CR m, TIE CARRIER BY' R. D. BLACKMORE t Author of "LORN A DOONE,'' "ALICB LORRAINE," ETC., ETC. CHAPTER III. (Contlnuml.) Thcro wnn nothing more to bo learned from Orlpim, except thnt ho passed the "Black Homo" thnt dny a llttlo curlier Minn usunl, nnd hnd not brought bin nln tor Entlicr, who wnB to Imvo met him at tho "Golden OroHS." He hnd como homo by way of Hlsfleld, having something to deliver thcro, and hnd given a lift to old Shepherd Wnkellng; but Mint could Imvo naught to do with It It wb now getting dark, nnd the Bqtiiro every moment grew mora and moro unonny. "Keep nil this nonsenno to yourself now, Orlpps," .10 anld, ns he stowed the bng under n tub, nnd care fully covered hln daughter's hnlr, nnd tho pleco of pnper, with n utrulnlng bIcvo; "It might nnnoy mo very much If thin foko went uny further, you know. I can trust Thomns to hold hl tongue, nnd I hope I enn trust you, neighbor Orlpps." " our honor knowoth what I be," an Bworcd tho loynl carrier. "lSver fiiucc I wero a boy but thorn, they all knows what I be." Master Crlppn, with his brnln "a good pleco dolled." nn ho afterwards tmld of It, mado hlu wny back to tho cart. He took up tho rolns, nnd Hindu a little flour Ish with his brans-bound whip, nnd Dob bin put up his head, nnd stnrted with IiIb most convetiiout foot "I diinno what to mnko of thin here start;" nid CrlppB to hiniHolf, nnd his horso nnd enrt, nu oon ns he hnd smit ten his broad chest long enough to nrouse circulation, "beuinoth to me n queer thing truly. But I never wero n hand nt a riddle. Wugg then, Dobbin! Wuu'not go homo to-night V" Meanwhile the old Squire, with n troubled mind, kept talking and walking shout, and listening for tho runiblo of his nlstor's enrringe, tho clank of horso's hoofti, and tho ring of whcols upon tho froscn road. Ho could not bellovo that any one In tho world would hurt his dar ling Grade. Everybody loved her bo, and tho wholo parish was bo fond of her, and she hod such a way of casing evory one's perplexities, thnt if nny villain duret oven think of touching a hair of her blessed head yet whose hair wna it whoso hnlr was it? And such a quan tity as nover could havo been cut with tier consent! "This is too much! I cannot boar It!" ho nald to himself, after mnny a turn, and anxious search of tho distance; "Joan's carrlngo should have been here long ago. My darling woiim hnvo mado them keep their time. I cannot stop here; I. must go to meet them. But I need uot startle nny one." Heavy snow-clouds hnd been gathering all tho afternoon; nnd as he passed through a sldo gate Into the lane, nnd turned his mare's head eastward, tho for ward (lakes wero borne by tho Hharp wind into iub white whiskers. "Wo shall hnvoj n gonrso night of It, I doubt," he aid to himself, oh ho buttoned his coat At .every turn of tho lano he hoped to meet his slstor's chariot But corner after corner ho turned, and met no car rlagc, no cart, no horse, nor even bo much as a man afoot; only Uie snow getting thicker and sharper, and tho wind beginniug to wail to it Fear struck coldor to his heart than frost ns ho turned, tho last corner of his wny, without meeting presenco or token f kia slater o'r darling daughter. In tho deepening show he drew his horso up under the two great yew trees thnt over hung his slstor's goto, nnd fumbled In tho dark for tho handle. The bell In tho porch of tho houso clangod dcenlv. and tho mastiff heavily bayed nt him; but be had to make tho bell clang thrice Dciorc any servant nppenrcd. "Who bo you there?" nt last a gruff Tolce nfiKcu, without stretch oi courtesy. "Open tho gnte, you young onf." cried the Squire. "I suppose you are ouo of tho new lot, oh Not to know me, worth uginnucrr "Why couldn't you havo said so then?" tho surly follow nnswercd, as he slowly opened one lent of. tho gate. "Such n follow wouldn't bo with mo half a day, Aro you too big for your work, sir? llun on before mo, you pie crust in pumps, or you shall taste my Whip. Bir." Tho footmnn, for onco In IiIb life, took his feet up nnd rnu In a bluster of rage &nd terror to the front door. Mr. Og Zander struck his mare, and she Btnrted o that he scarcely pulled her head up under tho coigno of his sister's