The Semi-Weekly Tribune.
IHA I.. lIAJtK, Vroprletor.
TERMS: $1.ZS IN ADVANCE.
NORTH PLATTE
NKHUA8KA.
Tho rccltlcsB balloonist Is apt to tak
oho drop too much.
It la a sign of spring when tbo gun
clubs put forth their shoots.
Every man has a right to his own
jaw. but he has no right to give It to
other people.
A man ms.y be a good Judge of cloth,
yet when ho buys a suit of clothes he
generally gets worsted.
A great deal of our modern poetry
seems to have been written by persons
addicted to the cigarette habit.
A New York woman aimed a pistol
at a dog and shot a man. Sho Is now
"lJs!Wo tor a position on the police
lOttU.
Thcro would not bo so much objec
tion to tho gold enthusiast If he would
out direct his conversation to some
other crank on tho subject.
Tho red-heidcd residents of Trenton,
N. J., have organized n club. Perhaps
they felt that they should do something
to offset tho production of trusts.
England has a new copyright law to
protect news. Tho latter artlclo Is
such a raro thing In English papers
that parliament evidently thought it
ought to bo protected."
Tho theosophlst who used to think
he would Hko to comeback to us In
tho shape of a horse has changed his
mind, and now prefers tho automobile
stylo of reincarnation.
1 Haiti Is In sora financial distress, tho
efforts to form some basis of compro
mising Its debts having failed. In this
dilemma tho pcoplo nro considering
tho advisability of seeking a protecto
rate from tho United States. As tho
republic has a debt of 15,GOO,000 and
expenditures more than tho revenues,
tho prospect Is not an Inviting one.
Diaz Patrlo Is a strange-looking
name to American eyes, but horolsm
JIko his Is understood in any tongue.
ThlB poor Slav, a recent Immigrant
Irom Hungary, doing section work on
a Clovoland rallwoy, saw a woman, a
few weeks ago, endangered by an ap
proaching train. Springing to save
&cr, he gavo his life In tho vnln en
deavor. Tho evils of Immigration ore
evident enough, and our country wlsoly
xejecta many applicants to our ahoro;
hat In accepting this necessary duty lot
.us pause, now nnd then, to tuko oft
our hats to such bravo and worthy lm
-Migrants as poor Dlnz I'atrlc.
A nclcntlflc writer artlrms that to
bacco owes Its fragranco to tho pres
ence of mnllgnant microbes. "Just so,"
quoth tho smoker, "and tho safest way
Is to burn them out." But tho chewer
and snuff-tukcr can gtvo themselves no
such plausible consolation. Ono fact nt
least Is evident, however much tho
toxic qualities of "tho weed" may bo
disputed, thnt of all stimulants In hu
Riau use tobacco Is tho filthiest. A
ruthless commentator of King James'
time remarked that If nature had
meant man to smoko, snuff nnd chew,
sho would havo built his skull Hko a
, chimney, Inverted his noso for a dust
basket and deopenod his Jaw for a cess
pool. Stamp-ltckors' tonguo Is the name
recently nppllod by an English physi
cian to a form of Boro mouth occurring
la clerks who havo many letters to
stamp and seal, nnd who moisten tho
adheslvo surface with tho over
ready tonguo. It is said In an
English medical journal that tho
sum on postago stamps is sim
ply tbo dried blood-sorum of tho horso,
and although that Is probably as clean
subBtanco ns anything else that could
be used, the thought of licking it Is
not pleasant. If ono must use tho
tonguo as a molstenor, It is hotter to
lick tho envelope and apply tho stamp
to thu wet Burfaco, but bettor far than
that Is to prcBs tho stamp against a
moist spougo beforo nttnchlns it to tho
envelope.
Tho cat has served to teach mankind
b nil-Important losson concerning tho
working of tho stomach. Tho X-rays
directed upon a cat's stomach havo
demonstrated that nny Irritation or
disagreeable nervous excitement nr
tmUi tho procoss of digestion. Dr.
