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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 22, 1900)
Jk k k k k k k k k k k kfciJjk k kik k k k ;k k k k i H AQT S ON THE.... VELDT ill hi y vtt ; j y& j k jf,vj j yj ;.- j yti y, j w ;(.- CHAWciR II. (Continued.) "I reincmbcrctl this wa3 tlic day you spoko of riding over," said Dr. Adnlr Hollies for It was he In a low voice; "liut I hardly expected you would como today, with these terrible rumors about." HluebeU's eyes grow larger than their wont. "Humors? I haven't heard any," flhe said. "What nro they, Doctor Rothes?' "You haven't hoard?" He had not released her hand, and was holding it very closely now. "They Hay that the Honrs arc marching Into Nutal." "Oh!" Dlueboll uttered a llttlo cry, and tho rosy color faded out of her face. "Is It war, then?" "I supposo so," Hothefl answered gravely. "It seems Krugcr has as good as declared war by sending a mcssago tn England demanding that our troops should be Immediately recalled from South Africa." Bluebell sat very still on her horse, her hands clasped; Hollies had at-last withdrawn his. "Will thov como to Ladysmlth?" sho whispered at last. Hothes nodded. "That Is what Is expected. Wo shall bo besieged. The Inhabitants nro beginning to fly al ready, and 1 expect In n few days Ladysmlth will bo deserted except by tho garrison." "And you, what will you do?" Dlue boll asked. There was a little quiver In her voice, which seemed to send a swift thrill of mingled Joy and pain to Rothes' very soul, "I shall icmaln here, of course," ho answered, trying to speak In his usual tone. "Unless there Is fighting out side. It thuro Is I shall go with tho army." , niuobcll was silent for n moment, and then sho said: "You will bo on our side, of courso?" "I will be with the llrltlsh army," Hothes answered quietly, "but, thank heaven, n doctor's business Is not to fight on any particular side, or to slay his brother, but to do what he can for those who nro wounded and dying on either side. But you nro going Into tho town, Miss Lcsllo? I must not keep you." "I havo messages," said Bluebell; "but I will not wnlt long, ob I am go ing back alone." ' "May I go a bit of the way with you?" Rothes asked eagerly. "I do not Uko tho Idea of you riding those twelve miles hlonc with the country In this unsettled Btatc." Her soft eyes fell suddenly, niucbell would hardly ncknowlcdgo to horsolf Jiow her heart beat and her veln thrilled at tho proposal. "Thank you," sho said tho next moment. "It Is kind of you. I shall leuvo the town about threo, I think." "Then I shall bo hero nt that time," ho answered. "Good-byo, Just now." And ho moved awny. Dlucbell rodo on Into tho town. The terrible tidings had shocked and horrified her, but she wns not fright ened. There wns llttlo four In Dlucbell Leslie's nature, small and childish and fragllo nn sho looked. And she wns n woman; and tho look In Adair Rothes' eyes, the . close, warm clasp of his hand, occupied her thoughts almost more than this terrlblo picture of war. Bko found Ladysmlth In n state of confusion. Many of tho shops wera shut. But Bluebell mannged to get her business douo, nnd then went to sea ono of her acquaintances. She found her busy preparing for departure. ' "I supposo It's eafor to go," said Mrs. Lloyd, a pretty llttlo English wo man, whoso husband was an engineer. "Tod Insists on my going; but I don't feel as if I could leuvo him hero nlono." "You aro going and Mr. Lloyd 13 romalnlng?" exclaimed Uluobell, with Btartled eyes, and thon: "Oh, Nolllo, how can you?" "I would not, of course, If I had only myself to consider," said Mrs. Lloyd, tho tears springing to her eyes; "but thcro Is my poor llttlo baby, Blueboll." "What of that?" said Bluebell. "A wife's placo Is besldo hor husband, Biuely7 Better you should both dlo together, If tho worst comes, than that you should bo separated. Nellie, how would you feel It anything happened to your husband and you so far away?" 