Napoleon, doesn't he?" she laughed. "He's a bit fussed today. He knows that Wiggy's not at�<pptr p1��dr. the inn and that you are up to some- ' WATER ti dsc. CAUSE, thing, and to little Dir. Dick the archl- tect probably looks like one of those mysterious knights you read rabout, ' ;Sias. EDWARD KINGSTON, Mirror, who suddenly appears at the tourna- ; alta., writes:—" Coming to the North- ment all canned in an Ice cream freez- er, wlth a tin pail over his head. Mr. i west from B,C , in the summer of 1910, repperton's presence no doubt worries we, were face to face with the serious pro. him, as I don't think they ever met.: neem of be lig able to secure good driult- CecinIa and Mr. Pepperton are riding. ' ulg water; this we could not get, s; ere I dodged them just before I struck obliged to drink water containing a greatw you, walking their horses In the most :seal of alkali, with the result that we Overnice fashion in a lane over yon- were all troubled with Diarrhma. bor- der, but if Mr. Pepperton Is really en- l ut tat:ly, we hada bottle of DR. bow - the other girl I think I'd be anxious. gaged it's all right, though if 1 were LOXor W1415W1415 'STRAWDURRY "Pep's playing the game, that's all.m the house which seen relieved our 'What are you going to do now4" w sadarings, I have always kept a bottle ` She glanced at the sun. I fancied 10 the house since obtaining such bene. that it was with such a scanning of ucial results from its use when my boy the heavens that her sisters a thousand as a baby was similarly troubled. 'It Years before had noted tbe time, i has always proved a friend in need.' " "This is my pie day. There's un- , doubtedly a gooseberry pie waiting for There are many imitations of "Da. Me at the bungalow. And papa will Powf,t:R's". When you ask for the well - expect me for luncheon. I'd ask you to known article, insist on being given it. Come too, only you'll have all you can It has been on tate market for over sixty - do to keep Mr. Dick from persuading ave years, and has always given the somebody to be the sixth man, so hegreatest of satisfaction. It cures when can slip in as number seven. If we get all others fail, through today all right, you may comp for luncheon tomorrow, maybe. Papa ' See that the name of The T, Milburn told me he liked you. He said you Co., Limited, appears on tire yellow ;were very decent that ,night you met %stepper, hinl." i Price, 35 cents. 11 ACQUAINTANCE You Naturally Trust Per- son or Thing Known :c • By HOL,LAND. W[fl N about to engage in a business venture you prefer to deal with some one you know. You have more confidence in the advice of an acquaintance Oran in that of- fered by a stranger. Confi- dence is based on acquaint- ance. In buying goods you prefer to buy those that have proved their merit. Yon want those of a known standard—those that have stood the test of use. These are the goods that are advertised. Look at our advertising columns and see if this is not true. Did you ever know an article of inferior merit to be widely advertised? it is a fact that the MOST WIDELY ADVERTISED GOODS ARE THE BEST. Just as you find it safest to do business with a man you know, you will find it safest to buy goods that you know— goods with which you have become acquainted through advertising. 1 ",fly compliments to your father. I hope to be able to persuade him to ex- tend his paternal arm to include me. Aunt Octavia must be my aunt too!" "Really!" cried Hezekiah, with inde- scribable mockery, and she wheeled her horse and we's gone tike the wind. Luncheon at Hopefield passed with- out incident, and afterward Cecilia re- tired to help her aunt with her corre- spondence, while Pepperton and I lounged about the house and smoked. I told him of my ineffectual efforts to reach Wiggins, and he volunteered to find a motor and search for him, but I pointed out the futility of this and re- newed my appeal that he stay on guard at Hopefield. At about 3 o'clock Cecilia reappeared. Her color was high and her eyes were unusually brilliant. I knew that she fully realized that the crisis was near, but she asked no questions, and her manner reassured me of her confidence. We idled on the stone terrace above the frost smitten garden. We were hardly seated before Dick entered the garden, followed imme- diately by the six other suitors I had last seen at the inn. They ranged themselves on a stone bench facing the house at the end of one of the paths. They wore sack coats and hats in a variety of styles, so that they did not present quite the bizarre effect pro- duced by their frock coats and silk tiles. They surveyed the house sadly, bowed their heads upon their sticks and seemed to have come to stay. The siege bad become a practical matter. "Why don't the gentlemen come in?" asked Cecilia, peering through the vines. "Hush! ,There's a rumor that you are terribly ill. They've come merely to pay their tribute of respect by wait- ing in the garden. You had better go quietly into the house. The shock of seeing you in your usual health might be too much for them." "Slut. Luta_ Lmust be.accessible at_ Face' ETN A Serious 26-6bieka tammummumummmissiammilimmummi Children Cry for Fletcher's t 'r3aars.a.�, "Napoleon before Waterloo," I auq- gested. all tunes,^ sne edea, looking helplessly from me to l'epperton, who was all at sea for an explanation. "If that Impres- sion is abroad I shall appear at once." "'Then you and l'epperton must pa- trol the terrace here. You are lovers for all I know Ignore them utterly in yam- absorption with one another, If any one apprbaches you, Pepperton. ,,sk Miss Hollister to marry you." 