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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 2, 1920)
NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRTP.UNE. WOODEN SPOIL (Copyright 1010. by George IT. tUM''l)IUtlUtWllUlll)llllll't'''l'l''"''l',l""""11' "DO NOT PRESUME TO SPEAK TO ME ANY MOREI" Synopsis. Hilary Askow, young Amorican, comes Into possession of tho timber and othor rights on o considerable section of wooded land In Quebec tbe Itosny seigniory. Lumartlne, his uncle's lawyer, tolls him tho property Is of little vnluo. Ho visits It, nnd finds Morris, tho manager, away. From Lafo Conncll, mill foreman, Askew lenrns his uncle has boon systematically robbed. Askow and Conncll reach an understanding, and Askow roallzes tho oxtont of the fraud practiced on his undo. Askow learns that Morris, whllo manager of his (Askow'a) property, la associated with tho Sto. Mario company, a rival con cern, of which Kdouard Broussoau is tho ownor. Hilary discharges Morris and makes Conncll manager. Asker aiscovors a gang of Hrousseau's men cutting timber on his property, Aftflr nn altercation ho Is compelled to engago In a ftstlo battlo with "Hlack Plcrrtj," tho leador, and whips him. He also clashes with Loblanc, his boss JoDocr, CHAPTER IV-Contlnued. IIow far could ho count on thcix,? To tho Inst penny, perhaps, nnd liter ally. Their Jobs would hold them to him in eplto of Brousscnu, just so Ioiir an their wages were forthcoming. Probably nine-tenths of them resent ed his presence In their country. Ills victory over Blnck Plerro had raised him in their estimation; they might hate him lnstcnd of despising him, but that was nil. TIo could count on the devotion and faithfulness of perhaps one man besides Lafo Connell little Bnptlste Th( gang vrnn hard at work below the dam, strengthening tle structure of the boom. Itlvlere Itochcuse, pour ing down from tho foothills of tho Laurentlnns, speeds with great forco through the gorge above St. Boniface, widens opposite tho settlement, and, gathering Its waters there, shoots straight ns n dart over tho broken cliff Into the gulf. If, when tho jam wa3 broken, tho pressure of tho great mass of logs proved too strong for tho boom, In Btcad of passing Into tho flume they would pour over tho cataract Into tho 8t Lawrence, whero their retrieval would bo Impossible. Such an acci dent had happened on a small scale once before. If It should happen now the loss would end all Hilary's hopes. SIo was glad Baptlste had seen this. Hilary searched for tho figure of tho Utile timekeeper and general utility man, but failed to find It. lie ascended tlio hill beside tho rush ing cataract. lie was crossing the Waste land where tho logs and tin cans were strewn when ho saw Jean Marle. Tho little man was engaged In earnest conversation with Black Plerro behind a shed. Blnck Plerro seemed to bo protesting vigorously. Tho presence of tho mnn beside Bnp tlste carao to ntlury with a shock. Without changing his paco he ad vanced toward them, In his mind re peating Lnfo's advice over nnd over. He was still Inwardly quivering, yet trying to appear unconcerned, when tho two perceived him. Pierre turned toward him with n scowl on his bruised face. Ills eyes wero black ened, and ho looked the Incarnation of malignancy. He spoke to Baptlsto quickly, nnd to Hilary's surprlso Baptlste, without ac knowledging his presence, walked slowly away with him. Baptlsto's sudden departure puzzled Hilary a good deal at the time, and much more afterward. CHAPTER V. It- Maria Dupont Lafcwns as despondent as Hilary vcr Leblanc's trenchery. Hilary had only ono cause for satisfaction lu the situation, nnd thnt was a purely porsonnl one. Ho was glad that Le blanc's cancellation of the contract hnd left the Chateau grounds Immune, and o hnd neutralized Brousscnu's first move In the campaign. What galled him wns tho reflection that in this fight which Broussoau hnd thrust upon him he was lighting Madeleine too. no shrank from tho thought of Madeleine Itosny as Brous scnu's wife; ho tried to think of her as' sacrificing herself for her father's sake. But this plcturo would not hold together; Bho wns most ovklently ac quainted with Brousscnu's designs, nnd approved of them. On tho dny aftor the Interview with Leblanc a new development occurred Lafe, who had been grumbling all day, mio Into tho olllco and flung down his hat In utter dejection, "Something now?" asked nilnry. "There's talk of a strike," Bald Lnfe In disgust. "Bvousscuu has had his men