'Nelllo burst Into toars, "Yes, you nro quite right, Blueboll. I hold out against Ted ever so long, and, now that you speak like that, I feel that I havo boon very cowardly to give lu to him. No, I won't go!" Bluebell left her friend, whoso mind was thoroughly made up, nftor a llttlo, and tho two friends kissed each other, with the feeling that they might never meet again on earth. Bluebell kept back her own tears, and nnawor cil the llttlo womnn as bravely ns alio could, but as buo rodo out of tho town hor path was all blurred by tho blind ing tears thut camo to her eye3 now, Doctor Rothes was waiting for her, mounted on n flue chesinit horse of his own, and together they rodo on In sllenco until thoy were out of sight of the town. "You Baw ono of your friends?" Roth?s said nt last. "Yos. I saw Mrs. Lloyd. Sho Is go ing to stay at Ladysmlth oven If It 13 boslcged." kk A STORY OF THE 'A. IN NATALrrrJ By H. B. Mackenzie . "Drave little woman!" said Rothes, a tone of emotion In his voice. "I al ways thought her rather a butterfly, nnd I beg her pardon mentally for that." "In fact, you thought she and I were very much alike?" said Bluebell, with n little tone of coquetry. "Confess now you think mo that, too, don't you, Doctor Rothes?" "I nover thought you anything but" Ho was speaking with a sud den passion, but ho suddenly checked hlniHolf nnd paused. "You know you aro not Justified In speaking like that." he said at last gravely. "Did I over glvo you reason to do so?" Bluebell laughed n little. "Do you remember the ball at Mar Itzburg Inst spring, Doctor Rothes? Ah, you didn't approve of me at all then!" He remembered It quite well. It wns the first time ho had met tho Les lies, for he had been practicing In Mnrltzburg himself then. Bluebell's wild, childishly high Bplrlts had car ried her nwny that night, and ahe had flirted Indiscriminately with all the of ficers then stationed at Marltzburg. Blueboll remembered It, too. "Who Is that grave-looking young man gazing so strnngely nt mo?" she asked her partner, a gay young lieu tenant. "Do you think ho wants nn Introduction, or Is he only trying to wither mo with a glance of his eye?" "The latter, I think," tho lieutenant hnd answered, more truthfully than gallantly. "He's Dac.tnv nm liPH mill they say he Is one of the awfully seri ous kind, you know. Takes life llko a funeral, nnd believes ono should go to cnurch twice on Sundays. That kind of thing, don't you know." Rothes' sunburned faco had deepen ed Just u llttfo In tint. "It Is loo bad to brine back those old foolishnesses to one's memory." ho Said. "I (Hil not know vni. Minn. Miss Leslie. I had not Been you in your homo. I did not know you earn ed tho love and devotion of tho poor natives on your father's placo. I did nut Know you taught them, as far as was possible, not thn morn tirnfnoulnu of Christianity, but Its practice." JJiueneii bent a llttlo over her horse's head. "I nm afraid I ousht tn tn.iMi mv- self that first, Doctor Rothes; Charity ut'Kins ai nome. But lot us not Bpeak of this. Wo can't bo anything but friends, can we. with this terrlblo dan ger facing us? Surely It will draw all European peoplo out hero closer to gether If anything could?" "Yes," snld RotheH quietly, " we can't be anything but friends." Bluoboll felt vnguniy hurt nt tho cold words. They rodo on, tho horses' necks quite closo together, and Rothes talked of the coming ordeal. Bluebell felt somehow strangely disappointed. 'Tho last time she had mot Adair Rothes ho had held hor hand long, and looked Into her eyes with n look that had made every vein In hor body thrill; nnd now he wns so cool and Indifferent n friend, ns ho had said, and nothing moro. it wns not that Bluebell was in lovo with him. She told herself nbout a dozen times n day that she liked Adair Rothes very much, but could never Imnglno him ua n lover; yet now, why this sinking of her heart? It wns drawing towards sunset a glorious sunset. Tho whole of tho sky died In crimson and gold, tho very veldt reflected tho crimson, so that It looked as If It were bathed lu blood. Bluoboll shuddered as she thought that very soon It might bo. A kopje was before them. nm nf those llttlo hills rising steeply from tho one side, sloping from the other. so common on