porch. "What is nil this, I would beg to uow? If you think to frighten me, you aro mistaken. Oh, Worth, is it Wortli whutovor do you mean by making such commotion?" Thrco or four frightened maids wore peeping, nnfo in tho gloom of tho en u-aiico hall: whilo tho lady of tho houso rnnie forward bravely In tho lamp light "I vlll Bpcak to you presently, Jonn,' said the bqulrc, as ho vainly searched with n falling heart, for some dear face behind her. "Hero, Bob, I know you at any rate; take the old maro to tho sta blc." Then, with a sign to his sister, ho fol owed her softly into tho dining room At a glanco ho saw that sho had dluc alone, and ho fell into a chair and could not speak. "Havo you brought back the stock Ings? Why, how ill you look! Tho colt has bcon tuo much for you, brother. You Bhould not havo como out What was Grace doing to let "Whore Is my daughter Grace?" "Your dn lighter Grace! My niece Grnco! , Why, nt homo in her father's house," to', bo sure! Worth, aro your wits wunderlng ' "When did C-ico leave you?'' "At 0 o'clock yesterday. How can you ask, when yon sent In such hot haste for her? You might bo qulto nro that sho would not llnircr. I thought it rather let mo tell you f "I never sent for Grace. I have not seen her." Mrs. Fcrmltngo looked at her brother steadily, with ono hnnd fencing her fore head. Ho nnnwered her gnzo with such eyes thnt she enma up to him, and began to trcmblo. "I tell you, .Toan, I nover sent for Grace. If you don't know where sho is none but God knows." "I have told you all," his sister nn swercd, catching ncr brenth nt every word nlmost "n letter enmo from you, overruling the whole of our arrnngement you were not 111; but you wanted her for some pnrticuinr purpose, oho was to wnlk, nnd you would meet her; and wnlk hio did, poor dnrling. And I wns so hurt thnt I would not send " "You let her go, John! You let her go! It was a pleco of your proud tem per. Her denth lies nt your door. And so will mine." Mr. Oglandcr was very sorry, an noon as he had spoken thus unjustly; but the deep pang of the heart dovourcd any qualms of conscience. Are you Buro that you let her go? Aro you Btiro that sho Is not In this houso now?" no cried, coming up to his Bister, nnd tnking both hands to bo sum ol her; "sho must bo hero. And you aro joking with me." "Worth, sho left this houso nt 2 o'clock by that timcpieco yesterday, in stead of to-day, ns wo meant to do. Sho would not let any ono go with her, be- causo you wcr6 coming down tho hill to meet her. Not expecting to go homo that day, sho had a pair of my silk stockings on, becnusc well, I need not go into that and knowing what a darling little fidget sho is, 1 thought sho had sent you back witu them, and to mnko your peace for so flurrying mo." "Hnvo you nothing moro to tell mo, John? I shall go mad whilo you dwell on your Btockings. Who brought thnt letter? What is become of It? Did you seo it? Can you think of nnythln? Oh, Jonn, you women aro so quick wittod! Surely you can think of something!" Mrs. Fcrmltngo knew what her broth-. er meant; but no sign would she show of it. Tho Squire wsb thinking of a llt tlo touch of something thnt might have grown into love; If Grace had not been so shy about It and so full of doubts as to what she ought to do. Her aunt had been anxious to help this forward; but not for the world to speak of it "Concerning the letter, I only just saw it I was up well, well, I mean, I happened to hnvo something to do In my own room then. The dear creature knocked at my door, nnd I could not let her In nt tho moment " "You wero doing your wig well, well, go on." "I wns doing nothing of the kind your anxiety need not mnko you rudo, Worth. However, she put the letter un der the door, and I saw thnt it wns your hnndwritlng, nnd so urgent thnt I wns quite flurried, and sho was off in two minutes, without my oven kissing her, Oh, poor dear! my little dear! Sho said good bye through the key hole, and could not wnlt for mo oven to kiss her!" At this thought the elderly lady broke down, nnd could for tho moment do noth ing but sob. "Dear heart, dear heart!" cried the Squire, who was deeply attached to his sister; "don't tnko on so, my denr good Joan. We know