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The Brussels Post, 1912-4-4, Page 2CLOSE QUARTERS: OR. THE HOUSE IN THE RUE. BARBETTE CHAPTER XXI Dubois had evidently offered his cecchiere a lavish bribe for a quick transit through the city, and the Italian was determined to earn it. By the time they reached the Cor- so Catafini, which carries the chief artery of Palermo out into the coun- try—orossing the railway a -Id pass- ing the inagnificent convent of San Francisco de Sale—the horse was laboring heavily, notwithstanding the efforts of the cabman. It was at this point, when mount- ing the bridge, that Dubois knew for certain he was followed. Three hundreds yards •behind, he saw Talbot whipping an equally unwil- ling, but better -conditioned steed than that which carried his own fortunes. At the distance he could not recognize the Englishman, but instinct told him that this impas- sioned driver was an enemy. Brett, of course, was not visible, being far in the rear. "My friend," said Dubois, stand- ing up in the small carriage and leaning against the driver's seat, "I offered you twenty francs if you crossed the city quickly. I will make it forty for another Mile at the same pace." "It will kill my horse, signorina." "Possibly. I will buy you an- other." The cocchiere thought that this was a ladv of strange manner. There was an odd timbre in her yoke, a note of domination not often associated with the fair sex. But she had given earnest of her words by a couple of gold pieces, so he murmured a prayer to his favorite saint that the horse might not die until the right moment. Now it became evident that the leading horse could barely stagger another fifty yards notwithstanding the inhuman efforts of the cocehi- ere to make the most of the poor brute's failing .energies. At last the animal fell, nearly pulling the driver off his perch. "My horse is done for signor- ina," cried the ea,bman. "It is marvelous that he—Corpo di Bec- alm! It is a man 1" Dubois felt that, his feminine trap- pings were no longer a disguise, only a hindrance. He had torn off jacket, skirt, hat and wig. Some portion of the discarded clothing lay on the seat of the car- riage, but Dubois had thrown the skirt oyer his arm. "Here 1 Come back!" yelled the Italian. "What about payment for my dead horse?" But Dubois paid little heed to him. He was fumbling with the pocket of the skirt as he ran. Not until he had withdrawn a revolver from its folds—whereupon he at once threw away the garment—did the maddening remembrance come to him that he unloaded the wea- pon prior to the Customs examina- tion, and had forgotten to reinsert the cartridges. They were in the pocket of his serge coat, the coat which Made- moiselle wore. She, like a prudent young woman, had been careful to reload the revolver she carried, and which she transferred to her new attire when, at the last mo- ment, Dubois suggested the ex- change of clothing as a final safe- guard in the most unexpected event of police interference with their landing. For an instant he was tempted to fling the weapon away, but he controlled the impulse, "As it is," he thought, "this fel- low who is pursuing me may not be armed, and I can terrorize him if he comes to close quarters." Moreover, this superlative scoundrel could feel tightly fasten- ed round his waist a belt contain- ing diamonds worth over a million sterling. Such a ceinture was worth fighting for, whilst,his poc- ketbook contained ample funds for all immediate necessaries. On the edge Of the wood Dubois halted and turned to face his pur- suer. Instantly he recognized Tal- bot, and for the first time in his career a spasm of fear struck upon the Frenchrean'a heart. 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"So it is you who follow me So closely," he cried. "Go back my friend. This time I will nob tie you on a bed. Yon are becoming dan- gerous. Go back, I tell you And with these words he leveled the revolver at Talbot's breast, for the latter was now within fifty yards of him. But Jack was ani- mated with the mad elation of a successful chase, and governed by the fierce resolve that his betrayer should not escape him, Dubois reached a. small glade among the trees before he compre- hended that his ruthless adversary was still close at his heels. He stopped for the last time, resolved now to have done with this irrita- ting business, once and for all. Tal- bot too halted, about ten yards from him. He felt that he had the Frenchman at his mercy, and there were a few things he wished to say to him before they closed in mortal combat. "This time, Henri Dubois," he panted, "I am not drugged and strapped helplessly to a bed. You know why I am here. I have fol- lowed you to avenge the stigma you inflicted on my reputation and at the same time to recover the dia- monds which you obtained by sub- terfuge and murder." The