the Natal veldt. Sud denly, ns Blueboll looked townrds It. n figure on horseback omcrged from behind it, and camo riding straight towards them. Bluebell felt a thrill of nnnovnn nnd aversion run through her, for sho recognized tho rider nt once. It was the millionaire, Gerald Moore. CHAPTER III. Ho rodo forward nnd lifted his lint, putting his horso lu Bluebell's way so that she could not pass. Bluebell fan cied his faco was paler than usual; but his deep, slowly-moving eyes did not move from her face. "Your fnther has sent mo to meet you, Miss Leslie," he siild In his rich, deep tone. "We hnvo heord that tho Boer army has crossed' into Niitnl, nnd Is marching straight on Ladysmlth. It Is not safe for you to bo alone on the veldt." "I nm not alone, thank you, Mr. Mooro," said tho girl, n touch of doll nnco In her tones. "Doctor Rothes" sho turned towards Adair "has kind ly been seeing mo home. He had heard tho news you rotor to." Sho wns struck by tho look on Gor nld Mooro's faco as ho turned to Rothes. Thcro was an almost diaboli cal expression upon It; but It pasaod away so quickly that she could no't havo sworn to It. "I presume that Dr. Rothes will not object to handing you over to ray charge now that you nro within three miles of Now Kelso?" he Bald. It seemed to Bluebell there was uu un dercurrent of cither menace or ditl ancn in his voice. She glanced Into Rothes' faco. lie nat very stiff nnd very erect on Jil3 horse, liU faro turned towards the other man. Bluebell had never not even that night of tho Marltzburg ball seen so stern nnd cold a look upon his facs us that which froze It at this moment. Tho expression startled he still moro now. Was It j.03slblo tht two men knew each other?" "I leave the matter entirely In Miss Leslie's hands, ho said gravely. "If she thinks I have come far enough, I am quite prepared to return to Lady smlth, Moore looked at Bluebell. "You had bettor como with me, Miss Leslie,, nnd allow Dr. Rothe3 to re turn home," ho said; then ndded In a lower tone: "Your father Is not quite himself today. Perhaps you would not care to havo a stranger at New Kelso under the circumstances." Not quite himself! That decided Bluebell. Not for worlds would she have Adair Rothes, whose good opin ion she felt so strangely roluctant to lo3c, see her own father In a half lntoxlcatcd condition, nnd that wa3 evidently what Moore's words Implied. Adam Leslie had nlways been a llt tlo npt to exceed, but It was only of late within the last six months that his danghtor had noticed It. And It Bcemed to her, since tho coming of Gerald Moore that her father had yielded still moro to his unfortunato weakness. "Perhaps you had better not come any further, Doctor Hothes," she said, In a low voice. "If Mr. Mooro Is going to New Kelso, of course he may as well ride with me; but I would Just as soon go by myself. I am not a bit afraid." Rothes took off his hat and held out his hand. For one minute, only one, their horses were close together, and Mooro's was so far apart as to render him out of earshot at least of a whis per. "Good-by," said Rothes, hurriedly and a little hoarsely. "I don't know when I may see you again. God only knows I pray that He may guard and keep you from danger!" He bent a llttlo nearer, and added in a whisper: "As you value your safety and happi ness, beware of that man. I entreat of you td do so. Ho Is a dangerous man. I cannot say more. Good-by good-by." Tho clasp of his Angers on hor hand was to remain there for many days. He rodo off, raising his hnt, and a strange sense of desolation and lone liness fell upon Bluebell. She turned Rover's head and rode on, not glancing at Moore. Adair's words still rang In her cars. "So that Is Doctor Rothes?" said Moore, giving his horso a llttlo cut of the whip that sent him springing on beside Bluebell. "Yes," she said, looking straight Into his faco. "Do you know him?" "I had tho pleasure of meeting him once In Marltzburg," said tho million aire dryly; "but, Miss Leslie, I wish to talk of something olso Just now. Your father has given mo leavo to do so. What do you think has kept mo all