FrlU Lango of Munich, who makes a
special study of tho stomach, per
formed a series of experiments, which
resulted In this Interesting discovery,
After tho cat had eaten, the X rays
-were turned on, and Dr. Lango watch
ed iho animal's stomach through a
-fluorescent screen. Then he irritated
ttae cat by placing a live inouso Just
beyond ita rench. Dr. I,ange was ablo
lo observe that digestion was nbso
iHtcIy Interrupted by the Irritation of
'be animal. Briefly stated, tho losson
ior man Is: Don't let anything bother
or Interrupt your dinner.
Our great nnd good friend tho sultan
of Sulu lias been studying tho Amerl
can at closo ran go end npparontly to
j;ood purposes. Ho sennlbly tolla his
KubJrctH tho Americans havo come
Among them as fi tends, not to Interfere
Terlth their right or government, and
-warns them not to molest or disturb
them, as "the Americans aro like a box
of rnntchas striktf ono and they nil
blaze up," Evidently the sultan has
3ecn watching Agulnaldo's experiment
with "los Amerlcancs" to some purpass
tt!d seems to havo arrived at a sensible
ftwlslon.
CHAPTER XIII.-(Continued.)
The Hector was the only person ex
cepting myself cognlzanfof Mr. Wld
drlngton's falluro and discoveries. I
felt very small In tho worthy person's
presence. I had for tho second time
been outwitted by a woman, and It wa'j
on account of my carclesB blundering
thnt the wholo work had to begin over
again.
"Don't tell the ladles," advised tho
Rector; "keep It from them as long as
you can. Miss Elmslle Is tho veriest
gossip, good Httlo soul as Bho Is, and,
as wo havo Just proved, 'a mnn'B foes"
nro thoso of his own household tho
very 'wnlls havo cars, and a bird of
tho nlr ehnll carry tho ijanttcr!' " con
tinued Mr. Heathcote, losing nil con
trol of himself In tho heat of quotation,
"If WIddrhiglon is lo recover the trnll
'r6 must bo silent as mice."
"Ills groom gcl-up was capital," I
remarked; "It completely took me In."
"Yes," said the Rector complacently,
"I think we did that rnthcr well. Dut
I did not expect to blind you. Whon I
found you had not recognized Wld
drlngton as soon ob you arrived I kept
up the Joke, you know."
"It Is hardly fair, Is It," I demurred,
"to keep Miss Brnnscombe In the dark?
I believe sho would bo discreet."
"Of course you do!" laughed Mr.
Hcathcote. "You would bo n Borry
lover If you did not bellcro that nnd
everything else that Is good of her."
"It may be ncc?sary to nut her on
her guard against tho lady's maid," I
uggestcd.
"Yes, It may. I hardlv know what
courso to ndopt with regard to tho
woman," said tho Rector thouchtfnllv.
'or how WIddrlngton has left matters
vlth her. It seems to mo Important to
etnln her: she may hcln us if sho will.
Well, with regard to Nona, you must
uso your own discretion, Fort; I cun-
"I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS TO ASIC YOU, SIR."
not ndvlso. Perhaps wo may hear
something from WIddrlngton to-day or
to-morrow. Ho has left us In n terri
ble mess nt present; but no doubt ho
couldn't help It, The failure must
havo been a blow 'to him. 'Thoro's
mnny a ellp 'twist tho cup and the Up,'
you know."
CHAPTER XIV.
Beforo I left tho rectory I had to
enduro an Interview, qulto unsought,
and I think I may add qulto unde
served on my pnrt, painful and cmbar
rnsplng ns It was to mo.
Woodward Wlddrlngton'8 deserted
and betrayed lady-love her face pale,
her eyes iurld with suppressed fury, en
tered tho rcctor'B Btudy, whoro I had
established myself In order to write
letters for tho afternoon post, and de
manded n hearing,
I must hero confess to a weakness to
which I havo always bcon,-and urn still,
n prey I am morally afraid of an
angry woman. I can fuco any number
of furious men, my spirits Indeed ris
ing at tho prospect of a fray, but before
an angry woman I am an arrant cow
ud. My feelings thcrcforo can bo Imag
ined when the lady's maid advanced
upon me, Thero was no mistaking tho
exprerslon of her wholo ponon as she
closed tho door and approached nttS
At tho first glance I thought of tho
words "Earth holds no demon llko a
woman scorned."
