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We left Little Gay clinging to ’the broken rails of the bridge, {atoning to that horrible cry of "Murder!" 3,5 it ran out with startling clearneas on the night air. ' Nearer, nearer came the swift footsteps in au‘swar to those cries, and the man who was hurrying to the spot. caught a. glimpse of a lovely face, framed in a. sheen of golden hadr, that vanished like a shadow in the dense darkness of the Itarless night. Like a. flash the young man darted mf- ter the beautiful vision, and a, breatthleel- 1y exciting chase ensued. “1 shall solve this mystery 11 it costs e my head." he muttered, gutting hi- gmndsome white teeth together, and re- oubllng his flying pace. The moon struggled out from behind a network of heavy,.olouds, and he saw the slim figure just ahead of him. Another instant. and he had cleared the distence between them. and had laid a detalning hand on the luxuive'l slender shoulder. 7 “Now, then," he demanded breathless- 11 "I must know the meaning of those cries I heard a moment sinceâ€"what were {on doing on the bridge yonder? Was ny one molestin you?’ The white, despa ring. lovely face turned toward him in the moonlight, startled gm young man like an electric shock. 31 strong whitquhnnd yelaged jug. hold. AL_ " w- u. v..- .0.-- .... re they Were whirling rapidly in the irection of Roseolifl’. He listened to Gay’s graphic recital of e broken ties and the wreck she had rounded with absorbing interest. She did not tell him rphat she knew the Erpetratora who had planned the disas- e 1' she had averted, nor did she tell him w she had been spirited away from non the passengers during the oonfus~ n w 1011 ensued. As he listened he made up his mind. as I e paisengers had done. tham the heroic M16 heroine fled in the confusion to avoid “lei:- grateful thanks. There was great consternation at Rose- "Greagfieaven!" ‘he ejwuladeâ€"ini the most intense astonishment, “do my eyes deceive me?â€"or is thisâ€"Little Nell?" Gay glanced up in terror at the hand- some face bending over her. then all fear e11 from her like magicâ€"she recognized 1111 at once. ngefs,I lg‘a 1;, Mr. 01165101911,” she falter- Up flew the little hands, and Gay burst into a storm of passionate tears that oogapletechhplgegi her utteralqce: “Look here, Miss Nell,” he exclaimed, “you must tell me what this mystery means. In Heaven’s name, 1’6“ me how {on happened to be here at this ghostly our, and if it was from flour lips those rrlble cries of murder sued which I eard. I am your friend, my dear girl,” 9 went on eagerly; “you may trust me wpardoning me the meanwhile [or ad- dressing you so familiarly: bear 1n mind, euknow you only by the name of Little 3 ‘n “I am Gaynell Esterbrook," she answer- ed hesitatingly; “I ought to have told you that before. but Iâ€"Iâ€"" Again she atypde sl_1_ort_ i‘u_utt’er confusion. “it is Well that I sat smoking with the quire so long after the ball wa over,” > a mused. “otherwise I should have missed you. You shall go home to Rose- ollfl’ with me, oor little storm-driven IwaAlow; my mot er will receive you with open arms. My carriage is at the fork of the roads. I jumped out upon hoarlng “lose cries." Gay demumd. but he resolutely drew her arm within his own and led her ’00- Ward the carriage, Aarngl In a. fgvgmqmegm '"fi‘afr‘r'iwcnéEfeEéfi Wis “fii‘siifiéiiâ€"bewil- dared. Gay did not hear the muttered impre- cltlon that he ground betwepn his white oath beneath the curling mustache as the 1:11 force of Ione’s cruelty burst upon 111. His blood fairly boiled with indignation I admit the heartless beauty whom he had I ored until now. liéténea. pnu “Gaynoll.” he repeated. "why, What a, fretty name; I have never heard. it be- ore. But. about. those cries?" he inquired anxiously; “surely they were nobâ€"they could not have been uttered by you. It must have been a delusion of my imagin- ative brain, I almost think." Gay hesitated in the most painful em- barrassment, and he wand: on, eyeing the lovely face curiously: “They do say a weird old ynsy crane inhabits a. grotto or tumbled- own but in the heart of the woods yonder. who in- vei lea susceptible young nix-ls herewbouts to er den under the pretense of telling them their fortune, and fleeces them out of their