" i n T ""' "". .?
rW-O,
r
The Peril of
NARRATIVE OF
CAPTAIN ADAMS
1 ' Detective 'Diplomat ' '
By H. M.
(Copyright, by
llAu left tho forolgn ofllco In
I deep dojoctlon after an un
happy hour spent In tho
eomnanv of tho secretary
for foreign affairs. In vain
I had pleaded, In extenua
tion, that I-had only oboyed
tho ordore which another
had Issued. A diplomatic
scapegoat had to bo ob
tained in-order id save Eng
land from humiliation at tho
bands of a powerful neighbor and I
(had been chosen. Upon tho threshold
of my career, tho diplomatic service
Boomed to bo forever closed to me.
"I'm sorry for you. Adams," said
tho forolgn secretary, Sir Edward
Grey, to mo, "heartily sorry. But tho
elomont of luck has evidently deserted
you. If you arcs really anxious to con
tinue to servo your country, howover,
I might bo able to make use of you
at somo tlmo In tho secret service,
fwhlch constantly requires tho nir of
gentlemen having a certain social
status, with training In tho legitimate
branch. And, to facilitate matters
slnco you nro In favor with his maj
esty In splto of your misfortune I
will ask him to appoint you as ono of
his courlors-nt-large."
Who has not heard of the king's
couriers that small band of prlvato
gentlemen who carry his majesty's
prlvato dispatches among crowned
heads and statesmen? A king's cou
rier often boars tho peace of Europe
In tho Httlo black leather wallet
which, whether he sleeps or wakes,
must never leavo his person until its
contents have been delivered in safety
to tholr destination. Ho is the unof
ficial, as the ambassador Is the official,
representative of his sovereign; deeds
fof the most hazardous nature often
fall to him to perform; and never, by
any chance, whether he fall or suc
ceed, does he receive public acknowl
edgment A few days afterward I received no
tice of my enrolment. Tho salary was
jemall, but sufficient to enablo me to
continue to keep on my bachelor
apartments in Half Moon street, Pic
cadilly, where I resided with Talbot,
my ex-soldier servant, who had at
tended on my wants when I held a
captaincy In tho Fourth Lancers, and
now refused to be separated from mo.
Six years In exile in tho far east as
a legation attache had made mo prac-
tically a stranger In London; tho
friends whom I had had formerly had
married or moved olsowhoro or for
gotten me. So I remained week after
week, hold to tho capital by tho terms
ef my engagement, which required my
(Constant attendance upon his maj
jesty's pleasure, yet confldent that I
jhad long slnco been cast, along with
other failures, into oblivion.
And then ono afternoon I received
an official document requiring my pres
ence at tho foreign ofllco immediately.
jl Jumped into a hansom and lost no
tlmo In presenting myself. Sir Ed
ward Groy himself camo out of his
prlvato ofllco to receive mo, led mo In
-and motioned me to a chair.
"Captain Adams," he began abrupt
ly, "you are, I believe, tho hero of a
certain desperate adventure In Af
ghanistan, for which you received tho
"Victoria Cross?"
. I murmured something. Of course
tboso things come by luck. I nm sure
all our officers are equally brave.
"His majesty's government is In
need of a man with dauntless courage
land inexhaustible resources of will
and Ingenuity, in order to carry out a
'difficult and momentous duty," Sir
Edward continued. "His majesty has
ibeen pleased to Indicate yourself. How
oon can you bo prepared to start for
Tierra del Fuego, via New York?"
I thought. "In four hours," I an
sworcd. "Good," replied Sir Edward. "Then
fl will recount, as briefly as possible,
tthe situation." Ho sat down at my
lde, handed mo a cigar and lit one
himself, which he consumed in his
rapid, nervous way.
"As you know," ho began, "ever
-since Lord Paunccfoto died, England
Jhas been unfortunate in the mntter of
her American representatives. In somo
subtle wav they have not seemed to
hit it off right, either with tho presi
dent or with the American people
Now, my dear Adams, you nre aware
that to preservo tho best possiblo re
lationship with America is the eorner--stono
of both British and German
policy, and, since tho rivalry between
us and our neighbors across tho North
son is intense, tho nlllanco of America
vltli either would bo a fatal blow to
tho other.