Innocent factor ns I was In tho
"scorning" of this particular woman,
why should I havo to bear tho brunt
of hor domonlacal fury? This was tho
question which shook my cravon soul
as I braced myself up as well us I
could for the encounter.
Miss Woodward planted herself on
tho opposite Bldo of tho writing-table,
facing me. I was glad at that moment
of tho Intervening breadth of leather
covered mahogany. Sho wns a Httlo
woman of a dark complexion. Her
thick well-marked brows met on her
forehead, giving a look of determina
tion a Blnlstcr look. I thought at that
, moment to her thin, Bharp-foaturcd
face, Her face was always somewhat
tolorlcss, but it was Hvldly pale now,
and her eyes gleamed with anger. She
rested one hand upon tho table, clench
ing and unclenching tho other aa she
spoke.
"I have a few questions to nsk you,
sir," she commenced, In a significant,
quiet tone "questions I should like
answered."
"I nm at your servico," MIsb Wood
ward," I responded, putting my papers
together with nn airy assumption quite
at varlanco with my real feelings.
"I want to know," she went on, "If
you think it is the action of a gentle
man lo ed a spy upon a respectable
young woman, to deceive her by false
promises and lies and shameful, double-faced
ways and tricks, to get out of
her all ho wants to know all for your
Information, sir" she wn bccotnlns
somewhat Involved "ami for your pay.
I suppoeo? Ib this a gentleman's ac
tion, I nsk you?"
"If you mean," I began.
"I mean," sho Interrupted, "that 1
havo always heard you lawyers are as
cunning as Satan himself. Dut I novcr
could have believed that a gentleman
llko you, so pleasant-spoken and
straightforward as you seemed, could
havo been guilty of such n trlckl"
"Ab what?" I asked. "I nm not
nwuro of any conduct on my part of
which you have n tight to complain,
Miss Woodward. I rather thought, do
you know, that things were tho other
way about that I had some cause Or
complaint against you,"
"Thul fellow, 'lUlott or whatever
his unnio Is," Bho said, with bitter con
tempt "was your spy, was ho not?
Didn't you send him down to hunt out
your business?"
"I did not know of his being bore
until Inst night," I answered truthfully,
If a Httlo evasively.
"But ho was your spy," she per
sisted, "and you didn't enro how he
got nt what you wanted to know so
long us ho did get ut It. You didn't
enro If he lied and deceived, and made
a poor woman ashamed to hold up lur
nen ngain. u was nil for your
money."
"My good girl." I remonstrated. "1
nm really very rorry; but I am not re-
sponsible for Mr. Tlllott'n conduct."
"It was you who teninted him." Rhn
persisted "who ret him on mo! Oh,
It was tho mennest, barest thing! He
wns to havo married me our names
nro up at tho regUtry-olllco in Ilmln-
ton. I can havo the law of him for
fnlao statement, and that's what I moan
to dol Tell mo IiIh address It's tho
least you enn do for a woman you have
helped to Insult nnd mlslend."
"Who put up tho names?" I nsked,
beginning to feel thnt Mr. WIddrlng
ton had gone to unwarrantable length
Indeed.
"I did," she answered', "n fortnight
ago the tlmo would bo out next week.
He wouldn't lot mo give notice to
Miss Dranscombo, and wo wore to have
been married on tho sly, becauso his
friends In London wcro such grand
people, nnd he would tell them after
wards, ho pretended tho fnlso trai
tor!" "Then. If you gave tho names. I am
afraid you cannot mnko Mr, Tlllott re
sponsible for any statement you havo
yourself made nt the ofllco," I said.
"It Is a vllo, shameful trick!" she
panted.
"Yes. it Ib too bad," I assented, Bym
pathetically. "Dut how did It happen
thnt you, with all your experience, nl
lowed yourself to be so taken In?"
"I never suspected him for a minute,'
sho replied, softening under my avni
pnthy. "I never supposed thnt men
could bo so wicked. And I don't bo
llevo now that ho would If ho hadn'
been put up to It. I found his letter to
you, telling you how your schemes had
all succeeded, and then I knew how n
gentleman could demenn himself!"
with renewed contempt.
