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Entered According to Act of Congress, in the Year 1895, by Street & Smith, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.
TO Entered as Second-class Matter at the New York, N.Y., Post-Office.
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= V i] 10 STREET & SmirH, Publishers, N Yy k M ¢ h 16 1895 Subscription Price Kv
"emis ol. 10. 29 Rose Sireet, ' New York. ew York, March 16, ~ $2.60 per Year. No. 204.
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anual.
and PI
The FPostboy of the Kanawha;
Me ’ OR,
: TEE CHAMPIOn OF UNCITE SAM.
)
BY VICTOR ST. CLAIR,
Author of “Little Hickory of the Mountain Express,” “Zig-Zag, the Boy Conjurer,”
o “The Young Stone-Cutter,” etc., etc.
serisms © eee : ———$______—_—_
f : E (“LITTLE SNAP” was commenced last week. |
} P aE big teseectallia Riis Be ee A
| y it CHAPTER IV. 1 ‘If Ido not come back, Jack, go on to
| : z INQ, THAT LITTLE SNAP SAW AND HE _____ | Daring’s Diamond with the mail,’’ he said,
Bo ; d sb ecnytet crgte haem ka seria, Te ae | speaking as if to a human being. :
: is nor | The intelligent animal pricked up his ears,
$ EFORE entering the unknown dangers | and answered with a low whinny.

      

nase Pe teh THR ——— —- --+-—— Ls ea Ce Crm o h of the mysterions cave, Little Snap The postboy’s body was inside the mouth
me STREPORTS OF THE OUTLAWS’ FIRE-ARMS RANG OUT SHARPLY ON THE | (@ ee oe einied ce aennutenaeles alg at Rtgon amet eh ea Whe 3

4 7. an ~ . y - 7 sah ® . a sS ™ y nd 4 “Ss. ooies V a% 11C 3 _
y ¥0 ENCE OF THE WILDWOODS AS LITTLE SNAP BOUNDED TOWARD JACK. as might be. fe P "chester :

 
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
  
    
   
   
  
   
   
    
  
   
    
 
   
     
 
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
    
 
    
    
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
 
    
  
    
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
 
   
   
    
   
   
   
  
 
    
   
   
    
   
  
  
  
   
     
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
 
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
 
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
 
   
   
  
  
   
  
 
      
  
  
  
   
      
  
   
   
   
  
  
    
   
 
  

 

 

 
  
  
  

  

  

 

 

 

4050

It was too dark for him to see more than
that the underground pathway descended at
an angle of about forty-five degrees. But
the moment his feet touched upon this por-
tion of the rock he suddenly found himself
slipping down the decline at a rapid rate.

In vain he threw out his hands to stop
himself. The surface was like glass, over
which he shot with the rapidity of lightning.

He may have uttered a cry at the outset,
but the shock was so sudden and thrilling
that he was unconscious of it if he did so.
His whole attention was centered upon try-
ing to check his fearful momentum.

He was carried onward near to the right
wall, and he succeeded in catching upon the
rough surface twice during his wild passage.

The first time his hands slipped upon the
wet, slimy rock, the mishap seemed to give
greater impetus to his descent. Profiting by
this failure, he seized upon another projec-
tion with a firmer hold, but the rocky knob
broke away beneath bis weight, and the
piece went flying from/ his bleeding fingers
ahead of him on the downward course.

Its collision with the glassy floor caused a
dull reverberation to go through the subter-
ranean recesses, quickly followed by a sharp
splash of water!

This last sound came from below him, and
Little Snap had barely time to understand
that an abyss of great depth yawned at his
feet before he was upon its very brink,

The warning from the stone came barely
in season for him to renew his efforts to
catch on the rugged wall, which he did with
more vigor than before.

Again he. found his hold broken, by the
fearful momentum with which he was car-
ried on, but the shock was such that he was
lifted up clear from the rock and carried
completely over the chasm.

Striking on the very rim of the farther
side, he managed to keep from falling back-
ward into the pit by a herculean effort.

The next moment, quite overcome by the
ordeal, he sank upon the rock in a sort of
stupor. He soon rallied, however, when he
tried to penetrate the gloom around him
sufficiently to note his surroundings.

Though his eyes grew more accustomed to
the blinding gloom in a few minutes, and it
was less painful to his gaze, he was unable
to see the nearest object with any certainty.
Singularly enough, a dull, gray ring lay at
his feet.

This he knew marked the abyss which he
had so narrowly escaped. The spot was ob-
long in shape, and about six feet in width
by ten or twelve in length.

Not a sound broke the oppressive stillness
of the cavern, save a faint murmur borne
up from the depths like the gentle plashing
of slowly moving water.

By this time Little Snap had come to the
conclusion that the unfortunate Raggles,
father and sons, had come to an untimely
fate by falling into the abyss, having been
killed outright by the fall.

With no way to estimate the distance to
the bottom of the place, all that seemed pos-
sible for him to do was to return to the
outside world.

But was this possible for him to do?

He had crossed over the abyss, but how
was he to get back? Little Snap, as fertile
as he was in resources, for once was baffled.

Finding that there was no chance for him
to'pass over by clinging to the wall on either
side, he concluded to explore the passage be-
yond, with the hope that he might find some
other way of exit.

Slowly and carefully he groped his way
along for several yards, finding that the
passage-way followed a zig-zag course as it
penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart
of the earth.

Its course, however, was no longer down-
ward, but on a comparatively level plane.
This gave him additional courage to press

on.

The walls had been high enough for him
to stand upright soon after passing the en-
trance.

With but a faint idea of how far hé was
going from the mouth of the cavern, he
pursued the winding passage for what seemed
along time to him, when, suddenly, after
turning an abrupt angle, a light flashed in
the space ahead.

This caused him to stop with surprise, and
he was about to shout for joy, feeling that
he had at last found his way to daylight,
when his outburst'was checked by the sound
of a human voice!

Naturally of a cautious disposition, he
carefully suppressed all sound, until he
should know whom he was to meet in that
most unlikely place.

He soon realized that it was not: daylight
which had sent such a ray of hope to his
heart, but the flickering glare of a torch
stuck in one of the crevices of the cavern’s
rocky walls.

The first voice was quickly followed by
another, and unable to see the speakers, he
crept forward as silently as possible on his
hamds and knees, until he found himself at
the end of the passage, and where it opened
out into a large underground room—larger
than he could see by the feeble light of | the
resinous pine knot,

Near the flickering torch, sitting squat
upon the rocky floor, he was amazed to be-
hold four men, evidently holding an earnest

his presence known at once, but the words
already being spoken by one of the quartet
were of such a nature that he checked the
salutation upon his lips and listened, with
bated breath, to the following dialogue:
‘‘The first person to be got out of the way
is that postboy.’’

The speaker was a man above medium
height, judging as he sat upon the bottom
of the cavern, and he spoke in a deep, gut-
tural tone.

He had small, snakish eyes, and the most
prominent feature of his round face was a
heavy, reddish mustache. He had the ap-
pearance of being a military person.

All of the four were strangers to Little
Snap, who was listening intently for the
next utterance.

The following speaker was a short, thick-
set man, with a closely-trimmed gray beard,
who said:

‘*That won’t be a big job.’’

‘*T an’t so sure o’ it,’’ remarked a third,
younger than the others, and smaller of
stature. ‘‘Shag says——’’

A warning gesture from the first spokes-
man caused him to stop with his sentence
unfinished.

‘‘No names are allowed to be spoken
here,’’ growled he who was evidently leader
of the party. ‘‘Don’t fergit yourself again,
man,’

‘“‘T reckon we air safe ’nough here,’’ re-
torted the other. ‘‘I’ll warrant there an’t a
soul nearer’n Hollow Tree.’’

‘‘Never can be too careful; rocks have
ears sometimes. I could have sworn I heard
a man’s voice not ten minutes ago. But it’s
you we came here to hear talk,’’ nodding
his head toward the last person of the quar-
tet, who had remained quiet so far. ‘‘What
have you learned?’’

‘‘Much that is mighty pleasing,’’ replied
the last, ina tone which caused the con-
cealed postboy to start with surprise.
‘‘Hark! I thought I heard some move!’?
exclaimed the chief, half-starting to his feet.
‘Pears to me ye air mighty skeery to-
day,’’ growled he who had accidentally
spoken the name of the postmaster at Hollow
Tree.

Little Snap crouched closer to the rock in
breathless silence, fearful he had betrayed
himself,

When he had become reassured that such
was not the case, he scrutinized the fourth
speaker more closely, but without discover-
ing a familiar feature. In the midst of his
speculative study the man said:

‘Yes; everything is working in our favor.
Ihave seen him at Six Roads, and he tells
me he will back us in all we undertake. He
will look after that end of thé route. We
have already got at least three of the offices
under our thumb. He says he can cook the
goose of that upstart who thinks he can run
the Kanawha any way he chooses. The gov
says for us to keep still until he can carry
out a little plan of his, and then——’’

‘*Men get rusty lying round in the damp,”’
said the chief.

‘‘Better get a little rusty than to take too
much risk. It’s my opinion we can do no
better than to wait his move.’’

‘What will the Acreites do while we loll
around?’’

“Let ’em do what they please; we an’t
going to leave a grease spot of them before
we get through. I tell you it is the biggest
scheme ever afoot sinee the days of old
Burr, and when we have carried out our
plans we can snap our fingers at even Uncle
Sam.’’

‘That all sounds well, but I an’t so much
confidence in that old duffer at Six—— The
dickens! what’s up?’’

The abrupt appearance of a new-comer
upon the fitful scene caused every man of
the four to spring to his feet, and instinc-
tively each sought the fire-arm he carried at
his side.

‘Tt is only our guard,’’ said the chief, as
he recognized the intruder. ‘‘What is up,
Blake? Anything wrong?’’

‘«There are strangers in the valley!’’ re-
plied the new-comer.

CHAPTER V.
OLOSE QUARTERS.

AVE we been found?’’ asked the

ei four in the same breath.
‘*Not that I know of. The party

“Sz that I meant seem to bea family
stopped there for a rest, though I could not
see anything of the men folks. They may be
off gunning.’
‘If there is no danger, what did you
alarm us for?’’, demanded the thief.
**Y an’t through yet,’’ replied the other,
doggedly. ‘‘There is some one else in the
valley besides them. Perhaps he came with
them,’’
‘*Who is this other? Why don’t you pack
your ideas up together?’’
‘*T an’t seen the chap himself,’’? continued
the man, in his deliberate way, ‘‘but the
Postboy of the Kanawha is somewhere round
about these diggings.’’
Had a thunderbolt fallen among them the
men could not have shown greater surprise.
‘‘Where is he?’’ the four asked, again
using the same words.

GooDnD NEWS.

as you please. The mail-sack is on his back;
perhaps he has throwed his rider.’’
‘“‘Dix Lewis in this region!’’ exclaimed
the chief, ignoring the last statement. of the
messenger. ‘‘There is work for us to do,
boys! Come——’’
At this juncture, the torch, which, un-
noticed by all, had been dying out, flared
up for an instant and then went out, leay-
ing the little group enveloped in darkness.
“The furies!’’ cried one of the men.
‘*Who’s got anything to make a light?’’
‘*Follow me!’’ commanded the chief,
‘and let the light alone. We must find that
boy without any loss of time. His presence
here at this——’’
Little Snap failed to catch the rest, but
he had heard enough to know that he must
be active, too. From the sounds, he knew
the party were leaving their underground
rendezvous.
Aware that it would not do for these men
to capture his horse with the mail, his mind
was filled with conflicting plans of action.
His first impulse was to return the way he
had come, but he realized that it would be
impossible for him to cross the chasm, even
could he scale the slippery ascent beyond.
Possibly if he were coming the opposite way,
he might leap the abyss, though that would
be extremely doubtful. .
Only one avenue of escape seemed open to
him, and that was to follow upon the heels
of his enemies!
He had not, a moment to lose if he did
this, and without further consideration, he
glided across the cavern room in the direc-
tion taken by the five men.
Guided by the sounds of their advance,
while moving as noiselessly as possible him
self, Little Snap threaded the circuitous
passage, keeping but a few yards behind
then.
After going a short distance, the way be-
gan to ascend by irregular stone steps, to
climb which Little Snap had to exercise
reat caution not to betray his presence.
nee, as the party suddenly paused, he
found himself within a few feet of the
group, but owing to the darkness he was not
discovered.
‘*Hang it!’’ exclaimed the chief, after a
moment’s stop, ‘‘I have dropped that letter
somewhere. I think it must be where we
were sitting. Blake, go back and find it:
and then keep a watch over the entrance to
the cave until we return.”’
Little Snap held his breath at the sound
of this order, and when he heard the man
turning back, he felt that he was lost.
Without losing his presence of mind, he
shrank back as close to the nearest wall as
he could, and silently awaited the approach
of the other.
He hadn’t long to wait, for the next mo-.
ment Blake’s heavy step told that he was
near at hand. Then the postboy felt his
bulky form brush against him!
‘*] shall be glad when we get out of this
place!’’? muttered the man, as he stumbled
on past the crouching figure of Dix Lewis.
During this time the others were leaving
the cavern, and as soon as he dared, Little
Snap started forward, feeling now that
every moment was of infinite value to him.
A little farther on a streak of daylight
struggling into the dismal pathway told that
they were approaching the end of the pas-

sage.

of fact, the men were already crawling
out of the small aperture that afforded an
exit from the cave,

As closely as he dared, Little Snap fol-
lowed after them, and when he could no
longer hear their movements he ventured to
peer out. As at the other place of entrance,
the mouth of the cavern was overgrown
with stunted bushes, so as to be well con-
cealed from sight. He found, too, that the
spot was nearly twenty-five feet from the
ground, it being midway up the side of the
bluff.

A small stone rattling down the side of

his head, warned him of the close proximity
of his enemies.
the top of the cliff. In fact, that seemed the

the bottom. y
With greater caution than ever, he noise-

him.

clearing
camped, and where hé had left Jack.

pearing in the mouth of the cave!

in close quarters!

the summit.

 

 

conversation.
Ordinarily, the postboy would have made

‘“*T tell you I don’t know. His horse is on
the other side of the bluff, feeding as quietly

the declivity,.passing within a few inches of

It also told him that they had ascended to

only way of escape from the place, as the
rock descended smooth and perpendicular to

lessly scaled the ascent in the footsteps of
the four men, who were hastening to find

As his head came on a level with the top
of the rocky heights, he discovered them ap-
proaching the opposite side, creeping cau-
tiously toward the edge overlooking the
where the Raggles family had

A movement below him at that moment
warned him of the return of Blake from
his search for the missing letter. Glancing
downward, he saw the head of the other ap-

Little Snap began to realize that he was

To retreat would be to throw himself into
the arms of the enemy behind, while it
would be even greater madness to ascend to

No sooner had Little Snap taken a hasty
survey of his situation than he decided that
by following along the side of the bluff he

With an agility belonging to one of his
years, he advanced on the side of the cliff,
finding a foothold in some crevice of the
ledge or on a bush, and clinging with a
tenacious hold to its precarious support.

But he had not gone half a dozen yards
before a sharp cry from Blake told that he
had been discovered.

‘Here he goes!’ shouted the excited man,
regardless of all caution now.

The cries were answered by a great com-
motion among those on the summit, and he
heard the chief call out. some question he did
not understand.

‘‘He’s climbin’ along th’ rock!’’ cried
Blake. ‘‘Head him off, an’ ye hey got him!”’
The next instant four heads were thrust
over the brink within a rod of where Little
Snap was suspended in mid-air!

‘“‘Hold up where you are!’’ commanded
the chief, whose sharp eyes had discovered
the fugitive.

Without stopping to reply, the* postboy
dropped from the bush supporting him in a

| diagonal direction to another several feet

below.

‘*Don’t let him get away!’’ cried the
chief.

‘‘Hold up there, boy, where you are, and
we won’t hurt you! Stop, or we will end
your career at once. We hold your life in
our hands,’’

Little Snap knew enough of the natures of
the men menacing his life to feel that he was
running no greater risk in trying to get
away from them than he would in allowing
himself to fall into their power.
Accordingly, without paying any heed to
the warning, he swung himself forward and
downward to a narrow shelf on the side of
the ledge, where he found himself in sight
of the clearing in front of the bluff.

Casting a\swift glance over the scene, he
saw Jack standing nearly where he had left
him. He also saw Mrs. Raggles and her
three girls picking up the rude utensils they
had used in getting their lunch, and tossing
them into the wagon. But what surprised
him the most was the sight of old man Rag-
gies and his two boys, in the act of hitching
the oxen to the vehicle!

He barely took this all in at a glance,
without having time to give it a second
thought.

He was now about fifteen feet from the
foot of the ledge, and seeing that the way
was clear beyond, he unhesitatingly dropped
from his precarious perch into the bushes
growing near to the mouth of the cave.

As he did so, the reports of the outlaws’
fire-arms rang out sharply on the silence of
the wildwoods.

Quickly regaining his equilibrium, Little
Snap bounded toward the side of the sur-
ee Jack, who looked up with wonder at
is sudden approach.

CHAPTER VI.
LITTLE SNAP’S TROUBLES INCREASE.

HOUGH Little Snap was aware that
he was running the gantlet of the
rifles of his enemies, he kept on un-

7* daunted, until he had reached the side
of his horse.

The next moment he sprang lightly into
the saddle, and gathering up the reins,
shouted :

‘‘Away, Jack! show them a light pair of
heels!’’

The faithful steed needed no urging to
do this, and with the reports of the baffled
men’s fire-arms and the cries of the startled
Raggles family ringing in his ears, the Post-
boy of the Kanawha dashed furiously down
the path leading to the main road from
Greenbrier to Six Roads.

Not a word escaped his tightly compressed
lips, until the highway was reached, wheD
he patted his horse on the neck, saying;
gently: e

‘Rasy, now, Jack, old boy; the danger 36
over for the present. It was a close call, but
amiss is as good as a mile, though I don,
care to go through that experience again.’

Slackening his gait to an easy cantely
Jack bore his rider on without further urg-
ing. The truth ‘was, the postboy’s’*mind wa
busy trying to solve the subject of the mee
ing in the cave of the four unknown men:
He was also puzzled to understand the eh
tions of the Raggles family. While he coulk
not believe that their story to get him int?
the cave had been a hoax, he was unable a
understand their reappearance upon t
scene. se

The postboy was still trying to solve thes

tow?
problems, when he reached a small i
called by the singular name of Daring’s Ds
mond. a

He found the postmaster, Mr. Anderso™s
impatiently awaiting his appearance...

“Late again,’’ greeted the official, ut
disagreeable tone.

“‘T could not very well help it,’’ iD
Little Snap, handing him the mail-poue Fou

‘*That is what you say every time. ‘sas
are an hour overdue. Mr. Meiggs, whe ind
just gone out, has been talking pretty ld
about you. If I were in your place, ww
not let this happen again. People WO” vot
having mail want it on time. Ib may og.
make any difference to the Blazed AC™
tle, but it does to civilized people,
noticed.’’

replied

 

in safety to the valley.

might reach a place where he could descend

It wasn’t so much what the postmaste” .

 

 

 

 

 
  

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GooD NEWS.

4051

 

as the way in which he said it that nettled
Little Snap, though he made no reply. This
Mr. Meiggs referred to was one of the post-
boy’s bondsmen.

“*T suppose you know Dan Shag has gone
up to see Jason Warfield about the Hollow

Tree mail?’’ said the postmaster, as he
handed over the sack. ‘‘Of course you
know; what a fool lam! He must have

)

passed you ‘tween here and the Tree.’

To this Little Snap made no reply. He
knew Anderson was saying these things to
draw him out. The postmaster, for some
unknown reason, had never acted friendly
toward him.

He never could understand why.

It was never Little Snap’s practice to
make much conversation with those be met
on his route, and he felt less like talking
than common on this occasion.

He was due at Union Six Roads, the end
of his route, at eight o’clock, and it was
already past that hour, it having been sun-
set at the time of his escape from his ene-
mies at the cave.

Thus he took the mail-pouch from Mr.
Anderson’s hands, and throwing it on its ac-
customed hook, sprang into his seat before
that worthy could realize he was leaving.

‘Hold up a minnit!’’ he exclaimed, as the
postboy dashed away, but not loud enough
for him to hear. ‘‘Go it!’’? muttered the
other, ‘‘I sha’n’t forget it in my report. I
reckon you’ll wish you hadn’t been in so

‘much of a hurry when you come to meet old

Warfield.’’

Little thinking of what was in store for
him at his home town, the postboy urged
Jack on at greater speed than common, until
at last he dashed up in front of the Six
Roads post-office, kept by John Rimmon,
who also had a small trade in groceries.

The postmaster met him at the door, with
a troubled look upon his features.

‘*What in the world have you been doing
all this time, Dix Lewis? Hold on! don’t
dismount, Jason Warfield left word here for
me to tell you to come right up to his house
the minute you got in. He wants to see you
on matters of vital importance. Them’s just
his words.’’

‘*Well, I will run up and see just as soon
as I have put Jack in the stable.’’

‘*But he said you mustn’t stop for that.
He said for you to ke sure and come the
minute you got here. By his looks and ac-
tions, it must be something of very great
importance.’’

The Honorable Jason Warfield, as that
rather pompous gentleman desired to be
known, was considered one of the richest
men in Monroe County. In some way not
easily understood by the easy-going inhabit-
ants of Six Roads, a large proportion of the
property in town was in his name, and it
was doggedly repeated that ‘‘he had a mort-
gage on the rest.”’ :

Be that as it may, no move of any im-
portance was made without consulting him,
and his sanction to any undertaking was
deemed sufficient to insure its success. Of
course, such a man had his enemies, but as
a rule he was liked.

His was the first name' on the Postboy of
the Kanawha’s bond, and it was generally
Supposed that he had_ been principally in-
strumental in securing Little Snap his situa-
tion.

It was no wonder then that the postmaster
looked surprised when our hero said that he
Was going to care for his horse before he
Visited Mr. Warfield.

‘‘T wouldn’t take any such chances,’’ de-
clared the worthy P. M., with an ominous
Shake of his grizzly locks.

Little Snap’s home was but a short dis-
tance from the post-office, so he was quickly
there, to be met at the door by his mother
and two sisters, both of the latter being
Younger than he, the three looking very
anxious,

‘Where ‘have you been, my son?’’ asked

1s mother. ‘‘We have been so worried about
you, And Mr. Warfield has been here, act-
Mg very much put out. He wants you to
Come up to his house as soon as possible.

Smething terrible has happened, I know.’’

‘Nothing to be alarmed about, mother.

ut if Bess will take care of Jack, I will go
Nght up to Mr. Warfiled’s, though I cannot
MMagine what he is so anxious to see me for.”’

“He is terribly excited about something.
I ye A
be ould go at once, if I were you, and I will

&ve your supper all warm for you when

ou get back.??

(28 father at home?’’ asked Little Snap.
sta ©; Ihave not seen him to-day. He

YS away more than ever of late. Why did

on ask???

Oh, nothing. Give Jack a good supper,
nigh} and see that he is comfortable for the

There, mother, don’t be worried any

I won't be gone long this time.’’
had oa nothing untisual, as Mrs. Lewis
fathom red, for John Lewis, our hero’s
Was y? to be away from home. In fact, it
ba Sry seldom he was there, and when he
Te hardly ever did any work or busi-
Very © Was a man of a few words and
fami} peculiar habits. His neglect of his
some x had made it necessary that Dix do
fest for their support. : :
when ng his mother, as was his practice
away rans home, Little Snap turned
Whe, Start on his visit to Mr. Warfield’s,
the hotise saw a party of men approaching

 

  

 

“Why it’s Mr. Warfield in front!?’ ex-

claimed his mother. ‘‘He got impatient
waiting for you. And there is Mr. Meiggs

and Daniel Shag, of Hollow Tree, and—and
Mr. Brady, the sheriff. Oh, Dix! what does
it mean?’’

‘*Nothing to be alarmed over, I am sure,
mother, so be calm,’’

In a louder key of voice, he greeted the
new-comers, saying:

‘*Good-evening, gentlemen. I was starting
to come up to your house, Mr. Warfield.’’

 

‘Was that the direction I left at the post- }

office for you to follow, young man?’’ de-
manded Mr. Warfield, sternly.

“*No, sir; but Jack was so tired that I
thought——’”’

‘So you put more importance upon the
condition of your horse than you do the
affairs of Uncle Sam?’’

‘*Not exactly that; but I did not know
you wished to see me upon Government mat-
ters. I——”?

‘‘It seems to me, young man, that you
should have been very anxious to see me, if
I was not to see you, after what has hap-
pened to-day. Mr. Shag was so much con-
cerned about it that he rode up here post-
haste to let me know. He tells me you have
lost the Hollow Tree packet of mail.’’

“Mr. Shag said it was missing, sir, when
I got to his office; but I trust you do not
think it any of my fault. Mr. Belmont——”’

‘““The horse does not seem very badly
winded,’’ broke in Sheriff Brady, who had
approached Jack, and was running his hand
over the creature’s body. ‘‘Ha! Mr. War-
field, [ hardly think we shall Have to look
much farther for the missing mail. Here it
is, fast enough.’’

Little Snap uttered a low exclamation of
astonishment, as he saw the sheriff take
from the little pouch he had fastened to the
saddle for his convenience in carrying small
articles to and fro on his trips, the missing
package of mail matter!

All feelings imaginable were depicted
upon the countenances of the little group
surrounding the postboy.

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

 

——_ + -0 -e—-
{This Story will not be Published in Book-Form,]

THE TOUR OF THE ZERO CLUB;

PERILS BY IGE AND SNOW,

BY HARVEY HICKS,

Author of ‘Mat Merriman Abroad,” “Tom Trua-
ton’s Schooldays,” ete.

& TOUR OF THE ZERO CLUB” was commenced

3ack numbers can be obtained of all

News Agents.)

 

CHAPTER XXXIV.
A LIVELY TIME AT A FIRE.

Zero Club
less than two minutes to reach the
burning structure.
As they neared it they saw a man
rush out of the kitchen of the farm-house.

He was bareheaded, and screaming at the
top of his voice:

‘Help! fire! help!’’

‘We'll help you!” cried Jack.
pails handy? Where’s the well?’

‘“‘The well is here by the back door!
Samanthy, get the milk pails an’ all the
buckets you can find! The barn’s afire!’’

From out of the kitchen came a woman’s
scream. Ten seconds later an elderly female
appeared, carrying half a dozen milk pails,
a small wooden tub and a slop bucket.

In the meantime, Boxy was turning the
well handle just as fast as he could and fill-
ing the big half-cask that stood beneath the
spout. By the time it was half-full the
others had the pails and were dipping them in.

Harry and Jack and the farmer were the
first to dash down to the barn. The fire was
in a mass of hay near the feed-box, and on
this they dashed the water they carried.

“T’d like to know who sot this afire?’’
growled the farmer, wrathfully.

‘*We saw a man leave the barn and jump
the rear fence,’’ replied Jack.

‘*Wot kind of a looking man???

‘*A tall fellow, with a soft, light hat, and
a blue overcoat.’?

‘*Jim Lemkins, sure as fate!’’ chowled the
farmer. ‘‘He’ll have to be locked up again;
commencin’ his old tricks. ’’

‘‘Who is Jim Lemkins?’’ asked Harry, as
they went for more water.

a T took the members of the
iT
S

‘*Are your
?

‘*A half-crazy chap from the village. He
has caused no end of fires around here. But

he won’t cause any more—not if I have the
say of it!’’

Nothing more was said just then, all hands
paying attention to the fire. The big barn
doors were closed to keep out the draft,
and in five minutes what had promised to
be a serious conflagration was completely
put out.

‘Phew! but that was warm work!’’ ex-
claimed the farmer, after the last of the
sparks were stamped out.

‘You can be thankful that it
worse,’’ remarked Harry.

“So be. You fellers work like you
understood what you was about.’’

is no

 

‘*We’ve had one experience at putting out |
a fire,’’ returned Jack, dryly. ‘‘We are out
camping, and our hut caught and nearly
burnt us up.’’ |

‘*Gee shoo! Well, the damage here an’t |
much, thanks to your comin’ along an’
giving a hand. Won’t you come into the
house?’’

‘Thank you, we were going to stop just
as the fire broke out,’’ replied Harry.

‘*Ts that so?’’ returned the farmer, ques-
tioningly.

‘*Yes,’? added Boxy. ‘‘We wanted to see
if we couldn’t buy some fresh bread, crack-
ers and pie from you. We’verun out of |
everything but meat and coffee at our |
camp.’? |

‘Well, maybe Samanthy can fix you up.
Come on in.”’

Seeing to it that none of the live sparks |
had escaped their notice, the party left. the
barn and entered the kitchen of the farm-
house, where all was cozy and warm. The}
farmer’s wife had preceded them, and now
thanked them as her husband had done for
their help.

“They want to buy some fresh bread,
cake and pie, Samanthy. They are out
campin’, and run out of that kind of stuff.’’

‘*They can’t buy none, Job, but they can
have all I can spare, an’ welcome,’’ replied
the wife, warmly,

The matter was talked

over for a few

minutes, and then the good lady visited her '

pantry and brought forth two loaves of
bread, a currant jelly layer cake, and a
large apple pie.
‘‘Here you be, an’ welcome,’’ she said,
‘‘Now, if you want any vegetables, say the

word, and they be yours,’’ said the farmer. |

“The cellar an’ the barn are more’n full.’’
Once again the matter was talked over,

and when the boys were ready to leave they |

had, in addition to the bread, cake and
pastry, a large basket completely filled with
potatoes, turnips, onions, beans and cab-
bage, enough to last them until the end of
their outing.

When they were thanking the country
folks for their kindness, a cutter drove up
to the horse-block, and a young and buxom
country woman rushed into the house. She
proceeded to hug and kiss the old couple.

‘*Such news, ma!’’ she burst out. ‘*Uncle |

Ben and three sleigh loads are coming over
to-night for a dance!

player along. Henry and I want you to
come over sure!’’

‘*Humph! I’m most too old for a shin-dig
like that,’’ said the farmer, but, neverthe-
less, he smiled broadly.

‘*So be I,’’? added the wife, but she, too,
looked pleased.

‘*Oh, you must come, both of you!’? in-
sisted the young country wife, impulsively.
‘‘And you——’’ and then she broke off
short and gazed at the four boys who had
stepped to one side out of the way.

‘*My daughter,’’ said the old farmer, pre-
senting her to the boys., ‘‘Sarah, these
young fellows just helped me put a fire out

in the barn—one .that crazy Jim Lemkins |

had started. I don’t know their names, but
they are from Rudskill and are out camp-
ing.’’ :

With all the polish at his command, Harry
stepped forward and introduced his chums
and then himself. The young woman shook
hands and then asked numerous questions
about the affair.

Quite a friendly conversation ensued, and
then it transpired that the farmer, whose
name was Brodhead, knew Jack and Andy’s
father. He asked the boys how their parent
was, and while he was doing this the
daughter of the house began a whispered
conversation with her mother.

“So many girls you know, ma,’’ Harry |

heard her say.

‘‘And they look like real
nice chaps, too.’’

‘‘Well, do as you see.fit, Sarah,’’ replied |

the mother. ‘‘They certainly deserve any
good time we can give ’em.’’

Then the young woman blushed and stam-
mered, but finally invited the boys to attend
the sleigh-ride party at her home, a mile up
the lake shore.

‘“‘There will be lots of girls to dance
with,’’ she added, with a little laugh. ‘‘ And
we shall have a great number of games,
too.’’

‘*You are very kind,’’ began Harry, and
then he looked at his companions. One
glance was sufficient. Every one wanted to
go; and so it was settled that they should
attend a regular country dance that night
at eight o’clock.

Ten minutes later they were on their way
back to the lake shore, where they found

Pickles wondering what had become of |

them. A dinner of meat wasready, but they
kept it waiting long enough to add some
roast potatoes, and when they ate the meal
they topped off with the pie, which, as Boxy
put it, ‘‘struck home every time.’’

 

CHAPTER XXXV.
AT THE COUNTRY DANCE.

talked of but the party they were
going to attend. Pickles had not been
forgotten, and he was to join in a
hoe-down in the barn, where the farm
hands were going to have their jollification.

Fes the balance of the day nothing was |
\

Qf

ef

 

They are going to,
bring old Fiddler Dick and an Italian harp |

Boxy and Andy spent a good bit of the
time over their toilet, and it must be con-
tessed that Jack and Harry did the same.

“We are not fit fora city party, but 1
guess we look well enough for this country
affair,’? remarked Jack. ‘‘Our clothing is
clean, and when we wash and comb up we'll
pass in a crowd.’’ ‘

It was decided not to move camp until the
following day, and a rude shelter was con-
structed under the trees, where the traps
were hidden. It was not likely that they
would return to the spot until nearly sun-
rise.

The party was expected to arrive at the
farm-house up the lake at about eight

| o’clock, and at half-past seven the boys-set

out for the place, without taking the trouble
to replenish the camp-fire.

They had been given minute directions
concerning the road, and had no difficulty

| in reaching their destination

As they came in sight of the farm-house,
| which was lit up from cellar to garret, they
saw that the sleigh-loads of relatives and
neighbors had just arrived. They hurried
in, and a few minutes later were introduced
all around.

““Make yourselves at home,’’ said Henry
Akers, Sarah’s husband. ‘‘I’ve heard o’ the
service you did my father-in-law, and I’m
as thankful as he is that his barn wasn’t
burnt down.’’

The fiddler and the harpist were stationed
in a corner of the broad hallway, and the
sitting-room and the kitchen had _ been
cleared for dancing. Soon the lively strains
|of a Virginia reel broke the ice all around
and set everybody to talking and laughing.

‘‘Choose partners fer the reei!’’ shouted
the master of ceremonies, a village dandy,
who had a chrysanthemum as large as a
saucer stuck in his button-hole.