"What has sorely strained amicable
relations between England and Ameri
ca has been the Anglo-Jnpaneso al
liance. That it is directed against
American interests soems to bo tho
opinion in Washington. This ill feel
ing has been Increased by tho bol
llcoso Japanese attitude toward Amer
ica over tho schools questions, which
has culminated in tho dispatch of the
American fleet round South America
through tho straits of Magellan, to tho
Pacific ocean. Somehow or other, Mr.
Itoosovolt has got tho notion that Eng
land Is privy to tho attitude of Japan.
In short, wo are face to faco with a
three-cornered quarrel,
"Now I como to tho climax. There
exists a certain group of international
financiers, mainly of German origin,
-who would have everything to gain
hy tho outbreak of hostilities between
Japan and America In which Eng
land would bo compelled to Join, as
(Japan's ally, by tho terms of tho
itreaty. Tho Influence of this group,
though powerful, is not sufficient to
bring about a wnr. They Intend, there
fore, that tho voyago of tho fleet shall
bo attended by such Incidents as shall
klndlo tho anger of America to the
texplosion point and bring about the
results that thoy deBire. rtomember
lng how tho destruction of tho Maine
precipitated tho war with Spain, It la
i
Magellan Strait
EGBERT
W. a. Chapman.)
tholr Intention that tho flagship ot
Admiral Evans Bhall bo destroyed by
Japanese treachery during the passage
of the Ileat through the straits of
Magellan. More than ono vessel thoy
will not Injure, lest tholr loss leave
America too weak to fight Japan. This
act will force America to declaro war,
and England will bo compelled to
tako up arms against her. Hence It Is
of tho utmost urgency that this mur
derous scheme be foiled."
"But how is It to bo accomplished?"
I Inquired.
Sir Edward Groy threw awry his
cigar and continued In hurrlpl, agi
tated tones.
"Wo rccolved Information this morn
ing. An order, to which tho name of
tho mikado has been forged, has been
placed In the hands of a Japaneso mil
itary attache nt Itio Janeiro, by name
Kltachi. It states that ho will con
sider himself responsible only to his
emperor; that ho will proceed Im
mediately to Puntn Arenns, the Httlo
Chilean town upon tho straits of
Magellan, and the center of tho sheep
farming Industry. Thenco he will pro
coed to a tiny harbor, known only to
tho Japanese survey, that lies like a
cleft among the frowning cliffs which
rise sheer from tho waters. There ho
will set up his camp and make his
preparations, and, at tho precise mo
ment of its passage, ho will destroy
the flagship of tho American admiral
by means of the now secret Japaneso
torpedo, which can ho controlled and
guided during its flight by menns of
wireless telegraphy. There will occur
ono moment of panic; then the great
ship will roar horsolf and plungo to
her grave, through tho almost fathom
less waters, carrying all her crew to
destruction. Captain Adams, tho fu
ture of England lies in your hands."
With these concluding words ho dis
missed me.
Tho American fleet was propping
to set sail from Hampton Roads thut
very afternoon. On tho following
morning I could roach a Cunard
steamship which would land mo In
New York on tho sixth day. Thenco
a fast passenger ship would carry mo
to Bio close at the heels of tho
squadron. Every day she spent in that
port would bo a clear day's gain there
after. I hoped to reach Punta Arenas
a full week ahead of tho fleet, allow
ing for delays uud coaling; and this I
actually succeeded in accomplishing.
It was about ono month later when
Talbot and I, standing side by sldo
upon the deck of tho Httlo sheepboat
which brought us southward from Rio,
perceived, through a drenching rain,
the fearful heights that bordered eith
er side of tho straits of Magellan, and
tho little town looming up whlto
ngainst a background of barren hills,
borderpd with dripping forests.
"Begging your pardon, sir, might I
arsk whether our stay in this burg
13 liable to prove a long ono, sir?"
asked Talbot.
I could not but smilo at the faithful
fellow's misery. After the long sea
voyago our terminus certainly did not
appear very attractive and Talbot
was a cockney of cockneys. But tho
thought of the work on hnnd quickly
reduced mo to a condition of serious
ness, "Talbot," I said, "you and I aro go
ing Into a hard game." I saw his
eyes brighten. Talbot -wns with me
In Afghanistan, when for three days
wo two and a wounded lancer kopt GO
Afghans at bay. "Henceforward," I
continued, "until tho danger Is over,
you will kindly address mo as an
equal."
"All right, old man," said Talbot
easily, Instantly falling Into tho spirit
of his instructions. It was, in fnct, an
nnclont understanding between us.