of no hnrm as yet thnt if " for ho thought of the coil of hnlr, but with strong effort forbore to speak of It "nothing, I moan In any Way positive, or disastrous. Sho may have, you know, she may have taken it Into her head to to Ioavo us for awhile, Jonn." "To run nwny! To elope!" Not sho. She is the Inst girl In the world to do It Whatever mny hhve hnppoucd, sho hns not dono thnt You ought to know bet ter than thnt, Worth." CHAPTER IV. Meanwhile, Esther Crlpps, who per haps could have thrown some light on ibis strange affair, was very uneasy in her mind. She hnd not heard, of course, aB yet thnt Uraco Oglnnder wns mlssinc, But she could not get rid of tho fright Bhe had felt, and the dread of some dark secret. Her sister-in-law was In hucIi n condition thnt she must not be told of it; nnd, ns for her brother Exodus, it would be worse thnn useless to spenk to him. lie luui tnlten It Into his bend. over bIiico thnt business with tho "Ox ford man," thnt his sister was not "right minded" that sho dreamed thin us. and imagined things; and thnt anything she liked to eay should bo listened to. and thought no moro of. And Baker Crlpps was ono of thoso men from whose minds no hydraulic power can lift an idea laid once, laid forever. Esther had no ono to toll her tale to. Sho longed to bo homo nt ueciuey. Such weather had set In that cvon Crlpps, with his nctlvo turn nnd pride In his honest cnlllng, wns forced to stnv at homo and boll tho boncB the butcher Bent him, nnd nurse his stiff knee, and smoke IiIb plpo, nnd go no further thnn his bed of hnrdy kalo, or Dobbin's stable. Except that when tho sun went down his soclnl instincts so awoko, that he mannged to go to tho comer of the lane, whero tho blacksmith kept the pub He house. This was a most respectable house, frequented very quietly. Master Crlpps, from IiIb Intercourse with the I world, and leading position In B it '. r, as well ns his pleasant way of lotting other people tnlk, nnd nodding when their words wero wisdom Crlpps hnd long been nccepted as tho oraclo; and he liked it Hiss, tho blacksmith nnd tho Inndlord, felt that on his heavy shoulders lay tho duty of promoting warmth nnd cordial ity. Ho sat without a coat, nnd his woolsoy Bleoves rolled back displayed tho proper might of nrra. In one grimy hand he held a plpo, at which he had given tho final puff, nnd In tbo other a broad brimmed penny, ready to drop it Into tho balnnco of tho brnss tobacco box, and open It for a fresh supply. First h glanced at the door, to bo sure that hli daughter Mealy could uot hear; for ovor since her mother's death ho had stood In Bome awe of Mealy; nnd then receiv ing from Zncchary Crlpps a aod of grav eucouragement, he fixed his eyes on him through the smoke, and uttered what all were inditing of. "I call this a very rmn start, I do, about poor Squire's daughter." The public of the public gnncd with ad miring approval nt him. Tho sentiment was their own, nnd he had put It well and briefly. In different ways, according to tho state nnd mnnncr of each of theni, they let him know that he wnn right, nnd might hold on by what bo said. "Gentlemen," said Grocor Batts, the very same mnn who had threatened to put his son into the carrying line, "I bows, in courso, to superior wisdom, and them as is always to nnd fro. But every man must think his thoughts, right or wrong, nnd sp.vtk them out, nnd not bo ufenred of no one. And my mind Is thnt in this hero business, we be nil of us going to work tho wrong wny alto gether." As no one hnd nny senso ns yet of hav ing gone to work at all, in this or any other matter, and several men had mado up their minds to bo thrown out of work on tho Saturday night If the bitter weather lasted, this great spoech of Grocer Bntts created some confusion. "Let 'un go to work mlssclf !" "What do ho know about work?" "Altogether wrong! Givo mo tho sawdust for to clear my throat." Tlieso and stronger exclamations showed poor Bntts thnt it would havo been better for trade if ho had held his tonguo. "Touching what neighbor Batts have said," began Carrier Crlpps, In his Blow nnd steadfast voice, "it may be neither hero nor there: nnd all of us bo liable, lu our best of times, to error. But 