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r\ â- â™¦â€¢o>^ofo-fa4'0>«-f«*o-f»>»^»-fo^o-f»4-«4-o<»-«-»-»+«-»-o-»-o«| A House of I^ystcry OR, THE GIRL IN BLUE ft>a>»4«^<>4«4«4»-f «+«>»> 4-0<) 0-KH-«-»-OfO-f«f»>0>«-Ha-< CHAPTER XXVIII.â€" (Cont'd) "To talk like that is useless," she responded. ''Uemember that he knows something." "Soinebhing, yes. But what?" "Ho knows more than we think." "Where is he now I" "Nobody can discover. I saw him occe, but he has disappeared. They say he's a wandering lunatic. He left U-jubury suddenly after showing signs of madness, and al- thfuigh that terror of a woman, his wife, strove to trace him, she was unsuccossful. His insanity, coupled with the fact that financial ruin overtook him suddenly apparently preyed upon her mind. She fell ill, and according to a letter I received fiom Gedge a few days ago, she died suddenly of an aneurism, and was buried last Thursday at Bud- li.-igh Saltertoii. The announce- ment of her death was in yester- day's papers." I listened to those words open- mouthed. My wife was dead ! 'Then \ 1 was free ! I With m> strained ear close to the ' thin wood of the door I stood breathless, fearing that they might distinguish the rapid beating of my! heart. "Your ingenuity has always been' extraordinary, madame," he said, reflectively, "but in this last affair you have not shown your usual tact." I "In what manner?" "His Highness places confidence' m you, yet you sit idly here, and , profess yourself unable to assist | Him." "A warrant is out against you;! nevertheless, you still consider the Prince your friend. That is curi- ous!" she remarked, with a touch of sarcasm. "Most certainly. It was Oustro- nioff's doings. His Highness is powerless to control the Ministry of Police." "And you believe that you will be safe in England?" she inquired du- biously. "I believe so, providing that I exercise care," he responded. A{- <cr to-night it is best that we should remain strangers â€" you under- stanM" "Of course." "And Mrs. Anson and her charge? Are they at a safe distance?" "Yes. When I met Heaton he in- C)uired after them. He particularly wished to discover the..i, and of course I assisted him." They both laughed in chorus. But her words in theniH('.-"s were suflicient proof that she feared the result of <jur re-uiiion. They im- pressed upon nie the truth of my suspicion, namely, that Mabel held the key to the enigma. "What does he know?" asked the man, evidently referring to me. "Ho is aware of the spot yhere the affair took place," she answer- ed. "What?" gasped her companion in alarm. "That can't bo. He was stone blind, you said!" "Certainly he was. But by some meansâ€" how, I can't say â€" ho ascer- tained at least one fact." "Did "lie make any remark to you?" "Of course ho did. He gave mo to understand that he was acquaint- ed with the details of the whole af- fair." A long silence fell between them. The mention of Mrs. Anson and her charge held mc breathless. The "charge" referred to was evidently Mabel. I only hoped that from this conversation 1 might obtain S(mio clue to the whereabouts of my dar- ling. "I wonder how much Heaton really does know?" observed her visitor reflectively at last. "To much, I fear," she answer- ed. No doubt she roeoliectod how I had expressed my determination to gi> to Scotland Yard. Again there was a prolonged pause. "Uoesch has arrived in London. I must see him, ' exclaimed the man. "In London? I thought he was R'Jll at his post in the Ministry at Bofin," she said in a ton;; of aur- prir<e. "He W8 8 fortunate enough to ob- tain early intimation of Oustrijni- off's intention.'