THE NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
VISIT TO SPIDER'S JAIL
L ft ijiHBBIHWpBBB
There Was the Sandman, Jumping Up and Down on the Library Table and
Laughing Just as Hard as Ever He Could.
Neither Johnnlo nor Jesslo could
tell Just when the Sandman came Into
jthe sitting room the next night, so of
courso they did not know how ho
came. Perhaps It was down the chim
ney and perhaps It vas through tho
(Window or tho door, but, anyway,
there he was, jumping up and down
ton the corner of tho library table and
laughing Just as hard as ever ho
could. He waved his hand to Jesslo
and as soon as he could stop his
laughing long enough to speak he
dumped clear across from the table to
the arm of the big chair In front of
the flro place, and began to tell tho
Twins all about the joko he had
played on a mean old wasp that after
noon. He told them that the wasp had
tried to bite him and he had thrown
the old wasp into tho spider's jail, and
Jthere ho was this vory minute, all tied
up with a lot of rope. Wasn't that
funny?
Of courso Mother Dear was sitting
In the big chair with her dear little
Twins, but she did not seo the Sand
.man, becauso ho does not -let grown
up folks see him, and ho talks so that
only the children can hear. When the
Sandman asked tho Twins to go for a
lllttle walk and see the wasp In tho
Jail they were very glad to go, and
'Mother Dear thought they had only
,gono to sleep.
So they put on tho two little caps
with tho tiny sllvor bolls on the vej-y
,tlp top, and then they were no bigger
than the Sandman. When they were
fall ready the Sandman put ono foot
lin his pocket and jumped up and
down on the other, all the time saying
"Osky Wow Wow, Skinny Wow Wow,"
land in a mlnuto all three of them
jwere way out in tho barn where Dad
idy kept tho horse and the cow. They
stopped over In ono corner and
Ithere they saw a most tremendous
isplder web all made out of silver
'threads. It looked as big as a circus
tent, and every thread seemed like a
Jblg rope of sllvor, and the ropes were
all covered with things Uko books,
having very sharp points.
Something all wrapped up with tho
silver ropes was making an awful
noise over In one corner of the spider
web. It looked almost as large as a
Iblg dog and it buzzed very loud and
tried to bite tho ropes. The Sandman
'laughed again when he heard this loud
noise, and he walked over and poked
I the animal with a little stick. My,
jhow it dldibuzz and wiggle.
"That is the wasp that tried to blto
mo this morning," said tho Sandman.
"He Is a cross rascal and I am just
, going to have tho spider keep him
itled up there all night, so that he will
remember not to bite anybody after
;thls."
Jessie was sure that she did not
,llko spiders, so Bhe moved around be
ihlnd tho Sandman, and looked care
fully about her.
"I do not seo any spider here," she
said, and I do not bellevo that she
(wanted to see ono clthor, do you?
"Ho Is taking a little nap way back
at the end of that long tunnel you aeo
4in tho middle of his web," replied tho
Sandman. "I could bring him out horo
(very quickly if I were to pull ono of
jthoso silver ropes, but I would rather
Jot him sleep until ho has some work
ito do. Supposo wo go and try to find
,a robber fly and then chaso him up
hero for tho spider to put in Jail."
Of course tho Twins thought that
would bo lots of fun, eo away they
.went, out back of tho barn, to
ia great big pllo of dirty straw
iand pretty soon they came to a sort
lot opening down In It. Tho Sand
Iman lenned over this holo and
illstened, and so did tho Twins. Way
down deep they heard a funny sort of
WITH THE SANDMAN
singing like tho insldo of a beehive,
and then out of tho holo popped a
brand new fly, just born.
My gracious, but he was a whopper,
and ho almost frightened Jesslo so
that sho cried, for you must remem
ber that she was not vory big when
sho had tho Sandman's cap on, and
she kept forgetting that tho fly could
not seo her or hurt her whon sho was
with tho Sandman.
This fly was lots bigger than tho
AntB I told you about Ih the first
story. He had a, great long tongue,
almost as long as a piece of gardon
hose, and he kept it rolled up in his
mouth Just like your Daddy rolls up
his hose. Ho had two great big eyes
that stuck out on tho sides of his head
as big as rubber balls, and each eye
had hundreds and hundreds of little
eyos all over It, so that ho could seo
bettor. That Is why it Is so hard for
you to catch a fly with your hands. Ho
can see behind him as well as ho
can see In front, and ho can Jump and
fly away quicker than a wink.