at work amoug 'em, and they're saying thnt you're keeping wages down, nnd that Brousscnu would glvo two dollars a day If you would." "Ho wants to get into my capital, eh?" "It's Just ono way of hitting us. I tett you, Mr. Askow, it's a tough Job we've taken on. You know these men ain't got sense. Simoon Duval has been handing out freo drinks in thnt Bhetnsen of his at Ste. Marie, and toll ing them what a hard master you are, nnd they're just swallowing It." "We'll faco that troublo when It do; vclops," answered Hilary. But Hilary did somo hard thinking, and It settled about Dupont. If Brous seau could buy out Dupont ho was finished; ho could nevor get a lumber schooner thnt year, and he must get out 8omo shipments boforo navigation closed s no .decided to appeal to Fa- By VICTOR ROUSSEAU ILLUSTRATIONS BY IR.WIN MYER9 Doran Co.) 3fl ther Luclcn to help him out In this difficulty. But Father Luclen forestalled him with n visit thnt evening. He was agreeably surprised by tho warmth of his welcome, heard Hilary attentively, nnd at once volunteered to nsslst him. "But there will bo no trouble, mon sieur," he said. "Cnptaln Dupont Is independent, nnd ho docs not love the Sto. Mario people. "Father Luclen." said nilary. "I was going to have n talk with you later about certain things thnt are ob jectionable tho llqour trade, for In stance." Father Luclen stopped and thumped his stick upon the chlpstrewn sand. "Now that Is exactly what was In my mind when I started out to seo you today, Monsieur Askew," he an swered. "They are bad people over at Ste. Marie, and they aro making St. Bonlfnco as bad as they are. They laugh at me when I speak to them. It Is bad ; but It cannot go on. Monsieur Askew, ns I snld to you tho day I see you, I 'ope wo shall bo frlcn's. Now I know we shall be, and, please God, we shall jxt least keep tho brandy out of St. Boniface." They stopped and shook hands upon their compnet, and then went on to gether, past tho straggling outskirts of tho vllluge, beyond tho wharf, until they reached Dupont's cottage. Tho cure tapped at tho door. With in Hilary could hear the murmur of voices, which suddenly ceased. Then there came tho splutter of a match, and the flame of a lamp. Hilary saw a girl's flgurp In silhouette against the shade. It was that of Marie Dupont, tho captain's daughter, and nilury remem bered that there was some mystery about her; he had seen her going her solitary way about tho village, Ignored by all and ignoring till. At tho snmo time ho saw another figure slinking away Into tho shadows of tho pines. Father Luclen saw It too, and darted forward and caught It by tho arm, nnd drew It townrd the beach. It was a girl of about four and twenty, with a foolish, wenk faco and gaudy finery. "Nnnetto Bonnnt," Bald tho euro very sternly, "how often have I for bidden thee to como here?" "Let mo gol" cried tho girl, whim pering and struggling. Tho door opened and Mnrlo Dupont stood on tho threshold. The fllckcr- "Nanette Bonnat," Said the Cure Very Sternly, "How Often Have 1 For bidden Thee to Come Here?" ing light of tho lump within fell on her face, illuminating ono sldo and lonvlng the othor lmlf in shndow. Tho faco was pretty, but sad, oniblttorud, and rather hard. Tho cure, still hold ing Nnnutto by tho arms, turned to ward Marie. "So my Instructions count for noth ing I" ho snld hngrlly. '.'Well, why Bhould she not como hero, Monsieur Tosslor?" doninnded Mario Dupont, "Ilavo I so many friends lu St Bonlfnco thnt I should turn from those few I havo? In Sto. Mnrlo they nro glad to seo mo. Is It so wrong that I should go there with my friend to danco sometimes, when tlie doors of St. Bonlfneo nro closed to me?" The ringing scorn In hor volco was characteristic of somo Intent strength ; she scorned to' nilnry Uko ono who has boon hammered into strength upon tho unvll of life. Father Luclcn released Nanette. 