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-J * » * '*â- â-  tf ». 4 «.. * v' ' « t V / r A House of Mystery OR, THE GIRL IN BLUE CH-iOH-»+«<f JCH^-WH-a^Q-fO+O.^ -fO-f O-f O-fOfCcf «-♦â- Â» +»+«•♦â- Â«â- â™¦-«â- â™¦- (•.HAITER II.â€" '.Contiiuio.l). Allhough I opened my eyes, nil was, â- of course, an utt«;r blank before me. \vl I k-lt iasUnclively, u.s every blind pcr-cn dcifji, tho presence <>f .some one In my imniedlato vicinity, and present- ly ahei long reflooUoii, I sui1J<'nly .asl<e<lâ€" "Where an; I? What lia.s liappeneil?" "You hav;; been run ovoi-, unil your tcad i> injurtxJ," aas\vere<i h strany<' liarsli voice, lii)nr.so and altogellu'r cun- â- ous. "Bui I'll nie. Your eyi« have a curious look ill lh«m. Can't yoii sv^"!' "No," I res|w3n(l-';i. "Unfortuaateiv, ' »n-. totally bl'nd. ' "Blind!' gasped Ihe voice, in appar- ent amazpniC'nl. "Then that accounts lor your accident!" "But where aui I?" I inquired eageriy. "Y'Oi need not trouble, I as-siuc you,' tn.swer<.'d the voice, pleasantly. "You . arc with friends." "Thtn I am not in a hospilal'" "lifrtainly not. Having wilne.ssod your accidcn!, I am trying to do what little I can for you." Tlic voice, a miin.-;, was low-pitched; ami, furlhw, it struck me as telng dis- gui>vd. "May I not know the name of my good Snniarilaji?" I inquired. 'The name is entirely unnecessary, ' t'le voica responded. "From your card- case I .see that your name is llenton, and that you live in Cs^^ex .street Strand." "Ye,s," I aaswered. It was evident. then, that who«vcr was this pers'jn wlivi had taken compassion upon nie in my helpl<'>.snes.s, he had already beeji through my pric!<ols. "Mow l-mg have you been blind?" Ihe Vf.ioe inquirtsl, tioarse and de^p. I know Hiat it WW dLsguls(vJ by c«?rtain <jf the ByllaMes being pronounced differently tn vnrkios word.s. My hearing had for- tumli^Iy returned to me again, ajid th»i.se who are Wind are quick to <lelect any nnnsnal sound, however slight it may be. "For a year or mon^." I Bn>wered. "And doe.s your head still pain you very much?'' Inquire.l the vofc'e, while at the same moiivent I felt a c<vil hanJ pla'-od upon my throbbing brow. In an instant I seized it by the wrist. The hand tried to wrench it.self free, but not before I had felt the slimnes.•^ <.f the fmgers, the rings upon them, and the .«aiftness of thi' palm. It wa.'! a womnn's. .She Ii.id cleverly rii«gULsed her voice to eau.se me to be- lieve that it wn.s a man's. I placed my right band upon her arm and felt it bare. Upon her wrist was a curiou.s bracelet, thin but strangely pliable, evi- dently made of i^ome ingeniou.sly work- ed and twisted wire. I could not reool- loct over having seen such a bangle U|>on a woman's wrist before. The arm was bare; her skirls were of si k. iVIy nurse was evidently in an evening toilolto. "Allhough I cannot see you, mndam, I thank you for your kind atteiitton,"' J sa;<l, a trifle piqued that .she .<;1k)u1J liavi" endeavored to mislead me by lier voice. She drew her hand away quickly. with a .slight cry, as though annoyed at my discovery. "I witnessed your accident," .she ex- plained .simply. In a .sweet, well-modu- Ir.icsJ voice, evidently h«r own. Ry her lone, she wa,s no doubt young, and I wondi-rej whether she was prclly. Truly this evening adventure of mine was a curious one. "How did it happen? Tell me," 1 urged. "You were CPOS.sing Ihe road, and were knock(\l down by a cub. My <loc- V)r has already examined you, and say.s that you arc iwl seriously hurt. It LS a mere senl;*-wound, therefore you niay ivst conlfnl. and