Besides the funny tongue and tho
funny eyes, this fly had two of tho lov
liost wings, that you could see right
through, and they wero colored just
Hko the rainbow. When ho folded
thorn up thoy wore right on top of IiIb
back, and that was whero ho had
them when ho crawled out of tho pile
of -straw and Bat still In the sun to
dry his wings, for thoy wero vory now
and wet.
As soon as they were dry he spread
thorn out and flew away. Llko all
other fllos ho was vory naughty, and
probably you would like to know Just
what he was going to do. First ho flew
over and lighted on (he old horse's
back and bit him real hard, and then
ho went over and bit the poor cow.
Wasn't that too bad! They chased
him away by switching their tails at
him, so ho hurried over to tho
screen door that led Into tho kitchen
and the vory minute tho door was
opened, in ho slipped, as sly as you
please.
There on the table was some nice
cake for supper, so ho went over and
lighted on that and ate some of it
without asking permission of any
body. After this ho crept Into tho garbage
pall where he got his foot very dirty
and then ho flew right over to Ilttlo
baby brother In the high chair and
wiped them on baby's face.
Tho Sandman was angry when ho
saw the fly do all theso naughty tricks
and he made up his mind that this fly
would have to go to jail. Ho slipped
up beside the fly and whispered in his
oar that there was some sugar out In
tho barn and ho had bettor hurry up
and get It. The fly Jumped up Into tho
air as soon as ho heard about tho
sugar and flow out to the barn and
the Twins and tho Sandman went right
after him to see tho fun. As soon as
tho Bplder heard tho fly coming ho
poked his shining gold head out of his
tunnel and the fly saw It and thought
It was sugar so ho flew right over and
lighted on tho spider's net.
Thoro he stuck fast becauso whon
ho tried to got away the hooks on tho
net hold him tight, and tho great big
red and gold and black spider skipped
across tho web und tied tho naughty
fly up with a whole lot of his sllvor
rope. And that served him Just right
(CopyrlKht, WIS. bv JoseDh H Dowles )
Carnivorous.
A teacher In New Jersey was hear
ing hor claaa In natural history reclto,
and calling up a bright-looking lltUd
girl, asked: "What is a ruminating
animal?"
"One 'that chows her cubs," waa tho
Innocent roply. Congregatlonallat,
WAS AN OLD YALE MAN
By C. B. LEWIS.
There was but ono passenger to
alight at Snow Hill, In tho cattle .and
Indian country, and that won Miss Ilea
slo Vaughn of Chicago. Her school
mate, Nottlo Long, whoso father owned
and managed the big Long ranch, and
who was now living with him In tho
wilds, had written that a person would
moot Besslo at Snow Hill with a buck
board and bring her safely to tho
ranch. The "person" proved to bo a
young man of twenty-llvo, dressed ns
a cowboy, but having rather a distin
guished look about him. Whllo ho wns
hastening along tho platform and yot
thirty feet away, the girl acknowledged
to herself that his features wero good
and that his face showed character
and ambition. I'crhapa it was for
thoso reasons that, whllu ho wbb cover
ing the other thirty feot Miss Bessie
suddenly decided that ho ought to be
snubbed.
"This is Miss Vaughn of Chicago, 1
presume?" ho said, as ho lifted hie
hat and smiled a welcome
What right had ho to presume? By
what right did ho smile a welcomo and
scorn ready to shake hands? Tho girl
looked coldly at him and slightly nod
ded her head, and that was snub No.
1. The young man took It so, but,
though ho colored up, ho did not loso
his smile.
"You will glvo mo your checks,
pleneo, and I will put your trunks
abonrd and wo will bo off."
Thero was a touch of authority In
his tones that nettled tho girl, and bIio
turned away and delivered up tho
checks with hor own hand. She would
also have loaded tho trunks on tho
vehicle If sho had been strong enough.
Snub No. 2 had followed fast on tho
heels of snub No. 1.
"Wo have fifteen miles to drive," ob
served tho young man, ns they got
seated.
No reply. Snub No. 3.
"I take it that you have never visit
ed this section boforo?" was remarked
after tho sllenco had lasted for a mile.
"No." ,
"But I trust you will And novelty
and pleasure."
