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Spellbinder By J. P. LOUGHNAN Mr. Casimir Kentyn led a clergy- man into the lift at Bullion House and bade John Bevis, the liftman, a cheery good morning. John had faith in Kentyn. His handsome suite of offices occupied the whole of the third floor, and evidently he made lots of money, "If a gent can do that for himself, he can do the same for other people," argued the liftman. It was an important point be- cause John's future mother-in-law had just received a legacy of £50 under a brother's will, Mrs. Dale lived with her daughter, Tilly, at Westminster; they both regarded John as a financial authority and he liked to encourage the idea by re- 'peating chance remarks overheard in the lift. Their discussion about the legacy took place one evening after work in the Dales' little parlor. Tilly's mother, a timid, nervous woman, started the subject. "What should I do with the money?" she asked John. The representative of House answered confidently: "You can't do better than come to our Mr. Casimir Kentyn, He's a bloke who makes money for people easy as falling off a log; he's a very pleasant gentleman, too. There's just one thing to remember, tho. I think you oughter see him as a stranger." "Why?" demanded Tilly. John gave a modest shrug. "Well, a liftman's only a liftman, go it's not going to do your mother any good to mention me." "Very well, you know best," sub- mitted Mrs. Dale, "Can I call with the money tomorrow?" "Yes, come at three o'clock. He's back from lunch by then and always in a rare good mood. Don't forget 1 shall pretend not to know you," concluded John, with a chuckle. The little plot developed nicely, Soon after half-past two next day, Mr. Kentyn returned from lunch, beaming behind a big cigar; punctu- ally at three Mrs. Dale made her ap- pearance. Keeping a very straight face, John politely touched his cap, whisked her to the third floor, in- dicated Kentyn's inquiry office, showed her how to ring the lift bell when she was ready to come down, But when, half an hour later, Mrs. Dale reappeared with a large equare envelope under one arm, John's curi- osity proved too much for him. Stop- ping the lift between floors, he ex- elaimed in an eager whisper: "Everything all right, dear?" Mrs. Dale nodded happily. "The gentleman happened to have just what I wanted. Bearer bonds they are called, with cotpons attach- ed. You cut off the coupoms and cash them like a cheque, but you can only do it on certain days." "Sounds a bit of all right," grin- ned John. Mrs, Dale held out the envelope. "TI want to go shopping. Will you keep this for me and bring it round this evening? Have a lock at the bonds if you like." John buttoned them inside his tu- nic and finished the journey. Later, over a cup of tea in the basement he opened the envelope, It contained five important-looking green documents, headed with the arms of the Sandolfo Republic and covered with copperplate printing. Each bond opened like a small news- paper, its second page being entire- ly composed of coupons. These bore the dates on which they would be- come payable and the amount of in- terest due. John examined them carefully, rubbed his eyes and looked again. "Odd," he: muttered, "I don't un- derstand this." The problem was still puzzling him when the lift bell sounded. A stockbroker's clerk named Dick Ransom wanted to g0 up to his office on the second floor. Here was a chance of getting infor- mation, John said: "Please, sir, can you tell me any- thing about the bonds of the San- dolfo Republic?" Young Ransom nodded. "Don't touch 'em, Bevis. The San- dolfo Government has defaulted, which means you get no interest on their honds." Suddenly John felt his mouth go dry. "What are five bonds worth, sir?" he faltered. "You might get five pounds." "Suppose a gentleman wanted «to sell~ five for fifty pounds?" "A gentleman wouldn't," retorted Ransom. "A spellbinder might." "What's a spellbinder, =ir?" "A man who can make you believe anything, a dud financier, like----" Young Ransom pulled himself up. "Can dud financiers be prosecut- ed?" persisted John, s "Yes, If you like to throw good Bullion money after bad, But take my tip and leave Sandolfos alone," John returned to the basement with an empty feeling under his waist- coat. What would Tilly say? Prob- ably she'd throw his over. Again he examined the bonds; the next interest payment would fall due in three months, The rest of the day was like a' nightmare to John. After trying to eat something, he set out miserably for Westminster. "You're right about Mr. Kentyn. He's a real gentleman and ever so nice," chirruped Mrs, Dale. "He let me have those bonds as a special fa- vor." John felt the perspiration trickling down his back while Tilly bent her sleek black head over the bonds. Soon he saw her finger shoot out