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Copyright, 1S97, by F. Tennyson Ncely,
CHAPTER VIII Continued.
Just -at this tlrao a messenger brings
-a note for him. What luck! In an
other moment ho must have missed II.
and upon such littlo matters great
events hinge.
"Meet mo at the Tron steeple in the
Trongato, without delay. I have as
tonishing news."
There is no name. He does not rec
ognlzo the writing. Certainly It Is
not the samo chlrography as that of
the note that come to him in London,
and to which Juanita confessed.
Still, no sees no reason to doubt the
Identity of the writer, and believes It
Is Smithers who sends this startling
request.
A few words to Ah Sin sends the
Chinaman direct to the steamer with
directions to wait for him at the gang
plank. Meanwhile, Jack hastens to
the Trongate.
The Trongate has figured in both
history and romance. It derives Its
namo from the public welgh-houso hav
ing once been situated there. At the
corner of High streot formerly stood
tho Old Tolbooth, or ancient jail, in
front of which criminals were pub
licly executed. Sir Walter Scott men
tions tho meeting of his famous High
land chieftain, Rob Roy, and some of
tho others characters in his novel bs
foro this Scottish bastlle.
Reaching tho place, Travers looks
sharply about for his agent. On tho
way ho has seen groups of rough-looking
men talking at tho corners, and
although they arc doubtless law-abiding
citizens, something in their ap
pearance strikes him as odd.
Tram cars pass, and people are mov
ing. It would hnrdly appear to be the
place one who had ovil designs would
select in order to carry them into
practice.
Jack grows uneasy. Minutes aro
passing, and a suspicion Is being
shaped in his mind that perhaps this
is but a trick of the senor to beguile
Tiira. until tlio hour for tho sailing of
the steamer has passed.
Ho has about como to the conclusion
his best plan Is to stop tho next empty
cab that comes along and make for tho
landing stago regardless of the start
ling Information which the writer of
tho noto had promised, when his at
tention Is attracted toward a man ad
vancing along the street, who appears
to be looking to tho right and left as
If In search of some one.
"Ah!" mutters Jack; "doubtless my
man; but if Smithers, then he is sail
ing under other colors. Jovxi! he has
cut off a foot from his stature. At
any rate, I'll wait for him, and pre
pare to receive boarders."
Tho short man notices him standing
there.
"Are yo Mr. Travers?" he asks.
Jack replies that ho usually answers
to that name when at home.
"Have you a message for me?" he
demands.
Tho fellow glances around cautious
ly. No ono appears to be near a tact
Travers has noticed, and deems so
significant that ho keeps his eyes fast
ened keenly on tho other, suspecting
treachery.
"I have, sir. Como a bitty closer.
Tho lady told mo to bo very, very
careful," is tho answer he receives
only It is in broad Scotch.
Jack is thrown a trifle off his guard
by tho mention of a lady in the case.
Then this messago comes from Juani
ta, perhaps oh, rapture! from Jetslt
herself.
Ho does not suspect that this has
been artfully brought Into play for
tho especial purpose of disconcerting
hlra.
Tho Glasgow man has taken some
thing from his pocket, and Jack, keen
ly on the alert, bends forward to see
what It may be. Thus he hears not
light footfall behind, because of the
"Meet me at the Tron steeple."
rumble made by a vanishing tram car
A peculiar hissing sound causes him
to turn his head, but ere ho can fully
accomplish this design, a heavy object
descends, and It seems to Jack as
though the heavens had fallen, since
he sees a myriad of stars.
He falls to tho ground, helpless. As
In a dream, ho realizes that two men
support him and tell a passerby ho is
a boon companion unfortunate enough
to have partakon too freely, yet all the
while JacWfc vocal organs, as well as
his muscular powers, seem paralyzed.
Then ho feels them lifting him up
and placing him in a vehicle; he hears
tho driver shout to his horse, and with
the motion of tho cab, all conscious
ness leaves him, for some one has
kindly placed a handkerchief saturat-
ATALCOTTHECUMNWAR
Copyright, 1S09, by Street nml Smith.
ed with chloroform over his breathing
apparatus.
When Travers opens his eyes ho Is
in a denso fog with regard to His
whereabouts.
Jovo! ho must bo out on tho plains
again, and nil these strange incidents
but tho fancies of a disordered mind.