oongi-alulate jviurself upon a very narrow e.scai>e.' ' "I congratulate myself upon falling into the han<ls of a friend,' I said. "Oh. it is really nothing!" exclaimed the voice of my unknown ho.ste.ss with ar. eslucaled accent. "In a few lioura you will, no doubt, ho all right. Hest, end in the morning the carriage .shall lake you homo." "Ttven it is not yet morning?" I in- qu'ro<l. vaguely, wondering what hour it might be. . "No, not yet." The re_s|>ons« sounded afar off, and I felt -viMiehow that my strength wa.s suddenly failing me. A heavy, drowsy leelinft ci-opt over me. and my mind s<N?med filled with condicling thought.s, until suddenly, and quite imcon.sciou.sly, I fell asleep, the cool, stifl. syinpathc- lie hand still U|>nn my brnw. When I awoke it wag with u refresh- ed feeling. No <jne was, however, in Div immediate vieinity. My kind i>r(>- lectro.ss had left me, yet 1 heard vi>iee.s ill conversation in tho adjouiing room. The door coinmunicallng was closed, fcul there was Ih© unmistakable pop o' • champagnoH^^k and a jingling of Ihin glas.se8 that (old of f<»tivity. 'n wbo^ house, I wond«r«d, w&s I a guestr Alri'itiiy I liad inquired, but haU hcyu refuseii ii:forniation. Suddenly Ihe voices were hushed, and I could distinguish a woman saymgâ€" "I t<^ll you lies blindâ€" sUine-blind. If you doubt nie, hold that before his face iind see if he flinches." .\ man's voice sounded in a low growl in re.s|>onse, then all was silent. Only Ihe ticking of a clock .somewhere near brote Ihe sliilne.ss. Whisper.s, like low, suspicious ex- chjiipes of confidence, soon afterwani.s reached my ear.i. The door bad opeiie<l .silenl'y, and a few aeconds later 1 fi^'t tile .Soft hand of my protectress again I'poii my forehead. My sightless eyes were wido open, and by that she, of course, knew liiat I was awake. ".\re you belter after your .skx^p?" the well-'ultivated voice inquired concern- edly. "Very much." I answered, raUing my.s<'lf upon my elbow. "Hut 1 have Iroub'eil v<iM far loo long, and will go, if you will kindly in.slitxt .vour .•^ervanl l«i call me a cab." "Oh dear no," the voice answered pleasunlly. "I couldn't think of allow- ing ycu to go home at this hour, and in your weak state. Uyo. It would be mad;i .ss. Continue your rest, and you will be quite right again in the morn- ing.' "You are exlp»mely kind." I proltssl- ed. "but II really couldn't think of re- maining longer." "Would you like to repay mc for what you so very penewiusly term kiminess?' she asked. "If so, I would only a.sl; on< little favor." "Certainly. I will grant it it it lies Within niy power," I re>P'indeil. "Well, it is tliul you would scribble your name here, in this birthday ly^iU cl mine. It will be a litll.; souven.r of this evening.'' "Hut 1 cajinot write well n-iw-a-dnys. 1 can't see, you know," I jiroteslid. "But you can write your .signature. If the handwriting is uneven 1 will f<ir- givc you, in the circunislunccs," the voice .said merrily; and a moment lalcr she placi>d a pen with a handle of ivjry <;i [carl within my h"n<l. "Wtiat day of the month?" intiuireJ the s\ve(>t voic<.\ "The .second of July," I answered, laughing; and my unknown friend, hav- ing op<iiim1 the book at that page, guided my hand to the paper, wtie.e<jn I scrawled my name. Siio took both pen and tsKik, and by tlie departing swish of her skirls I knew that she had left me and hud pii-,s.xl into the adjoining room. A strange picture aro.se in my niinJ. Was she beautiful? .