(Copyright. 1916, by W. G. Chapman.)
“How eerie!” shuddered Constance
Merrill.
“Worse than that!" prowled her fa
ther. “We would he doing something
else beside grubbing along as we are,
if the man who owns, or owned that
rickety (*d place played me square.”
“I have heard molher hint at some
thing of that sort.” said Constance,
“but she never went into details."
“No, it is a tabooed subject,” re
sponded her father. “Sorry it has come
up now. You ought to know as much
as we do, though, so you can Join us in
bating the Russell family."
“Oh, papa! It Is wicked to hate
anybody.”
“Not old .Titn Russell!" declared her
father volubly. “You must know that
the specious old scoundrel got Into my
confidence. I had just inherited ten
thousand dollars. He Induced me to
trust the funds with him. He said he
had twenty thousand dollars to put
with it and buy a piece of ci'ly property
at a great bargain that lie could later
turn for fifty. I trusted hint. I was daz
zled. Within a week he and Ids fam
ily, son and wife, disappeared, bag and
baggage, and have never been heard of
since. We found out later that Ids
old house here was mortgaged to the
limit, so much so, that the mortgagee
lias Just let it stand there and rot.
away, for no one would buy It."
“They say it is haunted,” suggested
Constance.
“John Russell outfit to be, if lie hns
any conscience!” retorted Mr. Merrill
bitterly. “He spoiled my life!"
Russell’s place had stood unoccupied
for five years. It was on a side road
and out of the regular course of travel.
Constance had not seen it half a dozen
times in her life. Now, having heard
its story, she was interested. She took
occasion to ask an older friend about '
it.
“There was a mystery," the latter In
formed her. “I felt sorry for Mrs. Rus
A Creepy Awesome Sensation Held
Her in Momentary Thrall.
sell. She was a lovely woman. Her
husband was a reserved sort of a man, ■
but bad an anxious hunted look about
him, not the shrewd punning look some
people tell of. 1 felt sorry for the son.
lie was just about your age and was !
doing well In college when the break
•came. I've often wondered what the
rights of the affair was—their leaviug
so suddenly.”
Romance, mystery, perhaps tragedy
—Constance dreamed over the Intri
cate situation. One day she and a
friend strolled in the direction of the
Russell place. They ventured into the
owtgirown garden and finally upon the
broken-down porch.
•‘Why, the door is off Its hinges," dis
covered Constance. “I would like to
Jn've a peep inside. Sylvia, there’s
•son ip iNjrniture and pictures on the
.trail ”
‘‘SO ther'e is,” quavered her compan
ion. “If it wasn’t so ghoulish, all the
story, I’d like to see what the Russell
folks left behind them. And I wonder
why.”
A step at a time, the ttmiu two no
vanoed. Finally, trembling quite, they .
stood within a room off (he hull. A
warped and moldy rue lay on the floor. 1
The furniture was mildewed and dusty.
Some pictures on the wall still re
mained.
“That, is Albion Russell," spolte Con
stance's companion, indicating a
framed photograph. “That is just as |
lie looked tile last time I saw him.
The picture appealed to Constance.
Tlie face was distinctly good and luiml- |
some. She experienced a sudden access
of pity for the young man, his life
spoiled by the misdoing* of his father.
It was a month later when the old
spell of witchery, attaching the mind
of Constance to the old ruined home,
led her steps irresistibly in its diree.
tlon. She ended a casual stroll at its
broken gate. Then she walked around
the house. There was something sad
and forlorn In the long-neglected gar
den, overgrown with weeds, yet here
4uid there a rose or a honey suckle
! piercing the heavy blanket of noxious
cumbrous greenery.
Constance was about to leave the
gruesome wreck of a home when she
sfarteil, halted and turned in a (lash.
A creepy awesome sensation held her
in momentary thrall. A strange thing
had happened.
Clang—clang!
A hell had sounded forth two
cracked somber notes. Whence.? Sure
ly near nt hand, for the air quivered.
H.v whose hands? No human being
was in sight.
< 'lung—clang!
She paused, about to hasten from
the spot, so strong was the spell of un
canniness. Then she discovered that
the hell must he in the belfry of the old
granary. Employed to call in tlie farm
hands in the olden days, why had it
sounded now?
