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e+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Not Guilty ; +_ @@@@@@@@ Or, A Great Mistake. ++++++++++++++++++++++ k++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Cl [AFTER I. In the. gilded dining-room of the newâ€" est Ritz hotel, two men were seated at a small table. They had made their way leisurely through the, latest triumph of a French dinner. served to a smart Ion- don crowd. and were now conversing easily over their coffee and liqueurs. Though both of them were perfectly turned out. and evidently men of the world. neither seemed entirely the sort of man one would expect to find in such a milieu. From the manners of their neighbors. both men and women, it was evident that these were there quite as much to see and be seen as to line. Our two friends apparently lmcw few in the smart crowd around them and cured little for their proximity. The elder of the couple, a well set-up man of forty-five or so. with a military bearing and rather heavily-lined face. looked up quickly every now and then as some new arrival entered the room, or as a rustling of silk and lace and movement of chairs announced the breaking up of a party at one of the tables, but his glance had in it more of a quietly amused intelligence than in- terest. It seemed almost to say to those upon whom it. rested for a moment, “I know all about you, and I don’t think much of you, but. I‘m not very interested anyway.” ' The younger man, in a different man- ner, implied the same abstraction. Like his companion. he had singularly keen eyes, a kcenness which an occasional lance revealed in a flash that was like the sudden drawing of a sword, but for the most part they had the far-away look and wrinklis at the outside corners which betokcn the man of the open air and huge distances. a theory which his bronzed face and hands and strenuous look gave color to. Evidently a soldier, a man of thirty- thrce or so, he had a noticeable person- ality, though it would have been hard to say precisely in what the attraction lay. With a keen. though good-hu- mored face, aquiline nose. strong chin. small dark moustache, and square jaw. he was no more than merely good-look? lug; yet there were few of the pretty animal in his neighborhood who had not glanced more than on-cein his direc’ tion, and been slightly disappointed that his eyes wandered so seldom. Perhaps their interest lay precisely in this carelessness of their proximity, or more probably in an indescribable air of reserved force and readiness for emer- gency which was his, an air which seemed to say that were something un- toward to occur in that crowded room. he would be the man to turn to. and probably the man who would assume command. “I daresay you are right," he was say- ing. with rather an amused smile, to his companion. whose heavily-lined features ihad expanded under the influence of the creme de month, whose color his quick eyes rather resembled. “You know what you are talking about, but if I had trained my men as yours are trained. with all respect to Scotland Yard. . . ." “ . . . . Rothville would have fallen." returned the other man. smiling. “Pos- sibly; but the cases are quite different. You employed the means suitable to your situation, and you were success- ful. We do the same. here in London, and I flatter myself we do not utterly fail. After all. the theory not mine. It has been built up on the experience of centuries. We find that to know the his- tory of a man is to know what the man is likely to do under certain' circum- stances. \\'ithout conceit. I may say that the criminal population of London is known to us as an open book. A crime committed, we have only to set the heaters to work. narrow down the bounds, and find the particular crimi- nal who is unable to explain his where- abouts lit the particular moment of the crime. That is the broad theory. and to it seems the. best." “And yet to start from the. crime it- self. . . ." “Occasionally we do. In a certain sense always we do !" returned his coni- paniou. “But London is different to South Africa. iuy dear Gordon. The wonderful instinct of the trained scout. ,the science of the displaced leaf, the broken branch. the startled bird. the moving shadow in the distance. the faint print of a flying foot. for South Africaâ€"yes! but in the cmwds of Lon- that there are not. some present