this time lingering nbout this district?" Bluebell shook her ruddy brown head. A feeling of vague discomfort and uneasiness shot through her nt tho quostlon; but not In her wildest guess es could sho have arrived within a mile of the truth. Gerald Moore went on slowly: "Tho country will soon be In a fer ment; existence In it will bo danger ous, unsafe. For men this does not matter so much; for women, especially thoso" ho paused and ndded Impres sively "whom we love, It is terrlblo not to bo thought of. Your father wishes you to go out of the country while yet there Is time." (To bo continued.) CJTY OF HONG KONG. It I Una of Vie Molt Unhert ltlif ul Spoil oil (lie Glnlie. In spite of all tho precautions Mi .-if. have been taken, tho nerfect n mil In . tlon of tho city, the flno nntural drain. age, tho cleanliness of the streets, Hong Kong, says tho Boston Trim. script, Is ono of the most unhnnlMirni spots on tho globo. With Its tropical neat, the lofty peaks that half encircle 11 catch tho clouds that tho rniiltl evnti- oration create, tho floods of rain pour- lug down In streaming torrents. Tho houses lack light, althongh they are built as well as Ihey coiiTtl be, with perforated codings, through which tho air circulates, admitted from openings pierced In the outer walls; tho floors are brilliantly waxed, carpeta, owing to tho great dampness being dispensed with. Tho great difficulty Is to secure light and proper ventilation; the streets nro very narrow, and tho tow ering walla of buildings opposlto oh Htruct tho light In front, whllo nt tho rear tho courts or terraces crowded with follago cast a heavy shado from that direction. In tho gardens, whllo plants flourish luxuriantly, thoro Is no grass, but tho ground Is green with moss, Just ns It grows In damp, shady ploccs In cooler climates. Tho heat and tho great humidity nro destruc tive to health, and It Is doubtful If there Is a single normal liver In the wholo of Hong Kong. English womon who come out with complexions of cream and roses grow thin and rial low; tho Hong Kong complexion is a startling grayish' green, and the old re3ldont luis, w,lth his pallor, dark bluish circles under tho eyes. The least oxcrtlon Includes oxhnustlng por splratlon. and peoplo become gaunt and thin. Shut not thy purso strings always ayalnst painted distress. Lamb. THIS HOUSE WR KENT "Just tho thing!" ejaculated David Gregory. He stood looking at the llttlo Queen Anne dovecote on Jackson boulevard with eyes of critical commendation. "Style neighborhood apparent size all satisfactory,' h5 murmured. "Now I'll hunt up the key and take a look at It. Let me see!" Ho moved nearer went up a few steps. There was penciling In one corner of the notlco. "Key ut cottage directly oppo site," ho read. As fate would havo It the door of the cottage across the street opened Jit3t then. An old man appeared. The sight of a stranger scrutinizing the placard In the domi cile to which he po33csscd the key straightway Interested him. lie hob bled over In ati energetic manner. "Beg pardon, sir. Lookln' for a house? Like to go through this one?" The stranger, who looked prosperous and businesslike, turned at once. "Yes, I fancy It Is nbout what I re quire. I will seo It now If you have the key." "No time llko the present, sir," re turned the old chap cheerfully. Ho made a dive Into his pocket and brought up a bunch of string, half a dozen matches, some silver change and a corpulent rubber doll. "This here's my grandchild's," ho explained, "but I don't know how It got into my pocket." A second swoop brought to light the fugitive key. "Now, If you'll go right In, sir, I'll wait here a spell. I Judge folks can make up their inliuls better when they ain't hampered by company. I'll wait here." So Gregory took the extended key, opened tho door, and Inspected from cellar to roof the romantic abode. "Good!" he said to himself. "Elec tric light wood grates stationary re frigeratorgas range. All Is quite as It should be. I'll take It." This ho repeated to the patient In dividual perched on the steps with out. "You aro the owner, I supposo?" "Yes, sir. To