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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 4, 1920)
NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. Cjif .w,niilllimilH"l"' II II II 'II III I I II II II II II II I I ff1TTT--TT""",r"lT'rTrTr-"l"TT I I I I I MyiiMimiiiMiiMM i4 WOODEN SPOIL By VICTOR ROUSSEAU Illustrations by Irwin Myers (Copyright, 1019, by George n. Dornn Co.) CHAPTER XVII Continued 13 Father Luclen hnd Jast laid down his singlestick when a boy brought him a letter In an unknown hnnd wrltlng. A letter was an Important event In the cure's day. He put on his spectacles, sat down, opened the en Telope, and began to read. It was from the priest at St. Joseph, and stated that Nanette Bonnnt had given him the full story of the adven tures upon the Island, together with an account of the activities of Pierre and Simeon Duval. Bad as Father Luclen hnd known conditions at Ste. Mnrle to be, ho bad never guessed at the revelations which Nanette had made to his confrere. Ills Indignation spilled over, and bo paced his study In agitation for sev eral minutes. At last, struck with an Inspiration, he took up bis singlestick, put on his cap, fur coat, and snbw shoes, and started off toward Ste. Mnrle. It wus about an hour later when the few loafers In Simeon's saloon looked up to see the cure standing In the doorwny. Slnco the lumbermen hud gone Into camp for the winter the glories of the dunce hull had faded and disappeared, but Simeon still did a thriving liquor business. He saw the cure and cume waddling forward, his palo bluo eyes blinking with muck humility. "Come iu, father," ho said suavely. "We don't often seo you hero. What will you liuve? A drop of gin? A lit tle brandy, now Or mnybo you're looking for, some of the girls to dance with 7" The men grinned and nudged each other. It Is not often that one sees a cure baited. "You're a sport, father," suld Sim eon. "What sort of stick do you call tbat, with a knob each end?" "I oball como to that later," an swered the cure. "Simeon, Simeon, how often have I spoken to you about the evil tbnt you aro doing here I It is n statutory offense to sell liquor with out a-, license, but It Is nn offense against God to run this sort of plnce. Simeon, for the good of your soul, will you not close down this pluce and lead a different llfo?" Tho mild words and humble nttl turo of tho old priest were so comical that nobody could conceal his amuse ment any longer. A roar of laughter shook tho shuck. Simeon yawned. "I'll think about my soul when I'm sick," he answered. "You may bo very sick, at any mo ment, Simeon, without expecting it." "I'll take the chances of thutj" an swered Simeon. "Simeon, I am growing tired of speaking to you. Do y,ou know tbnt your house is a plague-spot In this vil lage? Simeon, for tho last time, won't yu close up for good and all?" "Ah, father, you mean all rlglit," aid Simeon, "but that's your Job. I bet you're Just as much a sport as anybody hero, If only you let yourself CO. Come on now, and get Into u came with us." "Simeon," sold Father Luclen, "you were asking me about this stick. I'll show you what It's for. Look I" Smack 1 went the hazel knob on Sim son's head. Simeon was so flabbergasted tbnt he fell back against the plank table. (Smack, Smaokl) "Are You Going to Close Down?" As for the cure, ho seemed trnnsflg ,Hred. Holding tho singlestick In the middle, he twirled It until It looked Hke a knobby streak of light, while ho pirouetted like a dervish. I reality he wus going through the Important foot exercise marked coin telnatlon 6; but nobody know that. "Como on, Simeon," said Father Lu clen, flicking him across tho nose, which Instantly became ensanguined, With a howl of wrath Simeon cunio .forward, and the singlestick descended 'on his head with a thud tbnt was ifceard, aelghbors said afterward, across the Btreot. Another thud from tfee other end ! and Simoon was blink tt up at tho cure from the floor. "Oct up, Simeon : I'm going to cure your soul," snld the cure. "Are you going to close down?" Simeon struggled to his knees. With an unwonted agility he dodged the sin glestick (movement 10 bud always bothered the cure) and rushed forward with arms extended, like a bear. Dut Father Luclen had movement 