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The Czar's Trie Myste^ry of *a Silent Love' By Chevalier WILLIAM LE QUEUX Author of \The Closed Book,\ etc. ' - Copyright by the Smart Bet PnDliahlnf Co. CHAPTER I. Hl» Britannic Majesty's Service. \There waa a mysterious, affair last Bight, algnore.\ ... \Oh!\ I exclaimed. \Anything that interests us?\ \Yea algnore,\ replied the tall, thin Italian consular clerk, speaking -with •*• strong accent \An English Bteam yacht ran aground on the Meloria about ten miles out, and was discov ered by a fishing boat that brought the nowa to harbor. The admiral sent out two torpedo boats, which managed after a lot of difficulty to bring in the yacht safely, but the captain of the port has a suspicion that the crew •were trying to make away with the Teasel.\ \To lose her, y,ou mean?\ Francesco nodded. \Sounds curious,\ I remarked. \Since the consul went away on leave things seem to have been humming— fwo atahblng affrays, eight drunken seamen locked up, a mutiny on a tramp steamer, and now a yacht being cast away— a fairly decent list! And yet some stay -at -home people com plain that British consuls are only paid to be ornamental! They should spend a week here, at Leghorn, and they'd soon alter their opinion.\ \Yes they would, slgnore,\ respond ed the thln-llpped old fellow with a grin, as he twisted his fierce gray mus tache. Franceso CarduccI was a well- Imown character In Leghorn. An honest, good -hearted, easy-going fel low, who for twenty years had occu pied the same position under half a dozen different consuls. My old friend, Frank Hutcheson, his Britannic majesty's vice-consul at the port of Leghorn, was away on leave In England, hla duties being relegated to young Bertram Cavendish, the pro consul. The latter, however, had gone down with a bad touch of malaria, and X, tho only other Englishman In Leg horn, had been asked by the consul- general In Florence to act as pro-con sul until Hutcheson 'B return. It was mid-July, and the weather was blazing in the glaring sun- blanched Mediterranean town. If-you know Leghorn, you probably know the consulate, a large, handsome suite ot huge, airy offices facing the cathe dral. Tbe legend painted, upon the door, \Office hours, 10 .to' 3,\ gives one the idea of an easy appointment, hut such is certainly not the case, for a consul's lite at a port of discharge must necessarily be a very active one. CarduccI had left me to the corre spondence far a halt an hour or so, when be re-entered, saying: \There Is an English slgnore wait ing to see you.\ \Wha-is he?\ \I don't know .him. He will give no name, but wants to see the slgnore console.\ \All right, show him In,\ I said lazi ly, and a few moments later a tall, smartly-dressed, middle-aged English man entered, and bowing, inquired whether I was the British consul. When he had seated himself t ex plained my position, whereupon he said: \I couldn't moke much out of your clerk. He speaks BO brokenly, and I don't know a word of Italian. But perhaps I ought to first Introduce myself. My name IB Philip Hornby,\ and he handed me a card bearing the name with the addresses \Woodcraft Park, Somerset^ Brook's.\ Then he added: \I dm cruising on hoard my yacht, the Lola, and last night we unfortunately went aground on the Meloria. Very fortunately for us a flBbirig -boat saw our plight and gave the'alarm at port. The, admiral sent out two torpedo -boatB and a tug, and after about three hours they managed to get ua off.\ \And you are now In harbor?\ \Yea- But the reason I've called Is to ask you to do me a favor and write me a letter ot thanks in Italian to the admiral, and one to the captain of the port—polite letters that I can copy and send to them. You know the kind of thing.\ • \Certainly I replied, the more In terested in htm on account of the cu rious suspicion that the port authori ties 'seemed to entertain. He was evi dently a gentleman, and after I- had heen with him ten minutes I scouted the idea that he had endeavored to p&Bt away the Lola.' I scribbled tha drafts of two letters. \Fortunately I left my wife In Eng land, or Bhe would have been ter ribly frightened,\ he remarked pres ently. \There was a nasty wind blow ing all night, and tbe fool* of a cap tain seemed to add to our peril by every order he gave.