Hie K ontlyKe Go d Myslery
By JOHN R. A1USICK
Author ol ".Mysterlou Mr. Howard" "Tin
Dark Stranger" "Cliarllo Atlendale't
Double" titc.
CopjtUht 1:97 It Hodirt Uoxxtn'a Sot.
All rights reierTtf.
CHAPTER I.
Stranga Information.
From tho flowory Holds of Califor-
nia (o U10 bnrron region of tho Klon-
dyke from 18)0 to 1807 Is n wlilo
reach lint tlio gulf of tlmo Ih bridged
over and tlio hopes nml fears of
thousands of hearts follow tlio ur-
gonnuts who go to search for tlio
roldcn flroro In tlio confines of tlio
Arctic Clrclo. ns thoy illil forty-eight
years ngo tlio California prospectors.
Tlio real story of tlio discovery of
gold on tho Klondyho Is not generally
Iinowii and to unrnvol that mystery
Is (ho purpose of this story.
On a certain night ahoul throo years
nno Inst May flvu niun wore seated
about a camp tiro liullt undor tho
iioulh Hide of a cliff atnoiiK some pino
1 1 ccs near tho hanks of the Yukon
river fifteen miles above Dawson City
As iiomo of this party hnvo become
well known by tho development of
tho Klondyko gold fields It will be
as well to Inliodiico them to the rct-.d-or
bofc.ro wo proceoil with our story.
That law man dressed in inooso-sUlu
coat anil troupers with a bear shin
thrown oer his shouldurs was onro
will kromi In the great northwest as
tho mist dailiiK hunter minor and
adventurer In nil Alaska. lie wnB
as honnrnblo as he was bravo and as
l.lnd hearted as ho was sullen. IU11
name was .lack Halston but nloiiK the
Yukon he wns commonly known as
"alum Knlstun."
Unlston wit3 onco an Amcrlcnn
Ho v.ns getting along In years for
his hair wno growing froHty yet hla
frnmo was still Btrong and his heart
had not abandoned Its hope.
Gri.rgo W. Cormnek or "Lucky
George" no tlio miners nlcknnmed
him sat on tho log Just opposite
flltim Ralston George was an Kng-
.'Sninan a bravo adventurous fellow
who was also an expert miner. Per-
haps It was his knowledge of geology
and mining that tended to his ituc
ccria. r.ovcrtholosH tlio mlncru at-
tilluted It to luck.
Old JMvora was a iiinn of Uilrty
with pnlo bluo eyes and sandy com-
plexion. Old lind hnd coiisldcrablo
o.xpprioiico as a hunter and prospect-
or but In tho miner's pnrlnnco had
never-titruck It rich.
Porter Allen or "Big Port." was a
Riant In ulzo bciiiK over six feet In
height with broad shoulders nnd sin-
wn of steel. Ho was rorty his hair
mid Jong bfrard. quite grizzled with
tlmo a: d exposure.
Tlio fifth was a young man of
twont-two or twenty-three years of
ago with tho freshness of youth and
iimoccr.co still on his face. Whllo his
older companions were smoking their
pipes the younger man of tlio party
gazed abstractedly Into the glowing
lire. Ills mind went hack over the
mountains rivers nnd sens to his
quiet little homo In Fresno whore
he had left his widowed mother denr
to his heart and one still dcaror.
Her name was I.aura Kean. Thoy
wero lovers and betrothed.
Whllo ho sat gazing into the fire
and scolng only tho woll-boloved faco
of his betrothed his companions toast-
ed and ato their suppers and talked
of their present situation.
"fllrm how long ye been in Alas-
ka?" asked Lucky George.
"It's now twonly-ono years."
"An' never been back to tho
States?-
"No."
"Aro you over goln'?"
"Don't know.' ho answered with a
sigh. "It'll bo llko goln" back to a
graveyard now. Most evorybody I
knew'n dead. If " but ho did not
finish the sentence His wrnthor-bent-en
eye seemed to gleam with softer
light ns ho gazed Into the fire nnd
Old Myora thought ho saw a shade
of. moisture gathering thore.