accusingly. "But, darling, here's a coupon dat- ed nine months ago." John gave a hoarse cough, tried to steady his thumping heart. Before he could speak, Mrs. Dale was an- swering quietly: "Yes, Tilly. You see, Mr, Kentyn is a very busy man and he forgot to cash those coupons last Decem- ber. Now they've got to be kept till the next lot fall due, He wants me to accept the extra interest as a gift from him." Tilly clapped her hands. "I reckon Jack was about right when he put you on to Mr. Kentyn," she laughed. "You shall have the first interest as a wedding present," declared Mrs, Dale. "Take a cup of tea, John -- you look fagged out. I don't believe lift work's healthy; you'll be ever so much better when you've got a "busi- ness of your own," "Yes, I hope 80," John heard him- self agree. The financier arrived at Bullion House alone next morning. Jchn had hoped for this. lift between floors. "Mr. Kentyn, sir," he said, "yes- terday you charged a friend of mine £50 for five Sandolfo bonds. A stockbroker tells me they're not worth more than five pounds." He stopped the To John's amazement Casimir merely smiled, "My dear Bevis," he purred, "what do stockbrokers know about these things?" 5 "Well--I mean-- isn't it their job to --er --know?" Kentyn shook his big head. "No, Bevis, stockbrokers are fools. Never go to a stockbroker, my lad; if your friend wants to sell her bonds, I'll find a buyer." "But will you get as much as she gave for them, Mr, Kentyn?" "Of course I will--probably more, Give me a fortnight, Bevis. and I'll find a buyer." But the fortnight pas:ed, and Kentyn put him off with a plausible excuse. There were always excuses and the date of the next coupon pay- ment was approaching, With ecnly four weeks left John pegan to give up hope. Then, one morning, Casi- mir exclaimed, with his jolly smile. "Look here, Bevis, I'll. buy those bonds for myself if vou like, and I'll pay sixty pounds for them. give Mrs. Dale = What do you say?" John answered with a delighted "Yes." Kentyn continued briskly: "I'll send a note by special mes- That will tenner profit, senger, asking Mrs, Dale to bring the bonds round at once." "I'm afraid she won't come till this afternoon, sir; she does her ironing this morning." "Then we'll «ay four o'clock, Be- vis." Soon after midday two very sol- emn gentlemen came to the lift and inquired for Mr, Kentyn. In a quar- ter of an hour they came back, and Casimir came with them. "If T can't get back this after noon, Bevis, I shall be here in the morning," said Kentyn, "Very good, sir," mumbled John, trying to hide his bitter disappoint. ment. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when young Ransom rush- ed into the lift, brandishing an eve- ning paper. "They've got him at last!" he cried. "The old spellbinder!" John jumped. "Who's that, sir?" he quavered, "Why, Casimir Kentyn., of course," laughed Ransom. rel's been arrested for fraud Hallo, what's the matter, Bevis? Surely he didn't swindle you?" John answered shakily, "No, sir. But he sold my mother five Sandolfo bonds for fifty quid. Then he promised to buy them back for sixty pounds this after- noon. Swank, I reckon, He must ha' known the tecs were coming," "Youre wrong there," contradict- ed Ransom. "He'd have bought the bonds rizht enough and done you girl's | come into power at Sandolfo and he has promised to resume | payments. jing. I can get you eighty quid tor five." ; Before John had quite recovered his breath, somebody tapped him on the shoulder. He looked round and saw Tilly with a square envelope under her arm, i "Here are mother's bonds," she said. "We got a note from Mr, Ken- tyn this morning. He says you ad- vise us to sell them for £60." John answered with a knowing look. "I've found a better buyer since then, Mr. Ransom here can get you £80. He's a stockbroker." Tilly flashed a smile at Ransom, "Jack's my boy," she exclaimed. "Mum and I always take his advice about money." Ransom replied, without looking at John: "I think you're very lucky." --London "Answers." i | i USE CF WOOD IN BUILDING Many Tests Made To Deter- mine Strength Of Dif- ferent Grades i ' Toonto, -- The use of lumber as a material of construction ante-dates written history. For centuries rule of thumb and practical experience | were the only guides to sound prac- tice and the erection of safe struc- 'tures. No longer ago than the last 'century, loads were relatively small, "and lumber was comparatively cheap (and easily procured. However, with the introduction of heavier machinery, heavier rolling stock on the railways, and heavier loads in industrial buildings and | properly. A new president has just interest | Sando' bonds are boom-! ' This is why generosity is so hard to warehouses, the matter of establish- ing safe-allowable stresses for use in design because of paramount im- portance. That one species of lum- ber was stronger