\ ' I examined him critically as he sat facing me. He was about forty-flv.e, with a merry, round, good-natured face, red with the southern sun, blue eyes, and a short, fair beard. Hjs speech was refined and cultivated, and ap we chatted he gave me the im pression that as an enthusiastic lover of the sea he had cruised the Mediter ranean many times from Gibraltar up to Smyrna. He had, however, never before put Into Leghorn. After we had arranged that, his cap tain should come to me In tbe after- moon and make a formal report of the accident, we went out together across the white sunny piazza to Nasi's. \We shall be here Quite a week, I suppose,\ he said as we were taking our vermouth. \We're ,on our way down to the Greek Island, as my friend Chater wants to see them. The en gineer'says there's something strained that we must get mended. But, by the way,\ he added, \why don't you dine with UB on board tonight? Do. We can give you a few English things that may be a change to you.\ This invitation I glodly accepted for two reasons. One was because the suspicions of the captain of the pert had aroused my curiosity, and the oth er was because I had, honestly Bpeak- lng, taken a great fancy to Hornby. The captain of the Lola, a short, thickset Scotsman from Dundee, with a barely healed cicatrice across his left cheek, called at the consulate at two o'clock and made his report, which appeared to me to be a very lame one. He struck me aa being unworthy hla certificate,/for he was evidently en tirely out; of his bearings when the ac cident occurred. The owner and his friend Chater were in their berths asleep, when suddenly he discovered that the vessel was making no head way. They had, in fact ,-Tun upon the dangerouB shoal without being aware pf it A strong sea was runnlng^with a stiff breeze, and although his sea manship was poor, he was capable enough to recognize at once that tbey were In a very perilous position. \Very fortunate It wasn't more seri ous, sir,\ he added, after telling me his story, which I wrote at biB dicta tion for the ultimate benefit of the board of trade. , \Didn't you send up signals of dis tress ?\ I inquired. \No sir—never thought of it\ \And yet you knew that you might be lost?\ I remarked with recurring suspicion. The canny Scot, Whose name was Mackintosh, hesitated a few moments, then answered: \Well sir, you see the fishing-boat had sighted us, and we saw her turning back to port to fetch help.\ ' \How long have you been in Mr. Hornby's service?\ I Inquired. \Six months, sir,\ was the man's reply. \Before he engaged me, I was with the Wilsons of Hull, running up the Baltic. I've held my master's* cer tificate these fifteen years, sir. I was with the Bibbys before the Wil sons, and before that with' the Gen eral Steam. I did eight years In the Mediterranean with them, when I was chief mate.\ \And you've never been into Leg horn before?\ \Never sir.\ , I dismissed the captain with a dis tinct impression that he had not told me the whole truth. Was it possible that an attempt had actually been made to cast away the yacht, and that it had been frustrated by the master of the felucca, who had sighted the vessel aground? How, I wondered, had the captain received that very ugly wound across the cheek? I was half-inclined to inquire of him. That evening when the fiery sun was sinking In Its crimson glory I took a cab along the old sea-road to the port where, within the Inner har bor, I found the Lola, one of the most magnificent private vessels I had ever Been. Her dimensions surprised me. Sho was painted dead white, with shining brass everywhere. At the stern hung limply the British Hag, at the masthead the ensign of the Royal Yacht squadron. On stepping on deck Hornby came forward to greet me, and took. me along to the stern where, lying in a long wicker deck-chair beneath the awning, was a tall, dark-eyed, clean shaven man ot about forty. HIB keen face gave one the impression that he was a barrister. , \My friend, Hylton Chater—Mr. Gordon Gregg,\ he said, introducing us, and the clean-shaven man ex claimed, smiling pleasantly: \Glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Gregg. You are not a stranger by any means to Hornby or myself. Indeed, we've got a couple ot your books on board. But I had no Idea you lived out here.\ \At Ardenza,\ I said. \Three miles along the sea-shore. Tomorrow I hope you'll both come and dine with me.\- \Delighted I'm sure,\ declared Horn by, and then we began chatting about the peril of the previous night, Horn by telling me how he had copied the two letters of thanks in.