‘““Good gracious, I can’t dance!’’ whis-
pered Andy, and off he ran to a corner and
| was soon talking and laughing with a crowd
‘of boys and girls. Boxy joined him, and
| they managed to have a real good time until
supper.

Harry and Jack found two pretty country
girls of about their own: age willing to
dance, and joined the two lines that were
|forming at the head of the sitting-room.
Soon nearly everybody in the house was in
line, old Job Brodhead and his wife leading
off.

Once again the fiddler and the harp player
_ tuned up and started the reel, and away the
| dancers went, one couple after the other,

forward and back, forward and around, for-
ward and join hands, and all the rest of it.
|Some mistakes were made, and it \grew
|mighty warm toward the end. But nobody
| minded this, and all laughed and cracked
jokes, and when, nearly an hour later, the
| reel was ended, every one was on the best
| possible terms with every one else.

| ‘**T’ll slip down to the barn and see how
Pickles is making out,’’ whispered Harry,
| and off he went, leaving Jack to entertain
| the girls they had danced with.

Harry found the dolored youth in his
glory. Pickles had brought his banjo along,
| and was entertaining the other colored peo-
| ple and the farm hands with plantation
}songs and tunes. It was not long before
| word was sent from the farm-house to come
;up and entertain the others. And Pickles
had to go.
| In the meantime cider was flowing, and
apples and nuts were passed around on all
| sides. About eleven o’clock the kitchen was
| cleared and the older women went to work
to set the tables for supper.

After the reel came other dances in the
sitting-room and hall—waltzes, quadrilles
and the like, and Harry and Jack and two
of the young ladies who had been to dancing
school, danced the latest two-step, while the
| older folks looked on.

At last supper was announced, and such a
feast as that was! There was enough three
times over, and everything of the best. All
of the boys were urged to eat, until Boxy
whispered to Andy that every button was
ready to burst off. It was a country supper
never to be forgotten! They finished off with
mince pie, and nuts, and raisins, and it was
after one o’clock when the feast was de-
clared at an end.

Then came several toasts. First, old Job
Brodhead made a little speech, and then his
|son-in-law, and after this half a dozen
neighbors.

‘“Maybe our young friends from Rudskill
kin speak pieces,’? said Mother Brodhead,
and then half a dozen clustered around
Harry and Jack and the others, demanding
something from them.

Luckily, Andy and Boxy knew a funny
dialogue which they got off amid much
laughter. Then Jack recited ‘‘The Sword of
Bunker Hill.”’

‘“‘Now it’s your turn, Harry,’’ they said,
after he had finished.

Harry had been thinking of what to re-
cite, and a few scraps of an original song
floated into his mind. He gave it in his own
sweet tenor voice, and it fairly took the
country folks by storm. He was encored so
much that he had to follow with several”
others.

‘*You’re the hero of the evening,’’ whis-
pered Jack, and Harry blushed furiously
when the pretty girl beside him said the
| same thing.

Then Pickles was called in, and soon the

 

 
    
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
    
 
  
 
 
   
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
   
 
  
 
  
    
  
  
  
   
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
   
    
   
  
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
    
 
    
   
 
  
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
  

 

 

 

 

 

   

colored boy had every one joining in the

chorus of ‘‘Sweet Times Comin’ By and
By,’’ and ‘‘Who’s Dat A-Knockin’ at De
Doah?’’ Then Pickles gave a breakdown,

and got several of the old countrymen so
warmed up that they took off their coats
and joined in.

Following the singing came half a dozen
games, hunt the slipper, pillows and keys,
fortune-telling, forfeits and the like. Per-
haps some kissing was done, too, but in tell-
ing the story to me the boys whose fortunes
I am relating did not mention this, for
reasons purely their own.

‘*Tt’s the best party I ever attended in my
life!’’ cried Boxy to Harry, as they passed
each other in the hall. ‘‘Beats a stiff town
party all to bits!’’ And Harry agreed with
him.

It was after five o’clock when some one
suggested that they break up. Then clock,
and watches were consulted, and a raid was
made on the closets where hats, bonnetss
overcoats and tippets were stored. Fifteen
minutes later the sleighs were brought
around, good-byes were said, and off went
the merry revelers, leaving the five boys to
return to their camp in the early dawn,
completely tired out, but happier than they
had been for many a day.

*“*T never expect to attend another party
like it,’’ said Jack. ‘‘It is one of the bright-
est spots in the tour of the Zero Club, to my
way of thinking.’’

‘*You are right, Jack. They treated us as
if we were their warmest friends. It’s a pity
city folks cannot do as well by their country
cousins when they come to town.’’

After all that dancing and romping
around, it was a weary walk back to the
temporary camp, but finally it was finished,
and lighting a big fire of brushwood, they
sat around it to rest. Andy and Boxy fell
asleep, and the others dozed until nearly
noon.

‘*Now we will continue on our way up the
lake front until we get away from the}
neighborhood of these farm-houses,’’ said |
Harry. ‘‘I don’t believe any one wants
dinner.’’

“Not just yet for me!’’ groaned Boxy.
‘*Last night filled me up as full as a tick.’’

‘*Ditto,’’? put in Andy. ‘‘Let us walk our-
selves hungry first.’’

And so they set off on their skates up the
lake, keeping as closely to the shore as the
snow-drifts would permit.

By sundown they calculated that they had
covered six miles. They were now in a very
wild neighborhood, full of rocks and cliffs
and a heavy growth of timber.

‘‘This ought to be just the thing,’’ said
Harry, as they turned in to shore and came
to a halt. ‘‘There ought to be plenty of
game back of that rocky ground.’’

‘That is true,’’ said Jack, ‘‘What do you
say, fellows, shall we look for a camping
spot here?’’

They agreed that no better place could be
found. ‘Ten minutes later they were behind
the shelter of a clump of bushes, and then
Jack and Boxy went off to find a suitable
location for a permanent camp for the
balance of the outing.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
BEAR.

THE BIG BLACK

7

od, HAT Boxy and Jack thought would
be a splendid shelter was found
under a large, shelving series of
rocks, nearly a hundred feet from
the lake front. Here was an opening six
feet wide by fifteen feet deep. The flooring
was of smooth stone, covered with a great
mass of leaves which had been blown in by
the wind. Of course, the snow had likewise
entered, but this was soon cleaned out.

‘“Now, aJjl we will have to do is to recover
the greater part of the front with brush and
it will make the warmest kind of a shelter,’’
said Jack.

‘* And the best part of it all is, that there
is a crevice in the rear with a good upward
draft,’’ said Boxy. ‘‘So we can build a fire
inside our house, so to speak, which will be
more pleasant than having it outside.’

‘*No snakes, are there?’’ asked Andy,
cautiously.

‘*Not a one. We were careful to
thorough search around.’’

“Then that’s the spot,’’ put in Harry,
‘tand the sooner we get settled the better.
It promises to be very cold to-night, and we
want to be where we can keep warm.*’

The sled was dragged to the spot selected,
and the ax gotten out. While two of the
boys cleaned out the cave-like place, the
others cut down poles and brush with which
to shelter the front, and also collected wood
for a fire.

The draft inside toward the rear was
perfect, and when a fire was started on a
number of stones, it blazed up merrily with-
out letting out any of the smoke into the
cave proper.

‘¢This is fine!’’ cried Andy, as he sat down
to rest in front of the blaze. ‘*We ought to
have had a place like this from the start.’’

‘Unfortunately, we didn’t know there
was this cave to occupy,’’ laughed Harry.
‘*But I must confess I liked the hut.’

‘So did I,’’ said Jack. ‘‘It is. only the
change that pleases Andy. Nowadays in

 
 

make a

GOOD

Before nightfall the poles were up in front
of the opening and thickly entwined with
brush. Only a small doorway was left, and
this was closed at night by setting the sled
over it. Soon the fire in the rear made the
cave-like shelter as warm as toast, so that
the boys took off their overcoats and gloves,
something they had seldom done in the hut.
Harry was right about it getting colder.
After sunset the thermometer fell steadily.
Pickles went down to the lake for a pail of
water, and came back with his hands and
ears half-frozen.

‘“‘De coldest night yit, suah!’’? he ex-
claimed, as he knocked his feet against the
rocks and slapped his hand over his chest to
warm them. ‘‘We want lots ob firewood to-
night, or. we’ll all be froze stiff as pokers by
moahnin’!’’

They were now hungry enough, and Jack
set to work, while Pickles got extra wood,
to cook a real stew of meat, potatoes and
onions. The frost in the air made the con-
coction smell good, and when the stew was
dealt out all ate their full portion.

Being sleepy, they retired early, and
every one slept like a ‘‘log’’ until long after
sunrise.

‘By gracious, but it’s cold!’’ howled
Boxy, the first to rise. ‘‘ And the fire almost
out! Pile on some wood, Pickles!’’

‘*T should say it was cold!’’ put in Andy,
as he got up and stretched himself.

“The coldest yet, without a doubt,’’ said
Harry. ‘‘But stir up, all of you! We mustn’t
expect summer weather at this time in the
year.’’

Piping hot coffee soon warmed them up
somewhat, and inside of half an hour they
were arranging to go out on a hunt. It was
resolved that they slould leave the fire in
first-class shape and all go together, that be-
ing so much nicer than dividing up.

This plan was carried out, and before
evening they had shot six rabbits, three
partridges or grouse, and over a score of
woodcock and other birds.

‘‘That’s sport and no error!’’ cried Boxy.
‘*Now, if we can only get at some more deer
to-morrow——’?

‘‘Oh, you want the earth!’’ cried Andy.
‘‘Deer are not so plentiful as all that.’’

Nevertheless, Boxy’s head was set on
bringing down a deer, and the next day he
went off with none but Pickles. The two
were gone until dark, and true enough, they
came back with a small deer, which Pickles
had wounded in the fore leg and Boxy had
shot through the neck. On that same day
the others shot half a dozen rabbits and par-
tridge, and also brought down two silvery-
white foxes, which they resolved to take
home to have stuffed.

That night they had an unexpected ex-
perience which at first gave them a_ great
seare. They were all seated near the fire re-
lating their various experiences, when, with-
out a warning, there came a crash from
overhead that caused all of them to spring
to their feet in alarm.

‘*What’s that?’’ cried Boxy.

‘‘Hvidently something is giving away!’’
exclaimed Jack.

‘‘Suah de roof’s comin’ down!’’ howled
Pickles.

‘‘That sounds like it, certainly,’’ said
Harry, who was the calmest of the crowd.

‘*Rush for outside!’’ yelled Andy, as he
made for the doorway.

‘* Andy, come back!’ called Jack, catch-
ing hold of him. .

“That’s all right, but I don’t want to get
crushed,’’ retorted his younger brother.

‘‘Rach of us had better stay here,’’ put in
Harry. ‘‘The trouble is all outside of the
cave,’’

‘Might be better in the,open air than
here——’’ began Boxy.

‘*Hspecially when the roof seems to be
giving away,’’ added Andy.

‘*Yes, but you can’t bie the doorway
without peril,’’ returned Jack.

‘Wither it is a snow-slide or a land-slide,’’
cried Harry. ‘‘Wait and listen!’’

‘Rocks comin’ down sumwhar!??
bled Pickles. ‘‘Oh, my!’’

Ro-o-u-um! crash! Down in front of the
cave-like shelter came a perfect avalanche of
snow and loose stones, completely filling the
doorway and bending in the brush wall until
the poles that held it in place gave way at
the top.

‘*Back, all of you!’’ shouted Harry, and
they retreated just in time to prevent them-
selves from being completely buried.

After the first slide came several others,
and for the time being the boys were afraid
they would be buried alive under the cliff.
They waited with wildly beating hearts for
fully quarter of an hour after the last fall,
and then began an examination of the situa-
tion.

The entire front of the shelter was blocked

grum-

to the depth of eight or ten feet.
‘*Now the question is, how are-we to get
out?’’ said Jack, indismay. ‘‘We are caught
like rats in a trap.’’
‘We must dig our way out, and that
quickly,’’ responded Harry. ‘‘We must have
fresh air to breathe.’
“Set to work with anything you can
find!’’ cried Andy. ‘‘A bit of board, or a
tin plate, or anything!’’
All hands went at the wall of snow and

Harry and Jack threw it back, the others

with snow and loose stones, which lay over it |!

 

packed it away.

At the end of half an hour a passage-way
all of eight feet had been made, when sud- |
denly Jack gave a shout:

‘‘Hurrah! I haye struck an open place at
last !??

‘‘Good!’’ returned Harry. ‘‘ Now let us all
get out and see how much damage has really
been done.’’

The small opening Jack had found was en~
larged with all possible haste, and then one
after another the boys crawled out into the
open air.

It was found that thé entire top portion
of the cliff, loaded down with ice and snow,
had given way, and was lying all along the
bottom, a distance of fully fifty feet.

‘Well, there is one satisfaction,’’ re-
marked Boxy, as he gazed at the wreck.
“Tf we clear this away we need not be in
fear of another such slide, for the top of the
cliff is now as bare as a bald man’s head.’’
‘«That’s so,’? replied Harry. ‘‘Come, fel-
lows, we must make that entrance larger
and get the snow out of the cave before we
can hope to retire for the night.’’

With improvised shovels and brooms they
set to work to clear the snow and stones
from in front of the shelter. It was hard
work, but after such a scare they did not
mind it. They were thankful that matters
were not worse. Supposing the top of the
cave had come down, what then? Most
likely every one of them would have been
killed.

At last Jack declared they had done
enough for that night.
‘‘We can finish up in the morning,’’ he

said. ‘‘Let us stait up the fire afresh and go
to bed.’? :

‘Tm willing,’’ returned Andy. ‘‘My back
is nearly brokén from handling this home-
made shovel.’’

The boys started to go back into the cave
when, suddenly, Pickles, who was looking
up at the top of the cliff, let out an un-
earthly yell and clutched Harry’s arm con-
vulsively.

‘*R'o’ de sake ob goodness!’’

‘“‘What’s it, Pickles?’’ questioned Harry,
quickly. ‘‘What has frightened you?”’
There was no need for the colored youth
to answer. A loud growl rang in the ears
of all the boys, and the next instant down
from the top of the cliff leaped a big brown
bear into their very midst!

 

(TO BE CONTINUED.)
———_ ~+- 0»
A NARROW ESCAPE.

 

A Russian resident in London, éntered a
bank and said he wished to make a first de-
posit.

‘‘What is your name?’’ asked the clerk.
‘‘Dimitri Ssolikamavitch.’’

‘‘What?’’ said the clerk, dropping his pen,
and looking up in open-mouthed amaze-
ment.

‘‘Dimitri Ssolikamavitch,’’ was the quiet
reply of the stolid-looking Russian.

**7—-T—er—how do you spell it?”’

‘*{)-i-m-i-t-r-i S-s-o-l-i-k-a-m-a-v-i-t-c-h,’’
replied the man in one breath.

‘Yt seems to me you’ll have to spell ita
yard at a time,’’ said the clerk, laughingly.

When the name was finally written, the
clerk asked:

‘““Where were your born???

‘‘In Tchernocholunitykoi.’’

‘*Where?’?

‘‘Tn Tchernocholunitykoi.’’

‘*Wait'! wait!’’ said the clerk.
one letter at a time.”’

It was easy enough to fill out the other
blanks, but when the man had gone, the
clerk said:

‘*One more Russian depositor to-day, and
I shall go home with brain fever.’’

0
A GREAT PITY.

‘*Spell it

A popular English divine was staying with
a family in New York while on a visit to
the city. At dessert, when invited to take
some fine fruit, which he declined, he men-
tioned to the family a curious circumstance
concerning himself—he had never in his life
tasted an apple, pear, grape or any other
kind of green fruit. This fact caused con-
siderable amazement to most of the family,
but a cousin who was present—a cautious
fellow of a most practical turn of mind—
listened to the statement with great’ uncon-
cern, and when the various exclamations
which it had aroused, subsided, he re-
marked, dryly:

“Tt’s a great pity that you were not in
Paradise and there might never have beer
any fall.”’
einen nnn tren
HE WASTED NO TIME.

A tramp called at a house, and when the
servant opened the door requested some-
thing to eat.

The woman replied by whistling for the
dog.

‘You misunderstand me, mum,’’ hastily
remarked the mendicant,

‘How so???

‘‘T asked that you should feed me, not the

THINGS.

EDITED BY DAVID PARKS.

es
®
0

HOW TO MAKE IMITATION TILES.

   

HTAHE square pieces of ornamented china-
ike ware known as tiles are very fashion-
Lb) able just now. They are used for deco-
/~ rating fire-places, and the walls of
rooms, or even the outside walls of churches,
hotels and other large buildings.
They are usually covered with pictures of
birds, flowers, fishes, men, or animals, or
they represent scenes from the Bible, or
other books. They used to make them, years
ago, in a very funny style, some tiles repre-:
senting Abraham in red, sacrificing Isaac in
blue, on a green altar, with a black ground,
or Noah in green, letting a yellow dove out
of a red ark, and many other pictures both
strange and funny. These old tiles used to
be known as ‘‘Dutch tiles,’’ because they
came from Holland. ‘Tiles made to-day
commonly represent birds, flowers or in-
sects, and so very pretty are they that peo-
ple use them a great deal in decorating
furniture, fire-places, and the walls of
chambers or dining-rooms.

Now tiles cost a deal of money, and it is
not every one that can have them. At the’
same time, any one who wishes to decorate
the fire-place in his room, can make a new
kind that will look quite as pretty as the
chinaware tiles, and yet cost very little
money. The materials are all cheap, and
any bright boy or girl can easily put them
together by studying our directions.

Suppose you have a wooden fire-place or a
mantel-shelf, and you wish to decorate the
place under the shelf’ with tiles: Suppose
the place you wish to cover is just five feet
long and ten inches wide. First get some
stiff card-board. Any cheap kind will an-
swer, no matter what its color, if it is stiff
and ‘strong. Cut out of this eight pieces,
each seven and a half inches wide and ten
inches long.

Then at the dry goods store or at the up-
holsterer’s, buy some remnants of cretonne
cloth, chintz, or other figured stuff that has
a pretty pattern in bright colors. Any
scraps or remnants will answer, provided
they are clean and a little larger than our
pieces of card-board. With this material, a
pair of scissors, and a pot of flowr paste, we
can now make our tiles. Choose a part of
the cloth that contains a pretty figure, and
cut a piece nine and a half inches wide.and
ten inches long.

Then spread some of the paste on one of
the pieces of card-board, and lay a piece of
the cloth evenly upon it lengthways: Turn
the edges back at the sides, and let the top
and bottom just touch. It is of no conse-
quence even if the top and bottom area
trifle ragged, as it will be all covered up
when we finish the work. To finish it off
well and give your tile a good surface it is
well to run a hot iron over the work before
it dries. _In this way we can cover our eight
pieces of card-board with the figured cloth,
and at a little distance they will really look
very much like the real tiles.

Now to fasten, them up in place we must
go to the planing mill or to the picture
frame store, and get some strips of half-
round molding in black walnut, chestnut,
or some other handsome wood. This mold-
ing must be an inch wide and must have a
little edge or rabbet cut out at the back.

This rabbet cut in the back must be one-
quarter of an inch deep, and as wide as the
card-board is thick. We shall want two
pieces of this molding each five feet long,
and two more pieces each ten inches long,
or twelve feet in all. Having procured
these, with a saw, a hammer, and a few
brads or small nails, we may put our tiles
in place. Nail up one long strip along the
lower edge of the place we wish to decorate,
and put the other long piece just ten inches
above it, measuring from the outside.

These two pieces must be placed so: that
the rabbeted edges will come in the middle.
Next square off the corners of one of the
short pieces of molding and nail it up at
one end of the longer pieces just as if you
were going to make a picture frame. 5

This done, lay the cloth tiles in a tO
upon the table and see how they look.
you do not like the arrangement, change
them about till you get a. pretty effect.
When you have them arranged to suit, slide
them in, one at a time, in the same order,
behind the molding. The rabbet on ¢
edge will hold them in place; and when they
are all in we can finish the frame roun
outside by nailing up the small piece ,
molding. : A

Once having learned how to make he
imitation tiles, you can put as many 4§ yo ‘
please about the fire-place or in @ ee
round the room about three feet from * r
floor, or over the doors and windows» pe
anywhere else you think they would re
well. You can use any pattern of molding
you fancy, and in any wood you wWis4; oat
after a little practice you can orname’
your room in a way that will be at OF
cheap, handsome and durable.
—~<>—9 <>

 

 

 

 

 

life, change is everything, Weare constantly
craving something new and different.’’

loose stones with a will. The stuff was
thrown to one side of the cave, and while

dog,’’ was the reply, as the tramp quickly
dashed through the gate.

    

Layers of flour on a cut will stop pleedin&

     

 

 

 
 
 
 

    
     
 

 

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[This Story Will Not Be Published in Book-Form. ]

FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM:

OR,
The Birth of the Stars and Stripes.

BY J GIBSON PERRY, U S.N.,
Author of “Out With Commodore Decatur,” etc.

(“FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM” was commenced in
No, 249. Back numbers can be obtained of all
News Agents. }

CHAPTER XVI.
THE RETURN ‘TO THE FRIGATE.

SF ORTUNATELY for the safety of the

y invading force, the captain of the

q &). brig was too excited to aim correctly.

** The charge of slugs from the blun-
derbus whizzed through the main rigging
and landed with an angry spat in the fore-
top.

The recoil of the ancient weapon was so
tremendous that it sent the skipper upon his
back. Before he could rise again Paul had
him bythe throat. The fellow floundered
about and probably would have wriggled
free if one of the American sailors had not
come to the middy’s assistance. Between
them they held their prisoner until a shout
from forward indicated that the brig had
been fired. By Captain Jones’ orders, the
crew were disarmed and sent ashore in their
boat. The Americans piled into the craft
they had brought from shore and set out for
the next vessel, a full-rigged ship.

From the main hatch of the brig a dense
volume of smoke tinged with ruddy flames
soared aloft. A brisk wind from seaward
carried innumerable sparks to other vessels
and presently a dozen incipient fires sprung
up.

Kerhe elements are lending their aid,’’ re-
marked Captain Jones, grimly. ‘‘It is well,
as I doubt if we could remain much longer.
We will destroy yon ship and then retreat.’’

‘‘The good citizens of Whitehaven are
gathering in force,’’ said Stubbs. ‘‘Look at
that hill back of the town; it is black with
people.’’

‘*But not as dark as their faces are at the
present moment, I ween,’’ replied Paul,
with a reckless laugh.

‘OTis a pity to thus carry ruin with the
torch,’’ mused the captain. ‘‘I feel for the
owners of these ships, but it is time to teach
all England a lesson. If we should ravage
this whole coast we would not work a tithe
of the harm the British have in our coun-
anys"? ;

NA doctor hates to take his own medi-
cine,’’ quoth the master’s mate, dryly. ‘‘’Tis
human nature, I suppose. His majesty has
long dosed the colonies with bitter draughts,
but he’ll now find that he must swallow an
Squally bitter pill.’’

When the boat reached the ship’s side the
brig just left was a roaring mass of flames.
Captain Jones led the way to the former
vessel’s deck, cutlass in hand, Their coming
had been observed, and such was the con-
Sternation created that the crew inconti-
hently fled in their yawl. © This left a clear
field, and it was not long before the ship was
given over to the flames.

In the meantime the citizens of White-
haven, aghast at the destruction to their
fleet, had gathered close to the beach. A
‘arge number, more bold than their fellows,

ad formed a mob directly opposite the ship.

ome were armed with guns, which they

Tandished menacingly at the Americans.

“We'll have a scrimmage with them, I’m
thinking,’ said Stubbs, to the middy, shak-
tng his head ominously. ‘‘They outnumber
Us fifty to one, and they are wrought up to
about the highest pitch.’

*“‘The commander does not intend to land
there, surely,’’ replied Paul. ‘‘By the way,
Where is his cutter? I did not see anything
of it near the fort.’’

‘It’s around on the sea front,’? spoke up
§sailor. ‘‘The old man left it in a cove in
2 ‘arge of Midshipman Preble.’’

‘So Jezzy is ashore, eh? I’ be glad to
eet the lad again. Hello, the old man is
i otioning us to enter the boat. I guess he
weends to pull down the bay after all. Well,
Me ave accomplished about all we can: the

Md will do the rest.”’

® little party entered their borrowed
fol ®r and rowed steadily toward the Heads,
as ‘Owed by the wrathful cries of the mob
bat: A few guns and pistols were fired,
the Without effect. Opposite the battery lay
lin eae commanded by Lieutenant Wal-
th ord. Its crew were resting on their
boat’ ®vidently waiting for the commander’s
cane ptain Jones’ face clouded when he
in th t sight of his subordinate officer seated

« 8 stern-sheets, and when the, two craft

cy Within easy distance, he called out.
Not peat is the matter, sir? Why did you

alin, out your orders???’
red, ene ptord saluted respectfully. His face
Dlieq. ed, and his voice trembled as he re-

oe
im cat torches went out, sir, and it was
x le to obtain a light ashore.’
“Dig S nudged Paul, and whispered:
n't I tell you he would make some

queer excuse? Fancy such a thing happen-
ing. Why, I’ll bet a crown there are a dozen
flint and steels among the fellows.’’

‘*You could not obtain a light?’’ echoed
the commander in surprise. ‘‘Why——’’

He hesitated, thought for a moment, then
added, sternly :

‘*You will hold yourself in readiness for
an Official investigation on our return to the
frigate, Lieutenant Wallingford. 1 decline
to receive such an excuse.’’

The young officer simply bowed in reply,
but his manner indicated that he was ill at
ease. A few moments later the two boats
swept around the Head and into the open
sea.

Several miles from shore, with her main
yard aback, was the Ranger. At sight of
her, Paul and Stubbs clapped their hands in

lee.

‘‘Ay, there’s a picture for sore eyes,’
quoth the latter. ‘‘She hath not overmuch
beauty left since reaching these waters, but
I’d rather put my peepers on her this blessed
minute than upon my old gran’ther, rest her
soul.’’

Almost concealed from view ina little
cove past the Head was the other cutter.
Paul saw aslim figure standing upon the
shore near by. It was Jabez Preble.

The middy waved his hands and executed
an impromptu hornpipe on catching sight of
the two boats. He stopped suddenly, as if
transfixed, when his eyes fell upon the
beaming countenance of Paul and the mas-
ter’s mate; then rushing into the surf up to
his knees, he stretched out his arms in glad
welcome.

‘‘What! glory to goodness! it’s Paul and
Joyful Home. Whoop!’’ he cried. ‘*‘Where

 

under the seven suns have you been? How
did——’’
A stern gesture from Captain Jones

checked his enthusiasm.

‘“‘No time for welcdme now, lad,’’ ex-
claimed the commander, ‘‘Transfer to the
cutter at once. Quick! in with you! Ready;
out oars; pull away !”’

As he uttered the last command, a chorus
of angry cries came from near the fort, and
the foremost of the rabble of citizens ap-
peared in view. The cutters left the beach
inample time to escape from them, how-
ever. After rowing a short distance Captain
Jones signaled his men to stop for a moment.
Standing up in the stern of the last boat, he
removed his cocked hat, and with a polite
bow, ‘called out: :

‘‘T am very sorry, my dear friends, to
cause you so much pain and trouble, but it
is the fortune of war. ’Tis a pity to wage
destruction against a defenseless people, but
Iam only repaying your monarch in his
own coin. He moved against your brothers
in America with fire and sword—I am sim-
ply following his illustrious example. Seek
him for redress.’?

A fierce burst of flame and smoke from
the doomed vessels in Whitehaven harbor
came as a fitting period to the gallant offi-
cer’s patriotic speech, but it is doubtful
whether the lesson went home to the hearts
of the British that day.

The short distance to the Ranger was soon
traversed, and before many minutes had
elapsed the Continental war-ship was again
under way, bound up the Channel. To say
that Paul and Stubbs received a right royal
welcome would not be giving the ceremony
justice. A hearty cheer rang out as they
stepped over the gangway, and many eager
hands were stretched forth to grasp theirs.

Harry Adams was in the front row, and
he simply went into ecstacies of delight.
The honest, good-natured lad could not re-
frain from exhibiting a few tears of joy,
but they were evidences of a loyal heart.
Paul glanced around the decks and saw
neither Dick Haslett nor John Potter.

“T miss two of the most interesting faces,’’
he whispered to Stubbs, with an expressive
face. ‘*You know whom I mean; they are
in the cockpit, I guess. Suppose we run
down and give them a glad surprise.’’

The master’s mate’s funeral-like face ex-
panded with the ghost of a smile, and he
signified his willingness to proceed below at
once. Jabez and Harry accompanied them,
and the four filed down the forward hatch.

CHAPTER XVII.

PAUL PAYS CAPTAIN JONES A VISIT.
— WONDER why they were not on deck
} with the crew?’ asked Paul. ‘‘Up to
some mischief, I suppose.’?

‘‘No doubt,’’ replied Adams. ‘‘Cricky !
Tam glad you fellows have returned, for
more reasons than one. Haslett and his
chums have been simply running affairs on
board. When that revenue boat went ashore,
all hands thought you were lost. Dick and
Potter couldn’t conceal their joy, and the
first thing they did was to lick Jezzy and
me.

‘They did, eh?’? growled Stubbs. ‘‘Well,
we'll have a little fun ourselves before the
day is over. What became of my rope’s-
end?’? ,

‘*Haslett burnt it in the palley fire. Then
he and his chums cabbaged alot of your
clothing, which they are wearing now. Dick
took Paul’s best coat, too.’’

Stubbs jumped from the fourth step in his

Ss

 

wrath and darted into the cockpit, closely
followed by his companions. Seated at the

    

GoonpD

  

NEWS.

 

4053

 

table, deeply engaged in disposing of a jar
of preserves, were Dick Haslett and John
Potter. They sprang to their feet on catch-
ing sight of Paul and the master’s mate.

Both lads paled to the lips and stared at
the party with startled eyes. Dick shrank
back as if he had seen a ghost, and John
shivered with evident fear.

‘*Paul Jones!’? gasped the first.

‘‘Joyful Home Stubbs!’’ whispered the
latter.

“Yes, and we are very much alive, too,’’
said Stubbs, angrily. ‘‘Thought you would
have a gay time, eh, with us under the
blooming waves? What are you doing with
my shirt on, you confounded thief?’’

As he spoke he made a snatch at Potter,
and soon had him wriggling upon the deck.
A moment later the frightened lad scrambled
to his feet minus the most of his clothing. In
the meantime Paul had not been idle.

He had quickly observed that Dick was
clad in his best uniform coat, one given him
by Captain Jones, and it aroused his ire in
a second. Catching the garment by the col-
lar with one hand he shoved the other under
Haslett’s nose.

‘*Take it off, you miserable thief,’’ he ex-
claimed, hotly. ‘‘Pretty thing for an
American middy to do, wearing dead men’s
clothing before they have reached Davy
Jones’ locker. Take it off, I say!’’

Haslett made a brief resistance, then see-
ing Harry and Jabez in the rear as rein-
forcements, he submitted with bad grace
and pulled off the coat. Then he and Potter
attempted to slip from the room, but they
were stopped by Stubbs, whose anger had
grown apace. :

‘Don’t be in a hurry, my lads,’’ he said,
grimly. ‘‘I intend to have a little settlement
with you about matters in general. As my
old gran’ther used to say: ‘Wipe off the old
scores before you begin new ones.’ That’s
what I’m going to do, as sure as my name
is Joyful Home Stubbs. Dick Haslett, I
understand that you burnt my rope’s-end.
It was my badge of office, you young rascal,
and by the act you are guilty, according to
naval regulations, fof mutiny. You deserve
to be hanged, but I’ll commute your sen-
tence to an everlasting licking. Come here
and strip.’’

During this speech Haslett had slyly
edged toward the closed door. At its con-
clusion he made a desperate break, and suc-
ceeded in wriggling past Adams and Jabez.
He was followed by Potter, and both lads
made good their escape. They were heard to
scramble up the ladder, and then the faint
sounds of their retreating footsteps indicated
that they were scurrying aft to the sacred
precincts of the quarter-deck.

‘‘We’ll fix ’em before night,’’ muttered
Stubbs, with a dry chuckle. ‘‘In the mean-
time anticipation will add to their punish-
ment. Fancy the young rascals thinking we
were dead. Humph! they’l] wish they were
before many hours.’’ t

At Harry Adams’ request, Paul and the
master’s mate remained below and went into
an extended description of their wonderful
adventures ashore. Just as they finished, a
call came down the hatch for our hero.

‘*You are wanted aft in the captain’s
cabin,’’ bawled the voice. ‘‘Shake a leg; the
old man is waiting for ye.’’

‘‘He wants you to give him an account of
the trip, I suppose,’’ remarked the master’s
mate. ‘‘Don’t forget that sailor, Paul.’’

‘*Not much; that is the most important
part of it.’’

Paul found the captain poring over a
chart as usual. He continued his task for
several moments after the middy had en-
tered the cabin, then turned to him witha
friendly greeting.

“‘T see that you are none the worse for
your involuntary journey through the ene-
nty’s country,’’ he said, pleasantly. ‘‘I
have a half-hour to spare now, and I would
like to hear your story. Did you discover
anything of importance?’’

“‘Something of great importance to me,
sir. I met a man who must have known me
before I was rescued from that floating
spar.’?

“You don’t say., This is interesting, in-
deed. Did you have word with him?’’

In reply, Paul related the chance meeting
with the strange sailor in Roxboro, and the
fight in the forest near the castle. He spoke
with natural eloquence, and held his listen-
er’s attention for a full half-hour.

‘What a great pity you did not havea
chance to talk with him,’’ finally said Cap-
tain Jones. ‘‘You say he died before he
could tell you your name?”’

‘“*He swooned, sir; I do not think he died
from the sword thrust,’’ replied Paul, pen-
sively. ‘‘It isa terrible disappointment to
me. You do not know how anxious I am to
discover the secret of my past life. As it is,
Ihave a home through your kindness, sir,
but my father and mother—my people, who
are they? Even my nationality is unknown
to me.”’