"You fouud n letter?" I asked.
"Yes."
"And yoti read It?"
"Yes" shortly nnd sharply. "Why
nee? It wns In his handwriting, nnd
wo wero almost man and wife; I hnd
a right to read his letters. And it's
well I did! What have you to Bay to
that, sir?"
"Nothing," I answered. "Only tho
law might havo something to say, you
know, to your taking possession of a
letter addressed to another person." 1
was gaining courage as her reckless
tomper placed her In my power. I
should ndvlie you to be a little more
prudent, Miss Woodward."
"I don't care that for tho law," she
cried violently, snapping her lingers In
my face. "Tho Inw says nothing to a
woman being deceived nnd Insulted,
and cheated with false promises."
"Oh, yes It does!" I said. "Thero Is
such a thing as breach of promise
only I am nfrald you are hardly In a
position to avail yourself of tho law."
My spirits had so far revived that 1
was able to try a Httlo Intimidation
now. "You see, by your own con
fession, you have made yourself amen
ablo to tho law In one if not in two
instances."
"I tell you I don't care,' sho cried;
and I'm glad of what I did. I had my
revenge. I upBot all your fine plans
nnd his. You were neither of you a
match for a woman from beginning to
end."
"That Is quite true," I nsjcntsd, hum
bly; "you wero very clever, Miss Wood
ward. I don't think I ever heard of a
cleverer trick. I give you groat credit
for your splendid management, nnd, If
you will allow mo to say so, I think
your talents nro qulto wasted In your
present position as a lady's maid. 1
should really advise you to turn your
attention to, say, tho femnlo detective
line. I think I can perhaps bo of uso
to you In that sort of a career if yon
decide on It."
CHAPTER XV.
I was determined that she should not
remain In her present post about Nona,
and deemed it advisable to manage her
resignation as quietly as possible. A
designing, vindictive woman, burning
with a eciisc of Injury, and capable of
tho elaborate dissimulation she had al
ready practiced, was certainly not fit
for attendance on my guileless, tender
Nona. Mies Woodward must leave the
Rectory beforo my own departure.
"Tho authorities at Scotland Yard,"
I suggested, "will, I think, most proba
bly bo glad of your assistance. I can
perhaps arrange tho matter."
"Do you think that I will bo be
holden to you for anything?" sho burst
out. "Do you think I will let you lay
another trap for me? No, I'm not
sunk so low ns that comes to!"
"It might be worth your while," I
said carelessly, "to think over my
offer. I am afraid after what ha
passed- the Rectory will not be eltheV
a pleasant or a safe home for you"-
mcnnlngly.
"And do you think," she cried, "thai
I'm going to take my warning to leav
from you? You are not my master. ?
was not engaged by you, and It's no',
for yon to dismiss me."
"All that Is qulto true," I assented.
"novertheleEs It may be as well for yov
to think over what I havo said, Miss
Woodward. MIbs Dranscombe will, T
know, bo as anxious as I m myEclf to
avoid any unnecessary scandal or ex
posure beforo tho other servants. And
sho has been a kind mistress; you
would not, I am sure, wish to give her
unnecessary pain or distress.
"Miss Brnnscombo Is a thousand
times too good for for thoso who
have got her," announced Miss Wood
ward. "As sweet a young lady as erei
trod the earth, sho Is, and above all the
mean tricks that seem all right to law
yers, no doubt. And if things had gone
as they should have gone wo might
havo seen her In her own proper place,
with as real a gentleman as sho Ib a
lady."
(To bo continued.)
rlt,
DOUBLE EAGLE.
Ai It Appeared on the Arm J of Rutsla
unit Aimtrlu.
