fAGB SEVEN CAfK MAT 8TAB AS I) WAVE SATURDAY, MAY B, 1»M. ■ 1 ' ' ' - T-

[?]

The colonel quickly stepped Into th i breach, and the Introduction of Court landt became -general. Nora bower", And*became at once engaged in an an

8he and the Padre Were Sitting on j the Lower Step of the Veranda. 1 mated conversation with the Barone, ! who had Just finished his set victoriously. The padre's benign smile slowly faded. CHAPTER IX. Dick Courtlandt's Boy, Presently the servants biought out the tea-eervlce. The silent dark skinned Sikh, with his fierce curling whiskers, his flashing eyes, the semi-military, semi-oriental garb, topped by an enormous brown turban, claimed Courtlandt's attention; and It may be added that he was glad to have something to look at unembarrassedly. He wanted to catch the Indian's eye, but Rao had no glances to waste; he was concerned wiin toe immediate business or superintending the service. Courtlandt had never been a man to surrender to impulse. It had been his habit to form a purpose and then .to go about the fulfilling of It. During the last four or five months, however, he had swung about like a weathercock in April, the victim of a thousand and one impulses. That morning he would have laughed had any ooe prophesied his presence here. He had fought agalnat the inclination strongly enough at first, but as hour after hour went by his resolution weakened. His meeting Harrigan had been a stroke of luck. Still, he would have come anyhow. "Oh, yes ; I am very fond of Co mo," he found himself replying mechanically to Mrs. Harrigan. He gave up Rao as hopeless so far as coming to his rescue was concerned. He began, despite his repugnance, to watch Nora. And all the while Mrs. Harrigan was 'talking and he was replying; and she 'thought him charming, whereas he had not formed any opinion of her at tall, nor later could remember a word of the conversation. "Tea!" bawled the colonel. The verb had its distinct uses, and one generally applied It to the colonel's outbursts without being depressed by the feeling of inelegance. There is Invariably some slight hesitation in the selection of chairs around a tea table in the open. Nora moored the first point of this singular battle by seising the padre on one side and her father on the other and pulling them down on the bench. It :was adroit in two ways: it put Court- ' landt at a safe distance and in nowise offended the younger men, who could -find no cause for alarm In the close proximity of her two fathers, the spiritual and the physical. A few mo meets later Courtlandt saw a smile of malice part her lips, for he found himself between Celeste and the inevitable frump. "Touched!" he murmured, for he was a thorough sportsman and appreciated a good point even when taken by his opponent "I never saw anything like It," whispered Mrs. Harrigan into the colonel's ear. "Saw what?" he asked. "Mr. Courtlandt can't keep his eyes off of Nora." "I say!" The colonel adjusted his eyo-glass. not that he expected to see more clearly by doing so, but because habit bad long since turned an affectation Into a movement wholly mechanical. "Well, who can blame him? Gad! if I were only twenty-five or thereabouts." Mrs. Harrigan did not encourage this regret The colonel had never been a rich man. On the other hand, this Bdward Courtlandt was very rich; ha was young; and he had the entree