money. “No,” said Guy, faintly. "it was not that which brought me here; I uttered a. or on the bridgeâ€"«he railing broke. and lmoat fancied myself falling downâ€"down Into the dark water with the broken rails, "Many a. foul murder has been commitâ€" ted in these woods and many a. daring robbery; but. no one was ever yet cunning enough to trace it to this strange ol Iypsy~the lamb of her race. Surely it was not to meet her that you have ven- turqd rhere t9-nighj;.f’ 7"qu wonder you were frightened." inter- sed the young man; "but on have not 1d me what brought you ere, and at will ghostly hour. so far from Leighton a ... "It is because I was turned away from there," she sobbed. "Turned away from Leighton Hall?" he repeated in the most intense amazement. ‘Why, how did it happen? What on earth was it for?” Then the whole cause of it came outâ€"- 0w she had been to the masked ball, and ow Iona Leighton had happened to come no her room after it was all over and iacovered that she had been there, by leeiug the dress she had worn on a. chair. ad of the tempestuous scene that had ollowed; and how. to appease Miss Leigh- n's wrath, who declared she should be urned away from the Hall with the mor- ov'v’s light. she had gone at once, not aitlng for the marrow. __Earry Chesieigh’e eyes glowed as he For Wcal or for Woe; ‘za‘ixiig VChesIeigh gave a. start of sur- NA-DRU-CO LAXATIVES 1 Women‘s commonest ailment ~the root of so much of their illâ€"healthâ€"prompfiy yields to the gentle but certain action 0! Nn-Dru'Co Laxaflves. 250. a box at your drugglst’s. NATIONAL DRUG RND CHIMIOAL CO. 0' O‘NADA, LIMITED. ‘ CHAPTER XXII. Or, A Dark Temptation [6| servynts called him. strode into the en- trance hall of his aristocratic mansion home "at that unseemly hour. with the lit- tle trembling figure, clad in a. plain navy- blue serge dreea and cloth can to match, digging opeefio Mamarm. ‘ I"; _L cliff when handsome Mr._}Ia_rry, Igs the They quite forgot themselves staring at the lovely young stranger, who was gazing back at them with groan dark, velvety, di- lated eyes, until young Mr. Chesleigh brought them to their senses by an ex- clamation of angry impatience: _ “What are you staring at this young lady in that. fashion for?” he demanded haugh'tily. “Go to my mother's boudolr at onco,‘ he commanded, “and tell her I nan comeâ€"but not. alone-a young girl Ls with me; as soon as I can see her I will explain. In the meantime. see that a repast is served with as little delay as pgng-ble." 'v'fޤ~_§iartllng news was carried to Mrs. Chegleig‘h in her boudoir at once by her maid. The grand old lady started up from her couch with a look of horror on her proud, stern face. “I can scarcely realize Whad’: you tell me," she cried shIflly. “Give me my dressing-robe and slippers. I will go down to the drawing-room myself. and see what this means!" A moment later there was the swish of a silken robe in the corridor: she had reached the drawing-room, drawn the vel- vet hangings apart, standing white and stem on the threshold gazing frowningly into the beautiful. startled, girlish face turned toward herâ€"the loveliest rosebud face she had ever beheld. “igfidVE/Vetr sfie fairly hated Little Guy at first sight. Her handsome son sprung eagerly to the door to meet her. leading her in. and resented her to Gay in his impulsive aehion, giving her a brief sketch of Lit- tle Gay’s pitiful story. or rather as much as he knew of 1%, of Ione’s cruelty in turn- ing her away from Leighton Hall, and of his opportune meeting with her near the old bridge. “I shall leave her 111 your care, manner," he said, rising to leave the drawing-room at length. "I know you will make her feel at home at Roaeolifl.” He passed out of the room with a nod and a. smile to bothâ€"leaving them alone wggther. The sound 01 his retreatinc footsteps had scarcely died away ere the look of sympathetic interest. fell like a. mask from his lady-mother} _haugh_ty rapt}. The deadly foxglove and poisonous vines had rendered its waters unfit for use long ears ago. and they rioted over it un- eeded. "There is no person in the wide world who will miss me or search for me." Gay sobbed. "I am going to leave this dark. lonely War where there is net/hing but aorrow, an» go 1Q Haze}. _ Good-bye)._Parc:r_E "May God forgive you. you cruel, cruel woman!” gasped Gay, wild with indigna- tion, “for I never can forgive the lnsultu you have heaped upon the head of a poor. defenseless girl tonight. The hour ma come when you will bitterly rue it. would die before I would touch one penny of your money. I honor your son, but youâ€"Heaven forgive you for striking the last bimter blow to a. girl’s breaking heart.” in: with grief. “Oh, God wish I oould dial” moaned the poor lr . strugglin onward through the gray uek of the ear y morning. "The world is too hard and bitter for me: I am persecuted by very one who has ever looked upon my ace. it seems. Why should I struggle against fate Pâ€"the world is too small for me; it is narrowing down to a. rave. Why can't I die and end it all? hy shoulcl I cling ’00 a life which is so pitifully cursed? I will die!" Sha stood leaning against the pillars of an old stone well, gazing down into its dark, silent depths. "yr 5156 13:0; whom I have 90' aldored?i a o moaned.’ “Did you think to deceive me with that cleverly-concocted story?” she cried icil , swiftly crossing to Gay’s side and olubc - 1113 her arm in a, hard. vise-like gripâ€"the dark, fiery eyes fairly scorching their way to Gay’s heart, 7 VA acathiu laugh from the-haughty wo- man broke 11 upon the words as they fell from” her Alina. _ - "What charming innocence,” she sneer- ed. “You are an adventureas, girl. and you know it. You have singled my son out as a. shining mark, beoaueo you know he is younz, impulsive, and impressible ~â€" and what. is more to the purpose in your eyes -a young man of wealth, but Iâ€"hi mo- ther, will fihwart ypug evil d_e_signn." ii‘ZM'adaifil" suave-d Gay, whitéh its the lilies in the marble vwao near or. "Hush!" cried the grand old lady 1m- periously, stam in: her velvet-shod foot. "I tell you I now your scheme. You threw yourself purposely in his way that morniu , feigning unocnsoiousnes in or- der to raw him into some kind 0 a trap, for you knew he was in the habit of pass- 1ng that my nggrnings. “Failing in this. on allowed yourself to be taken to Leis1 ton Hall where you could be thrown in is way, knowing that he was IoneALeiglgtog’s lover. Al Gay plunged boldly down into the terrible depths of the old ivy-covered well. a strong. band was thr quickly forward. grasping her skirts an drawing hcr forcibly back to the world which she would have left with 311911 headlonghay’oe. “She must have had good and sufficient reason for turning you from Leighton Hallâ€"1n the dead of night. It is strange, too, that my son remained thereabouts un- til this unseemly hour; but youn men will be young menwhere a pretty ace 1: concerned, and a. facinaming young woman lures mom on. Gay (la-shed the money which the proud old lady pressed into her hand on the floor and spurned it from her with her little foot. her velvety eyes blazing like stare. With the dignity of a. little queen Gay turned and wwlked from the room and swiftly out of the grand mansion, her eyes blinded with tears and her heart. burst- "Why did yofi fave me,” she cried bitâ€" tefly, "what; [I gamed so :_nuo_h 120 die?" _ Gay Was appailled atvthé sudden change in her. 77"Maaam!” exclaimed Gay, in airtight; “I do not understand what you mean." “If money is your object, here. take my purseâ€"them’e about a. hundred dollars in itâ€"take 1t and go ’00 New York where you grahany belong, and leave my son alone. ow heed me well. never cross his path again while you live.“ With trembling hands she drew aside the poimnous vines, and without one bank- wnrd glan or a single cry, lunged headlong own. down the dark a yes! Gay glanced up finish her rescueE'a face with a 39b; of despair. “if Wns‘gisfndli yfilfifiafiletfi hide, and the blue eyes regarding her so intently were full of pity. "\th do y‘all-wish to die?" he asked, curiously, “you are too young to have CHAPTER XXIII. found the world cold and bitter, and life a burden.” .I‘Whaxt if I should tell you of good for- tune the gods have in store for you,” be queried, "whglfi thepP’: “I have found it all that, and more." sobbed Guy, bitterly; “I am utterly alone in the world, pennfiess. homelass and wretched.“ 1...“. -v... .. ,_____ Gay opene-Hfliner dirk, velvety eyes, and looked at the young man in utter amaze- ment. mxfweuppose you think I am either mad or dreaming,” he laughed lightly, "to spe_ak_1n_that way." . .u .... 