NORTII PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
UULUllXJLXXXX'XXTJlXXlXXXXXXXiLtXXl
W
ebster
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CHAPTER VIII Continued.
J" "Vory well, ray friend. Fire away."
' "Are you an American citizen?"
MNo, I am a citizen of Sobrante."
"You find no money to pny for your
passage to San Buenaventura so you
schemed to make me pay your way.
Ilenco I take It that your presence In
the capital of your native country In a
matter of extreme Importance and that
the clerk In the ticket ofllce of the
Caribbean Mall lino In a friend of
yours."
"Quite true. He knew my need."
"You were under surveillance and
could not leave New Orleans for Sah
Buenaventura unless you left secretly,
When I purchased both berths In this
fltatcroom and the ticket clerk knew 1
held a tirst-clnsa ticket for n vnlet that
was not, he decided to Raw off on mo
ii valet that was. Disguised In the liv
ery of a chauffeur and carrying hand
baggage you hoped to get aboard with
out being detected by your enemies
who watched the gnngplank."
Andrew Bowers nodded.
"Do yon think you succeeded?" Wcb
ater continued.
"1 do not know, Mr. Webster. I hope
no. If I did not well, the Instant this
Rteamer drops anchor In the rondstead
at San Buenaventura, she will he
boarded and searched by the mllltnry
police, I will bo discovered and " He
shrugged.
"Lawn party In the cemotery, eh?"
Webster suggested.
Andrew Bowers reached under his
pillow and produced two heavy auto
matic pIstolB nnd a leathern hox con
taining five clips of cartridges. These
ho exhibited In silence nnd then thrust
them hack under tho pillow.
"I" Bee. Andrew. In case you're cor
nered, eh? Well, I think I would pre
fer to die fighting myself."
Tdi not worried, Mr. Webster.
Somehow, I think I ran the gantlet
safely."
"But why did you throw your livery
overboard?"
"It was of no further use to me."
, "But you'll have to hnve some
clothes In which to go ashore, you
amazing man."
"Not at nil. The steamer will arrlvo
In the hnrbnr of San Buenaventura
lato In the nfternodn too Into to be
:lven pratlquo that day. After dark I
Bhnll drop overboard and endeavor to
ewlm ashore, nnd In view of that plain
clothes, would only provo an embar
rassment. I shall land In my own coun
try naked and penniless, but once
imhoro I shall quickly find shelter. I'll
have to risk tho sharks, of course."
"Man-eaters?"
"Thy bay Is swarming with them."
"You'ro breaking my heart," Web
ster declared sympathetically. "I sup
pose you're golug to feign Illness
throughout the voyage.';
"Not the kind of Illness that will In
terfere with my appetite. I have pro
ncrlbed for myself a mild attack of In
flammatory rheumatism, as an excuso
for remaining In bed nnd laving my
ineals brought to me. This service, of
course, will necensltnto some (slight ex
pense In tho way of tips, but I nin hop
ing you will see your wuy clenr to tak
ing care of that for your guest,"
Silently Webster hauded Andrew
powers ten dollars In silver. "That
ought to hold you," he declared. "For
the rest, you're up to some political
skullduggery In Sobrnnto, nnd what It
Is and what's your real name are two
subjects In which I am not Interested.
Let It be understood that you are my
valet, Andrew Bowers. That's nil I
know about you und that's all I care
to know about you. In fact, the less
I know about you tho less will I have
to explain In the event of your sudden
demise."
"Fair enough," quoth Andrew Bow
ers. "You're a man after my own
heurt. 1 thank you."
v-
CHAPTEFI IX. ,
' f ft u
I Trior to leaving Now Orleans, Web
Bter had cabled Billy Geary that ho
whs taking passago on La Estrollltn
.nnd stating tho approximate (Into of
Ms arrival at San Buenaventura
which Information descended upon
that young man with something of tho
charm of a gentle rnlnfull over a tilth
or to nrld district. Ho hud been seeing
olorea Buoy at least onco a day over
Blnco her return to Sobrante, Ho was
aulck, therefore, to seize upon Web
liter's cnblcgram as an excuso to call
upon Dolores nnd explain the mystery
surrounding his friend's nonnppear-
un'10.
