Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-10-25

was the only one VINO was not decided
upon course Of action. In fact. he had
become more and more interested in Miss
Scott, and resented any allusion to the
artiiciality of her complexion as
personal insult. AS they rode down the
narrow trail from Shows into the valley
and all the way to the hotel, Harry tried
in vain to speak to her alone. Immedi-
ately after supper the ladies pleaded
WEAKNESS and retired. Soon after, Tom
and Harry entered their room, and as
Harry took up his great pipe and pre-
pared to smoke, Tom remarked; E" 1 say,
you promised to tell me the history Of
that pipe; why not now9 There is no
time like the present, you know"
Harry laughed nervously. "There is
no history about it," he said, with as
sumed carelessness. "I bought the
bowl plain in Strasburg, and Mrs. Hay
painted it for me in New York"
what, not old Mrs. Hay9 1 didn't
know she could paint"
mo, not old Mrs. Hay-her daugh-
ter-in-law; Susie Andrews was her name
before she was married"
"The Miss Andrews that you used to
write to and rave about when you were
in Europeg'
"The same.''
"But 1 didn't know that she was mar
ried."
"she wasn't when she painted the
pipe"
"But judged that you had intentions
in that direction yourself"
81 did, 2 responded Harry, "but the
intentions were all on my side. You see
she and had always been together
like brother and sister, in fact-and
while felt more than brotherly af-
fection toward her, her love for me was
simply a sisterly regard. When l came
back from Europe and told her, she in
formed me that she was engaged to Char
lie Hay, painted me this pipe bowl, and
advised me to take trip for my health.
We didn't have row, or anything Of
that kind She told me not to come
back till got over it; then she gave me
this pipe bowl, and told me-this is the
queerest part Of it-told me that there
was the girl she wanted me to marry"
"Well2n inquired Tom.
''Well, you know Z By Jove T.
I'd like to do it, " said Harry, with some
hesitation; then gathering courage, he
continued: DO you know, I believe that
Miss Scott is the original of the picture
on my pipe"
Just then there was a knock at the
door, and as Tom opened it a waiter de-
livered to him neat little package
For Mr.. Goddard and Mr.. Arthur.
On top was an envelope directed to the
two gentlemen. Harry tore it open and
glanced at the contents.
What in the mischief 'Betp-
cigarsp p neither Of you preferred 7
Here, Tom, read it; I can't. begin to
see what it means"
Tom took the note, and read as fol-
lows:
GENTLEMEN: AS it viii be next to impos-
sible for you to settle the bet which you
made concerning me, send you box of
cigars, so that neither of you may be the
loser. Ileave the valley tomorrow morning,
and we shall be spared the modification Of
! meeting again. l would drop as a parting
hint that you cannot be too careful to dis
cover what the walls of your rooms are com
posed of before you comment too freely upon
your neighbors. MARIE L. SooTT.
To Mr.. T. G. Arthur and Mr.. Harry God
dard
! Harry sat for a moment as if stunned :;
then stepping to the bureau he slowly
lifted small Spanish stiletto. Tom
sprang forward and grasped his arms.
'sHold on, he cried; "don't be fool /;
you don't want to die yet"
Harry shook himself free; then, with a
quiet smile, he asked: "You didn't
think that was going to kill myself,
did you7 Oh, no; I only want to see
what the wall is made Of" And as he
spoke he thrust the keen blade into the
side of the room. 'Worse than 1 ex-
pected, he said, as he drew it out and
examined the cut. s'Not even a board
partition, only some cheese-cloth stretched
from beam to beam and papered over
She must have heard every word we said.
In future our communications must be
made in writing
Harry sat for {. moment, scrawled a
few words on piece of paper, and
throwing tito Tom, remarking, See to
that, will you2" he grasped his pipe and
left the room. He rushed down the
road to the corral, found his guide, had
his horse saddled, and started off up the
Coulterville trail
"He'll break his neck" muttered the
guide.
But Harry sped on up the narrow path /;
and as from time to time turn of the
trail disclosed a bit of the valley, he
would pause to look. So he galloped
ahead, till, in the gray Of the morning,
when he was but a few miles from Dud-
ley's Mills, where he intended to get a
fresh horse, his own beast, wearied with
the long and hard ride, stumbled and
fell. Harry shot over his head, and far
beyond the edge Of the narrow road
which was cut in the side of the noun
tain. He rolled down over the sharp
rocks, and then all was blank.