than another for | certain purposes was well known, | But how much stronger? Only a series of comprehensive mechanical | tests, carried out according to standard methods, 'ould supply the necessary information and enable ac- curate comparison to be made be- tween different local species or com- | petitive species on the export market, The Douglas fir and Western 'hemlock forests of British Columbia | constitute the most important source lin the British Empire of large struc- tural timbers. In the world mar- { kets, the most serious competitor of Douglas fir in large sizes is South- cern yellow pine, from the southeast- ern portion of the United States, which has been established as a structural specie; for a much great- er length of time than Douglas fir. As the direct result of laboratory tests, these two species are given an equal strength rating for construc- tion purposes. Recently, at the Vancouver labora- tory of the Forest Products Labora- i tories of Canada, Forest Service, De- partment of 'the Interior, tests were made of the strength in bending of "Douglas fir timbers, Wide diverg- ence of allowable stresses for Doug- | las fir and Western hemlock are noticeable in different city building codes. Such differences will ulti- mately be eliminated .as the result of such tests. ies concerning the strength of Can- .adian timbers which come to the Forest Products Laboratories from lumber associations, engineers, ar- chitect and others, | echo-sounders The increasing number of inquir- | both in Canada ; and abroad, indicate a steadily grow- ing appreciation of the use of timber in structures and of the desirabil- ity of careful selection of such tim- 'her to produce maximum service. England and Wales Show Increase in Birth Rate { i London.--England and Wales in ; 1934 showed the first definite in- {crease in the birth rate since 1920, "the Registrar General announced re- cently, The 1934 rate was 14.8 per 1,000 of population. The low rate was 14.4 jin 1932, "The old scround- "I should like to have the histories rewritten so as to emphasize the cost and horror of war, not merely its heroics."---Bruce Barton, "Truth knows no national bound- aries.,"--Sherwood Eddy. | liged to supply more of their own { goes. Selfishness is the po.itive cur- Selfishness Is Natural To Very Young Children It's Not An Acquired Trait As Parents Sc Often Think-- We're All Born With It We all have a habit of thinking that selfishness is an acquired trait, but the sooner we realize that iti is a natural one, the better equip- ped we are to face its problems, The elf complex was put ®there to keep man alive, happy according to his lights and rights and extended to those belonging to him. A little child is not any more sel- fish in wanting hi; way than are his mother and father in wanting theirs. Little Mary is not any more demand- ing when she refuses to lend her dolly than her mecther is in ug to lend Mary herself to a neighbor, and tiny Thomas is not any more selfish when he insi ts on playing horse when the rest of the tots want to dig than hi; Daddy is when he re- fuses to play bridge in order to have a game of poker, SELFISHNESS POSITIVE TRAIT Selfishness is considered the nega- . tive and genero. ity the positive trait | too often, It is the other way about,' actually,» as human temperament, | 1 rent and generosity is opposed to it. graft into the little character, If it were already there, what a simple thing it would be to let nature take its course. Since selfishness is born in the baby and is not one of those traits like will or contrariness that develop in the third or fourth year, it is wise to take it into account from the first and lead gently away irom 1t whenever possible without causing anger or resentment. We cannot teach "fundamental" or real gener-' osity, ever, by making it an eternally unpleasant thing in the child's mind. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION How can we go about teaching the tiny child to be generous? By getting him to feel happy about it.. This can be done by looking about for someone he likes, or even a pet. Thomas wants his new red ball. He won't let his sister touch it. He likes her well enough, but he isn't emotionally interested, He is emot- ionally interested in the n:w = ten, however. Say to am, "Let kitty have your ball." Through extended interest in both the cat and the ball he will very likely pass it over. Sat- isfied, he will watch the play that ensues. Sister could have cavorted much better, but as an agent to genercsity she was a total loss. But the wedge has entered, Baby has learned the first step. Given up, away from him- self, one thing to another thing he liked, The ball js still in 1 waXt the bird can have it is his cage. Next his sister's doll can have it. Next Mary can have it. And then the little boy next door. Scrub the ball