1”“.A: “3......â€" ..‘ .._ “It looks v'erS}â€"‘i1iuch like it,” admitted Gay; "there is no good fortune in store for me; a. blank fell to my lot in the lot/£er of life.” . ....~ ..1 "Listen to me, my dear girl,” he brisk- ly said, resolutely drawing her still fur- ther from the deadly gas that, rose from the old well. “You are not. as friendleei and pennlless as you have imagined your- self to be. I have something to tell you- something so strange that you can hardly bring youmelf to believe in your own good fortuneâ€"yet you shall not. doubt the truth of what, I have to tell you long, for I can pmve my assertions here and now." Gay looked at the stranger in terror and dismay. quite believing him to be an escaped lunatic from some adjacent asy- lum-~0r still worse, one crazed wltll dylnk. Lulu-wt sun wvnsu, uuu Ulmncu rug... u....... He smiled at the expression on the love‘ 1y, terrified face, 2w though he read her secret thoughps, and hastened 1/9 gxplait}: Bwruu uuuuguw, auu .uwuwuvu vu vAyAuo-A- “You see I know you. young lady; you are the little heroine who saved the train from being wrecked on the Jamey road last night. Now don’t interrupt naeâ€"hear me through. In the con-fusion which en- ued, you fled to escape the grateful ac- knowledgments of the passengers, amen who was I. a repoer on a New Yo: paper. r~-- ~â€"- "There was great regret among the pae- sengervs that you could not be found. One old gentleman, a wealthy banker who lives in almost a. castle at Gramercy Park, declared it you could be found he would make you his heiress. “You were to be advertised for in all the pupers. He wrote out the ads on the train and I telegraphed on, that it might. appear in the morning issue and catch your eye. I caught but one meteoric glimpse of your face, as you lay back in a dead faint in the old engineer's arms, but I knew if I ever saw you again I should recognize you instantly. It was mighty lucky that I was sent. to report. upon an affair in this neighborhood, otherwise a tragedy. which the world would have been none the wiser for, would have been enacted.” Gay listened like one in a. dream. She had heard and read of the fates shower‘ ing untold wealth upon pennlless girls, but she had doubted whether it had ever really happened; bum now. oould it be possible that the gates of gold were to be flung open so miraculously to her, and all because she had simply saved a. train from disaster? VIE yflofir will place yourself in my care. I will render you every assistance in my p9vg9r,"_ he added. _ “But it'bs trueâ€"every word of i," re- plied the young reporter. "There will be no end of rejoicln when I telegraph on that I have foun the much-eought for little heroine." ,---<.. -â€"-__ ,, An hour later Gifirv'vas whirling on to- ward her new, strange life, as fast as steam could take her, In the excitement of that moment a strange. thrilling thought came to Gayâ€" a. thought that madeth poor little heart beat with pain. Would Percy Granville car; for her if she were a. great heir- ess .‘ ' ' It was strange, yet a. fact, that not one of the papers mentioned the name she had forsaken to take that of the great banker. Three persons read the romantic article with great interest. Young Mr. Ches- leigh, who had been persuaded into the belief that G21 had voluntarily left Roeeolifl by his triumphant lady mother. Harold Tremaine, who had miraculously escaped the fate he so richly deserved by the help of a passer-by, who had also hast- ened toward the bridge when that awful cry.of “Murder! Help!” rang startlingly out on the night air. The third person who read it with the greatest of interest was iPercy Granville. (7'61; itflsevéiiémalmost too good to be really true,” nabbed Gay. He had cared for the poor little work. inc-girl who had loved him so loudly; but would he sue for pardon from the pepteq 01111:} of wealth? ,1.,,u,,, A. A, The eve II was a nine days' wonder in the loci». world, The leading journnls teamed with the romantic unfairâ€"praising the wondrous beauty of the brave little heroine, concluding with the remark: "The banker. Allen Remington. had leg- all adopted the young lady, and she ha taken 1115 name.” In