Frenchman was quite col- lected in manner. "I murdered no one," he answer- ed. "I could not help the blunder- ing of other people. If I am re- gretfully compelled to kill you to- day, it is your own fault. I am only acting in self-defence. How shall we fight?" he calmly demand- ed. "Any way yen like, you villain. As man to rman if you are able. If not, as dog to dog, for I am going to try and kill you !" "But you are probably armed, whereas I am defenceless? My re- volver as you saw, was not load - "We are equal in that respect, if in no other," retorted Talbot. An evil smile lit up the French- man's pallid face. He pulled out his knife with a flourish and hissed —"Then die yourself, you fool!" He advanced upon Jack with a murderous look in his faoe. Talbot awaited him, and he, too, smiled. "You are a liar and a coward to the end 1" he cried. At that instant a cold, clear voice rang out among the trees, close be- hind the two men. "Halt!" it cried. Both men involuntarily paused and turned their eyes to learn whence came this strange interrup- tion. Brett quietly came a few paces nearer. He held a revolver significantly at Dubois' breast. "Drop that knife," he said with an icy determination in tone and manner that sent a cold shiver through his hearer's spine, "Drop it, or I will shoot you this instant 1" Dubois felt that the game was up, He flung down the knife and tried even then to laugh. "Of course," he sneered, "as ani cornered on all sides I give in." Brett still advanced until he reached the spot where the knife lay. He picked it up, and at the same instant lowered the revolver. Then he observed, with the easy indifference of one who remarks upon the weather— "Now, you can fight, monsieur. My young friend here is determined to thrash you, and you richly de- serve it. So 1 will not interfere. But just one word before you be- gin. Two can play at the game of bluff. This it your own pistol. It is, as yon know, unloaded." Dubois' cry of rage at the trick which had been played on him was smothered by his efforts to close with Talbot, who immediately flung - himself upon him with an impetu- osity net to be denied, The fight, while it lasted, was fast and furious. The two men rolled over and over. each other on the ground—one striving to choke the life out of his opponent, the other seeking to rend With teeth and nails, From the writhing, convulsive bodies, locked together in a dead- ly struggle, suddenly there came sharp snap. The Frenchman'e right arm was broken near the Wrist, Then Talbot proceeded to wreak his vengeance on him. TIngtiess tionably he would have strangled the man had not Brett interfered, for with his left hand he clutched Dubois' throat, whilst with the right ho endeavored to demolish his features. But the barrister, as- sisted by the Italian pilot—whose after -life was cheered by his ability to relate the details of this Hom- eric fight—pulled the young man from off his insensible foe. a Talbot regained his feet. Pant- ing with exertion, he glared down at the prostraee form, but Brett, being praelical-minded, knelt by the Frenehinan'S side, tore open his shirt, and unfastened the preci- ous belt. "At last!" he Murmured. Peering into one of the pockets, which by the way of its bulging ho thought would contain the "Im- perial diamond," he looked up at Talbot with the words— "Now, Jack, we aro even with him." It was the firstktime he had ad- dressed Talbot by his familiar and Christian name, The very sound brought baok the other man to conscious state of his surroundings, and in the same instant a great weakness name over him, for the terrible exertions of the past few minute e had utterly exhausted him. "I can not even thank you, for I am done up. But I owe it all to you, old man. If it had not been for you we should never have found him." Brett's grave face wrinkled in a kindly smile. "I think," he said, "we are even on that score. If you had not fol- lowed this reseal he might have es- caped at the finish, and my pride would never have recovered from the shock. However, go and sit down for a minute or two and you will soon pull yourself. together. The Frenchman regained consci- ousness. "Be good enough to remain quite still, M. Dubois," said Brett sooth- ingly. "You have reached the end of your rope, and we do not even need to tie you." With the aid of some lia,ndker- chief's and a couple of saplings cut by the Italian ho managed roughly to bind the fractured limb. Then he assisted Dubois to his feet. "Come," he said, "we are re- gretfully compelled to bring you back to town, but we will endeavor to make the journey as comfortable as possible for you. In any event, the horses will not travel so fast." In the roadway they found the carriages where they had left therm whilst three wondering coechieri were exchanging opinions as to the mad behaviour of the foreigners. Brett and the Frenchman