'Me"' gasped l'epperton. "?:u It , 1414 t the done that way.". w•ria Interposed. "Mr Pepperton has •••n me or tits engagement I can't he ,•t\ to ,, trend - n trick. I can't coup- , ....,. „ •,t ctlt it would ruin every - lee -me right here Pace back i b ,14,1 I'll inarutge the rest. l don't for tae lire or me know how, but 1'1I do it • As Cecilia and Pepperton stepped from behind the screen of vines the men on the benches lifted their heads; then 1 heard murmurs of amazement and chagrin and caught a fleeting glimpse of Dick tearing through the hedge with his late companions tum- bling after in fierce pursuit. I ran (to the stable and found a horse, feeling that I must be in a posi- tion to move rapidly If I saw Wiggins approaching. If Dick eluded his wrathful pursuers he would be on the lookout somewhere, awaiting his own time, and if be saw Wiggins rushing madly for the house he might yet cir- cumvent us. I satisfied myself that Cecilia and Pepperton ware still plainly visible from the garden, and I knew that for the time she was safe. I gained the high point in the road from which I-lezeltiab and I had observed Dick on guard at noon and waited, Remember- ing the fine figure the philosopher bad made against the sky, I dismounted and rested by a stone wall where I could watch with less risk of being seen from a distance. i at once saw matters that interested me immensely. Dick had thrown off the other suitors and was rapidly crossing the fields toward Hopefield, When I caught sight of him he was just leaving the orchard where Heze- kiah and I had held our memorable interview. A long stretch of rough pasture lay before him, and he settled down to a quick trot. He took severni fences without lessening his gait. crossed the stile like a flash a little later and was out of sight. As I turned to my horse I heard the.. swift patter of hoofs and saw a man and woman galloping furiously toward me. They were rapidly nearing the ridge, and their horses were springing over the firm white road in prodigious Ieaps. Wiggins had got my message. Hezekiab had met him in the road and was urging him on. As they came nearer I saw that Wiggins had taken fire at last. "Orton said some one was killed— who—what—who"— "I just picked him up five minutes ago. He doesn't know anything," said Iiezeltiah, "and you °aren't tell hint. Remember the rules. What's doing?" she inquired coolly. CHAPTER XXV. The Seventh Man. EZEIiIAiI bade Wiggins ex- change horses With her, and while he was readjusting the saddle girths I explained to flezeltiall the situation at Hopefield and told her of Dick's scamper aeross the fields. "Thes'e's ne use fooling with this thing any more. I'll take Wiggy to the house and loch hlm up until I've been numbered six. It's safest." "Not mueh it isn't. I don't intend that Cecilia shall have the pleasure of refusing you." "I'd like to know wby not, It's Only to 1111 the gap" "Oh,'; said Hezekiah, "that would be an embarrassment to me all the rest of my life. Listen carefully, Take Wiggy in by the back way and give hire a picture boolt to look at. Leave Cecilia alone on the terrace whet you're all ready rind see' what happens, I1 Dick's 011 his way to the house he's going to do something, and he mut feel the edgy of_nyy displeasure.- I owe him a Children. Cry l dR f:IETCHtR'S The Rind You Have Always Bought, and which has been in use for over 30 years, has borne the signature of and has been made under his per— sonal supervision singe its infancy. Allow no one to deceive you in this. All Counterfeits, Imitations and "Just -as -good" are but Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of Infants and Children—Experience against Jxperiluue>uto What is CASTORIA Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is pleasant. It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms and allays Feverishness. For more than thirty years it has been in constant use for the relief of Constipation, Flatulency, Wind Colic, all Teething Troubles and Diarrhoea. It regulates the Stomach and Bowels, assimilates the Food, giving healthy and natural sleep. The Children's Panacea—The Mother's Friend. GENURNE CASTO R IA ALWAYS Bears the Signature o The Kind You ilave Always Bouglit In Use For Over 30 Years THE CENTAUR COMPANY, TT MURRAY STREET, NEW YORK CITY. • few on general principles." "What does all this mean? You say there's nothing wrong at the house?" began Wiggins as we left Hezekiah and started toward Hopefield. "Nothing whatever the matter. Ev- erything perfectly all right, but you've got to keep mum now and do what I tell you. I've worked hard for you, old ratan. and when it's all over I'm going to send you a bill for professional serv- ices. Come." 1 urged my horse to his utmost, and Wiggins rode steadily beside me. The fright Orton had given him had done my Mead good, and 1 felt that 1 was dealing with a live man at last. "I'1l tell you all about this after we have a good night cigar tonight." We rode direct to the stable, and I took Wiggins to my room by the back stairs and bade hint help himself to my raiment. He was perfectly tractable, and 1 was gind to see that he trusted implicitly to my guidance. I met Miss Octavia in the lower hall. She was just in from the kennels. "I hope, Arnold, that you have not been without entertainment. By the way, if you should by any chance see Hezekiah ,you will kindly intimate to her that if she returns that mare she borrowed