?, and after warning me, escaped the same evening. Ho tf)()k stoamer, I hoard, froai Trieste to London." "Why a.'isociate yourself further with that man?" she urged. "Sure- ly it will only add to the danger." "What concerns myself likewise concerns him," he answered rather ambiguously. "You have apparently of late be- come closer friends. For what rea- son ?" "You will see later." "With some distinctly evil pur- pose, I have no doubt," she observ- ed, "but remember that I have no further interest in any of your fu- ture schemes." He grunted dubiously. "Now that you think our for- tunes have changed you contem- plate deserting us, eh?" he snap- ped. "A single word to the Prince and you would conclude your ca- reer rather abruptly, I'm think- ing." "Is that intended as a threat?" she inquired in a calm voice. "Take it as such if you wish," the man responded angrily. "Through your confounded bungling you've brought exposure upon us. We have ciily you to thank for it. You know me quite well enough to be aware that when I make threats they are , never idle ones." | "And you are sufficiently well ac- | quainted with mo to know that I never run unnecessary risks." "I know you to be a devilishly clever woman," he said. "But in your dealings with that man Hea- ton you showed weakness â€" a cow- ard's weakness. All that he knows is through your own folly. You attempted to mislead him by your actions and letters, but he has, it seems, been a little too shrewd for y.u." "And if he does know the truth â€" even, indeed, if he dared to inform the police â€" what direct evidence can he give, pray?" she queried. "He was blind, and therefore saw nothing. He is now mad, and no- body will believe him." "Even though he may be an idiot Lis mouth is hotter closed," her companion growled. His words startled mc. This un- seen man's intention was apparent- ly to make a further attempt upon ir.y life. But I chuckled within my- self. Forewarned is forearmed. Just at that moment I heard the waiter tap at the door, and open- ing it, announce the arrival of an- other visitor â€" a Mr. Roesch. "Why, I wonder, has he sought you here?" exclaimed the man when the waiter had gone. "He must have some important news!" Next moment the door was again thrown open, and the new arrival entered. All three spoke quickly together in a foreign tongue. The man Roesch then made a brief statement which apparently held his two com- panions for some moments speech- less in alarm. Then again they all commenced talking in low confiden- tial tones in that strange language â€" Slav I believe it was. Whatever it might have been, and although I understood no word cf it, it brought back vividly to my | memory the indelible recollection of the night of the tragedy at The Bol- ton s. I listened attentively. Yes, there was no mistake â€" those tones were familiar. That trio of voices were the same that with my sharpened ears I had overheard conversing in the inner room immediately before the commission of the crime. I have said tliat my nerves were shattered. All the past was a tor- turing memory to me, but the quintessence of that torture vms my failure to discover my love. I be- lieved that she alone covdd supply the solution of the enigma, and what truth tliere was in that su- spicion you shall duly see. The three voices continued to speak in that foreign tongue for perhaps half an hour, during which period I was unable to form any idea of the trend of the newcomer's announcement. Then I heard the visitors taking their leave, apparently with many of those gesticulated reassurances ff respect which niark the shallow foreigner. I e.