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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1910-01-21, Page 3rl "Turning suddenly on 'his heel, he quit- ted the room. striding up to his own ,apartment, each moment his mood grow- ing fiercer. Ile was more than puzzled at the obange in Frances Benison, wandering vaguely how it had come about, and saying to himself there was no account- ing, any way, for the caprices of a WO =a,n, and especially these rich old. 'wo- men, who were pampered by every one with whom they eame in contact be- cause of the gold they would leave be- hind them. Carlisle had no sooner entered his apartment and touched a match to the taper on the mantel than he beheld the folded paper lying beside the grate. "What in the world is this?" he mut- leredl. "I though I was too clever to leave my private papers lying around." A cold draught of air brought him to a sudden realization that he must have left the window open when he had rais- ed it and looked out to see U it was still snowing.then Be shut it down with a bang, crossed over to the table and picked up the folded paper again—the other paper, which the wind had tossed under his couch; escaping his keen eyes.. Ile opened the folded sheet carelessly enough, but as his glance fell upon it, an exclamation of intense surprise broke from his lips. "Frances Barrison's will making me ber heir!" he cried, hoarsely. "Ail com- plete save the signing of her name to the document! "Bow came it here in my room? She must have brought it here, of course; just why, I cannot for the life of me imagine—her ways of doing things are so very eccentric. It stands to reason oh must have dropped it unintention- ally. `She must have been spying through my effects to see what she could find. If she did, by the Lord Harry, she came across that bundle of letters from those jolly little burlesque actresses of New York. to say nothing of that list of gambling debts and what not. Lord! what a fool. I have been to keep such things, instead of consigning them to the flames, where they could tell no tales. "Of course, that's what's the matter with the old lady; she's' learned my true character, the shock of which fairly paralyzed her into dumbnessand now she has changed her intention about making me her heir. "We'll see about that!" he exclaimed, grinding out a savage oath from be- tween his white teeth. "There was a very demon in his sneer, That woke emotions of both hope and fear: But where his scowl of hatred drakly fell, Hope, withering, fled—and mercy sighed farewell." You can painlessly xenlova ansr cor hard, soft or bieceding, hp aPplying Putneetes Corn Extractor. It never ettens, leaves no sear, contains no acids • is harmless because composed only o g use. Luca guaranteed. Bold cy all ubgats PUTNAM'S. ,PAINLESS 26c. bottles: Refuse substitutes. CORN EXTRACTOR dead. I have rearat d hoer bethside too late!" Old Esither's grief Was pitiful to be- hold, Ea:entrio as ;Xis. Barison had with 111 herthis ul etful art, and her sadden dloved e - mise was a grief ea terrible that the old doctor feared very much that her heart would break then at>,dn mere, ox that she would lose her 'res But even while this • thought drifted through his mind, the latter calamity fell upon poen, hapless .oldL'sther, place cries died away on her lips,givinglace to wild, weird. burate ' Of laughter, far more pathetic than the deepest grief eould have been. Dr. Benson was about to turn away to summon whoever else might be in the house, when suddenly a sight met his gaze that held him fairly spellbound— rooted to the spot, Re bent breathlessely over tto gad form on the bed, greyeyes scrutinizing closely the- faint discolored streaks, the outline of long, thing fingers that encircled the' throat. "Esther," he exclaimed, abruptly, "you were just telling me that you left your mistress' couch to an:nwer my ring at the b"ll. Now, ou wer me leave behindsyuat ques- tion: "Who• -did y this bedside? Try to and what I am saying to you, and am.,ver me.,' She looked up into his face with a vacant stare, but her lips were uttering some name as though she realized dimly the import, of his questioning. Dr. Benson bent down and listened in- tently. Yes, it was some name she was muttering; as his ear became accustom- ed to the guttural sound, he made out what she was attempting to say—'"Nor- ine, little Norine." Good o1d.