speak rightly U's In the old lady's name, but what's hers is mine, you know." Hl3 senile old laugh cackled out on the bluo air. "Kitty dollars a month that's It. A deposit? Well, lt'3 customary. Thank you, sir. And this Is your card and olllce address. I'll bring the contract around ono of these days." "You'll see that the placard Is taken down?" "I'll attend to that yes, sir. And what's that?" "That" was a piercing yell from tho cottage across the street. "Pa!" it wailed. "0, pa! She's swallowed a thimble or someth-l-ng. O, pa!" The old man limped down the step3 In trembling haste. "It's my grandchild!" the explana tory wall drifted back to Gregory. "I was showing you her rubber doll. I'm coming, ma I'm coming." The frantic female on the threshold sent him running for a physician. By the tlmo the doctor had come and re moved the obstruction In the child's throat tho minor matter of having tented tho residence across the way had quite escaped the memory of old Isaac Harvey. "Now you get good and ready," his wife advised, "and take this child straight out to Park Bide to Sarah. Tell her we'd llko to keep Armndora with us right along, but that, what with her scalding her self the day before yo3terday trying to give the cat a bath, nnd getting out on the roof to fire down tho chimney bricks that wasi yesterday and swal lowing all kinds of things today, that to keep her longer here will glvo mo nervous prostrntlon. Tell our daugh ter Hint. And tell her, too, that Ar madora ain't much different from what sho wa3 at the same age. Now you go, pa!" Whoreat pa" obediently went. And during his absence hU amiable but much-tried spouse rented the house that was her particular property to ono Mr. William Hazleton. "There were two keys hanging here," she remarked In bewilderment. "1 suppose he's got one in his pocket. Pa's memory nln't what It used to bo. Yc3 ?30. And a deposit down, sir, If It suits you." "It Biilts," he decided twenty min utes later. Ho handed her In the key. "I can have possession, I suppose, be fore tho 1st of May?" "Any tlmo, sir. Ten? That's all right, thank you. Yes, I'll tako the placard down." Which she soon after dIJ. Now, Isaue Harvey, while engaged In transferring his nudaciou3 small granddaughter tu the homo of her parents, was foolish enough to fling hjs overcout back and stand enjoying the lako breezes mi tha jldatTorm of the ear as tho Illinois Central train rushed southward. In the meantime Miss Armadora flattened her noso against tho window pane, which looked out upon tho pulsing blue-green waters, Jii3t freeing themselves from winter bondage. This rashness on tho part of Mr. Harvey wns promptly paid for by his going to bed with a chill on his arrival rt I'nrksldc. Pneumonia supervened beforo he could return home. It Is really unnecessary to say moro of Mr. Harvey, But during his enforced nbsonco from homo fato was playing trlck3 be hind his back. Who would havo sup posed that the mother of David Greg ory would bo called east on business nnd the threo Interesting cherubs of William Hazlcton's sister succumb to nui nips on the same day? "Don't worry," David advised his mother, as ho saw hor on board tho Pennsylvania limited. "I'll Kot tho fur nljure Into the n-tw placo If you're not back In tlmo. Ono can pay competent packers to attend to ihat sort of thing nowadays. It will be all right." And away went tho train. "Munipj!" echoed William Ilazloton when he called at his sUtor'a. "And Rodney away? And tho moving to be done? All three of them down phow! Well, I'll get tho first load In nnd tho carpets down. I'm on duty now until the afternoon. You look, after the babies. I'll see to the rest." "You're the dearc3t boy, Will " "That's all right. You're lucky I picked up tho place for you. If you were to wait until Rodney got home everything desirable would be gob bled up. This little nest will suit you and your blessed trinity down to the ground see If It doesn't!' So It happened on ono Inspiring spring morning, when the lako wns. bluo and tho sky bluer und the air ro3lly golden, that a ftirnlturo van pulled up before tho Queen Anno cot