So soon as we passed boyond the
boundaries of tho conventional,' in
which fortune had made us master
and servant, Talbot would show him
self tho flno comrade that he Is, by my
request.
"Hidden somewhere among those
cliffs." I said, "is a llttlo bay. Thero's
a man there, playing with dangerous
toys. We've got to get him and break
his loyH, Suvveu?"
Talbot grinned. "What ho!" ho an
swered, In his Inlmitablo .cockney dia
lect It was arranged that I should pass
as a sheep purchaser, or as a wealthy
Englishman who desired to look over
the sheep runs with a view to making
an investment. Talbot was a gold pros
pector whom I had met on tho voyage.
In this way we calculated that wo
could best make our Investigations of
the surrounding country. Upon our
arrival good news cheored us. Tho
fleet had Just sailed from Wo, where
It had been delayed overtime. It
would not enter tho straits for several
days. This allowed us additional tlmo
to make opr plans.
A visit to tho English consulate
gavo scanty Information. To my ques
tion whether there wero many Japa
neso around Puntn Arenas tho consul
answered that It was Impossible to
answer.
"Tho territories aro quito un
organized," he answered. "There may
bo ten, thoro may bo fifty, scattered
nil tho way between tho mainland and
the Horn. Tho land Is most Imper
fectly known, and Inhabited by tribes
of hostilo savages who mnko period
ical raids upon tho sheop-runs. Thero's
sheepmen and prospectors scattered
over 20,000 squaro miles of forest and
bog. And, talking of bogs, lot mo
wnrn you not to stray off tho beaten
paths, or you'll bo trapped sure."
Then ho unexpectedly added some
thing which made my honrt leap.
"Thero's a llttlo Chink or Jap fol
low passed through alono last week.
Said ho was going gold-washing along
the straits, but ho had n curious out
fit somo kind of patent machinery,
ho claimed." "
And this Information was worth a
gold mine to me. For, now that I
know tho direction In which Kltachi
had gone, It was obvious that, by fol.
lowing tho gonernl contour of tho
land, I must como upon tho sccrot
rove.
So far neither Talbot nor I hud no
ticed iny signs of espionage This
seemed strange. Sir Edward Groy
had Informed mo that tho syndicate
which was backing Kltachi In his
murderous plot wns of vnst wealth
and ramifications. It seemed In
credible that they had permitted us
to got thus far in safety; that thoy
hnd not suspected an nttempt was
being mndo to frustrnto tholr scheme.
Or had thoy morely tolerated our ap
proach thus far In order to mako tho
more sure of oUr destruction?
Tho question wns soon to bo an
swered. Talbot and I hnd engaged a
single, large room nt tho top of tho
llttlo mining hotol that looks out over
tho waters. Wo retired to rest that
night early, having taken tho precau
tion to close tho window and bolt It
Under my pillow I had placed my
loaded Colt automatic pistol. Fa
tlgued by tho day's work. I foil quick
ly asleep, and dreamed that I en-
countered Kitnchl under all sorts of
lmpossiblo conditions, but principally
engnged with him In wrestling matches
upon tho summit of those fearful cliffs,
while tho American squndron hovo
Into viow, miles down beneath us. I
remember Kltachi got his arm under
my neck and wns about to throw mo
over the brink when suddenly I
awakened with a stni't to And one
part of the dream real. An arm was,
certainly coiling under my neck, but
ever so softly, tho fingers worming
their way down deep beneath tho pil
low. Tho habits of ten campaigns
had taught mo ono essential of tho
adventurer's life to wnko noiselessly.
I opened my eyes tho least possible
amount enough to soo that dawn wns
breaking In tho customnry eternal fog
and rain. And nt my sido I saw a
tawny flguro that squatted there,
while the fingers worked toward tho
pistol which was but two Inches fur
ther on. I measured tho distance, nnd
suddonly shot out my arm from under
tho bedclothes. Tho guess wns ac
curate. My fist caught tho Intruder
bonenth tho ear and bowled him over.
Instantly I whipped out my pistol,
which ho had so nearly obtained; but
not before tho flguro, pulling Itself to
gether, vnnlshed with a bound through
tho window, from which tho gluss had
been carefully dissected. I dis
charged tho magazine into the dark
ness, but without effect, except to
rouse tho other occupants of rooms in
tho hotel.