Tho night air Is cold, and Jack, with a
shiver, Involuntarily reaches out for
his blanket. Then ho discovers lie
has none. What aro those sounds?
Surely such as never greet the ear up
on tho borders of tho lonely Staked
Plains the ringing of bells, and the
shrill scrceclt of motors switching tho
felght vans.
Amazed, Jack lifts his head. Then
he gives a grunt, for the movement
causes him pain.
His surprise grows; many lights flash
before his eyes why, It is as though
ho gazes from n height upon come
great slumbering city, and the odor of
smoko In tho air Is very familiar, too.
If ho was astonished before, it Is as
nothing to his sensation when ho dis
covers his surroundings as the moon
creeps forth.
Gleaming white stones aro on tho
right and lert, tail monuments rear
themselves above, while close by lie
can seo all manner of singular vaults
In tho terraces, some of them guardoi
by Iron railings in front.
Really Jack can be excused for stag
gering to his feet with n low cry bub
bling from his lips. The bravest of
men might feel a commingling of awe
and alarm under similar circum
stances. It is not a very pleasant sensation
for ono to open his eyes and suddenly
discover himself lying in the city of
tho dead.
Fortunately Jack's nerve Is equal to
even this, and ho pulls himself to
gether as ho endeavors to figure how
ho conies to bo in the Necropolis of
Glasgow before his time.
Jack forgets all about his headache,
though ho will have a tender recollec
tion of that blow for days to come.
To leave this Necropolis Is his first
thought, and when ho attempts this
tho greater is his marvol how, with
out tho complicity of tho gate keeper
at tho Bridge of Sighs, they ever car
ried his senseless form over tho walls.
When a man of dash and energy un
dertakes to accomplish a certain feat
he can Usually get there, and such an
agllo fellow as Travers could not long
be daunted by a wall even twice as
high as that which confronts him.
So he Is soon over and making his
way down tho steep street that leads
from tho crown of tho hill.
It is deserted at this hour, of course.
Anxious about the passage of time.
Jack endeavors to find his watch, but
does not seem greatly surprised to dis
cover it missing; nor is there a shil
ling in any of his pockets. He smiles
grimly as he remcmbeis how, like i
wise traveler, ho had tiio forethought
to sew certain Bank of England notes
in the lining of his coat; so that he Is
all right financially.
Tho position of the moon causes
him some uneasiness. He fears that
ho must already bo too late to sail on
tho Anchorla, and that the Spaniard
has won the trick.
It Is only when he reaches Argyle
stieet, after a long walk, that he runs
across a night-hawk cabby, whom he
engages at once to carry him with all
speed to the landing stage.
They reach tho landing stage. One
glance tells Travers the steamer Is
to longer whero he saw her. The bom
for sailing has passed, and wlilio he
lay unconscious In the beautiful Ne
cropolis of the western capital the
Anchoria was steaming down tho
Clyde to tho ocean, doubtless bearing
those with whom he feels his destiny
is Interwoven.
Who is this standing like a statue
ai the end of the no longer used gang
plank. Ah Sin, to bo sure faithful
Ah Sin!
A few questions draw out all the
Celestial knows.
Those they seek have really gone on
the Anchorla.
There has boon no news from Smith
ers. Jack and his henchman return again
lo tho hotel to discover what can be
done. Here they find a note from
Smithers which came too lato a note
that tells Jack to meet him at tho
landing stage by eleven, as he is sure
the parties intend to sail.
What then? Whero is Smithers?
Failing to find his employer at tho ren
I
dezvous, has tho watchdog from Lcot
land Yard given up tho whole busi
ness, or, with shrewd foresight, taken
passage on the steamer? Jack told
him to spare no expense, and he hap
hopes.
Now as to his own course.
Tho clerk Is deeply Interested in his
case, and explains how by taking a
train ho could reacli Wemyss bay,
somo distance down the Clyde, before
tho steamer, and board hor there. Un
fortunately, thero Is not train until
morning, and then it will be too late.
A special? Well, that could be fono
at heavy expense, providing tho road
was clear.
On his part, ho advised that they
take tho first morning train to Liver
pool, and arrive in time to go on board
the fast Teutonic of the Whito Star
line, which had been delayed by some
accident, and was billed to sail on the
following day at three.