\l any rate her surroundings were elegant, and her low musical voice was thai of a young and reliniHi girl of twenty or so. I ILstemnl. lying l.'iere helple.ss and sorely puzzled. Again curious wlii-sjier- ing-i in subdued tones .sounded from beyond, but almost at thai same mo- ment .sonw one commenccxi to jday ui)- on the piano Chopin's "Andanle S\>in- tiUt" which prevented mo fivim dislingii- ishing eithtM" the words uttered or the trend of the discassion. For several minutes the sound of the piano filled the room, the touchy light and delicate, seeming U) be that of a woman, when, of a sudden, there was a loud smashing of gla.ss, and a wo- mans shrill, piercing scream rang out, accompanied by the aoitnd of some heavy objeet as it fell to the fkior. In an instant the nnisic cea.sed, and at lhi> .same moment I heard a man's voice cry wildlyâ€" "fiood Ood! Y'ou'vc- why you've kill- ed her." Next .second there sounded a rapid .sculTling of feet, a chair was oyerturned and bioken. and from the quick ptini- mg and muttered ejuculations it seem- ed a.s Ih.iugh two persons were clnsi-d in diMidly embrace. In their frantic, desperate; struggle they advancoil into ilie room vvjiere I was, and I, still ut- l<-rly helpless, with only a dark void nlMiut me. raised my.'ielf in horror and alarm. The man's words held me ap- palled. .Some terrible trago<ly ha<l occurreil. .My kind protectress had been mupder- e<i. Th."> other two person.s. whoever they were. f<)ught fiercely quite close to me, and I could distinctly detect from tha vain efforts to shout miido by the weak- er that Ihe stronger held him by the throat, and was endeavoring to strangle him. Of ft sudden Ihere was a quick, <lull thud, the unmistakable sound of a heavy blow, followe<l by a short agoni7/>d cry. "Ah-hl' shrieked the voice of Ihe per- son struck; and at the same instant a great weight fell back inertly upon mc as I was lying, neai-ly crushing the breath from m*. I passed my sensitive hands over 11 quickly, it was tho bod/ of a man. Blood ran warm over my fingers. He had bc*n stabbed to the heart. Thirty-Eighth Annual Report TO JANUARY ist, ipo8, OF THE Mutual Life of Canada HEAD OFFICE, - WATERLOO, ONT. CASH ACCOUNT INCOME. NET LEDGER ASSETS, December 31sl, 1906 .... PREMIU.MS: First year Renewals Annuity Less Ro-a-ssurance ....S 9.890,477.70 ..$ 230.r>3r,.G3 .. 1,519,322.77 3,450.00 $1,753,400.10 20,267.52 INTEREST PROFIT AWD LOSS - l,733,ail.88 509.24O.0e 1,288.25 $12,134,047.85 DISBURSEMENTS. TO POr.I"YI10!.DERS: Dfiath Claims $317,770.50 Matured Endowments . 178,785.00 Surrendered Policies .. 92,13.S.68 Surplus 80,805.19 Annuities 10.714.93 â- â- W 683.220. 3S3.U81. 30 33 EXPEN.SES, TAXE.<^, ETC BALA.NCE .NET LEDflER A.SSETS, December 3Ut, 1907 11 .063,846.22 512,!3»,047.85 BALANCE SHEET ASSETS. Mortgages $5,750,070.85 Debentures and IVmds 3.593,965.84 I»ans on Policies 1,410.130.87 Premium Obligations 22,534.21 Real Estate ((>:mpanys Head Ofllcc) 30.875.79 Cash in Banki Cash at Il-'ad OITice 1,305.19 Due and deferred premiums, (net). . 319.277.97 Interest due and accrued 241,554.91 M.ABILITIES. Reserve, 4p.c., 3%p.c. and 3p.e. standard $10,019,503.85 Reserve on lapsed policies on which surrender values are claimable. 4,171.88 Death Claims unadjusted 39,350.00 y 280,494.29 | Prrtsent value of death claims pay- able in instiilments Matured Hjidowmonls, unadjusted . Premiums paid in advance Due for medical fees and sundry accounts Credit Leilger Balances Surplus, December 31st, 1007 1 (Surplus on Government .Standard of Valuaiion $1,897,358.28.) Audited and found correct. tl 1 .f).')