enter- ed one vehicle, Talbot, and the pi- lot the other. "But, geatlemen," moaned the disconsolate cabman who had headed the procession from Paler- mo "sad who will pay me for my dead horse?" "I know not," replied Brett. "In any event you had better occupy the vacant seat and drive thosetwo gentleman to the city, where you can secure the means of bringing back your carriage." In this guise the party returned to Palermo, evoking much wonder- ment all the way through the Corso Vittorio Eminzinuele, whence no fewer than six outraged policemen followed them to the Hotel de France to obtaen their names and addresses. CHAPTER XXII. Palermo was in a perfect ferment. Not since the last revolution had people seen such a pitched battle 66 14\95 As an authority says—" Truth well expressed makes the best advertisement"—then here's one of the best advertisements in the paper. CEYLON TEA 011 Is the best flavored and most economical Tea in the World. Beware of high profit bearing substitutes. Sealed Lead Packets only. Take A Scoopful Of Each— Side By Side Take "St. Lawrence" Granulated in one scoop—and any other sugar in the other. Look at "St. Low- rance" Sugar — its perfect crystals —its pure, white sparkle— its even grain. Test it point by point, and you will see that Absolutely Best sa. ,ff'"• Absolutely Stlar Pure is one of the choicest sugars ever refined—with a standard of purity that few sugars can boast. Try it in your home. Analysis Zsst'lgrii=1t71:Vfe''94qlx°° t°rudLesuri?.Azz1.szsrxoe "Most every dealer sells St. Lawrence Sugar," TOM ST. LAWRENCE SUGAR REFINING CO. LIMITED, MONTREAL. 65 in the streets, for Macpherson and his inyrmidoneehad used no gentle means to pacify Gros Jean and the Turks, whilst the crew of the Belles Soeurs would not be in a fit state to go to sea fe• trimly days. An excited mob el people sur- rounded the hotel when Brett and Talbot arrived with their wounded prisoner. Fortunately the Chief of Police came in person to ascertain the cause of all this turmoil. The first alarmist report that reached his ears made out that a species of international warfare had broken out in the harbor. He told his, subordinates to clear away the crowd, and explanations by Brett and Winter soon demon- strated the wisdom cf an official communique to the Press that the row on the pier was merely the out- come of a quarrel between some intoxicated sailors. The Chief of Police politely of- fered to place detectives at the dis- posal of the Englishman for the proper custody of their captive. Brett -thanked him, but declined the proffered assistance. "The only prisoner of interest." he explained, "received such se- vere injuries during the struggle which he brought on himself that he will be quite unable to be moved for several days. His right arm is broken, and his face has been re- duced to a pulp. There is a stout Frenchman named Beaucaire and three Turks who accompanied him, whom I recommend to your safe custody. We bring no charge against them, but it would be as well to keep them under lock and key until we have left Palermo." (To be continued.) ROOF AGAINST LIGHTNING proof against wet, wind, fire. and dalsiialyand htninge.heaply make roofS :' 6:?,' Preston Safe Lock Shingles Cost less than flimsy substitutes; foutlast the building itself; need no at S. CO. Preston, Ont, ::,,ainitiii_g,,, Itio_n_it bu_y_roofinn.3 roofingbefore you send to us for complete facts. M. S. ! is 6 6 •S ri lit I, AY‘Wt[1: "PURITY :le -CUTTER is entirely different from the ordinary food chopper. The barrel is in two closely Puting sections, clamped together by oneaabscrew, Canadian made machine. Better in quality, capacity end price works better, bettor finished, lees iis price. Five different cutting plates, "MAXWBINS PURITY" is the only food cutter made in Canada—aud in case, convenience perfect cutting and durability I. superior to any- thing imported. your dealer does not handle i` Mszwell's Purity" write us. DAVID MAXWELL & SONS, SI. Mary.. One. ueo 1 Concrete -mixing is Easily Learned no More difficult than Mixing bran with a strength that inoreattes wait time. - mash, once the simple instructions have Concrete is really' artificial rock. More , • been read. firmly bound together than natural rock • The materials—sand, crushed rock or gravel and cement—each play a separate P0Xt, The rock provides the bulk of volume at very low cost. The sand Min in all crev- ices between tho pieces of rock or • avel Thc cern° t Yne.I which often bps cracks, veins, fissures and other Weaknesses.......,„,..... • 'Any farmer can learn how to mix Concrete and to apply tt to the hundreds of news to But In order to be absolutely sure that hie water, forme "bond in ether words proportiOnd &to 6orrect and that hie materi a rooky "glue, that binds the els are PrelaerlY suited to the Ptirpese, 110 other materials firmly teirether !Mould send for the book, ”WHAT THE FARMER CAN DO WITH COIVOIRUE," and read the careen directions for Inizing Concrete for all purposes. It sdso de - !scribed in detail hundreds of ways In whiCh Concrete may be used to make the 'tam mere corafortable, more cOnvenient, more profitable and more waueelo. Joist send tie your name and addrese—in a totter or on a postal —and the book will he sent to you by return mall free, Addreee Canada Camealc..me.27, Lea, 30.ss %Memel Seek Suilcline, liteeneel. 