Miss Bessie lookod straight ahead
and shut hor teeth hard. What was
it to ono of Colonel Long's hired men
whether sho enjoyed tho west or not?
Tho man was presumptuous, and eho
meant her sllenco to bo another snub.
Whether It was taken or not, it was
not moro than flvo minutes before a
voice which had a touch of tho pater
nal In it remarked:
"You don't look overly well, and a
couple of months of this bracing at
mosphere will do you a world of good."
"Sir, are you a practicing physi
cian?" asked Miss Bessie, as she
turned to look the young man square
In the eyas. ,
"Well, no," he slowly replied.
"Then you need not bother to tako
charge of my health."
That was what the boys would havo
called a settler, and It hung the young
man up for tho next ton minutes.
Whon ho spoke again, however, it was
as if nothing had happened.
"It was on that hill over there," ho
qulotly said, ae ho pointed with his
whip, "that four of our men wero sur
rounded by fifty Indian warriors two
years ago."
Miss Bessie deliberately turned to
look In tho opposite direction, and she
folt that ho was smiling as he con
tinued. "Ono of tho boys was killed, but
thoy killed twelve Indians and held
their ground all day."
What wbb It to her whether one or
tho wholo four cowboys wero killed?
Indeed, she found herself almost wish
ing that all had been wiped out. Sho
hadn't tho slightest interest In tho af
fairnot that day."
"And over thero in that valley Is
where a drovo of steers ran over and
trampled tho llfo out of two of our
men last spring. Wo didn't even And
their boots."
MIb8 Besslo looked straight ahead
and made no reply.
"And you wouldn't believe, would
you, that this Insignificant creek we
aro crossing was a mile wldo and ten
feet deep last May? We lost a thou
sand head of stock In that flood."
Sttll no reply. It was snub after
snub, and sho meant to tiro him out.
This tlmo tho sllenco lasted for fifteen
minutes, and sho it was who broke it
at last. The horsos had shied at a
coyote dodging for covor and started
away on a tearing gallop. The young
man kept them on the trail, but made
not tho slightest effort to check tho
pace. On tho contrary, he hummed a
popular nlr as they lay down to their
work. The visitor stood It as long as
sho could, and then turned and ex
claimed: "Can't you seo that tho horses aro
running away?"
"I havo seen It for some time, past,"
ho qulotly replied.
"Then why don't you stop them?"
"I will If you wish, but a run of a
few miles won't hurt thorn any."
Sho did wish it from tho bottom of
hor heart, for tho vehicle was Jump
ing Uko a goat and It took both hands
to hold her hat on hor head, but sho
gritted her tooth and decided to be
smashed into Jam boforo sho would
prefer tho request. Tho horses ran
for thrco or four mllca and then eo
bored down, and tho girl folt that sho
had snubbed tho young man again by
not being afraid.
"Who Is that man you sent to tho
dopot after mo?" sho asked of hor
schoolmate, almost beforo sho had
taTton off her hat.
"Who? Why, that's Tom. Ill form
ally intioduco you somo day."
"Tou needn't mind. I formd hitu
rather presumptuous and hod to snub
him.
"Tom presumptuous? Why, bo's tho
nicest "
And thou Bhe suddenly skipped to
somo other subject and Tom was for
gotten till next day, when ho was
bold enough to npproach Miss Bessie
as sho was alono for a momont nud
ask:
"What sort of a gait do you prefer
In a horse a trot or a lope? I am to
Belect one for jou today."
"Thank you, but you needn't go to
any troublo on my account," was tho
roply, and Tom ought to havo folt
duly crushed as ho walked away.
He was not seen again for four days,
duty having called him away. Tho
two girls rode out overy day on ponies
selected for them, and oii the fourth
occasion something happened. Tho
pony ridden by Miss Htoslo suddenly
bolted, and when sho found him be
yond control she could only cling to
the saddlo and hope he would tire
himself out aftor running n couplo of
lnllfs. But ho didn't. Ho kept a
straight courso und a headlong gallop
for mllo after mile, and tho girl waa
thinking of throwing herself from tho
saddlo when a cow pony rangod up
beside her, a hand grasped her looeo
rein, and a voice said In her ear:
"Keep your head. Miss Vauchn. I
could pull him down and end his run
hero, but thero Is need of even more
speed."