4 "There, run along," ho said, with pity In his volco. "Do not come here ngnln, Nanette." no mndo n swift Blgn over her. "God be with thco, Nanette," he said gently. The girl fled from him, sobbing, nnd Hilary could hear her sobs after sho had been hidden by the pines. "Where' Is thy father?" asked the cure. "Ho has gone to tho Btore," faltered tho girl. "Monsieur Tcsslcr " "I shnll say nothing," answered Father Luclcn. "But do not let this happen again. Marie," he continued, "thou hast won tho lovo of n good mnn." Her faco hnrdenedi and she looked sullenly nt tho priest. "A girl should think long before re fusing a good man who loves her." Sho cast her eyes down; nnd there wns the incarnation of rebellious stub bornness In the rigid figure. Tho captain's steps wero heard, crushing the wood chips into the shin gle. Tho old mnn came quickly for ward Into the nrc of lnmpllght; quick ly, as If he feared tho realization of some terror gnawing nt his heart. For a moment Hilary saw the pale gray eyes with the same menace upon his own. Then Dupont knew him. "Bonsoli4, Monsieur Askow,"ho said, extending his hand. He opened tho cottage door, but tho cure did not enter. "Captain Dupont," he said, "there has been trouble between Monsieur Askew here nnd Monsieur Morris." "I have heard of It," replied tho cap tain. "Ask him If ho Is willing to nccept his orders from me," snld nilnry. , Tho cure translated, and tho captain answered him, stroking his gray beard and speaking with slow emphasis. "It Is all right," said Father Luclen finally. "Captain Dupont takes his freight whero hu finds it. He takes from your company in accordance with his contract. He will not break It If Broussoau refuses him freight ho can pick up all he needs on the south shore. You can rely on him." Hilary felt deeply satisfied. If the captain waB staunch, not Morris nor Brousscnu nor nil his men should pre vent him from getting out a record cutting before navigation closed. "Tell Dupont we'll keep him busy," Hilary said. When he was with Father Luclcn upon their homewnrd way he asked him a question about a matter that had puzzled him. "Why docs Dupont look nt me as If I wero Ills mortal enemy?" he asked. "Ah, Monsieur Askew," snld tho cure, stopping to thump his stick upon the shingle, "thero Is a story there. So ho looks at every man when first ho meets him. Ho fenrs for the girl Marie and unfortunately ho is right In his fears. For sho has her mother's nature. "It was many years ago, nearly twenty, I think, nnd before I came here, when Capt. Jules Dupont was a fisherman In St Boniface. Ho was married to Mario Letellier, who was much younger thnn he, nnd gay and thoughtless. People said It was nn ill- made match; but she loved him, and they wero happy. "When ho left his young bride to go scaling off Newfoundland tho tongues wugged, but he trusted her, and when ho returned thero was the child Ma rie, and n warm welcome. So three years passed. "When Jules Dupont returned tho fourth year his wife was gone. With whom? Nobody know. I know more than anyone In St Boniface, but I never knew. Somo wnnderer from tho south shore; nnd six months Inter she was back with the child, plendlng for forgiveness. He sheltered her until her denth soon nfterwnrd. Since then his fear has been that 'Mnrlo will havo In herited the mother's nature. Ho never makes a voyage but ho returns in fenr and haste. And ho wishes her to mnrry Jean-Mario Baptlste, who loves her but you havo seen tonight to what hor mind Is turning. "The women recnll her mother's fate, and their dlsllko has mndo her secretive and solitary. And It Is lone ly here, nnd Ste. Mario so near. Mon sieur Askew, you saw tho girl Nanette. Sho Is front St Joseph, of decent par ents, who mourn for her. Sho was lured from her home to Ste. Morlc, nnfl I havo fears that some ono Is using her ns a tool to get tho girl Ma rio Dupont Into his clutches. But what can I do save watch and wait? "Therefore, Monsieur Askow," con tinued Father Luclen, much agitated, "I Implore you to prevent this evil from spreading to St. Bonlfnco. It Is Broussoau who debauches those poor people there. It Is ho who Is responsi ble for all this evil, no cares nothing for tho people, so long ns ho wlelda their votes for his creature In tho par liament nt Quebec. And this, mon sieur, wns chlelly tho cause of my visit to you tonight, to urgo you to keep tho brandy and the dance halls out of St. Boniface, for I hear It bolng said that ono of tho Duvals boasts hu will opon n dance hall there." "No brundy shall bo sold on tho St Boniface property, Father Luclen." ''I am glnd, monsieur," auswered tho euro. "But Simeon Duval nnd his brother Louis boast of Brousscnu's protection, and they aro dnngerous men." "You havo my promise," snld Hilary, "that they shall not sell liquor In St. Boniface. And by heaven I'll smash any mnn who tries to corrupt my peo ple!" he added, with a vehemence that surprised himself. llllnry slept poorly that night. Trou ble seemed to be thick ng about him. Had he, Indeed, the power to linndle these wild people whose very tongue he could hardly understand? Then, out of the darkness, there