"One of those thieving Ona In
dinns," was tho general comment
Such events, it appenred, wero far
from uncommon in Punta Arenas. Tho
natives wero expert "second-story
men." I listened skeptically, bolng
more concerned In nttnmptlng to
soothe Talbot, who was reproaching
himself bitterly for having been sunk
in "stinkln slumber," as he described
his sleep, whilo my life was endan
gered. On the next day wo wore to start
upon tho trail Talbot ostensibly to
prospect for gold, I to consider n choice
location for a sheep run. Wo busied
ourselves tho remainder of that dny
securing four stout llttlo Shetland
ponies, which wo londed down with
our Impedimenta, Intending to ndopt
the customary method of the country
and to walk beside them, since riding
over tho yielding, bogs Is almost im
practicable for man and beast It had
been our Intention to go alone, trust
ing to our campaigning experience.
Now, however, we determined to on
gago an escort. Three ox-miners, who
had flung awny their hard-earned gains
In n week of debauchery at Punta
Arenas, wero oasily porsunded for
money to accompany us ns a protection
against anything wo might encounter.
Wo started off on tho next afternoon
through dripping undergrowth, follow
ing, so far as was. practicable, tho lino
of tho shore. At nightfall wo enmped
upon the borders of a stretch of open
land, nnd arose after a period of sleep
lessness nnd general dampness to And
tho palo sun struggling through tho
fog drifts and the eternal lino of tho
cliffs still firm nnd unbroken. Now
ensued a dreary tramp nomas a spongy
bog, In which horses and men snnk to
their fetlocks and ankles.
Suddonly a naked, bronzed flguro
ran out from tho trees, lifted a bow at
us, and began fitting nn arrow to tho
string. Ho drow tho string. Tho dis
tant twang floated across tho still air,
and an nrrow burled Itself In tho
ground 100 yards In front. Tho Indian,
hnvlng missed his mark, began to run
aimlessly In tho direction of tho wood.
"Catch that fellow!" I shouted,
leaping upon my pony. The others
followed suit, and, spurring tho beasts,
wa galloped in pursuit. All at onco
my pony tripped nnd foil under mo,
throwing mo heavily. I was stunned
for tho moment; when I recovered my
senses I found that bis log was
broken. I nttomptcd to rise, but my
feet sank Into tho bog.
All wero In tho same plight. Knco
decp. they labored painfully toward
each othor from whoro thnlr horsoB
stood, mired to tho thighs. With in
finite Kimculty Talbot mndo his way
to my sldo tho rest wero BO yards
away they might n well liavo beeli
three miles.
"Well, old chap, they've copped us
good," said Talbot
Wh'oo-oc-owl
It passed over us In nnswor with
a whistle mid a screnm, and tho de
tonation 6f the rlflo followed It Tal
bot and I had heard that sound many
times before. Wo flung ourselves upon
our facos nnd began to adjust tho
sights of our rlllcB.
Spit! Splti Whizl Tho air wns
nllve with bullets. Thoy plunged over
head, they shrieked and screamed. Wo
began firing back at our unseen ono
mlcs in a desultory way, to save our
cartridges.
"How many rounds, old man?" asked
Talbot presently.
"Twelve more!" I groaned, piling
them In a llttlo heap in fiml or m
Meanwhile the firing continued un
abated.
"Adams," said Talbot presently,
when wo hnd both ceased, "nvo you
noticed anything strnngo about them
beggars, old boy?"
"Thoy'ro damned bad shots," 1 nn
swered. "They ain't trying to hit us,
Adams," Talbot retorted. "All their
shots 'ave gono 'Igh. Noticed any
thing more?"
"It's no rlflo I'vo over heard fired."
I answered.
"You're right, old man. It's a rlflo
of tiny callhor. It might be our Leo
Motford, if It wns a llttlo shriller, and
It might ho tho Yankoo Krng, If it had
moro of a tang to tho whine. But it's
something well under .300,"
"It's tho Jap Murata," I cried; and
suddenly a sick feeling came over mo.
For, on tho morrow, If all went well
or ill, rnthor tho battleships would
enter tho Magellan straits. And somo-where-
nenr was tho dovillsh engine of
Kitnchl. And I, upon whom rested
tho fnto of two nations, had blundered
Into this position, blundered helpless
ly nnd hopelessly, Into this trap. Sud
denly I saw a look of fury paBs over
Talbot's faco. Ho half raised himself.
"Gawd, Adams, thoy'vo killed 'om
all!" ho muttered.
"Well, Talbot," I said cheerfully,
"thero's only ono thing to bo dono.