"Clluni you otten promised us you
would tell jour own story somotliuo
how you camo hero nnd why you
have spent nil those ears in Alaska.
Why not tell now?" naked Lucky
Oeorge
Glum movod ui:oaslly on tho log on
which ho was sitting and clonrlng
his throat said:
"Hoys 'taln't much of a yarn whon
it's spun. I camo to Alaska In '73 In
tho sealln' sc.iooner Klennor.' We
1 1 ml good officers and crow an' tho
sun novor shone on a better man than
our captain. Wo all loved him nnd
would .hnvo died for him.
"Well wo had no luck sealing and
the captain and sailors wont with a
party of Indians who bald they know
whore gold could bo found. 1 didn't
bollevo them nnd wouldn't go. Hut
ho asked mo not to leavo Alaska
till ho camo back and I promised.
"At tho ond of six months an ox-
jilorln' party camo back with tho cap
o' 0110 o' tho sailors which thoy had
found on the snow sovoral days' Jour-
Jioy away.
"Winter was on us nnd wo ran Into
Sitka whoro wo anchored until spring.
It was a hard winter and I have
often wondered why wo didn't all die
but all but two pulled through and
when spring came on an' tho captain
hadn't hovo to In sight tho first mate
raid ho was going hack with tho ship.
They triod to make tno go but I'd
promised tho captain I'd Btay until
ho camo back.
"Our ship sailed away an' I stayed
around tho town for a whllo an tboc
went on a crulso with souii hunters.
Wo branched off Into Uo woods. I
didn't tell tho story of my captain
nnd tho Injun chief with tho gold
bends for a good many yours. Then
I went Into tho Interior to try to
find him. I got In with somo mooso
hunters nnd traveled ono wholo sum-
mer nnd part of a winter and nearly
starved mi' froze a hundred times
but not a word could I hear of him
so 1 Biipposo I rid di ')ined to mnko
my Inst voyage from this port. Whon
I meet my captain on that unknown
sea to which wo nro all steerln' I'll
toll him I kopt my promise"
Whon tho ox-sallor hnd finished his
story n sllenco fell on tho group. No
ono spoko for sovcrnl minutes.
Tho youth known only by the
sobriquet of "Crnck Lash" sat gazing
abstractedly Into tho fire llo hnd
heard no pnrt of tho story for his
mind wnB still on his fnr-away home
wnore dwolt mother anil tho fnlr
being who hnd promlBOd to bo his
wife for whom ho hnd braved tho
dangers of tho wllderuoss.
At early morn the llttlo enmp on
the Yukon wiib astir. Paul was tho
last to awako. Youth Is henlthful
and Innocent so sleep llugors longer
nlxiut Its eyelids than thoso whoso
bullion nro freighted with disease or
minds burdened with cares.
"Where's Oeorge?" asked Old as ho
toasted steaks.
"Iloeu gone those two hours" Big
Port answered.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"That's slrnngo."
Ilroakfaat wns disposed of tho dogs
fed nnd linrnossod and tho pnrty pre-
pared for tholr Journoy up tho river
lo Dawson City then nn insignificant
village nnd yet lucky Oeorgo had not
returned.
As the sun roso higher tho mud nnd
snow mnde trnvol moro uncomfortnblo
yet Paul trudged on uncomplainingly.
Ho could bear any burden or hard-
ship without a murmur when ho re
flected that It was for Laura. Her
presonco gave strength to IiIb arm
and keenness to his eye spurring him
on to efforts moro thnn superhuman.
When thoy halted at noon they wero
compelled to get to leeward of tho
Biuoko to protect themselves from tho
mosquitoes. Hut llttlo hnd been said
of their missing companion. Lucky
Oeorge. Old followed his trail through
tho snow without difficulty and gave
It as his opinion that ho was tfolng
strnlght to Dawson City.