rose, In vivid portrnyul, the face of Madcleino Rosny. Ho admitted now how much she meant to him, enough to make nny venture worth tho while. He thought of their last meeting; nnd In spite of It Jie dnred to dream of a happier ouo to come. Before ho foil nslcep ho had decided to go to Quebec nnd try to secure somo jobber to take over Leblanc's lense. At the same tlmo he would look up tho land records nnd get an nccurato Idea of tho extent of the Ilosny seigniory. Characteristically, ho put his plan Into practice two days later, when the down bont arrived, Instructing Lnfe to hold up the dynamiting till his return. Lnfe saw him off, and ho had hardly arrived on board before discovering that MOrrls had embarked at Ste. Mario. Hilary suspected him of hav ing learned of his plan and spying on him. Tho two men eyed each other, but did not speak. Hilary put up at the Frontenac and, having business with the customs ofilco with reference to a shipment of .ma chinery, n small matter requiring a re fund, he called there, and was disgust ed to seo Morris coming out of the rev enue department In conversation with the nsslstnnt chief. Ho failed entirely In his nttempts to get a Jobber to sublease Leblanc's tract There were plenty of small men willing to do so on the Installment sys tem, but none willing to risk nn imme diate Investment on n territory with such a reputntlon ns St Boniface had unjustly acquired. Hilary knew he had to thank Morris for that. He returned to St Bonl fnco next day with only ono thing ac complished. Ho had seen the land mnp nnd ascertained thnt tho upper reaches of Rocky river had been surveyed nnd that the creek was wholly on his own lnnd. He found, too, with some sur prise, that a large Island out In tho Gulf was part of the Rosny domain. It had not appeared on Morris' rough map. Lafe, who mot him at tho wharf, looked worried. "I'm glad you've come," .he said, as they drove to the mill together. "Things were pretty bad on Saturday night" "They're striking?" "NovMr. Askew. That's the bright est point In tho situation. MncPherson, the foreman, tells me that It's called off. Brousseau's dropped that maneu ver, for some reason of his own." "What's tho trouble, then?" "I guess Brousscnu's off on nnqther tack, Mr. Askow. All the hands was over to Ste. Marie on Saturday night by special invitatio- from Simeon Du val, who owns tho biggest dance hnll there. There was free drinks for every body, and the whole place was In an uproar till Sundny morning. Not n stroke of work-ins been done here till yesterdny, which means a four-day week. Tho men are only just sobering up now. 'Tlowever, that ain't tho worst, by a long sight. It's a sort of open secret thnt they're going to open up St Bonl fnco wide, and Simeon's " "You mean Simeon hns dared to start one of his hells here whllo I was away?" cried nilary angrily. , "Not yet," said Lafe. "There ain't no more liquor being sold hero than usual yet But they're going to open up if they can. Simeon's brother Louis hns rented that house by the old sta bles that Jean Bnptlste used to occupy Inst year before It began to go to pieces, nnd he's going to have a dance, hall there and sell brandy " nilary rapped out an oath. "Not If I havo anVthing to sny," he answered. "Nor mo," said Lnfe. "The troublo Is, where do wo start In? We can't fight the whole town single-handed. I wns wondering whether we couldn't wire tho rovenuo people " "Nol" snld Hilary sharply. "We'll fight our own bnttles, Lafe." Lafo subsided in n hurt sort of way. Tho evidences of demoralization wero obvious In St. Boniface. The men wero slow and surly, the women sullen, slatternly nnd hopeless-looking. It was clear that they had little hope Hilary could counter this new project Hil ary was aware of a feeling In the nlr, as If ho was bolng tosted. He saw furtive glances as he went by, ho rec ognized roluctanco In the sullen touch of tho cap and tho unsmiling fncos, whllo not hostile, watched him with something like rosontment, ns If his attitude toward tho Duval proposnl was discounted beforehand. Hilary had kept In his mind a plan of cutting along the hank of tho river, without waiting for the snow. It seem ed to him a feasible plnn to fell right bosldo tho wntor, and fioat tho logs down, this requiring no teams to haul, u process imposslblo until tho enow wns deop. On tho Saturday ho went out afoot to survey tho timber In the upper reaches. In ordor to got n clear er view, Illlury took the public road that run along tho enstorn bank, with