‘You are an American lad—I would stake
my commission on that,’’ exclaimed the
commander, emphatically. ‘‘Your every ac-
tion proves it. Take heart, my boy. Do
your duty and bide patiently. It will all
come out in time. When this war is over
and we can return home, I will make it my
first task to solve this mystery. Tut! tut!

 

no thanks; I understand your gratitude.
That will do now. Send the first lieutenant

to me when you reach the quarter-deck,
and, by the way, tell Master’s Mate Stubbs
to be ready to join a landing party at day-
break.”’

Paul walked to the door, hesitated a mo-
ment, and then asked, wistfully:

“T. beg your pardon, sir, but can—can I
go also?”’

Captain Jones laughed, and nodded assent.
Highly delighted, our middy executed his
errands, and then hurried forward to talk
over the news with his friend Stubbs.

‘‘Something is in the wind sure,’’ replied
that worthy, wagging his head. ‘‘I think
the old man contemplates a bold move of
some sort. Going to land to-morrow, eh? It
must be at some point on the English coast,
as we are again heading in toward the
land.’’

It soon became noised about the frigate
that another descent was to be made on
British soil, and active preparations were
inaugurated. Word came aft during the
afternoon that it was Captain Jones’ inten-
tion to land a party on St. Mary’s Island,
in Kirkcudbright Bay.

‘*T’ll wager a pewter shilling I know what
he is after,’’ said Stubbs, when the news
reached his ears. ‘‘He is looking for a host-

age.”’
‘““What do you mean?’’ asked Harry
Adams. He, Paul, Jabez and Stubbs had

met near the forecastle head, and all being
off duty, were at liberty to enjoy themselves
for the time being.

“It is this way, lads,’’ replied the mas-
ter’s mate. ‘‘You see, the enemy are carry-
ing on matters with a high hand in dear old
America. They are shutting up our best
men in the hulks of prison ships, and treating
them with a barbarity that would disgrace
savages. They refuse to consider us as
honorable foes, and when ‘we offer to ex-
change the men we have captured-they sim-
ply laugh at us. Now, I know it is the old
man’s idea to seize some distinguished Eng-
lishman, and hold him to secure the better
treatment of our own people who have been
unfortunate enough to fall into their hands.’’

‘‘Is he after any particular person?’’ asked
Paul.

‘““Yes; Lord Selkirk, who lives on St.
Mary’s Island. He is a well-known noble-
man, and on intimate terms with the king.
If we can capture him it will be a great
stroke for us. Death and wounds! what a
feather it will be for the old man’s cap!”

‘*T’ll get a keen edge upon my sword this
night,’’ exclaimed Paul, with boyish en-
thusiasm.

“T hardly‘ think you will need the
weapon,’’ replied Stubbs. ‘‘The island is
not defended, and we’ll only have a couple
of dozen servants against us.’’

The middies looked their disappointment
at the poor prospect for ascrimmage. Either
would have givena year’s prize money if the
morning sun would have brought with it a
sanguinary battle. Paul was neither better
nor worse than his youthful shipmates.

From his first hour of consciousness after
being rescued from the floating spar, he had
entered into the spirit prevalent on board
the Continental war-ship, and no more
patriotic lad than he could be found under
Captain Jones’ command.

His adventures ashore had only whetted
his appetite for more, and he had hailed the
promise of a landing party with great glee.
Stubbs, however, hed taken all the zest
from the impending event by stating that
little opposition need be expected.

‘‘One thing certain,’’ he remarked, witha
brightening face; ‘‘we ought to get a little
fun from Dick and his cronies this evening.
What do you intend to do with the scamps,
Stubbs? Going to whack them, I hope?’’

Which goes to show that Paul was hardly
an angel in spirit, The dastardly treatment
accorded him by Haslett had aroused that .
vengeful feeling which the best of us have
at times. He bore Dick no malicious ill-will,
but he considered the youth in need of a
salutary:punishment, and he also desired a
little sport to pass the long evening hours
away. Paul was a boy, pure and simple—
what more can be said.

The master’s mate pondered a while be-
fore answering the question, Then he bade
one of the boatswains bring hima _ short
length of rope. With this he skillfully con-
structed a very supple implement, having a
generous supply of knots at one end.

‘‘A dozen apiece would about suit the
case, I think,’? he muttered. ‘‘If they ob-
ject, the number can always be increased,
you know. Burn my rope’s-end, will they?
eee ’em that more can be had if need

e.

That, Paul and his companions hailed the
master’s mate’s resolution with glee need
hardly be said. When evening came and
supper was announced in the cockpit, they
ran ‘below in joyful anticipation.

CHAPTER XVIII.
MUTINY.

f™ TUBBS had preceded them, and| they
S& found him in his accustomed seat
t: wearing an air of silent expectancy.
ce Neither Dick Haslett or John Potter
had arrived, but Thorpe and Harmer were
in their usual places. Paul and Harry

 

quietly\took their seats and proceeded with
the supper.

  
    
    
 
   
 
 
  
    
       
   
  
 
 
 
  
  
     
 
   
 
    
    
   
   
     
    
   
    
   
 
   
  
    
    
  
     
     
    
  
    
  
  
    
      
   
   
     
      
    
   
   
 
  
   
   
    
     
     
    
   
 
     
  
   
   
   
    
  
  
    
   
    
   
  
   
  
    
     
  
     
   
    
   
    
    
    
   
 
 
 
   
   
    
  
 
 
  
    
   
  
   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        
      
  
    
 
   
 
    
  
     
  
  
   
   
 
   
 
  
     
  
   
 
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
    
  
 
    
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
 
  
  
  
   
 
   
   
 
  
   
   
   
     
  
  
   
  
   
    
     
  
  
 
  
  
    
 
   
  
   
 
   
   
   
  
     
    
    
    
  
   
  
   
 
 
  
  
    
   
    
    
  
   
  
  
   
 
 
 
   
     
 
  
 
     
    
  
      
 

 
  
 

  
 
  

 

 

 

 

 

4054

 

CHOC TD

 

In the course of a few moments Jabez
arrived. He was followed by the two other
middies, who, on catching sight of Stubbs’
face, acted as if they meditated a retreat.
The master’s mate said nothing until the
boatswain’s whistle gave the signal for sup-
per, then he calmly bade the negro serving
as waiter to bring on the main dish of the
meal.

The black man’s countenance expanded
with a broad grin as he placed a covered
ola in front of the senior officer. Gravely
ifting the lid, Stubbs exposed to view a
nicely coiled rope’s-end. At sight of it both
Dick and Potter attempted to make their
escape, but they were prevented by Paul
and his friends.

A short tussle followed, but despite their
resistance, Haslett. and John were thrown
across the lower end of the table in readi-
ness to receive their promised dose of punish-
ment. The master’s mate grimly bared his
arm and gave each a half-dozen sound
whacks.

‘‘Now you take a hand,’’ he said to Paul,
handing him the rope’s-end. ‘‘Don’t spare
your muscle, lad. Give it to’em hot and
heavy.’’

Nothing loath, the middy did as he was
commanded. The last three or four strokes
were bestowed to the accompaniment of
lusty shouts from the victims, who were be-
ginning to feel the sting of the whip. When
the ceremony was over, Dick Haslett turned
to Paul with a look of fierce vindictiveness.

‘Pll have revenge for this if it takes
murder to bring it!’’ he howled.

‘“*‘Why not commence right now?’’ coolly
replied the middy. ‘‘I am ready any time
you are, my dear fellow. Actions talk, not
empty threats.’’

“You say that when you have your
friends around you,’’, sneered John Potter,
‘but you wouldn’t be so anxious if you
were alone.”’

Paul flushed with anger at the taunt, and
started toward the speaker with clinched
fists. He was stopped by the master’s mate,
however, who said, sternly :

‘*Potter, stow that tackle of yours, or [’ll
send you aft to the first luff. If any of you
say another word there will be trouble. Sit
down and eat your supper or clear out.’’

His words had an instant effect, and the
meal proceeded quietly. Dick and John
glowered at Paul now and then, but he con-
temptuously ignored them. The balance of
the evening passéd without friction, and
when morning dawned internal discord was
forgotten in the excitement of: the impend-
ing landing upon St. Mary’s Island.

It was hardly daybreak when the argus-
eyed lookout in the foretop sighted the Scott-
ish shore. Paul had the early morning
watch, and from his station on the fore-
eastle he saw the island looming darkly
against the light background of chalky cliffs.

The entrance to Kirkcudbright Bay was
threaded, and presently the Ranger dropped
her anchor within a stone’s throw of the
shore. A besmocked servant near the beach
lazily eyed the strange craft for a few mo-
ments, and then, totally unsuspicious of
danger, wended his way back to the man-
sion.

The latter was of spacious dimensions and

proclaimed by its appearance the ample
wealth of the owner. The sailors and even
some of the officers cast longing glances
shoreward, as if impatient to begin the loot-
ing.
Shortly after the frigate’s way was stopped
Stubbs joined Paul. The master’s mate
seemed more downcast than usual, and he
heaved such a deep sigh that our middy in-
stantly asked the reason.

“Cause enough, lad,’’? was the reply.
‘‘Here’s a chance for which I have been
waiting lo! these many months. It has been
the dream of my career to sack some rich
English house and to transfer sundry coins
of the realm from their plethoric money-
bags to my yearning purse, but now—alas
and alack!’’

‘‘What’s the matter with you?’’ asked
Harry Adams, who had sauntered up during
this speech. ‘‘Got the grips?”’

‘*No, but you will have the backache if
you don’t quit asking foolish questions,’’ re-
torted Stubbs.

‘‘Lord Selkirk’s house seems wealthy
enough to satisfy any reasonable man,’’ re-
marked Paul, pointing ashore. ‘‘Did you
want a king’s palace, you greedy pirate?’’

‘*No; that bounteous mansion would be
good enough at present, but it seems that
we will not be allowed to touch a blooming
thing except the corpus of the nobleman
himself.’’

A ery of dismay, not unmixed with anger,
came from a crowd of sailors standing near
by. Pauli and Harry Adams looked their
disappointment, and the latter said, quickly:

‘You are surely joking, Joyful; the old
mdn couldn’t have given such an order as
that. Why, it is simply outrageous.’

‘Outrageous or not, it is the truth. He
said that he would not have any freebooting
work ashore to-day. He simply wishes to
capture Lord Selkirk as hostage, but he
won’t touch his property.’’

“But the English in America haven’t
been so squeamish. ”’

; Breet
distinction. Still that can’t be helped. Duty

is duty, and we must obey orders. There
goes the call to man the boats, Get your
arms and tumble in.’’

By the time the landing force was in
readiness the news mentioned by Stubbs had |
spread like wildfire. The sailors looked dis- |
contented, and some of them grumbled
openly. One or two of the officers also |
seemed disturbed, and cast rebellious glances
at their commander.

Supremely unconscious of the disaffection
among his crew, Captain Jones led them |
from the beach to the mansion, and after |
seeing it surrounded, he boldly approached
the front.entrance. He had selected Paul as |
his aide before leaving the frigate. The

|

 

be imagined.
A loud and peremptory knock brought |

the armed force they retreated with equal
speed. Catching the last one by the collar,

‘‘Where is your master, my man? Is he
yet awake?’’

‘*My lord is not here, sir,’’ tremblingly
replied the servant. ‘‘He is in London town
with his majesty, the king.’’

Jones’ face expressed his keen disappoint-
ment. Before he could again speak, a thin,
high-pitched, voice came from the top of the
stairs, asking the cause of the disturbance,
Striding through the hall, the commander
politely removed his” hat: and replied, |
suavely:

‘*Pray be not alarmed, good lady. We
seek his lordship on affairs of state.’’

‘*On affairs of state?’’ echoed the voice,
suspiciously. ‘‘Has his majesty changed his
manners so abruptly? Does he now employ
bodies of armed men and send his messages
by vessels such as that anchored in the bay?
Tell me the truth; what is the motive of
this early visit?’’

‘‘Am I addressing Lady Selkirk???’

as Yes. ”

‘‘Well, madame, we are Americans from
yon frigate, and we are come to capture his
lordship. Iam sorry to cause you trouble,
but if he does not surrender at once, we will
be compelled to search the house.”’
‘*Americans! Is it possible? Word reached
me yesterday that a ship belonging to the
misguided colonists had been sighted off the
coast, and that the crew landed in White-
haven, but I did not believe the tale. You
seek my husband to murder him in cold
blood, I suppose? Thank Heaven that he is
now absent, and in safety. You have only
a few servants and myself to wage war
upon, but the prey is not beneath you. Do
your worst, pirates.’’

Captain Jones’ mobile face flushed redly
at this tirade, but he did not lose his tem-
per. He bade Paul convey word to the
forces in the rear to carefully guard all ap-
proaches, then at the head of several men,
he started to search the mansion.

The middy sped away on his errand. He
found a young lieutenant named Marvel,
and Master’s Mate Stubbs in command of
the rear guard. The former received the
news of Lord Selkirk’s absence with angry
impatience.

‘*IT suppose we will be marched aboard
empty-handed,’’ he growled. ‘‘Pretty pass
this, not being permitted to pay the English
back in their own coin.’’

“So it is,?? spoke up Dick Haslett, who
was one of the party. ‘‘If the British sailors
were landed on American soil like this they
would fill their pockets and burn the rest. [
for one, say it is a shame,’’

A murmur of approval came from the
knot of seamen in attendance. One of the
boldest openly avowed his intention of car-
rying something back for his pains.

‘‘What’s the matter with the plate???
asked another. ‘‘This lord must have a for-
tune in gold and silver. Suppose we tackle
it???

‘‘Avast there, lads!’’ exclaimed Stubbs,
angrily. ‘‘This is rank mutiny. The old
man has given his orders, and we must obey
them. For shame!’

The sailors glanced from him to the lieu-
tenant, and seeing signs of approval upon
the latter’s face, they started through the
kitchen with the evident intention of carry-
ing out their plan of robbing the house.

“This must be prevented,’’ Paul whis-
pered to Stubbs. ‘‘I\will hurry around the
house and notify Captain Jones.’’

‘*Right you are, lad,’’ replied the master’s
mate, approvingly. ‘‘Make haste. While
you are gone I will try to persuade the
muitneers to desist. ’’

Paul started from the rear yard on a run,
but had barely reached the side of the man-
sion when he was confronted by Dick Has-
lett. The latter was armed with a bare
sword, and his menacing actions proclaimed
trouble.

 

(TO BE CONTINUED.)
a
BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION.

earn a box of cigarettes?’’
Shopman (surprised)—‘‘ Yes; how?’’

 

‘*T know that, lad. They never failed to
take everything movable in their raids along
the coast. They have set fire to towns and
to the houses of the rich and poor without

4

the hair fall out, and you get the box.’’

middy was very proud of the honor, as can | Back numbers can be obtained of all N
|
three or four lackeys in haste. At sight of

the commander asked, sternly : y

Boy (toshopman)—I say, do you want to| ing the night.

Boy—‘‘Well, there’s my mother there, and | coast had been examined, and if any attempt
she wants to buy a hair-brush. Tell her| was made to go farther, the abandonment
them big heavy ones with the rough iron of the air-ship would become necessary.
backs is bad for rheumatism, and will make

  

NEWS.

 

[This Story Will Not be Published in Book-Form.]

A PRISON OF IGE;

OR,

ALICE GARTLAND’S RESCUE.

A STORY OF AROTIO EXPLORATION.

  

BY LIEUT. JAMES K. ORTON,

Author of “Between the Lines,” “Tom Havens
| With the White Squadron,” ete.

|“A PRISON OF ICE” was commenced in No. 247.
vews Agents.)

 

CHAPTER XIX.

DESPAIR.

  
  

‘
FAS FTER this lgst remark the boys stood
e peering through the windows in
silence waiting for the rising of the
sun, and half an hour from the time
| the ascent was made, the god of day had
lighted up the fields of snow with a radiance
| which rendered it painful to gaze upon the

glittering surface very long.

Now the one house which comprised the
| village they had visited, might be seen, and
Neil turned from it with a shudder, for, if
it had not been that their curiosity tempted
them to visit the place, this terrible mis-
fortune could not have occurred.
| Far away to the north and east were two

moving dots, which the boys rightly con-
cluded must be the captain and his assistant,
| while below them, as if they had been stand-
ing idle, was the mate’s party.

‘What are they doing there?’’ Neil asked,
aloud, speaking to himself rather than his
companion; but the latter answered:

‘*T reckon Halsey. is deciding where each
of the men shall go. Yes, I’m right! See,
| they are separating now, and if she is any-
| where within five miles, one of those fellows
| should find her.’’

‘But she isn’t, otherwise we could see her.
| What a pity we can’t tell them they will
waste their time by going on either of those
courses |”?

It was in vain the boys searched, with the
most powerful glasses from the brig, every
inch of the country unrolled before them.

An object hardly larger than a hare would
have been plainly discernible; but there was
nothing to reward the searchers.

“Tt is certain she isn’t anywhere within
our range of vision,’’ Spence said, with a
sigh, as he covered his eyes with his hand to
relieve the pain which led him from
gazing too long at the white surface.

“The men below-have thi
us, that they can see a trail if any has been
made, and surely there must be places where
the surface snow is still loose, to show the
marks of the sled runners,’’

‘*There is no use in staying here.’’

‘‘T don’t intend to,”? Neil replied, petu-
lantly, for the long strain on his mind was
beginning to affect his temper. ‘‘Throw out
some of the ballast, and we’ll try to strike a
current which will carry us farther inland.’’

The balloon shot up as it was relieved of a
portion of the cargo; but instead of going in
the desired direction, floated toward the
open sea.

“This won’t do; we must ascend!’’ Neil
exclaimed, and would have thrown out more
ballast but that Spence checked him as he
said, quickly and nervously:

‘*Be careful what you are doing now! If
we-hold this same current all the way up, it
won’t be many minutes before we shall drift
where it’ll be impossible to get back.’’

‘‘We’ve got to take some chances,’’ Neil
said, almost fiercely.

“That is true; but it will be worse than
criminal to put ourselves in a position where
we can be of no benefit to any one, and
must surely drown.’’

Neil would have understood all this even
sooner than Spence did, but for the fact that
his mental trouble was so great.

Now that he was reminded of it so forci-
bly, his reasoning faculties returned, and he
began to let out gas from the main reservoir.

“We'll try it lower down,’’ be said, in
answer to Spence’s inquiring look.

Slowly the air-ship settled, and then, to
the great relief and delight of the boys, was

sarried inland.

‘*We’ll try to hold her at this height,’’
Neil said, after making certain she would
descend no lower. ‘‘Keep the glasses to your
eyes, and don’t let the slightest object es-
cape your notice.’’

In this manner the greater portion of the
day was spent; but nothing discovered to
relieve the terrible grief in their hearts.

It was necessary to return to the brig be-
fore dark if they wished to use the balloon
again, for, owing to the letting off of gas in
order to take her from the adverse current
of air, there was no longer lifting power
sufficient to keep her from the surface dur-

ln

 

  

 

 

 

 

As nearly as they could calculate, at least
forty miles of the country back from the

 

udvantage over |

then threw out a bag of ballast. ‘‘It is just
possible she may have been found, for we
can no longer see the crew, and perhaps all
hands have come in.’’

Spence had nothing to say.

This possibility was so slight as not to be
worthy a thought, and he was prepared to
learn the worst.
By going higher, the westerly current was
found, and when the balloon was nearly
over the store-house, Neil pulled the valve
which permitted the escape of gas.

The air-ship descended slowly within a
quarter of a mile of the buildings, and two
of the sailors ran out to assist in making the
monster fast.

‘“‘Has anything been heard of Alice???
Neil asked, when they were near enough to
distinguish the answer.

‘‘Not a thing, The captain has come in,
but intends to go out again in the morning.
We don’t count on seeing the first officer
until to-morrow. The orders are for one of
you to go on board the brig at once.’

“‘Pl attend to the balloon, and you go,’’
Spence said. ‘‘The captain will expect to
talk with you rather than me.’’

Neil dreaded to meet Alice’s father, fear-
ing lest the captain blamed him in some way
for the terrible disaster; but there seemed
to be no way of evading the interview, and,
leaving the sailors to assist Spence, the
young électrician went to the vessel.

On entering the cabin of the Hawk, he
found Captain Gartland in a calmer mood
than he had expected.

Instead of seeing a ‘man stricken with
grief, he met oné who had put sorrow from
him by sheer force of will in order that he
might be the better able to conduct the
search in a proper manner.

‘tIt is needless to ask if you have discov-
ered anything?” the captain began. ‘‘Give
me the details of the ascension. How far in-
land could you see?’’

Neil answered the question, and added:
‘*T have been thinking that it would’be a
good idea for us to start out with the inten-
tion of going very far into the interior. If
we find her the balloon can be abandoned,
and we come back on foot.’’

‘*Such a plan would not be feasible,’’? was
the decided reply. ‘‘I have succeeded in
hiring a couple of natives with two dog {
teams, and we are to start to-morrow at
sunrise. Mr. Scott will accompany me. Mr.
Halsey remains in charge here, for the busi-
ness of the company must not be neglected,
and you are to stay with him. Remember
that he has the same authority as I, and
obey his commands as you would mine.’’
‘‘But are Spence and I to be prevented
from aiding in the search?’’ Neil asked, in
surprise and dismay.

‘*You could be of no assistance, and I am
not willing to take the responsibility of
allowing two persons who are inexperienced,
in this kind of life to venture out by them-
selves. Yet, at the same time, you are able
to do a certain amount of work which may
be very valuable. I wish you to make cap-
tive ascensions each day, or, perhaps it
would be as well to remain a certain number
of hours on ‘Watch, at an altitude of nine or
ten hundred feet.’’ '

‘‘But why must they be captive ascen-
sions? We had no difficulty in coming down
when and where we chose to-day.’’

‘‘The atmospheric conditions will not be
so favorable all the time, and I take this
precaution to prevent the possibility of an
accident. Mr. Halsey will provide you with
plenty of hawsers, so your ship can be
anchored at the height I have set, and you
will spend your spare time scanning the sur-
rounding country.’’

‘‘That will be every hour of daylight, un-
less the mate has other work for us to do.’

‘His orders are not to call upon you for
any service. If you see anything whicb
might be of advantage to my girl, send @
detail of men out at once, and make some
arrangement in the way of signals that you
may be able to direct their movements.’’

As he ceased speaking, the captain went
directly to his room, and Neil started out t°
find his assistant. ;

Spence was quite as disappointed as bi§
employer when he learned that they were to
do no more toward finding Alice than keeP-
ing watch; but the orders had been give:
and, no matter how r-uch they disliked su¢
a tame share of the work, it would be us
less to question them. 4

‘‘T suppose he intends that we shall beg!”
early in the morning???’ Spence said, after #
long pause.

‘‘Of course. ’% $

“Then there is anbther night’s work a
fore us, for we must make gas and overber,
the hawser. I reckon we can stand it 1 b
don’t go to bed yet a while, for on wate
there’ll be plenty of chance for 00° j
sleep.’’

‘*T don’t feel as if I ever wan
again.’’ ee

“But you will, and must, otherwise yee |
-an’t do even the little which is require
tug.’?

 

 

 

 

 

 

t to lie dow?

a e
Captain Gartland had already told a
mate of the part the boys were to play ne
when they visited the store-house he ha
hawsers ready for use.
Until nearly daylight the bo

 

      
     

+
e

ys worked

  
 

 

‘‘We must return,’’ Neil said, with a sigh,
as he gazed once more in each direction, and

their hearts heavy with the weight of pei
spair, and then the Eskimos came ee on

 
 

teams to conduct the captain and

 

 

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Country
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It wa
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Goonp

 

what might prove to be a very long jour- |
ney. or
There were no farewells indulg
It seemed to all as if ar
taking was
by, and the

‘Of course not. Where would
how could you set about it?

be the use
It’s certair
ad in.
gular leave-|of here, an’ them a
too much like a positive good- | any farther than that.
ravelers departed very quietly |

 

    
  

gs couldn’t have rur

 

 

as soon as their provisions had been loaded | resumed his duties as manager of the ex-
on the sleds. | pedition; but he no longer conversed in a
The boys watched the little party until | social way with those around him.

they were lost to view in the distance, and In the early morning and late at night

;

On the following day Captain Gartland

 

 

 

NEWS.

4055

 

‘ Close at

ne
ing,

hand, and in the

was a plex

same

1

   

1

1 | goods for barter.

In fact, the captain left behind
ig that was not absolutely
board the brig, and tl

 

needed

 

d

 

 

The furnace which had been us for

 

main
I ful supply of coal, oil,
|she isn’t anywhere within a hundred miles | tools, weapons, provisions, and a small lot of |

every
on \ hinged
boy Ss were secure
against hunger or cold‘for at least a full year
the
engine, and also in making gas, was set up in

everythin
and provisions.

 

y in the way of utensils

The cook had only to open
the door leading into the store-house to get
fuel, and th shovel it directly from the
- | bin into the stove.

 

 

table, which could be swung
ll when not needed, had been
> kitchen, which boasted, in ad-
r roughly-made stools, racks

   

against the w
.| built in tk

dition, «

 

  

|for clothing and towels, and a lars

 

 

 

> closet

then went back to the store-room where | Neil and Spence would see him standing on|}one room as a stove, and a spare range |or pantry. ;
Halsey was sitting with his chin in his| the highest point of land, gazing toward the | would serve to heat the other apartment. On the range was a huge boiler in which
hands, looking moodily down at the floor. | interior; but if any one attempted to ap So far as the means of raising the per- | snow was to be melted, for this was the only
**Do you think they will succeed?’’ Spence} proach him at such times he invariably | ature was concerned, it would be possible | method they had of procuring water for
asked, in a low tone, as he approached the} walked aw :

  

mate. Nothing w
‘To tell the truth, I don’t, lad. ’Cordin’ | continuing their watch until the third day

to my way of thinkin’, there an’t one chance | after the captain’s return, and then the first

in ten thousand they’ll run across the officer announced

girl, an’ it’s no two to one they ever bring| ‘‘The balloon trips are to be discontinued

themselves back. I’ve knocked about these | from now out,’’

regions a good many years, an’ know jest ‘“‘It don’t do any harm for us to stand

how little a man may depend either on the| watch,’’ Neil said.

natives or the climate.’’ |} ‘*Them are the captain’s orders, an’ I’ve
‘*But where do you suppose she can be?’’ | got an idee that it kinder fusses him to

poor

 

 

see
‘*Tt’s my opinion, though I wouldn’t men- | you on duty. Empty the gas ba and get

 

tion such a thing to the captain, that the | them ready for shippin’.’’

   

team, sleds an’ girl, have gone down a ‘“‘Why? Is there any thought of leaving
crevasse, an’ we’ll never see ’em ag’in. I’ve} very soon?’’ Neil asked, in alarm.

often fun across cracks in the ice wide} ‘‘We shall have to before long,for our
enough to take ina coach an’ four, an’ so| goods are about gone. It has been a losin’
deep the longest lead-line ever made/trip for the captain; but the company will

wouldn’t reach the bottom.’’ make a mighty big thing out of it, an’ its
This sort of conversation was not calcu-|safe to say the Hawk will be at this same
lated to make the boy any more comfortable | anchorage next spring.”’
in mind, and he walked slowly away, trying}; ‘Two weeks from that day an official notifi-
to fight against the despair that was creep-| cation came from © in Gartland, that
ing over him each hour which went by with- the electricians were to store such portions
out tidings from the | of their outfit as he designated, in one of the
| buildings, and attend to the loading of the
| remainder.
‘*T won’t leave this place!’’ Neil cried. ‘‘I
|have the right to stay if I choose, and I'll
| do it unless they carry me on board by main

 

 

missing one.

CHAPTER XxX.

ABANDONED.

HISTORY of the next twenty-one | force!’’
days can be told in very few words, ‘It wouldn’t be such a bad outlook,’’

 

for each one was like the other. Spence replied, half to himself. ‘‘Here are

Regularly every morning, Neil| good buildings with plenty of provisions and
and Spence ascended in the balloon, remain- | fuel, and it won’t bea great while before
ing up at the full length of the hawser, | the Hawk comes back.?’
keeping strict watch during the entire time; **Will you stay with me?’’
but seeing or hearing nothing of the girl on | citedly.
whom all their thoughts were centered. ‘¢What for???

Captain Gartland remained away; but | “Tm going to search for Alice after my
that only went to prove that he had learned | own idea of how it should be done. I don’t
nothing regarding her, and each hour believe in Halsey’s theory, and will find her
the hopes of all grow less alive or dead before I leave this country.’’

If she had fallen into the hands of this “Then I’ll stay, providing the captain will
tribe who were enemies to the coasti natives, | let us.’’
it was possible she might yet be alive; but} ‘‘If he don’t, I’ll run away until the
otherwise her doom must have been sealed | Hawk leaves port; so he may as well con
within twenty-four hours after her disap-| sent. Wait here while I speak with him.’’
pearance, Captain Gartland was on board the brig

Halsey still believed the first theory he|superintending some work there, and Neil
had formed regarding her absence, was the | rowed out at once.
correct one, and when Spence tried to com-| In the fewest possible words he explained
bat it by declaring if there was a crevasse| what he and Spence would like to do, and
in the vicinity, they: would have seen it ere | asked permission to remain until the Hawk
this, he replied: | or some other vessel should into the

‘*You may haye been within a hundred | sound.
foot of one, an’ never fancied it was there.| ‘‘It is useless to stop here any longer,’’
When the sun shines on the snow it blinds a} the captain said, in a kindly tone, as he
fellow so he can’t see very much.’’ laid his hand gently on the boy’s shoulder.

‘But

%
« har

  

Neil cried, ex-

   

saw

 

come

the snow is nearly gone in this] ‘‘We will at least find her body.’?
Vicinity.’’ ‘“‘At the last I, too, thought the same;
‘“‘Them dogs went straight across the| but failed. Is it possible you will succced |
|

country, and where the accident happened | any better?’’ |
may be fifty miles or so from here.’’ | **Perhaps not; but at the same time it
It was useless to argue with the mate that | will do no harm for Spence and me to re-
Alice might yet be found, for he would not|main. We shall have comfortable quarters
isten to sucha proposition, and even the} during the winter, with plenty to eat, fuel
0ys themselves thought there was little} to keep us warm, and Mr. Halsey seems to
Possibility of such a thing. | think the Hawk will return in the spring.’’
The business of the company was in a most ‘There is little or no question about that.’
flourishing condition, even though the eap-| ‘‘Then why not give us permission to do
tain’s troubles were so great. | as we wish? Nei
_ Before the trading post had been estab-
shed a week, it was visited by natives from | if we never went back.’’
Sixty or seventy miles up the coast, and not| The captain was silent for several
& day passed without seeing additions made | ments, and then he said, slowly :
to the stores of fur, oil, ivory and whale- | ‘*T do not think it would be either danger-
one, | ous or particularly painful to live here dur
, Mr, Halsey was a good trader, and the|ing the winter; but I am afraid, in your
business had not suffered because of the cap efforts to find my poor girl’s body, you may
ain’s absence. | be induced needlessly to incur danger.”? Z
He already had so many pelts on hand ‘You should know that we are as well
pe it, became necessary to begin the work | able to take care of ourselves as any other
Stowing them in the brig’s hold, in order | two members of your crew, and I am told
tp Bive sufficient room in the store-house, and | that sailors do remain in these latitudes all
28 goods they had brought for barter were | winter very often. We would prefer to have
mearly exhausted. ; : | your consent, sir, but if that can’t be |
i." the twenty-second day after his depar- | done—-
>» % Captain Gartland returned, looking
ike One who had just risen from a bed of
Sleknegg. :
le went
Taw
Scott es

 

 

mo-

the captain said, as Neil hesitated. ‘Well,

I intend to consent, and shall do all I can to |
directly to
after greeting his

his cabin on the

crew, and to Mr. | life is spared I will come back here at the

of 11,..”48 left the task of relating the story | earliest possible moment next spring.”
their wanderings.
thie 1ere isn’t very much to tell,’’? the} the latter prevented him with a gesture.
cower Said, when questioned by Halsey ‘*You may feel that I should have taken
8

lave traveled back an’ forth across the

Country ¢ . Al you away at all hazards before you have

and... ag hundred miles straight in-| been here six months,’’ he said, “‘Plan in

all thie, well as up an’ down the coast In| what way the store-house can be altered to

Sardine not a word has been learned re

Outfit 1g Alice, or even the dogs. | the carpenter to see that all

the as ‘Aas disappeared as completely as if | made at once.”?
toy "th had opened and swallowed it.’?

Size of that’s what [ allow is jest about the | his success, and du ing the week which fol- 1

Of deg. It, the first officer added, in a tone| lowed he and Spence were busily engaged | melting snow for water.’
corp best conviction. | every waking moment.

up ane captain kept on long after I’d given| In

as said to the boys relative to

this, and we’d better get accustomed to

|a rough way, and if
Neil hurried away overjoyed because of | the plan, I’ll agree to prepare the food, pro
viding you wash the dishes and

for the boys to keep
dwelling at summer
Arctic winter.

the interior of
heat e

 

Save for the fact that they would not see
- : nine 4
live quite as comfort-
j anywhere else, and, unless it
pleased them, they would not be obliged to

a fellow-countryman
months, they could
ably there as

for at least

 

go out of doors during the entire season.
The stor

 

view of resisting the wind and the frost
therefore they could use it
most severe weather.

The balloon had not
|had his own
should play in the search for Alice’s body

side.

The boys had but just completed their
winter arrangements when the captain noti-
fied them that he intended to sail on the fol-

lowing day.

‘‘Better say adieu to all hands to-night,
and sleep ashore, for we shall weigh anchor

at sunrise if the wind serves.’’
either Neil nor Spence

 

whom they had been with so

their faces, the captain added:

“*T will say nothing to the crew. When we
start you will be here asleep, and much that

may be painful can be avoided.’’
Then, silently,
hand, and went on board the Hawk.