1 do believe a? ho means well, and hnth a good deal insula him, nnd n lnrgc family to put up with. Ho may be right, and all us in tho wrong. Time will show, with patience. I have knowed so many things as looked nt first unlikely como truo as gospel In tho end, nnd so mnny things I wore Buro of turn out quite contrnlry, that whenever a mnn hath aught to say, I likes to hoarken to him. Thero, now, I ha'nt no moro to say; and I leave you to make the best of it. Zacchary rose, for his tlmo was up; he saw that hot words might ensue, and he detested brawling. Moreover, although he did not always keen strict tlmo with bis horso and cart, no man among the living could be more punctual to his pil low. With kind "good nights" from all. he passed, and left the smoky Bccne be hind. As he stopped at the bar to say good-bye to Amelia, for whom he had a liking, a nhdrt, quick, rosy man came in, slinking snow from his boots, and seeming to havo lost his way that night By the light from the bar, the carrier knew him, and was about to speak to him, but received a sign to hold his tongue, and pass on without notice. Clumsily enough he did ns he was bid den, and went forth, puzzled in his home ly pate by this new pieco of mystery. For the man who passed him was John Smith, not as yet well known, but held by all who hnd experience of him to bo the shrewdest man In Oxford. The man quietly went Into the Banded parlor, and showed good manners to tho company. They set hlra down ns n wnyfnrcr, but a pleasant one, and well to do; and as words began to kindle with tho friction of opinions, he listened to nil thnt was said, but did not presumo to side with any one. Tho arrows of the snowy wind came shooting over Shotover. It was Saturday now of that same week with which wo began on Tuesday. Trusty nnd resoluto Dobbin never hnd n hnrder job thnn now. Some pnrts of Ilendlngton nill give pret ty Kmnrt collar work in tho best of times; and now with deep snow scarred by hoofB, hnd ridged by wheels, but not worn "down, hard it seemed for a horse, however sagacious, to judge what to do. But now on the homewnrd road, with a heavy Christmns Inden cart to drng, this fine old horse took good care of himself. Ho kept his tonguo well under bit, nnd his eyes in sagacious blinkers, nnd sturd ily up the hill ho stopped, whilo Crlpps, his mnster, trudged besiuo him. Finally ho stopped, and shook himself, and pant ed with large resolutions; and Crlpps from his enpacious pockets fetched tho two oak wedges, and pushed ono under cither wheel; whilo Esther, who was coming homo at laBt, jumped from her scat, to help tho load, and patted his kind noso, nnd said a word or two to cheer him. "Tho best harse as over looked through a bridle," Zacchary declared across his mane; "but ha must bo hoomored with his own wny now, snme na the rest on us, when us grows old. Etty, my denr, no call for you to come down nnd catch chilblains." "Zak, I am going to piiBh behind. I am not big enough tf do much good. But I would rather be nlongsido of you, through this here bend of the rond, I would." For now tho dusk was gathering In, as they tolled up tho lonesome und snowy rood, whero It overhung tho "Gipsy's Grave." (To bo continued,) lllb Rchboii for Asking, "Where were you educnted?" "At tho University of Delaware. Go ing to send your boh there?" "No." Houston rc:t. COMMISSIONER GARFIELD'S KE PORT. It Is Found to He Fnvornble to the Great Puckers Tho report of CoiumlHsloucr of Cor porations Garllcld on tho beef Indus try, after about eight months' investi gation In Chicago und elsewhere, shows that thcro has been an enormous amount of exaggeration In tho state ments that hnvo appeared for soino time past In regard to tho beef busi ness. This Investigation was set on foot by a resolution of tho House of Representatives adopted March 7, 1004, nnd the ascertained fn:ts after a most rigid examination of the methods and general conduct of the business aro contained In a report covering 808 pages. Ita figures and tablos conclu sively show that the popular belief In enormous profits mndc by the large packers, such as Armour & Co., Swift & Co. nnd Nelson Morris & Co., nnd In the excluslvo control of tho busi