Tho eagle, as an emblem of authori
ty, 13 so old that It would bo Impossible
to clearly traco Ita origin. It Is found
upon tho most ancient sculptures that
have yet been discovered, and was no
doubt ono of tho very oldest of the to
tems, or tribe slgna. Tho early Per
sian empire appears to be tho first
which adopted it us nn Imperial em
blem. Among tho -Greeks the engU
was the emblem of Jovo. The Rom-anl
also adopted tho eagle as their stand
ard, and 30 It became tho token of Ra
man dominion. When Constantino be
enmo emperor he udopted tho double
headed eagle as the Insignia of hti
authority over east and west. When
the German empire came into being In
tho twelfth century this emblem wns
revived aa being thnt of the Holy Ro
man empire, and Rudolph of Hapsburg
adopted It us his Imperial urni.i, It ap
peared In tho Russian Imperial arms In
tho sixteenth century, whon Czar Ivan
nasllovltch married Princess Sophia,
niece of tho eleventh Constantino, and
the last of the Byzantine emperors.
About Ktrli.
Tho array of necks presented for in
spection at n theater Is various. All
sorts and conditions of necks are thcro,
and thero Is ns much variety In thom
as thero Is in the faces above them.
Scraggy necks nhould, If surmounting
good shoulders, have a dlscreot ribbon
round them; black velvet or whlto
tulle aro tho most becoming things for
the complexion. Pearls on a white
throat are really exquisite; for dusky
necks tho most becoming stones nro
emeralds or rubles. When tho bones
nt tho base of the throat aro too In
trusive on tho attention they may bo
coerced Into submission nnd conceal
ment by n narrower ribbon tied low
with a pendnnt. ,
SOAK, LIKE EAGLES.
BUT ANSWER HUMAN VOICES
WHEN CALLED TO.
Til Jfew Zealand Krai Ciirlonlly of
Tlirin Stmujce lllrds Vrj- Queer
Trait Found of Near Aeoualutanc
with Human Ilelnci.
On tho Tasninn glacier wo -found
lceas fairly numorous. A track leads
for a good many miles between the Ice
and tho Bldo of tho neighboring moun
tain, BayB Lolsuro Hour. Tho latter is
covered for thousands of feet with
shrubs nnd flowering plants. Whon wo
hnd followed this track to an altitude
of about 4,000 feet and wero fairly
among tho mountains and glaciers, It
being still early in tho afternoon, wo
began to notice the keas soaring Hko
eagles far overhead, nnd to hear their
common cry, "Kilaa! KHaa!" The flock"
gradually grew and tho birds became
mo and more nnxloua to Inspect us
closely. At length they began to drop
down, Bomo upon tho slopes of tho
mountains, others on the moraine, nnd
on tho lco of the glacier Itsolf; others
among tho shrubs In tho narrow. Inter
vening valley. Our party of five was
more or less engaged In tho usual ar
rangements of a camp, lighting a fire,
cooking, tubbing, etc., when tho birds
began to gather closo about tho Ball
hut, which formed our headquarters.
All the while they seemed to bo talk
ing In their strnngo tonguo to each
other from point to point, and grad
ually closing upon us. Their languago
becamo moro nnlmntcd, they mewed
Hko cats, howled llko dogs, chattered
Hko monkeys, nnd mndo many various
Bounds, tho favorllo being a yelping
like that of a pleased puppy, but more
bo. Wo did our best to Imitate these
Bounds nnd had no difficulty In getting
Individual kens to answer us. As even
ing approached their desire for a near
er acquaintance increased. The notion
of fear never nt any timo seemed to
onter into tho question. They ap
proached slowly, hoppihg, flying nnd
walking, not even with caution, but
rather with circumspection, ns If every
thing on the rond had to bo exam
ined. On tho high flat, Just opposite
tho house, they wero very busy. Hero
they found meat-tins, old rags, bottles
and other camp refuse; these were ex
amined with the greatest care, as they
often had been before. A sardlno-tln
would occupy a bird for half an hour;
It had to bo turned over nnd thrown
first ono way and then another, then up
In tho air. A glass bottlo head was
tossed about, apparently becauso It
mado a ringing sound; tho same bird
tossed It up In tho air dozens of times.