tage. "This house, driver!" called David Gregory. Tho van backed up to the sidewalk J list as a furniture van crawled lazily from the opposite direction. A slim young man came striding along the sidewalk and paused on tho sidewalk before the canary yellow cot tage. He twirled his cano watching the advancing wagon. It came creep ing along after the manner of con veyances .hired by the hour. "Ill, driver here!" called Hazleton, and pointed with his cano. That other van there! Some ono else wa3 moving In the samo block. Ho turned, draw ing a key from Ma pocket. He went up the steps and met David Gregory coming down. "Mr. Hazleton!" ejaculated Gregory. "Mr. Gregory!" exclaimed Hazleton. "May I ask what brings you here?" demanded Gregory magnificently. From his point of vantage on tho higher step he looked down on tho in truder. "Certainly, sir. I have rented this house, sir." "Rented nothing! I have made a payment on the rent of this house, sir." "On what date, may I ask?" The tone was Icily polite. "You are at liberty to ask." The other was consulting bis notebook. He held an open page extended. "This Is tho date, sir," he said. "Ah! The very day upon which I decided the house would suit me. I keep no notebooks, but I have a mem ory, thntik goodness." "I also." There was a significant glare in tho eyes of the speaker. "I reserve my memory, however, to recall personal deceit, sir tho deceit of ono formerly esteemed a friend." The bluo sky deepened in tint. The rose sunshine grew warmer. "You refer to me, I presume?" "I refer to you." Then wcro fierce glances exchanged and angry look3 bandied. Then was wrath rampant. Then did belligerency impend. None, noting the antagonistic attitude, demeanor, expression of both, would havo dreamed that three short months ago they had been "Dave" and "Will" to each other, and had taken upon themselves tho roles of tho te doutablo Damon and Pythias. But this was before each discovered the other was in love with Alerta Ray. "I rented this house!" declared Mr. Gregory. "I rented It!" assorted Mr. Ilazlo ton. It does not make a difference whete the accent Is placed. Mr. Gregory's being on the verb, and that of Mr. Hazleton on tho personal pronoun clashed, and like striking flies emitted sparks. "On tho 23th of Mnrch," avowed Mr. Gregory. "On the 2Sth of Mnrch," solemnly stated Mr. Hazleton. "At tho house ncross tho street, where I paid a deposit!" roared Mr. Gregory. "It was thero I paid a deposit!" In sisted Mr. Hazleton. And now It was his turn to place emphasis on tho per sonal pronoun. "Say, boss!" Tho appeal camo from the curbstone. "Where does this truck go?" "You-h, mlstah!" camo another mellifluous shriek. "Wha-h you want mo to toto dem chnyahs?" Whereat, tho two men on tho steps turned with one nccord upon the two men on tho sidewalk, and In language Inelegant but expresslvo nbjurcd them to hold their rcspeetlvo tongues. But even whllo they were In tho midst of their vituperation which certainly must have served as a safety vnlvo n coupe, driven slowly along the boule. vard. drew up beforo tho Queen Anno nbode. From tho window a charm ing faco looked forth, a young, glow ing face, full of interest nnd pleasure. "Alerta Hay!" breathed Gregory, "Alerta Rayt" whispered Hazleton. The door of tho ooupo swung back. A spruce young fellow handed out a Bayly gowned figure The folds of her "pastel" gown a dull, entrancing blue trailed aftor her as sho came up the steps. Her chiffon hat curved over a sparkling face. Tho ro3y tint of Tier fresh cheeks glowed through her veil like a peach In a net-covered basket. "Mr. Gregory! Mr. Hazleton! Why, what n nurpriae!" A trifle bewildered, tho men bared their heads and clasped the little glov ed hand co cordially extended. "How is it we meet you hero?" sho rattled on. "George engaged this house O, I beg your pardon, dear! Permit me to make formal Introduc tions! I do not think cither of you gentlemen have met my husband, Mr. Millard Indeed, It la not tho function ono expects our wedding. To bo frank," blushing and dimpling de lightfully, "we eloped. And now, Gccrge Mr. Gregory