in this room who have done time at. some p01“ ioil in their lives. But my theory holds good even in the case you suggest. liven the beginners in crime; even those who seem as remote as it. is pos- sible to conceive from what you call my pets. must inevitably become joined to them by connecting links the moment that they commit a crime. Their very innocence makes them obliged to seek the assistance of those more hardened than themselves. Suppose that. very pretty lady. whom' you call the bird of paradise, were to fliid herself hnrd up, and cast a longing eye on the jewels of that other pretty lady whom you call the canary. She steals them. How is she. to realize them? She cannot sell them to her fiends. She cannot pay make the acquaintance, somehow or other, of Mr. Moss, or Cohen. or Sam- uels. the ‘fence.’ who will give her a tenth of their value for the jewels, but on the other hand willask no questions. And that link once forged, there she is and there we are, my dear Gordon." “Very likely, but what of crime when it takes the form of murder; what of the crime of passion ‘i" “Then, in nine cases out of ten, one can put one's finger on the criminal by finding out who profits by the crime, or who from jealousy or other cause, has the impulse towards it. There are not many mysteries of murder unsolved in England in a year. However, With all my talk, we do make mistakes. Good men are hard to find; it may be our training. as you say. I wish you would go broke, Gordon. and join the Force. We could do with a few men like your- our self, in spite of the difference in views." George Gordon laughed. “No, thank you." he said. “I retired into private life because ‘policeing' the country after the war didn't appeal to me; policeing this country appeals still 1&5. All the same, without any vanity, i wouldn't mind. just for once. backing myself against Scotland Yard. It isn’t possible, however, unfortunately. I should have t) turn either criminal or policeman, and I feel too lazy after that Rothvill-e The question must Finished affair to do either. remain for ever undecided. your liqueur?" - The two friends arose and made their way down the room. At the entrance of the hotel they parted: the Major going off in a cab to some of his arduous but rattler myster- ious duties: George Gordon turning to the. left along the pavement and making his way in the direction of Regents Park. where he was living. He sighed a little as his friend left him; why he could hardly have said. “I wonder if I should have been better out there, after all," he thought. “I should at least have had something to do. I wanted to be lazyâ€"yewbut now I begin to be afraid that being lazy means being bored." George Gordon had distinguished him- self in Africa; promotion had come rapidly; for a week he had been the hero of the man of the street; for a few months correspondents wrote his name often and large; and then came the end of the war. In the reconstruction which followed. there had been a contest at headquarters between pettiooat iii- fluence and merit. The pctticoat had won in a canter; and George Gordon. needing a rest. and piqued into the bar- gain. had chosen an idle life at home. lie was young, master of a thousand a year, clever. good-hmnorcd. and full of life. with. if he chose. nothing but a long holiday before him; and after a few weeks he was already beginning to wonder what on earth he was going to (to with himself. CHAPTER II. The night was damp and dull. As Grorgo (Bordon made his way along the Ilayimirket. a fog, which had been clouding the atmosphere for some time. commenced to ‘ull. shrouding every thing. Fortunately, it was not a gem. ine yellow fog. mid did not intes‘cre much with Gordon‘s progress; but by the time he had crossed the Circus and been like had the first apparently in- significant vesta not refused to light. The second match made no difficulties; it performed its duties perfectly, and, his cigar well under way. George was about to continue his road, when sud- denly he stopped. Some small hill heavy object had struck him a sharp blow on the head and, rebounding, had fallen at his feet. t was a silver pin about. six inches long. with a round knobby head ahnOsl the size of n. walnut, and studded with small garnets and turquoises. It had been Gordon's first impulse to pick up and examine under the nearest lziu‘ip-post this mysteriously