?5he Scovirge I A Story of -rv the East... had escaped from a tyrannical master in Aleppo. And he furthermore said that he had a com panion who was hiding somewhere in the forest. Before noon said compan ion made his appearance, announcing his name as Selim; and when the two had been questioned, their stories were so harmonious, and so frank, that they were suffered to remain; and finally they were allowed to perform the duties of body-servant to the chieftain. Judah could have asked for nothing better thus far; and he was resolved that his further plans should be care fully and surely laid. Ah! Julian little dreamed of the ■danger that was creeping upon him! CHAPTER V. Caged. The circumstances which might have led another to hasten his operations, led the Israelite to greater care and re jection. He had not supposed that Julian would take the two black men to service so near his own person, and when he found that such arrangement had been made, his first inclination was to hesitate least a suspicion of the slaves’ honesty had led the chieftain to place them thus near him. However, after the lapse of a few days, Judah was satisfied that no suspicion was en tertained against himself or his com panions, and he began to turn his at tention to the work he had in hand. On the morning of the fourth day Julian announced his intention of mov ing, and gave orders that his men should be in readiness. A spy had ar rived during the night with intelli gence that a large caravan was on its way from Tyre to Damascus, and the chieftain had determined to intercept It. Some wealthy merchants from Jtome were in the approaching train, end it was probable that they bore wealth for Horam. Just as the sun was rising, while Ju dah was in the wood after his horse, lie was accosted by Osmir, who had i teen out on an errand for the chief tain. “Ah, my master,” said the black, gazing carefully around to see that he was not observed; "I am glad that I have met you. I have been wondering whether you meant to carry out the j>lan which brought us here.” “Why have you wondered at such a thing?” asked Judah. “Because,” replied Osmir, “I have made up my mind that if the choice of masters were left to me I should choose to serve Julian rather than the king of Damascus. I like him much the best. He is not such a terrible man as he has been represented. He is a kind, generous man, and I blame him not for his hatred of Horam.” “Well, sir," said the Israelite, speak ing quickly and sternly, "do you think of turning your face from the work we have to do?” “No, no, my master. I am not so determined. I shall follow you. Your commands must be my law. If you say proceed I am with you.” “And how is it with Selim?” “You have nothing to fear, my mas ter, from him. The two men whom you selected to accompany you will not betray you. Selim thinks of this rob ber chieftain as I do; but he is bound to his duty, and will perform it.” Judah knew the characters and dis positions of the two and he felt no un easiness. “My good Osmir,” he said, with a smile, “concerning this Scourge of Damascus I feel much as you feel. I have long known that he was a noble, true-hearted man. But he is an enemy of our king, and we have promised to capture him. Just think, for a mo ment, what must be the result if we take him, and convey him in safety to Damascus. Think what peop'e will say of Osmir and Selim. Now the mer chants of Damascus are in fear and trembling on account of this terrible Scourge, and the king sits uneasily upon his throne; but if we arrest the dreaded chieftain, and deliver him up, the merchants will rejoice, and the king will be grateful. And upon whom shall their thanks and their honors fall?” This speech pleased Osmir, and fired him up to new seat in the work he had undertaken. Judah moved out from the cover to observe if any one was ap proaching, and when he was satisfied that he was still safe, he returned and gave Osmir such instructions as he deemed necessary. He was careful that all should be understood, and that each projected movement should be so ar ranged that there could be no possible clashing. He knew the wit and tem per of his associates, and he had no fear that they would disappoint him by any blunder or mistake. “And now,” said the Israelite, after his directions had been given, “if we are at all favored by fortune we shall most surely succeed. Thus far fortune has been upon our side. Your position near the person of Julian is most fa vorable. Impart our arrangements carefully to Selim, and await my fur ther signal.” Osmir promised obedience, and the two men separated, Judah going in search of his horse, while Osmir pro ceeded directly to the camp, where, having delivered a message to the chieftain, he sought Selim, and in a little while the two were in secret con sultation. Toward the middle of the forenoon the robber train was in motion, and when it came night they camped in an open wood, between two hills, near to the road which led from Caesarea Phil ippi to Damascus; and here they were to remain until the expected caravan made its appearance. Sometimes Julian took his tent with him when leading his band upon long expeditions, but on the present occa sion he had left it behind, choosing that,the place of his encampment should be as little noticeable as pos sible. After he had seen his sentinels all posted, and given such directions as he