( to me oesi tamiiies in buitps, wn: cm j was greater in her eyes than either | . youth or riches. Between sips of tea ! ' she bullded a flue castle in Spain. Abbott and the Barone carried their ' cups and cakes over to the bench and sat down on the grass, Turkish- wise. Both simultaneously offered their cakes, and Nora took a lady finger from each. Abbott laughed and the Barone smiled. "Oh, daddy mine!" sighed Nora drolly. "Huh?" "Don't let mother see those shoes." "What's the matter with 'em? Everybody's wearing the same." "'Yes. But I don't see how you manage to do 1L One shoe string is virgin white and the other is pagan -bcown." "I've got nine pairs of shoes, and yet thare'e always something the matter," ruefully. "I never noticed when I put them on. Besides, 1 wasn't coming." "That's no defense. But rest easy. I'll be as secret as the grave." "Now, 1 for one would never have noticed If you hadn't called my attention," said the padre, stealing a glance at his own Immaculate patent leathers. "Ah, padre, that wife of mine has eyes like a pilot-fish. I'm in for it" "Borrow one from the colonel before you go home," suggested Abbott, "That's not half bad," gratefully. Harrigan began to recount the trials ■ of forgetfulness. J Slyly from the corner of her eye j Nora looked at Courtlandt, who was , ! at that moment staring thoughtfully Into his tea cup and stirring the contents Industriously. His face was a > little thinner, but aside from that he had changed scarcely at all; and then, because these two yean had left so little mark upon his face, a tinge of unreasonable anger ran over her. "Men have died and worms have eaten them," she.thought cynically. Perhaps I the air between them was sufficiently charged with electricity to convey | the Impression across the Intervening space; for his eyes came up quickly, ! but not quickly enough to catch her. i She dropped her glance to Abbott, transferred It to the Barone, and finally let It rest on her father face. Four handsomer men ahe had never seen. "You never told me you knew Courtlandt," said Harrigan, speaking to Abbott | k "Just happened that way. We went | i to school together. When I was Utile i they used to make me wear curls and j . wide collars. Many's the time Court- ' , landt walloped the school bullies for . mussing me up. I don't see him much these days. Once In a while he walks . In. That's aU. Always seems to know - where his friends are, but none ever , knows where he 1b." l Abbott proceeded to elaborate some • of his friend's exploits. Nora heard. ! as If from alar. Vaguely she caught I a glimmer of what the contest was I going to be. She could see only a Utile way; ; still, she was optimistically . confident of the result. She was ready. . Indeed, now that the shock of the ( meeting was pa.it, she found berseU ( not at all averse to a conflict It would be something to let go the pent-up ' wrath of two years. Never would she | speak to him directly; never would ( she permit him to be alone with her; ( never would she miss a chance to t twist his heart, to humiliate him, to I snub him. From her point of view, whatever game he chose to play would be a losing one. She was genuinely surprised to learn how eager she was " for the game to begin so that eh« might gauge his strength. "So I have heard," she was dimly conscious of saying. "Didn't know you knew," said Ab 1 bote 1 "Knew whatf rousing herself. ' "That Courtlandt nearly lost his Ufa j In the eighties." "In the eighties!" dismayed at her isUp. "Latitudes. Polar expedition." J "Heavens! I was miles away." The padre took her hand In his own I land began to pat it softly. It was «h« , nearest he dared approach In the way a of suggesting caution. He alone o! j them all knew. r "Oh, I believe I read something about It in the newspapers." t "Five years ago." Abbott Bet down ,. his tea cup. "He's the bravest man 1 „ know. He's rather a friendless man, besides. Horror of money. Thinks j. every one is after him for that. Tries j to throw it away ; but the Income piles up too quickly. See that Indian, pass lng the cakes? Wouldn't think it, B would you, that Courtlandt carried him on bis back for five miles! The g Indian had fallen afoul a wounded q tiger, and the beaters were miles off B I've been watching. They haven't even f spoken to each other. Courtlandt's . probably forgotten all about the incl- , dent, and the Indian would die rathet r than embarrass his savior before strangers." j "Your friend, then, is quite a hero?" ( What was tho matter with Nora's voice? Abbott looked at her wonder " lngly. The tone was hard and unj musical.