arriving object. bill meanwhile his highly trained senses had been also (it work in another direction. From the sensation of the blow which he still felt. it was evident that. the pin had come. from somewhere above him. and had probably been dropped rather than thrown. The night was dark and foggy: it was difficult to see more than 2. dozen feet away: there were hundreds of windows around him, but Gordon had not wand-cred night after night rcund the outposts of Rothville for no- thing. Almost as the pin fell, a faint sigh and the slightest rustle of a dress had touched his higlily-lrainrxi car. “it; quick mind had noticed the sounds and placed them. Even while he looked at the. silver ion.) beneath the yellow lamplight. part of his attention was con- centrated on the Slat in the darkness whence he knew it had come, and his ears listened keenly fo. some further the pin in his hand, iri‘esolutc. “All the same,” he said at last, “it is quite evident there is someone there. or was. a moment ago. It is evident also, as they could have no reason for wish- ing to atlract my attention. that this pin has fallen by accident. and that the fab owner is not aware of her loss. Queer things. women! In these days of inventions, to stick a smooth pin like that. with a heavy knob, into a bunch of hair and expect it to stay there when the owner leans out of the window! Queer thing. too. to be leaning out on such a night. when one can hardly see a yard, and there is no one to be seenâ€" but hieâ€"and she couldn't have seen me â€"though that's Irish! What the deuce am I to do with this pin? Return it, I suppose. I think I know where. it came from. I wonder if she will think it cheeky? Perhaps. however. it was only a man. afer all, and he has been clean» ing his pipe with it." George sniffed at the pin. but certain- I; there was no smell of nicotine about it: rather it seemed to him as if some faint fragrance of the wearer still clung l(. it; as if it had fallen still warm and scented from a woman's hair. He laughed at the idea the next moment. “Probably old and ugly." he said. “or not all she should be. Who lives in Regent Street? I'll certainly make an effort. to return it." Unless he was mistaken the pin had fallen from a second .'.tory window of the. house by which he stood, and the doorway of the house was that where he had lighted the second match. He examined the entrance. There was an outside door, evidently cemmon lo the whole house, and at present sland- ing open. Beyond was a passage with another door facing him. This was also ajar, though almost closed. On either side, were brass plates bearing names. Above the plate for the third floor was written “Mr. Claude Carlton.” "it is Miss or Mrs. said George. “Let's go up." went up the stairs. At the third floor he stopped. Oppo- silt~ him was a door. with a bell on the right hand; but he door was open. “'1‘th is a most mysterious house," thought Gordon, “where at this hour of the night people drop silver pins out of lhu window, and leave all their doors open." He listened for a moment attentively, some impulse restraining him from ring- ing the bell. Within this mysterious flat the pas- sage was dark and impenetrable; and for a moment he could hear no sound of habitation. He almost began to think he had been mistaken, and that this door was open because there was nothing to guard hilt an empty house. Ile pushed the panels softly inwards and entered a step. Still there came no sound. and quite convinced but curious, he walked forward. He groped his way in the darkness past two doors. and then taking a turn- ing at the end of the passage, he came suddenly upon a light, It shone through glass panels. from a room beyond, and for a moment Gordon hesitated again. “I must go on now." he said at lost. “If I retrentml lo the bell at this crisis: I might. be surprised before I reached it. and then I should certainly have the air of a burglar running away. and, by George! with some of the property in my hand i“ Carlton's pin," And he â€"â€"_â€"-â€"â€"â€"_â€"_._â€"__â€"_â€". r-f her hands clenched in her tap. the deadly stillness of her rounded bosom â€"but the. eyes! Had he threatened her with some terrible, gesture of murder, had he. held out to her from behind the glass some. hloodstained and horrible head, only that. it seemed, could have cx’plained the sickening fear, despair, death, in those lovely