ness which many think they enjoy, la really without foundation. The reimrt made to President Roose velt by Commissioner Garflold Is real ly tup first official statement of tho ac tual conditions of the beef business thnt hns been made, nnd ns all the con clusions arrived at aro bnscd, as shown by him, upon data officially obtained, thcro seems to bo no reason why they should not be regarded ns reliable and In nil respects trustworthy. This report shows why tho prlco of both cattle nnd boef ndvnnccd to tho highest level ever known after the short corn crop of 1001, and states that because of tho decrease In number of cuttle nnd also In decreased weight? "the high prices of beef which caused so much complaint among consumers nt this lime were attributable wbolly to these abnormal cattle prices.." All tho figures of the live welRht nnd live cost of all dressed beef cattle were obtained from actunl killing rec ords and nil informntlon of every kind obtained by the Commissioner was voluntarily and freely offered by the pnekors, all books of record and papers connected with the business having placed at his disposal. To mnko certain thnt tho results of the Investigation should bo absolutely nccurate, the Commissioner states that a double method of nscerUlnlug profits was adopted, and, without going Into detail here, it Is fouud that tho conclu sion arrived at shows an average profit of 00 cents per head. Tho Commis sioner says "the close parallelism In the results of the two methods of ascer taining the profits confirms completely the correctness of the general conclu sions." It is clearly established that "western packers do not control more than half of the beef supply of tho United States," the conclusion of the Commissioner being that tho business done by them amounts to "about 45 per cent" of the total slaughter of the country. The whole report Is extremely Inter esting and well worthy of careful pe rusal. As an ofllclal report It may be regarded as worthy of confidence and It certainly leads the reader to the conclusion arrived at by the Commis sioner when he states that "the capital ization of none of these concerns' Is excessive aB compared with Its actual investment" nnd that from thorough and rigid examination of original en tries In books and papers to which he had access there was also "Indirect evi dence that the profits of tho packers m their beef business are less than Is frequently supposed," as shown by comparison between the total proflta and the total amount of Rales. A Purlslaa called "Father Cock roach" makes his living by rlddltg house3 of cockroaches. "Dr. PftTld Kennedy's Krorlt Xmedy eavc m prompt and complete relief from 4yiprpelA and liver demiiKcnient." II. T Trowlirldtr. Harlem R. r. n. Y- tlalloonists sa Uiao birds' fllubt Is limited to 1,315 feet above the sur 'are of the eath. DIVORCE SFrS HliUI IIIHIJ (111 Itnx 1'. York, Neh-nskv In Germany electricit,aiiiirig other curious n suits, has rehabilitated Mm rilcarried wind I'l. , Two bottles of Piso' Care for Con! sumption cured uie of a turrible conch.- N.r I'sapt"?: ?iBiBo' a"nag' Buff,,u Doctor Well, Mis. O'Brien, I rope your hmband has taken his medicine rptilarly, oh? FREE Tound Gold in Nebraska. Ituestori In Nebraska Ileal Bstitte will And thl truo Now Is tho tlmo to got In on the ground floor. We havo gome choice Investment. Write us for further Information. Schumacher t'.lrre'. or!enns. Neb. T' ore Is no Hxhcj quantity fur ihe feeding of ground dry bone, lb may be broadcasted ovor the poultry run, whore the fowls oin help themselvoj 'o anv qumtlbv desired. Mother Gray's Bwoot Powder Tor Chthlron. ,.Su??s.sfun.3r J"ed b7 Mother Gray, nurse la the Chl.dren's Homo In New York, otue Ooa tlpatlon. Kevorlshness. Hud Stoinuoh. Teeth. Uinr Disorders, move and reirulute the Bowela nd Destroy Worms. Over 30.000 testimonials. At all DruccstH. 