0 qtWDWI:V02,,VfiAto,VVe. el On thc Farm WHAT CROP ROTATION IS. The rotation of crops is One of the simplest and most praetical ways to which the income of the farm may be increased without greatly adding to the cost of operation, Tho rotation of crops is the alter- nation of the three general classes of farm crops; namely, grain crops, grass crops and cultivated crops so that a crop from each of the tree classes will appear on each field at breoatsatonnce during each cycle of the tio Under grain crops, such orops as wheat, barley, fax and millet may be classed, in their relation to the soil. Millet, though grown for hay, has practically the same effect on the soil as a grain crop. These crops deplete the soil of vegetable Matter, allow weeds to grow and have a tendency to deplete the pro- ductive power of the land. Under grass crops may be includ- ed timothy, bromus and the clov- ers. Though the clovers are not true grasses they have heavy root systems and add vegetable matter to the soil. The clovers also add nitrogen to the soil, but their chief value in a rotation seems to be due to the fact that their heavy root systems fill the soil with vegetable matter, thus making it more hospi- table to plants. Under cultivated crops may be placed corn,potatoes and root crops. Owing to their cultivation during growth, these crops have a cleaning effect on the soil. They are, however, exhaustive of soil fer- tility, because the constant cultiva- tion encourages the liberation of large quantities of plant food. These crops leave the soil in good condition for succeeding grain crops. The rotation of crops keeps the soil supplied with vegetable matter from the roots of the grass crops grown and from the manure usually applied. When this vegetable mat- ter rots, Or decomposes, plant food is liberated. Vegetable matter keeps the soil open eo that air can penetrate. It likewise holds mois- ture, thus exerting desirable chemi- cal and physical influence on the sail. The rotation of crops has a marked tendency to* eradicate weeds. Grass crops are cut early, before weeds can mature seed. The cultivated crops, if properly hand- led, do not allow weeds to seesl. In this way a good system of rotation gradually rids the land of the ordin- a r y weeds. Therotation of crops aids great- ly in handling farm labor by dis- tributing labor throughout the sea- son and making it possible con- stantly to employ help, either in growing the crops or in caring for the live stock. ' DAIRY NOTES. Many farmerhavealrawn a great measure of prosperity from the teats of the dairy cow. Selected cows, feed crops that are grown on our farms, will yield fair profits to any man who likes the dairy business and will stay with it. The dairy cow brings to impov- erished, half -farmed lands methods that give larger profits and greater improvement than come from other types of farming. If the dairymen could come into direct contact with the people who eat their butter there would be less need of discussing the subject of making a better grade of butter. My advice to the dairy farmer is to be More independent, raise more corn, oats, clover; grind them to- gether and cut out the large feed bills which are knocking all the profits from the business. In growing a heifer for the dairy muscular vitality is wanted rather than fat, and this is obtained very. largely from the skins -ma portion of., its diet. It requires money to get out and buy dairy cows, but it takes brains to raise them and the man who has worked for years in building up a herdof fine, dairy cows has a right to be proud of his achievements. FOR THE SWINE BREEDER, Actual experience is the best guide for a breeder to follow as to the time that his animals will reach maturity for breeding purposes. Some assert that breeding ani - =is cannot be brought to matur- ity at eighteen months of age and have good muscle, bone and vigor! but I believe that it is possible to lifted good, strong and vigorous animals and to have them matured at that age. Tho animal will not be soft, but Will he well developed in bone and . MifitIT114111°41Y12161:ant°1111::: epligssyrnst:mst °I:eft:se:eine: three years old to have good bone and muscle is along the same Hiles to the idea, that they must ho fed half rations for months in order that they will have an opportenity to develop stamina and bo in condi* tion to finish on full rabions.—W. M. !Colley.