Jack jumps at the chance, and has
strong hopes of being Id New York to
see Senor Roblado and his party dis
embark. So In the morning they head
south, nml ilnBh ovor Scottish moors,
with LiVorpool as tholr objootlvo point
CHAPTER IX.
Tho Race Across the Ocean.
Thero is dolay on tho road, and
when tho train drnws near Liverpool
tho hour sot for tho sailing of tho
Teutonic is past; but Jnck smiles
grimly Jack who knows that a lato
mail from London will reach Holy,
head, across tho Irish sea to Dublin,
nnd nrrlve at Queenstown In timo to
connect with tho ocean grey hound tho
following morning, nnd it is his inten
tion to bo In tho samo Irish cannon
ball train.
Having sovornl hours to sparo in
LIvorpool, Travers dines, purchases n
watch to take tho place of tho flno
chronometer which foil into tho hands
of the Trongato ruffians, and purchases
a neat little article In tho way of a
firearm, which, Judging from appear
ances, ought to render a decent ac
count of Itself in time of need.
Once more, In a hurry, Jnck and
his factotum nirlvo at the Welsh tor
minus of the railroad, board the steam
er, and pass over to tho Irish capital,
where In the night another train must
bo taken for Queenstown.
Whan they arrive It is brond day
light.
The Teutonic Is anchored In tho
harbor, waiting for tho mall and Into
"A heavy obejet descends."
passengers. As they go out on a small
tender to Join her Jack believes he has
pever looked upon a more lovely pic
ture than is spread like a green pano
rama around him.
Off at last!
It ih noon when Queenstown Is left
behind nnd Daunt's Rock sighted.
Will they overcomo tho lead of tho
Anchor line steamer sailing from Glas
gow? On the fourth day out smoke is seen
to the northeast, and they gradually
draw abreast of It. The steamer can
not be plainly seen, oven with the
glass, but Jack learns that the first
officer inclines to tho opinion that it
Is an Anchor line boat.
(To bo continued.)
TRADE CHANCES IN CHINA.
Enormous Opportunities Which of Late
Have Attracted Attention.
The vast opportunities offered for
the extension of foreign trade in tho
great empire of China aro already hav
ing their effect on tho imagination of
those interested. Estlrantes of tho
value of orders that Chinn is now in
a position to give put it at fabulous
sums, but as a matter of fact ono part
of China, tho southeast, with an aroa
of 4,000,000 square miles, would de
mand a railroad network of 186,410
miles, of which Germany, Englan.1,
France, Belgium and tho United States
would construct 37,282 miles each,
work worth $l;4 28,00 0,0'ffO would fall
to each of these countries.
There would be a demand for at
least 50,000,000 tons of steel and iron,
an order largo enough, when properly
divided, to aid in keeping the world's
iron and steel Industries profitably em
ployed for fifty years. It is hardly
necessary to tako tho trouble to prove
estimates of this kind. For even if
ono makes allowances for overesti
mates thero is still enough to war
rant hopes expressed. Railroads aro
not the only works that give promise.
Thero are other great transportation
p) stems, such as telegraph wlre3 ana
poles, to bo erected, bridges to be
built, rivers to bo regulated, bars in
rivers and hnrbors to bo removed and
hundreds of public works that will
need foreign materials, many of
which can never bo carried out unless
by the aid of foreign machinery.
Go and Get Hurt.
"I've been in the accident insurance
business just four days," said the dyspeptic-looking
man. "I've written six
policies, and already two of tho people
have put in claims. It's a funny thing
what effect an accident policy seems
to have on somo people. They will
live for thirty-five or forty years and
never get a scratch. Just let them get
one of my double-action policies and
they go at once and get hurt. A man
seems to think an accident policy is
a thing to keep him from getting hurt
nnd that no nintter what he does or
where ho goes he 1b safe. Ono man
asked mo the othor day if there would
be any danger to him In taking out
the policy. I was afraid of tho risk
and told him ho was certain to be
killed.
"It's a strange way for people to
look at tho thing, but they do, and
I'm about ready to go back to my old
Job of selling washing powder to un
suspecting housowjves."
Too Much Solemnity.
Many a woman who does net be
lieve In wearlnc crane rirnnnn nvnrv
word sho utters with It.