\tinguished my light and opened my do.ir cautiously. As they passed on their way down the corridor I succeeded in obtaining a very good view of the interesting pair. They were calking together, and I distinguished the man who had first called upon Edna by his deep voice. He was a short, thick- set, black-bearded man of forty, well dressed in black, with a heavy gold albert acrviss his ample vest. His companion, wliose name was apparently Koosoh, was consider- older, about fifty-hve or so, of spare build, erect, tliin-f'iccd. with long grey whiskers descending from ei- ther cheek and sliaven chin. He wore a frock-coat and silk hat, and was of a type altogether superior t': his companion. The woman Grainger's coffee was brought to her as usual in the morn- ing, but about ten o'clock sho rang again, and wiicu the chambermaid responded, said â€" "Here are two letters. Post them for me in the box in the bureau, and tell thorn to send my hill at once. I leave at ten forty- five." "Yes'm." And the girl departed to post the letters. To whom, I wondered, were those letters addressed? Within my mind I strove to devise some plan where- by I could obtain a glance at the addresses. The box, however, was only at the foot of the stairs, there- fore ere I could resolve upon any plan the girl had dropped them into it, and I heard her linen flounces beating along the corridor again. Those letters ^vere in the post, and beyond my reach. She had written those two mis- sives during the night, and after the departure of her visitors. They had, no doubt, some connection with the matter which the trio had «. earnestly discussed in that tan- talizing foreign tongue. In hesitancy I remained some lit- tle time, then a sudden thought oc- curred to me. I addressed an en- velope to the hall -porter of my club, enclosing a blank sheet of paper, and then descending, post- ed it. The box was placed outside the bureau, and the instant I had dropped the letter in I turned, as though in anger with myself, and, entering the bureau, said to the clerk â€" "I've unfortunately posted a let- ter without a stamp. Have you the key of the box?" "The box belongs to the Post Office, sir," he answered. "But we hare a key to it." "Then I should esteem it a favor if you would recover my letter for me. It is most important that the addressee should not be charged for its postage. I regret that my ab- sent-mindedness should give you this trouble." The clerk took the key from a drawer at the end of the bureau, and opening the box, took out the half-dozon or so letters which it contained, and spread them upon tlie desk. Among tliern were two square, pale-blue envelopes. As I took my own letter and affixed a stamp I glanced eagerly at the ad- dresses of both. One bore the superscription : "Mr. P. CJechkuloff, 98 King Hen- ry's Road, Hampstead, N.W." Upon the other were the words which caused my heart to leap joy- fully within me. They were â€" '•Miss Mabel Anson, Langham Hotel, London." 1 posted ray letter, hurried up stairs, and paid my bill. Kdua had already packed her trunk, but had changed hor mind, and (lid not Intend leaving Hull tl'at day. I heard her inform the ciiamberinaid uf her intention of re- r.aiiiiiig, then I left tlio hotel, and caught the ton forty-five express fur Lond(jn. (To be Continued.) The bare idea of getting bald is distasteful to any man. DEVICE TO RECOVER GOLD. Sunk 100 Yean* Ago in 8 British Warship. To the mouth of the River Colne, ofl Brightlingsee, England, an ex- traordinary machine was towed r.nd anchored the other day. It is t^ be used in a final attempt to re- cover the .$2,jOa,oOO treasure of gold, in c.)ins and bars, which is said to have gone down in the Brit- ish warship Lutine in 1797, near the Island of Terschelling, off the cost c( Holland. A portion of the treasure has been recovered, but an orditiary dredging plant ia now useless, as the vessel has sunk into the sand. The new device is a great st_el tube nearly 100 feet in length, and wide enough to allow a man to walk erect down its centre. At one end is a metal chamber provided with win- diws and doors, and at the other u medley of giant hooks and other tackle. The appartus has just been com- pleted, after years of work, by Messrs. Forrest and Co., shipbuild- ers, in their Wyvenhoe yard. "Ona