Everything belonging to the young elec-
tricians had been brought ashore, and when
the
dwelling which might, and unquestionably
many days to
the

night came they quietly went into
would, be their home

come, taking good care
brig should not see them.

Although both were willing
to remain, there was a certain
ing abandoned in
prevented conversation, and they retired in
silence at an early hour.

Spence. was the first to awake on the fol-
lowing morning, and as he opened the door
the noise aroused Neil, wbo asked, as his
companion looked out:

‘*Has the brig gone?*?’

‘Yes; we are alone, and there is no
chance of seeing any person with whom we
can speak for one entire year!’’

for
that those on
and

sense of be-

CHAPTER XXI.
ALONE.

@

47, T was only natural that a sense of utter
«}8 desolation and loneliness should come
4]! over the boys when they realized how

Vesa entirely they were cut off from others |

of their kind.
While the brig was at anchor they could
speak of the plan without heeding what

Neither of us have any near | might follow when she left port; but after |
| relatives waiting, and it would affect no one | the eraft had gone, there were many possi- |

bilities hitherto
sented themselves.

Suppose one or
taken sick?

unthought. of which pre-

both of them should be

It is true Captain Gartland had left a full |

supply of medicine such as could be adapted
to ordinary cases; but in event of serious ill-
ness they would be helpless.

Again, and it was more than possible, if

an accident should befall one; broken bones |

or a complicated dislocation of the joints;
the sufferer would die for lack of proper
care, and this thought was in Neil’s mind
when he said, gravely:

‘*We must be very careful while working

 

‘You will run away until we have gone?’’?|} or experimenting, for we are where it is no | air-ship, ready to be

  

longer a question of calling upon a surgeon.

chances before doing anything.’’
‘“*T don’t think it is well to

‘tA fellow doesn’t feel any too good on find
ing he has been left behind in a country like |

the |

loneliness a bit before discussing possible ac
cidents.

Suppose we arrange the |

about

I claim to be a fair cook, in
you are satisfied with
attend to}

‘*That suits me, and we may as well start

 

 

 

one corner of the building a second | in at once,’’ Neil replied, as he began the

lat ese but he was finally convinced} house was built, consisting of two rooms, | day by making a burt ied toilet. ie |

ack.» > must be dead, and we turned|and boarded in such a manner that there The conveniences in the way of living |}

‘And fi _ | Was no chance for the air to enter, save | were as good here in the Arctic regions as if |

donass; 11 there be no more searching | when the inmates opened the proper aper- | the electricians had been at home. |
Neil asked, quickly.

tures for ventilation.

   

The kitchen was amply supplied with

  

tne |
ven during an |

-house itself was sufficiently large
for exercise or pleasure, and built with a
, | pet,
as a place in
which to work on their air-ship, save in the

been housed yet, for
there would be plenty of time when the boys
had nothing else to do, and, besides, Neil
ideas as to the part the craft

therefore he preferred it should remain out-

cared to go
through the form of taking leave of those

long, and,
understanding this from the expression on

he pressed each by the

anxious

the minds of each which |

 

 

| all the time to look

| dent voyage in se
Every precaution is to be taken for our own )
insure your safety, promising that if my | safety, and we will weigh carefully all the | her alive;
| proofs of her death bef
talk of such | i g
Neil attempted to thank the captain, but | things just now,’’ Spence replied, nervously. | in order to guard

drinking and other purposes.

The sitting-room boasted of more preten-
i to elegance, although the bunks built
st the wall rather detracted from the

  
  

 
 

       

A square oak table, unplaned, to be sure,
but covered with a red cloth, stood in the
center of the room, and around it were three
had been taken from the
bin. Book shelves well filled, a
desk, a square of canvas as car-
and a closet for clothes made up the
furnishing of the apartment.

| There was a door in each room leading to
the store-h and in order to reach the
open air it was necessary to pass through
the main build this arrangement having
been made avoid any apertures through

 
 

easy-chal
Hawk’s ¢
stationar

 

 

 

use,

 

 

 

 

 

which the frost might find its way.
| Just now, when there were two weeks or
more of summer remaining, these advan

tages were
would

not

be later

 

fully appreciated; but they
in the season, when the ther-
fell to fifty or sixty degrees below

70, as might be expected.

As soon as breakfast had been prepared,
eaten, and the house set to rights generally,
Neil began the work which he believed

| necessary should be pushed forward with the
least possible delay

‘*We must ms the long trip in the bal-
loon before cold weather comes,’’ he said,

‘‘and there is little time left. I propose that

 

 

   

 

 

 

   

we overhaul the bags thoroughly, and leave
here at the earliest moment possible.’

 

‘All right; you boss the job, and I’ll do
what I can.’’

‘I want to give the seams of the balloons
a good coating of filling, and while I am
thus occupied, suppose you put the car to-
gether. It will be safe outside now, for now
that the brig has gone, I don’t fancy we
shall have a visit from the natives.’’

‘‘Very likely not; but at the same
we must be on the watch against them.
know Halsey wa
thing — lying
stolen.’

‘*They wouldn’t be likely to make any at-
tempt at carry the basket away, so we
can safely let that remain out of doors.”’

The labor was begun without delay, and in
a short time the boys recovered from the de-
pression caused by the departure of the br

30th worked i ly until noon, and
then came t < of cooking dinner, which
|} was very sat ily accomplished by
Spence.

 

  

time
You
ed us not to leave any
around where it might be

 

 

 

 

    

 

   

 

With such zeal did the young electricians
| labor, that on the evening of the’ third day
after the Hawk left the harbor, everything
| was in readiness for the contemplated jour
|
|

 

ney in the balloon.
The retort was in use, and the reservoirs
|for gas so 1 ] ] that Neil said, ina
| tone of ion, as he sat down toa
| hearty suppe
‘“*The ba
|four o’clock
|shall start at
passed around

 

  

satis

 

will be fully inflated by
row morning, and we
light. The hawsers are

posts of the building in
have only to let go

 

the }
such a manner that we
the onds attached to the car in order to set

her adrift. Therefore, we shall get along as
well as if we had half a dozen assistants to
handle them.’’

‘‘Have we plenty of rope on board? You
know it may be necessary to make her fast
by each corner, as on the night of the first
voyage, and it isn’t well to depend too much
on the anchor cable.’’

‘‘T believe everything is attended to; but
we shall have a chance to overhaul the
stores to-night. One of us must be awake
out for the retorts, and
then will be the opportunity.’’

When the sun came up behind the ocean
next morning ronauts in the
n their first indepen-

f signs of Alice:
1 any hope of finding
y determined to get
3 returning.
1 been securely locked,
rainst intrusion, and Neil
said, as he began to untie one of the ropes
which held the monster to the ground:

‘“Now try to think if we have everything
that may be needed.’?

‘*T overhauled the cargo twice last night,

 

 

 

he saw the ae

  

L

  

They no

 

longer hs
but were f

 

 

 

The buil

  

| give you a comfortable dwelling, and tell | housework now, for that is as important as| and can’t conjure up anything else which
The whole

the repairs are | anything else. | should be on board.’’

‘‘Then say when you are ready to cast off
the hawser on your side, and we’ll start.’’
‘*Let her go!’’
(TO BE CONTINUED.)

—~+>-¢ -»__—___--
An Trishman asked a Scotchman one day
‘‘why a railway engine was called she?’?
Sandy replied:
‘‘Perhaps it’s on account of the
noise it makes when it tries to wk

 

horrible

istle,

   

 
    
  

 

 

 

 
 

 

oF
Ve

Spc

2

 

 

 

 

3months - -

4months - -
6 months

How D MoNkrEY.—By post-oftice f }
money r, registered letter, bank check or draft,
at our At your own risk, if sent by postal note,
cur y, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter.

label denotes when your subscription exr
subscriptions will be stopped promptly at expiration
of time paid for.

by proper change of number on your label. If not cor
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us know at once.

ple cop:

oily to
gnarantee the
«x postmaste

Obtained from your Newsdealers. If they do not
have them please send direct to this oflice and we
will supply them by mail on receipt of price.

 

  

 

> BSE. STORIES Fok very QUARTER"
ISSUED WEEKLY.

NEW YORK, MARCH 16, 1895.

 

Termes to Good News Muil Subscribers:

(POSTAGE FRED.)

      

    

    

 

 

 

TALS.—'The number indicated on you

 

 

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‘To CLuB Ratsrrs.—Upon request we will.send sam-
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uch as ar entto us direct, and we will not

2 ility of any subscription agency

 

    
 

 

/AGEN’

 
 
 

 

ionld be addressed to
Tv & SMITA’S GOOD NEWS,

27 & 2) Rose Street, N.Y.

 

All letters s
STRE

 

— es
Back numbers of GOOD NEWS can always be if

Advertising rates, 50 cents per agate line.

 

Contents of this N umber.

SERIAL STORIES.
“Little Snap,,” by Victor St. Clair.

“Tn the Days of the Gladiators,” by Alfred | stated that three hundred and fifty dollars
were given to Christopher Columbus for his
by J. Gibson | services. He had two captains under him
y . who received one hundred and ninety-five
e Pe ; dollars each, and the sailors got two dollars
“A, Prison of Ice,” by Lieut. James K | and a half’a month, besides their rations.
The rest of the seven thousand, five hundred
dollars covers the cost of ships and fittings.

Armitage.
“Fighting for Freedom,’

,

Perry, U.S. N.

Orton.
“Three of a Kind,” by Paul Ingelow.

“The Tour of the Zero Club,” by Harvey | small a sum on Columbus’ part should have
thrown the treasuries of Spain into such a
flutter, and made it necessary for Isabella,
the queen, to pawn her crown jewels to raise
this amount. When people read of all the
grandeur of those old-day kingdoms, one
naturally thinks of the people spending hun-
dreds of thousands of dollars, but evidently
they knew nothing of luxuries or vast enter-
prises as the man living now. There cer-
“A Locomotive Hero.” tainly were no such investments in these

“The Bushranger’s Legacy,” by J. M. Ox- | days as to advance seven ‘thousand, five
ii agate * hundred dollars for millions and millions,

Hicks.
“Chip and Chuck,” by °*Pat.”
; SHORT STORIES.
‘Sliding Down Hill,” by Paul Pry.
“What it Cost to Discover America.”
“My First Polar Bear,” by A. F. Leslie,
“A Lucky Accident,” by J. M. Merrill.

ley.

REGULAR DEPARTMENTS.
“Short Talks With the Boys,” by Arthur
Sewall.
‘How to Do Things,” by David Parks.
‘“Ticklets,” by Chas. W. Foster.
‘Mail Bag,” “xchange Departinent,”’
“Club Notices,” etc.

NEXT WEEK.

a

 

 

Jack Ferdham, Second Mate:|° iss itve'Pict to

OR,

The Three Mysterious
Birth-marks.

A STORY OF THE GREAT LAKES. appeared in this or any other boys’ paper.

By CLARENCE CONVERSE, i

and which will give you an insight into
a life of which little is known to out-
siders. We will give you full particulars
next week.

Author of ‘‘Captured at Sea,” ‘Dick
Oakley’s Adventures,’ ete., ete.
> +o

DOUBTFUL PRAIS

 

Old Johnson, the player, who was not only | Colorado, which will carry you on with
avery good actor, but a good judge of | breathless interest from installment to in-

stallment. The author is Harry Dancur-
very indifferent hand, but much commended, | FIzLD. You cannot afford to miss this. We
venture to say it cannot be equaled.

painting, and remarkable for making many
dry jokes, was shown, a picture, done by a

and asked his opinion of it.
‘Why, truly,’’ said he, ‘‘the painter is a
very good painter, and observes the Lord’s
commandments.’?
‘SWhat do you mean by that, Mr. John-
son?’? said one who stood by.

hath not made to himself the likeness of
anything that is in heaven above, or in the
earth beneath, or that is in the waters
underneath’?

 

Jack and I took our sleds and went out,

All together we ran with a shout

There was plenty of snow on the ground
I g ’

To enjoy the pleasures we found

{ then took the lead—Jack came after—

And the woodland re-echoed our laughter

address | But, alas! I was thrown from my sled—

W

For my mother warmed me with her slipper,

WHAT IT COST T0 DISCOVER AMERICA,

‘SS > million people are grateful.

think, especially in comparison with money
values of to-day, that is, if we are'to judge
— at all from the items of Columbus’ expedi-
tion. It cost only one million, four hundred
thousand Spanish maravedis, which is about
seven thousand, five hundred dollars, accord-
ing to our present standard.

salary of the President of the United States.

day, and while out for a walk with his
mother, he met his Uncle Jack. Expecting

happy returns of the day, Tommy.’’

Murray Graypon, of wild animal-catchers
in India, This tale is in Mr. Graypon’s

‘‘Why, I think,’’ answered he, ‘‘that he | best vein.

THE KING OF BOYS’ WEEKLIES.

SLIDING DOWN HILL.

BY PAUL PRY.
And as we sped on we met Bill.

To where we. went sliding down hill.

And we scurried on back of the mill,

As we all went sliding down hill.

A few feet behind him came Bill,
As we all went sliding down hill.
On top of me piled Jack and Bill;
hile my clothing was torn to a shred
As we all went sliding down hill.

went home, feeling not very chipper—
Soon after 1 became really ill,

And ended my sliding down hill.
OSS "A Ea ea

T is a question of. some interest to know
how much money it took to discover
America, for the finding of which sixty

It is not as colossal a sum as one would

Think of it! Less than one-sixth of the

  

In the archives preserved in Madrid it

It seems rather odd that the desire for so

 

+--+ —~
TOMMY’S EXPECTATIONS.

 

It was little Tommy Smith’s fifth birth-

tip, he greeted his uncle with:

‘‘Uncle Jack, I am five years old to-day.’’
To which his uncle replied:

‘*Are you, really? Well, I wish you many

‘ommy being silent, his mother said:
‘Say ‘Thank you, Uncle Jack.’’’
But Tommy, in disgust at not getting his

‘*What, have I got to say ‘fank you’ when

 

PTR se ne Ra
Attention, Boys!

SPECIAL NOTICE.

We have in store for you a great treat.
Three of the best stories that have ever

1. A story upon a subject in which the
ast majority of boys are greatly interested,

2. A rattling good story of ranching in

3. A most exciting story, by Wr.11aM

———-.6-6-—@
TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS OF

GoonD NEWS.

Snort fALKS ==

wT

 

  

With THE Boys.

EDITED BY ARTHUR SEWALL.
-

F. E., Denver, Col., writes: ‘Please be kind |
enough to tellme what chances a boy of 18 years |
would have in Honolulu. I am desirous of go-
ing there, and would like to know the prospects
: : f >

of working there and the scale of wages paid.

We do not approve of your idea of going
to Honolulu. It is about the last place on
earth we would advise as a point of destina-
tion to a roving reader. The Sandwich
Islands are now in the throes of incipient
revolutions, and the inhabitants are neglect-
ing their legitimate business for the pursuit
of arms.

A young American, friendless, and with
little money, would soon find himself in
hard straits in Honolulu. The city is small,
and affords poor inducements for emigrants.
Positions are hard to get, and, as a rule, the
resident merchants employ the sons of
friends or customers.

Asa place to visit as a tourist, the Sand-
wich Islands are all right, but we would
not advise any one to go there in search of
work. The United States should be good
enough for you, my boy, and when you can-
not get along in Uncle Sam’s domain, rest
assured you would be a failure elsewhere.
Take our advice, and give up the idea of
Fonolulu.

¥. 8., Cincinnati, Ohio, writes: “I am 15 years
of age, about five feet six inches in height, and
desire to become a surveyor. Please give in-
formation regarding the time required to be
spent in learning, the pay, and the time which
would elapse before I could become a full-
fledged surveyor. Are matiy hardships con-
nected with this profession, and what would I
be required to know before I could be taken
into a surveyor’s office?) Has this profess
brilliant future? I am now in the second gr
high school. Is it necessary to go on?”

   

  

 

SURVEYOR, Iowa, writes: “I would like to
know how to become a surveyor? Where to
apply for a situation? How much of an educa-
tion is needed? What wages are paid a boy at
the beginning? What salary is paid a first-rate
surveyor? What are the chances for advance-
ment? I chose this trade as itis healthy. My
greatest desire is to be out on some plain sur-
veying. My nextis to geta Goop News and
read it through from beginning to end.”

The profession you desire to know about is

amount of preliminary study and an apti-
tude for mathematics.

The duties are purely scientific, and call
for a trained knowledge which can be_ best
acquired at a college as arule. Surveying
does not mean simply the use of the theo-
dolite, as the instrument employed in meas-
uring distances is called, but there are also
a vast amount of figuring and an after-work
of complex problems in algebra, geometry
and calculus.

Surveyors are generally civil engineers as
well. Many of the leading colleges allow a
student to choose civil engineering as one of
the studies during the latter half of. the
course. If you can afford it, we advise you
to enter such an institute of learning, by all
means,

If you cannot stand the expense of a col-
lege training, try to obtain a situation with
some first-class surveyor, and while you are
putting in time learning the rudiments of
the science, study all the works treating of
civil engineering that you can lay your
hands on. Your employer will tell you the
names of the books, or you can write to
some good bookseller.

The length of time spent in learning how
to become a good surveyor depends entirely
on your fitness for the calling and the
amount of study you give to it. The wages
paid a boy at commencement range from
three to five dollars a week.

A thorough surveyor can always command
a position, and his salary generally amounts
to upward of three or four hundred dollars
a month.

Here are letters from three brothers of Belle
foute, Pa.: :

“SAILOR Boy” writes: “TI am 5 feet 43f inches
tall,'and 33 inches around the waist, and 16 years
old; have a high school education. Could I en-
ter the Schoolship Saratoga? Please give the
requirements for entering. Is my writing
good 2?”

“NEWSPAPER” writes: ‘‘Please give the re-
quirements of a newspaper reporter. Is short-
hand a necessity ?””

“OPERATOR” writes: ‘Is it profitable for a
negro youth with a good education to go to op-
erating telegraph instruments ?”
_‘N. B.—All three of us are readers of Goop
NEws and think it a ‘good thing,’ in fact, the
finest boy’s paper out.”

 

It is not often that we receive letters from
three brothers at the same time. It shows
that even whole families are interested in

Boys.??

a very good one, but it requires a vast |

Goop News and ‘Short Talks with the

In this case each lad has a different ambi-| thing like it ought to—and I’ve bee
tion, and their questions are on widely-|ing for thres weeks for my nose tO var”

  
   

delphia are eligible for admission to the
Schoolship Saratoga. The United States Ap-
prentice Service is open to any lad, how-
ever. Information on this subject can be
obtained by referring to No. 221 of Goop
NEWS

   

uilor Boy’s’’ handwriting is excellent.
To give the requirements of a news-
paper reporter would take many columns of
space. As Horace Greeley once said: ‘‘To
make a first-class reporter, take three
pounds of shrewdness, an equal amount of
adaptability, the same of worldly knowl-
edge, and, after adding a bottle of ‘get
there’ sauce, bake well in the fire of every-
day life.’’

Newspaper reporters—good ones—do not
grow on every bush. Not every man would
make a success in the profession, but, on
the other hand, one does not know that he is
unfitted for it until he tries.

Reporting for a newspaper is not so desir-
able an occupation as many imagine. Of
course, there are those who have adopted
the work and like it, and think nothing is
better, but they are in the minority. The
average reporter would be something else if
he had the chance. ,

To be a reporter on a small newspaper—
one with a limited circulation—a man must
have a large variety of talents, and a first-
class knack of getting around. In one day,
he may have to visit the police station, go
toa base-ball match, attend a funeral, ob-
tain the particulars of a runaway, run to a
fire, and, in the evening devote half his
time to a prayer-meeting and the other half
to a prize-fight. He must keep track of all
that is going on, and treat every public
character with just the proper consideration.
If he obtains a position on a big daily, his
chances to rise are greater, but he must
work harder and apply himself to just the
particular branch assigned him. Turning. all
one’s attention in one channel is often
monotonous, and many reporters break down
under the strain.

Shorthand is not absolutely necessary, but
it is a great help to a reporter. Fully
seventy per cent.’ understand stenography.
We would not advise ‘‘Operator’’ to be-
come a telegraph operator. That branch of
employment is overrun by both men and
women, and the scale of wages, even for
skilled hands, is gradually being lowered.
Besides this, telegraphers are confined to
their key-boards so much that the occupa-
tion is far from healthy. Better look up
some other profession, and when you make
your choice, write to us again.

H. T., Baltimore, Md., writes: “I am 17 years
old, five feet five inches tall, and weigh 110
pounds. I want to be a base-ball player, and
have started to go toa gymnasium this winter.
I would like to know what exercise I must take,
especially for the base-ball season. I have
worked in a bookstore for four years, and get
$3 a week, but itis too confining. Can you tell
me any gymnasiums in Baltimore that have
basket ball teams?’

The one good point about your ambition
is the plenitude of healthy exercise it will
give you. Wecan not say much in favor of
base- ball as a profession. A player lasts for
only a certain number of seasons, and then
he finds his occupation gone, and he is un-
fitted for anything else.
You are receiving a very small salary for
a boy of your age, and we don’t blame you
for seeking other work; but wouldn’t it be
better if you took up a more legitimate
trade or profession? Go over a list of pur-
suits with which you have come in contact
and see if you cannot pick out something.
Write us again on the subject.

Almost all Y. M. C. A. gymnasiums have
basket ball teams.

Special Noticr.—Many communications,
improperly addressed to this department,
are answered in the ‘‘Mail Bag.’’

PAT’S RESPONSE.

 

 

 

 

Not long ago a venerable Pat landed for
the first time on Chinese soil. Soon he wa

rather a broken sort of English. t
Pat, who was quick-tempered, was 10
long before he let fly at one of them with 4
dish which he seized from a ware-shop ¢l0s®

by.

A Chinaman’s face was badly cut and Pat
| was soon brought before the English Const
‘‘Why have you done this?’’ demanded t
‘Consul, to which Pat replied: i
| «Och! sure the ugly haythens spake a
ken English, and I just gave thim bro

china in return.’’
sl teed kg Cols ty
COLORING HIS SUIT.

 

‘‘Tommy,’’ said the small boy’s mother
**vour nose is bleeding !’’ d
exsitate put his ie up to his face; ap
shouted in wild delight: it-
‘Hooray! Where’s my foot-ball st
where’s my foot-ball suit?’ a
‘“‘Are you crazy? ‘Aren’t you going
try to stop it?’ suit

‘‘No, mother. I’ve dragged my ome”
through the dust till it begins to nok “ail
ee!

 

 

 

varied subjects. To

‘Sailor Boy,’? we would ' Now that it does, I’m going to take. #
say that only residents of the city of Phila- tage of it.’’

surrounded by natives, who began to chatter

         
 

  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
    
  
 
   
  
   
 
 
  
 
  
  
   
      
   
  
    
   
 
  
   
  
 
 
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
 
 
  
   
   
     
    
  
   
   
   
 
  
   
   
  
 
  
  
  
  
   
 
  

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IN THE DAYS OF THE GLADIATORS:

THE TWIN PRINCES OF BRITAIN.

BY ALFRED ARMITAGE,

Author of “With

[“IN THE DAYS OF

THE *LADI oO

CHAPTER X.

SAVED BY A WOLF.

     

 

Orusader and Saracen.’

ommenced in No.

 

1 two lads drew a little apart, eying

4 1 other in silence while they made
ye ready for the trial of strength and
€ skill. Rufus Metullus cast aside
ragged tunic and red irms. Har]
kicked off his light sandals and threw his

  

dagger on the ground

 

251. Back numbers can be obtainer

s Agents

GoOoOD NEWS.

1

 

where I choose
are Britons,’’

‘*We
Harl, ‘‘and a Briton’s word and honor are

proudly answered
never broken
| own people.’’

‘‘Our father taught us to be true,

| Hamo.

You are free to seek your

”? added
‘‘He was the brave King Gerphar,
| and the Roman invaders slew him foully.’’
| ‘*l am sorry,’’ replied Rufus.

| bitter thing. I had an uncle who was killed
here in Britain, and he left a wife and chil
dren in Rome. If your father is dead, then
which of you reigns over his tribes? Perhaps

[ have been wrestling with a king,’’ and he
7 | laughed merrily.

Hamo rose slowly and sullenly, picking up} ‘‘We are twins,’’ answered Harl, ‘‘and
|the dagger which lay near where he had} some day we will be kings together. Now
| fallen. He clasped it in his hand, and: was | our queen mother reigns.’’
|about to strike at Rufus when Harl rushed | At this point the flickering light of the

between the two
‘““You were fairly overthrown, brother,’
he cried, in a tone of bitter disappointment
Remember, you are the son of Gerphar.’’

Hamo dropped the weapon with a look of | along the passage

shame.
It was a strange fall,’’ he
‘and I know not how it was done.’

muttered, |

| the conversation, and warned
the that they had better proceed on
| ward at once. They hastily picked up their
weapons, donned their sandals, and hurried
, fanning the torches into
|a larger blaze as they went.

Here and there on damp spots they found
{the marks of the wolf’s paws, and they

torches ended
lads

fairly?’’ he ‘added, ‘‘and I am free}

‘*War is aj

4057

Would the end?

breath

losing.

They

trying race never
inning to pant for

 

}
were b

  

 

| tl Little wonder, since the}
| ing for hours but the raw fish.
»w the creature had stopped, and

to show fight. It must be driven
on again. t had vanished suddenly and
mysteriously—but where?

With a spurt, the lads were at the spot.
The torches showed them a narrow passage
opening on the left, and into it they dashed
without hesitation. They caught a glimpse
of the wolf ahead, and ran faster, dropping
to single file to avoid the narrowing walls,
stooping low from the jagged ceiling over-
head.

It was a terrible moment when the passage
contracted to a funnel-shaped space, at the
farther end of which the wolf was seen to be
making desperate efforts to crawl into an
earthy hole under a slab of rock.

Harl dropped to his hands and knees with
a shout, threw away his torch, and wriggled
swiftly forward. Just in time he madea
grab, and seized the wolf’s tail firmly in
both hands :

It was done

  

ir
eaten
Ah!

| was going

  

had

 

 

 

 

on the impulse of the mo-

ment, but the lad had

 

 

 

“Stop, brother,’’ cried Harko; ‘‘let mx
vanquish this haug
young Roman. Sure S

  

it is my turn, sine
stood aside when you
fought with Merewolf.’

‘‘For my part, I care

 

not which of you en
gage me,’’ said Rufus,
‘‘but make up your
minds hastily, for | am
sick of this black cav
ern.’

Harl hesitated a mo

ment. He knew the re
quest was a fair
and yet he hated to ré
linquish the satisfaction
of teaching this arro
gant Roman a lesson in
modesty. But his gen
erous pature gave way,
and stepping aside, he
yielded his place to
Hamo.

‘‘You are
as I, brother,’’ he said,
‘fand ought to win
easy a victory. Remem
ber what old Dhuwal
taught us, and keep a
eool head.’’

Hamo nodded confi
dently as he threw off
the strip of wolf’s skin
to give the muscles of
his arms and chest full
play. Harl took all
three torches and thrust
them into crevices of
the walls, two on one
Side and one on the
other. They burned
freely, and shed a broad
glare of light far to
right and left.

It was a strange and
yet a fitting place for
Such a contest. The pas-
Sage was nearly thirty
feet wide, and the floor
as hard and level as a
Roman arena. There
Was light in abundance,
and the atmosphere was
just sharp enough to be
acing.

“Are you ready?
med Harl.

“Ves,’? Hamo and
Rufus cried together,
and with that they ad
Yanced slowly and
Warily.

At first they backed
and dodged from each
other, stooping and
Making feints. Hach
Wanted to get the ad a
Vantage at the start.

Finally they wearied

this, and by a simultaneous impulse they
Tushed together, locking arms and legs tight

one,

 

us strong

as

  

 

 

HARL

Re: Now began the skillful part of the
i Ugele, and for a long time it seemed that

pey. were evenly matched.

y To and fro they moved across the pas
the? now bending each other in turn toward
t

® ground, now rapidly trying trick afte1
ic

 

 

» none of which had any success

aly €rl looked on eagerly and anxiously,
eady he saw that the young

Testing _was not without foundation

Way oe his sympathies were W ith Ha no, he

lin, compelled to admire the skillful wrest
& of both.

18 combatants kept their wind

re;
saan well, and when the end came it

for

and
was

  

 

 

 

 

 

trae and unexpected. Hamo tried the best
va taught him by old Dhuwal, and tailed
hin oly Rufus jerked his antagonist toward
Gon ne as quickly thrust ‘him back by an
his i iN which: he used his right foot and
Chacha” knee. Hamo went half-way down,
acl €d himself, and then fell heavily on his
Thi, With Rufus on top of him.
Calm}, Victor Sprang up at once and stood
broage, aside with his\arms folded across his
faint), A smilirg look of triumph was
Y visib]

€ on his face.

 

Roman’s |

GET
KA WIA

way Hy }
a

ZB

 

‘‘Nor is it likely I could show you again | seemed to be fresher than ever.

desired,’? said
trick, and yet a

if I so
difficult

Rufus, ‘‘for it
fair one.

is a

AND HAMO DODGED UNDER MEREWOLF’S UPLIFTED SWORD, AND

taught me by a training-master of gladiators |

in Rome. Your defeat
never have [ wrestled with one so strong. It
was chance ‘that made
otherwise, we were so evenly matched
in the end you might have overthrown me.’’

The manner of the young Roman
suddenly to have changed. He was friendly
and conciliatory, without a trace of his
former haughtiness and rudeness.

The simple and artless British lads did not
see how cleverly he had been twisting them
to his own ends.

‘‘With all the rich way of living that you
told us about, you Romans must take time to
become strong,’’ said Harl, looking at Rufus
with frank admiration. ‘‘It is true that you
are a worthy foeman for either one of us.
And that trick by which you threw Hamo-

I would like much to learn it.’?

seemed

is no dishonor, :for |

my trick succeed; | beast,
that | tongue.

‘Perhaps the future may bring us to, |

gether again some time,’’
“tand then I will teach it to you; but now
we must hurry to leave the mine, for our
last torches are nearly burnt out.

You are satisfied, then, that I

remarked Rufus;

won the

| of

 

 

THREW

They paid
little heed to this circumstance until a snarl-

It was | ing sound close to one side brought them to

a halt in sudden terror.

Then, from a cleft in the right-hand wall
of the passage, out sprang a huge gray
with blazing eyes and lolling

It wheeled and crouched, facing
the lads defiantly for an instant, and snarl-
ing shrilly. Then it turned tail, and sped
forward in the gloom.

“Catch it!’? shouted Harl, dashing in
stantly in pursuit; ‘‘run your best, Hamo
and Rufus. The wolf will show us the way
out.’

The others were quickly abreast of Harl,
and away all three sped, waving

half-naked limbs
chase, and
the time they had run the old _ boar to earth
in the fastnesses of the Great Swamp. Yet
it was different, for the stakes were life and
freedom, instead of
meat.

Well the lads realized this, and they hung |
so closely to the fleeting wolf that it was |

never quite beyond the glare of the torches.
On and on they sped, neither gaining nor |

THEMSELVES UPON

red |

their |
torches, and straining every muscle of their |
It was a hot and thrilling |
reminded the young Britons of }

mere glory and a feast |

 

too much pluck to let
go. In spite of snarls and
fierce tugging he held
fast. He felt himself
being dragged through
a narrow space; stones
bruised and scratched
his limbs, and dust and
dirt flew into his mouth
so that he could scarcely
breathe.

He closed his eyes and
held tighter. Next came
one last jerk, a shower
of flying dirt and stones,
and then he was roll
ing over and over with
empty hands, and a
warm air was blowing
on his burning face.

After he had stopped
rolling, he lay still for
an instant, and when
he opened his eyes they
were blinded by the
glare of sunshine, by the
shimmer of green grass
and trees. The black-
ness of the tin mine
seemed now like a ter-
rible dream.

Assoon as he could see
clearly, Harl sat up and
looked about him. He
was in the bottom of a
vast, basin-shaped hol
low, that was covered
with waving grass, and
fringed around its top
with great oak and
yew trees. He saw the
frightened wolf just
vanishing over the crest
above him, and then a
glad shout caused him
to turn around.

A dozen feet up the
slope was a narrow fis-
sure under a clump of
rocks and loose earth,
and in this hole now
appeared the head and
shoulders of Hamo. He
shouted again as he
squirmed free and rolled
to the foot of the grassy
bank, where he was
speedily joined by Ru-
fus Metullus.

‘*By Jupiter!’’ cried
the young Roman; ‘‘a
wolf suckled the found-

ers of Rome, Romulus
and Remus, and now
has saved me. I

a <T one
a

shall love the emblem
more than ever in the
future.’

Side by side the res-
cued lads lay on the soft grass, for the mo-
ment supremely happy in spite of bruises
and scratches, and the blood and dirt that
covered them from head to foot. What the
future might hold in store was forgotten.
They thought only of the sunshine‘and the
sweet air, of the birds that were singing
overhead.
| The sun was drooping toward the tree-
tops,-and they knew by this sign that they
had been shut up in the mine for twenty-
|four hours. What might have happened in
| that interval?

HIM,

|
|

CHAPTER XI.

MEREWOLF’S THREAT.
ad

 

 

URELY, not even the queen mother
would know us now,’’ said Hamo, as
he rose to his feet. ‘‘Do you _remem-

c“— ber the time the angry bull tossed
Caroc into the thorn bushes and then rolled
him through the ant-hill? Well, we look
worse than that.’’

‘‘Am I as dirty as you?’’ Harl asked, rue
fully.

‘*Dirtier,’’ replied Hamo,

‘‘and nore
scratched; but then you had to keep up with

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
  
  

 
 
 

     
 

 

  

 

 

   

  
 
  

 

4058

the wolf, while we took our time to it. My!
how you did go. It was a lucky thing to
hold on to the brute’s tail.’’