Your shirt's older thnn mine give mo
a piece."
"Not whllo I can flro another shot,
Adams," replied Talbot sulkily. "Sur
render? What for?"
"Becauso our position's hopeless," I
retorted. "Wo can't get awny, and If
wo could they'd catch us again. Tal
bot, they'll reloaso you. It's mo thoy
want. Mako a flag out of your shirt."
"You be damned," retorted Tnlbot
sulkily. "Say that again and I'll bash
yer blarsted fyco in."
"Silonco!" I shouted. "I'm com
manding officer horo, my man. I or
der you as your officer to hoist that
flog."
"O. orl right," said Talbot sullenly.
I heard the z-z-z of linon In tho tear
ing. And then, slowly, Tnlbot hoisted
the whlto flag on his rifle barrel.
A moment luter a llttlo squint-eyed
Japaneso tripped out of tho wood and
beckoned to us.
"This way, gentlomen!" ho shouted,
pointing to a lino or coaioo tuuuk
grass that grow near and. as I now
perceived, formed an excollont path
way through the nioiuss. "Fling down
your rifles!" ho ndded. "Now your pis
tols! So!"
At a signal from him three Indlnns
stopped forward from among tho
treos nnd hound us, after which wo
were led along a narrow trail that
seemed to disappear right ovor tho
faco of tho cliffs. In places the pnth
wns so narrow that wo literally clung
to tho sldo of tho precipice Prosontly
It widened out; wo wero descending a
wooded chlno that led to the llttlo
cove, on which already wo could hoar
tho booming of tho sea-rollers A turn
disclosed It to us. A ncnt llttlo mill
tnry houso, tho encampment of tho In
dlans, and a largo shed, surmounted
by a high polo for wireless transmis
sion, stood Just nt tho boundnry of tho
high tido, fringed with conrso sen
weed nnd almost washed by the spray.
At the encampment wo were halted,
"Whnt nro you going to do with us?"
I asked Kitnchl.
Tho llttlo man turned round nnd
looked nt mo quizzically.
"Do you know why I spared your
lives?" ho nsled.
"And murdered our companions," I
retorted bitterly.
Kltachi shrugged his shoulders. "I
ohoy my emperor," ho said, saluting
at tho word. "Their lives nro noth
ing, my life Is nothing, nnd yours are
nothing, to bo weighed In tho balance
with his command. I spared yours
becauso, gontlomen you are to bo tho
torpedoes!"
"What?" I cried.
"Since you will never leavo this
spot alive, I will explain tho mntter
gladly. Tho principle of tho now dl
rlglblo torpedo is different ontlroly
from that of any other, It la not only
d'rtp(1 nut If oot l "-"on faiu. the
shore; In othor words, Instead ot bo
lng discharged at a high rato of ve
locity, It proceeds at n constant and
leisurely speed through tho waves, un
til within aiming dlstnnco of Its tar
got Thon. nnd then only, does the
oporntor on shoro dotonnto tho clmrgo
nnd hurl tho mlssllo Into tho vitals of
the ship. Now you will rcndlly sco
that, pi Decoding nl such n low rale
of speed, a torpedo of metal would
simply sink bolow tho surface of tho
wnves. We must mnke uso, there
fore, of something of tho same rein
tlve gravity na water In other words,
tho human body. Now, when you aTot
Incased In a hollow sholl of aluminum,'
and discharged nt n constant speed of
somo ten miles por hour, you will
mnko your course half aubmergpd,
and, when tho chnrgo is detonated,
you will hit tho flagship betwixt wind
and water exactly oh tho water line."
"What, mako a torpedo out of mo?"
cried Talbot, advancing upon the
Japaneso with whirling fists. I pulled
him back with difficulty from the
Japanese's revolver.
"Whllo there's Hfo there's hopo. Tn'
hot," I whispered. Kltachi heard.
"You havo until tomorrow morning
at ten, gontlemcn," ho nnswered
briefly. "At that hour tho ilngshlp
win bo passing nbrenst of our ta
tlon. Thoy nro now ncaring tho on
tianco; you soo, I nm picking up tholr
position by means of wireless."
"Will you bo paroled until tomor
row, or will you bo tied?" ho asked.