the meantime, let as follow the for- tunes of our mule Gay-our dark-eyed 11p tle heroine. whom we first introduced to our readersâ€"standin at her loom in the Passalq Cotton Mil sâ€"Itrivmz to keep body and soul together, and the wolf from the door, on five dollars u. ask; and al- ways in orpetual fear of sing turned off each a/mrday night-now an heiress, in a. mansion home, mbed in silks and costly jewels, surrounded by all the luxur- ies of wealth-«but let. this much be said to her credit, she was not one whit the proqder. "Wham a heroic little creature she is!" he thought admiringly, “and Allen Rem- inzton, bless hirkiud old heart, i-s just the man to appreciate such an action. 'I am glad this or girl. whoever she may be, has secure such a. fine home. I feel sure Miss Remington will prove worthy of his klndnesu. By the way." he mused thoughtfully, "some time when I am in New York I must call upon the old bank- er, remember-lug that. he was my uncle’s best and mod honored friend." Percy Granville could not understand the impulse that fled him to lock that particular gaper up in his desk with his most, valua le papers, but id; was not un- til long months had elapsed that he thought of his resolve again to call at $119 sgacloua hqme of Banker Eemjngton. "There's many and many a. girl I know of, in the old mill, who would look just, as well as I do if they had the same clothes and the name surroundings,“ she often thought, as she gazed in the long gilded mirror. “fié'old banker and his wife fairly ido- lized Gay. They were proud of her mamhlesu beautyâ€"they filled the house with French masters, music profeuors, and teachers to ive her n31 the requirements eded 113 11%? social ponitdon she was came upon Great was Iona Leighton'a dismay and consternation when Harrf Ohealeizh drove down to Lei hmu Hal the following week, purpoeey to inform her that the heroine of the iroqagtic mry Whig]: ‘wal cola; th9 rounds a the anonâ€"and whom the millionaire banker ad adoptedâ€"was no lean a personage than the poor, friend- leu girl whom she had turnéd from her door in the dead of tha night. "(5E dSuiél-T EEKâ€"clei’ieiifiit.’ Eve}: after she heard how he had met Little Gay near the bridge and had taken her home to Roseclifl. » "To think that that miserable little thin 13 a. great. heiress now." tied Iona. turn :1 her nughed, sham-ed ace away from race. “Who would have thought. it? She’ll be uure to be revenged upon me. if she oan. I think, upon the whole. “After Harry Chealeigh took his leave, the two sisters talked over the startling news with guspo. the wisest thing I can do is $9 try to make friends with her.” . "Tf‘reAâ€"IEQEIARS 156w it you have that. much assurance?" cried Grace, aghast. “That‘s just what I have got,” returned Ione, complacenfly. "When any one has as much influence, a: Banker Remington's adopted daughter will have in society, one has to use oonsiderwblg diplomacy.” Iona Leighton Mtually had the aneur- anoe to aend to Gay that very night, an invitation to M8 the holidays alt, Leigh- ton Hallâ€"m orget the impulsive words the writer had uttered the last time they met, for they were uttered in anger, but never really meantâ€"0h, no, neverâ€"«and that she had cried for a. week afterward when she found she had been taken at her word. ' - When Gay received that message from Iona Leighton. it was her first; hour of triumph. “What a, magic power shining gold has," she thought, pushing the note from her with disgust as though it had been in; V1533”. and had stung her little gemmed an . Wéihgrreturned the elegant litrt'le invita- tion without so much as a word of reply. (To be continued.) Flights Demonstrate Need of Ar- mor-plate Protection. The first Bulgarian aviator to lose his life in the Balkan war was Lieut. Tarraxt‘chieff, who was went out by Gen. Yankoff ea.r1y in the war to reconnoitre Adriano‘pl-e. Hirs monoplane went wrong and he crashed to the gnonnd and was killâ€" ed as the result of his injuries. The Russian aviator, Poppoff, was also killed: “an a. result of his machine catching fire and falling to the ground, and on December 6th Dr. Constantin, the one-time assistant of Dr. Doy‘en, a. well-known French surgeon, wan shot While making a flight. 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