Olum Unlston who had not ex-
pressed nn opinion on tho subject for
somo tlmo at last said:
"Hoys I heard him say somelhln'
one day 'bout goln' up the Klondyho."
"Whnt Tor?" asked Old.
"Said a squaw iiinn told him there
was heaps o' gold along that air
stream."
Olum Infouued him It wns one of
the tributaries of tho Youkon which
had been but very lltt.o-explored. Old
remained with his head bowed for n
few moneiits. his mind lost In thought.
At last ho said:
"lioys HOB tryln' to glvo us tho
slip I a'm nfcard or run a cold deck
on us." snld Old.
"What If ho does asked Port.
"Wo don't lose much."
"Wo might If he struck pay dirt "
said Old.
"Won't wo be just as likely to strike
pay dirt ns Oeorge?"
"No."
"Why?"
"ilecnuao Oeorgo Is alien In luck.
Every tlmo ho draws from tho deck
It's a trump if a feller holds a
straight Oeorge hns a Hush. I'll gam-
ble my dogs an' packs that ho makes
a ten strlck right now."
There wns 11 silence nnd tho men
Bat and Biuoked and steamed to drlvo
away the mosquitoes. At last Paul
broke tho silence by saying:
"If thoro Is gold on tho Klondyho
lot us go nnd find It ourselves."
"Now yor shoulin'" cried the pros-
pectors. "Why not go to the Klon-
dyko ourselvoi?"
"Truth is boys." said Olum "I'vo
never bad any very oxnlted opinion o'
Lucky Oeorgo's honosty. If ho mnkos
a big strike wo can o course como
in for n claim but he'll strike out
tho best an" work on the others with-
out us n-hnowtn' It."
They decided to sot out at once for
the Klondyko. It wns a Journey at-
tended from beginning to ond with
grcnt danger and hardship. Olum
Unlston was tho only member of tholr
party who had been on tho -(ream
and ho nctod as guldo.
Again night camo on and thoy went
Into camp and prepared tholr sup-
pers. Paul was a llttlo disheartened
on this night. Continual disappoint-
ment had mailo him heart-sick. Ills-
Ing to relieve his cramped limbs ho"
turned his back towurd tho flro nnd
ga::od across the wood-covered hill
Into tho darkness beyond. To his sur-
prise ho discovered a glow on tho
woods far in the dlstnnco. For n
momont ho giuod upon it In doubt
nnd then touching Old Myers who
sat near on tho arm he whispered:
"Look oft there. Old In tho direc-
tion 1 am pointing. Don't you see
anything suspicious?" Old Myers did
as directed and said:
"Yos thar's somothin' onnntural
Crack Lash."
"What Is It?"
"Web I'd say It was th glow from
a camp llto llko our own."
"Old mipposo wo go and recon-
noitre. Wo may mako somo discov-
ery." "Keep your oyo3 pooled boys" cau-
tioned Big Port. "It may bo a mighty
sight moro rlsky'n yo think.1'
"Oh let us alono for thnt; wo'll lot
no rod nigger o tho north woods get
the drop on us."
Through tho deiuo wood across ra-
vines snowdrifts and muddy streams
tho two pressed on over hill and dale.
until after thrca hours' painful toIL
thoy camo upon a bond In tho strenm
cnlled tho Klondyko whero on pass-
ing around a spur 9? the cliff nil of n
sudden tho full glaro of torches nnd
flro light fell upon thorn. It was n
strnngo and unexpected sight thnt met
their vlow. A great flro was blazing
to which was nddod tho light of pine
knot torchoB fttuck In tho ground.
Two men wero nt work with picks
shovels nnd pnns. Lato as It wns
dark as it was and tired and hungry
as thoy wero thoy tolled on and on.
"Crack LaBh" Old gasped in a
hoarso whisper "It's Lucky Oeorgo
and tho squaw man Lnttlmor."
"Yos."
"What aro thoy doln'?"
"Digging! Great heaven look nt
tho shining oro! See! tho buckets
anil pans nro full of nuggets and dust.