She could see the slats In the belfry
vibrate, in fact the whole structure
shook visibly. The denuded doorway
of the granary below showed no dan
gling rope. Her senses curdled. Then
she bent her ear keenly, awake to a
new manifestation.
"Help!"
The word was faint and muffled. It
surely came from the belfry or its near
vicinity. It was repeated.
Then a moan, low, pitiful, despair
ing, and then all was still.
"I mustn’t lie superstitious—I will be
brave!" Constance told herself, but
bet tone quavered. Yet she approached
the granary. The bell and the voice
were no longer in evidence. Had it
been till a superstitious delusion? She
crossed to where some stairs ran up to
the second floor. She mounted them
till her eyes w7ere level with the upper
flooring.
"There is a rope,” uttered Constance.
She could see it dangling amid a heap
of wreckage piled np in the center of
the loft floor. The heap seemed to
move. A moan Issued from Hie heap.
“Oil. surely somebody is there!"
panted Constance. “It looks as though
someone climbing into the belfry lind
brought down a part of it upon him
self. He may he dying under all that
wreckage. Courage—duty! she whis
pered to herself and approached the
motley pile.
Constance lifted hoard after hoard
from Hie heap. She quivered as a hu
man arm was revealed. Gently she
pulled aside n heavy timber. She
thrilled. Beneath, apparently uncon
scious. lay a bruised form. In a flash
she recognized the face. It was that of
the young man whose portrait she had
seen In the deserted house.
Airiion luissel! opened his eyes. Tit'
stared askance at her. He managed
to sit up. She aided as he strove to
move the dehris from his lower limits.
“I fell,” he said faintly, “or rather
the lower part of the helfry broke with
me."
Constance helped him down the
stairs. He moved limpingly, hut the
color came back into his face grad
ually.
"I have to thank you all the days of
my life,” he said. “I feel still weak—If
I could get to the nearest house—”
- “Our own," decided Constance
promptly. He was the son of the man
her father regarded as his deadliest
enemy, hut humanity, interest, pitj
moved her to a signal resolution.
“I must rest." he Anally said, and he
sank to a fallen tree by the wayside,
“whom Is it I must thank?” And Con
stance told him her name. She noted
n glad eager light come into his eyes.
“How fortunnte! It is destiny!" he
cried, and awatened new emotion
soeiued to impart strength. She sat
spellbound ns he narrated to her the
secret of his presence. .
Ills father was an escaped convict.
Discovered by a treacherous acquaint
ance, he had Aed the country on brief
notice and had sent for his wife and
son to join him. They found him In a
strange dazed condition, caused by a
fall on shipboard. He Imd died only a
month since. Once only, in a flash of
coherency, he had remembered fh<
thirty thousand dollars he had hidden
in the old belfry.
So Albion Russell had come to And
the money. It was now in his posses
sion and restitution of his share was
made to Robert Merrill that night.
And then the mother came hack to
th(> old home. And Constance consoled
her loneliness. The crime for which
John Russell had suffered was proved
to have been nothing worse than ac
quaintanceship with the real culprit.
Rove and peace came to the troubled
mother and son at last, and Constance
shared these mutual blessings.
WIFE SET A TRAP FOR HUBBY
Suspicious Helpmeet Most Effectually
Cures Him of the Traditional Fail
ing of Husbands.
The wife of n Dorchester man who
had the traditional failing—lie forgot
to mail letters—has cured him. The
mail is deliverd at their home before
the breajcfast hour—which is compara
tively late. One morning she said to
her husband:
"Did you have any mail this morn
ing, dear?”
“Only a circular,” he answered, ns
he bit Into a fine brown slice of toast.
“Hm,” said wife. “My the way, did
you mail the letters I gave you yes
terday?”
“Syre I did,” was the righteously In
dignant reply.
“Well,’ answered wlfey with an elo
quent smile, “it's funny, then, you had
no letters this morning, because one
of those I gave you to mail was ad
dressed to you—just as a sort of key.”
—Boston,Herald.
A power loom lias been Invented
that is said to weave oriental rugs that
so closely imitate the genuine haud
ipade ones as to defy experts.