17 pat, and movement 17 Is especially de signed for this. Placing the right toe ngninst the left heel, he made a half turn. Smack! Simeon was reclining against tho counter, his hands over his head, and blood streaming through his fingers. "Simeon, Simeon," snld the cure (smack, smnckl) "are you going to close down?" Simeon lifted up his voice In a long, melancholy howl. He struggled feeb ly to his feet, and Instantly went down again under a terrific blow across the right ear (movement 22A). "Is your soul better, Simeon?" asked Father Luclen. Simeon blinked up Into tho ring of faces about him. It was an extraor dinary thing, but, though everybody seemed very much interested In his predicament, nobody showed any signs of Interfering to help him. Public opinion was very fickle In Ste. Marie. "Now you may get up, Simeon," snld tho cure, and Simeon hastened to obey. Ills eyes traveled quickly In the direction of an empty brandy bot tle upon the counter. If he could get It Into his hand. Smnckl went the singlestick, und Simeon was down uguln with a roar like n poleuxcd bull. "What did you do tbnt for?" ho whimpered. "I'm helping you the best way I know, Simeon," answered the euro mildly. "Aro you going to close down?" "I'll huvo you arrested," Simeon yelled. "I'll write tq the bishop about you." Crash went tho singlestick. "Are you going to lmve me arrested?" In quired Father Luc'n. "No," muttered Simeon, covorliSg his head with his lands. Crash I Simeon's hnnds flew apart as If they -were attached to' springs. "Are you going to write to the bish op?" asked tho cure. "No. For God's sake let me go, you d bully 1" Simeon snatched at tho knob on tho end of the singlestick nearest him. but movement .4 provides for tbnt, and the crack of n broken finger wus distinctly audible to tho Intensely Interested spectators. "When are you going to close down, Simeon?" demanded Fathor Luclen, standing over tho prostrate liquor- seller. "At once!" yelled Simeon, bursting into tenrs. "For God's snke don't hit me again 1" Simeon looked so nbject that the euro hnd not the heart to contlnuo his punishment. He looked nbout him. A singlestick describes n circle having n radius of several feet. Exercise 2 cleared the counter in a Jiffy, lenvlng n wreck of reeking spirits hnd broken glass. When the euro turned upon the en thuslnstlc, shouting throng, the grins died off their faces. "Get out of here, my children 1" he shouted. And, twirling his singlestick with indescribable velocity, ho brought It down on ono bend nfter another, much us fce might strike n row of fence posts. The terrlblo Implement seemed to fly in nil directions at tho snme time. Father Luclen cracked the last mnn across the shoulders und sent him flying Into tho street. "Kor aod's sake don't leave me alone in here with hlra !" moaned Sim eon from tho floor. Fnther Luclen enmo back and stood over him, twirling his singlestick meditatively. At Inst ho laid It down upon the counter. "It's nil right, Simeon, my son." he snld gently. "I think I've cured you now. I'm going to henr your confes slon. A man never knows when he's going to be sick, Simeon. Let roc henr you suy your Act of Contrition, If you haven't forgotten It." "Wnlt n minute," plended Simeon "Aro you going to see my brother Louis afterward?" "I've seen him," answered the cure. "And Jean Poullot, and Albert Drouln, and George Molsan, and "I'm going to," replied the cure grimly. So Simeon, with u new ox presslon of gratification, ennio buck Into the church. When, fifteen minutes intpr, Father Luclen emerged from the shnnty, Ste. Murlo was an extraordinary sight. Every drink-shop had locked up, their ownprs hnd fled, and the streets were packed with crowds which, at the sight of the priest, sot up a yell of delight. Tho women pressed nbout him, sob blue their gratitude. It wus with dif ficulty that ho could mnke his wiry through the feminine bodyguard that accompanied him along his way, und nfter ho hnd porsunded them to go home the distant cheering still rang In his enrs. "I snull como bnck every week," was Father Luclen's last promise to Ste. Mario. "I shnll break the bead of evorv man who has brandy In his bouse." "God bless you, father," came hack from a hundred throats. And, being at last satisfied