"Well, Dolores," ho began, In his ex
clltmunt calling her by her first name
for tho first time, "I'vo heard from
Jflc Webster."
"Whnt's tho nows, Bill?" Dolores In
quired. From the first day of their ac-
qun'ntunco she had beeu growing In
cm-slngly fond of Geary ; for nearly n
wv k she had been desirous of calling
htm Bill, which Is a comfortable name
and, to Dolores' way of thinking, a pe
culiarly appropriate cognomen for
sued n distinctly Amcrlcuu young man
At mention of tho beloved word ho
glwiced down at her pleasurably.
Thank you," he said. "I'm glad you
col. around to It finally. Those that
Jot o.ino u I ways call mo Bill.
"You culled me Dolorea."
ljlXj
-M
ans
By PETER B. KYNE
Author of "Cappy Rick," "The Valley of the
CZXXZZZZZCO llHtHtTIIIf TTIT IIITTT TTTMfTTTT'ZTTTT TTTTTg 1'g T gy,
."I move we make It unanimous,
I'm
a foe to formality."
"Second tho motion, Bill. So am I
when I care to, be and In our enso
your formality ia spoiling our comrade
ship. And now, with reference to the
extraordinary Scnor Webster "
"Why, the poor old horso has been
down with ptomnlno poisoning. They
carried him off tho train at St. Louis
and stood him on his head and pumped
him out, and Just did manage to cancel
his order for n new tombstone. He
says he's feeding regularly again and
has booked passago on La Estrollltn,
so we can look for him on tho next
steamer arriving."
"Oh, the poor fellow I" Dolores mur
mured so fervently that Billy was on
the point of hurling his heart at her
feet on the Instant.
The thousand dollars Webster had
cabled Billy "for u rond-stako" had
been dwindling rapidly under tho stim
ulus of ono continuous opportunity to
spend tho same In n quarter where It
was calculated to bring the most Joy.
Mr. Geury was absolutely bagged In
the quagmire of his first love affair,
but until his mining concession should
amply Justify an avowal of his passion,
on Instinctive sense of the eternal fit
ness of tilings reminded Billy of tho
old proverb that a closed mouth
catches no files. And In the meantime
(such Is the optimism of youth) he de
cided there was no need for worry, for
when a girl culls n fellow BUI, when
she tells him he's a scout and doesn't
care a whoop for any society except
his cnrambal It's great I
A. wireless from Webster wnrned
Billy of tho former's Imminent arrival.
Just before sunset Billy and Dolores,
riding alopg the Mnlecon, sighted a
blur of smoke fur out to sea a blur
that grow and grew until they could
muke out the graceful white hull of La
Estrcllltn, before the swift tropic night
descended nnd the lights of the great
vessel shimmered across the harbor.
Too late to clear quarantine to
night," Billy mourned, as he and Do
lores rode back to her hotel. "All the
same, I'm going to borrow the launch
"That You. Bllir He 8houted.
of my good friend Leber and his pro
tege Don Juan Cnfotero, nnd go out
to the stentuer tonight. I can heave to
n little, way from the Btenmer un& wel-
conio tho old rascal, anyhow."
Fortunately, good llttlo Leber con
sented to Billy's request, and Don Junn
Cafctero was sober enough to turn tho
engine over and run the launch. From
the deck of the steamer Webster,
smoking hit post-prnndlal cigar, caught
sight of thr launch's red and green
sidelights chugging through the Inky
bluckness; as the little craft slid up
to within a cable's length of the steam
er and hove to, something told Web
ster thnt Billy Geary would soon be
paging him. lie edged over to the
rati.
"That you, Bill?" he shouted.
"Hey I Jack, old pal I" Billy's delight
ed voice answered him.
"I knew you'd come, Billy boy."
"I knew you'd know It, Johnny.
Can't conic aboard, you know, until the
ship elenrs, but I cun lie off here nnd
any hello. How la your Intermit
mechanism?"