"W-what Is It?" sho aBked as sho
turned hor head and saw Tom bcsldo
her.
"Indians. There aro flvo or alx In
chaso of us, and I am racing for that
hill with the rockB on It. Cling tightly
and don't bo afraid."
After a terrific pao for another
mile both animals were suddenlx
pulled up, and dismounting and lifting
tho .girl from tho snddlo, Tom half
pulled hor up tho steep side of tho
hill to tho shelter of tho rocks.
"Wo aro all right now," ho cheor
fully said, "but you keop crouched
down till I havo a little talk with thoso
noblo red men."
Tho "talk" waa his Winchester, and
beforo It was over bo had killed ono
and wounded nnothor. Their loss, to
gether with tho alarm of tho firing,
sent tho remaining Indians scurrying
away.
At the ranch house, aftor tho story
had been told, Miss Besslo asked for
tho second time:
"Who Is this man Tom?"
"Why, he'a an old Yalo man and be
longs to one of tho best families In
tho cast Ho came out hero for his
health, you soo. Did you havo to snub
him again today?"
"II don't think so."
"But aro you going to somo other
day?"
-'No, norer again. I'm so Borry and
ashamed and I think think "
Well, there's a rumor afloat, and it
may bo true.
MOST VENOMOUS OF LEECHES
Scientists of Java Have Experience
With the Deadliest Kind of This
Particularly Loathsome Creature.
Dr. Andrles Verhagen of Eatavla,
Java, was directed by tho government
of the Netherlands to go to tho eastern
end of Sumatra to study a terrible epi
demic of berl-berj which had broken
out there. Tho ship in which ho sailed
was wrecked, and ho and a young as
sistant offered to go Into tho interior
to seek assistance.
For about ton minutes thoy strug
gled through a donso and swampy jun
gle. Suddenly tho younger man cried
out with pain. Going to his aldt Doc
tor Verhagen noticed three leetches at
tached to his arm. Thoy wore of a
venomous variety that cling to tho
lowe? branches of the bushes awaiting
their proy and, not content with gorg
ing themselves on blood, lnjoct into
tho wound a poison that causes acuto
pain.
Whllo Doctor Verhagen was helping
his assistant Innumerable leeches at
tached themselves to his face and
neck. To free him from them tho
young man had to scrape his akin with
a sharp stone. Exhausted by loss of
blood, tho doctor' managed to crawl
back to the wreck of the ship, where
be fainted. He was taken to a hos
pital the following day and It was sev
eral weeks before ho recovered. One
of his eyeballs woe totally destroyed
by the terrible leeches, Its socket Do
ing loft empty.
Electric Poultices for Colds.
Doctors aro recommending to pa
tlents suffering from stiff necks, bruis
es, and similar ailments tho electric
poultice, a new and Ingenious Inven
tion calculated to tako tho ploco of the
bread and Unseed variety.
It consists of flexible electric wlrca
covered with asbestos and wrnpped up
In a pad or cushion. Tho poultlco ia
connected by wlro to an ordinary elec
tric light switch, and It retains tho cor
rect temperature all night. There are
three grades of temperature, regulated
by a switch, tho highest grado being
ICO degrecB Fahreinheit.
Tho Initial cost of tho poultlco la
30s., and It lasts for llfo. Its running
cobI is roughly 4d. an hour, varying
according to tho chnrgos of tho elec
tric light company. Tho poultices may
be obtained in any oizo or shape.
Dally Mail.
Not Too Tough.
"We will havo boofsteak for ,tha
piece do resistance tonight." ,
"Try to got somo that won't offer
too much resistance, my dear."
A RIoL
Eddlo My fnthor put down a dis
turbance Inst night.
Freddlo Is that right?
Eddie Yos; ho ato a Wolah rnbblL
White Satin With Tunic of Black Chiffon
m Wf
JB fi r H
IF you are looking for a tasteful and
brilliant gown, which will always
look well, tho model shown In tho pic
ture will hold your attention. Tho
combination of black and whlto is al
ways good, to begin with, and its lines
nro cbnsorvntive, following thoso of
tho flguro vaguely and simply. Thoro
is nothing startling In tho costumo,
except Its beauty.
Nothing could bo plainer than tho
tunic of black chiffon. Tho placing of
tho awansdown trimming is so obvious
that It might havo been done by an
amateur, except that nn amateur
would not havo thought of terminating
it at tho waist lino, or of using a
black volvot girdle.