tbnt Ste. Marie' was closed ns tightly as It was ever likely to be, Father Luclen took the homeward rond to St. Boniface aguln. lie went through tho limits Instead of along the shore, nnd wns Hearing the village when he encountered Lnfe. "Hello. Father Lucy I Where do you come from?" nsked the latter. "I've Just been paying a pnstoral visit to Ste. Mnrle," said the cure de murely. Lafe stared nt him. "What d'you call that?" he demanded. "That Is a singlestick," snld Fn ther Luclen. "It Is a good exerciser for old men like you nnd me, Lafe." "Sort of light double club." said Lnfe. "Whnt's that hnlr on the end, father? Say, that rooks llko blood, don't It?" "That Is Simeon Duvnl's," the cure answered, "You see, Mr. Lnfe " Lafe stopped short. "Father Lucy, d'you mean to tell mo you've knocked out Simeon?" "I'm ufrald so, Mr. Lnfe. .1 couldn't get Into his soul In uny other wny. But I'm getting there. Next time I shall hnve learned some more' exer cises, and then " "You closed up Ste. Mnrle?" "Well, for tho present, yes," ad mitted the cure. "But next time" "Shuke, father," snld Lafe, stretch ing out his hand. "By George, you do get results nfter all when you stnrt In. But why didn't you do that be fore?" It was your friend, Monsieur As kew, who put the thought Into my head," suld Fnther Luclen. "By the wny, Mr. Lnfe, I have a letter from a friend In St. Joseph." "St. Joseph? Why, thnt's where Nanette Bonnnt " "Precisely. And she has told every thing nbout tho visit to tho Island, concerning vihlch, ns you are aware, Mademoiselle Itosny " Lnfe shook his head. "It nln't any use, father," he snld. "I been to see her and told her. She knows thnt yarn ain't true. But she's like all them Rosnys. She hntes herself so much becauso she knows It ain't true thnt she hntcs him more. And he's going to lenve St. Boniface." "Tut, tut!" snld the cure, nr." Lafe," he added seriously, "we must stop this. It Is not for me to Inter fere, but at lenst tho truth should he known. 1 am going to see the girl Ma rio Dupont." "I'm going thnt wpy," snld Lnfe. "I'll go wltl? you. I'm nilnry Askew's friend. And I'm unensy nbout him. I've Just been to tho camp, nnd they tell me he's gone bnck to St. Bonlfnce." It wns growing dnrk. The two set out with quickened pneo, hut It wns quite dark before they saw the cot tages of St. Boniface before them. As the wharf cume Into view Lnfe uttered nn exclamation. "The schooner's gone!" he cried. "Whose, Mr, Lnfo?" lint. i .. ... Aiie cnpinin-s. That other one's laid up for the season. I hone to God Hllnry nln't done anything foolish nnd slipped the cable." They almost ran to the captain's house. The Interior wns dnrk, snve for tho dull flicker from the stove. Tho cure flung the door open. They heard n sobbing within. Carefully Fa ther Luclen struck a match and lit the lnmp, disclosing Mnrle Dupont kneel ing, her fuce In her hands, beside the embers. She looked up with nn ex. presslon of utter despnlr. "Where Is thy fnther?" "Ho has sailed, with Leblanc nnd Pierre, nnd Monsieur Askew Is aboard nnd Mndelclne Itosny" "Whntl" Wiouted tho cure, pulling . ner to her feet. "Thou nrt dreaming. child J" "They plnnned to kill Monsieur As kew. I went to mademoiselle, nnd wo drovo to the wharf. She sprang aboard, and the ship sailed, hnlf nn hour ngo. They will kill them." Father Luclen went white nnd begnn to tremble. "Mnrle Dupont. swenr to me " he begun. "Ah, roon DIeu. It Is true. I swenr It 1" "Why didn't thou come to me?" "I, wus ufrnld." Tho cure translated to Lnfe. "If she speuks the truth " he begnn. "It Is true, I guess," snld Lnfe. "Quick, futher, let's get the other schooner nnd go after them. It's our only chance. I'll go. Darn It, If they hurt n hnlr of nilury's hend, or or mademoiselle's, 111 send tho gang to hell !" cried Lafe, half sobbing. "But It is Impossible!" cried the cure. "Who will sail her?" "Como with met father," rinswercd Lafe, a flicker of whimsicality appenr lng on his face, ns In such moments. "I guess I'm In churgo now, seo? Lot's go to the store." There wero tho usunl loafers Inside. Yes, it wns true the schooner hnd sailed, nnd It hnd surprised every body, becuuso Captain Dupont hud announced thnt he would not sail for soino days. And ho hud loft his crew behind. Hut