^t^IUir^and sent tbem to* their ,re|'p^cjtiv'^^ad dresses. \Well; you certatoijp;dld\'the rlfcht thing tp thank the ^admiral,\ I said. \It 'B very unusual for him to send'out torpedorboata to help a vessel In dis tress. That is generally left to the harbor \tug.\' \Ye .B, I-feel that It was most kind of Win. 'VThat's 'why 1 took all the trouble\: to >write- I don't understand a word' of-Italian, neither noes Cha ter.\\ ' \But'you have Italians, on board?\ I remarked. \The' two sailors who rowed me out are Genoese.'from their accent\ .Hornby v and Chater. exchanged glonces-f glances ot distinct\ uneasi ness, I thought ^ ' Then the owner of the Lola said: \Yes they are useful for making, ar rangements and buying things in Ital ian ports. We have a Spaniard, a Greek, and a Syrian, all ot whom act as interpreters in different places.\ \And make a handsome thing in the way of secret commissions, I suppose?\ I laughed. \Of course. But to cruise In com fort one must pay and be pleasant,\ declared Hornby. \Did you have any trouble\ with the customs here?\ I inquired. \They didn't visit us,\ he said with a smile, and at. the same time he rubbed his thumb and finger together, the action of feeling paperj'mpney. This Increased my surprise, for I happened to know that the Leghorn customs officers were not at all given to the acceptance of bribes. They were too well watched by their su periors. If the yacht had really es caped a search, then it was a most un usual thing. Besides, what motive could Hornby have in eluding the cus toms visit? They would, of course, seal np his wines and liquors, but even if they did, they would leave him out sufficient for the consumption of him self and his friends. No. Philip Hornby had some strong motive in paying a heavy bribe to avoid the visit of the dogana. If he really had -paid, he must have paid very heavily; of that I was convinced. Was it possible that some mystery was hidden on board that splendidly appointed craft? Presently the gong sounded, and we went below into the elegantly fitted saloon, where was spread a table that sparkled with cut glass and shone with silver. Everywhere it was ap parent that none but an extremely wealthy man could afford such a mag nificent craft Hornby took the head of the table, and we ate one of the choicest and beBt cooked dinners it has ever been my lot to taste. Chater and I drank wine of a brand which only a million aire could keep In his cellar, while our host, apparently a most abstemious man, took only a glass ot Iced Cln- clano water. From bis remarks I discerned that, contrary to my first impression, Hyl ton Chater was an experienced yachts man. He owned a craft called the Alicia, and was a member of the Cork Yacht club. He lived in London, he told me, but gave me no Information as to his profession. It might be the law, as I had surmised. \You've seen our ass of a captain, Mr. Gregg?\ he remarked presently. \What do you think of him?\ \Well I said rather hesitatingly, \to tell the truth, I don't think very It Waa a*h Armory Crammed With Rifles and Ammunition. much of hla seamanship—nor will the board of trade when his report reaches them.\ \Ah!\ exclaimed Hornby, \I waa a fool to engage him. From the very first I mistrusted him, only my wife somehow,took a fancy to £he fellow, and, as you/know, if you want peace you must alwayB please the women. In this case, however, her choice ^al most coat me tbe vessel, and perhaps our lives 'into the bargain.\ \The captain seems to have had a nasty cut across the cheek,\ I re marked, whereupon my two compan ions again exchanged quick, appre hensive glances. \He fell down the other day,\ ex plained Chater, with a rather sickly smUe,, 1 thbught \His face caught the \edge of ah' iron \stair..In the en gine room and caused a nasty, gosh.\ I smiled within myself', 'for I knew\ too •well'that the'.ugly, wound in 'the cap tain's face had never been inflicted by falling.qn the edge* of a Btolr. But I remdijnedi.snent,- being content-' tha t tHey should endeavor to mislead me.' /• \ ! :-. v ' •• n . ' .