end of the tube," explained a mem- ber of the firm, "will be clamped to the side of a steamship or barge. The other end, by means of water ballast tanks, will be sunk until it touches the bottom. Then, by means (if compressed air, all the water will be forced from the chamber at the tcttom of it, which will be flush upon the bed of the sea. "Divers will walk down a stair- way in the centre of the tube until they reach the submerged chamber. Here they will don their diving cos- tumes, and, opening a series of watertight doors, will step straight cut into the water. Engineers will he stationed in the chamber, and following the instructions of the div- ( !s, »vho will communicate with them by means of portable tele- phones, they will operate the mech- j'.nism of two powerful suction pumps or dredges which are fitted tc the sides of the tube. These dredgers, it is hoped, w^ill suck away the sand around the sides of tlie heavy chamber uutil it gradu- ally sinks by its own weight right down on the dock of the wrecked si ip. Then the divers, making their way from the chamber to the deck of the ship, and thence to the hold, will be able to transfer the treasure from the ship to the cham- ber by easy stages." The great ocean liuer rolled and pitched. "Henry," faltered the young bride, "do you still love me i" "Mfire than ever, darling," was Henrys fervent answer. Then there was an eloquent silence. "Henry," she gasped, turning her pale, ghastly face away, "I thought that would make me feel better, but it doesn't 1" 250,000 Acre uction! RICHEST CANADA ^WHEAT LAND of THE SASKATOON & WESTERN LAND CO., Ltd. To Be Offered at City of R^egina October 12-13-14-15-16-17. FREE RAILROAD ROUND TRIP FOR BUYERS. Iloro are IkhiIh that are near rnllroadi, nearly all wltliln »c» nill^s of an ui>-to-<lat« railroad, to he of- fprcd at allelic. n. They huvo been retailing at JIO to Its per arre. tint, tliftro are niiiny tracts tliat would he liarpalnji at f'O. Tlie Sasltijtoon & Western Land Co., Ltd., prijfurs to wtaolmnlp 2.10,000 acres of Its holdlnts In the Iienrl of SniiknIuhcwiiB, and will thercfoip ulTer for sale tills number of acres at tills liiiportant sale. Who knows hut that some of these rich, fertile \crea may be your* on a low bid ? You do not liiiva to live on tills land to (fiit tho big bargain value, llio market Is rIslnK. Ttiesi; lands are a bl» paylnB Investnifnt for tho city inan as well us the farmer. Make your plans to go now. Arrange yoiir Ixisl- iioss so yiKi can bo In floKlna October 12, when The Saskatoon & Western l.aml Co.'s .sale starts. Or ko to Heiflna and gret on tlie land n tcyr dnyN iirevloii* lu Oelober 12, ho as to kbI hi iiiialntcd with the (jrcat tract and clclermlno what l.xatlon you prefer. So fiii' us Is possihli' wi! will Bcccimmiidati' liuytTS by put tin;; up at any time any special quarter, half or whole liictlon. We Mapply fret' iiinps of every acre ne «wu tn tlic henrt of Snakntche^'BU. If you desire more coniideto advance Infirmatlon, Bend to our UcKhia oITlcc for Large Map and 90-page Book Free. Our ninp shows enrh and every Koctlon we own. [t gives you a Irue pleitire of our lioliltnffs. It shows just how wo selected the must fertile and beat lo- I'Ofed acres availHhIe In the entire rroviiice of H:i3- katchewan. It shows how Ideally tlic! lands are sltii- lite â€" liow nenr ItPKlna, how convenient to WInnlpcs jind the Rrnin and stork markets, and the excolient niihvay fdcllltlcs Kree. AVrltc for tlic map to Tho M.iskatoon Si Western l..and Co., I..lcl., IteRlna, fciaa- katclicwan, ("anada. Mnr book Is a storehouse of Information on West- ern Canada grain lands, fiontalrs ninety pages, .