then ovory ono knew that ho wus go'ne out of his mind. Lnfe cut the gosslpi short "Ask them who can sull tho schooner." he snld to the cure. Only one mnn could soil the schoon er through the Ice. All the rest were In tho woods.Kjcnn-MnrIe Bnptlste un derstood the Wist and the currents. "Where Is ho?" The storekeeper shrugged his shoul ders. "He wns here half an hour ago to buy more traps, but he has gone Into the woods again " At thnt Instant Bnptlste entered the store, saw Lafe, and scowled. "This trap Is broken" he begnn, holding It up for tho storekeeper to view It. Tho cure pounced on him. "Bnptlste, come with me. Thou dost not go Into tho woods tonight. Thou must take us nbonrd the schooner " Bnptlstc's' Jaw fell. "Mon pore, It Is Impossible," he stnmmered "Dupont has, gone " "Gone?" cried Bnptlste, running to the door. Tho cure followed him. "Bnptlste, thou must snll the schooner nnd find him. He Is mnd. He lias left his crew behind hltn and taken Leblnnc and Pierre. And Mademoiselle Rosny Is In their hnnds" "Whnt?" shouted Buptlste. "I go. At once I go " "And Monsieur Askew, whom they hnve sworn to murder " "I do not go," said .Tenn Bnptlste, nnd stopped dead. The cure caught him by the arm. "Listen to me, Jean. His life nnd thnt of Mndemolsclle Rosny are perhnps at stnke." "I do not go!" cried Bnptlste ngnln, nnd snntched up his trup. He strode to the door and turned fiercely upon "But When God Calls a Man to Duty, He Must Obey." Father Luclen, who followed him. "Let him die !" he shouted. "You know, mon pere, you know whnt he has done to me nnd miner' Lnfe, who understood hardly a word of this colloquy, caught a precise sense of whnt Bnptlste was saying, partly of the gestures, but more by his fnculty brought out through dialogues on many evenings with his friend Trem blny. ' He tugged at tho cure's arm. "Tell him thnt story ain't true, fa ther," he suld. "That's whut's worry' Ing him." But Fnther Luclen resumed, as If he had not heard: "Even bo, Jenn, Mndemolselle Ros- ny's life, perhnps, Is In dnnger. And even If thnt were not so, thou must return good for evil. Else his blood Is upon thee." "Let It be there 1 1 would hnve killed him, only they pulled mo nwny." "It Is thy duty, my son," said the euro quietly. "It is a hnrd test, Jenn, but when God calls a mnn to duty, he must obey. Bnptlste began to brenk down. "Ah, mon pere, you nsk me tho hardest thing In my life," he groaned. "In the forests I hnve seen his face before me. I have dreamed that I hnd him by the throat, and stnrted up with Joy, I hnvo struggled, nnd I have contrived to fight down my desire to slay him. And now you tell mo I must save him. No, no, mon pere. Snve tho gfrl yes. But let some one else sull the schoon er." "Say, Father Lucy, why don't you explain to him that that yarn's a He?' persisted Lnfe. But ngnln tho cure Ignored him "We shnll snll ns soon ns possible, Jenn," he snld. "Go back to the store and Instruct the storekeeper to tele phone to tho crew Drouln Is one, and the others I do not know. And then return to me." Jenn-Buptlstc stood like a statue. He hung his hend, muttering. Then, slow ly, ho raised it nnd smiled Into tho cure's fnce. "Enough, then. I go," he said gravely. "Well, I'm domed 1" exclnlmed Lnfe. "Suy, fnther, why didn't you tell him It wnsn't true, thnt story?" The euro smiled whlmslcnlly nnd laid his lmnd on Lnfe's shoulder. "Ah, Mr. Lnfe," he nnswered, "when exerclso will enro a paralyzed limb, we do not use tho crutch." Lnfo stared at him. And slowly he began to understand. Father Luclen's ways were often Inscrutable, .but some how he got there In the end. "By Jlng, you're a brick, fntberl" he cried, striking tho priest between tho shoulders, "And, suy I I tnko It nil bnck everything 1 Go on nnd bless the cnbbngcs. Go on prnylng out fires. Go on, go on! You've got the knack somehow only I'm I'm Jlngcd If I see how you do It till It's nil overl" Baptlste, who hnd been telephoning Inside the store, came out. "Drouln nnd Lnchnnce will be nt fltc whnrf In fifteen minutes, Monsieur. Tesster," he snld. The aire nodded and took Baptlste by the arm. The three began to stroll townrd the whnrf. When they nrrived at tho wharf-head, however, Instead of proceeding townrd the schooner tho cure led the wny, still holding Bnp tlste, toward Dupont's cottage. Bap-' tlste stopped near the door. "Where ore you taking me, Father Luclen?" lie nsked. 