Somo of the newer tins contained bits
of meat, and this had to be carefully
examined, but I could not Bee that thoy
nto elthor this or tho good meat and
bread given thom. Pieces of wood of
considerable size wcro bitten Into small
fragments, apparently In search of
grubs, but possibly only as pastime;
tho operation showed tho great
strength of their loug, hard beaks. All
the while they wero whistling nnd
chattering In their own fashion. Wo
counted sixteen In all, and this lot,
with occaBlonnl changes, hung about
for tho four days wo spent there.
Gradually they closed up to tho hut.
Ab wc sat at meals inside they came to
tho open door, and In turns looked In.
They did not enter, as they sometimes
do, but stood In tho doorway. Then
our fire, which was mado In a large
nail ran, with a draught hole, attracted
much attention. The lire was carefully
examined through tho draught hole.
Then a bird, overcome with curiosity
put his beak In to feel tho fire and got
it burned. Ho hopped away with an
nlr of Indignation, but this did not pre
vent two or three others from making
the same mistake. We all voted these
proceedings very interesting and de
cided that it wns a shame to kill keas
The opinion was subjected to consid
erable modification as time went on.
It wns, however, very interesting to
stand among the stones nt dusk and
turn from bird to bird as they walked
up to ub to see what was going on
sometimes hopping nnd sometimes
flying from ono bowlder to another.
One of thp party held out a letter In
his hand to a bird on the bowlder; tho
ken nibbled tho other end of it. This
Intenso curiosity I3 enough to nccount
for the kea leaVnlng to cat sheep; tho
old rags and Eock3 near tho camp wero
riddled with holes torn by them. No
doubt they have explored dead sheep
In the same way, nnd, liking tho meat,
have thus learned tho trick of eating
their way Into llvo ones. This extra
ordinary habit, which has excited to
such a degree the Interest of natural
ists, does not seem to demand any
moro elaborate explanation.
The Difference.
The other day a Httlo boy was sent
to a shop for a penny's worth of cob
bler's wax, says London Spare Mo
ments. The shopman, thinking of
quizzing him, said "Won't shoemaker's
wax do?" "Aw doan't know," replied
tho lnd. "Aw'll go and see." He re
turned again directly, and, addressing
tho shopman, said: "Ml father says
that shoemaker's wax will do." The
shopman hnnded It to him, smiling,
and said: "What Is the difference?"
"Well," said tho lnd, going toward tho
door, "ml father says ther' sumo dif
ference ns ther' Is botwoon you nnd a
donkey, nnd that Is, they'ro both
alike." And then he was off like a
shot.
Accounted Tor.
Mr. Crude (to his wife, at breakfast
table) "Our neighbor, Mr. Lens, the
astronomer, tells mo that they have
discovered more spots on tho sun."
Crude, Jr. "Thut's right, pop. I put
them there In a Httlo scrap he and I
had yesterday," Richmond Times.
PREPARING FOR A NEW PLAY.
Complete Mod 1 In Mlnlntttre ot the
Scenery Mndo lleforo tho Production.
The preparation for a new piny, as
far is tho scenery Is concerned, Is
most Interesting. A comp.ete model
In mlnlntoro is made, about the size
of ono of tho German toy theaters Been
In tra shops. Tho picture Is carefully
painted, the rocks If thero be nny, and
the follngo are cut out, and all tho de
tails aro followed with no less thought
than when the-real affair 1b attacked
Tho work is dono in water colors, and
mounted on pasteboard, and if the
echemo ho an interior thero are real
curtains In miniature, flights of steps
and the hangings, all seriously worked
out. It Is something that would de
light tho heart of a boy and furnish
him with endless nmusement. Thcso
modola nre kept until after tho piece
is produced, and aro then pu Lawny on
shelves, alan, only to warp and be
come covered with dust. But the mas
ter painter's work does not end hero
by any means, for thero nro lights to
bo arranged, since they play an Impor
tant part In tho performance, nnd they
must bo regulated by tho scheme of
color; bo thcro nro long conferences,
with electricians and mnny discussions,
with tho makers of glass shades where
by tbo exact tints may bo obtained.