, "He couldn't De anything else, be • | lng Dick Courtlandt's boy," volnni I teered Harrigan, with enthusiasm. "II i rubs In the family." I j "It seems strange," observed Nora, I "that I never heard you mention thai , ryou knew a Mr. Courtlandt." "Why. Nora, there's a lot of things nobody mentions unless chance brings i them up. Courtlandt — the one I knew — has been dead these sixteen years, i If I knew he had had a son, I'd far gotten all About it. The only graveyard Isn't on the hillside; there's one under everybody's thatch." The padre nodded approvingly. Nora was not particularly pleased with this phase in the play. Courtlandt would find a valiant champloD i In her father, who would blunder In when some fine passes were being ex- ' I changed. And she could not tell him; she would have cut out her tongue , rather. It was true that she held the [ principal cards In the game, but she could not table them and claim the tricks as in bridge. She must par tlently wait for him to lead, and be, , as she very well knew, would lead a card at a time, and then only after , mature deliberation. From the ex- j hllaration which attended the prospect I | of battle she passed into a state of depression, which lasted the rest of , the afternoon. "Will you forgive me?" asked Celeste of Courtlandt.. Never had she , felt more 111 at ease. For a full ten 1 minutes he chatted pleasantly, with t never the slightest hint regarding the ( episode In Paris. She could stand U no longer. "Will you forgive me?" j "For what?" "That night In Paris." | "Do not permit that to bother you ; In the least, 1 was never going to re- ; call it." "Was it sp unpleasant?" "On the contrary, I was much amused." | "I did not tell you the truth." ; "So I have found ouL" , I "1 do not believe that it was you," j . Impulsively. "Thanks. I had nothing to do with 1 | Miss Harrigan's imprisonment." "Do you feel that you could make a confidant of me?" He smiled. "My dear Miss Four- | nler, I have come to the place where ! I distrust even myself." "Forgive my curiosity!" Courtlandt held out his cup to Rao. i "I am glad to see you again." ; "Ah, Sahib!" |. The little Frenchwoman was tore I I with curiosity and repression. She wanted to know what causes had pro-

•■wiii you Forgive Met" duced this unusual drama which was unfolding before her eyes. To be pre- | sented with effects which had no ap- | parent causes was maddening. It was not dissimilar .to being taken to the , second act of a modern problem play and being forced to leave before the 1 curtain rose upon the third act. She 1 had laid all the traps her intelligent mind could Invent; and Nora had calmI ly walked over them or around. Nora' s mind was Celtic; French In lta adroit1 ness and Irish in its watchfulness and I tenacity. And now she had set her . arts of persuasion In motion (aided by 1 a piquant beauty) to lift a corner of 1 the veil from this man's heart. Cbeck4 mate! ■ "I should like to help you,", she • said, truthfully. 1 "In what way?" ^ 1 It was useless, but she continued; ' "She doeB not know that you went ■ to Flora Desimpne's that nigbf " 1 "And yet she'sent you to watch me." 4 "But so many things happened afterward that she evidently forgot." ' "That is possible." 4 "I was asleep when the pistol went off. Oh, you must believe that it was purely accidental! She was In a ter1 rlble state until morning. What If she had Idlled you, what If she had killed you! She seemed to harp upon that nhr*»a-"

