Oxford Democrat., 1914-10-06

Ing bis ample supply. His friends said
that three hours was the limit Of time
that he would wear these garments
without exchanging.
Bellchambers disappeared very sud-
denly. For three days his absence
brought no alarm to his friends. and
then they began to operate the usual
methods of inquiry. All Of them fail
ed. he had left absolutely no trace
behind. Then the search for motive
was instituted. but none was found.
he had no enemies. he had no debts.
there was no woman. There were sew
eral thousand dollars In his bank to
his credit. He had never showed any
tendency toward mental eccentricity.
In fact, be was Of particularly calm
and well balanced temperament. Every
means Of tracing the vanished man
was made use of. but without avail. 1t
was one of those cases-more numer.
Gus of late years-where men seem to
have gone out like the fame Of can
die, leaving not even a trail Of smoke
as witness.
In May Tom Eyres and Lancelot Gil
liam. two of Bellchambers' old friends.
went for little run on the other side.
While pottering around In Italy and
Switzerland they happened one day to
hear Of monastery in the Swiss Alps
that promised something outside of the
ordinary tourist beguiling attractions.
The monastery was almost inaccessi.
BILE to the average sightseer. being on
an extremely rugged and precipitous
spur of the mountains. The attractions
It possessed but did not advertise were.
first, an exclusive and divine cordial
made by the monks that was said to
far surpass benedictlne and chartreuse;
next. a huge brass bell. SO purely and
accurately cast that 1t had not ceased
sounding since It was first rung 300
years ago. Finally 1t was asserted
that no Englishman had ever set foot
within its walls. Eyres and Gillian
decided that these three reports called
for investigation.
1t took them two days. with the aid
II two guides. to reuch the monastery
1t st. GOndrau. 1t stood upon fro
,ea. wind swept crag, with the snow
piled about II In treacherous. drifting
masses. They were Hospitality receiv-
oH f,x,< <ha ha, ,x.hn Ittfu ~ q
to entertain the infrequent guests.
They drank Of the precious cordial.
finding 1t rarely potent and reviving
They listened to the great. ever echo
Ing bell and learned that they were
pioneer travellers In those gray stone
walls over the Englishman whose rest
less feet have trodden nearly every
corner Of the earth.
At 8 o'clock on the afternoon they
arrived the two young Gothamites
stood with good Brother. Cristofer In
the great. cold hallway Of the mon.
astery to watch the monks march past
on their way to the refectory. They
came slowly. pacing by twos, with
their heads bowed. treading noiselessly
with sandaled feet upon the rough
stone flags AS the procession slowly
lled past. Eyres suddenly gripped GIL
liam by the arm. Look" he whisper
ed. eagerly. "at the one Just opposite
you now-the one on this side. with his
hand at his waist-if that isn't Johnny
Bellchambers then never saw himv'
Gillian saw ana recognized the lost
glass Of fashion.
what the Deuce" said he. wonder
lngly. rs old Bell doing here? Tommy,
It surely can't be bel Never heard of
Bell having turn for the religious.
Fact Is. I've heard him say things
when four In hand didn't seem to tie
up just right that would bring him up
for court martial before any church"
ats Bell. without q doubt" said
Eyres. firmly. "or I'm pretty badly In