Oh Old! Old! It's a bonanza!"
"Hush they will hear you."
"I am going to mako myself known
to thoin."
"And be shot?"
"Why should they shoot mo when
wo nro friends? If thoy nro llko sav-
ago  dogs over a bono then wo can
shoot first."
Old consented to go to them. nnd.
advancing to within a hundred paces j
thoy called to tho diggers. At first I
tney wero a llttlo confused lm
Lucky Oeorgo who was n shrowd fol-
low saw It was boat to admit to tha
discovery.
"Como down boys; como down" hu
crlod cheerfully. "I toll you wo hnvo
mado tho greatest striko In tho world.
Look at tho work of a fow hours."
"Oeorgo are thoro moro good
clnlms7"
"Plenty of them. Lot us all sit to
work stake out tho host and got the
very crenm boforo the world finds it
out. Lnttlmor hero put mo onto this;
ho got It from tho Indians."
This was tho discovery of the great
gold fields In tho Klondyko. Lucky
Oeorgo fol tho tip from Luttlmer tho
whlto man with nn Indian wife nnd
hnd determined to work It nlono if ho
could do so but now thnt his friends
hnd found him he decided to mako
tho most of It nnd divide.
Tho others wore sent for nnd
clnlms for nil Btaked out.
Next morning with the dawn of
day Paul began to work his claim.
Fiom the first shovcrful of earth he
began to take out gold. Ills plcu
seemed attracted to tho largest nug
gets nnd his pan wns nlways rich in
oro. Ho washed out a thousand dol-
laru' worth of dust and nuggets to
tho pan. Ho forgot breakfast lunch
or dinner but toiled on. Tho small
moose 1 In bags wore quickly filled
nnd then ho poured tho renewed accu-
mulation Into n water bucket. His
eyes gleamed with tho flro of tho In-
sane nnd in bis mind ho saw only
tho faces of sweetheart and mother
nnd took no thought of rest hcnlth
or tho dnngor which his accumula-
tion brought him.
Thoro was danger hnvcrlng over tho
happy youth. Ills claim was somo
distance up tho stream from tho
others and one day as ho was toll-
ing and heaping up tho golden treas-
ure two pairs of fierce avaricious
eyos glared at him trom the denso
foliage of pines. They watched him
a long tlmo ns ho tolled and then
oxchnnged knowing lookB winks and
smiles which said:
"Lot tho fool toil on. When he has
taken his thousands from the earth
wo will havo it."
After tho first fow days ho stopped
long enough to eat and sleep n few 5l0r nlcBed PIn during which she nn-
hours at n time dreaming of homo 10nce hcr determination of crossing
and of making loved ones thoro happy I tno Atlantic on business and that she
Llttlo did ho dream that a storm lm(1 ln'ovlae(1 liberally for him during
cloud was gathering over tho loved i hor absence as ho would find upon np-
ones at homo and another over his plylns '" IeKon to hcr banker In Lon-
own head threntpnlni tr ml iim. !
self and all most dear to his heart
(To be continued.)
BRIGANDS QUEER IN GREECE.
Treat Prisoner Well But Insist 0!.
Ranson Money
M. Stravalopoulos a young man
who was captured recently by brig-
ands has returned to Athens. Ho
states that as ho wns about to go on
board his yacht at Eghlon ho was ac-
costed by a fashionably dressed
young mnn. who kopt him in conver-
sation whllo four other men crept
up behind him and seized nnd gagged
him. They then carried him off to
tho mountains to which they were
accompanied by tho fashionable
joung man who turned out to be a
notorious brigand chief named Pano-
poulos. M. Stravalopoulos wns taken
to a largo cavern or grotto very com-
fortably furnished whero tho
brigands compelled htm to wrlto to
his rather n rich banker for n ran-
son of X4.000 in gold. His captors
gave him plenty of food nnd wines
nni oven Insisted on his saying hla
prayors twico a day. Thoy also made
him read various Improving books of
which thero wns a largo supply In the
grotto. On tho arrival of tho money
It wns conveyed to n monastery In
tho mountains whoro ono of tho
monks counted It nnd handed It over
to tho robbers. A great feast was
held tho samo ovonlng In tho grotto
and tho brigands becoming Intoxi-
cated tho prisoner mado his escape
and reached the railway after a Jour-
ney of flvo hours on foot. Ho re
turned to tho grotto ns soon as n
forco of police could bo got together
but tho brigands hnd all decamped.