this morning in reasonably good condition I will overlook her in- discretion in taking it from the stable without permission." She did not wait for a reply, but continued on to her room, and I went direct to the terrace. Cecilia and Pep- perton were just going into the house to look up a boolt or piece of music which they had been discussing. Ce- cilia was making herself interesting, as she so well knew bow to do, and she seemed in no wise anxious. "We bad forgotten tea," she said. "Aunt Octavia has just ordered it." - "She and Dir, Pepperton may have their tea, 1 believe the air outside will do you good for a little longer—so if you don't mind, Pepperton, Miss Hol- lister will resume her promenade alone." Pep has told me since that he thought me quite mad that afternoon. I bade Cecilia patrol the long terrace slowly. She turned up the collar of the covert coat and obeyed. laughing a little nervously, but asking no ques- tions. The scene could not have been more charmingly set. The great house loomed darkly behind her; beneath lay the garden, over which the dusk was sten ling goldenly. She paused suddenly as I watched from the window, and I stepped out 'co see what had attraeted her attention. There into the garden from its farthest entrance filed the six suitors who had previously come to sit beneath the windows of their stricken lady. Hav- ing failed to visit their wrath upon the perfidious Dick they had changed their clothes and returned to Hope - field. If Hezekiah bad not expressly commanded me not to becotne the sixth man, I should have offered my- self on the slot and waited only un- til Cecilia had made the inevitable an- swer before summoning Wiggins to end the whole affair, Such, however, was not to be the order of events. The procession, headed by Ormsby, was within a few yards of the terrace. Cecilia, apparently unconscious of their proximity, continued har promenade. In a moment she must recognize them, ask them Into the house. give them tea and otherwise destroy my Trope of securing her happiness before the day's end. A chorus of yelps and barks, as of dogs suddenly released, greeted my ear. The oncoming suitors beard it, toe, and the line wabbled uncertainly. Then round, the house swept mastiffs. hounds, terriers—a collection of prize winners such as few kennels ever boasted--lobing, reels' in unwonted freedom torivard unknown ant. den pastures. The vanguard of fox terriers leaped down into the garden, with the rest of the pack at their heels. Happy dogs. to find grown men ready for a gam- bol! Four of the suitors found one of the proper exits into the road; two leaped the box hedge on the other side without shaking a leaf. 3 ran round the horse, stumbling through the renr guard of the truant canines and passing the kennel mas- ter, who had rallied the stable men and was in hot pursuit. "Somebody turned 'em out—turned 'em out!" he shunted and swept pro- fanely by. The gate of the kennel yard stood open. A familiar figure, running low, paused and then sprint- ed nimbly along the paddock fence. A white sweater was distinguishable for a moment on a stone wall, then it fol- lowed a pair of enchanted heels into oblivion. Time had been passing swiftly, and the shadows were deepening. I re- traced my steps toward the terrace; hearing the cries of pursued and pur- suers growing fainter, I had not yet; gained a position from which I could see Cecilia, when a man appeared some distance ahead of me. walking guardedly in one of the garden plots. He came uncertainly, pausing to glance about, yet evidently led toward the terrace by a definite purpose. A11 may be fair in love and war, but 1 confess to a feeling of pity for John' Stewart Dick as I watched him slowly; advancing to his fate. He was going boldly now, and I felt a sudden liking] for him, nor can I believe that he wad other than a manly fellow with sound brains and a good heart. I reasoned as I marked his approach, to the terrace that he had been loiter- Ing in the neighborhood, probably; watching Cecilia and Pepperton, and when the architect retired he had asf- sumed that the sixth man bad spoken., The appearance of his former com- rades of the inn had doubtless dis- turbed him as it had me; then, thankd. to the resourceful Hezekiah, they had been routed, and the coast was clear. I watched him draw nearer to Cecilia as 1 have watched deer go down to al lake to drink. He would speak now, 1 was confident of it, and I stole round to the side entrance and sent word to Wiggins to go to the drawing room and wait for.nte, [To be Concir d d i Had a Stroke of Paralysis And round a Cure in Dr. Chase's Nerve Food. It is always better to prevent seri- ous diseases of the nerves. There are many warnings, such as sleepiessness. irritability, headaches and nervous indigestion. Prostration, parables an,1 locomo- tor ataxia only dome when the nerv- ous system is greatly exhausted. liven though your aiimetit may not yet he very serious, there is a great i:,tisfae- tiiR1 in knowing that Pr, Chase's Nerve lood will cure !•ar:•clysis in its earlier stages. Mrs. R. Bright, 215 Booth avenue. Toronto, writes: "Two years aro my husband had a stroke, which left him in a weak, nervous condition. lie staff ted taking' 1)r. Chase's Nerve hood and 1{itlney-Liver fills, and we saw the good results almost immediately. They ltavmade a new elan of my husband and we cannot speak too highly of them." Pr. Chase's Nerve Food, 50. coals a box, G for .13.50, ail Beakers, or I•ld- Inannon, Dates & Co„ Limited, Te- c unto.