eyes. now strained and opened wide. Involunlui-ily, Gordon turned and glanced behind him, but there was no- thing thcre save the darkness of the pas- sage. Besides. the girl was looking straight iil, him: her glance met. his; and yi-t he felt she did not see him: she could uol. he knew. she in the. brilliantlyâ€" lighl-ed room, be against the background of the darkness. And though he. had moved. her expression had not changed. tioi'don, still stupif‘icd, cost it. quick glance round the mom. It. was a hand- somely furnished npnrlmcnt. to all up- pearanccs a man’s, for there were no feminine lriflcs adorning it. It was al- most excessively lighted by means of electric globes, and there appeared no dis-order in the rich comfort of its fur- niturc. Gordon's eyes turned again to the girl in lhc chair. She was beautiful, more beautiful, he thought. than any woman he had ever seen. Very pale, her pnllor seemed natural to her. and was rather that ivory palencss which comes sometimes with very dark hair and those deep violet eyes. “91' features might have been ul- niost severely handsome but for the warm depth natural to the eyes. and the Knowing the girl had not seen him. he had expected to startle her. and even while he had almost involuntarily made hi< decision to enter. he had prepared a shimmering apology for his daring; yet it further surprise awaited him: for, in- stantly on his entrance, her expression changed to one of almost relief, The terror and despair seemed to fade from he" eyes, and though she. had turned even pnh‘r, her glance met his naturally and calmly. “So soon." she said simply. George started. but fancying he had misunder- stood her. he was about to commence his speech. when his self-possession quite leaving him, he gave a cry. In moving towards her. he had walked round the table which stood in the cen- tre of the room. 0n the floor on the other side, almost at the girl's feet, lay a dead man I (To be continued). i,â€"-__._ usy+++++++++++++++++++ About the Farm ‘ n++++++++++++++++++++ conu uAnvnanG. The silo is undoubetdly becoming the popular Canadian method of caring for the corn crop, but in many cases good farmers who make a specialty of rear- .uig corn primarily for rthe ears, con- tinue to dryâ€"cure the stalks. In both .iiiethods hand cutting is rapidly being superseded by the improved corn hac yester. An interesting bulletin on tilts FltbjCCt has been prepared by P. J. Zin- fheo, an expert in farm mechanics, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. .llcginning with the old corn hook, he traces the evolution of 'lliOd(‘I‘n harvest- ing machinery down to the present. figure-s out the cost of different methods -with their comparative advantages. and draws therefrom the following conclu- sions: Summarizing the comparative returns per acre of husking corn from the field, of cutting and feeding from shock. and of cutting and shredding by the vari- ous in-ethods, it is found that the net value of the CI'Cp is $17.93 for husking .by hand and leaving the stalks standing in the field. This is obtained ‘by ad- ding to the net value of the corn ’5 cents per acre for the stalks and sub- ;tiactiug the cost of huskiug by hand. By allowing 25 cents per here as the .v'ilue of the fodder in field where acorn ,nicker (a machine for picking t‘ihc ears ."ff the stalks in the field instead of fy ,hnud) is lISL‘d, and adding this to the net value of the corn and subtracting She‘ll per acre for picking with the nia- filille, we derive the net value of the (mp of $17.81 for this method- of harv- pslillg. which indicates :i smzill livss per acre as a result of using the corn picker. The net value of lhc crop by feeding the stalks whole $23.18 for hand husk- ing.. $23.50 for hurvi‘sling with large machines. and $23.62 for Small nin- chiiics) is obtained by taking the total value of the corn and fodder and sub- tracting the costs of culling and husk- ing by hand. cutting with sled harves- ++++++++. + I + + i + I a lie farm-er may considerably in'crcasc' the net income from his crop over hand methods of harvesting the ears and \vuslhig the shnks, and stui ahovv not price for the use of the different moi chines. There. is a limit beyond which it is Ml Profitable for a farmer 'to invest in c'rn-harvcsling machinery. and 'lho amount of work to be done by the maâ€" rhuie each your should be carefully 00! isidercd bcfore a purchase is made. LIVE STOCK NOTES. Don't forget. that ms the pasturage full»: grain or other food should be fed .'iii corresponding amount. Thirt. there will always be a demand ifrr good pork is unquestionable. For i‘ciuiomy, bath to the buyer and seller, 'lhero is no meat which surpass-es pork. its fine flavor and the small ratio pt ‘waslc in 'th-e hog commend it to lovers v'f meat in spite of the ancient prejuâ€" ih’co respecting swin.e's flesh. When pigs are fed milk freely. corn- p'ical may be fed as the grain ration. 