NEWS IN NEBRASKA
THE STATE IN BRIEF.
James H. Lqckvr has been convict
ed of nSsault nt Hayes Center.
Twenty-two banks of the stato havo
failed to mako the regular report to
tho Btate banking board.
Farmer Fonck was hold up by high
waymen four miles from Shelton as ho
was on his way home. Tho would-bo
robbers got nothing.
Tho Deuel County bnnk of Osh
kosli has boon authorized by the sec
rotary of' tho stato banking board,
'rtio bank has a capital stock of $25,
300. A series of successful evangelistic
meetings is in progress In Crete, un
der tho lenderchlp of Rev. Mliford II.
Lyon of Chicago and J. W. Patterson
his Blngcr.
At Sutherland, Robert R. Brent, pas
tor of the local Presbyterian church,
tendered his resignation nnd, with
his family, returned to Lebanon, III.,
from which place ho came u few
months ago.
Georgo Volv, a woll-todo farmer re
siding near Lorton, was going homo
from Lorton when his team ran away
and Mr, Volx was thrown out, tho
wagon box falling on top of him. His
neck wus broken.
Thero waB brought beforo tho com
missioners of insnnlty of Polk county
Mrs. Emily Johnrpn, whoso homo is
near Stromsbuig. It was found sho
was a fit subject for tho asylum, and
she was theioforc Bent to that in
stitution. Tho Ashland Tolephono company
has been reorganized, tho changes In
tho directory to tako placo Jnnuary
1. II. H. Herndon, who owned a con
trolling Interest, hns sold his stock
to H. A. and 12. A. Wlggenhorn, Jr.,
and C. F. Folsom.
Real estate of Omnha hns been val
ued this year by Tax Commis
sioner Fleming at $71,739,230. Of this
amount, $41,427,975 is for lands, and
$30,301,255 for improvements. Last
year the assessment on real estate was
171,033,345, of which $43,282,030 was
for lands, and $28,350,715 for Im
provements. Tho preliminary hearing of John
Sinner, Ed Bartholomew, Myrt John
son and Edna Luist, who went to
Benedict nnd all got drunk, was held
nt York. Thoy woro charged with
breaking into James Bros.' elevator
and destroying property. Judgo Tay
lor bound them over to tho district
court on both counts in the sum of
$500 each.
At tho government land offlco in
Lincoln last week William P. Shnno
and Foster Church each filed on eight
acres of a tract In Thayer county
which they had purchased years ago.
Walter F. Camp had filed on tho land
in 1875, but disposed of tho tract be
fore ho had perfected tho title. Un
der the' supposition that the title was
clear, the land has been transferred
several times.
Legislators arriving in Lincoln the
first of tho year will not find things
in tho samo condition they did two
years ago, all ready for tho start.
This is because tho last legislature
authorized the secretary of stato to
spend not more than $1,000 in getting
ready for tho session, tho remainder
of the purchasing to bo done by the
legislators themselves. This $1,000
will not go very far.
Tho stato apportionment of tho
temporary school funds to be made
December C by State Treasurer Mor
tensen and Stato Superintendent Fow
ler will not exceed $270,000. Tho
amount of tho last apportionment,
mado in May, was $443,288.14. The
various counties receive their appor
tionment on their school population,
and this amount is then divided by
the county superintendents among tho
several districts.
A sharp fight between farmers and
automobilo men seems imminent in
the next legislature, Tho farmers of
tho Loup valley, where the excellent
roads mako traveling very attractive
to tho chauffeurs, seem especially hos
tile, and havo pledged a number of
the legislators from that section of
the state to Introduce a bill, keeping
automobiles unless they are run at
a very low speed, and stopped at tho
Bide of tho road as soon as a wagon
or other vehicle comes, in sight.
ThlevoB entered tho homo of James
Schock, living southeast of Beatrice,
while tho family was In the city and
carried off a considerable quantity of
bed clothes, clothing and Jewelry. The
bloodhounds wore put on tho trail,
which was followed to tho banks of
the Blue rivor, whero tho thieves had
escaped in a boat.
Tho farmers of Pickorell held a big
mass meeting for tho purpose of con
sidering tho proposition of building an
independent farmers' elovator.