J Courtlandt turned a sober face toward her. She might be sincere, and 1 then again she might be playing the j first game over again, in a different guise. "It would have been embar- ; rassing If the bullet had found Its mark." He met her eyes squarely, and she saw that his were totally free from surprise or agitation or Interest "Will you be here long?" "It depends." "Cpon Nora?" persistently. "The weather." "You are hopeless." "No; on the contrary, I am the most optimistic man in the wprld." She looked into thffc reply very carefully. If he had hopes of winning Nora Harrigan, optimistic he certainly must be. Perhaps it was not optimism. Rather might Jt not be a purpose made of steel. beDdable but not breakable, reinforced by a knowledge of conditions which she would have given worlds to learn? .1 "Is she not beautiful?" | "1 am not a poet." "Walt a moment," her eyes widening. "I believe you know who did commit that outrage." For the first time he frowned. "Very well; I promise not to ask any more questions." "That would be very agreeable to me." Then, as If he realized the rudeness of his reply, he added: "Before I leave I will tell you all you wish to know, upon one condition." I "Tell it!" * 'Yon will say nothing to any one, you will question neither Miss Harrigan nor myself, nor permit yourself to be questioned." "I agree." "And now, will you not taka me over to your" friends?" "Over there?" aghast "Why, yes. We can sit upon the grass. They seem to be having a good time." | What a man! Take him over, into the enemy's camp? Nothing would be more agreeable to her. Who would I be the stronger, Nora or this provok- : lng man? So they crossed over and Joined the group. The padre smiled It was a situation such as he loved to study: a strong man and a strong woman, at war. But nothing happened; not a i ripple anywhere to disclose the agltaI tion beneath. The man laughed and I the woman laughed, but they spoke ■ not to each other, nor looked once Into each other's eyes. | The sun was dropping toward the | western tops. The guests were leaving by twos and threes The colonel j had prevailed upon his dinner guests i not to bother about going back to the j village to dress, but to dine in the | clothes they wore. Finally, none reI mained but Harrigan, Abbott, the Barone, the padre and Courtlandt. And j they talked noisily and agreeably con- ' cerning man affairs until Rao gravely ; announced that dinner was served. | It was only then, during the lull ' which followed, that light was shed j upon the puzzle which had been sub- \ consciously stirring Harrigan's mind: Nora had not once spoken to the son of his old friend. CHAPTER X. i aonT eee why the colonel didn't I Invite some of the ladies," Mrs. Harrigan complained. "it's a man party. He's giving it to please himself. And I do not blame him. The women about here treat him abominably. They come at all times of 'he day and night, use his card room, order his servants about, drink his whisky and smoke his cigarettes, and generally Invite themselves to luncheon and tea and dinner. And then, when they are ready to go back to their villas or hotel, take hie motor-boat without a thank you. The colonel has about three thousand pounds outside his half-pay, and they are all crazy to marry him because his sister is a countess. As a bachelor he can live like a prince, but as a married man be would have to dig. He told me that if he had been born Adam, he'd have climbed over Eden's walls long before the Angel of the Flaming Sword paddled him out. Says he's always going to be a bachelor, unless I take p'ty on him," mischiev"Has he . . .T' in horrified tones. "About three times a visit," Nora admitted; "but I told him that I'd be a daughter, a cousin, or a niece to him. or even a grandchild. The latter presented too many complications, bo we somprcmised on niece.'' "I wish I knew when you were serious and when you were fooling." , i ' "I am often as serious when I am . fooling as 1 am foolish when I am serlp ous ..." "Nora, you will have me shrieking • ? a minute!" despaired the mother. , "Did the colonel really propose to you?" | ! "Only In fun." , ! Celeste laughed and threw her arm ! around the mother's waist, less ample j I than substantiaL "Don't you care! j . Nora is being pursued by little devils and is venting her spite on us." • ! "There'll be too much Burgundy and ' ; tobacco, to say noihing of the awful j stories." , "With the good old padre there? i Hardly," said Nora. Celeste was a French woman. "I confess that I like a good story that - j Isn't vulgar. And none of them look j like men who would stoop to vul- . garity." "That's about all you know of men," declared Mrs. Harrigan. "I am willing to give them the bene- - fit of a doubt." ] "Celeste," cried Nora, gaily, 'Tve an idea. Supposing you and I run > back after dinner and hide in the card I room, which is right across from the j (lining room? Then we can Judge for f ourselves." ( To be ceatinaed.) i I I

; FISHING CREEK J Joseph Hocmin- and Mrs. May Hem- ' t ingway and son Jacob, of Philadelphia, , sprat Sunday with the latters parents, , Jacob Harnett ami family. Oscar Iszard, of West Cape May, , railed on his uncles, kfilton and Frank Matthew* on Sunday. , Mr*. Anna Ganytoon and Thomas Rhodes and wife, -of Wildwood, were , . railed home on Monday to the Utters j f fathers death. Sir*. Anna Bennett of Atlantic High- ' ( - land, atended lier brother/# funeral. Sir. • William WbiteVn Thurtfay. Miss Mary A. \ Snyder spent Wednes- , J day night with Minn Lillian Kldredge at ; ( ,<old Spring. I j, The' Tabernaede Sunday School and , Fishing Creek Sundav School. Held their . ■ annual picnic at HighUnd on Thursday. 'j ' Mr. William White, one of our resi- j , dents, while at Cape May on Monday : p j afternoon, was taken suddenly ill and died while at Mr. Henry Bohm's. Per- j i vice* were held on Thursday, the 2l6t. ' j ■ from his residence. The family has our 4 heart-felt sympathy in their sad be- ' reavement, , J. S. Garrison, watchmaker and jew eler, at 305 Washington Street, Oape May City, is now agent for the Victor ! and Edison Talking Machines and Ree ords, and the Story and Clark Piano* These goods can be bought for cash o ' credit ( Any day of -the year, and especially I to-day. is a good day to start an account with the Security Trust Co. Old i age will be upon you before yon realize. 4 Start aow and you will be pleased to ' see it grow.