Wo gavo our parolo. Apparently Kl
tacht had entire confidence In It, for
ho merely lndlcnted a tent In which
wo were to sleop and wont Into his
houso
1 shall never forget tho horrors of
that night At ton In tho morning wo
wero to dio, to fulfil tho forged com
munication to Kltachi. And, this bo
lng so, nnd escnpo impossible, he hnd
plnced us upon our honor an soldiers
and sorvnnts of our king, knowing
thnt ho hold us thus moro securely
than if ropes bound us. All night we
heard tho thunder roaring in tho sky,
and saw tho lightning flashes, and
nonrd tho heavy downpour of tho rain.
It seemed eternity boforo tho dark
ness ylolded lo tho dlffusod grnynoss
of dawn and nn Indian brought us our
breakfast of the Jnpnnese army ration,
or rlco nnd flsh. Wo swallowed It
with an effort
At nlno Kitnchl enmo for us nnd
nnnouncod that our parolo wus ended.
At a sinnnl. we wore nolzml liv in.
dinns and, before wo understood what
was occurring, our arms wore bound
to our sides and ropos wero fastonod
round our knees. A futllo struggle,
and wo stood trussed and helpless.
Kitnchl entered the shed and threw
open tho wooden wnll on the shore
side, disclosing a complicated arrange
ment of batteries and, prominent
among tho machlnory, two huge, cof-fln-llko
oval structures of aluminum,
each about tho length of a man.
When I como to dlo my last memory
will bo or standing there, beside Tal
bot, bound, on tho bench, listoning to
tho wnveB, and straining my oyes for
tho thin wisp ot smoke that would
indicate tho appronch of Admiral
Evans" flagship and nunounco our Im
minent denth.
Ton o'clock tinkled from a clock In
tho Japnncse officer's houso. Wo
looked hard out to sea. Tho mists
lifted; now wo could see tho frowning
cliffs opposite and, In tho dlstnnco, tho
white houses of Puntn Arenas. But
no ship camo. Tho clock tinkled 11
nnd then 12. A Wild bono thrnhlinfl In
my heart. Suddonly tho electric In
strument Dognn to click. Kltachi
turned impassively to tho machine It
was not Morao, but tho secret Japa
neso method of communication, nnd
neither of us understood, though wo
concluded It wns tho signal for tho
ships to enter tho Btrnlt.
As Kltachi stood reading I snw his
body stiffen gradually, until ho
scorned to bo n flguro of wood. Whon
tho Inst click censed ho camo up to
us nnd stood watching us with a pe
culiar smile
"You're vory lucky!" ho said, and
turned nsldo to muttor to tho chief
Indian. Immediately tho ropos wore
tnlton off our limbs, nnd wo romnlned
looking at Kltachi In nmazomont, froo,
yet hardly daring to hopo.
"These Indians will escort you us
far as the sheep trail whore thoy mot
you yesteid.iy," ho ndded. "Go you
are freo."
"Free?" I stammered.
"Yes, gontlomon," said Kitnchl
wearily. "Tho vossols of tho American
fleet passed through the straits last
night. Tht magnetic storm, unusual
for this time of tho year, was caused
by an event which only occurs onco
In long periods nnd Inst night it Imp
pnmd and luck overthrew nil my
plans, Thoro was a shifting or tho
south magnetic polo, duo to somo un
known combination or hoavonly bodies,
which caused my Instruments to pick
up the (loot In n wrong region or tho
compass. But my emperor docs not
permit chance to overcome his will. I
luivo failed; all is ovor," Ho threw
up his hnndu and walked slowly into
his house
1 whispered to Tnlbot to wait and
ran alter him. My heart was touched
with pity, Attor all, ho wu3 moroly
oboylng what ho fancied wero his cm
poror's commands; nnd ho had treated
us us an officer and n gentleman should
do. Now, porhnps, ho would bollovo
mo if I told hlrn tho truth nbout tho
conspiracy,
1 knocked at tho door twlco; then,
as" no answer camo, 1 oponed It and
ontored. Kitnchl was sitting, Jnpn
neso fashion, upon tho floor, wrapped
in n rug, his shoulders curiously
bowod. Ho looked up at mo patiently
as I entered, but mndo no sign.
Gradually, howevor, as I unfoldod tho
story, an expression of horror camo
over his features. Ho groaned; ho
tried to riso. As ho did so tho rug
foil from him nnd I snw thnt Its under
sldo wnB stained with blood and that
n short sword lay botween his knees,
hilt down, point upward. Even as I
looked Kltachi's features composed
thoinsolves, his oyes closed, nnd ho
fell forwnrd, transfixed upon tho
weapon with which, in tho old foudal
style, ho had performed tho nacrofl
rlto.