London Globe.
An Unlikely Event.
Desplto tho conclusion of tho Iloer
war It is unlikely that King Edward
will bo known to posterity as Edward
the Conqueror.
It sometimes happens that tho man
who dubs hla houso a castle has tho
moat In his eya.
A WARRIOR
BOD
By st. oeouoe HA'ranonNn
uthoro "Aim itt$ Million:" "Tin Spidir'i
Wtt" "Br Jadt'i ''" "Mill Caprice" tin
Copjtltht. 1901. Streot ana Smith. Now Voil.
'CIIAI'TlMt X.
Tho Oamo of Fox and Geese.
Events wore crowding upon each
other's heels.
Charlie whllo abroad had' seen
something thnt gnvo him quite a statt.
This was nothing moro nor loss than
n lovely womnn with golden hair and
bluo eyes In a carriage taking nn air-
ing while nt her side stiff and stern-
looking tho baron snt.
Charlie bowed politely. The coun-
tess gnvo him a look of curiosity and
ono of hor ravishing smiles.
So she passed out of his life lucky
mill.
Tho sight of Cliarllo recalled to tho
bnron's mind tho promise he hail made
with regard to Capt. Drand.
Accordingly ho took advantage of
his first hour off to set tho wires in
motion and learn certain facts regard
ing tho worthy captain.
Charllo relying on tho bnion to cor-
ral the captain hnd mnde arrange-
ments for sailing upon tho noxt trans-
Atlantic steamer.
Ho hnd engaged passage for Atfllnc
her companion Artemus and hlmsolf.
Tho captain having paid a man to
keep upon Stuart's track found out
whnt was In tho wind.
Ho learned that tho crisis had ar-
rived. Whatever ho proposed doing
must bo put through with all possiblo
speed since cro many hours elap3od
those ngainst whom his schemes wore
directed would bo upon the sen nnd
niajhnp beyond his reach.
Artemus had heard enough to know
tho throo schemers wero planning to
do his friend an ovll turn but strain
his cars as ho would he hnd not been
able to catch tho particulars of tho
gnmo owing to certain sounds in the
hotel that muffled even the bold voices
of Captain Brand's champugno-bibblng
friends.
All ho could do wns to warn Stuart
on general principles and it can be set
down as an assured fact that ho car-
ried out this dranmtlc llttlo episode
quite to tho queen's taste.
It would not havo been Artemus oth-
erwise Charllo promised to keo; his weath-
er eye open for squalls.
Ho hoped his early departure from
Antwerp would serve to entirely dis-
concert tho beggarly plans of his ene
mies nnd leavo the fellow In tho
lurch.
About this tlmo there was consider-
able hustling being done among tho
various forces circling nround Arline
Brand Just as tho planets whirl about
their central sun.
The baron tried to drive from his
mind the startling phantoms that had
been conjured into being by the mys-
terious power of Isolde Countess of
Ilrabant and ns this could only be
dono by means of woik ho gave him-
Belt up to the mission of the hour
With redoubled zeal.
It was really a question what the
icramblo would result in whether
Charlie or tho redoubtable captain
would como out of It in creditablo
shape and how Artemus might faro in
tho shuffle.
Lady Arllno had an Interview with
oon.
Tho interview was possibly not de-
void of dramatic features. Artemus
was on guard near by and heard the
olI sea dog blustering moro or less In
hla usual way.