Tho under bodlco Is nn easy-fitting
blouso opening at tho front over a sur
plice of flno whlto laco. Tho littlo
coat of black chiffon lies smoothly
over It, but develops a littlo fullness
below tho waist lino. Tho girdle of
crushed velvet encircles tho flguro
easily at the normal waist lino and
fastens at tho left under a big volvot
roso In any color you like. Tho tur
ban and slippers worn with this gown
Rompers for
THE most sensible garb for tho littlo
girl from throo to six or seven
years old, consists of a blouso and
bloomers, In which sho can havo as
much freedom as hor young brother.
Thero Is very littlo dlfferqnco in tho
cut of tho blouses for littlo boys and
girls, and tho materials used for thorn
aro tho same. In making boys' sultB
Bmall kneo pants are substituted for
bloomers, as a rulo, although bloomers
of scant fullness aro qulto ub appro
priate, and somo mothers prefer them.
Now Is tho tlmo to prepare the lit
tlo folks' wardrobo for tho coming
spring and summer. Good, substantial
materials, shrunk boforo thoy aro cut,
fast colors, and patterns of simple de
sign, mark tho cholco of women of
taste in theso matters.
Tho romper suit Illustrated horo Is
mado pf a good quality of plaid glng
hnm, trimmed with, plain gingham.
Tho colors, In which bluo predom
inates, aro not glaring, but strong and
permanent. If washed with caro thoy
do not fado much, and what lltto
chango is mado In them does not do
tract from their good effect as tlmo
passes. Thoy will not stand tho strong
bleaching solutions used by somo laun
dries and nothing olso will.
All tho standard pattern makors
provldo satisfactory pattorns for theso
romper suits. It Is In tho cholco of
materials and color that ono has an
opportunity to exorclso individual
tasto. Thoy nro to bo-made with tho
fact always In mind that they must
ntnnd much tubbing,
Tho sowing on thorn Is always neat
carry out tho black and whlto Idea In
theso dotatlB, and tho handsome black,
satin bag belongs In tho schomo. Tho
Bllppors aro of whlto satin with rot
sottes of black velvet contored with a
rhlnostono cnbochon.
Tho turban has a coronet of stool
beads and crown of black velvot Tho
coronet supports a tuft of black fancy
foathors.
No detail of tho wholo toilette Is
neglected; oven tho strand of beads
of whlto spar could hardly bo spared
from tho ensemble. But by way ot
color tho roso and tho beads may ba
ot tho samo color and might bo nmbor,
or garnet or any color which tholr
wearer affects as a favorlto.
Ono might havo a portrait made in
such a gown, qulto confident that lb
will always appeal to tho artistic sonso
as beautiful. And furthor, as fashions,
and styles como and go, no matter'
what tho changes may bo, this cos-,
tumo will mark its designer as a far-1
slghtod artist with a keen instinct for
onduring hues and color. Somo things,'
evon in apparel, are staple.
JULIA BOTTOMLEY.
the Little Girl
ly dono machlno stitching. It often,
provos something of a decoration and
adds to tho shapeliness and strength
of tho garment. Plain bluo or other
solid colors In gingham Is prettily or
namented with parallel rows of stitch
ing. Strong, plain linen In natural color
Is a splendid fabric for rompers.
Thoro aro narrow braids which may
bo applied to them by way of finish
ing. In order that garments trimmed
with theso wash braids may keep
tholr shapo, tho braids as well as tho
materials Bhould bo shrunk before us
ing them.
There Is a variety of attractive ma
terials to chooso from for making
thoso suits percalos, chambrays,
madras, linen, etc. It takes littlo ma
terial to mako them, and a generous
supply can bo provided for tho com
ing season at a small cost. They
Bhould bo made qulto largo enough to
allow for a littlo growth on tho part
of tho rapidly growing youngster.
JULIA BOTTOMLEY.
Tunics.
Thoy may startle.
Thoy may bo flaring.
Thoy may oven bo triple
Thoy mny mako tho gods woop.
But tjhey need not bo terrifying.
Thero aro sane, harmless littlo tu.
nlcn.
Thero nro soft, graceful tunics sans
wires.
Tunics may bo plain, or edged with
fur or a ruflla