Mr. Hazleton, George! how ntupld I am growing! now that Mr. Millard has taken this dear little placo I can almost feel ro mantic. Hero It will not be so dim cult to Imagine that wo are actually "Bowcred In roses and covered with thatch, After tho fun of a runaway match! "Eh, George?" She looked up at her husband with mischievous eyes. "You aro always right, dear. Tho agent on La Salle street was not suro that the place might be rented by other parties beforo we got out. Come, lovo." Ho produced a key from which a paper tag dangled. Seeing the door open, ho put It back In his pocket. HU pretty wlfo had reached tho topmost step nnd was looking down upon tho waiting vans ;md tho Impatient driv ers. "To whom do all the30 thlug3 bs long. Georgle?" "Not to you nor I love. Wo have tha pleasant task of selection still before us. Como In nnd see your new-found kingdom. Then, 'Wclcomo home!'" ho said, and tho two without heard distinctly tho sound of a long klsj. They looked blankly at ono another. "Sho told me thoro was another man," whispered Gregory. "I thought sho meant you." "She told me tho same," groaned Hazleton. "I never dreamed of any ono but you!" "Will!" "Dave!" Their hands met. "What a pair of fools we-vo been!" commented Gregory. "I rented tho house for my mother." "And I for my Bister." "All wo can do now is to havo tho furniture carted back." "And hunt up other residences." "And havo the old duck refund our deposits if he will." "0, never mind about that! Lot'a send those poor devils off." "And then go and dine at tho club together." "I'm with you, old boy!" They were gazing nt tha departing vans, when from the house came a silvery peal of laughter. Tho men looked at each other. "If she bo not fair for mo," began Hazleton. "What caro I how fair sho be," con cluded Gregory. Thero was a rustle of a sllk-llned skirt In tho vestibule. Two palr3 of feet clattered down the steps. Two manly forms strode off sldo by side. "We were sold!" declared Gregory. "At a flro sale!" agreed Hazleton. Chicago Tribune. Queer Money. Europeans trading In China nro re duced to great straits for money. Eng lish gold will always pass; but U scarce. In largo trading undertakings, bars of pure gold, weighing thirteen ounces are recognized as official ex change. Gold leaf Is used by bankers for smaller amounts. Inland, where gold of nny kind Is rarely seen, horseshoe-shaped pieces of silver, weighing five to fifty ounces, are used. Some trading corporatlona havo been forced to Issue bank notes and tokens made of bamboo slips; but tho mistrustful Chinaman Is very chary of accepting these, so their circulation Is limited to ono town, sometimes to a single street. In the now colony of Urgandn, west of the great African lakes, there was practically no colnago but shells. As these aro bulky, and therefore Incon venient, Europenns havo started a. new system. Needles nnd cloth aro nowcurrentcverywhere. Three needles will purchnso ono chicken, one needle two eggs, whilst a cow cost fifty yards of cotton cloth. Shells, however, con tinue to do duty aa small change, a3 many as a hundred going to ono needle. New IIUlio) ot Columbu. Tho'Rt. Rev. Henry Moeller.the new ly appointed Catholic bishop ot Colum bus, lias been chancellor of tho arch diocese of Clnclnnntl for over twenty years. IIo was born In Cincinnati In IS 10, and was ono of tho first studenta In the American College at Rome. In 1S79 ho left his pastoral duties at Bellefontalne, Ohio, to become secre tary to Bishop Chatard. Since 18S0 he has been with Archbishop Elder of Cincinnati. Spin Knrlr nn Hour. Arovldenco (R, I.) man has In vented a top which will spin AS min utes, la of steel, three Inches across, nnd the inventor has made nearly 100 top3 trying to form ono which would spin n full hour. An ordinary twirl with tho fingers Is sufficient to spin tho top ten or fifteen minutes. But Its best work Is dono when the affair Is wound with twine three feet or bo. Financial Nlrlnceucr. Dick "I lost J30.000 In less than half a minute last night." Fred "How did it happen?" Dick "I proposed to Miss Bullion and sho said No. "Chi cago N0W3