But ho had evidently lost much of
tho power ho formerly possessed over
Lady Arline. Ho came forth from tho
100ms looking llko an enraged hyena
bec.iuso diplomacy had forced him to
bottle up his wrath.
To Artemus Charllo delegated the
task of seeing Lady Arline nnd her
mnld aboard tho ocean greyhound
where ho would Join them later.
It was night again.
Tlmo and tide wait for no man and
ocean steamers havo to put out very
frequently at unreasonable hours in
order to cross the bar on the flood.
The baron and Captnln Brnnd played
a gnmo of cross-purposes ns It were
for while tho ox-snllor shadowed Char-
lie with Intentions that wero both dark
and desperate he was at tho samo
tlmo undor tho surveillance of Petpr-
hoff's emissary the baron himself be-
ing too busily employed catering to
the comfort of his fair prisoner In
reality his captor to personally Inject
bis Individuality Into tho game.
Captain Brand knew he was fol-
lowed and perhaps could glvo a rough
guess as to tho why and wherefore.
But it was not his nature to be de-
spondent. He belloved In utllzlng whatever
came In his way as ono ot tho forces
that might bring success.
When a mnn can thus twist threat-
ening disasters Into favoring factors
he Is Indeed hard to beat In tho game
ot life.
Charlie was feeling unusually bold
and light-hearted on tills night which
he iupposcd would be his lifst on Eu-
ropean soil.
Presently ho expected to be on board
stanch German llnor vlowlny tho
low shores of the old world with com-
jplacency for at his sldo wouM bo
Lady Arllno; and left behind as a
memory ot tho dead past such persons
as tho professor and his wlfo Baron
Peterhoff Isolde Countess Brabant
and Captain Brand of tho Ilc3pasla.
I lie Intended giving Capt. Broad the
full worth of his money and then by
a fluko dropping him In some section
of old Antwerp whllo ho himself took
a fly and drovo to tho landing stngo In
tlmo to catch tho steamer.
Perhaps this might havo been car-
ried out had circumstances not united
to nrrnngo events in tho captain's
favor.
Charllo had his fun.
He dragged his persistent pursuer
over a good part of Antwerp now
they wore on foot and anon chaBlng In
vehicles nt a paco to set tho staid old
burghers agog with surprise and con-
sternation. Outsldo a deslro to havo a llttlo
sport with his friend tho capialn his
solo purposo in leading Brnnd this
wild-goose chaso was to keep his at-
tor Hon upon himself whllo Lady Ar
llno and Artemus left tho hotel; for
somehow Chnrllo hnd a vaguo fear lost
the resourceful ox-sailor might uso
forco to prevent his supposed daugh-
ter from departing ndvanclng somo
daring plea that her mind was affected
and having hired experts who would
perhaps decree that she should be In-
carcerate In nn nsylum.
Theso things might appear ridicu-
lous but such hnppenlngs havo como
to pass cro now nnd ho chanced to
havo personal knowledge of nt least
ono similar case.
Whether or not Charllo wore foolish
In thus conjuring up phantoms that
could not exist was a question thut
should not bo decided hastily.
Ho believed Brand to be n desperate
man against whom ho could as yet
hardly appeal to the law slnco Arllno
would not givo hcr consent.
Ho was convinced thnt Brand did
not desire tho heiress to get beyond
his reach and would hardly hesitate
at any end in order to hold her until
his sinister plans could bo worked out.
Hcnco It wns after all in a spirit of
Belt-sacrifice that Charlie undertook
to havo n llttlo fun with Capt. Brand
"and led him this fine chaso up and
down the crooked stieets of Antwerp.
All would have been well but for
two cronlc3 of Brand. They chanced
to bo standing at a dark corner whero
tho othor had agreed to meet them
and hearing his signals sprang upon
Charllo ere he comprehended his dan-
ger. As a result ho was struck senseless
by a blow from some blunt weapon.
When Capt. Brand arrived on the
scene his first act was to sprinkle a
powdery white pigment in tho young
man's hair to glvo him the appear-
ance of age and to smear his face with
a little street dirt in order to disguise
his features.