25a. Sauiplo PUKE. Ad Iresa A. S. OLviarsu. Loltoy. N. Y. Most "woman's rlht" orators rie vo e most of their tlmo talking about wo nan's wrops. l ..II KK A COLD TW ONR DAT UU ,txnuve llromo Quinine Tubleta. AB druKtflHa rerund tho money If It falls to cure. W. Qrove'i ilmun to 00 afcoh box. J6& Oxtail Bonp. Take two oxtails, an onloa, two out) rote, ono stalk of celery, parsley aoA a small pleco of pork. Out tho oxtalSq at the Jolnis; slico the vegetables aa mince tho pork. Put the pork Into 4 saucepan. Then add the onlona, &rs when they begin to brows add tho f tails. Let them fry a little, them ct thorn to ttio bono that the Julco roaj, run out In boiling. Place oxtnils browned onions in a soup kottlo wltJ four quart! of cold water. Let ihtm elmmcr for fonr hours. Then add tW othor vegetables, stirring 1b also pep por, salt and two or three clove. When tho vegetables are entirely cooked soup Is dono. Strain It nnd servo. you wish, a few Joints (ono for cao plate) may bo trimmed and eont to tkk table with tho soup. Cream Cnrnmele, Dissolve two pounds of granafeta sugar in a llttlo milk, add a (vmrte of a pound of cream of tartar and C00J5 vory slowly over a low Arc, stirrl steadily. When a little dropped in col water la like soft putty pour into largo sliallow pan and sot In a coc placo until so stiff that a dent made on tho surface remains. Beat to ft creamy mass, then turn upon a sugareJ board and knead and roll out as yo would a biscuit dough. Cut inte squares and wrap each ono in waxe paper. The ranlla flavoring may b Bthred Into Uho candy jnet bafore tmk ing from tho flro. Coffco Cnktt. Add to a pint of risen bread-sponga, a gill of warm mirk, a pinch of ealfy a quarter of a cupful of melted short) enlng and two oggs that Imvo beeq beaten light with three-quarters of cup of sugar. Now put m a Httlo gra&i ed nutmeg, somo currants or seeded, raisins and as rmrch floor as can bj worked in with a spoon. Bet into ft broad greaBcd pan to rteo and whan very light brush over the top of thi cake with milk, sprinkle yrbfii sugap and cinnamon and bake la a slow ore for three-quarters of am hovr. Oovel with broTV paper for the first ImJI hour. Baked Apple. Wtash and core smooth, eeued ayplM and placo them in cake pass, penrtag over them a goodly amount of Bjrflf made by dissolving granulated emgtd in water. Fill the holes left by thi cores with maple sugar and set in thif oven to bafte. Baste the apples tvp or three times while in process of cook ing with tlie syrup which waa left is. tba pan, and When done servo wiOi stiffly whipped cream lin individual des sert dishes. Ilice Puddlnc. Boll half a pound of riee in raMk until it Is quite tender, boat it weJJ with a wooden spoon to wash thjp grains; add three quarters of a pound of sugar and the same of melted but ter; half a nutmeg, six eggs, a gill oi wine, some grated lamon peel; put a paste in he dish and bake ifc. For a chaaige it may be boiled and cotoa with butter, sugar and wine. Desert PnlFa. Take ono pint of milk and ercaai each, the whites of four oggs bcatea to a stiff frotli, ono heaping cupful oi sifted flour, ono scant cupful of pow dered sugar; add a little grated lemon peel and a little salt Beat these ingre dients all together until very light, bake In gem pons, sift pulverized su gar over thein and ait with a sane flavored with lemon. Short BuKucstlone. A llttlo chloride of lime mixed wlt$ water will quickly remove ink s taint from silver inkstands, coc A little sugar added to tho wutei used for basting tlio roast, eeckilly U It be veal, Improves Its flavor. Clean Arc Irons with very finely pow. dered brick dust and parallln. Polish with dry brick dust or ornery cloth. It Is said that a sound, ripe apple placed In a tin cako box will keep thq loaves from drying or crumbling. Iron rust must bo effaced by rubbraa tho spots with lemon Juice and salt After both treatmcnte, tho goods must be hung in the sun. Soda should be used for washing greasy things, for tho alkali added ta tho grease makes soap, which does th work of cleansing. Sweeping with tho carpet sweepc will bo more effectual If the sweeper h pushed In tho same direction as th warp of a rug not against it A cement mado by adding a tea Bpoonful of glycerin to a gill of glue 2 a great convenience In the kitchen nnd Is especially good for fastening leather, paper or wood to metal. Milk will Immediately and effectual ly extinguish the flames from gasollat or any form of petroleum, since n forms an emulsion with tho oil, wherj aa wter only spreads It