in tho Ste. Mario limits, and ascended to nn elevation opposite tho low-lying tract on tho west sldo. Ho had nearly reached the branch rood which ran In toward Sto. Mnrlo, along which Lafo and he hnd driven on that first morning, when ho perceived Madeleine Itosny nnd Brousseau abend of him, at tho top of the rise. They seemed to bo talking enmestly, nnd llllnry held back, uiiwllllng to surprlso them. Presently he saw Brousseau spur his horso nnd gnllop away In tho direction of Ste. Mario, whllo Made leine came Blowly townrd him. Sho snw him nnd turned her horso nsldc to let him pnss. She had been crying, nnd there were truces of tears still on her cheeks. She would have waited for him to go by, her face nvcrted, hut llllnry plnced. his hand upon the horse's bridle. "Mndemolselle Ilosny " he began. "Let mo go on," she said In n low tone. "I want to speak to you. And If you nro In trouble I want to help you." She smiled wearily. "I am not In trouble, and If I were I should hnrdly ask your aid, Monsieur Askew," sho nnswercd. Then, with sudden ve hemence, "Why did you come here?" she cried. "Why could you not have left St. Boniface alone, lnstcnd of stir ring up hatred? Is it not enough that my fnther should have been compelled to sell your uncle our trees, without your coming hero to exult over our 8hnme?" "I havo not exulted, Madcmolsello Itosny; I am sorry." "Take back your pity. We don't want it What has Monsieur Brous seau done to you or Mr. Morris?" "Morris, since you Inquire, hns swin dled mo out of several thousand dol- "Let Me Go," s'he Said In a Low Tone. lnrs' worth of lumber, Mademoiselle Rosny. As for Monsieur Brousseau, the trouble Is of his own seeking." "You went upon Monsieur Brous seau's land and quarreled with one of his workmen, and you 111-trented him shamefully, just because you are big and strong, nnd not afraid of n weaker man. And you and your hired men our men who servo you have taken Monsieur Brousseau's lumber, and you are going to sell it ns your own. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, you outlaw 1" "You're altogether wrong, Mademol sell3 Rosny," nnswered nilnry quiet ly. "The quarrels wero none of them of my seeking. Monsieur Brousseau, who Is quite capable of taking care of himself, lays claim to land and lum ber which Is not his. I suggest, mndemolselle, that you have not shown sufficient cause for your hos tility. "I have done you no wrong," urged llllnry. "I have come here to take charge of a legacy which my uncle left me. It Is nil I have In tho world. It hns been my hope to make the task successful and, in succeeding, to con sider my neighbors nnd help my em ployees. Is not this n case for our working amicably together, as you suggested in the ense of Monsieur Brousseau? Come, Mademoiselle Ros ny, let us forget our quarrel and be friends." Sho did not take the hand that ho extended, but she looked nt him In wonder. "You spoke of 1 my good-will," she said presently, with n touch of mock ery. "What is that to you? Surely my father's feeling townrd you, which Is mine, can have no power to help or Injuro you?" "It menns much to me, your good will, Mndomolselle Rosny," said Hilary. She leaned forward In her snddle. "Monsieur Askew," she snld, "listen to me. If you value my good-will you shall havo It on one condition." "On any condition." "Thnt you leave St. Boniface' "Except that," said Hilary. "It is not thnt I grudge you your possession," resumod tho girl hurried ly. "Bellovo nie, I nm not thinking of that As you said, tho money was pnld, and tho rights nro yours. But this Is no place for you, monsieur. I could esteem you and and give you my good-will If you said 'I have made a mlstnke,' nnd went. Why do you stay bore, to stir up trouble and agi tato us all? What Is It you want, thnt you will not take the vnluo of your trees from Monsieur Brousseau and go?" "I havo n natural objection to being driven out of my own property," wild Hilary. "It should nevor have been yours. Monsieur Brousseau wanted It, but my fat hoi" " Sho broke off in ngitntlon. nilary laid his hand lightly upon tho rein, near hor own. "Mademoiselle Rosny," ho urged, conscious that ho was as agitated as sho, "I want to nsk you something. I do not wnnt you to go to Sto. Mnrlo. I said I wanted to help you. Perhaps , 1 hnd no right, but I do not want you to go there. It Is because I honor you, nnd" Sho was staring nt hlru in greater distress. Ho hardly knew whether sho understood. "If Monsieur Brousseau sho, be gan, half-choking. "Forgive