WILD BILL’S FAMOUS SMILE
CAN CHANGE INTO A FROWN
Hugh Jennings Tells How “Fighting"
Disposition of New York Manager
Showed at Times^j
According to Hugh Jennings, the De
troit manager, who had several years’
experience with the subject of this
sketch, buck of that famous smile of
Wild Bill Donovan there was a mighty
“fight ing" disposit ion.
“Bill has lost his smile on any num
ber of occasions,” says Ilughie. “1
can recall numerous instances when
the Tigers were fighting for the pen
nant in the years 1907, 1908, 1909,
that Bill frowned guite as often as did
an.v of the rest of us.
“For several weeks in the season of
1907 the Tigers were in front, but they
couldn't gain on the Markmen. Then
came a series with Cleveland. Just
prior to the Tiger-Nap engagement the
Cleveland team had played three
games with the Athletics and had used
second-string pitchers. When Detroit
showed up the Naps had Joss,
Ithoades, Moore, Hess and Bernhard
ready and we were beaten in three
games.
“After t He tiiird game I spent a few
minutes jawing with Addie Joss. Bill
joined us and right afterward Ithoades
lipped in. Then Doc Bayne, the Cleve
land trainer. Inserted his voice. This
was too much for Bill,
“Turning toward Bayne, he yelled:
“ ‘Now. you get out of this argu
ment—and stay out. I know you have I
a reputation us a fighter, but either
show something now or g<"t on your
wav.*
“Bayne left."
Ten Health Commandments.
1. Keeit windows open day and
night.
2. Do not spit.
d. Breathe through the nose by keop
ug lti<‘ mouth shut.
I. Drink pure water.
5. Eat slowly, take well-cooked
mails, and cultivate regular habits.
ft. Wear loose clothing of reason
aide material.
7. Take regular open-air exercises
in sunshine if possible.
S. Wash whole body at least once
a week.
0. Work, hut do not worry.
10. Get house drains certified by
sanitary authority.—Elizabeth Gregg
in Health. *
Accidents on Common Carriers.
Fifteen thousand accidents on steam
railroads, street railways and other
common carriers during the year end
ed May 31, 1910, is the record in
Bennsylviinia, says tDo public service
bureau of accidents.
Now They're Sorry. %
Harvard students no longer
use that hackneyed phrase, “I
beg your pardon.” The new
Idea Is “I'm sorry.” Harvard
men dread being answered, pre
ferring to do all the talking
themselves. For that reason
nowadays when they step on the
hat of an untutored Bostonese
in the course of their gambols
they invariably admit that they
are sorry und let it drop right
there. “I'm sorry," comes from
Kngland via France via Chica
go, which learned it from .New
York.
Both Departed.
r
"You don't often
see nil old-fash
ioned whlttlor
nowadays."
“No. The type is
dying out. Also
the diminutive hud
inun who used to
pull out it howie
knife and threaten
to Whittle his too
down to his size.” ^
LYINTS IN HISTORY
Principle Occurences in the Different Ad
minstrations of Tr'sldents.
Several readers have asked the
Pathfinder tn give a brief summary
of the important events that have
occurred in the administration of
each of presidents. For the bene
fit of these and others this infor
mation is presented in the follow
ing paragraphs. Inasmuch as it is
more or less a matter of mere ar
bitrary opinion as to what consti
tutes the ‘‘most important" events
in our history, the events here
enumerated are not given as "the
most important" but as simply im
portant. In each administration
there were probably others of
equally great and perhaps greater
significance than those mentioned;
everyone has a right to his own
opinions in such matters:
In the administration of George
Washi lgton who served two terms
from 1789 to 1797. many events
took place that were sorely har
assing to the young republic:
France was engaged in a revolution
and thought that the United States
ought to help her out because she
nad rendered assistance during our
struggle with England. She sent
over a citizen by the name of
Genet to plead their cause but
Washington deemed it best not to
get mixed up in another war so
soon and issued a "proclamation oi
neutrality." England had been
oothering our western border and
-till held forts at Detroit and along
the Ohio river. John Jay con
cluded a treaty with her in which
she agreed to give up the forts,
thus definitely settling our western
boundary for that time. The cot
ton gin was invented by Eli Whit
ney in 1 793.
in tne administration or jonn
Adams, the second president, the
alien and sedition laws were en
acted. These provided punish
ment for any alien who attempted
to stir up trouble in vthis country
and also made persons who should
conspire against governpient
or publishapything would tend
to injure'it in any way subject to
punishment by fines and imprison
ment. We had a short scuffle with
France at this time but Napoleon,
on coming into power, speedily
brought it to an end. Washington
died in 1799.