Sick with pity, I ran out, to find Tnl
bot nt tho door.
"All right, old boy?" he asked.
Then, seeing tho answer In my eyes,
ho saluted mo, soldier fashion
"Begging your pardon, sir," ho said,
"I think wo ought to bo moving"
Home Town
ITHeipsT,
RECOGNIZE VALUE OF TREES
Courta Havo Not Been Slow to Take
Steps to Prevent Their Wanton
Destruction.
Various sums havo boon determined
by courts as tho proper nward for de
struction of street treos, nnd soma
havo boon accounted 4 worth 1,000 or
$2,000. A good tree represents a con
slderablo vnluo to tho abutting prop
Potty nnd courts havo readily recog
IlUed it Tho following Ih from lli
Washington Herald.
"Tho Now York court of appeals
has approved an nward of damages In
tho sum of $500 In favor of a property
owner ngalnBt n contracting company
for tho destruction of each shado
treo abutting his property, with nn ad
ditional $1,000 for Incidental damago
to his ostato. This la nrohnhlv thn
highest value that has aver been act
upon tho city shndo trees nnd demon
stratos that thoro is a value to tho
treo not to bo computed by its timber
or its fruit
"Whllo tho great valuo of forests as
regards tholr Umbor product, as woll
as tholr aid in tho conBorvation of
rainfall, has boon thoroughly estab
lished, thoro Is opportunity for moro
lessons in tho valuo of urban shndo
trees. Communities nowadays aro
taklnc Rrcnt nrldn In tholr nhn.ln
trees, npproclatlng the fnct that tholr
shado adds to tho comfort of living,
especially in summer time, nnd thus
contributes to tho valuo of homos and
of real estato In general. Horo in
Washington these Bhndo trees aro ono
of tho clty'n assots, perhaps appre
ciated moro by tho nowcoraor or visi
tor than by tho resident who has been
long accustomed to them. Tho trees
which we have should bo carefully
conBorvod, and nt ovory opportunity
moro troos should bo planted. Tho
shado treos of city streots should bo
regarded as a public institution, a fac
tor In tho public health and comfort,
lo bo sustained and dovolopcd as n
public Institution."
BOUNDARIES FOR THE PARK
No Good Reason Why Straight Lines
of Government Survey Should
Be Followed.
Tho determination of tho bound
arles of a park Is often very Intimate
ly related to radical questions of de
sign. Tho boundaries adopted for a
park aro often tho boundaries usod by
tho previous prlvato owners, and in
tho wont nlmnst nil pilch hniinrtnrlnn
are the straight linos ot tho original
government land survoys or ot sub
divisions based upon thorn and which
aro generally purely arbitrary rec
tangular boundaries bearing no hnr
monlouB relation with tho topography
except in tho fow ensos where the
land Is flat Such arbitrary rectangu
lar boundaries aro ofton hideous mis
fits with rcGpcct to tho local topog
raphy, particularly If, as Is often tho
cuau, the bite has been selected for a
park becauBo of its strongly-marked
topography. Such arbitrary boundaries
nre also sometimes badly out of ac
cord with certain requirements of a
good design for tho Improvement ot
tho particular ground In quostlon. In
theso hard boundnry linos there Is a
flno chanco for skillful planting, so
that roads doubling back from the
lino should not too closely approach
tho actual boundnry. It should appoar
that traffic can go no farther straight
abend by reason of encountorlng tho
edgo of a forest. So planted the
park may bo mado to nppoar many
times its actual bIzo and tho extent
need never bo known by visitors.
Conservation of Beauty.
Tho county council ot Hants, Eng
land, is a body not particularly known
to co-tomporary fame, yet it la entitled
to a degree of grateful recognition it
self in tho honornblo remombranco of
tho world. That is becauso it has sot
a procodont for tho protection of beau
tiful natural scenery from spoliation for
sordid purposes, on the whole tho moat
advuncod and effective of which wo
havo knowledge. Hants Is by no
means tho eupremoly scenic county of
England, though It contains many
spots of rare beauty; but its govern
ing body does not mean to have it dis
figured, nnd accordingly i haa taken
strenuous nction under tho advertise
ment regulations net, which was pass
ed four year ago, and which many
havo supposed to bo a dead letter.