�Dr. Benson was shocked— ay, horrified beyond all words. He knew of but one Norine, and that one the blacksmith's granddaughter. Norine Gordon, whom every one in the village of Hadley fairly worshiped. If old En ther had struck a knife at his heart, she could not have caused hien a deeper, crueler, more inteuse pain than did that one muttered name on her lips. While he had been getting his great- coat off in the main hall below, old Es- ther had given him a. : pid account of how her mistress hastened to be in such a plight. She had ventured out of the house, probably intending to visit Hadley, and had been overcome withrthe she cold just outside the gate, would have frozen to death had she not been discovered and been brought into the house by a young girl, who had chanced to be passing. Old Esther had not mentioned who the young girl was, and. it had not oc- curred to hind to rnaltln'"'i r Walz"rite time. "`I will not—I cannot believe it was little Norine Gordon who found the poor soul, accompanied the sick woman to this roam and was ae this bedside, alone with Mrs. Benison. when she died, for if I were to think that, it would be to brand the hapless girl with the terrible stigma of a crime. "No, no, no! it cannot be; there must be some hideous mistake. 1. will seek little Norine at once and find out the truth from her own lips. Great God - she must confess to me what truth, if any, there is in this horrible story.". In answer to his loud call for assist - aura, in the corridor without, Clifford Carlisle, Miss Austin and old. Esther's husband, eame flocking quickly to Mrs. Benison's apartment. There was a most dramatic scene en- acted, which even hoodwinked the docs tor, when Carlisle and the young woman teeeld, apparently libckor onthe the(irst pillow, so the face !sari}, white and cold in death. But the glazed eyes and the mute lips told no tale as Clifford Carlisle bent over them in seeming inconsolable woe. "She cannot be dead, doctor," lie de- clared. "I cannot, I will not believe it! Do something quickly to arouse her—it is but a terrible swoon resembling death. If every drop of my heart's blood is needed to revive her, let me give it, here and now, and quickly." Dr. Benson was greatly affected by this heroic expression. of devotion and intense love. Miss- Austin, too, seemed fairly pros- trated with grief, bitter, indeed, to be- hold. "My only earthly friend is gone," she sobbed. "Oh, what shall I do? I alt east out into the world among strangers again, homeless, friendless an dpennit less! Ah, why was not a forlorn crea- ture like me taken, whom no one in the 1 f laming , glans and balms, irittY years In ]iv some impulse that he e sit t never afterward Recount for, he made up his mind to return. to the house of giooni which he had just left and have a talk With the handsorue young Inan who called himself the dead woman's nephew, CHAPTER XVI. "I'nt tired to -night and something---_ The wind, maybe, or the rain, Or the cry of the bird itt the eopse . out- side Has brought back the past and its pains, And I feel, as T sit here thinking, Tlaat the hand of a dead past June Has caught in its hold my heart's loose strings, And is drawing, them up in tune." Dr. Benson made his way back quick- ly; no one heard, no one saw himas he re-entered the house. He went directly toward the drawing -room, where he Beard the sound of voices, one of which he recognized as young Mr. Carlisle's -- the very person he was in search of. He noticed as he approaehed that the door was ajar. I•Ie was just about to tap lightly, to make his presence known, whets the sound of his own name on the young man's lips caused him to pause involuntarily. "As long as Dr. Benson did -not make the discovery of the black marks on Mrs. Barrison's person, there is no fear that any one else will," remarked Car- liele, sneeringly. "That is because he was old, and near- ly blind; it was just your luck that he did not discover them," returned his companion, whom the doctor recognized as Miss Austin, the deceased woman't late companion, adding, impatiently, "but let us get at the object of this in- terview, and come to an understanding. Here¢are the 'facts: '•1 saw you outer Mrs. Barrison's room; 1 was hidden by, the draperies of the bay window, and you did not see me; you thought yourself alone with the sick woman, and you forced her by holding your !rands clinched tightly about her neck to sten the will, which made you her heir —heir of the Garri- son millions. "You did not realize that you were clutching her neck so tightly, and that site would fall back dead as the pen dropped from her fingers." •Why do you repeat all this to nee?" exclaimed Carlisle, hoarsely. "These walls have ears." "I want to refresh your memory as to the tragic event which has just trans- pired and to show you that you are so thoroughly in my power that you dare not refuse any terms I ntay dictate, to insure my silence. You need not be afraid of any one overhearing our re- marks. Mrs. Garrison will never know, the doctor has gone, old Esther has lost Iter reason and her husband is as deaf as a