-ind iiianv faithful phototrraphs of land, itoiih, homrn, and features of interest In the l.»art of .'Saskatche- wan. It lists all our property by ijuarler Hections. Free. We want to .seiul It to you. Write for It to The Saskatoon & Western l^ind Co.'s olBce In Ilc- Klna, Suakutchewan. t:?aiiada. The Saskatoon & Western Land Co.'s Land is Extra Choice Grain Land. You Get Title From the Crown â€" An Indisputable Title, The .Saskatoon & Western t^and <,'•â- ., Ltd., hud the pick of 3,000,000 acres of best Suakiitchewau jirnlrle lands. We took in our Kraut extra eliulee acre.s â€" niit all In one conlliuioii.'« piece, but a wectioii here and there, ho as to get the most fertile, flui deepest soil, Kround free frcin houldorH, with host water, near railways â€" In fail, hiiid ready for the ploiiRh. nady to yield the gulden h.arvest and make prollts from the very llrst. Think of it ! CnO.OOO acre* of these lands to be offered nt public auction. THE AUCTION. The Saskatoon & Western l.aud Co.'s auction will he held ut HrRliia, Snukulelifnani Canniln. Nowhere else. It will be lu'ld In Tin- tiuska'toon & W»Bt.'-rn I, nod Co.'a own pavilion â€" nowhere oLso. It will he held October I.', 1,1. 14. 15. 10. 17. Heincmber thoKe dalm. l>c'n'l net there late. Be on hand oo'ly. Don't buy. nailer iiiiy ( Ireiinint ..iveN. of ttuyoue iiutll the miction in on â€" ni» uintter nliaf you hrnr. The Sar katoon «t West'Tn Land Co.'fi l.-xnd Is exlia choice. Don't lake somebody olso's word that they have land "Ju.st aa eood " Tli!'i land was ospooLilly selectedâ€" Its title Is from tlie Ci-own. The teriiia of p.iyn>ent will he the fjili-- fi.sl. Vi'U v,ill be doiilliiK with, a WiaUliy company that w*".!! always st.ii.l belilnd every promls- and give you tho mmt liberal treatment you can ask. Tlie c-oijipany rcscrvoii tho rfK'.it to withdr.aw any of tha lands from Kn]e. Re on liaiMl nl IteKlua for llie fircnl I. and .\ucllon, nud reuirnilx-r, fStiir.e nrho Iter freelvr refund of inultrr mbelher tiiey li;i!d lioniencekerx' exclir«li>n (!ckc(ii m' i-e.-rnlr.r Ih-.-.t-eln -in retiiru llekclx. !>'. ouly III Tlie SaNkntiiou iV Weiitein Land Co., Ltd., Ilesrlnn, Siiskn!elie«nn. ( rinnd:i. ^SnUe our ofdee TERMS. 10 per eent. of t!<e pureliase priee at time of aale* bnlcnce of resolar flmt payment uC $3.00 per acre la ten dayx, rrinalader In rliiht equal annnnl InalalU menta, Mlth Interent nt 4 per cent. Survey leen of 10 eentN per acre, pnyable nllli last Installment, and without lutcrrat. Upon a parcel bi hiK knocked down, the hlddei .shall Immediately make the deposit of 10 per cent. of tho purchase price with the Clerk of Sale. Other- wise the parcel may be put up atraln or withdrawal trum sale. One Crop Will More Than Pay For the Land. Fie-ure II out yourself. Tli- averase Saskatchewan yl"ld Is: Wheat, from 20 to ii.'i bushels per acre; oats, from 30 to 15 bushels i>er acre; barley, from 20 to .10 bushels per acre -and so on. Free Railroad Fare to Buyers. Every purchaser of 160 acres or more of The Sas- katoon & Western Ij<nd r^o.'s land will have tho en- tire pri â- Â« of his railroad tr.ansportation paid back to iiliii. Veil buy your ticket on the very low honie- seok'-'rs' rates all tho roads slve. and we pay It back. That t'l an inducement for you to euine to tlio auctlva and to bny now. When iiiiichiising yoUT railroad ticket, fret a rc,",u- lar rnl!r;>ad receipt from the railroad asent, showing the point from which you start and the tt.nonr.t paid, also the name of the rnilroad rompnnv. lli« date piirchnscd nrtA the si;;n.ature of tVie railroad agent. Railroad Bates, E-KciirDions, Etc. <>o Soiitt iiiber US Tail:\n\K itxce b >o:rseekerH' ei- ei.-.'»tnn tickets fcp 93.*. T.*. frum polstH lit Onlnrio <,v..| Qi. ;!.»•;• to llPKina, SbmU, A»k tokt tfckft nn-nt tot im-IU-iilarx. fill r tr.rf paid both to iiert fee-.n llcKlnn. »« lie fiirlhi r lufariMTKIva, Uolcl.i. e;o,. irrlle ihc»re yoi.r hc.id«i(ir:r*. i-n. >l The Saskatoon & Western L'A.nd Co. Ltd., City of JRegina, Province of iL :,3::a?c::o wan, Ccl .