“It was more than I would have cared to
do,’’ said Rufus, as he rubbed both cheeks,
and laughed to see the red and brown stains
that came off on his hands. ‘‘If I should
drop into a Roman camp looking like this,’’
he added, ‘‘i would likely be ripped open
with swords before I could explain who I
was. Is there any water close by?’’

‘*T don’t know,’’ replied Harl. ‘‘This is a
strange place, and I never saw it before.
The sun is getting low, so we had _ better
climb up to the trees and look about.’’

This suggestion sobered the lads, and a
shadow seemed to have fallen suddenly upon
them and the bright sunshine as they slowly
mounted the side of the basin. It was a long
climb, and when they reached the top they
were glad to sit down upon a fallen tree.
They were on pretty high ground, and
through a rift in the timber they could look
westward over a waving forest. In the far
distance a gleaming strip of the sea was
visible.

‘*] know where we are,’’ cried Hamo,
pointing out a tall rock that stood about
fifty feet to the right. ‘‘At yonder spot we
killed the two red deer this summer. If we
had come a little farther we should have dis- |
covered this place.’’

‘‘Yes; it is the same rock,’’? admitted
Harl, ‘‘and we are no longer lost. Our town
lies to the north, and we can reach it by
sunset if we travel fast.’’

‘*And what am I going to do?’’ exclaimed

Rufus. ‘‘I’m not any better off than I was
before. It is true that over there lies the
a——??

‘‘That will guide you,’’ interrupted Harl.
“Go straight to it while the daylight lasts,
and follow the coast to the south until you
find your friends—if it be true that they did
land.’’

“They may not be there now,’’ replied
Rufus. ‘‘While we have been shut up in the
mine for a day and a night many things can
have happened.”’

He looked keenly at his companions, and |
they understood the words.

‘Ves; there has likely been fighting,’’
said Hamo; ‘‘but I hope you will find your
father safe.’’

Rufus shrugged his shoulders and smiled
superciliously.

“Tf but half of the galleys had landed
their men,’’ he muttered, as though to him-
self, ‘‘it would still be nearly a legion. Two
hundred Britons marched to attack them. It

 

is not hard to guess who will be the victors.”’

“Tf I thought that were true,’’ cried Harl
—‘‘but, no; the fisherman brought word
that only a few vessels were wrecked. You
will do well if you find your friends, Rufus
Metullus.

‘‘However, let us not part as enemies,’’
he added, ‘‘since we have come through
peril together. It will be different if we
meet in the future, but now——’’

He paused suddenly, as footsteps were
heard approaching through the forest on the
right.

“Perhaps it is Antony,’’ exclaimed Rufus.

This was not/ improbable, and Harl and
Hamo drew their daggers, which they for-
tunately still retained.

Closer and closer came the quick, cautious
tread. There was an interval of silence, and
then the new-comer burst suddenly from the
thicket. It was none other than Merewolf,
bristling. with arms, and with a look of sur-
prise and evil joy on his face.

‘*Ah! I thought I knew your voices!’’ he
cried. , ‘‘So you are really alive, while all
the town mourn you for dead. They believe
that you fell into the hands of some stray
Romans, and——’’

He stopped in sudden amazement as he
caught sight of Rufus, and then advanced a
couple of steps.

‘*You have captured a dog of a Roman,’
he cried, enviously. ‘‘You did wrong to
spare his life, and it will bring evil upon
your heads if it be known. Come, we will
slay him at once, and take the head fora
trophy.’’

Merewolf had already drawn his sword,
but before he could do more, Harl and
Hamo stepped in front of him, and flourished
their daggers so menacingly that’ he re-
treated a little.

‘‘Thé Roman is free, and you shall not
harm him,’’ cried Harl. ‘‘We have given
him our word that he shall go safely back
to his people.”’

‘‘Free?’? exclaimed Merewolf, in a tone of
bewilderment. ‘‘You are syrely mad, sons
of Gerphar.’’

‘‘We are not mad,’’ said Hamo, doggedly,
and in a few words he related the events of
the past twenty-four hours. ‘‘So we have
sworn,’’ he continued, ‘‘and our word is not
to, be broken.’’

“Tt counts for nothing,’’ cried Merewolf,
in hot anger. ‘‘It was wrong to try to
save an enemy; you should have been glad
to see him perish before your eyes, So you
have been hiding like curs in the tin mine
all this time, while brave men were dying—
hiding and playing. traitor with this bitter
foe of your race?’’

‘*What do you mean?’’ hoarsely demanded
Har], as an inkling of the truth broke upon
him. ‘‘Speak plainly.’’

GooDp

more,’’ Merewolf shouted, furiously. ‘‘Cow-
ards! you cunningly took care to avoid
them. Instead of a handful of foes they
found a legion, and were cut to pieces. But
three escaped to bring back the news.’’

For an instant, Harl and Hamo were
struck speechless. Their faces blanched, and
they looked at each other with eyes full of
horror. Rufus also turned pale, but he stood
proudly and calmly, and made no move to
escape. He was unarmed, and he doubtless
realized that Merewolf would pursue and
kill him.

‘*This—this is true?’’ stammered Harl.

‘tWhy should I deceive you?’’ cried Mere-
wolf. ‘‘Itis even as I said. Now will you
let this Roman dog go?’’

‘‘We must keep our word,’’ Harl an-
swered, painfully and decidedly. ‘‘We did
wrong to save him, perhaps, but it is too
late now. Had we not promised, Merewolf,
I should gladly plunge this dagger into his
heart a score of times. But our word is
given, and Gerphar bade us never forget
honor and truth. The Roman shall go free.
What say you, brother?’’

‘‘T am of the same mind,’’ replied Hamo,
‘*but I shall kill him if we ever meet again.’’

‘“‘That time will never come,’’ cried Mere-
wolf, ‘‘for I shall kill the dog now. Out of
my way, traitors,’’? and he swung his sword
savagely.

There was no time to hesitate, and though
Harl and Hamo now felt a bitter hatred of
Rufus, they made up their minds instantly
that he must be protected. With one impulse

they dodged under Merewolf’s uplifted
sword, threw themselves upon him, and

bore him to the ground in spite of his furi-
ous struggles. There they held him fast, at
the same time robbing him of all his
weapons. t

‘*Now off with you,’’ Harl cried, angrily,
as he turned his head toward Rufus. ‘‘You
see at what a cost we have kept our word.
Speed as fast as you can if you would es-
cape the death that you deserve.”’

“You will meet it some day,’’ added
Hamo. ‘‘Britain will yet be free from your

| cruel people.’

Rufus hesitated, and then came a little
nearer the lads. On his proud face was a
strangely soft expression.

‘“*You are brave and generous foes,’’ he
said, ‘‘but the Romans can be the same
when they wish. I shall not forget, and
some day it may be in my power to repay
you. So now farewell.’’

With this he turned and plunged into the
oak wood. He ran swiftly, and was soon out
of sight.

For a long time Harl and Hamo kept their
hold on Merewolf, though he struggled most
desperately to break loose, and reviled them
with bitter language. At last they stood up
and allowed him to rise. They were deter-

| mined, however, not to give him his weapons

back.

But Merewolf did not ask for them, nor
did he show any disposition to renew the
fight. Stranger still, he seemed to have for-
gotten the fugitive Roman. He glared at
the lads for a moment with a face that was
the color of ashes, and eyes that snapped
like live coals; he bit his lips till the blood
came.

“T hate you, sons of Gerphar,’’ he said,
in a voice that shook with passion. ‘‘I have
hated you since that day in the Great
Swamp, but now I shall have my revenge.’’

With an evil smile, he strode in the direc-
tion of the village. He turned once and
looked back; then he was lost to sight in the
thicket.

CHAPTER XII.
A SACRIFICE TO BAAL,

( Y this time the lower rim of the sun
N : was sinking’into the sea, and ‘with its
} bo) disappearance would come the dusky
(FPF night. After seeing the last of Mere-
wolf, the lads turned to each other with
looks of perplexity and alarm. They were
in no pleasant frame of mind, and the
shadow of coming trouble had laid its chill
hand upon them.

‘‘T never saw Merewolf so angry before,’’
said Hamo. ‘‘His face scared me. He
threatened the other time to be revenged,
but he did nothing.’’

‘‘It is different now,’’ replied Harl, ‘‘and
I think I know what he means. He will tell
that we saved the young Roman, and let
him go. When the Druids hear it they will
be angry, and may try to arouse the people
against us.’’

‘‘But the queen mother has more influ-
ence,’’? said Hamo. ‘‘We must hurry home
and | tell her all, and she will intercede for
us.’

‘Tf she can,’’? muttered Harl. ‘‘There will
be sorrow and mourning for the déad this
night, and it will take little time to stir the
people to wrath. They will understand
better if we tell them ourselves what we
did, so we will try hard to get back before
Merewolf.’’

Without more delay, the lads started,
sharing between them the weapons they had
taken from their enemy. They could not
shake off the feeling of impending trouble,
and in gloomy and bitter silence, they
tramped along the forest paths, up hill and

 

‘‘T mean that the two hundred men who
marched away to seek the Romans are no

 

down hill, over grassy meadows and by
brawling streams,

 

 

 

  

NEWS.

To travel at anything like their best speed
when in good trim was an utter impossi-
bility. The privations of the past twenty-
four hours had told severely on their sturdy
frames; they were faint with hunger and
want of sleep, and fatigue made their feet
drag like lead.

They even had to stop now and then to
rest, and so it happened that darkness found
them still far from home. More by chance
than skill they did not blunder from the
way, and it was with feelings of mixed
pleasure and dread that they saw at last the
gleaming lights of the village.

As they drew nearer they heard such
wailing cries and clamors of rage that their
hearts almost failed them. But they pressed
on with lagging steps—up the grassy slope,
and in through the open and deserted gates,
and thence by a dark side-passage between
the huts to the big open square where stood
the snug oaken house that was their home.

Now the space was red witli the glare of
flashing torches and fires, and filled with a
moving throng of women and children, war-
riors and -priests, all shouting and wailing
and calling down vengeance on the merciless
Roman invaders.

Keen eyes spied the lads lurking on the
edge of the huts, and when they saw that
they were discovered the blood of the brave
Gerphar that flowed in their veins gave
them courage to step boldly and defiantly
forth.

It was the queen mother who first reached
them, and as e pressed them to her bosom
with a manne of defending them rather
than from rapturous joy. of finding the sup-
posed dead alive, they saw and wondered at
the took of helpless agony in her eyes.

They- partly understood when they saw the
yelling crowd swarming around, and recog-
nized the tall, white-bearded figure of Blud-
win, the high priest, the triumphant face of
Merewolf, and the strong-limbed Almeric,
cousin to their dead father.

An instant later rude hands were laid
upon Harl and Hamo, and in spite of their
struggles, they were torn savagely from the
queen mother’s embrace. They still fought
lustily, calling out to the people for, aid, but
for all that their arms were forced behind
them and bound with hempen cords.

It was a shallow mockery of a trial that fol-
lowed. With difficulty, the priests pacified
the people, and then the lads, standing in
the very shadow of their home, answered to
the charge of saving and freeing a hated
Roman. They told the story well, and with
a proud consciousness of right that swayed
some of the eager listeners to pity and
mercy.

When they had finished there was a scene
that threatened for a time to turn into a
bloody riot. The queen mother ran to and
fro, weeping and wailing, and pleading for
the lives of her sons. She won to her side
some who had been friends of Gerphar, but
these were instantly set upon by the priests,
stripped of their arms, and hurried away
from the spot.

Now, if ever, the sullen throng was in a
mood to be swayed one way or the other,
and it was the villainous old Bludwin who
gained the advantage. He mounted a chariot
that stood in the middle of the open space
and held out his arms.

‘“‘Oh! my people,’’ he cried, in a loud
voice, ‘‘give ear to the words I speak, lest
the anger of the gods fall heavy upon you.
But last night, while I was making sacrifice
on the altars, the mighty god Baal appeared
before me in a cloud and said:

‘““¢Oh, Bludwin, this day the twin sons of
Gerphar have done a traitorous deed, and
for this a punishment shall come upon thy
people. Of the fighting men who went forth
to slay the Roman invaders, but three shall
retufn alive.’

‘« ‘Mighty Baal,’ 1 said, as I fell upon my
knees, ‘I pray you lift this doom from my
people.’

‘(And Baal answered :

‘¢¢Tt cannot be, oh, Bludwin, for the gods
are wroth. Yet I bid you sacrifice to me the
sons of Gerphar, and to putin their stead
the wise. and brave Almeric. When these
things be done, the anger of the gods will be
appeased, and Almeric shall lead you to
victory over the Romans.’

‘Then Baal vanished, and I was alone by
the altars.

“Now I have spoken, oh, my people, and
ye see that what Baal predicted hath come
true. I laid hands rightly upon these lads,
since I was bidden to do so. Are there any
who deny me? Dare ye face the wrath of
the gods, or will ye do their command???

As the crafty Bludwin ceased speaking a
terrible cry broke from the lips of the queen
mother, but it was instantly drowred by
hoarse and furious shouting that mi de the
very air ring.

“Slay them! slay them!’’ yelled the peo-
ple. ‘‘The will of Baal be done! Let the
sons of Gerphar die! To the altars with
them !’’

Then, as thcev surged closer to the lads,
they began to scout Almeric’s name and ‘to
greet him as king. If any in that blood-
thirsty crowd were yet loyal and true at
heart to the prisoners, they dared not show
it, but shovted as lustily as the others.

In vain Harl and Hamo tried to speak; in
vain they sought to reach the queen mother.

   
 
  
 
   
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
    
  
 
  
 
 
   
  
  
 
 
   
  
  
   
    
 
  
    
    
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
  
 
     
     
  
  
   
 
    
    
  
 
   
  
   

roughly away. Then rage made them like
wild beasts, and they kicked and bit at their
merciless captors.

So, struggling desperately, they were borne
through the crowd, getting a glimpse, in
passing, of Merewolf’s venomous smile, and
of the triumphant face of Almeric, the plot-
ter; thence out of the town and a long way
through meadow and forest, lighted at every
step by flashing torches, guided by old Blud-
win with his golden wand.

Now the journey was nearly at an end,
and the procession entered the sacred oak
grove of the Druids. Deep they penetrated,
and then the young captives, more dead
than alive, were thrust into a huge wicker
cage. The door was closed, and of the shout-
ing priests and people all melted away save
one or two guards.

Amid the chill blackness of the night Harl
and Hamo shivered for a little while. They
were exhausted and faint, and could not
realize the terrible calamity that had be-
fallen them. They crept close to each other,
and merciful sleep banished pain and grief.

All through the autumn night the lads
slumbered on—a deep dreamless sleep that
made them like dead men. Outside the cage
the watchful guards crouched, but there
was no sound in the lonely oak grove save
the rustling of the leaves or the infrequent
ery of an owl.

At last Hamo stirred and sat up, and the
lack of his brother’s warm body roused
Harl. First they looked around in bewilder-
ment at the strange objects revealed by the
gray light of dawn; they rubbed their
drowsy eyes, for during the night their arms
had been unbound.

Then a flood of bitter memories surged
upon them, and they realized the awful and
stunning truth. They knew that dawn was
the hour of the Druidical sacrifice, and with
a mad hope of escaping while there was yet
time, they flung themselves repeatedly
against the stout oaken bars of the cage.
The guards, who were lying near by in a
bed of fern, laughed and mocked in derision.

At this the lads sank back with cries of
despair, and the sight of each other’s horror-
stricken eyes and ghastly faces frightened
them. They lay in a stupor for a little
while, and then they caught sight of water
and food that had been thrust into the cage.

They had not eaten for a day and a night,
and even in the shadow of a_ terrible death
the fierce lust of famine seized upon them.

They shared and devoured the food raven-
ously, and gulped down the water. While
they ate and drank they heard voices and
treading feet incessantly in a neighboring
part of the grove that was shut off by dense
thickets.

‘*Where will we be in an hour?’’ said
Hamo. ‘‘It is hard to die, brother. Surely,
they will not dare to killus. They forget
that we are the sons of Gerphar the king.’’

‘‘They will slay us,’’ muttered Harl;
‘hope not to escape. The time is nearly
here, so let us prepare to die bravely. It
will grieve the queen mother if we show
feay.’’

‘(We shall never see her again,’’ wailed
Hamo. ‘‘I wish I had let the Romanjperish
in the sea. We have given him life, and
brought death upon ourselves. It was wrong
to save him, brother——’’

‘“‘But right to keep our promised word,’’
broke in Harl, ‘‘and that I would do over
again. It is not because of the young Roman
that we are dying, Hamo; we are the vic-
tims of a plot. Ah! I would lay my head on
the stone gladly if 1 could tear Merewolf
and Bludwin limb from limb, and our foul
cousin, Almeric. He has always wished to
reign in our stead, for once when we were
lying asleep I heard the queen mother say
to faithful old Dhuwal——’’

‘*They are coming, brother !’’ cried Hamo,
in a quivering voice. ‘‘Look yonder where
the grove is open. Hark! don’t you heal
them chanting the death song?’’

(TO BE* CONTINUED.)
—_——__-e>_+>____—
RATHER CROSS EYED.

Mr. Bobbin has the misfortune to possess
a remarkable obliquity of vision, so much 8°
that when looking directly at one his eye
are wandering in an opposite direction. The
other day a person came into his shop 4?
inquired for gloves. Some being handed to
him, he tried several pairs on, but said they
would not do, at the same time coolly put-
ting a pair in his pocket and turning to ar

‘““You are not going without paying fo
them, are you?’’ said Bobbin.

‘Paying for what?’’ asked the customer
‘Why, the gloves you pocketed,’’ was t
respectful reply. Ke

‘“You don’t pretend to say you were ef Fs
ing at me, do you?’’ said the fellow, 4%
glanced up at the queer eyes.

‘*Yes,’? was the tart reply. igi

‘‘Well, I declare,’’ said the pocketer,
never will trust to appearances again!

 

 

obo
HIS BENT. 4

Employer—‘‘But what can you do, youre
man? Haven’t you some special talen
taste—some bent, as they say??? that I

Applicant (dubiously)—‘‘N-no, not, ty owe

 

Her last pitiful cry stabbed them to the
heart, and they saw her being dragged

 

can think of—except that I am a little
legged.’? 4

 

      
 
 

    

hat: dette Sc

2
n
g
t
a

 
et

rl
oy
ot

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pssess
ich 89
eyes
jhe
p and
led t0
| they
+ pute

) go.
ig for

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Jook-
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7

 

 

OOD

 

{This Story Will Not be Published in Book-Form. |

THREE OF A KIND;

OR,

The Parrot- Hunters of La Cruz.|

BY PAUL INGELOW.

(“THREE OF A KIND” was commenced in No. 245
Back numbers can be obtained o 1 News Ageuts.
CHAPTER XXVII

BETWEEN TWO FIRES.

  
  
 

> LECK neither spoke nor moved. He
\ simply stared at his captor.
qe x Captor Levi Barnes certainly was
> —Aleck’s plight showed it, the satis
fied expression on his enemy’s face proved it
unmistakably.
Furthermore, Levi
denizen from whom
sombrero convinced

   

  

mysterious
run, the big
this, and its

  

loaferish tilt made Levi look niore like a
rowdy than ever.
Levi seemed to enjoy Aleck’s dismay. He

grinned at him, and added a zest of vicious
ness by plucking some dark purple berries
growing from a bush at his side, mouthing
them, and flipping them smartly at the face
and hands of his captive.

‘Well,’’ he spoke, finally, ‘‘do you know
me??? a
‘Yes,’’? responded Al faintly, ‘‘I

   
 

know you.’’ He could s
at that moment, he saw lyi
at Levi’s feet the astronomer’s object glass,
denuded of cotton and paper covering.

‘I knew you the minute you passed the
shop back in the village,’’ pursued Levi. ‘‘I
hailed you. Why didn’t you stop?’

‘*]-T couldn’t,’’ stammered Aleck, ‘‘I
was ina hurry. I’m in a hurry now, a des
perate one. Please set me loose. I’ve got to
get that glass to a certain place in the next
few hours, and it’s quite a long distance.’’

‘*Have you?’’ muttered Levi, tapping the
lens with his foot till Aleck quivered with
alarm. ‘What is the old bull’s-eye for, any-

ely speak, for,
on the ground

 

 

  
 

“Its an ob ject ss, the principal lens to
a Diadatie,?) explained Aleck, hastily. /‘‘An
astronomer has discovered a comet, and if
he doesn’t get it by nightfall, it will. be
dreadful. He relies on me—I wouldn’t fail
him for worlds.’’

‘“You’ll fail him — time,’’
Levi, and he gave the dise a contemptuous
kick that sent it patting past Alec k,

*fOh, don’t say that! I say- :

‘No, J say,’’ interrupted

‘you 1 reach no astronomer,
ls you fell me what I want to know.’’

‘*What is that?’’ questioned Aleck, eagerly.

‘Why, of course Ill tell you, but I don’t
See why you tie me up as if I was some
tuffian! I don’t see why you glare at me as
if we. were deadly enemies.’’

‘Don’t you?’’ snarled Levi Because we
are deadly ehemies, that’s why, and I’ll
make no bones of it. You hypocritical young
Sheak, where’s my two thousand dollars?’’

Aleck was absolutely dumfounded at this
Sudden demand of Levi Barnes.

The latter had arisen with the explosion of
Ms wrath.
ists and grating his teeth at Aleck, as if
Teady any moment to spring upon him and
beat him’ to a jelly

““Your two thousand dollars??? mumbled
Aleck; ‘your two thousand dollars???
, In the name of wonder, how came Levi
warnes to connect him with this lost money

how came he to know him at all?

Levi,
I tell you, un-

”

True, he had been on the raft with him, |

but Aleck had heretofore doubted if,
16 terror of that brief companionship
jad even noticed him.

amid
Levi

 

n Jo you hear me, you mumbling jacks

‘Apes???’ shouted the, infuriated Levi.

Said my two thousand dollars. Where is it!
_ How should I know?”’ g ulped Aleck.

”

cried Levi, ‘‘just as I
So, a precious plot has
tching about me, and 1 never
and Floyd Gilbert has learned the
scheme, has he?
nover, and Bradley
Parry confession out of me, and you’re king
eta: hunters, ‘got the best end in the fag
Roce: ,0!d Robert Wells’ deal, eh? Oh! 1

88s I know! Only one thing I don’t know,

k ‘You do know!
how all about you.
en ha

guessed

rj .
prime 1 Burr is going to

 

ar . u
c . you do—my money! Where is it? Speak
tick, Speak true, or I’II—I’ll smash you!”’
Lis ‘At i She wit
ky rapid exordium, betraying Lev
ney edge of affairs Aleck had supposed he
®r' dreamed of, overwhelmed the pros
"ate boy

Yor ‘Do you hear me?”’’ yelled Levi I tell
thi B don’t trifle with me! I’ve gone throug ea
By in reaching this town here that mal

 

   

wie thirsty Pilfer me! rob me! Out
q Where’s my. money?’
ageq °w do you think I know?’’ Aleck man
‘im, articulate
posit ” howled Levi. ‘‘I don’t think;
Wo, lvely know. How? ha! Guess

is certé 1inty now See her
Was “Aneght up an object from h is side. It
Ale,

Tom st S vest. He drew an oblong article
book Spocket. It was Aleck’s memorandum
Alec

kK was dismayed. Levi Barnes was

growled |

gruffly, |

He pranced about clinching his |

L|astrand gave and a

and. you are the|

| proceeding on no flimsy surmises, he had
1im tight and fast, if he had read the chron
icle that little volume held.
‘Listen,’’ ordered Levi,
pages. ‘‘Here’s the record you kept. ‘Floyd
eee um! um! ‘found Adam Barnes’
—‘Bradley Burr unjustly accused’-
lea an impostor—must get
from him’—‘ Matamor.
| money’—um! um! itiag
| parrot-hunters.’ ‘Found the Mexican—he
drugged Levi, but he did not get the money.’
Aha! didn’t he? Who did? Why underscored:
| Think I’m an idiot? Not much, You got it.
| Confess. Out with it. What have you done
with it???

Aleck was writhing. Sure enough, he had
| written that last memorandum the second
| day after the loss of the raft. All the evi

dence in the world would never
pig-headed Levi Barnes that he had not se
cured the missing two thousand dollars, and
he was completely at his mercy.

Levi had lost all control of
gnashed his teeth till the blue berries he had
forgotten to spit out were crushed, and dis-
colored his thick lips. His eyes looked glazed
and unnatural. He acted like a person wild
with excitement and rage.

‘Wait!’ cried Ale suddenly, as. Levi
hunched up his chubby frame as if poising
for a spring upon him.

‘Out with it!’’ flared Levi.

‘That glass—you let me take it to the
man it belongs to, only let me redeem my
promise to him, and I’U—I’H talk with you.”’

‘Then you confess—you know something

let-
Levi

confession

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

about the money?’’ demanded Levi, eagerly.
‘Maybe,’’
‘Aha!’? gloated Levi. ‘‘I knew it. Take

 

the glass back first? ‘Maybe!’ ’’ he mimicked.

‘You bet you will. I’ll give you slack rope!
I’ll set you free to circumvent me! Oh, yes,
[ will! yes, I will!’’ ,

With a mocking laugh Levi grabbed up
the glass. He lifted it aloft and glanced
about to find a rock or stone.

‘Tell!’? he commanded. ‘‘Where is that
two thousand dollars? It’s your last chance.”’

Hold on! hold on!’’ panted Aleck, ‘‘just
one moment. If you won’t do as I ask, take
the glass back to a man at the village inn
| P’ll tell you about. Don’t break it!
don’t!”

The last word was a scream, for

 

Levi had

given the disc a whirl toward the nearest
tree.
The concave surface met the soft wood

without injury, however. It
the ground again.

‘Where’s there
and your head next,
| that money,’’ raved Levi.
| He was reeling about lil
cated now; the purple berry juice was drop-
ping from his mouth. His appearance puz
zled, while it terrified, the helpless Aleck.

Levi, again catching up the disc,
peared unsteadily in the oe looking for
a rock on which to shatter it to atoms.
| ‘*Stop! stop!’’ shouted Aleck, realizing all
| that little piece of glass meant to the astron-
omer, the responsibility that rested on his |
shoulders. ‘‘Come back—give me the glass,
set me free, and—I’ll tell!’’

Aleck spoke too late. There-was a mum
bling’ and a rustling in the shrubbery, and
the glass rattled against a rock.

a rock? I’ll smash it first,

 

4 person intoxi-

  

| CHAPTER XXVIII.
NOT THERE.

EA’ LECK felt dismayed, as the vague
? sounds in the bushes indicated some
mishap to the telescope lens.

‘*Poor Mr. Hill—he thought it
would be a great disappointment if I failed
him, and I have, and that fellow will
be back again.’’
| Hetried to get
| him a prisoner.

 

5
leone

As he struggled with them,
hand came free. He
released his other wrist, and rapidly un-
whipped the withes bound about his ankles

He was at equal odds with hisenemy now,
but he knew of Levi’s tricky ways, and slip-
ping behind the nearest tree, caught up a
thick stick lying there, and awaited the re
turn of his adversar y:

Perfect silence reigned all about, however.
There was not a sound or movement in the

 

| bushes.
‘Levi could not have gone but a few
paces,’’ reflected Aleck. ‘‘I don’t understand |

why he don’t come back. Of
wouldn’t leave me without trying to
my secret out of me. Let
time!’

Aleck waited several minutes longer, and
then crept to the edge of the bushes. He
glanced over their tops, and went in and out
among them. Approaching the spot whence

force
him try it this

the commotion had sounded, he came to a
| wondering halt.
Levi was there, lying prostrate on the

gronnd, rigid as a mummy,
colorless. Staring at him in bewilderment,
the truth flashed into Aleck’s mind as he
noticed the purple hue on his lips.
‘It’s the berries !”” he thought,
ward conviction.
jof poison fruits-
deaden, some nauseate.
Levi Barnes.’
With a spring,

eyes closed, face

with in
some intoxicate, some
They’ve quieted
Aleck ran

past Levi, for

turning over the |}

s, Levi gets the
x6, Hermosa, the

 

convince

himself. He

don’t! | ‘

rolled intact to |

but you’ll tell me about |

disap- |

soon

the ropes loose that held |

course he }

‘Pedro told us about lots |

   

 

 

— Se
rs EOE

 

NEWS.

4059

 

 
 

something glinting in the long grass
side a moss-covered rock had dazzled his
vision
It was me telescope glass, and it lay tilted
| against the stone just at the end of a long
streak, whe it had grazed and denuded the
rock of its verdure.
t’s safe and sound!’’

Aleck.

 

   

crowed the happy

‘Tt fell as he fell. Only the rim
| struck the stone, and then the moss protected
i.

| He glanced down at Levi. What should he
do with him? He was breathing regularly,
there were no convulsive twitches to indicate
acute poisoning

‘*Likely as not he’ll come to in an hour
and be ripe for new mischief,’’ theorized
Aleck. ‘‘Suppose he should go to investigat
ing my business in town, and get an inkling

 

of my anxiety for those shoes! He’s safe
1ere, and only here, till I get back. I want
confession, too. It seems as if the tables

} have turned, giving me a decided advant-
age.

Aleck planned clearly and executed rap-

ily. In two minutes he had the unconscious
decorated with the same ropes that had
held him a prisoner, the glass disc back in
its wrappings, and fixing “the spot clearly in
his mind, he started on a _ brisk walk in the
direction of the observatory.

He reached it in three hours, and Mr. Hill
took the parcel from his hand, and leading
the way into the observatory with expres-
sions of satisfaction and pleasure, pushed
Aleck by the shoulders into his easy-c boar.

‘You sit there,’? he commanded, ‘‘and
rest. You don’t even guess what you have
done for me.
again? Don’t you dare to suggest it.’

Aleck would not be silenc ed, however. He
insisted that he must return to the town at
and then his curious host wanted to
know why

Aleck divulged a part of his story. He
told Mr. Hill
a lost pair of shoes, that he had come across
a boy he had been seeking for a long time,
and explained the bearing of the latter fact
on the establishment of the
Bradley Burr.

‘‘T must get to the town at once,’’ he said.
‘I left that boy tied up. Besides,
nay be sold.”’

 

once,

gave you?’’ demanded the astronomer.

a aay as well tell you the truth,’’ replied
Aleck. ‘‘There’s something hidden in those
shoes.’’

“You mean something of value?’’

‘Yes, sir, and I must get them. I’ll prom-
ise to come back and see you, if you wish it,
but—if you would lend me twenty reals to

 

| get the shoes——’

| ‘Lend you?’’ cried the bluff old gentle-
|man. ‘‘Hold out your hands—both of them.’

| “Stop! stop!’’ cried Aleck, in dismay.

For, taking up a buckskin bag, his liberal
host acted as if he was about to pour every
| one of the coins it contained into the boy’s
ands. As it was, he forced some twenty
| dollars on his faithful messenger.

‘The kind-hearted old jew el!?? murmured
the delighted Aleck, as he started townward

 

my shoes |

|
along-

What’s that? got to start back |

that he was trying to recover |!

innocence of
|

|
|

‘‘Shoes? What’s the matter with the pair 1|

| plain in moonlight,

|} us from an

| again. ‘‘He has set the cap-stone to my suc- |
|cess. I’ll visit Levi Barnes, get the shoes,

and then return to the boys at
camp as quick as I can. It’s”
fight, but I guess I’ve won it.

There was one break, in the march of tri-
umpb, however—it was at the termination
of its first stage, the place where Aleck had
met Levi Barnes that day.

It was dusk when he reached it. He
trated the bushes noiselessly, but caution
| was wasted. His captive had disappeared.
| Upon the ground lay the ropes taat had se-
| cured him.
| knife.

Aleck could only guess that Levi had come
| out of his stupor, and had attracted help by
| shouting.

| **T wonder where he has

the parrot
been a hard

gone? of course

| 0 the town,”’’ reflected Aleck. ‘‘I’ll proceed
cautiously, and once I get the shoes, do as
| Mr. Hill directed me—go to his valet at the

| inn, and place myself under his protection.’’

They had been cut with a sharp |

| like precision.
pene- |

| Evading the tobacco! shop, where he had |

Aleck trav-
reached the

| first seen Levi that afternoon,
}ersed a deserted side lane, and
cobbler’s place.
| There was no light in the little shop. Its
| front door was closed, and the windows were
| shuttered and padlocked. Aleck went around
| to the back door,
brought no response from within.

They however attracted the attention of
a woman in the next yard, who informed

|
| Aleck that the shoemaker, who was a
| widower, had received word that evening
| that his married daughter, who lived in the |

next town,
| thither

| Aleck repaired to the inn. He
astronomer’s valet and gave him Mr. Hill’s |
instructions to take him in for the night. He |
|} had a needed though an anxious rest the |

was quite ill, and he had gone |

next day and the ensuing one, for the cob-
bler did not return.
| Aleck did not see anything more of Levi

  

Barnes.

Toward the evening of the second day of
his enforced wait, as he neared the cobbier’s
shop, he hurried his steps, for its door stood
open and a dim light burned in the window. |

The string of shoes that formed its propri- | old crow.

etor’s sign-manual, and the pair he had

but repeated knockings |

come so far to secure he observed lying on a
shelf as he entered the place. :
‘I have come for these,’’ he
ing them.
He paid the

 

said, touch-

obbler the twenty reals, as
promised, and the shoemaker did them up in
paper, and bowed his thanks.

ck returned to the inn. Mr. Hill was
expected to come there from the observatory
that evening, and he fancied he, heard his
voice and that of his valet in conversation
in the sitting-room, but was so anxious to
open his package, that he hurried up the
stairs to his own sle eping apartment. ‘

He placed the parcel on a stand and. tore
off the wrappings, selected the right shoe of
the pair, and was opening his pocket-knife,
when he heard the astronomer speak his
= 16 Outside, and leaning toward the win
low, he 1 down.