often as a reward for its use- fulness, WHEN GIVING APPEARS Almost anything in the way of generosity may be best approached by these homely little lessons, As the child nears three a certain streak of giving enters his soul, It is sporadic and is motivated by several things, partly experimental. Encourage this effort at this time. Accept anything the child offers with effusion and gratitude. Never refuse anything he wants to give. It is another weapon at your service. Later when reason is riding high and even sometimes at the early age, lessons in real sacrifice may be ven- tured. But success depends on the early associations of ideas and the pleasantness of giving, The Sixth Earl of Mansfield Calle d Living Encyclopaedia Born In August? Carlisle, Pa.--If you are for fame, consider the your birth. Dr. E. C. Herber of Dickinson col- lege told the Pennsylvania academy of science that August appears to have produced the largest number of famous person; May, the least. The conclusions resulted from a study of 40,000 prominent persons. hoping month. of A royal sturgeon, 9ft. long and 4ft. 6in. in girth, was landed at Aberdeen recently. The fish was sold for £16 10s. Peter Ba'es. a Chancery clerk in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, wrote out the whole Bible and enclosed his manuscript in a walnut shell. The manuscript contained as many leaves as an ordinary Bible. Pliny tells us of a copy of the Iliad so small that the whole work could lie in a walnut shell. For the first time in the history of the Norwegian fisheries the echo- sounding system has been used to locate fish. A vessel equipped with discovered a great school of fish at a depth of some 240 ft. Raise Your Own Living The Ontario Department of Agri- culture says: Whether willing or not the majority of farmers are now ob- needs. The following list may pro- vide suggestions for further econ- omy: 1. Milk a few goou cows; feed re- commended rations. ale 2. Fatten one pig Bn Bvery two adult members of the family; cure the meat properly. 3. Keep at least 100 good hens, correctly housed and fed. 4. Raise a good garden, water from windmill if possible. 5. Plant only cash crops, which show little or no surplus. 6. Grow your own stock feed. 7. Butcher fat cows and steers; trade meat with neighbors, 8. Raise your own living; keep your roof tight. 9. Get down to earth and do the best you can today. 10. Drive a horse until you can al- ford to buy gasoline, The sixth Earl of Mansfield died suddenly recently at the comparate ly early age of seventy, The Manse field earldom (or earldoms, to be accurate) was conferred upon the famous Lord Chief Justice who was a younger son of Viscount Stormont. He died in 1793. The sixth Earl inherited from his brother--his father never succeeded and died as Lord Stormont---the tit- les and two great palaces, Scone and Ken Wood, both rich in memories. But during his life Ken Wood was disposed of and has become a pub- lic Park and gallery, and Scone was left empty. Lord Mansfield went to live in a small hott e almost in the centre of Perth. Lady Mansfield died in 1933, and latteriy Lord Mansfield - lived very much alone, But his intellect- ual resources were enormous. He had a memory of almo.t unique power, and this wonderful pos essicn co-operating with an intense curics- ity for knowledge of all kinds and a great power of application made of his mind a living encyclopaedia. He was as well informed in the by-ways as in the trodden road: of historical and statistical facts, and at any hour of the day his wealth of accurate knowledge would be placed at the disposal of his friend: with a charming humility and tact. His accuracy was amazing no sub- ject was too obscure or small to es- cape the trawling-net of his cuiios- ity. He had been working last Aut- umn to memorize the statistical de- tails (tonnage ete,) of the United States Navy and could give in the precise figures out of hand of every war vessel in the American fleet. But he was equally omniscient con- cerning (for example) the family histories of the Whig families of Re- form Bill days. To me it is a matter of personal regret that that living encyclopaed- ia, whose pages were so charming, zo courteously, so sympathetically, so humorously and so humbly dis- played, should perish in an age as superficial, as trivial, as ignorant, and a3 cocksure as ours. I will never cease to be glad that I had a chance to converse with him and to enjoy the harvest of his life-long activity of mind, I contemplate the careers and the reputations of public men and the statesmen of our age, lauded to the skies and perpetually in the lime- light; and I wonder whether per- haps Lord Mansfield did not all employ his talents more us 8 less dangerously, than mecst of "ein --conservative, unadvertisc', ; suming, and quietly reflective --Sphere, London. afier €8 Le lly