-fc, .' -'^AJ' . <V' After dessert had heen served we rose, and in the summer twilight, when all the ports were opened, Hornby took me over, the vessel. Aa he was con ducting, me from his own- cabin to the boudoir.' we..passed^ a door that had been ibloyn/open by the wind, and which ;he hastened to close, not, how ever, before-I had time-to glance with in. To'my surprise I discovered that it waa an armory crammed with .rifles, revolvers and ammunition. It had not been intended that I should see that interior, and tbe rea son why the customs officers had been bribed was.now apparent-' _ I passed on .without remark, making believe that I'had not discerned any? thing unusual, and we entered the;) boudoir, 'Chater' having gone back- to the saloon to obtain cigars. , The dainty < Uttle chamber bore everywhere the trace of having been arranged by a woman's, hand, although no lady passenger .was on board. JuBt as we had'entered, and I was admiring the dainty nest ot luxury, Chater shouted to his host asking for the keys of the cigar cupboard, and Hornby turned back along the \gang way to hand them t o his friend, leav ing me alone for a few moments. I stood glancing around, and as I did so my eyes fell upon a quantity of photographs, framed and unframed, that were scattered about—evidently portraits, of Hornby's friends. Upon a small side table, however, stood a heavy oxidized Bllver frame, but empty, while lying on the floor be neath a couch was the photograph it had contained, which had apparently been taken hastily out, torn first in half and then in half again, and cast away. Curiosity prompted me to stoop, pick up the four pieces and place them together, when I found them to form the cabinet portrait of a sweet-looking and extremely pretty English girl of eighteen or nineteen, with a bright, smiling expression, and wearing a fresh morning blouse of white pique. About the expression of the pictured face was something which I cannot describe—a curious look in the eyes which was at the same time both at tractive and mysterious. In that brief moment the girl's features were in delibly impressed upon my memory. I looked at the back of the torn photograph, and saw that it had been taken by a well-known and fashionable firm in New Bond street: Next second, however, hearing Hornby's returning footsteps, I flung the fragments hastily beneath the couch where I had discovered them. Why, I wondered, had the picture been destroyed—and by whom? Afterwards on deck I purposely led the conversation to Hornby's family, and learned from him tbat he had no children. \You'll get the repairs to your en gines done at Orlando's, I suppose?\ I remarked, naming tbe great ship-bulld- ing firm of Leghorn. \Yes. I have already given the or der. They are contracted to be fin ished by next Thursday, and then we shall be oft to Zante and Chlo.\ For what reason, I wondered, recol lecting that formidable armory on board. Already I had seen quite suf ficient to convince me that the Lola, although outwardly a pleasure yacht, was built of steel, armored in Its most vulnerable parts, and capable of re sisting a very sharp fire, It'waa past midnight when, having bade the etrange pair adieu,, I waa put ashore by the two sailors who had rowed me out and drove home along the sea-front, puzzled and perplexed. Next morning, on my arrival at the consulate, old Francesco, who had en tered only a,moment before, met me with blanched face, gasping: \There have been thieves here in the night, slgnore! The slgnore con sole's safe has been opened!\ \The safe!\ I cried, dashing lnta Hutchesdn's private room, and find ing to my dismay the big safe, where in the seals, ciphers and other con fidential documents were kept, stand ing open, and the contents in dlBorder, as though a hasty search had been made among them. Was it possible that the thievea had been after the admiralty and foreign office ciphers, copies of which the chancelleries of certain European powers were endeavoring to obtain? I smiled within myself when I realized how bitterly disappointed the bur glars must have been, for a British consul when he goes on leave to Eng r land always takes his ciphers with him, and deposits them at the foreign office for safekeeping. Hutcheson had, of course, taken his, according to the regulations. Curiously enough, however, the door of the consulate and the safe had been opened with the keys which my friend had left In my charge Indeed, tho small bunch still remained in the safe door. In an instant the recollection flashed across my 1 mind that I bad felt the keys in my pocket while at dinner on board the Lola. Had I lost them on my homeward drive, or had my pocket been picked.? While we were engaged in putting tbe scattered papers in order the door, bell rang, and the clerk went to at tend to the caller. In a few moments he returned, say ing: • \The English yacht left sud denly last night, slgnore, and'th'e cap tain of the port has sent to in'qulre whether you know to what port Bhe is bound.