'i do not go there." And, ns the cure seemed bent on proceeding Inside, he wrested himself nwny. "No, mon pere," he snld firmly. "I hnve obeyed thee once tonight, hut now thou nskest what Is beyond thy right or power. I do not enter there." "My son," nnswered the . priest. "since thou hnst chosen rightly to night, I tell thee now that thnt story wus not true. It was Pierre and Let blnnc who took Mnrle Dupont to the Island, 'and Monsieur Askew nnd Mon sieur Connell here found her nnd saved her from them, nnd brought her home. In my pocket I have a letter. Tomorrow thou shalt read It and un derstand." "Mon pere!" stnmmered Baptlste, nnd begnn to tremble.- "Lenrn It from her lips." "Mon pere, I 'do not go inside thnt house. If It Is true, I am not worthy. Besides, she hntes me, and " Still holding his arm the euro opened the door. "Mnrle Dupont!" he culled. The girl stumbled toward the door, snw Bnptlste at the cure's side, and uered a frightened cry. i utncr luclen iook jenn unpiisie uy the nrm nnd led htm- Into the house. He closed the door gently, but not beforol.nfe hnd seen Murle In Jean's arms. Lafe swore softly. "Whnt's the mutter, Mr. Lafe?" nsked Fnther Luclerj. "Nothing, nnswerea l.nte snorny. "I wns Just thinking of Shoeburyport, Mnss., thnt's ull. You wouldn't under stand. At lenst " He looked at the cure, nnd then It occurred to him that he was viewing hlra from nn entirely different angle. For the first time In their acqunlntance it occurred to him that Father Luclen was really a mnn undernenth his long soutane. When, n few minutes late, the priest opened the door, Mnrle and Jenn came forward with linked arms, nnd their expressions were transformed. Jenn grasped Lfe by the hand and looked nt him earnestly, but did not say a word. "Come now." snld the cure. "The men are waiting on tho whnrf for us. Bon solr, Mnrle." "I go with Jenn," said the girl. CHAPTER XVIII. The Rescue. Out of the darkness a little light be gun to glow. It shone nnd sparkled, and suddenly raced skywnrd, disclos ing the outlines of the schooner stranded upon the edge of the .ice field. Baptlste drove his vessel straight toward It, running upon the gale. The little group upon the deck wntched In terror as the flames spread, until It could ho seen that they enwrapped the entire fore pnrt of Dupont's schooner. Dupont, In his madness, evading Brousscau, hnd set firo to the lumber with the aid of the petrolpum kegs which he carried In the hold. And Broussenu, ut tho wheel, wus striving desperately to run tho burning vessel back Into open water and cast her upon the Ice-free shore of the south passage, beyond tho point. In his fear he hnd forgotten Madeleine and Hilary. As Madeleine crouched on tho Ice, still frantically endenvorlng to recall Hilary to consciousness, tho thinning mists rolled bnck. Looming up out of tho dnrkness, nnd approaching rapidly, wus the second schooner. At the snme time voices hulled them. They had been seen. Broussenu, upon tho poop, yelled In nnswer. And he begnn to run to nnd fro. tn his excitement, possessed only by tho fenr of death by fire. The flames spread. The cabin wns now Involved, and a great column of smoke wns shooting skyward, carrying with a fiery spark cloud. Dupon came out of the smoke, his fnce nllght with fanatic mndncss. He cuught him by the nrm. "Seo tho fine fire !" he shouted. "He won't get out of that In n hurry. I told her thnt I would give her his llfo for tho nnme, but I hnve not got the nnmo. The nnmo! Whut Is It? The nume 1" His voice rang out ncross the heav ing water, and, as he called, Bnptlste swung down tho wheel, nnd the second ship glided alongside nnd passed. It drove off Into the distance, driven by the whipping wind, but not before Dupont's words had been heard. ljrom the group upon Bnptlstc's ship a figure dlscngnged herself and stepped forward. It was Marie Du pont. She poised herself upon the deck, nnd her voice rang out abovs the gnlc nnd the sen. ;i give you the nume," she cried. "It Is Edounrd Broussenu. It Is he, nnd I give you my secret which I havo borne all my life. Tnke It !" Slie fell bnck Into Bnptlste's