Speeches wcro made by prominent
farmers, who complained bitterly ef
tho treatment received at tho handB
of tho trust. About $1,500 was pledg
ed at tho meeting, and it is tho in
tention to raise $5,000, when a mod
ern structure will bo erected.
Rev. F. P. Blackmoro of Weep
ing Water, who naa been on trial be
fore a court composed of clergymen
of this section, has been found guilty
as charged. The sessions of the in
quiry lasted two days.
The four minor children of John
Pope of Plattsmouth brought suit in
the district court to collect the sum
of $5,000 damages from George Oberle,
a saloon-keeper In Greenwood, and
the bonding company. The father
drank whisky in Oberle's saloon and
while drunk lost his life by being
thrown from a wagon,
TROUBLE FOR TREASURERS.
A Movement that is In Violation of
Law.
LINCOLN According to tho opin
ion of Attornoy General Prout thoso
county treasurers who aro accepting a
portion of tho taxes assessed ngalnst
railroad companies, oven undor pro
test, nro violating tho law. 'Mr. Prout
believes tho county treasurer should
collect all of tho tnxoa at onco or none.
He has received n number of roquostB
from county treasurers asking ndvlco
In tho matter and ho has roforred to
his former opinion on tho subject,
given in 1001. Thnt opinion is as fol
lows: "An examination of tho rovenuo law
convinces mo thnt tho legislature in
tended that a tax debtor should pay
nn item of tnxes at a slnglo payment,
and thnt tho county trensuror should
not bo compelled to dlvldo nn item
nnd to recolvo partial payment at ono
time nnd the balnnco nt another time.
If a county treasurer may dlvldo nn
Item of tnxes Into two pnrts for pur
poses of payment, why mny not ho dl
vldo It Into fifty parts and recolvo tho
payment of a slnglo Hem fifty dlfforcnt
tlmoB? The books which tho trenBii
rcr 1b required to keep, IiIb form of re
ceipt proscribed by statute, I ml lea to
that an Item of tnxes should bo paid
at a slnglo pnyment. A claim that n
part of nn Horn is void does not
clinngc tho duty of tho treasurer. Ho
hna nothing to do with questions re
lating to tho validity of tnxea or a
portion of an Item. Tho determina
tion of Buch questions had boon com
mitted to othor ofllccrs or tribunals.
Tho warrant of1 tho treasurer directs
him to collect tho taxes, not to mako
partial collections. I am thoroforo of
tho opinion thnt tho county treasurer
should decline to nccopt a portion of
tho Items of taxes In question."
FARM SOLD AND MORTGAGED.
J. T. Jones of Humboldt Finds This
Condition.
EDGAR An Illegal land salo in this
vicinity has Just como to light. Mr.
Joel T. Jones, formerly of this city,
but who moved to Humboldt, Neb,
somo ,spven or eight yoarB ago, owns
a quarter section of vory flno land
threo miles northenst of Edgar. Not
long ago a man claiming to bo Joel
T. Jones, tho owner of tho land, qulot-
ly effected a salo of tho farm to a
man calling himself Martin Clark.
Both parties woro strangers to tho
county officials, aB was also tho real
owner, Joel T. Jones of Humboldt. A
dood was mado and recorded by tho
urn Clark and then a loan of. $500
was secured from a Bcatrlco bank and
a mortgago was duly filed against tho
farm. Tho matter camo to tho ears
of Mr. Joel T. Jones of Humboldt, and
ho lost no timo in coming up to seo
about tho matter. Ho succeeded In
notifying the county officials and tho
mortgageo of tho character of tho
salo, but could get no trace of tho men
who sold, bought and mortgaged tho
land.
Surveyors Aro Near Bralnard.
BRAINARD Tho surveying crow
of tho Omaha & Nebraska Central
railway is now In camp hero, having
mado tho survey from Hastings to
this point. In tho 1G7 miles that havo
been run bo far thoy havo mado but
ono grndo crossing with another lino
of railroad, having cither gono under
or over tho tracks of other roads.
Farmer Killed by a Fall,
NEBRASKA CITY Fritz Viox, a
wealthy farmor, residing near Lorton,
fell out of his wagon while driving to
IiIb homo nnd was killed, He had
been drinking.
State Is Paramount.