"Grnnd. nowover, your query re
minds mo 1 haven't taken the medicine
the doctor warned mo to take after
menls for n couple of weeks. Walt a
minute, Bill, until. I go to my stateroom
and do my duty to my stomach."
For ten minutes Billy nnd Don Junn
Cafetero hobbod about In the launch
then a stentorian voice 6houted from
the stenmer. "Hey, youl In the
launch, there. Not bo close. Back
off."
Don Juan kicked the launch back
fifty feot. That will do I" tho voice
culled ngaln,
"Hello I". Billy soliloquized. "That's
Jack Webster's voice. Wonder what
ho' ud to. 1 thought he acted
CXXXZXXXXX1
M
an
Giant.' Etc'
Coprrtcht br rtr D. ICyn.
Btrangely preferring mcdlclno to mo
tho minute I hailed htm 1"
While ho was considering the mat
ter, a volco behind him said very soft
ly and Indistinctly, like a man with a
harelip:
"Mr. Geary, will you be good enough
to back your launch a couple of hun
dred feet7 When I'm certain I can't
be seen from the steamer, I'll come
aboard."
Billy turned, and In the dim light of
his binnacle lamp observed a beautiful
pair of whlto hands grasping the gun
wale on the stnrboard quarter. Ho
peered over and made out tho head
and shoulders of a man.
"All right," ho replied In n low voice.
"Hang where you are, and you'll be
clenr of the propeller."
, He signaled Don Junn, who bricked
swiftly away, while Billy douBcd the
blnnaclo lamp.
"That'll do," the thick voice said
presently. "Benr a hand, friend, and
I'll climb over."
He came, as naked as Mercury,
sprawled on his belly In the cockpit,
opened his mouth, spat out a compact
little roll of tinfoil, opened It nnd drew
out n ball of pnper which he flattened
out on the floor of the cockpit and
hnnded to Billy.
"Thnnk you," he said, very courteous
ly and distinctly now. "My creden
tials,! Mr. Geary, If you plensc."
Billy relighted the lump and read:
"Dcnr Billy:
"I do not know the bearer from
Adam's off ox; all I know about him
Is that he has nil the outward marks
of a gentleman, the courage of a benr
cat, a Bensc of humor nnd a head for
which the presldentc of Sobrante will
glndly pny a considerable number of
pesos oro. Don't give up the head, be
cause I like It and we do not need the
money yet. Take him ashore with
out anybody knowing It; hide him,
clothe him, feed him then forget all
about him.
"Ever thine,
"J. S. WEBSTER."
"Kick the boot nhead again, Cnffer
ty," Billy ordered quietly, ne turned
to the Iat6 arrival. "Mr. Man, your
credentials are all In apple-pie order.
Do you happen to know that this bay
is swarming with man-eating sharks?"
The man raised a fine, strong, youth
ful face und grinned nt him. "Hob
son's choice, Mr. Geary," he replied.
"Afloat or ashore, the sharks are after
me. Sir, I am your debtor." He
crawled Into the cabin nnd stretched
out op tho settee as John Stunrt Web
ster's voice came floating across the
dark tcts.
"Everything v. ell with you, Billy?"
"All Is lovely. Jack, and the goose
honks high. By the way, that friend
of yours called with his letter of Intro
duction. I took enre of him."
"Thanks. I suppose you'll call for
xno In thnt launch tomorrow morning?"
"Surest thing you know, Jack. Good
night, old top."
"Good-night, Billy."
Don Junn Cafetero swung the
launch nnd headed back for the city.
At Leber's little, dock Billy stepped
ashore, while Don Juan backed out Into
the dark bay again tri order to avoid
Inquisitive visitors. Billy hastened to
El Buen Amlgo nnd returned presently
with n bundle of clothes; nt an agreed
signal Don Juan kicked the launch Into
the dock ngaln nnd Billy went aboard.
"Hat, shirt, necktie, duck suit, white
socks nnd shoes," he whispered. "Climb
Into them, stranger."
Once more the launch backed out In
the bay, whore Webster's protege
dressed at his leisure and Billy hand
cd Don Juan n couple of pesos.