When every detail has been Eettlcd,.
then tho great acres of canvas arc
spread on the paint frames and tho
drawing Is begun. Large china potB
nro used for tho colors. Theso aro fill
ed with paints which are mixed with
water and a sizo, and enormous brush
es put tho pigment on the canvas. It
Is wonderful to watch tho artist, who
dashes on the paint with no apparent
caro and who has to work fast to cov
er the surface before tho color dries,
which It does very quickly. New York.
Commercial Advertiser.
I
TREASURE TROVE.-
The Innocence of Ono of tho l'rlionnr
Saved Him.
In 18G3 a man named Thomas Butch
er, a laborer In tho employment of at
farmer at Mountfleld In Sussex, wns
plowing a Held ono flno day when hiss
plowBharo threw up a long pleco of
metal Hko brass, with a trumpet at
sach end, and doubled up llko a coll of
Btrlng, says Chambers' Journal. Thero.
were several other similar pieces in tho
same furrow, the whole weighing alto
gether eleven pounds. Butcher, who'
had very little Imagination, thought
nothing of tho find, and allowed thei
metal to Ho at the bottom of tho field.
till evening, when ho carried it home,
thinking It to be tho discarded orna
ments of some gentleman's hall or par
lor. Subsequently ho mentioned tho
matter casually to an acquaintance
nnmed Thomas, who, after taking a,
look at the 60-calIed brass, and consult
ing with his brother-in-law, Willett,
went to Butcher's houso with a pair of
scales and a great show of honesty,
and bought tho metal at tho rato of
sixpence a pound five and sixpence
for the lot. Tho plowman heard noth
ing more of tho transaction until his
acquaintances began to annoy him by
Inquiring Jestingly If ho had found any
moro old brass lately, and then It leak
ed out that Thomas and Wlllott had
sold tho "brass" to a firm of gold refin
ers in Choapsldo for 529 13s 7d. The
crown took tho matter up, nn Inquest
wns held by tho coroner, nnd Thomas
and Willett were at once arrested.
Butcher, whoso simplicity had saved
him from temptation, was an Innocent
finder; but tho prisoners, who, knowing
how tho metal had been found, had
bought It as brass and sold It for their
own benefit as gold, wero convicted on
the evldenco and punished severely.
Where Wi St. Patrick riom?
Tho question of whero was St. Pat
rick born often crops up, and It would
seem as If there wero aa many claim
ants for tho honor of his birth as there
were for that of Homer. Tho' Rev. Ed
ward O'Brien, of Llraavady, Ireland,
starts a now theory In a lato lssuo of
the Irish Ecclesiastical Record. The
patron saint of Erin has generally got
ten tho credit of hailing from Scotland,
but Mr. O'Brien claims Spain aa tho
land of his nativity. He (Mr. O'Brien)
holds thnt St. Patrick was either born
at Emporia or was living thero when a.
very young child. Emporia Is on the
Clyde (not tho Scottish river of that
name, but the Clodcnus) which fulls
In tho Gulf of Rosas (Rhoda), a gulf of
tho Thyrrcno sea, the Mare Infernum
of tho Romans. Tho saint's grandfath
er was a presbyter, or member of the
supreme council, and his father was a
dcourlo. The city of which he was de
curlo was VIcus, an episcopal see. It
was on tho River Alba Flubla, In tho
territory of TIburne. Tho arguments
for this theory aro most logical, and
aro certain to lead to an Interesting
discussion amongst archaeologists and
historians.
A Drllllnnt Inrettment.
Probably ono of the prettiest pieces.
at financial foresight, as' well as keen
statecraft, on record was the acquisi
tion of tho shares which Great Britain
holds In tho Suez canal. Condemned
by the short-sighted at the tlmo, events
havo since proved tho wisdom of the
policy. As a mere Investment, the
purchaso of these shares was a splen
did stroke of business. The sum of
4,080,000 pounds was originally paid for
them, and their market value at the
present day is closo? iipon 25.OPO.000
pounds. Moreover, the original ' pur
chase prlco has been moro than re
turned In dividends, so that Great
Britain stands in the position that sho
Is tho holder ot 25,000,000 pounds of
capital which has not cost her a half
penny to acquire, and which produces
an annual income ot some three-quarters
of a million, while also bestowing
on her an enormous political Influ-tnce.
-A
X
1