Two be yS, new arrivals, stood outside the
veranda, talking with the astronomer.

It took no second glance for Aleck to
recognize them. They were Floyd and Brad
ley, and Aleck knew that Mr. Hill was
answering inquiries about himself from ges
tures toward his room.

‘They’ve got anxious and h
me,’’ decided ck. ‘‘Why not?

 

 

  

 

 

look
looke

 

   

 

 

 

ve traced
It was no

 

  

difficult task, they found I had _ been at
the house of the Mexican on the river.
Haven’t I a lot to tell them! but Il] hurry

down to them full-handed.’’

He pried at the sole of the right shoe, as

 

he had done the night he had followed Levi
Barnes on the raft
‘What will if oyd say when I give him

 

this money soliloquized, as he ripped
the sole loose, a nd drew the flaps of leather
clear back to the heel.

His face fell as he did so, and he looked

 

  

age 1in, and turned the shoes in his hands.
‘“‘Why, how is this?’’ he murmured,
blank ‘*The thousand-dollar bills are not
there!’
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
—_—_- ee.

MY FIRST POLAR BEAR.

ESLIE.

e@.>

‘ay T is July 21, in the seventy-fifth
‘I tude, north of the Shannon

4' the east coast of Greenland.
ing bark Nantucket is
field of open ice. The
life and summer.

 

lati-
River, on
The whal
lying by in a
whole air breathes
The sea lies as calm asa
for we are deep into the
ice-field, and no swell reaches us from the
open.

Great floes and ten thousand
blocks gleam and flash, catch the eye wher-
ever it rests, and extend away and away till
all blend into a dazzling w hite line on the
horizon.

To the west rise the
the desolate land.
summits,

24>

and one ice-

 

bright blue peaks of
Nota shadow crosses their
for the glorious sun pours down on
unc lot ided sky But over the
transparent surface of the sea thousands of
shadows flit bewilderingly.

So numerous, indeed, are the
we must present, at a distance, the appear-
ance of a giant beehive. Molly-hawks sweep
past and around with that peculiar flight re
sembling so much the passage of a plate in
mid-air Great burgomasters (‘‘burgies’’ in
the everyday language) float astern, or sit
on ice-edges and croak harshly with clock
Sea-swallows and snow-birds
soar above us, and a flock of ‘‘boatswain’’
birds hang motionless in mid-air, but ever
and again swoop downward on some float-
ing piece of matter from the ship.

Then, also, not far distant, two or three
‘*floe-rats’’ (a small species of seal) are dis-
porting themselves in full enjoyment of
health and spirits. They dive and jump
about, chasing each other here and _ there,
and now have finished their hide and seek
and are coming toward us to satisfy the in
tense curiosity that was born—alas for
them !—in the breast of every floe-rat.

I run down the engine-room ladder to get
the small rifle I brought mainly for this
species. But when I .gain the deck, they
seem to have satisfied eir craving and can
not be seen anywhere. Possibly they have
gone after their breakfast; I do not blame
them, but I am agg ed.

I take aim, asa off, at a burgy that
i§ croaking as per yas a young rook
in the rain; but I only succeed in scattering
the ice chips about its head. It departs,
however, which is one point; so I lay the
rifle on the cabin-top and go up the main-

birds that

 
 

 

 

 

   
 

| ratlines at a run.

found the|

| eyes along thé horizon, take out the
| glass and have a

 

We have been at sea for three months, and
my weakness at ascending to the crow’s nest
has long since gone. Besides, we are lying
motionless, and so the passage is of slight
concern even to a land-lubber.

I push up the lid, enter, and
tom of the barrel down

let the bot-
again. I run my
long
int at land.

Some great terns come so near my head
that I try to catch them. Then I lift my cap
and shake it, but they are not a whit fright
ened, and soar round and round, screeching
in fine chorus.

Ah, boys! how jolly 1 feel up here in the
I feel almost like the man on the
North Pole ought to feel on a warm day.

good squ

 
 

 

 

 
     
   
     
  
  
     
  
   
   
 
    
 
   
 
  
   
    
   
   
 
 
   
  
  
 
  
   
 
 
  
   
   
  
 
   
    
  
   
  
  
  
   
 
  
   
  
    
   
   
    
    
    
   
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
  
   

   

 

 

     

4060

Goonp

   
 

NEWS.

7 ‘ ] . ¥ ‘
I sit down on a ledge that, does duty for a} places there are some dangerous waterholes | there is nothing to be seen.- Have I missed?

seat, shut my eyes, and genuinely bask in
the sun like an old ‘‘bladder-nose’’ seal. I
don’t think I ever thought the sun was such
a grand old man before. I joy in him to-
day, as I joyed in Father Christmas and the
plum pudding in the days when I was
younger.

Then I fall asleep—yes, asleep! up here at
the mast-head, among the terns and snow-
birds, and don’t even know that they are
talking of me in that charming sea-bird
voice of theirs, or that one sits on my cap
and looks down my throat, by the word of
Davidson, the lookout man. I take this
with salt, and perhaps you will, boys, if you
are wise,

When I come to, I have another look
around, and this time see what wakens me
fully.

About half a mile off, over the starboard
quarter, by the edge of ,a small iceberg, I
see a dark object moving swiftly through
the water. At first I cannot detect what it
is; but when the ice is reached, and it hauls
itself up, there is no possibility of mistaking
it. Itis a bear.

I pack up the glass, look down, and see
the captain on deck.

‘*Captain!’’ I cry, ‘‘I see a bear.”’

‘Well, come down and go after him.
Where is he?’’ cries he.

“Over the starboard quarter. You
that iceberg yonder? Well, it’s there.’’
“Ts it a big one?’’ he cries up again.

‘*As big as a cow,’’ says I.

‘Come out of that, then!’’ cries he. And
then to the mate on duty: ‘‘There’s a bear,
Wilson, on the starboard quarter. Lower
away a half-boat, and take the doctor; it’s
his bear.’’

““Ay, ay, sit!’’ says the mate, and there
is the quick beat of sea-boots on the deck as
I open the trap-door and descend.

I possess myself of the captain’s rifle, as
he wishes, and let myself over the side into
the boat, which is already manned. Then,
with a push, we give the oars room and ease
away, leaving a wide wake on the shimmer-
ing surface of the peaceful ocean. I sit down
in the foresheets and stare eagerly ahead,
with a happy thrill of savage joy in my
heart. I am going to shoot my first bear.

The men bend to their blades and joke
with each other. The steersman stands in
the stern and, with his long steering oar,
keeps the boat’s head well on for the ice-
berg. The faintest breeze blows from the
north, but there is a cold iciness in it that
makes us appreciate the warm rays of the
Arctic sun and the thick lining, of our coats.

Now and then a seal breaks the glossy sur-
face of the sea before us, or rises up in our
wake and stares like a man treading water,
to disappear after the manner of a porcu-
pine-quill when a big trout has taken a
fancy to the bait.

Seals are very comical, and very human
when they are taking a curious peep at the
genus man. I have many times laughed out-
right when a big ‘‘grandfather’’ bladder-
nose or saddle-back has come up close astern
and regarded us. But it is an unfortunate
habit for them, as it offers a target to the
sealer which he understands how to appreci-
ate.

We slip through the water as only a whale-
boat is able. The water flashes off the blades
as the men rest on them, and the iceberg is
reached.

We jump onto the ice, and the steersman
remains with the boat. The rest of us pro-
ceed over the berg in search of our bear.

I am not by nature a very bold hunter,
and, as we go, Iam half inclined to wish I
had stayed on board the ship. Many trou-
bling questions run through my brain, and I
feel myself hanging back a little to think
them over. Iam not a coward, but when
you go to stalk your first polar bear on a
field of ice perhaps you will understand the
nature of these feelings.

On we push, and find myself playing
nervously with the trigger of my rifle.

‘Tf he comes at me, I must fire at his
chest,’? Isay to myself. ‘‘But then, I am
sure to forget which side the heart is on!
The opposite to my own as we stand to each
other.’’

Limpress this on my brain; but it is one of
those points which will not impress, and
consequently I have to go over the same
ground a minute after.

But still there is no bruin. He must have
escaped. Now I wish that I had had an op-
portunity to get his skin. It is really very
annoying, I tell myself, after all my hopes
and trouble.

The bear is not on the ice we are on, that
is soon certain. But there is a shout from
one of the men close behind me. I start
frantically, thinking the bear is on me, and
pull'the trigger by mistake. The rifle goes
off, and I see a spout of snow rise between a
man’s legs. :

The man looks grim, and I don’t wonder.
I apologize, saying it is the fault of the
rifle. ‘‘An old rattle-trap,’’ I call it, put
the trigger at half-cock, and determine it
shall not happen again.

Then I learn the cause of the shout. The
bear is pointed out to me swiinming leisurely
across some open water toward an adjoining
berg.

e cannot kill the brute by looking at it,
so we return with all speed to the boat. This
journey is decidedly heavy work, for in some

see

 

and cracks to be carefully kept out of.

But we reach it at last, and the steersman
is regaled on the facts of the hunt as we pull
off to our new ground. They say nothing of
my accident, and/I appreciate their genteel-
ness to the full. And when I shoot the bear,
I am assured they will forget it.

I never thought shooting a bear had so
many difficulties, or was so unnerving before.
To hear the mates and harpooners speak of
it, I regarded it asa parallel to shooting a
seal. I have now time to think coolly, too,
and feel very much ashamed of my nervous-
ness, especially as the bear was not seen on
the ice at all. I conclude that it is the word
‘*bear’’ that does it all, and laugh to myself.

‘*Tf I cam shoot a sealt hrough the head at
seventy yards, I can surely shoot a bear
somewhere so as to kill it, or at least drop
it.??

I shall, I determine, go close up to it be-
for3 I waste a bullet, or let it, if it is so
bold, come close up to me.

‘*There is no doubt I shall kill it.’’

And so I become quite happy.

The pull is not a long one, and we soon
stand on the second mass of ice, whence our
friend had betaken himself.

For a moment we look in vain, and then a
great white object moves slowly and medi-
tatively from behind a hummock of ice.

My heart stands still.

‘There he is!’? cry the men.

I am aware of it already.

‘* 4 splendid skin,’’ says the mate.

‘*Ves!’? IL say, but my mind is not there.
My brain is working at problems again. I
cannot understand myself. But, as the
others move forward, | move with them.

I keep my eyes fixed intently on the brute,
which does not seem to have yet seen us. I
have discovered which side his heart is on.
I impress it upon my mind and feel happier.
If he would stand still, I have hopes.

Ah! he has seen us! But he takes no
notice. Surely this is a cool brute. We are
yet two hundred yards away, and I am
thinking of firing. But I recollect it would
be useless, and remeniber my determination
in the boat.

Now the beast has changed its position. I
have lost its heart. It is coming toward us.

‘*Look out, doctor! He’s coming!’’ cries
the mate; and I see the men preparing to
run. .

I am excited.) I raise the rifle, and all but
fire; but I am happily prevented by a sec-
ond thought on the part of the bear, which
does not come at us at all, but makes a
straight line for the boat.

1 breathe again, and have time to think.
The men, I see, are still prepared torun. I
am about to ask them to stay; but bruin
prevents me.

The boat does not seem satisfactory. And
now it is coming straight for me at the gal-
lop, and I hear it roaring.

It is an awful beast—a huge beast! The
nearer it comes the more alarming it looks.
The problem now in my head is how it will
kill me. I have almost forgotten about Icill-
ing it; but the thought flashes through my
brain, and I kneel down.

As I do so, I feel the sweat running down
my spine in acold stream; and I catch a
sight-of the men, in the tail of my eye, tak-
ing to their heels like rabbits.

Bruin puts on the pace. My hand is not
steady, but my teeth are clinched. It is all
in the name ‘‘bear,’” I tell myself; but it
does not soothe me. I point the rifle, but I
cannot keep the bead on it. My hand shakes
like a fly-catcher’s tail, and my sight seems
crooked. I have no true conception now on
which side its heart is. But if it would halt,
I would shoot any where.

But it does not stop. It is now thirty yards
distant and still at the gallop. What a size
it is! My excitement overpowers me. I pull
the trigger. But there is no report. My
heart stops dead, and the bear stops. Now!
I smile triumphantly. I aim at his right
side, and pull the trigger again.

There is no sound. I pull five times, each
time more madly, and there is no sound. . I
cannot think what is wrong. (The rifle is at
half-cock, that is all; and the bear is stand-
ing at twelve yards. But my head is gone.)

We look steadily at each other. Then bruin
throws up his head, opens his mouth, and
roars. This is the climax. I forget every-
thing. lturn. I fly for dear life over the
ice, and away from the boat. I beat the
record for a twenty-five-yard heat; and
then, with a wild plunge, pitch head first
into an ice-crack.

It is filled with drift snow and I am almost
smothered. But there is plenty of room, and
I manage to shift myself so as to avoid this.
Iraise my head and look up to daylight.
What! There is no mistaking it; a polar bear
is looking benignly down at me, licking its
chops.

y blood freezes as it puts down a great
paw and tries to claw me. But I am safe,
sO my courage returns.

I find my rifle, which has come down with
me, and see it isat half-cock. I cock it care-
fully, and then, on a thought, blow the snow
out of the barrel and close it again. The
bear is still above, licking its chops. I can-
not help a pleased sigh as I see the sight
level with its eye. I shall have revenge,

Bang! There is an awful roar with the
confined space I am in, and my head seems
to have split. 1 look through the smoke, but

 

I can’t believe it; but I am fearful.

I cannot scramble out, so I hail loudly,
and in a few minutes the mate looks down,
and goes into convulsions.

**Hillo, doctor!’’ says
grimace.

‘Is there a bear up there?’’ I ask; for I
am fearful of my reputation.

‘*There was, doctor, but you’ve scared the
critter,’’ says he, and laughs.

“Scared it!’? Then I’ve missed, sure
enough, I tell myself, and am hauled up,
sick at heart, and determined to stick to seal-
hunting in future. But it is not so, and I
reach the surface to find I have shot my first
polar bear.

My feelings were mixed, and I sha’n’t ex-
plain them. But when I got back to the
ship, I went up to the crows’ nest and sat
down and thought.

a a

A LUCKY ACCIDENT.

—a

MERRILL,

he, with a wide

BY J. M.

——<

ARRY FENSTONE was the black
sheep in the family.

He had been so often assured pf
> - this by his step-mother, that the sore-
hearted lad came at length to accept it as a
fact.

From some slight neglect on his part, one
day, one of the‘sheep was badly hurt, and
the second Mrs. Fenstone reprimanded
Harry severely and promised him a sound
flogging when his father should return from
town.

The whipping was duly administered by
the father on his return.

Harry was nearly ‘fifteen when he re-
ceived this last flogging.

He was indignant to think that his parent
refused to listen toa word of explanation
from him. After his punishment the boy
stole into the back yard, and soothed his
wounded sensibilities by crouching in a
heap under the hay-stack, and sobbing for a
long time.

Darkness fell. Soon the big round moon
peeped above the tree-tops, and seemed to
smile on the haggard face of the weeping
boy.

‘*These floggings come thicker’n thicker
all the time,’’ muttered Harry, in a choking
voice. ‘‘Father used to be good to me once,
but he seems to think I can’t do a thing
right. Oh, dear! I. wish my own dear
mother was alive, then things would be
different.’’

And then the rattle of wheels fell on the
boy’s strained senses.

He sprang up, and looked toward the front
gate. A light vehicle had halted there, and
a man alighted.

‘Yes, it’s a splendid farm, Benson, and
it will drop into my hands without costing
me much more than asong. The old fel-
low’ll squirm a bit, no doubt, but he can’t
help himself. I have the law on my side.’’

The speaker then hurried up the path to
the front door of the farm-housv and rapped.

‘It’s Squire Overton,’’ said Harry, ‘‘I
wonder what he wants with my father to-
night.’

Curiosity got the better of the boy’s feel-
ings, and he crept like a guilty thing, up to
the front door, that stood ajar since the en-
trance of the squire, and listened.

‘The mortgage?’’? Harry heard his father
exclaim, ‘‘Why that was canceled two weeks

     

r

ago. I paid you the money, and took a re-
ceipt.’’

‘*You did, eh? This is news to me, Mr.
Fenstone,’’ sneered the squire. ‘Will you
be kind enough to produce the receipt?’

‘Certainly, sir.’’

The farmer went into the next room. He
was gone for some time. When he returned,
a puzzled expression rested on his face.

‘*T declare I can’t place my fingers on the
receipt just now, but it doesn’t matter as I
know of. Of course you remember me pay-
ing you two ‘thousand dollars in the road
near Westly ‘woods two weeks ago, You
gave me a receipt and promised to discharge
the mortgage.’

‘All very plausible, my dear sir, very
plausible, indeed,’’ sneered the rich man,
‘*but it won’t go down.’’

‘*Won’t go down? What do you mean,
sir???

The old farmer regarded
neighbor in astonishment.

‘“‘T mean that I shall at once take meas-
ures to foreclose the mortgage I hold against
this farm. If you bring the money to cancel
the mortgage within three days, well and
good——’’

‘*But, good gracious, sir! I paid the mort-
gage once!’’ cried Farmer Fenstone, indig-

his wealthy

nantly. ‘‘Do you expect your money twice
over???

‘‘If you have paid it, show me the re-
ceipt.’’

“T tell you I can’t find it just now.”’

‘*A pretty story. Well, ’ll give you just
three days’ grace, Jasper Fenstone. If, at
the end of that time, the money is not forth-
coming, this farm must be sold,’’ said Squire
Overton, coolly. -

‘““You are a great villain!’’ exclaimed
Fenstone. ‘‘But I have the receipt, and will
produce it before that time.’’

 

  

“It will be a forged one, if you do,’’ was
the response, and then the squire turned
about and left the house.

He walked down to his waiting carriage.

Harry followed slowly, not knowing what
he had better do. He had resolved never to
go back to the old house again. His step-
mother seemed to owe bim a grudge, and on
every possible occasion she vented her ill
feelings by scolding him and petting her own
children.

Then, again, as to-day, she would com-
plain about him to his father, and a flog-
ging was sure to follow.

‘*T’ve stayed here for the last night,’’ de-
clared the ill-used lad. ‘‘I know there must
be a placessomewhere in the world for me
where cuffs and kicks don’t come oftener
than kind words.’’

And with this reflection, the boy followed
the squire down to the front gate.

‘*Well, how did he receive it, Overton???’
questioned the man who had remained in
the carriage.

‘*He wasn’t pleased with the idea of losing
his farm, of course,’ replied the squire. ‘‘I
didn’t expect he would be; but he can’t
help himself, you know, and the big farm
will be mine within the month.’’

Surely there was something wrong here.
Harry, who had overheard the remarks of
the squire, felt sure.

The boy remembered seeing his father
counting a package of bills one day, and
heard him tell his step-mother that he was
intending to use the money to pay Squire
p bari on a mortgage he held against the

arm.

Further than this the lad knew nothing.

He was in too deep trouble to think much
about what he had overheard, and wandered
aimlessly down the road.

He had firmly resolved to leave home, and
at length thought of the railway that crossed
the country about two miles from the Fen-
stone farm.

It was very nearly time for the evening
train to arrive at Westly station, and, re-
membering that he had two dollars in his
pocket, Harry suddenly resolved to take
that train to Boston, where he believed he
might find work.

“I shall miss the train if I go round by
the road,’’ decided the boy, and then he
turned into the woods, intending to take a
short cut to Westly station.

This move decided the boy’s after-fate.

He had not gone far into the dark woods
when he stumbled and fell.

It was no ordinary fall, as he plunged
down, down, into a black hole, reaching the
bottom with a terrible crash that rendered
him insensible.

There was no sense of pain then. When

the lad opened his eyes hours afterward, a
terrible pain racked his body. On attempt-
ing to rise, he found himself unable to do
so.
Day had dawned, and Harry was able to
discover that he had fallen into a deep pit,
the sides of which were almost perpen-
dicular.

Even had he been in full strength, it
might have puzzled him to get out of the
pit. As it was, the least movement caused
him to scream with pain. Harry realized
that his left leg was broken, and that he
was injured about the head. q

Should no one come along, he might die
here.

It was a terrible thought, that of dying in
the woods alone, and the runaway boy’s lips
quivered.

Just then, through the dim mist of falling
tears, Harry caught the flutter of a paper:
He quickly brushed away the tears and pul
out his hand. His fingers closed about 4
narrow slip of paper, irregular in shape
since one corner had been scorched by fire.

There was writing on the paper, ana;
though somewhat dimmed through contact
with flame, Harry was able to make ov
figures amounting to two thousand, and @
the right-hand corner was the name °
Squire Barker Overton. :

And then flashed upon the mind of Harty
what he had overheard at the interview b&
tween his father and the squire. After?
time he called loudly for help. No one pe
swered. The minutes waxed into hours, 42
then Harry lost consciousness again, from
the pain and exposure. nis

When he again came to a knowledge of d
surroundings, he was lying on a straw be' 3
under the roof of Old Stinchall, the w0°
chopper, where he was destined to Pr
many days before he was again able to ™%

. it,
up and walk. Stinchall was an old her™
and seldom went to town. a

* * * * * + ae

“Tt is hard to lose the old home and ie
have in the world at my age,’’ bem08 re,
Farmer Fenstone in the presence of his we

‘It is wicked for Squire Overton +0 00°
mand pay a second time,’’ said Mrs- i
stone. ‘'You must go into court and_ 8”
that you paid the money, Jasper.. *
the law will not permit a man ite rob f
in the way the squire proposes?’ + ae

‘“My lawyer tells me rthat the snding
the receipt is my only chance for S# dent
returned the farmer, with a desP
groan.
‘And that cannot be found?’’ _ sti 2

it:

‘*No; I have hunted everywhere * oe
i

 

cannot make out what has been sau
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Overton, and so, without the receipt, the
farm must go.’?’

“‘T think I know what has become of
Jasper,’’ said his wife.

‘*You do, Susan?’’

“Yes. It was missed the night Harry ran
away. I believe he took it. It was his re-
venge for the flogging you gave him that
night.”’

“No, no, Susan, don’t say that!’’ cried
the farmer. ‘‘I did wrong to punish Harry
as I did. Isee my harshness now. If he
would only return, I would freely forgive
him and take him to my heart once more.
Harry was a good boy, nearly always. I
wonder what has become of him?’’

‘‘Depend upon it, he is a thief,’’ retorted
his wife, shortly.

And then the sound of wheels fell on the
ears of the twain. Looking through the
open door, they saw a dilapidated old cart
halt at the gate.

A man alighted, then lifted out a boy, the
latter leaning heavily on crutches, as they
came up the walk toward the house.

‘*Goodness!’’? exclaimed Mrs. Fenstone.
“Tt’s Old Stinchall. I don’t know the boy.
Wonder what the old fellow wants with us?’’

As the old man and his boy companion
approached the farm-house, Jasper Fenstone
uttered a glad ery, and sprang into the
path, snatching the emaciated, pale-faced
boy to his heart in loving embrace.

‘Thank Heaven! you have returned to
me, my son!’’ cried the old farmer, joy-
ously. Then he carried the lad into the big
front room, and seated him in the wide old
easy-chair.

Explanations followed thick and fast.

‘*T have been with Mr. Stinchall for two
weeks,’’? said Harry. ‘‘L shouldn’t have
come home so soon, not feeling able, but for
hearing that you, father, had a case in
court with Squire Overton about the mort-
gage he holds. I found this, which has been

it,

scorched by the fire, but which is readable |

A LOCOMOTIVE HERO;

OR,
| WITHIN AN INCH OF THEIR LIVES.

| Sale
| ELL, boys, if you-wish it, I’ tell
M\fo you the story. When I was a

“V~ youth of eighteen, and lived with
-?) my parents, I had a boyish ambi-
‘tion to become an engineer, although I had
been educated for loftier pursuits.

During my college vacation, I constantly
|lounged about the station, making friends
| with the officials, and especially with an
engineer named Silas Markley. I became
} much attached to this man, although he was
| forty years of age, and by no means a so-
| ciable fellow.
| He was my ideal of a brave, skillful,
| thoroughbred engineer, and I looked up to
| him as something of a hero. He was not a
married man, but lived alone with his old
|mother. I was a frequent visitor at their
house, and I think they both took quite a
| fancy to me in their quiet, undemonstrative
| way.

When this Markley’s fireman left him, I
induced him to let me take his place during
| the remainder of my vacation. He hesitated
| for some time before he consented to humor
my boyish whim; but he finally yielded, and
I was in great glee.

The fact was that, in my idleness and the
overworked state of my brain, I craved for
| the excitement, and, besides, I had such long-
| ing dreams of the fiery ride through the hills,
mounted literally on the iron horse. Sol
became an expert firéman, and liked it ex-
ceedingly; for the excitement more than
compensated for the rough work I was re-
quired to do.

But there came a time when I got my fill
of excitement. Mrs. Markley one day
formed a plan which seemed to give her a

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

yet.’ |good deal of happiness. It was her son’s

With feeble hand, Harry placed a piece of | birthday, and she wanted to go down to
scorched paper in the hand of the old| Philadelphia in the train without letting
farmer, which proved to be the lost receipt | him know anything about it, and there pur-
he, Fenstone, had received from the squire | chase a present for him. She took me into
for the money paid canceling the mortgage. | her confidence, and asked me to assist her.

And then the old wood-chopper told of|I arranged the preliminaries, got her into
seeing the squire pick up a paper soon after | the train without being noticed by Markley,

ns
betor,

Fenstone’s meeting with him on the edge of
the woods. The hermit saw him toss the
paper, which must have been the receipt,

into a fire, in which some underbrush was |

burning. The wind must have blown the
Paper, only partially scorched, away from
the fire, thus saving it for Harry’s finding
When he fell into! the pit in the woods.
erie ae

NEATLY TURNED.

 

 

When he was a young man, Bismarck was
Or some time an official reporter for one of
18 courts of justice. In those days his
€mper, sometimes got the better of him, but
Upon one occasion, at least, his wit, saved
4m from disgrace. This was, when ques-
tioning a witness, the latter made an im-
Pudent retort, whereupon Bismarck ex-
Claimed, angrily:
.‘If you are not more respectful, I shall
kick you out of the room.”’

. ‘Young man,’’ said the judge, interrupt-
ing the proceedings, ‘‘I would have you
“nderstand that this is a dignified court of
dUStice, and that if there is any kicking tc

© done the court will do it.’’
. Ah, you see,’’ said Bismarck to the wit-
te ‘Gf you are not more respectful to me,
® court will kick you out of the room. Sc

© careful, very careful, sir.’’
Oe
ANECDOUE OF QUEEN VICTORIA.

a > itil
8 extremely affable, and even deigning to

84 heartily at some of his storiés. One
J he said to her:
Madame, I was a born thief.’’

tha. , thief, Mr, Gibson?’’ exclaimed her
testy.

8, madame; for, when a child, I stole
wip ?PPle from the stall of an old woman
Ont , 2%, wooden leg. My mother found me
beg took me back to the old woman, and
wheed her to beat me with her crutch,

attee she did lustily. I never stole anything
€f that,”

se
of et replied her majesty, ‘‘a great deal
8pple so was brought into the world by the
————_ > + > ———_
HOW HE LOST HER.

G
DargoTBe—‘ have been invited to a flower |
ac

fl, 4t the Pinkies. What under the sun is
Jach party?’ a
Seag,.°—‘‘That’s one of the new notions this
me y is a novel form of birthday
; Uduet wach guest must send Miss Pinkie a
* Years containing as many flowers as she
tH old, and the flowers must. have a
fore &:, Study the language of flowers
Ploriggnning.””
fXtleme S Boy (a few hours later)—‘‘A
n left an order for twenty of these

Wer:
"rq; '© be sent to the Pinkies with his

Aq lorist ‘

sight He’s one of my best customers.

or ten more for good measure. ’?

Gibson, the sculptor, described the queen |

  

| who, of course, was busy with his engine.

The old lady was in high glee over the bit
of innocent deception she was practicing on
her son. She enjoined me again not to tell
Silas, and then I left her and took my place.

It was a mid-summer day, and the weather
was delightful.

The train was one which stopped at the
principal stations on the route. On this oc-
casion, as there were two specials on the
line, it was run by telegraph—that is, the
engineer has simply to obey the instructions
which he receives at each station, so that he
is put as a machine in the hands of one con-
troller, who directs all trains from a central
point, and thus has the whole line under his
eye. If the engineer does not obey to the
least tittle his orders, it is destruction to the
whole.

Well, we started without mishap, and up
to time, and easily reached the first station
in the time allotted tous. As we stopped
there, a boy ran alongside with the tele-
gram, which he handed to the engineer. The
next moment I heard a smothered exclama-
tion from Markley.

‘“Go back,’ he said to the boy; ‘‘tell
Williams to have the message repeated;
there’s a mistake.’’

The boy dashed off; ina few minutes he
| came flying back.

‘*Had it repeated,’’ he panted. ‘*Williams
is storming at you; says there’s no mistake,
and you’d best get on.’’

He thrust the second message up as he
spoke.

Markley fread it, and stood hesitating for
| half a minute.
| There was dismay and utter perplexity in
| the expression of his face as he looked at the
| telegram and the long train behind him.

His lips moved as if he were calculating
| chances, and his eyes suddenly quailed as if
| he saw death at the end of the calculation.
| I was watching him with considerable curi-
osity. I ventured to ask him what was the
matter, and what he was going to do.

‘I’m going to obey,’’ he said, curtly.

The engine gave a long shriek of horror
that made me start as if it were Markley’s

own voice. The next instant we slipped out
| of the station and dashed through low-lying
farms at a speed which seemed dangerous to
me.

‘*Put in more coal,’’ said Markley.

I shoveled in more, but took time.

‘“We are going very fast, Markley.’’

He did not answer. His eyes were fixed on
the steam-gauge, his lips close shut.

‘*More coal,’’ he said.

I threw it in. The fields and houses began
to fly past half-seen. We were nearing Du-
freme, the next station. Markley’s eyes
went from the gauge to the face of | the
time-piece and back, He moved like an au-
tomaton. There was little more meaning in
his face.

‘*More!’’ he said, without turning his eye.

I took up the shovel—hesitated.

‘*Markley, do you know you are going at
the rate of sixty miles an hour???’

‘Coal !?
I was alarmed at the stern, cold rigidity

 

 

  

NEWS.

206i

 

of the man. His pallor was becoming fright-
ful. I threw in the coal. At least we must
stop at Dufreme. That was the next halt.
The little town was approaching. As the
first house came into view the engine sent
its shrieks of warning; it grew louder—still
louder.

We dashed over the switches, up to the sta-
tion, where a group of passengers waited,
and passed it without the halt of an instant,
catching a glimpse of the appalled faces and
the waiting crowd. Then we were in the
fields again. The speed now became literally
breathless, the furnace glared red hot. The
heat, the velocity, the terrible nervous
strain of the man beside me seemed to
weight the air. I found myself drawing
long, stertorous breaths, like one drowning.

I heaped in the coal at intervals as he
bade me. I did it because I was oppressed
by an odd sense of duty which I never had
in my ordinary brain-work. Since then I
have understood how it is that dull, igno-
rant men, without a spark of enthusiasm,
show such heroism as soldiers, firemen, and
vere of wrecked vessels.

t is this overpowering sense of routine
duty. It’s a finer thing than sheer bravery,
in my idea. However, I began to think: that
Markley was mad—laboring under some
frenzy from drink, though I had never seen
him touch liquor.

He didjnot move. hand or foot, except in
the mechanical control of his engine, his
eyes going from the gauge to the time-piece
with a steadiness that was more terrible and
threatening than any gleam of insanity
would have been. Once he glared back at
the long train sweeping after the engine
with a headlong speed that rocked it from
side to side.

One could imagine he saw a hundred men
and women in the cars, talking, reading,
smoking, unconscious that their lives were
all in the hold of one man, whom I now
suspected to be mad. I knew by his look
that he remembered that their lives were in
his hand. He glanced at the clock.

‘““Twenty miles,’’ he muttered. ‘‘Throw
on more coal, Jack; the fire is going out.’’

I did it. Yes, I did it. There was some-
thing in the face of that man I could not
resist. Then I climbed forward and shook
him roughly by the shoulder.

‘‘Markley,’’ I shouted, ‘‘you are running
this train into the jaws of death!’

‘*T know it,’’ he replied, quietly.

‘Your mother is on board.”’

“Heavens !’?

He staggered to his feet. But even then
he did not remove his eyes from the gauge.

‘‘Make up the fire,’? he commanded, and
pushed in the throttle valve.

**T will not.”’

‘‘Make up the fire, Jack,’’ very quietly.

‘*T will not. You may kill yourself and
your mother, but you shall not murder me!’’

He looked at me. His kindly gray eyes
glared like those of a wild beast, but he con-
trolled himself in a moment.

“‘T could throw you off this engine, and
make short work of you,’’ he said. ‘‘But,
look here, do you see the station yonder?’’

I saw a faint streak in the sky about five
miles ahead.

“JT was told to reach that station by six
o’clock,’’ hé continued. ‘‘The express train
meeting us is due now. I ought to have laid
by for it at Dufreme. I was told to come
on. The track is a single one. Unless I can
make the siding at the station in three min-
utes,' we shall meet it in yonder hollow.’’

‘*Somebody’s blunder?’’ TI said.

‘*Yes, I think so.”’

I said nothing. I threw on'coal. If I had
had petroleum, I should have thrown it on;
but I never was calmer in my life. When
death actually stares a man in the face, it
often frightens him into the most perfect
composure. Markley pushed the valve still
farther. The engine began to give a strange
panting sound. Far off to the south 1 could
see the dense black smoke of a train. I
looked at Markley inquiringly. He nodded.
It was the express. I stooped to the fire.

‘No more,’’ he said.