Then for the benefit of the man
whom ho knew hovered near by a lit-
tle one-act. drama was carried out the
two men chasing Brand hither and
yon then' as the baron's spy came In
sight two men running away while
a form lay on tho streot.
It worked like a charm. The emis-
sary of Baron Peterhoff hastened up as
people began to open tho windows of
houses to learn what tho disturbance
might mean. Thero he found ono who
appeared to be tho old fellow ho had
been set to watch.
The man cnlled n vehicle placed the
limp figure In its interior entered him-
self and then started to report tho
astonishing result of his espionage to
Daron Peterhoff himself.
While Capt. Brand rejoining his
Xonfrerc3 down tho shady street set
off in hot haste to get aboard tho
steamer which In another hour or bo
would be moving down the TUver
Sheldt bound for the far-off distant
shores ot America.
Artemus stood on tho hurricane deck
of tho great Bod D oceau liner and
looked back In tho morning sunlight
to tho distant and fast-receding coast
of Belgium.
Homeward bound!
There is always a pleasure in this
thought and Artemus experienced It
with enthusiasm
So far as ho knew Charlie's plans
had progressed all right tho ogro vas
left behind lamenting In tlio land of
the Bolglans nnd clear sailing seemed
ahead.
Then his thoughts ran back to tho
events of tho provlous night. Ho
chuckled to remember the adroitness
with which he had Been Lady Arline
her companion and their luggngo on
board the waiting steamer whllo Char-
lie was leading the ogro a wild-goose
chase around Antwerp partly to
amuso himself and at the same tlmo
keep Brand occupied up to near tho
sailing time.
By tho way whero was Charlie? It
wan strango that ho failed to show
up In time to see the last of Belgium's
shores.
Lndy Arline and her companion
wore walking the deck with jersey and
golf cape to keep oft tho stinging chill.
I'll go and arouse tho sluggnrd"
said Artemus to himself. "His llttlo
Jaunt about town must have worn him
out not tho first case of Its kind I
rather guess" with a sinister lcar at
his wit.
So ho went below.
The door of Charllo's stateroom was
Just opposite his own a single step
across the little passage.
As ho approached ho heard tho
sounds of loud snoring from within.
On tho spur of the moment ho de-
cided to arouse his friend with a sud-
den shout or by tho advent of a con-
venient shoo tossed across the llttlo
room. Artemus had never wholly out-
crown his collego days when ho
gained tho reputation ot being tho
champion practical joker of his class
So he quietly opened the door which
was conveniently unlocked.
Through tho bull's-eyo windows
onouph of tho morning light crept to
allow n fair survey of the miniature
apartment
Ono of tho first things Artemus saw
was a buoo that had been tossed
aside.
As ho selzod upon U eagerly he
failed to note Its generous proportion
as contrasted with tho neat footgeat
which Chnrllo Stuart affocted such
trifles do not .mprcas themselves upon
the mind when weightier things aro
demanding recognition.
Now for a center shot.
Ho turned his nttcntlon to the lower
berth which was occupied by a human
form.
Just then the nnsal sounds came to
a sudden stop with a savage snort nnd
the sleeper whirled ovor on his sldo.
The act brought his faco directly
within rango of tlio morning light that
struggled through tho small opening
beyond.
Np wonder Artemus crouched thora
as If frozen.
Talk about the magic touch of th
genl! When had such a wondorful
transformation over taken placo bo
foro?
For one to retire as Prince Charll
Stuart gay handsome and dobonnlr
to awaken in the gulso of grim and .
grizzled old Captain Brand was a mys-
tory that almost paralyzed tho scekoi
after sensations.
Artemus took ono last fcarsomo look
at tho smooth nnd red physiognomy of
tho sleeper passed out and then soft-
ly closed tho door.
Only when Bafo within his own room
did he give vent to his over-wrought
feelings In a whistle
"Great Jupiter! That beats every-
thing I over saw. Instead of Charllo
tho ogro! What does It mean?