Governor Mickey and Attornoy Gen
eral Prout hold a conference regard
ing the suit brought by the Uuion
Pacific and Burlington railroads to
enjoin the collection of their taxees,
The matter will be looked after by
the state's legal department and a red
l'ot fight in support of the revenuo
law will be made. It is the belief of
the members of the board that the
fight of the railroads will not bo suc
cessful. Prisoners Go to Penitentiary.
PAPILLION Sheriff McEvoy has
takon Dillon, Hlko and Rivers to the
penitentiary, whero they go to sorvo
sentences of four years each, the two
former for highway robbery and tho
latter, a negro, for burglary.
Epidemic of Typhoid.
NORFOLK An extensivo epidemic
of typhoid fever prevails in northern
Nebraska. There are several deaths
dally, Tho cause of the illness has
not been determined.
A Daughters of Rebokah lodge was
organized In Nebraska City, Tho Re
bekah lodgo of Nehawka attended and
Initiated tho members into the lodgo.
Paupers Are Decreasing.
LINCOLN In prosperous Nebraska
the number of paupers, charges of
counties, has been materially decreas
ed during tho last two years. In his
forthcoming report Secretary Davis
of tho stato board of charities and
corrections will state that two years
ago thero were 1,106 dependents, while
now thoro aro 1,062. According to his
compilation thore is rno dependent
pauper subsisting on public bount to
every 1,200 inhabitants. Tho cost of
maintenance renges from $1 02 to i a
week.
How to Mend the Matter.
"Harold," Bald Mrs. Montwork,
when I mnrrlcd you I was earning
$22 per week and I had it nil to my-
BOlf."
"Yes, my lovo," sold hor husband.
"Now, I'm corning $30 per weok, but
you only lot mo havo half of it."
Mr. Wontwork considered tho situa
tion thoughtfully.
"Well, I boo but ono wny out of It,
Mary," ho replied finally. "You'll
hnvo to look around nnd try to get a
better Job."
His Argument.
Tho Fool 'TIb more credit to bo
tho greatest fool In tho kingdom than
tho wlHost Bnge.
Tho Sage TIb a fool that thinks
so.
Tho Fool Yot it Is true. For thero
arc few wlso men nnd many fools, and
is not his tho greatest credit who tri
umphs over tho most competitors?
Lesser of Evils.
She Say, Charley.
Ho Well?
Sho Don't sing any more and I
will consent to bo yours.
Practical.
HIckB BJenkyns is a typical Ameri
can, isn't ho?
Wicks Sure! Tho first timo ho
saw Niagara falls ho stood with his
mouth open for n moment and then ox
claimed: "Jlmlny! What a lot of water
power going to waste!"
The Tourist.
FlrBt European Tourist Whow, but
this is a flying trip wo'ro taking!
Aren't you dizzy?
Second Ditto Well, I should say
so! I can't seo at all. But think of
tho Vcnuses and historical landmarks
wo'ro escaping! Philadelphia Public
Lodger.
Football Is Such an Untidy Sport.
Mr. Senior Our learn has had the
benefit of a splendid "scrub" this
fall.
Miss Dainty Only one.
Changes of the Times.
"It used to "please me," said Olden,
'to have tho barber ask me If I want
ed a shavo when I was a youngster1."
"Yes?"
"Yes, nnd now he sometimes flat
ters me by asking If I want a hair
cut." Willing to Oblige.
Tho Bride Oh, Jack! You shouldn't
kiss me beforo all those girls.
Tho Groom I'm glad my littlo wife
Is so unselfish, and just to please you
I'll kiss all those girls first. -
This Joke Is New to Punch.
He Do you remember your old
school friend, Sophy Smythe?
She Yes, Indeed, I do. A most absurd-looking
thing. So silly, too!
What becamo of her?
He O, nothing. Only I married
her. Punch.
Proof Positive.
"Do you believe the good really die
young?" asked tho optimist.
"I do," replied tho pessimist, "judg
ing by tho poultry served at our board
ing house."
Obvious.
"Now," said the professor In natur
al history, "take the caso of a hen.
Why does It lay an egg?"
"Because It can't lay a carpet," re
plied the bright boy of the class.
Grit
Nothing New.
Jones But smokeless powder Is &
recent invention.
Oldbuck Nonesense! The women
were using it before you were born.