While the third president, Thom
as Jefferson, was in office the
United States administered a sound
hrashing to Tripoli, a nest of pi
rites on the northern shores of
Africa, and taught them a lesson
they have never forgotten. A huge
tract of land known as Louisiana
was purchased from France during
this administration for $15,000,
000. Robert Fulton launched his
first steamboat on the Hudson riv
ar a short time later.
The second war with grea* Brit
lin took place during Madison's
administration and we beat her on
the sea with our little navy al
though she possessed the finest
navy in the world. At this time
Florida was purchased. When a
few of the nations over in Europe
thought they ought to help us set
tle affairs in Mexico Monroe issued
his famous "Monroe Doctrine,"
which has been maintained ever
since as the policy of the United
States with reference of European
powers in American affairs.
John Quincy Adams, as presi
dent, saw the completion of the
Erie canal in New York and also
the breaking of ground for the fir^t
passenger railroad from Baltimore
westward. At this time the first
temperance society was formed in
Boston, 1 826.
Andrew Jackson, the seventh
president, began by turning 2.000
men out of office and giving their
places to his friends, thus institu- j
ting what is known as the spoils;
system. The use of coal was com
menced and Webster's dictionary
was published at this time.
Hairison died after only a month
in the White House and Tyler be
came chit f executive. In 1844
Prof. Morse showed what he could
do with the telegraph and Morton
introduced the use of ether for
rendering patients unconscious of
pain while undergoing operations.
Texas was annexed December 25,
1845.
During James K. Polk’s term we
had our war with Mexico over the
boundary line between the two na
tions. Gold was discovered in
California.
Zachary Taylor died after a little
more than a year's service. The
California question and the slavery
question were important issues be
fore the country at this time. Up
on Taylor's death Millard Fillmore
I took the oath of office. A book
! known as "Uncle Tom's Cabin’
came into print in this administra
tion. This book had a great deal
to do with stirring up the North
over the slavery question. This
period really marked the beginning
of the struggle between the North
and the South.
Franklin Pierce, the fourteenth
president, was in the chair when
the first great exposition, was held
at New York. Among the exhibits
was the McCormick reaper, invent
ed some time before. A treaty
was made with Japan, opening up
that country for trade with us.
John Brown, a Northern anti-slav
ery enthuict, believing that he was
destined to free the slaves, made a
raid on Pottawatomie in which
several men were killed. During
James Buchanan's term Brown
was hung for another anti-slavery
attack at Harpers Ferry. Silver
was discovered in Nevada and Col
orado, and petroleum and natural
gas were found in Pennsylvania.
Abraham Lincoln.sixteenth pres
ident, held office during the most
trying period of the nation's histo
ry since the time of Washington.
The Southern states had become
incensed against the national gov
ernment and attempted to with
draw from the Union and set up a
government of their own. This
exceeded what Lincoln believed to
be the rights of states but he was
uncertain just what he could do
about it. Then Fort Sumpter was
fired on by the Confederates. This
marked the beginning of the
war. For four long years
struggle continued. Some time
after the war began the president
issued the proclamation, freeing all
the slaves in the seceded states.
Both the Southern and Northern
armies lost enormous numbers of
men. Shortly after the close of
the war the nation was shocked by
the assassination of President Lin
coln on the night of April 14,1865.
Andrew Johnson then became
president. Owing to a certain
stubbornness in his nature Johnson
did not get along very well with
congress and an effort was made
to impeach him. When the final
votes were counted it was found
that one vote was lacking for con
viction so Johnson was allowed to
remain in office. During his ad
ministration the Atlantic cable was
laid under the supervision of Cyrus
W. Field, and Alaska was purchased
from Russia.
Ulysses S. Grant, former general
of the Union army, was our next
president. The great railroad,
connecting the Atlantic and the
Pacific, was completed at this time.