\ ,: \ ^' .' \Left.!7 I. gasped„ in amazement \Why \I 'thought 'her engines =' were disabled!\ ..; -, JlV-. ^ 1 \,f ' .A quarter ot an hour later 1 was sit ting in the private' office of the shrewd, gray-haired functionary who had sent this messenger, to me. *>VBo.\ you know,\ slgnore commenda- tore,\ ^he said. • \some - mystery sur rounds that vessel. She' Is not th* Lola, for yesterday we telegraphe*- to Lloyd's, in London, and this morn ing I received a reply that no such yacht appears on their register,, and that the name Is Unknown. The police have also telegraphed to.your English police inquiring, about the owner, Sig- \The Safel\ I Cried, D'aahlng Into Hutcheson's Private Office. nore Hornby, with a like result. There IB no such place BB Woodcroft Park, in Somerset, and no member of Brook's club of the name ot Hornby.\ I eat staring at the official, too amazed to utter a word. Certainly they had not allowed the grass | to grow beneath their feet (TO BE CONTINUED.) 5 qLD BELIEFS ABOUT HEALTH Many Are the' Myths to Which People Have Clung Through the Centuries. How many people believe that gold weddlng\rlngs rubbed on the eye will cure styes? That green apples cause colic? That earrings improve sight? That a copper 'wire round the waist prevents rheumatism? That only nasty medicines cure? That whisky is good tor pretty nearly any ailment? That the moon affects lunatics? That tuber culosis ls hereditary? Tbat measles is inevitable? That typhoid comes from dead weeds or fish in drinking water? Tbat red flannel (must be red!) is good for sore throats? That sewer gas is poison? That smallpox can be tele phoned from one person to another? That mosqultoea come from decompos ing leaves? That' malaria is due to night air? That robust people do not have Bmallpox? That scarlet fever scales are infectious? That raw beef steak is good for a black eye? That drinking cow's blood fresh and warm cures consumption? That the smell from a horse stable cures consump tion? That if medicine is good for sick people, it must be still better for well ones? That eating turnips makes one brave? That onions cure or prevent Bmallpox? That dead bodies necessar ily breed a pestilence? That rusty noils produce tetanus \(lockjaw)? These and many more like myths make up the fragmentary creeds on health that we have Inherited. HAD TO ADMIT \DRAWBACKS\ Doubtful, However, If Auctioneer*! \Candor\ Interfered With the Sate of the Estate. A certain London auctioneer, m ad dition to a fine personal appearance and splendid elocutionary talents, Is possessed of • considerable culture and knowledge of human nature. At a book: sale this gentleman would read with exquisite taste passages from tbe bookB he was selling, with brief biographies and criticisms of their authors, reciting hexameter! from Greek and Roman classics, and rendering passages .from humorous writers with a tone and air so lu dicrous as to set the room In a roar bt laughter. Thus he often wo n higher prices for books than those got at the shops. An amusing example of his clever ness in extolling an estate la the lan guage with which be* once closed a highly-colored description of the prop erty he was selling. For a few mo ments he paused, and then saidr ^\And now, gentlemen, having given a truthful description of this magnifi cent eBtate, candor 'compelB me to ad mit that it bas two drawbacks—the lit ter of the rose leaves and the. noise oi the nightingales.\ Just Like a Boy. The teacher was having an inter esting half hour with the children, asking them questions, anyone having the privilege to answer. It was a great tim e to show off. The teacher asked about various things, and one question was about locusts. Several hands were raised, and finally one boy was selected to speak. \A locust ii a bug that, gives people tubereuloBH.\ 'was his answer. Best Wood for Furniture. , The latest use for locust, wood' is- in the manufacture of fine furniture.