"Remember, John." he- cautioned the
bibulous one ns they tied up for the
night, "nothing unusual happened to
night." "Dlvll n thing, Mlsther Geary.
Thank you, Bor," the Gaelic wreck re
plied blithely and disappeared In tho
dnrknoaa, leaving Billy to guide the
strangor to El Buen Amlgo, where he
was taken Into the confidence of Moth
or Jenks und, on Billy's guarantee of
tho bonrd bill, furnished with a room
und left to his own devices.
John Stunrt Webster came down the
gangplank Into Leber's launch hard at
the heels of tho port doctor.
"You young horse thief." he cried,
affectionately. "I believe It's the cus
tom down this, way for men to kiss
ench other. We'll dispense with that,
but by" He folded Billy In a pater
nnl embrace, then held him at urm's
leu g tli and looked htm over.
"Lord, son," he snld, "you're as thin
as a snake. I'll have to feed you up."
As they sped toward tho landing, ho
looked Billy over once more. "I have
It," he declured. "You need a change
of climate to get rid of that malaria.
Just Bhow mo this tittle old mining
claim of yours, Bill, and then 'hike for
God's couutry. Three months up there
will put you right agnln, nnd by the
time you get bnck, we'll be about ready
to weigh tho first cleanup."
Billy shook his head. "I'd like to
mighty well, Jack," he replied, "but 1
Just can't."
"Huh l I suppose you don't think I'm
equal to tho taak of straightening out
this concession of yours and making a
hummer out of It, eh?"
The young fellow looked across at
him sheepishly. "Miner he Jeered.
"Who's talking about a mine. I'm
thinking of a glrll"
"Oh!"
"Some girl, Johnny."
"I hope Bho'a not somo pnrrnkcet,"
Webater bantered. "Have you looked
up her pedigree?"
"Ah-h-h I" Billy irpat over the side In
sheer disgust. "This Is an American
girl born here, but white raised In
the D. S. A. I've only known her
three weeks, but ah I" And Billy
klfiscd his hand Into space.
"Well. I'm glnd I find you so hnppy,
boy. When do you pull off the wed
ding?" .
"Oh," snld Billy, "that's prcmnture.
Jack. I haven't asked her. How
could I until I'm able to support her?"
"Look here, aon," Webster replied,
"don't you go to work nnd be the kind
of fool I wns. You get married and
take a chance. A man ought to marry
young, Bill. Hang the odds. I know
what's good for you."
At tho hotel Billy sent a note to
Dolores, apprising her thnt John
Stuart Webster had arrived and
would she be good enough to receive
them?
Miss Ruey would be thnt gracious.
She wns waiting for them In the veran
da Just off the patio, outwardly calm,
but Inwardly n foment of conflicting
emotions. As they npprooched she af
fected not to see them nnd turning,
glnncod In the opposite direction ; nor
did she move her head until Billy's
voice, speaking nt her elbow, said:
"Well, Dolores, here's my old Jack
partner waiting to be Introduced.
Jnckf permit me to present Miss Do
lores Ruey."
She turned her ace nnd rose gra
ciously, marking with secret triumph
the light of recognition that leaped to
his eyes, hovered there the hundredth
part of a second and departed, leaving
those keen, quizzical blue orbs apprais
ing her In the most nntural manner Im
aginable. Webster bowed.
"It Is a great happiness to meet you,
Miss Ruey," he snld gravely.
Dolores gave him her hand. "TJou
hnve doubtless forgotten, Mr. Webster,
but I think we have met before."
"Indeed I" John Stuart Webster mur
mured Interestedly. "So stupid of me
not to remember. Where did we meet?"
"He has a profound sense of hu
mor," she soliloquized. "He's going to
force me Into the open. Oh, denr, I'm
helpless." Aloud she said: "On the
train In Death valley last month, Mr.
Webeter."
Webster shook his head slowly, ns If
mystified. "I fear you're mistaken.
Miss Ruey. I wasn't on the train In
Death valley last month. I wns In
Denver so you must havo met some
other Mr. Webster."