'giving one pound of meal to each eight '~< unds of link. Ground cats or wheat ruiddlings are also excellent for pigs, it‘ll. in same relation to milk. The selec- tion should depend partly upon costs. as the pigs grow older, the proportion of grain to milk may be gradually in- creased. The total food daily must be determined by the appetite and condi- tion of the animals. liithcr sweet or sour milk may be fed to younger pigs. There are many kinds of improvidcut fieding. In the first. place. all feeding for arable farms is improvidcnt which kpr "the animals standing still at any period of development. All feeding is improvidcnt, because inconsiderate. which givcs the animals a badly hal- onoed ration. All feeding on the farm is imvprovidcnt that places bCiorc ani- mals ill~curcd fodder that ought to have been well cured. All feeding is lJll- |provident ‘lhat places food before an- nuals in such a way that much of it is table to be left. unea'ten, and all feeding is improvident which forces the animal [along so rapidly or which tries to force it thus, so that much food is wast-ed because it is not fully utilized in tbs feeding process. ‘ FARM NOTES. A dwelling to be healthful should halve not only a wcll»(lraincd cellar, but the ground which lies against. or is near 'lhe wall of the house should be thoroughly drained. Our experiment stations are doing «a great work and the farmer should rea- 1170 and appreciate lllLS fact. Instead cf opposing the result of Scientific re- search til-ere. carried out, they should be at least willing 'to be convinced, which many of thein are notsa't the present time. With lime and the plowing in of sod every four or five years. heavy clay may be brought to the condition of a friable loam. not at once, but after ‘lwo or l-hrce rotations. Of course, it is always to be understood that the use of lime is in no sense a substitute for 'manurc. but it is a help to it, making it more quickly available for the crops, and thus increasing Ithe products as one cf its most valuable effects. There is no tillable soil that is whol- ly des'titute of vegetable matter. The thorough cultivation which lifts the soil as it niellows it. introduces air by sep- arating the particles of soil, and leav- ing more spaces for still -air to rest in. An under the soil in contact with vege- table Quail-er is itself decomposed. Not only does its oxygen unite with the ve- gttable matter, but some of its nitro- gen is also set free, and, in the dark- ness. in contact with decomposing ve- getation, it supplies a certain degree of nitrogenous fertility in available form. which is that of .a nitr’ale. Any miner- al that readily unites wit-l1 nitrogen is pretty sure to do so in the. soil that con- tains Vegetable matter and is frequently cultivated. ___.x...._ .. MUSLIN STABLE WINDOWS. Experiment to Provide Better Ventila‘ tion for Cattle. The experiment of using muslin cur- tains in place of window glass, which has proved so successful in poultry houses all over the country, is now be- in;r extended to dairy burns. Izixpeizimcnls have shown that cven in the coldest weather the temperature of the stable is lowered only two or time di‘gi‘ccs by the use of these. cur- ln-in windows. while the horns actually have seemed very much wiiriiier. This result is due to the fact that the air is kept dry. Where this plan has been adopted the cattle have shown less evidence of suffering from the cold. and the attend- ants have admitted that the burns have been more comfortable places if] whiclil to work than when the glass windows were in use. It is the excess of mois- ture in the ziir which causes the feeling of dampness and chill which prevails in many dairy burns. Although the. don, among the hurrying millions. in H“ the enormous and constant li‘iitlic, muslin, it is almost iuilmssible tor any ' ‘ - . . . , r ‘ v . ' - 3 A v 