arms. And It seempd ns If, with the breaking of tho Inhibition, her past life, with Its fears nnd terrors, wns melted Into tho life of happiness that wns to be. Dupont hnd henrd her. For n mo ment they could see thecal! figure of the' old mnn, with his wind-tossed hair nnd beard, standing ns if petrified Upon his blazing deck. Then he cried out like n screaming sen-bird, and his arms closed about the man at his side. As Bnptlste turned nnd tacked It could be seen that tho old mnn was holding Broussenu with one arm, ns easily ns if he hold a child, while his free hand controlled the wheel again. What reservoir of strength he drew upon, whnt miracle of senmnnshlp, could never be known. But, ns If na ture wero aiding him, n veering gust caught tho sails, and with a backward movement the schooner begnn to glide through the entrance of the Ice field Into-open water. The fire was all about them. Screams enme from the doorjied ship, but they enme from Broussenu, struggling In Dupont's nrms. Not a sound enme from the captain's lips. The vessel gained her freedom, she turned . nnd began to drive eastward, toward the Gulf nnd Its open water. Faster and fnster she went as the wind compelled her. The horrified wntchers upon the deck of Bnptlste's schooner snw the blnzlng vessel glide Into the dlstnnce, n blnzlng comet, nnd Dupont, hlnck ngninst the henrt of the fire, and Broussenu In his nrms. Little wns afterward remembered concerning the rescue. But from thnt night legends begnn to spread nlong both shores : Of Bnptlste's senmnnshlp, . nnd of Hllnry, who, single-handed, saved the heiress of the selgnory from Broussenu nnd the two outlnws. But none of the principals In these events enre overmuch to dwell upon them, even In memory. And, though memories live long In silence, gossip soon dies. All this Is becoming a locnl legend, such ns mothers tell to their bnbles. But the St. Bonlfnce mill now hums from dnwn till dnrk, and tho asbestos mine hns brought In Its workers nnd made St. Bonlfnce quite a flourishing vlllnge In the north country. Twice a month, when ho pays his pastoral visit, you may see Fnther Luclen, still hnle nnd strong, patrolling Ste. Marie with a curious hazel stick, fnshioned with n knob at each end; nnd It Is snld thnt Ste. Mnrle Is one of the best parishes on the north shore. On Sundnys, sented In the pnrlsh church, mny be seen Simeon Duvnl, nodding his hend npprovlngly as, point by point, the cure takes up his de nunciation of liquor selling. For Fa ther Luclen renlly renched Simeon's soul with his hnzel stick. Mnrle hns the best house In the vll lnge, for Bnptlste does a thriving trade cnrrylng the St. Bonlfnce lumber. Here Is Clnrlce, wild looks, somehow, Just ns one might have expected from Lafe's descriptions. "no wouldn't come home," she says to nilnry, "so I had to come after hlra. But he's coming home next October, to see his children and the new house.'' "Bought nnd pnld for," snld Lnfe. "Yes, I guess thnt's correct, Mr. As kew, Though I'll be bnck some dny to see you nil. It nln't so bnd, this coun try except for thnt pink nnd black porch Bnptlste's put on his house. Darn him, whnt did. he want to do that for? I tell you how It Is: These peo ple can't help breaking out somewhere and somehow ; It's In their blood, that's what It Is." But In his henrt he knows thnt the winter will see him bnck In St Bonl fnce. Madeleine smiles, and puts her arm through Hilary's. THE END. Wane Successful War on Pest. The worst enemy of the grape grow ers In California Is a minute Insect called the "thunder fly," because It ap pears In grentest numbers In hot and sultry wenthcr, when thunder storms nre frequent. A man out there hns ln vented.n suction nppnratus, with a ten horsepower blower, that Is placed on wheels and driven through the vino yards, harvesting the pests from tha vines ns It goes along. It Is said t work very successfully. Marmot Skins In. Demand. A large business is done In Man cluirlnn marmot skins. The murmot Is very much like a woodchuck, but It do sesses n finer cont than does our wood chuck. Thousands of these skins are shipped from ports in northern Man churia by parcel post through the Japanese post office, but skins of the cheaper grade are forwarded by freight In the usual way.