Sho flushed furiously. "I didn't
think I could be mistaken," she an
swered a trifle coldly.
"It Is my misfortune that you were,"
he replied graciously., "Certainly, had
we met at thnt time, I should not hnve
failed to recognize you now. Some
how, Miss Ruey, I never haVo any
luck."
She wns completely outgeneraled,
and having the good sense to realize It,
submitted gracefully. "He's perfectly
horrible." she told herself, "but at least
he can lie like a gentleman and I al
ways did like that kind of man."
So they chatted on the veranda until
luncheon was announced and Dolores
left them to go to her room.
"Well?" Billy queried the moment
she was out of earshot. "What do you
think, Johnny?"
"I think," said John Stunrt Webster,
slowly, "that you're n good picker. Bill.
She's ray Ideal of n fine young woman,
and my advice to yon Is to marry her.
I'll grub-stake you. Bill, this stiff col
lar Is choking me; I wish you'd wait
here while I go to my room and rustle
up n soft one."
In the privacy of his room John
Stuart Webster sat down on his bed
and held his head In his hands, for he
had Just received a blow In the solar
plexus and was still groggy. Present
ly, however, he pulled himself together
and approaching the mirror looked
long at his weather-beaten counte
nance. Too old," ho murmured, "too old to
bo dreaming dreams."
He changed to a soft collar, and
when he descended to the patio to Join
Billy once more he was, to all outward
appearances, his usual unperturbed
Bclf, for his was one of those raro na
tures that can derive a certain comfort
from tho misery of self-sacrifice and
In thnt five minutes alone In his room
John Stuart Webster had wrestled
with the tragedy of his llfo and won.
He had resolved to give Billy the
right of way on the highway to happi
ness. In Mr. Webster's own whimsical
phraseology, his clock hud been fixed,
on the tnstnnt he recognized In the ob-
L Ject of his youthful partner's adoration
the same winsome woman he had en
throned In his own secret castle of
love. From that precise second Billy's
preservo was as safe from encroach
ment by his friend ns weald be a bale
of Confederate currency In an armor
steel vault on the three-thousand-foot
levy) of a water-tilled mine,
John Stuart Webster had unanimously
resolved upon the course he should have
pursued In the first place. Ho would
Investigate Billy's mining concession
Immediately; provided It should prove
worth while, ho would finance It and
put the property on a paying basis;
after which ho would see to It that
the very best doctors In the city of
Buenaventura should Inform Billy, nn
ofllctally and In the strictest conn
dence, that If he desired to preservo
the Itfe of Senor Juan Webstalre bs
should forthwith pack thnt rapidly dis
integrating person oft to a more sulu
brious climate.
Having made his decision, John
Stunrt Webster Immediately took heart
of hope and decided to lead trumps,
Dolores rejoined them for a siesta
after luncheon.
Webster leaned over and slapped
Billy Geary's knees affectionately.
"Well, Bill, you saffron-colored old
wreck, how long do you suppose It
will take for you to pick up enough
strength and courage to do some ac
tive mining? I'm anxious to get that
property on a paying basis, so 1 can
got out of the country."
"Why, Johnny," the amazed Billy
declared, "1 thought you would stay
aud help run the mine."
"Indeed! Well, why do you sup
pose. I spent so much time teaching
you how to run a mine, you young
Idiot, If not against Just such a time
as this? You found this concession
and tied It up; I'll finance It and help
you get everything started; but after
that, I'm through, and you can man
age It on salary and namo the salary
yourself. You have a greater Inter
est In this country than I, William;
and so with your kind permission
we'll hike up to thnt concession to
morrow and give It the double-O;
then. If I can O. K. the property, we'll
cable for the machinery I ordered Just
before I left Denver, and. got busy.
We ought to have our first cleun-up
within ninety dnys."
"Gosh, but you'ro In n hurry," Billy
murmured. Ho disliked exceedingly
the thought of having his courtship
Interrupted on a minute's notice.
"You know me, son. I'm n hustler
on the Job," Webster reminded him
brutally; "so the aooner you start, the
sooner you can get bock and accumu
late more malaria. What accommoda
tions have you up there?"