(i,<00.02 38,506.93 1.693.45 12,737.18 10.936.75 25,7.30.82 503,719.63 611.656,409.93 J. M, SCULLY, F.C.A., Auditor Waterloo, January 29lh, li"3. GEO. WEGENAST, lUanaging Director. New Business written (ga'tn over fgo6, $11577,835) Insurance in force (^ain over 1906, $4,179,440) Surplus (pain over igo6, $300,341) . - . $7,081,402 $51,091,848 $1,603,719 BookletscontalnincfMil report of the Annual Keport, held March 5th 1908, are being publUhea and will be distributed amoas Policyholders in due course. « j- CHAPTER III. The we ghl of the inert boily oppres.s- eJ mi', anil in striving to exlncule my- .sell it .slipi)<'d from Ihe couch and slid Ui the ground. I raised myself quickly, not kn-nv- ing whelher next moment 1, too, might U.' struck down. Til,' fiiint iouiid of s:mie one moving sleiilthily a.^riss Ihe th-ick-pile carpet ciiu.sed n)e to .sit rigl<l, holding my brealh. I heiiid Ihe movement dislinct- l.v. an.l curiously enough it .s^mndoil as Hough it were a woman, tor Iher-- wiis just a faint rustling as though her .skirl.s IrailisJ u|>oii Ihe ground. My (lu'ck <'iir told me Ihiit Ihe peisin was nupMaching. Piy the panUng brealh 1 Un.'W that it wa.s tlio a.s.sa.s-iiii. Was 1, too, to full 11 victim? I tiicd to call old.. 1 ul in Ih.d moment of agony iind horror my tongue ri'fus'd In articulate. It seemed to cleave to the i>cnf of my mouth. The .s<niiid of movement cea.sed. and I knew that Ihe person was ciuilc c!o.se to mi". My eyes were wide open, held Hxed ijl exi)ecl:int horror. 1 felt a wTi'in breath U|xm my ch«M!ks, and knew thiit Ihe unkiKiwn n.ssiis'sin wiLS i>eering into my eyes. Next mo- ment 1 had im instinctive feeling of s unelhing being held a few inches from my face. in an instant the words thai had been SiH)ken by my prolcclres.s recurred lo me. .She had deeliiTod lo her oompan- i<.ns that 1 was blind, and urged them to lest me by holding sotnething to my head. This was now being done. The truth of my stalemcnt was Ijeing pwived, pas- sibly by a revolver being held to my bmw. If so. my only chance of safely rested in unflinching cixilness. tMy po- .silion was certainly a most unenviable one. For a few moments the panting heart of the a.ssnssin thumped close lo me; then, aparenlly satisfied, the unknown person moved off in silence wilhoal uttering a singU' word. My first impulse wa.s to jump up and arrest the progre.-vs of tho a.ssas8in, but oâ- ^ ren<x"tion I saw that lo do so would cnly l>e to invite death. What could 1 <lo. blind as I wa.s7 Only could I sit and lialon, trying lo distinguish every detail of the mystery. Yes. I became convinced more than ever that the person liNivIng the room was not a manâ€" but a woman. C^iuld it be Ihe same individual whi.se oool, sympathetic hdud had only a rjuar^ ter of an lyiur lcf< re .s<,olh<'i| niy biviw? 'Ihe Ihouglil hold me dumbfounded. 1 had all along be.lii'vcd Iliat the a.s- sa.ss;n had been a uiaii, but it was cer- ium by the swi.sh of silken flounces that it was a woman. .\s I listened I h.'aid the click of an eloclric-lighl .switch at the d'jor .if Ihe n^om, and a Cuujile of minutes laler a hea\y d'.)or clo.sed. Kwm Ihe bang of the knocker I know that the stn'etdo. r had bien shut by some i>erson who had left the hou.se. 1 sliU sat li.slening. All was .silent. Only tho low ti'^king of Ih-* clock bwke the dead stillness of llic night. The mysterious w iman who had thu.s made lii'i- oxit had evid.Milly .swil'liod off the liglil, leavuig mo in total darkness with 111," liid<Min evidences of li.-r crime. F ir some short time !