I looked across the clear summer sky at
the gray smoke of the peaceful little village,
and beyond that at a black line coming
closer, closer, across the sky.
to the watch. In one minute more—well, I
confess I sat down and buried my face in
my hands. I don’t think I tried to pray. I
had a confused thought of mangled, dying
men and women—mothers and their babies.

There was a terrible shriek from the en-
girie, against which I leaned, another in my
face. A hot, hissing tempest swept past me.
I looked up. We were on the siding, and the
express had gone by. It grazed our end car
in passing. In a sort of delirious joy, I
sprang up and shouted to Markley. He did
not speak. He sat there immovable and cold
as astone. I went to the train and brought
his mother to him, and, when he opened his
eyes and took the old lady’s hand in his, I
turned hastily sve

Yes, gentlemen, I have been in many a
railway accident, but I have always con-
sidered that the closest shave I ever had.

What was the blunder?

I don’t know; Markley made light of it
ever afterward, and kept it a secret; but no
; man on the line stood so high in the confi-
‘dence of the company after that as he. By
his coolness and nerve he had saved a hun-
dred lives.

 

 

Then I turned’

 

THE BUSHRANGER’S LEGACY.

AN AUSTRALIAN STORY.

BY J. M.

so

X47 HEN Mr. Anderson announced his

. intention of selling out his busi-
~\Y~ ness in Sydney, New South Wales,

-e) and trying his fortune, at sheep
farming on the Goulbourn River, beyond
the Blue Mountains, where some time pre-
viously he had acquired an extensive ‘‘selec-
tion’’ of suitable land, Douglas, his eldest
son, a sturdy boy of sixteen, could hardly
contain himself for delight.

The change promised him the fulfillment
of his fondest dreams. It meant unlimited
horse-back riding, the hunting of kangaroos
and jack-rabbits to his heart’s content, and
all the other exciting incidents of that free,
out-of-door existence which was so different
from the restraint and monotony of city
life.

So pleased, indeed, was he at this prospect
that he quite failed to take into account all
that the change meant—the separation from
his companions, the giving up of school, and
the loneliness of long hours spent in watch-
ing the sheep not yet at home upon their
runs.

The realization of this came to him before
he had been many months upon the farm,
and made him for a time wish himself back
in Sydney; but, being a brave, resolute lad,
he presently shook it off, and applied him-
self with all the greater diligence to helping
his father, who more than once said to him
in warm appreciation of his services:

‘““You’re a good boy, Douglas, and a won-
derful help to me, and if only the drought
doesn’t come for a couple of years, at the
rate the sheep are doing, we’ll make a pot
of money on this venture, and then, my lad,
we'll pay Sydney a visit, and see all our
friends there. You’ll like that, won’t you?”’

If only the drought did not come! Ah!
that drought! What a terror it is to the
Australian squatter! The long spells when
nothing can be done by young or old; when
there is no work in field or garden, and the
men can sit at home in idleness, or go out
and watch the grass withering, and the water
drying up, and the stock dying by inches
before their eyes; when the ground under-
foot is like heated iron, and the sky over-
head like burnished brass!

Douglas knew nothing of it except what
he had heard from others, but that was
enough to make him hope that it would be a
long day before the drought did come.

‘‘Oh, the drought’s not going to bother
us, father,’’? said he, in his light-hearted
way. ‘‘We’ll have all the rain we want
here.’’

‘*Don’t be too sure, my boy,’’ responded
Mr. Anderson. *‘We’ve got a good location,
I know, but there’s no telling what may
happen.’

In spite of Douglas’ faith in a better for-
tune, the dreaded drought did come the
second summer after they settled upon the
farm, and with an intensity that turned the
place into a kind of purgatory. The river
shrank within its banks until it finally dis-
appeared altogether, and the wells yielded
barely sufficient water for the needs of the
family, leaving none for the sheep, that
soon began to die of hunger and thirst.

It was a most pitiful sight to see the poor
animals panting out their lives beneath the
merciless rays of the glowing sun, and every
day deepened Douglas’ longing to be back
in Sydney, where there were no droughts to
speak of, and such as there were did not
matter very seriously.

‘*Oh, father!’? he exclaimed one day,
after the two had came back from a fruit-
less ride over the range in quest of a water-
hole, ‘‘why do we stay here any longer?
Why don’t we go back to Sydney?’’ \

‘Because this is the only home we have
now, Douglas,’’ replied the father, sadly.
‘*What would we do if we went back? I sold
my business, and could not begin again
without capital. All I have in the world I
put into this farm, and if the drought keeps
on much longer I shall be utterly ruined.’’

Douglas said nothing more, but he did a
lot of thinking during the next few hours.
If his father were utterly ruined, what
would become of his mother and the rest of
the family? Would they have to starve like
the poor sheep out on the runs? The very
idea of the thing made him shudder. Yet
ae could he do to prevent such a calani-
ity? ,

Suddenly there flashed into his
story that Dick Marston,.a sheep shearer,
had told him last shearing time about a
bushranger nicknamed Thunderbolt, because
of his startling appearances and disappear-
ances, who had robbed ever so many mail-
coaches, and who was supposed to have
stored away the greater part of his plunder
in the caves where he used to hide.

One of these caves was said to be situated
in a spur of the Blue Mountains that
bounded Mr. Anderson’s farm to the east,
and Douglas had more than once, since hear-
ing Marston’s story, entertained the notion
of going off. in search of it just for the sake
of seeing ‘the place which had been the
famous bushranger’s haunt.

But something had always come in to turn

OXLEY.

vf)

mind a

  
   
   
   
   
 
  
 
    
 
  
 
  
 
 
   
  
  
  
 
     
   
 
 
    
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
   
  
  
 
  
   
 

 

 

 

    
  
  
  
  
 
 

  
 
    
 
 
  
 
 
   
   
  
  
  
  
     
 
 
   
  
 
 
  
  
  
   
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
   
 
  
   
  
 
  
   
  
  
    
     
   
 
  
 
  
  
  
   
   
   
     

 

 

 

    
      
      
    
    
  
   
  
 
  
 
  
   
   
 
  
  
    
  
    
    
 
  
   
  
   
   
 
 
  
 
   
  
   
 
 
    
   
  
  
     
 
 
   
  
 
  
   
   
   
   
    
 
 
   
   
   
    
    
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
 
    
 
   
     
   
   
   
      
 
 
    
    
        
   
    
  
  
    
   
    
 
   
  
   
  
   
 
   
 
   
      
    
  
   
  
   
   
  
    
    
     
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

4062

his attention elsewhere, and the’ cave had
remained unfound. Now, however, the
thought of it took strong hold upon his
mind.

“‘T won’t say a word to anybody,’’) said
he, to himself, ‘‘for fear it’?ll amount to
nothing. But 1’ll just slip off by myself and
try my luck, and if I find nothing no one
will be the wiser.’’

He was a boy that thoroughly under-
stood how to look after himself, and it was
easy for him to get away from home for a
couple of days simply by saying, what was
true enough, that he intended to try and
find a water-hole, as he did mean to keep a
sharp'‘eye open for anything of the kind.

So one morning in September he mounted
the only horse still fit for use, called up
Oscar, the best of the collie dogs, and rode
off toward the mountains. He had a good
rifle and lots of ammunition, a big blanket
rolled around enough bacon, bread, sugar
and tea to last him for three days, a tin can
to brew the tea in, and a pan to fry the
bacon.

‘‘Take good care of yourself, my lad,’’
was Mr. Anderson’s parting injunction,
‘tand don’t stay any longer than the third
day.’’ :

‘fAll right, father, I’ll be back by then,’’
responded Douglas.

There was a sort of suppressed excitement
in the boy’s manner that made his father
wonder if water could. be the sole object of
the expedition, but he did not press for
fuller explanations. Douglas generally liked
to keep his own counsel, and Mr. Anderson
allowed him to do so, having perfect confi-
dence that he would do only what was right,
and would in due time give a full and frank
account of what he had been about.

For the first few miles it was easy riding,
but once he passed beyond the level ground
and began the ascent of the hills, the horse’s
pace fell to a slow walk, and Douglas had
plenty of time for thinking.

“TI suppose it’s only a wild-goose chase
I’m on,’’ he solilioquized, ‘‘but there’s no
telling. I might find Thunderbolt’s cave,
and light on some of the money they say he
hid. If I do, and no owner turns up, why,
it’ll be mine, of course, and I’ll let father
have it.”’

All that day he kept resolutely on, follow-
ing the track that grew fainter and fainter
the farther he pushed into the hills, until at
last, just before sunset, he reached a kind
of table land covered with coarse, thick
grass not yet burned up, as it was in the
plains below, and here he decided to camp
for the night.

The track he had been following up, and
which he had stuck to, because, for some
reason not quite clear to himself, he hoped it
would lead him to the object of his search,
seemed to end here;\and reluctantly con-
fessing defeat, he determined to return upon
it in the morning.

That night, alone in the midst of the hills,
was-one never to be forgotten by him. In
spite of the company of the horse and dog,
he felt desperately lonely, and so nervous
that for a long time he could not close his
eyes.

With the return of sunshine, however, and
after the disposal of a hearty breakfast, the
adventurous boy felt in much better spirits.

“Tm going to have a good ‘look around
here before I leave,’’ said he to himself. ‘‘It
seems just the sort of place for a bushranger
to come when he wanted to lie low, doesn’t
it, Oscar?’?’

The big bright eyes of the collie gave him
assent: so, having made sure that the horse
was properly hobbled, and could find enough
grass, such as it was, to keep him occupied
for some time, Douglas set off, carrying his
rifle, and having in his pocket enough food
to do for lunch.

It was the wildest, roughest place he had
ever seen in his life. There were bowlders
to be scrambled over, gullies to be crossed,
and caves to be explored. Were it not for
the latter, he would have given up his quest
at the end of the first hour.

But the possibility of one of these caves
proving to be Thunderbolt’s haunt sustained
his ardor until, one after another, they were
found to show no signs of human habitation,
and, as the shadows began to point east-
ward, the spirit went out with him, and he
said, despondingly :

‘*Tt’s no use; I’ve come on a fool’s errand,
after all, and it’s precious glad I am I kept
it to myself. There’ll bea nobody to laugh at

 

 

 

me, anyway.’’

Just then Oscar gave a sharp, excited
bark, and dashed off in chase of a bird he had
started up. Glad of the diversion, Douglas
followed in hot pursuit for some hundred
yards, when he was startled to see the bird
and dog utterly disappear as though the
earth had swallowed them up.

On reaching the spot he found himself at
the farther end of the table land, where it

,suddenly broke away into a fearful chasm

that looked like the end of the world. Be-
fore him was a dark, dreadful drop into a
kind of valley below, of which the bottom
could not be seen.

The trees on the mountain side seemed
mere bushes, and a bowlder that he shoved
over the brink went rolling and crashing
down into the depths, tearing its way
through scrub jand heath at a rate that
showed how sharp was the descent.

But where were Oscar and the bird? For

 

|

 

GoowD

a moment Douglas was puzzled. Then his
eye fell on the semblance of a path to his
right leading into a gully, which grew
deeper and deeper, until it disappeared be
tween high walls of rock. At the same in-
stant Oscar’s quick bark came - back to him,
as though to say:

‘*Come on—the road’s clear.’’

Douglas’ disappointment had made him
reckless, and, without stopping to take
thought, he sprang down the path and into
the gully, determined to follow the collie’s
lead. Down—down—he went until the walls
of rock were high above his head, and there
was hardly sufficient light to place his steps.

Then, just as the gully became little more

 

| than a tunnel, it began to widen again, and

presently, to the boy’s vast relief, opened
out into a bit of level ground covered with
short, dense grass, through which the track
of the animal was plainly visible.

Following this up, Douglas came face to
face with the entrance to a cave, which was
partially concealed by a thick bush, and
into whose depths the bird and dog had no
doubt disappeared.

At once the thought sprang into his mind:

‘“‘Maybe this is the very cave I’ve been
hunting tor. I’ll take a good look at it, any
way.’’

Pushing through the branches, he entered
a large cavity in the rock, the floor of which
was dry and smooth, and the walls clean
and white-looking, while the roof ‘was well
blackened by the smoke of many fires, show-
ing that the place had once been a human
abode.

His heart thrilled with hope.

‘‘This must surely be the cave,’’ he said
to himself.

Fortunately, he had a lot of matches in his
pocket, and gathering a handful of dry
branches he made a_ torch which lit up the
farther recesses of the cave. It was a big
place, and would stand a lot of exploring,
but how could that be done when the day
was so near its close?

Douglas had gone too far to halt now. He}

would stay all night in the cave, and pry
into every nook and cranny before morning.
This resolution arrived at, he hastened to
heap together the dry branches, of which
there were plenty near by, and soon had a
fine fire blazing away that was very cheer-
ing.

While he was at this, Oscar appeared,
triumphantly carrying the bird, and laid it
down beside the fire.

‘*Good dog!’’ exclaimed Douglas. ‘‘We’ll
make our supper off him, won’t we?’?

Dexterously skinning the creature, he
toasted the choice morsels for himself, and
let the dog have the rest. Then, feeling
much refreshed, he set about the examina-
tion of the cave by means of a lighted brand.

Patiently and thoroughly he worked away,
exploring every nook and cranny revealed
by his blazing torch, which showed any
promise of being a place of concealment,
but without encouragement, until at last, in
despair, he returned to the fire, and threw
himself down, exclaiming:

‘‘Pah! nothing but a wild-goose chase,
after all.’’

As he lay there mentally berating himself
for his futile enterprise, he happened to cast
his eye up toward the roof of the cave in a
direction he had not looked before, and he
thought he caught the sparkle of something
stowed away there.

Instantly he sprang to his feet, his heart
once more aflame with hope. The spot was
hard to reach, but, at the cost of scraped
knuckles and barked shins, he succeeded in
getting hold of the shining object, which
proved to be a stout black bottle, into whose
neck was fitted a thick wooden plug instead
of a cork.

So tightly had this been driven in that it
defied all Douglas’ attempts to remove it,
and, at length, growing impatient, he broke
the neck upon a stone. Its contents consisted
of a small bundle of papers, which, on being
unrolled;proved to be, not bank-notes as
Douglas had hoped, but a map or plan of
some kind, and some pages of notes and de-
scriptions.

“Sold again!’’ he cried, and in his chagrin
he was about to throw the papers in the fire,
when, assa second thought, he decided to
take them home to his father. ‘‘He may
make something out of them,’’ he said to
himself, ina tone that implied it was very
doubtful, however.

Then, pillowing his head on Oscar’s back,
he fell asleep, and did not wake until broad
daylight.

Setting forth at once, he hastened home-
ward, arriving at the farm just as his
father, becoming anxious, was about to
start out in search of him.

That evening they studied the papers to-
gether, and great was Douglas’ delight when
his father announced that the find was far
better than if it had been any of Thunder-
bolt’s ill-gotten hoards, for/it was a clear
and complete description of a valuable gold
deposit discovered by some unknown pros-
pector in the very hills where the cave was
situated. That the poor prospector had never
benefited by his discovery was manifest to
all, and now, by a happy chance, Mr.
Anderson was to reap where he had not
sown.

Without delay the place was identified,
and the claim taken up. Gold was found in
paying profusion, and ere long, from being

 

 

NEWS.

 

fan almost bankrupt farmer, Mr. Anderson
| become one of the wealthiest men of the dis-
| trict.

| As seemed only just, he made Douglas his
|partner in the gold-mining business, and
every member of the family had good reason
ito bless the day when the boy went so
| bravely forth to find Thunderbolt’s hidden |
| treasure.

 

: << ——————

AMON G

Prax, Loy GX
Goon N iC
a NEWS i4LUBS.
| te yy
|
PECIAL NOTICE.—This column is for GOOD
| NEWS Clubs only. No notices will be inserted
| oxcepting such as are genuine GooD NEWS Club
notices, and nothing in the shape of an advertise. |
| ment will be allowed. Every club notice should |
have the names of the pr > ;
the club attached. For rning
GOOD NEws Club Badge and Electrotypes see ad-
vertisement on last page. |

| i

 

 

  

 

| GOOD NEWS Monumental Young People’s Society
}of Baltimore, Md., extends a cordial welcome
| to all readers of GOOD NrEws, and would be pleased
| to have them join. Baltimore young ladies and
| gentlemen who would like to join this.club are re-
| quested to call and see the secretary at his resi-
dence, 350 North Calvert street, and he will furnish
full particulars. We want 25 more members so as
| to issue a new list, and to obtain them we are offer:
ing extrainducements. Here isasample: Send in
three new members and receive 100 different papers,
or be admitted free; for five new members you re~
ceive 500 guinmed labels with your name and aid
dress on and name in agents’ directory one year
Corresponding department—Initiation fee only 15
cents for resident, and 12 cents for non-resident
members. Nodues. Ladies, 2 cents. All foreign-
ers (except Canadians) admitted free. Handsome
card of membership, list of 4 and 8 pages, bundle of
reading matter and full particulars to all joining.
Reading department—Admission fee only 10 cents;
dues, 10 cents monthly, in advance. When joining
you receive all that is offered in corresponding de-
partment and 30 different papers, and 30 every
month. You don’t have to send them back. We
have members in Ireland, England, British Guiana,
New Zealand, Bahama Isles, Hungary, Scotland,
Belgium, France, Germany, Panama. Nova Scotia,
Japan, Cuba and all parts of the United States.

 

 

 

 

  

| may desire,

  

 

| G. Kdward Harrison, secretary, room 708, Fidelity

The Brooklyn strike! What about it? Why,
| join and correspond with our Brooklyn members, who
will tell you all about it. We are as progre
any club in the organization. 'To show you this is
we are giving, besides our constitution and bj
membership card and lists, etc., ten Goop N¥
dress cards to all who join. The initiation fee
10 cents; no dues for boys. Ladies and foreigners, who
are especially invited to join, will be admitted for a 2c
stamp. ‘The first one joining from a State or country
where we have no members will be appointed repre-
sentative. Come, ye readers of the “King of Boys’
Weeklies,”’ this is tk shance you have been waiting
for; take advante fitand join at once. We have
just elected the following new officers: R. Bush, pres
dent; C. Robinson vice-president; W. J. Sorrow, se
retary. All who wish to join send the required fee at
once to the secretary so as to have his or her name on
our new membership list about to be printed. Write
to the secretary, W. J. Sorrow, 91 Moulton street,
Watertown, N. Y.

Attention, gi
read it through ¢

 

 
  
  

 

 

 

    

 
 
   

 
  

 

  
 

and boys! Do not overlook this, but
arefully. We have decided to change
the name of the Goop Nrws Corresponding and Ex-
change Club of Rochester, N, Y., to the Goop NErws
Stars and Stripes Corresponding and Exehange Club
of Rochester, N. Y. Every true American ought to
join this club, We have also decided to issue a club
paper entitled 7’he Golden Recorder twice a month.
| In this paper we shall print the following department
Club notices, puzzle, list of members, exchange, odds
and ends, jokes, voting contests, ete. This paper can-
not help but please every one of the members. The
paper will be sent to all the members every two weeks
if dues are kept paid. Join atonce. President, Harry
C. Wilcox. Initiation fee, only 5 cents this week; dues
5 cents monthly, to be paid in advance; ladies free.
Address all letters to Allen C. Hateh, secretary, 211
Monroe avenue, Rochester, N. Y.

Are you a member of the Goop News American
Corresponding and Stamp:-Club? If you are not, you
should be. Everybody joining from Texas, California

   

 

 

 

 

| Building. |

 

tion of the club. Address S. Delmouly, president, box
178, Lake Charles, La. Inclose stamp for answer.

Golden West Goop News Corresponding Club of
San Francisco, Cal. What do we want? We want
members for our new list to be issued soon. We do not
intend to make anything on the members, as the in-
itiation fee goes for supplies for the club. All we ask
is 10 cents to cove 2x and there are no dues,
When joining you receive a package of ¢ is with
your name neatly printed upon them, beautiful card
of membership, list of members, novels and numerous

     

  

    

 

other things. The tenth one joining will receive a
handsome present. Willie Reardon, president; Julius
Wolff, secretary. Foreigners admitted fi ladies a

 
 
 

2c stamp. Address the secretary at once, 40244 Grove
street, San Francisco, Cal.

Look 00D NEws Musical Club of Anita, Iowa, is
pushing right to the front. We have lots of nice corre-
spondents, some good exchanges and a good library.
Do we publish a paper? Well, I should smile. Push,
a queer name, isitrot! Itis a queer paper, but you
will receive it free three months if you but join our
club. How about exchanges? We give exchange no-

     
   
 

| tices free to those who join our exchange department.

Initiation fee only 10 cents. You get the paper, Push,
for three months and a bundle of reading matter each
month, a list of our correspondents and a neat member-
ship card. No dues unless you wish to join library or
exchange ‘department. C. J. McKinley, secretary,
Anita, Lowa,

The Columbian Corresponding Club of St. Louis,
Mo., wants 100 new members. Every tenth person will
be admitted free of initiation. Our new lists and rules
will be printed within the next month, so join at once
in order that your name appears on the li Upon
joining you will receive our handsome certificate, copy
of rules and list after they have been printed. Initia-
tion fee, 10 cents. Dues 1 be paid annually, 50 cents;
semi-annually, 30 cents; or quarterly, 15 cents, as you
Representatives wanted ever

  

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

her
Secretaries of other clubs will be admitted free of in
tion; ladies also free. For further particulars address
the secretary, Edward F. Suhre, 2310 South Twelfth
Street.

Join the Goop News Selt-Culture Society of St.
Louis, Mo. Resident membership limited to 20 young
ladies and 20 young men. Non-resident membership
limited to We have 65 members, so if you desire
to join do so at once. This society contemplates issu-
ing a club paper by spring, which will be sent to all
membe Lists will\be issued in March. No fees or
dues at present for resident member Admission fee
for non-resident members, 12 cents; dues 20 cents per
year, payable semi-annually in advance. Resident
parties desiring to join please call on|Mr. Oscar C, A.
Morgner, secretary, either at 1919 Congress street, or
room 204 Odd Fellows Hall.

You haven’t heard about the Golden Gate Club?
Well, you’re notin it. The Golden Gate Goop Nnws
Club is one of the largest in the United States. Ini
tion fee, 10 cents; no dues. Ladies and fo:
List of members to all joining. Members in all parts
of the world. Don’t fail, but take advantage of this
offer, as it is a chance ofa lifetime. So why not send
in your i ation fee and receive our extensive mem-
bership lis! The initiation fee is so small that it is
within the reach of all. Souvenir of the Japan and
China war sent to all joining within ten days. George
A. Dolan, secretary, 731, Harrison street, San Fran-
cisco, Cal.

Notice.—The title of the Goop News Literary So-
ciety has been changed to the Goop Nrws Unive:
Stamp Club. All joining will receive a neat member-
ship card, list of members, bundle of reading matt
and a sheet o varieties of foreign stamps. New lis
of members will be published every three months.
Look out for our club notices, as we intend to add
some new features in the near future. All foreigners,
except Canadians, admitted free. The admission fee
is 10 cents in silver; no dues. Address Benj. A. Wil-
son, 27 Fay street, Chicago, Tl.

Well, boys! now isthe time to join a good club.
The GOOD NEWS Reading Club of Rankin, Pa., i8
one of the best.. Why not join it? The object of
this club is tosupply its members with good and np-
right reading matter, Every one joining the club
this week will Dé admitted for 5 cents in 1¢ stamps.
A handsome membership card, a neat two-page
printed list of members and 2 fine novels given t@
all joining. Ladies free. No dues. Address the
secretary. J... Crom, secretary, Rankin, Pa.

   
 

 

  
 

 

   
  
 

 

 
  

       

 

 

 
  
  
 

 

 

   

 

   

     

   

Liberty and freedom! ‘You have bothif you join the
Goop News Liberty Corresponding and Exchangé
Club of Wilton, Conn. This club has lots of ladies and
gentlemen that desire to correspond with you. we
have prize contests and other up-to-date things. Upo?
joining you will receive our fine card of membership:
list of members, exchange list, six all different foreig?
stamps and numerous other things. Initiation fee,
cents; ladies free. Address the secretary, E. S. Ben@
dict, Wilton, Conn.

The Goon NE Stamp and Exchange Club of
Paducah, Ky., has been organized with the following

 

 

 

 

or New York will be admitted for two 2c stamps, and
the first person joining from Mexico or Canada will be
given two.novels. The first person joining from
Alaska will be made representative and presented
with three novels. Join, as you may be one of the
lucky ones. The officers are: C. H. Noyes, secretary
and president; Will Gilldan, vice-presiden David
Pratt, assistant secretary; S. S. Goshen, Western repre-
sentative; J. E. Woodruff, 1 representative, and
J. KE. Fisher, Western business manager. Initiation
fee, 10 cents; ladies admitted for a 2c stamp; no dues.
Address the secretary, box 20, Newport, Vt.

Aré you looking for correspondents? Have you
goods you would like to exchange? If so, you would
do well to join the Goop News Corresponding and
Exchange Club of Duluth, Minn, This club has three
departments, namely: correspondence, exchange anc
prize. Weare having a prize contest now.. The

 

  

 

 

 

         

   

 
 

 

s
person joining from each State will be appoMted rep-
resentative of that State. We are having a new list
printed, so join now and have yourname in it. Alljoin-
ing this week will receive membership card, member-

 

ship list, exchange list, 10 stamps, 1 trick, ete. Initia-
tion fee, 10 cents; ladies 2 cents; foreigners admitted
free. Address all communications to the secretary
and president, Wm. G. Campbell, 205 South Seven-
teenth avenue, Kast Duluth, Minn.

Now is the time to join our eclub—the Union Corre-
sponding Club of Braddock, Pa. A handsome mem-
bership card and list 6f members to every one joining.
We offer great inducements to representatives to se-
cure members. To every fifth one joining next week
we will give a handsome present, to every tenth one a
pair of genuine gold cuff buttons. We issue a new list
every two months. We will soon be prepared to issue
one every month. Join immediately and be appointed
representative for your district. Ladies who send
their address on a postal card will be admitted free,
This offer positively holds good only one more week.
Gents 10 cents in silver; no dues. Address the corre-
sponding secretary, H. Charles Black, 314 Belle ave-
nue, Braddock, Pa,

The Goop News Free Reading Club gives to each
and every member $6 worth of reading matter free,
consisting of the best works by the best living authors.
We give our members only first-class reading matter.
We have already, since our last notice, received ap-
plications for memembership in our club from Louisi-
ana, Tex Maine, Pennsylvania, New York and
Mississippi. We are the only club having made such
a liberal offer. So take advantage of it. Six) dollars’
worth of reading matter free. Initiation fee, 20 cents;
dues, 5 cents per month in advance. Every member
is furnished with a membership card and the constitu-

   

 

 

 

   

 

offic : Ferd Wetherington, president; Ed Long, 8¢
retary, and George Crumbough, treasurer, All joining
will receive a packet of stamps and membership cat
Admission fee only 10 cents; no dues. Correspondeng
monthly, The first one joining from each State W

| be appointed representativ Address the preside?
Ferd Wetherington, 722 Harrison street.

Attention, one and all! Don’t by any means miss
reading this notice, and don’t fail under any conside
ation to secure such a chance! You, who are readin8
this, can become a member of the Goop News B oD
ing Club, and by so doing receive books by SY rt
authors as Horatio Alger, Frank Converse, Arthyy
Lee Putnam and William Murray Graydon. Tnitiatig
fee, 20 cents; no dues, Address Ernest EY Brenem@™
secretary, box 795, Marion, Iowa. 2

The Goop News Star Corresponding Club of SA
Francisco, Cal., makes a special offer this week 1 yes
tain more members. This club wants representat! to
in all parts of the globe, so join now and be elected
that position in your city. We will give the follow
to all persons joining: One set of Chili telest# vo
stamps, catalogued at $1.25; list and certificate. ary?
| dues. Initiation fee, 25 cents. Geo. Mills, secret!”
437 Natonia street. ol

The Goop News Corresponding Club of Clint
Mo., is a new club which is going to be a success. |r:
the first member joining this club we will give # win
plete comic song book, to the fifteenth a set of ae a
utensils, to the thirty-fifth a scroll saw. Every ntbly
ber will receive a badge and a paper issued mort a
by the club. Initiation fee, 10 cents; dues 5 Cqin
month. Address the secretary, Arthur D. Orem,
ton, Mo. : -osser™

All readers are invited to join the Kayades pul

fi
Goop NEws Club of Ballston Spa, N. Y. «| euiten
ham, pre: ren wi
Thi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

dent; Buel Moore, secretary and 0 we W
his is a new club, and to.get more members ¥ 1 wht

the Amateur Standard free six months t0 oe wi
join. The initiation fee is only 10 cents, and # a sec
be no dues. Address all communications to t
tary, Buel Moore, box 861.

Join, join, join the Goop News Star © of
Club, for we are humming. Our object is corre ol
ence, friendship and pleasure. You had ie iw
us, for we are a happy, merry and frien¢ Y os oe
Our initiation fee is 10 cents; ladies, forelgr the vor
officers of other clubs admitted free. Ade EO est!
retary, Ralph W. Murphy, 3 Richard Court,
ie: Xs

 

 

CorresPor ind:

 

 

 

 

ol
The Goop News Puzzle Club of West, Harv ity 185
‘ 100 members by May ist. The object of ar on
make puzzles and send them to papers a0!

 

 

 

 

            

 

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Every one joining gets a 5c novel, every 10 getsa
cloth-bound book. Initiation fee, two 2c stamps; no
dues. Joe Kitchen, president; Peter Heintz, secretary;
Tom Smith, treasurer. Address Peter Heintz, Har-
vey, Ill.

Goop News Excelsior Corresponding Club of St.
Louis, Mo. Adn ion fee 12 cents; no dues. First
one joining from each State where we have no repre-
sentative will be admitted free and appointed to that
position. Ladies and foreigners free. T. R. William-
son, secretary, 2654 Franklin avenue.

The Goop News Star Exchange Club of Burlington,
Towa, is the best club to join. Fee only 6 cents; no
dues. Ladies and foreigners free. Officers of other
clubs admitted for 2cstamp. Address the secretary,
A. Breitenstein, 1339 Angular street.

   
  

    
 

 
   

 

{Important.—This column is free to all our readers.
We will not be responsible for transactions brought

about through notices in this column. All offers mus?
be strictly exchange offers. We will not insert any
“for gale’ advertisements, nor exchanges of fire-arms,
ves, dangerous or worthless articles. If exchange
; do not appear in a reasonable time, it may be
understood that they. were not accepted. Address al]
communications for this column to “Exchange De-
partment.”}

  

Lia ans

PRINTING OFFICE.—C, A. Boessil, West Union,
Towa, has a first-class printing office to exchange for a
first-class pneumatic tire Safety bicycle in good con-
dition. Send stamp for full particulars.

GOOD NEWS.-~--E. Wark, 11 Cheever street, Chel-
sea, Mass., has Goop News from No. 218 up to pr
ent date, 100 foreign stamps, and a book by Jules
Verne, allin good condition, to exchange for camera
or best offer.

GOOD NEWS.—H. C. Griggs, Box 484, Shreveport,
La., has Nos. 188 to 234 of Goop NrEws and 3 novels to
exchange for Vols. 2 and 3 of Goop News. Would
like to hear from parties having Vol. 1 of Goop NEws.

PICTURE CARDS.—Will Murphy, 278 West 128th
street, New York, has 860 picture cards and a trick
book to exchange for trick or best offer. City offers
preferred.

MISCELLANEOUS.—Mark Smith, 1125 5th street
N.E., Washington, D. C., has about $10 worth of boys
papers, a $8 printing outfit, and three theatrical c
tumes to exchange for an A tent or best offer in books.
Tent preferred. All letters answered.

NOVELS.—G. H. Wescott, Caro, Mich., will give
one 5¢. novel for two 3c., 5c., or 10c. Columbian
Stamps; two novels for one 8c. or 6c. Columbian; one
novel for twenty-five 1c., one novel for three 4c., and
five novels for one 15c. Columbian.

MISCELLANEOUS.—C. H. Noyes, Box 20, New-
port, Vt., will exchange his entire set of detective,
comic, adventure and sea novels, and picture cards for
bound books, Vol. 1 or 3 of Goop News, foreign,

 

  
 

   

 

 

 

  
  

;

 

 

 

United States and Columbus stamps, or fora stamp |

album.

LATHE AND ENGINE.—W. C. Martin, Butter-
hut, Mich., hasa 7 swing screw c g iron lathe to
e@xchange for a pneumatic tire Safety bicycle; also
One-half horse-power engine and boiler to exchange
for best offer. Snap-shot camera preferred.
,MISCELLANEOUS.—Ferd. Wetherington, 722 Har-
Yison street, Paducah, Ky., has 5,000 mixed old United
States Revenue stamps to exchange for the $1, $2, $3,
$4 and $5 Columbians, and 500 for the 30c. and 50c. due,
€ither issue. Will also give 1,000 for a punching-bag
or two pairs of boxing-gloves, or other sporting goods.

READING MATTER.—J. E. Donnelly, -Hotel
Champlain, 176 South Battery street, Burlington, Vt.,
Willexchange guide books to Lake Champlain and
Saratoga’ Springs, dialogues, and a comic book en-
tidea “The Gray Bay Mare and Other Humorous
Sketches,” cost $1.25, for Vol. 3 of the bound volumes
of Goop News.

READING MATTER.—J. P. Corcoran, 152 South

attery street, Burlington, Vt., will exchange eight 5c.
Novels, Tricks with Cards, ; two 25c. novels, and

ngster, containing 146 songs, for Vol. 1 of the bound
Volumes of Goop NEws.

GOOD NEWS.—H. Hyans, 331 Hast 458th street,
f €w York city, has Vol. 2 of Goop Nrws to exchange
‘Or volumes of other boys’ papers. Send list of stories
§nd receive his. Also Vol. 4 of Goop NEws to ex-

Nge for a violin bow.
MUISCELLANEO

reet, Batavia, N.
Was0n having ele

‘ires, bound book:

lan?