Tho law authorizes local bodies to
forbid tho erection of advertising
boardings whoro thoy will disfigure
flno occnory, and it has boon hold
that a local ftulboilty must speoKy tho
precise places and nrens which aro
thus to bo protected.
Daniel and the Lions.
And , It enmo to pasB that Danlol
was cast into tho den of lions by or
der of King Darius.
Early tho noxt morning King Darius
wont to tho don, rolled away tho
stono, and called out: "Do tho lions
blto?"
"Not unreasonably," replied Danlol,
who was woll up In tho legal ver
nacular of tho day.
"Good," ojaculntcd King Darius as
ho rollod bnck.tho Btono. Thereupon
ho went forth nnd proclaimed to tho
multltudo that tho Hon question had
been solfod. Puck.
Best Form of 8hade Trees.
When summing up tho good quali
ties of a streot treo wo Bhould con
sldor tho following points about In tho
order hero given: (1) Hardiness, (2)
clennllnosB. (3) form, (4) boauty, (5)
rapidity of growth, (C) shado produc
tion. Somo authorities would placo
theso qualities in different order, and
cllmntio requirements lu somo cases
would doinand a change.
A Good Street Front.
Good street lighting la tbo best
"front" that n city can put on. Noth
ing pays so well for the money expended.
IrW in
Yours for uni
formity. Your for rrAt.
est leavening
power.
Years for never
failing results.
Years for purity.
Yoers for economy.
Yours for everv-
imng tnat goes to
make up a strictly
hlffh trrada. aver
dependable baking
powder.
That is Calumet. Try
it once ana note tbe Im
provement in your bak
lng. Sea bow much mora
economical over tho high
priced trust brands, how
much better than the cheap
and big-can kinds.
Calnmet is highest in quality
moderate in cost
Received Hlffcwt Award
World'. Pare Feed
Eipokloa.
WISE WORDS.
cr-uss
Tho Agent Do you bollovo in ad
vertising? Tho Merchant Yes, Bin It's better
to bo a llvo man in a dead town than
a dead man in a llvo town.
It Bounded Well.
Horaco Taylor, tho artist whose
nowspaper Illustrations used to bo
admired hero, camo from Nokomls,
111., in tho Egypt district In "Hod's"
enrly days they organized a band In
which ho blow on inconsequential
born.
"Wo had a hard time naming tho
band," said Taylor. "Howevor, as we
wore a thousand milos from the ocean
and oven a consldorablo distance
from tbo great lakos, wo called It the
Marino Band ot Nokomls." Chicago
Evening Post
A llttlo candle wont out walking one
dork night, and bugs and files, moths
and mon gave it an ovation; tho next
noonday it wont out again, but no
ono noticed it.
Nover foar to bring the sublimest
motive into thu smallest duty and
tbo most infinite comfort to tho
smallest trouble Hobor,
WORKS WITHOUT FAITH
Faith Came After the Works Had Laid
the Foundation.
A Day Siulo belle UlkS thus about
coffee:
"Whllo a coffee drinker I was a suf
ferer ,'roin Indigestion and intensely
painful nervous headaches, from child
hood. "Seven years ago my health gave
out entirely. I er$W fjO weak- that
tho oxertion of walking, If only a few
feet, mado It necessary for mo to Ho
down. My friends thought I waa
marked for consumption weak, thin
and palo.
"I realized tho dangor I was in and
tried faithfully to get relief from mod
idncB, till, at last, aftor having em
ployed all kinds ot drugs, tho doctor
acknowledged that ho did not believe
it was in his power to euro me.
"Whllo In this condition a friend in
duced mo to quit coffeo and try Post
urn, and I did so without tho least
hopo that It would do mo any good. I
did not like It at first, but when it was
proporly mado I found it was a most
delicious and refreshing borerage. I
am especially fond of It served at din
uor Ice-cold, with cream.
"In a month's tlmo I began to im
prove, and In a few woeka my Indiges
tion ceased to trouble me, and my
headncho stopped entirely. I am so
perfectly well now that I do not look
like the some person, and I have
gained in flosh that I am 15 pound
heavier than eror before.
"This is what Postum has dose for
me I still use it and shall always da
so." Name given by Postum Co, Bat
tle Creek, Mich.
There's a reason," aad It to -ylalned
in the UtUa book, Th Rea4
to WcllTlUe." 1 kjak
Kr? read tha lttet A.
aara rrat sbm m Trr
n HrtuiUkc, txw, aa4 tail U.
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