- ■ ■ ii WATER MAIN IX "NEW JERSEY AVENUE. ADVERTISEMENT. Sealed bidsOrill be received by tha City Council of the City oj Cape May at the City Han at 8.00'P. M.. on May 25th, 1014. for the laying of approximately <576 lineal feet of six inch ea»t iron water mam and setting two Up-ee-way five inch Matthew's fire hydrants, all in New Jersey Arenne and all to include ralvea that are necessary in the- const ruction. A certified check madr payable to S. B Wilson, City Treasurer, to the amount of not less than 15% of the bid price must accompany bid. Specifications may be sera at tha ofi'ee of the Cltv Recorder and plans and specifications can be obtained there on the deposit of *2.00, which will be -returned to Abe bidder on the surrender of plans and specifications in good condition. The City Council expressly reserve the right to reject any or all -bida. SAMUEL F. BAILEY, Chairman of the Committee on 5-16-2t Fire and Water.

M. H. WARE 516 WA8HI>GT0> BT. Hardware Fishing Tackle Cutlery and House Furnishings K.yvtot, Hit .

Worth Crowing About Comparison of results and profits before Cy\ end after using , •*» — . ^ J assess oV Mm if Pkg*. tic, COe, tOc, tUOO; ti lb. pail H.M < permanent friend of ell Pratt • Products! * " 1 Satisfaction Gnaranleed or Money Back yTTc, J Prwtta Lice lOUcr. Powder-Bc end COe. Also a jl TUSH {' V Bprtns neceeeitv. Eure death to aU deacaraos vermin. 1L AflB? p Befnte rabetf totae; insist ca Pratu. . . | g CttPrxOf lto poet Poultry B~k - ^ f* i Sold and Ooarmataed bp ELDREDGE ft PHILLIPS. Cap* May. CAPE MAT GRAIN ft COAL CO. Cap* R. T. JOHNSON. Erma. N. J. May. A TO THE POULTRY RAISERS ' We have a full supply of Conkey's Rem edies for Chickens and during the past year, found they gave entire satisfaction . — 1 1 Our Garden and Field Seeds are selected by the best growers and nothing l but the best quality that money can buy do we put in stock, as the farmers' success depends upon strictly pure seeds. | We have in stock the line of Syracuse, also South Bend Plows. None better. 1 Being a stockholder in the firm of Bate man Manufacturing Co., known as i the Iron Age People, we can give you the beat prices on their goods. Ask for j prices before buying. Now is the Oil Stove Season. We have a supply of the Standard Oil Stovaa Also the Perfection Oil Stoves, and Insurance Gasoline Stoves. i ' R. T.JOHNSON ! ERMA, NEW JERSEY i - - ; ; WHITE PLYMOUTH ROCKS j ! Hatching Eggs for Settings of 15, $1.50. Order now for f I April Delivery. From trap rested hen?. Drones s | Discarded. ^ Mated to vigorous cocks direct from the famous Pittsfield I'ouIim l-arm* j Company, with large plants at Pittsficld. Maine, and /llolli.ton, M«-». t««-k , bred from 200 egg hens. 70 per cent, fertility guaranteed. P. O. BOX 134. , J J ROBERT S. KEITH ^ 137 Learning Avenue, West Cape May, JV. J. A visit to my plant will satisfy you Invitation extended to . interested ■ DERR'S ICE CREAM e Special Attention to Family Trade. Orders Promptly Delivered r Factory, 314 Mansion St- Dining Room, 313 street TABLE D'HOTE DINNERS A SPECIALTY Keystoae Phone jaA