\and Interior finishing ot fine -residences. The wood has a grain and color iw* found In any other timber. ' ' Increase - irt ..Railway Mileage, School Attendance and - Population. Some idea of the extent of railway construction in Western Canada can. :be^erlved from the fact that the ran- way mileage in the Province of Al- berta. has heen doubled in three yean The present mUeage is 4,097 i a of the settled districts there is ampi« railway privileges. The rates are gov- srned by a. Dominion Railway Commis. sion,-and In-the exerciBe ot their pow- ers '.they^not only control the ratea \giving fair' equality to both railway aid'shlpper.'but form a court to hear aomplalnts of any who may desire to lodge the same.\ :ln the matter ot education no better Instance of the advancement that Is taking place can be given than that found In the information to hand that attendance at the University of Al berta has increased 1,000 per cent ia llvs years, and is now thoroughly rep resentative of all settled portions of the Province. The students In attend- ance are from sixty-one distinct dis tricts. / Then as to the prosperity which fol lows \'residence in Western-Canada, J. X. Edward of Blaclde, Alta, gives •plendid testimony. Ho writpi, \In the spring Si 1907 I first came to this locality from the State of Iowa, Cass County, and located on a quarter sec tion of land near Blackie. Since con ing hero! have been engaged In mired farming, which I have found to be. more profitable than where I formerly lived. On coming fiere my worldly holdings were small besides having t family to .care for. I now own threo quarter sections, sixty head of rattle, twenty head of. horses and forty head of hogs, without encumbrance \During the seven years I have not had a crop fail. My best crop of oats averaged ninety bushels per acre, with a general yield of thirty-five bushels and upward. My best wheat crop aver aged forty-three bushels per acta When I have had smaller yields per acre I have found that It has been due t o Improper cultivation The win ters here,.although at times the weath er Is cold, I find as a whole arc very agreeable. The summers are warm, but not Bultry. Th e summer nights are cool and one is always assur»d of a good night's rest. My health has been much better, as I do not suffer from catarrh since coming here I have no land for sale, and am not wishing to make, any change, but would be pleased to answer any en- qufries concerning this locality \—Ad vertisement. More Useful. \Belle It is a shame the w.p you keep those two nice young m.'ii on the string. You reall y sho'iM tell which one you prefer\ \No , I believe in maintaining a <tnct neutrality?' A Left Hand. \No matter how many time- a girl gives her hand in marriage to a nun.\ remarked the Observer of Even's and Things, \she always has one left VOUK OWN DRUGGIST WttL TF.I I VOO Fry Marine Bye Remedy for Ken, Wn« Waw Byes_and Qmnttlatea.JayeUai^No^a-artioj- | nit comfort. by mall free. Write for Book of Murine Hye Uemodr Co He's a poor actor who can't £> one \to take his part J3Y- WOMAN GOULD HARDLY STAND Because of Terrible Back ache. Relieved by Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegeta- ble Compound. Philadelphia, Pa.—\I Buffered fron displacement and taflsmmation, and bad such pains in my sides, and terrible backache so tbat I could hardly stand. I'took six bottles of Lydia E. Pinkham 'J Vegetable Com pound, and now I can do any amount of work, sleep good, est good, and don't have a bit of trouble. I J recommend LydwE- Pinkham's 'Vegetable Compound to every suffering wpmam.\—Mrs .HAKKif FtSHER ,1625DountonSt, Nicetown, P«- j|llll§ Another Woman's Case. Providence, v R.\l.-T-\I cannot spe&jj - ' LbleConvpouw for me and i too highly of your Vegetable Compo< as it has done wonder* for me an would not be without it I had a dis- placemeht,bearing down, and backache, until I could hardly stand and was thor oughly run' down'wben I took Lydia B Pinkham/a Vegetable Compound. « helped meiahd I'am fcf tbe best of health ct-presenfc ~.I work in a factory all day I jag besides doing my housework so you can see^what it-has done for me. I gift you 'pernussioirto publish my noma and 1 •peak.of your;Vegetable Compound to Jtnanyof my friends. \^Mrs. ABEL L* 17 * *?ON f ':ia5;Lipnitt St,-Providence, Ri. Danger Signals to Women are what one phyaieian called backach* headache,-Dorvousn'ess, anu the bluet In many, c«es-they, are symptoms or so'mefemalederangem\ent ; or an inn\\\ 1 matorv. rilcerative Edition, whichwy thatory, ulcerative condition, be overcome by taking Lyc^-- tf a ham'sV^getable Compound.J A 0 ^, to of .American women willingly usW its virtue. .