post, so there is no need of ut- tering what 1 have to say below my breath." Carlisle uttered a fierce oath, 'Unheeding it, 31iss F lorice Austin went on airily; And now, regarding. my terms• to insure my eternal silence and save you from paying the penalty of 'your 'double crime. I demand that you make me your wife. You must share with me the Benison wealth and the Garrison bettors- nothing short of that will answer my purpose„ :'What if I refuse:?." cried Clifford Car - Bele, uttering a still more frightful im- preeation. "I do not for an instant imagine that you will do so; you dare not, realizing how completely you are in my power." For a few ailments they ;aged stead- ily into each other's eyes, toad Clifford Carlisle realized that he had more than his match in the young woman looking steadily back at him. "Well, Miss Austin-Florice—I sup- pose I may call you that—there is no use in our quarreling over the matter. As you say, you can snake your own terms, and I mast comply; that is all there is about it, and 1 consent, to marry you as soon as I can claim, through the will, the Barriscu wealth. "Once in possession of the property, I will turn it quickly into cash, and we will leave these western wilds and go east to New York, where we can cut considerable of a figure. Do these plans suit you." -Perfectly," replied Miss Austin. Dr. Benson was sa startled, so stun - what hee had heard that he tooditquite ded b stillhat the door, almost incapable of thought or action: then suddenly he changed his mind. He had a duty to perform, and a moat solemn one; he muet hasten to the village and acquaint the authorities with the horrible discovery he had made, that they might take action without delay in bringing (Afford Carlisle to justice. As he turned away he wondered how he could have suspected poor little Nor - A ctry of intense rage broke from his lips.x "By heaven, we shall ate about titan! Ise (tried, hoarsely. "Do you think I e,ball submit to snioh a tiring—allow the whim of a doting old woman like you to stand between me and a fortune? No, I guess not! You shall sign this paper, and in a hurry, too—'by fair means or your life will pay the penalty." As he uttered the words, he seized the plen from the little writing table close by the couch, dipped it into the ink and. forced it into her rigid hand. "Sial" he hissed, thrusting the paper before her. "Don't try to intimate that you stare lost that use of your hands. I night have believed it if you had not made such use of your claw-like hands a tnoaneot since in hurling me from you Watch the force of a veritable tigress. Sign, I sty, and quick, d—n you." As he uttered the words, his white hands (taught her throat and the fin- gers of steel gripPed tightly about it. All of Frances Garrlson's strength seemed to have expended. itself in that one frantic effort to hurl him from her, and in than emph tic nod in sign the of the heard expressing her will making him heir to the Garrison millions.. Her stiffest hvadbe fingers seemed ' glued to the pen rust into tb!em. "Sign!" bossed the horrible voiee of the fiend incarnate in her ear, she steel - like grasp tightening about the quiver- ing throat. Every nerve in the woman's body was strained to its utmost tension. She knew the villain he was --a rascal of the deepest dye—a highwayman and a murderer, and she knew, Gori help her, that her poor, frail life was nothing to this Haan if it came between ra wins design. She must sign paper g him the Barrdson fortune, or die, even to the dying life is so sweet—so sweet. Her fingers caught the pen spas- modically—a few strokes from it, and the cruel deed was done. CHAPTER XV. So Harsia and rraf Many Pills as,to Serious- ly Injure Health. In a letter written from his home in 'Valencia, ,11r. Maras Selwyn does ser- vice to thousands by drawing attention to the injuries inflicted upon delheate people by drastic purgative pills. "For a long time I suffered frour coni- stipation. Tide condition compelled the use of pills. Like many another, ls made the unwise choice of using p that were like lightning in their activity. I began to be filled with intestina dis- turbances, constant rumblings, in the bowels and;diarrhoea. I grew pale ea ' , and emaciated. Then the doctor told ritedrastic irritating pills had caused catarrh of the bowels, an almost incur- able disease. Explaining my situation to a friend, he advised a trial of Dr. alan,ilton's Pills. I speedily experi- enced the healing and curative effect they exert on the stomach, liver and bowels. The intestines, freedfrom ir- ritating drugs, rapidly regained natural tone, the bowels acted as if nature and not Dr. Hamilton's Pills were at work. I know it will be of value to thousands to know that a pill as mild and curative as Dr. Hamilton's is available to the ailing." 