1 I where a Clue once gained is lost a thou- A London fog dciidcns the usual lit‘ reached it. and glanced through into The rut value ot the crop pr utilizing (-HC bldndlllg “1190 It‘d 3““) l'J dilCCl l’s entrance. I: is pcuqiblo that the introduction of a svslolll of this kind will do much to prevent the spread of tuberculosis aim-mg cattle. Poultrymei'i have found that whereas under the old system 1! glass windows and keeping the s wnr'n :i-s possible. {owls were zilly :illli-st d with colds and simi- w‘neri- the muslin Curtain ll titlv‘illb‘d tilt“ lilf‘cls' :lre sand times. no! \\'e seldom have to track our man down: we know where 'lr. find him already. and we are there before him; or very soon after he arâ€" i‘ives.” “And supposing he isn't one of your men after nib-these wonderful crimi- nals of yours whom you keep your fatherly eyes on, and apparently treat. save for the cages. like stuns quaint. sort of pet: supposil ' he or she were one of scunds of the great city. and causes a peculiar sense of isolation. and this feeling. combined with the cessation of traffic natural to the hour. made tlmpgp think pleeisiiiilly of his cigar case. He slapped and. selecting a cigar. made for tho nearest doorway to get :i lfglil. iii! here the posts had been newly pililllt‘il. and the match merely slixl ili‘il)lt‘.\\l_\' down the greasy surface \viihoul igiid- ing. Taking iinnthci‘. he walkid on n. the room beyond. with ii quick involiiir fury movement he took off his hat; and then his heart s-‘cuii-«l suddenly to Map . \twl.ll,'.f w.lh Lil-go machines. and $26.- lrcziliiig. and he puswl his hand ili.‘|'<I-‘S:iâ€"- \v his brow. iiislanlly. but. nevertheless. for a spare foil for u\':*l‘ :01” time. it uh s.- dur-ifiun he was unu- i c. “in ad ' l\\‘1ll0. he l‘i niuincd in the llilllllil" he lizlll y lo ilu‘ v. ,‘liikeii. ‘ lg iit liw sight which liad'iug the v'» 11. ,iv- (ltl‘l ssziu flu in front of him. (it lite furlher \fvl-E milieu) hunt and if. llb [will]! I‘ in the shredded firm ’,..-’i.- tis for llillitl liui‘vosling. $25.5 for liar- ‘ii'sid- air is able to pass through the a reward is offend Jeweners won-t None came‘ howpvcrt and “‘7”thng 'nvrered for V'IIIBIIISl’ilTl‘ Ill'lld:(l((l01I'tl(‘ilxi buy them' and She would be CRUgm-lr remainw Silem' :l‘l'll‘l. afresh "llld ‘li'istilv iiir’nin the “WY did' N0; She mUSL keel) them md- For a momcm Gmrge Sl'm‘l sml‘ “vim lulndl of thd door. ht: entered the goom den away in her jewel case. or she must 0 . , . , _ _ lit and hilsking by hand, and cuttingr turned up Regent Street he “'33 Cum- looked :it the pin. and. deciding with corn shorkcr and llllslilllg Ly pelted to walk more slowly. rapidly. walked up tr the door. When hunt]. ' :lli small in: times) Ls obtained by lie recovered himself almost ‘3i$\llill.llLf it grin-Mr value of shredded' \vliwle Coi‘iistulks of 33 per! , g1huvumeuium hdhrrfim: of the ('«il‘ll. :ind elliill'ud- l '3 vii: Unis of A,‘ll.llll;_'. ‘lil‘rl ‘ ;. r.\i:il‘lii‘tl "‘ g ll."i-'ll li'."l'(‘ fr these fine birds lzci'c lxl-lil).{ltlâ€"~lli;ll dark I! w steps and hailed lcfor . .w uni ~tlie rain. in it gin-i! Ill'll1-‘liull‘ \v:i~: to Cl sinusâ€"The . :.l _ , ,‘Vrr‘i’m “"911 C‘l”‘l‘!”1”l[“ him “i l’ill'iltllv‘. for lll‘lilllt‘I‘. in‘ that dO-II‘WIU'. Sfli‘i'lllillilig on \vliIi‘ invited :i 5:.il. \‘lie wi“ lm‘il g llllll iilll' r-ln'n fin: \'.:Iii.- -f 1'1"“1 ’1 ‘1‘. ‘lenld 11" “(h-"Fl’hf‘ "I “6 givltlt'ii-llllll'l‘tl v. mun ll\'\l to her, who lune « n;"irred hml cerium other ll-‘l cycs .iii- incl l!l\. .\t lll'rl Sig .t :. will see" *- lll‘ ltlllll -r \\ l. .ili'Wf-“lf’k U‘f‘t 21M”; 1" Ci‘l‘llllllll' 1" i‘riléier like a i"lllill'\'. or one linl- liiippciii‘d is it county-n or ~21] ‘l.-r :itlit Lilo \ ml will. :y: .t v.» he yin-x ij» ‘. - ,5 f'f'” "1‘ “NMD J) 1-3 " of their illi‘ll. i-h’hiiijurf" ‘ lrit a very futile one: lit‘ii‘l'lilt‘lvxx‘ :.llll}' afterwards \‘.l‘.:']l i - l'-‘~\Ԥ-il! eli: . :if by n d i.-.‘ lab-ll"- 'l‘lu\ Major laughed. there were many moments in ti~i*~'l ayes li.,.l .. :i 1. :ii :;‘ ' , ;' irtv - kâ€"f‘" “Stranger thing; have happened." he dun's futiirc when he could not help that he Il‘l'l 'v-l -.i~ l .. of lwi' Luv .‘.‘ pr gfii' il.‘l- HIE kis‘ing is - crime it iiius‘. Le a Cw Said. “I really wouldn't Hie \'«.\l""i‘ “millet-mg what his life would liuv'e'x-.gid figure. the {II'A‘Ft‘Jl'e on N311 (Jlf.i.l',L.': .;r :y 1..e will crop, Ivzinl one.