Gen. Custer, of Civil war fame, and
some 600 of his men were mas
sacred by Indians in the West.
Hayes, the next president, saw
the deepening of the mouth of the
Mississippi river and the use of pa
per money become general in the
country.
GarfieU. who followed Hayes,
was shot by a disappointed office
seeker and Chester Arthur became
president. During this adminis
tration a great overflow of the
Mississippi occurred, causing the]
loss of many lives and the destruc
tion of considerable property. The!
suspension bridge, connecting New]
York and Brooklyn and costing
$15,000,000, was completed at
lj}is time.
At the time of Grover Cleve
land’s first administration occurred
the unveiling of the statue of liber
ty in New York. This beautiful
piece of statuary, the work of a
French sculptor, Bartholdt. was
presented to the United States by
France to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of American independ
enc e.
During Benjamin Harrison's
term six states were admitted into
the Union. In 1889 the depart-,
ment of agriculture was included
among the chief executive depart
ments of the federal government.
Following this administration
Cleveland came into office for his
second term in time to meet
Goxey’s army, a band of five or six
thousand vagabounds, adventurers
and men out of work, who had
started out to march to Washing
ton and demand that the govern
ment find them work. Two expo
sitions marked th's administration,
the Colombian and the Atlanta.
While McKinley was in office the
beautiful congressional library
costing about $7,000,000 was
built in Wasnington. War was de
clared against Spam; Spain was
defeated and tne United States ac
quired Cuba, Porto Rico and other
islands in the Pacific. A short
time afterwards we sent an army
into China to assist in putting down
the Boxer uprising. William Mc
Kinley was the third president to
meet death at the hands of
an assassin. He was shot by an
anarchist while attending the pan
American exposition at Buffalo.
Theodore Roosevelt, who was
then vice-president, immediately ,
took the oath of office and entered
upon the duties of president.
Soon afterward a war broke out
between Japan and Russia. After
about a year and half it was
brought to close partly though the
good offices of Roosevelt, who ar
ranged a meeting between repre
sentatives of the two nations. In
this way they were able to arrive
at an understanding. From March
to July, 1906, there was a great
coal mminers' strike in Pennsylva
nia and troops had to be called out
to quell the rioters.
While in office President Taft
desired to establish trade reciproc
ity with Ganada and a bill- of this
»> passed by doncrftss,
however, rejected it.
l administration Vhe par
ystem was established
was submitted to the
■npower congress tc m
pose an income tax.
Woodrow Wilson, twenty-eighth,
president, next came into offlte.
As everyone knows, this has beoii
one of the most momentous oidwyn-^
istrations in the country's history.
In addition to numerous events of
great importance at home, dis
turbed conditions in Mexico have
been a constant source of perplex
ing problems for our government
and the war in Europe which has
grown to unparalled proportions
has given rise to a number of grave
issues, endangering the peace of
the United States.
%
Birds Cannot Understand Glass.
It has been frequently noticed that
no wild bird can understand the prop
erties of glass, and great numbers,
ranging in size from a pheasant to a
titmouse, are killed by flying against
the window’s of country houses.
If a room possesses a large mirror
reflecting the view seen through an
open window birds are particularly lia
ble to be deceived, and especially if
frightened into thinking that they can
fly through it.
Sparrow hawks will sometimes
chase their intended victims Into
strange places. 8oma years ago
a member of this species pursued a
small bird through the open window
of a railway carriage in motion. In
1ts blind determination to secure the
panting fugitive it entangled its claws
In the meshes of the hat rack and was
ignomlnlously slain by an astonished
passenger with an umbrella.
Before and After.
The members of the club were tell
ing yarns when a quiet man in the
corner was asked to contribute.
“Well,’’ said he, “I once entered a
restaurant where they weigh you be
fore eating and then after eating, and
then charge you by weight. I
got a good feed and was charged
five shillings. The next time I went
I took in my pocket bricks, weight!,
old iron and such like. I was weighed
and then went upstairs and had a ban
quet three times as big as the last.
After getting rid of the ballast I wept
down and was weighed again, but £hejr,
couldn’t make it out."
lie paused.
"Couldn’t make what out?" asked
the club members.
"Why." answered the quiet man,
’’they owed me four and-tuppence."—
London Tit-Blta.