1"or bowel disorders, sick headache, constipation, liver and stomach de- rangement, there is uo pill so invariably sure to eu.re as Dr. Hamilton's Pilin. Refuse a substitute. Sold in 25c. boxes, all dealers, or The Catarrhozone Co.. Kingston, Ont. "One stroke of the pen and the deed has been done which makes me lei n the Garrison millions, , wild triumph, as he seized the doeu- neent. There was a slight nestle behind him. Carlisle turned about with a guilty cry of ear, bendsuddenly do1 relaxing its holdfrom the Mrs. Benison, and found himself face to face with Miss Austin. Ile attempted to speak, but his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth. Ile stepped backward, his eyes fairly bursting from their sockets. How long had she been standing, there? What had she seen and heard? As if in answer to these unspoken thoughts, she said, slowly: "I have witneeeed all that has just transpired, Mr. Clifford Carlisle. Not only the forcing of Mrs. Garrison to.sign the will, but the act which brands you a murderer." She had stepped nearer him and whis- pered the horrible word shrilly and dis- tinctly in his startled ear. "Do not attempt to deny ,a it set p up any defense," she said, ng the face that lay back, stark and ashen, against the no Whiter pillow, adding: "Now, the question is, does the heir of the Garrison wealth desire to make tertius with me to forever hold my peace, or shall 1 forward. and caught knowledge---,ther by He sprangg the arta in a firm, vise -like grasp, ex- claiming, hoarsely: "Hush! Not another t oorddlun now! foot- steps are hurriedly app must not be found at her bedside, neith- er of us. Yes, yes, I will make any terms witih you that you like." As he uttered the words, he dragged her across the !'omit and thrust her throu,gb. an open door that led out into a rear hallway, leading to the floor above, following her and closing the door hurriedly after him. But not an instant too soon, for the other door was flung heartily open and old Father ushered in the village doctor. One glance and his practiced eye told him that all earthly aid., was over for Frances Harrison. Old Father SON what had happened at that self -same instant, and a piercing cry broke from her lips. "Oh, doctor, is she dead r" she gasped, commencing to wring her hands wildly. "Tell me that she is not, for the love of heaven!" she shrieked. "Cahn yourself, my good soul," replied With the wil1 clinched retracedtightly hand, he quickly his steps to- ' ward the sick chamber on the floor be- low. "What is to be done must be done quickly," he muttered. The doctor they have•, sent for may arrive at any moment —at any moment." The sick woman lay in exactly the same position in chibuhet in had fallen yes back upon the pillow, there burned a light so flaming, so lurid, so baneful, that even Clifford Car- lisle, daring trickster though he was, quailed before it as a condemned crimi- nal quails before the glare of the stern judge in whose eyes he reads the fate that has been decided for him—a prison tell or death. Yes, that and more Clif- ford Carlisle read in the burning eyes fastened upon him. Be npproaehed the bed quickly, hold- ing up the will in his right. hand. "I. Sound this in my room," Ire whis- pe c.d. hoarsely. holding it up before her startled gaze. "Now, the or question n k4 do you intend to sign If you mean to do so, and wish me to fetch you a pen, you can signify your willing - nese by nodding; if you mean no, shake your head." Frances Garrison shook her head. to and fro with all the energy ytshe seep ode s- ed, her burning eyes, to soorolt down to has very soul, fixed upon pian strangely. "Do 1 understand that you refuse to carry out your compact, after leading o expect a1 !these years that I was good old doctor never reached the vil- lage; the excitement he had undergone proved too much for him. His old en- emy, heart disease, suddenly overtook hien, and this errand of justice was the last he ever undertook. When morning broke they found him by the roadside, cold and dead. He died. with the terrible discovery he had made locked up for evermore in his pulseless breast. The old doctor's death produced pro- found regret in Hadley, but they did not have time to devote much thought to it. There were so many thrilling events happening. First and foremost of which was the terrible story of Joe Brainard; how he bad been intrusted with a large sum of money as express messenger, and had decamped with the entire am- ount. The minions of the law had been placed quickly upon his track, but up to the present moment they had not been able to track him down. (To be continued.) tn� to be sola heir?" he erred hoarsely. Moa, :Harrison