"None, Jack."
"Then you hod better get some,
Billy. I think you told me we havo
to take horses at San Miguel de
Pndun to ride In to the mine." Billy
nodded. "Then you had better buy a
tent nnd bedding for both of us, ship
the stuff up to San Miguel de Padun,
go up with It and engage horses, a
good cook, and a couple of reliable
mozos. When you hnve everything
ready telegraph me nnd I'll come up."
"Why can't you come up with me?"
Billy demanded.
"I have to see a mnn, and write
some letters und send a cablegram
and wait for an answer. I may hnve
to loaf around here for two or three
days. By tho way, what did you do
for that friend I sent to you with the
letter of Introduction?"
"Exactly what you told me to do,
Johnny."
"Where Is he now?"
"At El Buen Amlgo the same place
where I'm living."
"All right. When you cet bnck to
your hostelry, you might tell my
friend I shall expect him over to dine
with mo tills evening, If be can man
age It"
For an hour they discussed various
subjects; then Billy, declaring the
siesta was almost over and the shops
reopening us a consequence an
nounced his Intention of doing his
shopping, said good-bye to Dolores and
Webster, and lugubrlTy departed
on the business in hand.
"Why oro you In such a hurry, Mr.
Webster?" Dolores demanded. "You
haven't been In Buenaventura six
hours until you've managed to make
me perfectly miserable."
"I'm terribly sorry. 1 didn't mean
to."
"Didn't you know Billy Geary Is my
personal property?"
"No. but I suspected he might be.
Bill's generous thnt way. He never
hesitates to give himself to a charm
ing woman."
"This was a case of mutual self
defense. Billy hasn't nny standing so
cially, you know. When old Mrs. Gen
eral Mnldonado lectured me (the
dear, aristocratic soul conceived It to
be her duty) on the Impropriety of
nppearlng. on the Malecon with Billy
and my guardian, who happens to be
Billy's landlady, I tried to explain our
American brand of democracy, but
failed. So I haven't been Invited any
where slnco, nnd life would have been
very dull without Billy. He has been
a dear nnd you have taken him
away."
Webster laughed. "Well, be pa
tient. Miss Ruey, and I'll give htm
back to you with considerable more
money than he will require for your
Joint comfort. Billy In financial dis
tress Is a Joy forever, but Billy In a
top hat and a frock coat on the sunny
sldn of Easy street will be absolutely
Irresistible."
"ne's a darling. Ever since my ar
rival he has dedicated his life to keep
ing me amused." She rose. "Despite
your wickedness, Mr. Webster, 1 am
going to be good to you. Billy and 1
nlwnys have Ave o'clock tea here In
the verandn. Would you care to come
to my ten-party?"
"Nbthlng could give mo greater
pleasure," he assured her.
Sho nodded brightly to him. 'Tm
going to run up to my room and put
some powder on my nose," she ex
plained. "But you'll return before flva
o'clock?" Webster was amazed to hear
himself plead.
"You do not deserve such considera
tion, but I'll come back In about
twenty minutes," sho answered and
left him.
As Webster viewed the situation, his
decision to see as llttlo as possible of
Dolores during his brief stay In
Sobrante was a wise ono. The less he
saw of her (he told himself), Uie bet
ter for his peace of mind, for he was
forty years old, and he bad never
loved before. For blm tills fever that
burned , In his blood, this delicious
agony that throbbed In hU heart and
all on the very ghost of provocation
ware so many danger-signals, herald
of Uiat grand passion which, coming
to a man of forty, generally lasts him
the remainder of his natural exl
tenco.
Webster was forced to admit he wa
afraid of himself. His wan the rapidly
disappearing coda of tho old nnfettar
cd West, that a man shall nerer bo
tray, his friend In thought, word, or
deed. To John Stuart Webster any
crime against friendship was tho moot
heinous In all the calondar of human
frailty; even to dream of slipping Into
Billy's shoes now would be monstrous
yot Webster knew he could not afford
a teat of strength between his ancient
friendship for Billy and themasculine
desire for a perfect mate. Remained
then but one courso:
"I must run Hke a road-runner,
was the way WebBter expressed It. (
v (To bo continued)
SWINDLED AT WAR FRONT"
Relatives of Dead Soldiers Are Belnp;
Victimized.