Thoro Is treachery afloat. I seem to
detect It in the very nir around. But
the question arises whoro la Charlie?
And 1 hall I havo to tako his placo as
her warrior bold and will it bo neces-
sary for mo to give up my liberty?"
Poor fellow!
Ho did not know whether to look
on It as a hugo Joko or a grim reality.
Ho thought of warning Arllno; Bho
ought to know her dear papa was on
board and that he had refused to
break tho paternal bonds that had bo
como eo very strong slnco his return
from exile.
Artemus buckled on his armor.
If he was to bo pitted against tho
old ogre It would bo a pretty fight.
Capt. Brand might havo succeeded In
outwitting Charlie who was too frank
for deep diplomacy but ho would find
It quite another thing whon he ran up
against the new knight who had shied
his castor Into tho ring.
Ahl A gentlo .tap at the door.
Artemus almost fell over himself In
his eagerness to open a satchel nnd
clutch a llttlo affair of steol and nickel
which ho carried there and armed
with which ho called:
"Como!"
Tho door opened and a flguro whisk-
ed in Immediately closing tho same
again.
Artemus gavo a cry the half-raised
arm foil useless at his side.
There was moro witchery. He had
expected tho old ogre armed with a
shoe and bent upon turning tho tables
upon him.
Instead ho saw why Charlie of
course though at first Artemus reck-
oned it his ghost! Charllo with a Ci
ger pressed mysteriously on his lips
a la Artemus' favorite stylo of com-
municating a secret and his faco
wreathed in what appeared to bo a
broad grin.
At any rate Barnaby was delighted
to see him in the flesh and as soon as
ho could got his wits Into thinking or-
der he dropped tho weapon and hold
out an eager hand.
"This is a treat my dear boy after
seeing that grim old Trojan in your
bunk. What havo you dono? Brought
him aboard a prisoner I reckon? Ah!
I didn't glvo you enough credit I fear.
You see my first impression was ho
had outwitted you and turned tho ta-
bles on you."
Artemus was boiling over with curi-
osity regarding what had taken placo
ashore especially when his friend de-
clared with a wry face that Capt.
Brand had Indeed como near proving
too much for him.
The story was soon told.
(To bo continued.)
KING OF SWEDEN AND NORWAY.
Oscar Ond of the Best Rulers Wha
Ever Sat Upon a Throne.
If all earthly rulers and potentates
wero of tho character and temper ot
King Ostar of Sweden tho lino about
tho uneasy heads that wear crowns
would loso a good part of its signifi-
cance King Oscar Is noted as being
not only one of tho best monarchs who
over sat upon a throne but a3 ono of
tho handsomest most urbano and
courtly of men. Nearly If not quite
six feet six Inches tall finely built and
stately llko King Saul ho towers
"head and shoulders" above most ot
his subjects. Now nearly soventy
years old for thirty years ho has
been tho beloved ruler of tho sturdy
northmen. Tho king Is a deenlv ro.
Uglous man but his" consort tho
queen Is even moro dovout. She Is In-
tensely religious sympathizing with
every good effort -while his second
son Prlnco Bornadotto Is noted
throughout Europe for his philan-
thropy and religious zeal. Ho la tho
president of tho Young Men's Christ-
ian Association of Stockholm tho
chairman of a missionary socloty nnd
of many llko institutions. Ho hns
himself organized a mission to tho
Lapps to whom ho preaches tho gos-
pel as ho frequently does to others
when ho has an opportunity. When
it is remembered that King Oscar Is
tho grandson of Bernadotte a weti-
known marshal of tho first Napoleon
and tho great grandson ot the Em-
press Josephlno whoso daughter by
her first husband married Bernadotte
tho religious character ot this royal
family may seem tho moro remark
ablo. King Oscar has great literary
gifts; ho has published more than ono
volumo of verse and he Is never hap-
pier than waea surrounded by literary
people.
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