mo, mademoiselle, but docs ho mean so much to you ns that?" Sho Btartcd nnd twitched tho rein nwoy. "You nrc Insolent I" sho cried. "How dare you question me or lay down the law to mo? No, I havo heard enough. Stay, then, Monsieur Askew, nnd cut down' tho twos that you have bought, nnd sell them; but do not presume to speak to mo any more 1" Sho touched her horso with her spur, and tho beast bounded away, nl most flinging Hilary to the ground. Her face wns flaming; yet, as sho rode, Hilary could hear hor sobbing again. He was sure that Brousseau was tho cause of her distress. no re called Lafe's words to himself on tho night of their first meeting. Brous scnu's grasping hand was Btretched forth not only on tho seigniory but on Its heiress nnd he vowed that tho battle between them should bo fought out on this ground also. CHAPTER VI Inside the Dance Hall. It hrtd been the general expectation that Louis Duval would open his sa loon thnt evening, nilnry was awaro that Louis and two assistants were en gaged in carpentering behind the closed door of tho shanty. However, evening came and the house remained closed. Furthermore, there was a geii eral exodus toward Ste. Marie, and when tho news came that Louis him self had gone It became clear that he had postponed his Inauguration of tho test of Hilary's authority, for reasons known best to himself, or perhaps to Brousscnu. Hilary came to the decision to rldo over to Ste. Marie that night nnd seo whnt was transpiring there. Lnfe, to whom ho confided his scheme, thought It risky, but, when he could not lnduco Hilary to change It, asked permission to accompany him nnd made him promise to avoid trouble. It was about an hour aftor dark when they turned up from the beach Into the main street which held tho chief dnnco halls. Simeon Duval's place was working full blnst, as were half a dozen more, nnd Hilary recognized numbers of his own men en route. Nobody appeared to notico them, however, nnd they reached Simeon's place unnccosted, nnd, stand ing xipon the porch beside the door, looked in. It was a large wooden building, within which a score of lumbermen were dancing, mostly with ono nn other ; but a few had women pnrtners. There wns no pretense of secrecy In respect of the snle of liquor. Simeon Duval, whom Lafo indicated to Hilary, was n stoutlsh, middle-aged man In shirtsleeves, with pale blue eyes and a thin crop of reddish ' hair, turning gray. He wore spectacles, which gave him a strange, scholastic expression, and the arms benenth his upturned sleeves were a mass of fat and muscle. Tho Interior was vilely hot, gusts of fetid air came rolling out with the to bacco smoke, and tho din was deafen ing. As the two stood there Hilary was astonished to sco little Baptlste push past them nnd enter. His face was agitated, and he seemed to see noth ing but his objective. Ho strode through tho dancers toward one sldo of tho room, where two girls were seated. Hilary had observed ono of them decline several Invitations to dance nnd drink, though apparently urged by the other; now he recognized them as Nanette nnd Mnrle Dupont Bnptlste strode straight up to Ma rie and stood before her. Hilary could hear nothing, but he saw tho littlo timekeeper gesticulating, and appar ently imploring her. He saw Mnrlo shrug her shoulders and avert her face. Nanette was laughing, and two or three of tho lumbermen nearby watched tho little scene with amuse ment. Baptlste grew more vehement Mario turned on him angrily. A dance hall and the beginning of more trou ble. (TO BE CONTINUED.) "Kitchen Middens." Kitchen middens are great mounds, somo 100 feet long nnd 250 feet wide, found in Denmurk, Englnnil, Scotland, France nnd In parts of Europe, North and South Americu nnd Australia. They aro supposed to bo tho refuso heaps of prehistoric periods, and nro composed chiefly of oyster, periwinkle, cocklo nnd mussel shells. In them nro found implements of wood, stone, bones of animals and cinders. Sea-Island Cotton. Practically all of the sea-Island cot ton Is produced In tho stntes of Geor gia, Florida and South Carolina, tho finest coming from tho chain of isl ands off tho Cnrollnn coast It is well named soa-Island cotton, as when grown away from tho coast tho fiber rapidly dogenerates Into upland cot ton unless seed grown In tho isl ands Is obtained for planting succes sive crops. Alcohol From Mobs. ' A Swedish syndlcato la planning to distill alcohol spirit from whito moss, there belnR enormous .quantities of it available. i