<uig,T I listen- ft.i my ears o|xmi lo ciitrh every sound, but hearing nothing, 1 now knew Ihal 1 was alone. Tlierrfoie. rising to my feet. 1 gropiKl about until my hands tciuched Ihe pros'ralc body of Ihe man. and as I did so he heaved a long sigh. and a quick shudder ran thiMiigh his frame. Th<' wound had evidently not caused inslimt dealh, but. placing my band quickly over Ihe heart. 1 fouiul that it had now coucd its tealing with the final .'^pasm. Slowly, and with utmost care, I pa.ss- ed both my hands ov't Ihe dead man's face in <irder to <iblain .some mental picture of his appearance. His hair seemed thick and well parted at the side, his features llio.sc of a young man shaven save for Ihe moustache, which was long and well Irainixi. Ho was in evening clolhffi, and wore in his shirt a single stud, which, to my touch. S(enied of very peculiar shape. I tried to make out its design, but in vain, when .suddenly I remembered that if I lcK)k it. it might afterwards give me â- some clue to its dead owner'.s identity. S<. I look it from the stiff shirt-ft>onl and placed it in the |>ocket of my vesl. His Wiiteh-chnin was an ordin.'uv curb. I found, with a watch which Ifd Ihe grefl.«y feel of silver. In his /Kiclf- els were a couple of sovereigns and some loose silver, hut no lellers nor canl-case. nothing indc«d lo lend me to a knowledge of who he real'y "'"'â-  '" one i>ocket I found a .wall rcneilcn,^. and thus I also took for my own i)iir- pc.ses. Half a do7/'n Hrnes / ;>l"eed my hand upon hi.s heart whence the blood was Riowlv 'otini? I'"' ^^'''^ "'"'' "" "'°*'*" men'. The lilew had Nvn aimed with st'ch lerriW prei'fsion th.it he had be<* siru'k down ere he cjuld utter a sing-, word. .My invtviligations showed Ihal he wa.» aLxiul twenly-eighl yeurs of ago; pr«» Liibly fair, by the softness of the hat"; and moustache, wilh even Iccth. ralhc^ shnrp jaw-bones and cheeks a trilM Ihin. Having asceiliiined this much, groped forward with b ith liands in thy dire.tion of the i^jom whoiein the wi* n:nn had be<>n so swiftly done to ;ieat.^. II WHS in <larkness. 1 have no doub- , but to nic darkness was of no accoun., for I was ever in ohrnal gloom. 'I'hti furniliiio over which I stumbled hcra. and Ihere was covered with silk br"^ cade. Ihe woodwork being of thcBl snioolhiii'ss which had lixi me to bellev.Â¥ that it must be gilded. II was without doubt a fine spacious drawing-room where 1 had loen lying, for Ihe dimer. sions of Ihe i)hiee were quite unusua.* and the objects with which my hand ' ciuiu' into contact were always of chdiacter magnificent, and in kcopin â- , will) the grandeur of Ihe place. ThvJ" h ius<! WHS evidently one of those flnt- mansions with which Ihe West End o, I/ondon ab-mnds, and certainly tht. apartiiienl. even though I could not se»> It, was the acme of comfort and '•â- â€¢.• ury. (To be C:ont'nued.) WOULD Si:iT HIM E\ .fTI.V. Mr. Ilewligusâ€" Yes. I w-<nl a Ixiy 14 lake «rarc of my Imr-es. ^un errands, and do any other kind ••" work that's needed on tho prenii.- â-  Have you a recommendation !i^<" .*<•""' '"•'•' >•'"'â-  ploycr? Applicniil Jor jo- -Yes. su- The last man I worked .^r was .ild Hunks. He sny,s I ain't •\-utli jHjwder enough to blow me up. ,\fr. Hcwligu-â€" â-  II lake you. .â- iiTn CTI.Y I.OCir..M.. "I gue.'s lh(» business of putting new c/ivors on ol' books is oii<.' which has never more .han a li'tnporary depres- si<in." "What ma.«es vou think that?" "Isn't it naturally on the rebound." Mtigginsâ€" "I am surpri.se I tliat yoil believe the story Brown ju.sl lol.l us. Why. I wouldn't beli< ve it if I told it my.-Mdf." Huggins-"Oh, well, in that case neither would I."