 

 

 

 

 

   

  

  

    
  
 

—John Saulsbury, 83 Lyon
would like to hear from any
batteries, magnets, magnet
foreign, United States or Colum-
to Stamps, or any useful articles or reading matter
ag xchange. Will endeavor to furnish anything
Ked for in exchange.
STORY PAPERS.--Oscar C. A. Morgner, 1919 Con-
SS street, St. Louis, Mo., has volumes of numerous
anny, Papers to exchange for best offer. Lists sent on
Plication. No postals answered,
etAMPS J. McDonald, 249 East Freemont
eyect Fos ia, Ohio, will give 200 foreign stamps for
Si,2” 20 of either 3c., 4c., 5c., 6e., 8c., or 10c. United
Ma; S Stamys, or spec! delivery, due, department or
_ *tch and medicine stamp.
s#UISCELLANEOUS ~K. J. McKinnon, 31 Quincy
Vale” Somerville, Mass., has twenty-five novels, face
Voy, $1.30, and boys’ papers to exchange for bound
Ae 2,3 or 4 of GOop News, or a mechanical engine.
Cong columbian stamps for foreign and rare coins.
Ron, Vad curiosities in exchange for same. Would
\ ge for electrical goods. Send lists.
1 pod NEWS.—Wm. Brahm, Box 71, Northport,
Voly? 228 Vols. 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 of Goop NEws or three
lect es of other boys’ papers to exchange for an
© motor and battery or a telescope.
aye, SCELLA NEOUS —Ferdinand Alton, 1638 Park
Iola, ue, Philadelphia, Pa., has mandolin, zither, ban-
Cha} PUNching-bag, and long list of other articles to ex-
© for guitar, wall machine, or law books.

Son ADING MATTER.—Edwin J. Wilkinson, 10
Xoy, St. Court, Lynn, Mass., has books, magazines,

   

 

 

   

     

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

ty an Sames, puzzles, etc., over 200 different articles
take exchange for stamps; any and all kinds

”. Send for list.

p
NoRIN TING OUTFIT.--Fred M. Johnson, Seneca,
fo & printing outfit, consisting of one Novelty
rt Dosing Power, 6 1-2 x 10 1-2 in, inside chase, marble
Th ne Stone, cabinet and 13 cases, 19 fonts job type,
Plaines ©wspaper type, 6 kinds border, 30 cuts, mallet,
yider ts and everything necessary to print small
heey’ exchange fora Safety bicycle, 28 or 80 inch
piinp Ybe to exchange for boxing-gloves.
gegen aR TES.—H. J. Meeker, 66 Hough ayenue
: Ugg! DBe th Conn., has 43 different libraries to ex-
All ates aaa or other libraries not on his
1S; ers answered.
fon O) BLLANKOUS.—-F, J. Cushman, Acton, Ma-
gata, nd., has $40 worth of photograph goods, etc.,
op ks, to 800d 5 x 8 camera, a gold watch, and some
Smith ©xchange for good Remington, Densmore
0 ’mier typewritér or for best offer.
Wyk, REWS.— Frank C. Lutes, 527 Kansas avenue,
pay a’ Rees to obtain Vol. 1 of Goop Nrws.

 

Cash f

 

MISCELLANEOUS.—-Curtis Powell, Polo, Ill., has |
mandolin, banjo, zither, autoharp, Elgin stem-winding |
silver watch, typewriter, 10 line, 4 section; leather-
covered spy-glass, electric motor power 35 to 40 watts, |
and fountain pen, with gold pen and rubber holder, to |
exchange for violin, guitar, pearl opera-glasses, boxing- |
fencing-foils and masks and anything for hunt-
1ing or camping.

GOOD NEWS.—Mrs. M. G. Miller, Nickerson, Kan.,
has Goop N 's from No. 160 to 248 in good condition
to exchange for best offer in story papers.

MISCELLANEOUS,—Archer B. Wallace, Free-
port, N. Y., has the following to exchange for a type-
writer, camera, cornet, bugle, saddle or other articles:
U.S. and foreign stamps, 128 Columbian stamps,
square-cut post-marks, coin of the Knickerbocker
rency, picture cards, 60 large pictures, 150 magazines
and books, 3 pairs of skates, games, glass pen and
holder, silver hair-pin ad other articles, Inclose
stamp for reply.

STAMPS.—M. J. Joyce, North Tonawanda, N. Y.,
has 30 and 50c. (postage due) and two 50c. Columbian
(unused) stamps to exchange for the $1 Columbian;
rare foreign, on sheets, for U. 8., any kind (no 1 or 2c.);
one unused foreign postal card for 10 U. 8. stamps.

MISCELLANEOUS.—Ran Messick, Belle Plaine,
Sumner County, Kan., has a boys’ colored lantern,
over 200 stamy n album; a Clark’s London flute,
brass, and five 25c. novels to exchange for Columbian
stamps, Goop NEws or best offer. Allletters answered

ATHLETIC GOODS.--Winfred P. Derby, 90 Buck- |
ingham street, Springfield, Mass., has a foot-ball |

 

  

 

 

 
       

  

 

 

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

sweater and running suit, including shoes, to exchange | 1

for mandoli
for picture

MISCELLANEOUS.—Milton Locke, Castile, N. Y.>
has 1 ruby lantern, 1 magnesium flash lamp, 1 foot-
ball, 1 Harvard and outfit, 1 font of type, 1 vol-
ume 1894 GooD NrEws, 15 Nos. of other boys’ papers and
1 toboggan to exchange for a good accordion. Also
would like to hear from any persons having a pneu-
matic bicycle to exchange. All letters answered.

GOOD NEWS~—Jos. Sklower, ast 109th street,
New York city, will give Goop N 3 for a printing |

oress; also Columbian and 2c. red stamps for a printing
press. All letters answered.

FISHING ROD.— Howard Satterfield, box 285, Fair-
mont, W. Va., has fishing rod, reel and line worth $6
and $9 worth of reading matter to exchange for B flat
cornet or printing press and outfit.

READING MATTER.—Andrew Morris, box 120) |
Milo, Ohio, has Vol. 9, part of Vol. 10 and part of Vol-
“Pickwick Papers,’’ by Dickens; also 15 stories of

papers each to exchange for bound Vol. 1 of Goop
News in good condition.

MISCELLANEOUS.—R. P. Clausin, Watkins, N.
Y., has 4 sets Columbian stamps up to 10c., 500 foreign
stamps, 1 of the first postal cards printed, 1 electric |
motor, one book on magic, 1 camera with outfit, 6 |
fonts of type for coins or best offer. All letters an-
swered.

Also numerous other things

  

 
 

   

  
 

 

   
   
 

  

  

    

PUNCH AND JUDY.—J. P. Plunkett, Onset, Pa., |
has a full set of handsomely dressed large s Punch
and Judy figures, good as new, valued at $12, to ex-

change for printing press, camera or any useful article |
of equal value,

POST-MARKS.—C. E. Vallance, 507 Marion street, |
Elkhart, Ind., has 500 rare post-marks from small
places in the United States and Canada to exchange
for old U. S. or Columbian stamps.

STAMPS.—George E. Honsell, Syracuse, N. Y., has
a collection of 300 U. 8S. stamps, some of ever epart-
ment of the general issue; also a collection of 1500 for- |
eign stamps to exchange for Columbia bicycle in first-
class condition or best offer. All letters answered.

BOOKS. —Elvin D. George, Staunton, Ill., has 5, 10
and 25¢c. books to exchange for running numbers of
Goop Nrws, type, air rifle or best offer. All letters
answered.

MISCELLANEOUS.—Harry Mann, 355 Erie street,
Chicago, Tl., has Goop Nrws, from No. 206 to 244,
100 picture cards, 50 U. S. stamps, 15 Antwerp stamps
and 3 Nick Carter Libraries to exchange for camping
tent or best offer in stamps.

STAMPS.—Geo. E. Stanton, box 290, Staunton, T11.,
has Corean, French, Central American, African,
European and Asiatic stamps to exchange for Goop
News, magic lantern, telescope or best offer. All let-
ters answered.

NOVELS.- George B. Bennett, Gillespie, Tll., will
exchange one new 50c novel, good, for every 15 5c.
libraries in good condition.

GOOD NEWS.—ILee Crowl, 49 West Main street,
Fort Wayne, Ind., has Goop Nrws from No. 1up to
date and other papers to exchange for foot-ball, boxing-
gloves or other reading matter. All letters answered.

TURNING LATHE.—Richard FE. Hannan, 146
North Water street, Ogdensburg, N. Y., has a turning
lathe with all fixtures, including three chisels, with the
seroll saw attachment, valued at $5.50, and over 200
printed patterns and impression paper, valued at $2.50,
all in first-class order, to exchange fora violin, camera,
good set of boxing-gloves, stamps or best offer, All
letters answered promptly.

MISCELLANEOUS.--Wm. Hupp, Osborne street»
Sandus Jhio, has Goop News from No. 158 to 246»
in good condition, over 200 5, 10,20 and 25c. novels»
song books; also books on boxing, wrestling and club-
swinging to exchange for best offer. Send list and re-
ceive his in return.

MISCELLANEOUS.—©. A. Bauby, 1171 Harrison
street, Chicago, Ill., has3,000 foreign stamps, 100 novels,
Goop Nrws and other boys’ papers to exchange for
stamps or best offer. All letters answered. Would
like to hear from boys having U. 8. stamps to ex-
change.

BASE-BALL MASK.~-Bernard Stern, Englewood,
N. J., has one No, 2 base-ball mask, A. J. Reach’s
make, cost $3.50, to exchange for best offer of Colum-
bian stamps, all over 8c., or other U. 8. stamps.

STORY PAPERS.—S. Phillips, 73 East One
Hundred and Ninth street, New York city, has 100
story papers, 10 5c and 5 10¢ novels, and 225¢ books
to exchange for best offer. All letters answered.

BOYS’ PAPERS.—Samuel Wolf, 470 Elm street,
New Haven, Conn., has about 100 boys’ papers in
good condition to exchange for GOOD NrEws) from
179 to 189, inclusive, and 209 to 217, inclusive, and
either volume 3 or volume 4,

PRINTING MATERIAL.—C. J. Parkinson, 1003
O street N. W., Washington, D.C.,has a No.4 Balti-
morean printing press, a large can of printers’ ink,
and a font of brevier caps in a large case, also small
case empty, entire lot cost $2, for $1.50 worth of
stamps from approval sheets.

MISCELLANEOUS. — F., T. Miles, 1123 Past
Washington street, Syracuse, N. Y., has 10° differ-
ent foreign stamps to exchange for each 5c novel,
electric battery, $3 worth of stamps on approval
sheets, fife, fountain pen, 50 running numbers of a
boys’ paper, 2 sets drawing compasses, 100 tin tags
for best i Good exchange for reading matter,
stamps, printing material, or electrical goods.

GOOD NEWS.—Geo. B. Gladden, Jr., 997 Main
street, Riverside, Cal., has Vols.8 and 9 of Goop
NEWS, complete, ¢ost $2.60, to exchange for type;
must be standard height.

MISCELLANEOUS.— Mason Mclean, 461 La
Salle avenue, Chicago, Ill., will give Baedeker’s
London and Its Environs for the 15c 1890 issue U.S.
stamp; Baedeker’s London and Its Environs and

 

 

 

  

  

 

   
     

 

  

 

*

  

| fora good self-inking printing press.

 

Appleton’s Dictionary of New York and Vicinity
for the 30¢c U. 8. stamp, same issue; Baedeker’s
London and Its Environs, Appleton’s Dictionary
of New York 1 Vicinity, and book entitled Bro.

‘agoous ($1) for 90¢ same; Baedeker’s or Ap-
8 for tle 15¢; Baedeker’s and Appleton’s for
>, and Baedeker’s, Appleton’s, and Bro. to
Dragons for the 90c.

MISCELLANEOUS.—Wm. Allard, 288 Maryland
street, Buffalo, N. Y., has 1000 nice photographs of
ladies, ships, ete., a collection of rare U. 8. and for-
eign stamps in album, large box trick 1 fine magic
lantern, all nickel-plated, in case, set of boxing-
gloves, electric gong, 3 inches, 2 dry batteries, 1
wet battery, different sizes copper wire, and. elec-
tric book, with the Morse telegraph. alphabet

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

to exchange for high denominations of Columbian

stamps, a. model steam engine and boiler,
Ss

or a large
collection of U.S. and foreign stamps, in either
Scott’s or International cloth-bound album.
CAMERA, ETC.—Jos. Reiter, 33 Jefferson ave~
nue, Chippewa Falls, Wis., has a $1 Glen photo
camera and complete outfit; also a $1.75 printing
press and outfit to exchange for. cuts, type, borders,
etc., or best offer. All letters and postals answered.

 

 
 

 

STORY PAPERS, ETC.—G,. F. Yohn, Turner’s
Falls, Mass., has story papers and picture cards to
e ge J.8.stamps. 3,6 and 8¢ stamps of

the 189) issue wanted. Good exchange for U. 8.

stamps.

MISCELLANEOUS.—E. C. Phillips, 85 Beech
reet, Indianapolis, Ind., will exchange a $3 magic
t rn, $5 worth of reading matter, 2 cells of a
gravity battery, $1.25 Webster’s dictionary, fully
illustrated and handsomely bound, value of all $10,
All letters

 

 

 

answered.

READING MATTER.—James Van
City, Mo., has other boys’ papers to exchange for
GOOD NEWS, Vols. 4 or 5, or best. offer in Goop
NEWS.

MISCELLANEOUS.—Eidison Smith, 309 South
Van Buren street, Bay City, Mich., has 1 pair‘of
fencing foils and 1 brass army bugle, new, (value
placed at $10), to exchange for banjo in first-class
order; must be valued at same amount.

A ATTER.—J. Demater, 1326 Dupont
street, San ancisco, Cal., has 75 5c novels and
boys’ paper so a cloth and leather binder to ex-
change for stamps. All letters and postals an-

 

 

 

  

 
 

| swered.

BOOKS AND GAMES,—Bernard Bronson, box
458, Grand Haven, Mich., has 3 cloth-bound books
by standard authors and a game of Mititacre (cost
$1 50), with full directions for playing the game, to
exchange for any volume of GOOD NEWS. Write
for particulars. All letters auswered.

READING MATTER, ETC.-A. Miller, 438
North Eighth street, Terre Haute, Ind., has $50
worth of books, papers and magazines, magic lan
tern and outfit, pair of Indian clubs, lawn tennis

    
 

| racket (unstrung), league base-ball, cloth-covered
album, World’s Fair views, some games and a lot |

of Other articles to exchange for aself-inking print-
ing pressor printing material, or a part of above
for a foot-power bracket saw.

PRINTING MATERIAL.—C. Renfert, 456 East
Madison avenue, Cleveland, Ohio,.has a Baltimo-
rian self-inking press, 6 fonts job type, 12% lbs. non-
pareil type, 5 1b. font, brass rule, composing sticks,
brass galleys, lot of leads, slugs, reglets, cuts, etc.,
to exchange for 5x7 or larger camera and outfit.

READING MATTER.—R. E. Williams, Grange,
N.C., has GOOD NEws from No. 179 to 188 to ex-
change for same from No. 168 to 178; also 2 5e or 1
10c ‘novel for each of the following numbers of
GOOD NEWS: 97, 99, 100, 102, 103, 104, 189, 190. 191; also
has novels to exchange for same, Send list. A
good offer for Vol. 30f GOOD NEWS. All let®ers an-
swered if stamp is inclosed,

READING MATTER.—Joseph Simoneau, 6
Madden place, Marlboro, Ma has 32 5c libraries, 6
10¢c libraries and 80 story pers to exchange for
zither and fife music. All letters answered.

STAMPS.—Ernest Lutz, 816 Second avenue, New
York city, will give 25 foreign stamps for every 3,
4,5 o0r10¢e stamp of 1890, Columbian or 1894 issue:
will give ign stamps tor every 6 or 8c stamp
of same 80 for every one over 10c. 25 differ~
ent stamps guaranteed in second offer and 40 in last
offer.

 

   
 

 

   

 

  

 

—__~+>- ee —_——_

(ur Mail Bag.

ere on subjects of general interest only are
dealt with in the ‘Mail Bag.” Medical or legal
questions not answered. Good NEws_ a8;
two weeks in advance of date of publication, and the
fore ans ’s cannot appear until two or three weeks
after we receive them.

Communications intended for
this column shonld be addressed Goop NEws “Mail
Bay,” P. O. Box 2734, New York City.)

        
   

 

—+——_

E. E. B., Marion, lowa.—1. Both authors are alive,
but they do not write for Goop Nrws at present. 2,
The average height and weight of a boy of eighteen are
5 ft. 8 ins., and 110 lbs. 3. Yes, but only the junior
writes boys’ stories. 4. It ather late in the season
to tell how to make an ice-boat. 5. We know of no
such paper and do not think there isone. 6. “The
Mission of Black Rifle” is published by Lee & Shep-
ard, Boston, and costs $1.25.

Muddy, Sioux City, Iowa.—1. There is no objection
at all to your changing the name of your club, pro-
vided you retain all your former members. 2, Yes,
quite often enough.’ 3. It is not necessary. It is en-
tirely a matter for you todecide. 4. Yes. 5. Wethink
ita good plan. 6. Everything thus far is entirely sat-
isfactory.

CM. CG, Bayard, Iowa.—1. Volume IV. of Goop
News contains Nos. 79-104 inclusive. There are
twenty-six numbers in each volume. 2. Because we
have comparatively few copies of volumes IT. and ITT.
3. Of the English-speaking Protestant religious com-
munities of the world, the Episcopalians embrace the
largest membership.

Swendoog.—1. Write to the American News Co.,
New York. 2. Notatpresent. 3. Weshall have an-
other story by Lieut. Lounsberry in the latespring. 4.
We cannot give the name here. 5. Gallium is a rare

   
  

  

 
  

 

+ malleable, metal, discovered by spectrum analysis in

1875 in the Pyrenees. It is put to various uses.

M. W. C, Perry,. Iowa.—1. The attemps to deter-
mine the absolute height of the atmosphere have given
different results. The most trustworthy data give a
height of about forty miles for the extreme traces of
atmospheric air. Yes. 3. The United States Gov-
ernment issued its first postage stamps in 1847.

R. J., Pittsburgh, Pa.~-To make paste for scrap-books,
mix smoothly flour and water tiH a thin batter is
formed; put in a pinch of pulverized alum, and pourin
boiling water until a thick paste is formed. Let it
boil a minute or two; add a few drops of carbolic acid
or oil of cloves. Put in a wide-necked bottle.

B. B. 0., New York city.—1. Harry Dangerfield
lives in Camden, Me. We do not know hisage. 2. It
would take you about five days, and, to go comfort-
ably, you ought to allow twenty dollars for the jour-
ney, exclusive of the bicycle hire. 3. We intend to
have a story of the South before very Iong.

Harry L. &., Brooklyn. N. Y.—1, We cannot give

*

  

    

 

 

Pelt, Webb |

 

the real names of those of our authors who use as-
sumed ones. 2. “Three of a Kind” is the first story
written by Paul Ingelow for Goop News. 3. China’s
encroachments upon Corea. 4. We think not. 5. Your
penmanship is very good indeed.

H. C. D., Hardys, N. Y.—In the game of double
pedro, a player cannot bid to exceed fourteen. This
is plain on the face of it. As the highest count is four-
teen, ifa player should bid more, is he not bidding for
what he canhot possibly make, and therefore certain
to lose?

W. C., Bridgeton, N. J.—1. The prices vary. Write
to A. G. Spaulding & Bro., Nassau street, New York.
2. There is no premium on the 1858 eagle cent. The
only eagle cent commanding a premium is that of 1856.

0. D. C., Charleston, S. C.—Should the President and
Vice-President both die, the nextin order to the suc-
cession to the Presidency is the Secretary of State, who
at present is Walter Q. Gresham, of Illinois.

C. A. B., West Union, Iowa.—1. We had not thought
of it, but we will consider your suggestion. 2. Harry
Hicks is the author of “Mat Merriman Abroad.” 3.
The subject is rather too hackneyed.

Inquisitive.—_1. Write to the American News Co.,
Chambers street, New York. 2. Purchase what is
called crepe hair, from which they can be easily man-
ufactured.

B. M., Baliston Spa, N. Y.—The name of your club
resembles that of no other, to say the least. Do you
know what it means?

G. W. H., Charlestown, Mass.—Yes, we expect to
have other stories from the pen of Emerson Bell.

J. 8S. K., New York city.—We think that there is
very little choice between the two regiments.

Rk. L., New York.- Not as yet, but we hdve no doubt
but the problem will be solved in the future.

J. G. W., Philadelphia.—It is worth only its face
value, about ten cents in American money.

A. B. W., Freeport, N. Y.—Our advertising rates are
fifty cents a line for each insertion.

R. L. C., Birmingham, Ala.—The coin isan English
shilling of the time of George IT.

M. G. M., Nickerson, Kansas.—We have a detective
story now in preparation.

   

 

 
   

 

     

 

 

 

  

[Several communications left over to be answered next
week. |
—- > «> — —

Ticklets.

on ninne

BY CHARLES

 

Ww.

Loved to See Her Happy.
Little Boy—‘I love to see you happy.”
I’ond Mother—‘‘My own little angel!”
Little Boy—“Yes’m. I wish you’d let me go
skating oftener, because you always look so
happy when I come back alive.”

FOSTER.

A Wise Provision.

Little Ethel (who has been looking at pict-
ures)—‘When boys go to heaven, they just take
their heads an’ put wings on them, an’ they fly
around that way.”

Little Johnny—‘‘Wot’s that for?”

Little Ethel—“‘I guess that’s so they can't
fight.”

Internal Revenue.

Little Dot—“What’s a internal revenue tax?”

Little Dick—“Why, it’s a tax on beer aun’
things that gointo the internals, of course.”

Benefits of High Buildings.

Little Miss Freckles—“Did youse move up to
the top floor because you is gettin’ poor ?”’

Little Miss Mugg—‘*Course not. Pop has got
interested in astronomy, and wanted to be
where he could see the moon close.”

An Illustration.

Professor—‘I have shown you that the color
of living creatures is usually a closé imitation
of the color-of their surroundings. Now will
some one give me an example of this?’

Student—“‘Chinamen are the color of the Yel-
low Sea, and American Indians are the color of
the Missouri River.”

A Difficult World.

Bobby—‘‘There isn’t any telling what to do
in this world.”

Tottie—“‘Wat’s zee matter ?”

Bobby—‘Mamma is always makin’ me eat
things I don’t like, cause they is good for me;
so to-day I said I didn’t care for pudding, and
instead of makin’ me eat a hull lot, she didn’t
offer me any.”

Little Dot’s Conclusion.
Little Dot—‘‘Uncle George says I’m ‘too lo-
quacious.’ What does that mean?’
Mamma—‘That means you talk too much.”
Little Dot (after reflection—‘I s’pose big
words was made 80 folks could say meanthings
wi’fout hurtin’ anybody’s feelings.”

No Sense of Humor.

Little Johnny—“That young man who comes
to see you must be pretty poor company. He
hasn’t any sense of humor.”

Sister—‘‘Why do you think so?’

Little Johnny—‘“'! told him all about the funny
way you rush around and bang doors, when you
get mad, and he didn’t laugh a bit.”

Social Lines Drawn.

Little Miss Mugg—‘‘You needn’t come near
me. Your father is in trade. He keeps a pea-
nut stand.”

Little Miss Freckles—“Huh!
father?’

Little Miss Mugg—‘‘He’s a professional boot-
black.”

 

What's your

a re
TAKEN AT HIS WORD.

As Jack Tar was walking down the street
the other day he met one of his former ship-
mates named Broom.

‘(What cheer, my old Broom?’ cried Jack,
in his heartiest manner. ,

But, instead of returning the greeting,
Broom replied :

‘‘Allow me to tell you I have a handle to
my name now.’’ ;

‘And Jack, nothing daunted, quickly re-
torted :

‘‘Well, then,
Handle?’’

what cheer, old Broom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
  
   
    
    
  
    
     
  
      
         
       
 

   

  

 

CHAPTER ITI.
FURTHER EXCITEMENT AT THE DEACON’S.

<

   
  

there was
hollered

IMMINY CRICKETS!
a rumpus when my
\ **Rats 17?

“XJ I chucked myself under the melo
deon to git out of the road, and jest let ’em
go it.

And they did!

Well, rather!

Of all the squealin’ and squawkin’ and
howlin’ and whoopin’ I ever had the pleas-
ure of enjoyin’ that took first money by a
long distance.

It seemed that every woman in that room
let out a yell of mortal terror, and every
man shouted for them to shut up and keep
still.

Then everybody made a break to git some-
where, and [ hugged myself to think I was}
cute enough to git under the melodeon out of
the way of the crush. I wondered what
Chuck was doing, but I knew well enough
he was improving each shinin’ moment. He
was havin’ as much fun as I was, but it was
a ten-to-one shot that he’d be found bathed
in scaldin’ tears when the lamps were re
lighted.

That seems to be his way of laughin’.

The sounds in that room seemed to indi
cate there was trouble brewin’, for I could
hear Ike Spifkins threatenin’ to punch some-
body’s head, while Major Blister was swearin’
he’d shoot the next man that stepped on his
pet corn.

The women were squawkin’ like a flock of
frightened hens, and I heard Noah Flanders
tellin’ his wife to git down off his shoulders.

Directly after this there was sounds of a
tussle and a fall, and then everybody seemed
to be shoutin’ for somebody to light a lamp.

Deacon Horn was the one who done so
after a time—and a pretty lively time it
was, too.

The light revealed a soul-harrerin’ spec
tacle, as the fellers what write novels would
have called it.

Every woman who could find something
to climb on had climbed as high as she
could, and some of ’em seemed to be tryin’
to git higher still.

Miss Hookett had hooked it right up the
bare wall, and she seemed to be Hangin’ to
a picture-knob with tooth an’ nail. Anyhow,
that’s the way it appeared from my location
under the melodeon.

Mrs. Duffer was on top the center-table
a-holdin’ up her dress as if she was walkin’
through a mud-puddle pritty nigh up to her
knees, while Miss Snort and Miss Tart were
clasped in each other’s arms on the melodeon,
where they were dancing a jig to keep from
falling off on the floor.

As soon as I discovered this I began work-
ing at the pedals, and the melodeon played
the Highland Fling, with variations.

The parson was in more trouble, for it
seems he was the third one to walk on Major
Blister’s rn, the major had downed him
in the dark and proceeded to punch his head
a few for luck,

Noah Flanders was havin’ a lively time
with his wife, who had hooked her hands
into his hair and was trying to climb him
again in order to git up away from the rats.

Josh Adams and Ruby Flip was clasped
tight in each other’s arms on the sofa, and
when Josh’s other two-thirds saw them she
proceeded to light on Ruby and scratch a
map of New Jersey on her face.

Somebody’d upset Ike Spifkins and
rammed him head-fust under the sofa, which
had settled on the small of his back and was
holdin’ him there, for all of his kickin’ and
hollerin’.

[ looked for my pard.

He was settin’ up on top the old-fashioned
clock, smokin’ a cigarette and lookin’ sad
and pensive, as' if he’d just lost the last
friend he had in all the wide, wide world.

‘*Sufferin’ cats!’’? yelled Deacon Horn.
‘“‘What do you people mean by comin’ into
my house and actin’ this way?’’

As soon as Major Blister saw who he was
thumpin’ he quit and got right up, helpin’
the battered parson to his feet; but it was
necessary to part some of the others by
force.

‘*Where are the rats?”’ asked Mrs. Duffer,
her teeth chattering with terror.

but
pard

 

 

 

 

 

There wasn’t no rats in sight, for my
pard had a string hitched to the one he’d}
sprung on the crowd, and so he’d gathered
the reptile in during the excitement.

‘*There they be, b’gosh!’’ shouted Zeb

Ga CoC TS

  

"=

   

   

ow | *a

SALE DEALERS IN RACKETS.

Calker, as he pointed out me and my pard.
‘‘Them’s the only rats there is here.’’

‘*Come down from there, Chuck,’’ fiercely }
howled the deacon, as he shook his fist at
my pard. ‘‘What do you mean by blowin’
out the lights and scarin’ everybody into
fits?”?

“Oh, pal’? cried Chuck, with a kind of |
choking gulp; ‘‘how can you think such a |
cruel, cruel thing of your own little angel |
boy! Look—the door is standing wide open, |
and if must have been the draft that blowed |

|
|

|
ne |
s |

 

out the lights.’’
‘*The door is open,’
was dead easy fruit for my pard.

? said the deacon, who |

‘*You

NEW S.

HOME STUDY. 2 sets

at student’s Home. Low rates; pet
Cat, free. Triallesson10c. BRYANT & STRAT

  
 
  
 
 

 

 

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Dialogues, Speakers, for School,

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I OW to Mesmerize. The re
Address Prof. Anderson,
Chicage.

Amateur’s Manual of Photography.

S. &S. MANUAL LIBRARY, No. 6.
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and ( all y CARD! F WE SELL
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couldn’t haye blowed out both lights. at |
once.’’ A hand-book of practical instructionsin the art of
‘¢Ah, no! To accuse me of that would be ary plate phot eraphy. tisa compl guide to this
” ing art ‘ully illustrated ells from how a
the cruelest blow of all! ‘ yeti 8 tmade to the finish of, f st class picture
‘*But he did holler ‘rats,’*’ squealed Miss | shy is a clean, light. anc unt occupation, |
Tart; and then she and Miss Snort fell off | #iltable for any young lady or gentleman, and within |
: : e reach of all.
the melodeon and struck on their necks, still | “ For sale by ali Newsdealers, or will be sent, postpaid |
upon receipt of price, ten cents, by the publishers

locked tight in each other’s arms.

This diverted attention trom Chuck for a |
minute, and he went on smokin’. |

3y the time Miss Tart and Miss Snort |
were up and brushed off, Ike Spifkins began
to howl for somebody to pull him out from
under the sofa.

‘¢Will no one save him?’’
in tones of horror and appeal.
perish thus???’

‘‘No!’’? I shouted, and then I jumped out
from under the melodeon and caught
left foot.

With his foot between my legs, hangin’ to
it for all I was worth, I started at a mad
gallop round the room.

That sofa seemed to like Ike, for it stuck
to him and rode right along on the small of
his back, two of its legs playin’ a kind of
rub-a-dub-dub tune on the floor.

This created more excitement, for me and
Ike and the sofa swept everything before us.
The way we piled up things in that room
was a caution to cats.

After a while the sofa let go its grip and
Ike popped out, but the under rim of the
sofa near raked his ear off when he popped.

‘*Saved!’’ howled Chuck, ‘‘saved! saved !’’

Then he fell off the clock and struck on thé
back of Major Blister’s neck.

This came near breakin’ the major all up
in business, but Chuck pretended to be broke
up, too, and he writhed in agony on the
floor, groaning:

‘‘This is the end—the bitter end! But I die
as I have lived, true to the last—like a shoe
maker !’?

shrieked Chuck,
‘*Must he

Ike’s

 

 

(TO BE CONTINUED. )

 

—-- + © o>
NOT SO SERIOUS.

It is related that two persons, one of them
a wheelman ahd the other an opponent of
bicycling, were discussing the chances of in
jury through riding a bicycle.

‘‘Injury? Pooh! I’ve been riding three
years and I’ve had only one accident, and
that wasn’t serious.’’

‘““What did you break in that?’’

‘<Only a leg.”?

‘*Only a leg! I should think
enough for any ordinary person.’

“Oh, but it was the leg of ‘the man who
taught me to ride.’’

TEN CENTS EACH
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We have asmall stock of books on hand by the
popular authors—

Edw. S. Ellis. Lieut. R. H. Jayne.
Wm. Murray Graydon.

that

was
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contain stories of adventure and romance, and are
illustrated, The titles are:

ARTHUR HELMU'TH,
By E.
THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS,
By WM. MURRAY GRAYDON,
PERILS OF THE JUNGLE,
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S. & S, Manual Library No. 7. Price, 10 Cents.
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30YS’ OWN T
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ells how to make al

 

   
  
 
  
  

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_This book contains thirty-seven selected recita.
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while Teething. 25 centsa bottle

 

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marvels of excellence.
price 10 cents each includes postage.

These books have never before been offered at such a low figure.

Useful and Instructive Information.

Album Writer’s Assistant,
Amateur’s Manual of Photography.
How to Do Business,

Short Hand for Everybody.

The Taxidermist Manual,
Everyday Cook Book.

Boys’ Own Book of Boats.

The Book of Knowledge,

Women’s Secrets ; or, How to be Beautiful.
Mill’s Universal Letter-Writer.

Good Housekeeping.

People’s Reference Book.

The Marriage Mirror; or, Love and Courtship-

CAMES AND SPORTS.

Out Door Sports.

The Young Gymnast.

The Hunter and Angler.

Dunn’s Fencing Instructor.

Prof. Muldoon’s Wrestling.

The Complete Checker Player.
Backgammon and Bagatelle.

Capt. Webb’s Swimming Instructor.
Poe’s Foot-Ball.

Campbell’s Lawn Tennis.

Riddles and Their Answers.

Amateur and Professional Oarsman’s Manual-

The International Cricket Quide. 0°

Complete Training Guide for Amateur and P
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Riding and. Driving.

Callahan’s Easy Method of Ventriloquism.

The Complete Angler.

Aquatic Guide; or, Yachting and Sailings

 

FORTUNE! TELIING.

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Cupid’s Dream Book.

Imperial Fortune-Teller.
Zola’s Dream Book. e
Hermann’s Black Art; or, Witchcraft, Necromancy, Mesmerisi™,

TRICE S.

The Way to Do Magic.
Heller’s Hand Book of Magic.

Hermann’s Tricks with Cards.

RECITATIONS AND READINGS:

The Peerless Reciter.
The Young Elocutionist.

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