nodded a deliberate the doctor. , could foienbly, butI cannot.Your mistress is ECZEMA CORED WHIM THE BLOOD 'Yea" kms' bracimanommarer MAGIC BAKING POWDER. INSURES PURE FOOD. seacene MaDEltine lA. By the Aid of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills ---That Wonderful Tonic Medicine. Eczema ur salt rheuut is a disease of the skin which shows itself in small, red, watery blisters --these blisters break and leave a scale which may be rubbed oft by the hand.. The affected parts are in- tensely itchy and the victim cannot bear the touch of any article of clothing over the parts. The disease is caused. by bad blood and must be cured through the blood, Dr. Williams' Pink Pills have cured many cases of eczema simply because they are the one medicine that acts wholly on the blood --the seat of the trouble. Among those cured by these Pills is Mrs. Chas. Davidson, of Amherst N. S., who says: •'I suffered greatly from salt rheum or eczema, and my hands were badly cracked. I tried sev- eral ointments but they did me no good whatever. I was advised to try Dr. only used them Williams' Pink ora few Pis,andn a when had trouble disappeared and my handsfore entirehat ly healed. I am very grateful Pills have done for me, and would advise other sufferers from this trouble to try there." What Dr. Williams' Pink Pills did tot Mrs. Davidson they have done for mane others—not only in cases of eczema arc salt rheum, but for eruptions and pit pies, chronic erysipelas, scrofula and al other maladies which arise from pooh blood. They banish these troubles slue ply because they clear the blood of al Impurities and leave it rich, red anti health -giving. The Pills are sold by al medicine dealers or direct by mail at 54 cents a box or sic boxes for $2.30 fron The Dr. Williams' Medicine ('o., Brock ville, Ont, Panama Cana! In War. The strate io value of the Pattern: canal is estimated to be equivalent to fleet of large battleships. This is th conclusion of 1)r. Connell, given befor the Royal Geographical Society in Lot don. Taking the cost of i.he canal a over, that she might have been spared -world would have missed or grieved 1 ire Cordon even. to a singe instant. • "'It •tits, for the cruelty of fate, if, indeed, God wanted to take to Hun- which Is sometimes inexplicable. The self a human life life from the world." _. Esther's old husband, the good old ser- a, niter seemed too dazed to fairly cum - prebend the calamity that had fallen upon the house in the sudden death of Mrs. Harrison, his mistress. Dr. Benson left the house a little later in a very grave and troubled. mood. He had made a terrible discovery. Airs. Benison hacl not met her death from natural causes—•the discolored face and neck showed an assassin's hand and fatal work. Bast who was the guilty party2, Who was it who would be ben- efited by the death' of the old recluse? Was there any one who wanted venge- ance against her? For a moment the' old doctor paused at the cross roads. Should he go home and turn over the strange affair in his mind until 'day broke on the morrow, or should he go at once to the old black- smith's humble cottage and have an earnest talk with Norine? He decided at length upon the .former Course, He must think! Ayy, he must thiel: long and carefully tvltat ]te should sag `� 14 $ars ts Solid6 ea Cold Shell icings rWo will give you your choice of ousel those beau- tiful rings , guaranteed 14 karats solid gold shol1, plain, engraved or set with elegant slnulated Jewels, for the sale of 4 boxes only. at 260. a boa, lj�!7� of Dr. Meteria's Famous J rf aoteati rhgretesremedy for indigestion, constipa- tion, blood at rick or impure disease„ of the liver and have kidneys. ld thyose 4 When of pills send no the money $1 and the size of the ring desired yyyourc oice wiof oll no of those handsome Rings, plain en- graved or sot with precious stones. send your name end address imtnediatel1 and wo will send you, post-paid, the Pills and fancy pale which aro to give away to purchasers of the pills. We do not ask any money before the pills are sold and we take back what 7o cannot soli. ,d, rows The Wog Dept 409Maitu1"1 � ontoo Ont. Ingtoirsolovizsatameta 000,000,000, which would only build i first-class battleships nowadays, tt United States will have a good bargain and be able to cover a total coast in without any material increase in her ve sell. The canal will double the, sea efficient of our fleet fur half the auto of tnoni that would otherwise he necessary • maintain communication between the I' c.ific and Atlantic, oasts. At the ear time the merchant marine of the Unit States will some day be developed, a justify the people in maintaining a na armament that will be fully equal that of other natiena.seNattonal M. zine.