Relatives of soldiers who fell at tha
battle front are belbg victimized by
cab drivers, hotel men, dealers In cof
fins nnd grave diggers, according to
Paris L'Informatlon.
The newspaper says this "odlona
exploitation of grief Is such that It
cannot be passed over In silence."
It Is charged the worst cases of Im
position occur In the Champagne and
Somme regions, where unhappy pil
grims are charged from GO to 65 francs
($13) for a six-mile drive. It Is said
the carriage drivers. In agreement
with Innkeepers, Invariably manage to
miss the last train out of these re
gions so thnt the mourners ore com
pelled to stny overnight.
Cofllns of the cheapest gracfo, It la
said, are sold at from 800 to 400
francs ($80), while soldiers wbu open
graves charge CO francs for bMnging
Uie colli n to the grave, and In addition
ask relatives to pay 40 franc ($8)
for 20 minutes' work In exhumlSg tho
body of u soldier. L'Informutlon calls
upon the authorities to repress ener
getically tho activities of those "prey
ing on the public."
FIRST LOOTERS PUNISHED
German Steel Kings Get Heavy Pan-
tences From French Court.
An allied courtraartlal has sentenced
the German officer, Robert Roeckllna-,
administrator of mines at Karlsruhe,
to ten yenrs' confinement, 15 years At
exllo and a fine of $2,000,000 upon hits
conviction of a charge of organizing
the pillage of factories In eastern
France. It was testified at his trial
that ho collected machinery and other
material from the factories and blew
It up In November, 1918.
A brother ofllcer, Herman Ludwlg,
received a similar sentence by default.
The Roeckllng brothers are known as
the Gorman "steel kings."
The evidence presented by the prose
cution wns to show that the brothers
had systematically destroyed tho
French metnl working plnnts at Brley,
Mlchevllle, I.ongwy and other places,
transporting within two years' time
millions of tons of material to their
factory at Karlsruhe, Including quanti
ties of undamaged materials, so as to
make the operation of whut remained
of the French plants next to ImpossV
ble.
SMALL PAY IN CANDY WORK
Average Wane of 53,658 Workers Lea
Than $500 a Year.
All ts not sweet In the candy busi
ness, nccordlng to n report Issued by
Miss Mary Anderson, director of the
woninn's bureau of tho United States
department of labor. The average
wage, for Instance, Is less than $500
a year.
With the advent of national prohi
bition there will be a large Increase
In the consumption of candy, the re
port states. In 1014 the value of the
candy output In the United States was
estimated at $170,000,000. of which tha
total payroll was $25,500,000. for 53
058 wage earners, In 2,301 factories.
Baby, Born at Sea, Gets $2,301 Purse,
On the voyage of the big steamship
Mauretanla from Cherbourg, France,
to New York a baby girl, Frances Ast
ley, wns born to Mrs. William F. Asfr
ley, who came to America from Scot
land with her husband. A purno ol
$2,301 was glvon tho baby by tho pas
sengers. Much U. 8. Food Shipped to Poland
More than 250,000 tons of foodstuffi
and raw cotton have been shipped
from the United States to Poland slnc
last Februnry. For a time these sup
piles were arriving In Poland at tin
rote of 5,000 tons dally.
Big Man In His Day.
Goliath, tho Philistine glnnt, mnsl
havo caused a lot of trouble for the
army quartermasters of his day. How
did they get a regulation uniform to
fit him, for ho stood eleven feot three
Inches In his stocking feet; If, Indeed,
Philistines of those times wore stock
lngs. Boston Post.
Curious Plant.
Among tho curiosities of the desert
of Sahara Is a queer-looking scrubby
plant, always yellow with fine sand,
called tho "coughing bean." In the
losg dry heat Its pores become choked
and It would die were It not for a
powerful gas which accumulates la.
side and explodes with a sound Ilka a
human cough.