thought necessary, he sought a place of rest beneath a large tree, where he soon sank into a dreamy slumber. It must have been near mid night when he was aroused by some one moving near him, and on starting up he was addressed by Osmir: “My master, I have a strange mes sage for you.” The chieftain arose to a sitting pos ture. “Is this Osmir?” “Yes.” "From whom bring you a message?” “From one, my master, whom r had little expected to see here. As I walked forth a short time since, a sentinel in formed me that some one outside of the camp wished to speak with me. I went to the spot designated, and there found a young bond-maiden of Damas cus. Her name was Albia.” “Albia!" cried Julian, starting to his feet. “Why, such was the name of the maiden who attended upon the prin cess Ulin.” “Aye, my lord, she is the same.” “What? Do you mean that the bond maiden of Ulin is at our camp?” "She is.” “What is her business?” “She wishes to speak with Julian.” “But her business—of what does she wish to speak?” “She did not tell me, my lord. She would only say that she was the boad maiden of Ulin, and she desired to see you. I knew her not: but she seemed so gentle, and so timid, and used your name so eloquently, that I could not doubt her. I think her story is true. I think she is what she represents her self to be.” “Did she not tell you from whom she came?” “No, unless her announcement that she was the bondiualden of the prin cess Ulin may be taken in answer to the query.” “By the lyre of Apollo, she must have come from her mistress,” ex claimed the chieftain, warmly. “The princess may be in trouble. She may need stout arms to help her. 1-ead me to this bondmalden at once." "She begged, my lord, that she might not be exposed.” “Lead on. I will see her.” The great road wound around the foot of the hill, and ere long the guard had reached a point so utterly shut off from the camp that his loud est cry could not have been heard by the robber sentinels. "Is the girl here?” asked Julian, as his sable guide stopped and turned. "She must be very near here, my lord. I left her upon this very spot.” The chieftain heard a slight rustling behind him; but, not being startled into quick action, before he could turn he received a blow upon the side of the head that felled him to the earth. He was for the moment stunned, and before his reason was clear enough to direct his movements, he was set upon by three stout men, who bound his arms and legs so quickly that his power of resistance was gone before he fairly knew what opposed him. "Sir Robber," spoke the Israelite bending over the prostrate chieftain, “you are my prisoner, and henceforth you are in my keeping until I deliver you up to my master. You cannot es cape me, so do not trouble yourself with the attempt.” “You are Judah," said the chieftain. "I am.” "And these others are professed to be of Aleppo?” "Yes." ‘‘And you three serve the king of Da mascus?” “You have guessed the truth.” “By the gods." muttered Julian, as though communing with himself, "I should have guessed this before. I have been blind. I have acted like a child. But I am not yet quite lost. I am still within the—’ The Israelite had been watching him narrowly, and when he saw that the chieftain had a disposition to call for help, he sprang upon him and stopped his mouth. “Do not blame yourself, Sir Robber. Judah of Damascus has done more dif ficult work than this; and you may take to yourself the assurance that when he set out upon his mission the deed was sure of its accomplishment. Ah, here comes Selim with the horses. You shall have an easy ride and a quick one; and when you are in the presence of the king you can plead your case as eloquently as you please. I have not time to listen; nor have I the power to judge.” The Scourge of Damascus, In the full vigor of robust manhood, and possess ed of a strength and daring beyond any of his stalwart followers, was a prisoner in the hands of three slaves—a prisoner within sound of his own camp—and so surely a prisoner that he had no way of es cape. His steel-wrought muscles were powerless beneath the cruel bonds, and his mouth was stopped from the utter ance of alarm. He was lifted from the ground and placed upon the back of a powerful horse, and in a few mo ments more he was being borne swiftly away from his friends and compan ions—away towards the city where dwelt his deadliest enemies. (To be continued.) WHITE GIRL AS INDIAN. libs Has Had a Strange Life Among the Blaokfeet. The curious story of a white girl's life among the Blackfeet Indians for 16 years just come out through a suit brought by Alice Burke against Thom as Husson, a cattle rancher of Eastern Oregon to recover a ranch which once belonged to her father, and is now valued at 22,000 dollars, says the ‘‘Chi cago Herald." Burke and old Husson started to cross the plains from Kansas to Oregon. Burke was detained and sent his girl, then two years old, with Mrs. Husson. Husson sold the child to a Blackfoot Indian Chief for 12 ponies, and when Burke arrived in Oregon told him that Alice had died. Six years ago Burke died, and the Hussons have been in possession of his ranch. Alice meanwhile grew up among the tribe, and when white people noticed her fine hair, the Indians said she was a half breed whose parents were dead. She gained the love of the son of a chief named Fleetwing, who was sent to Carlisle. When he was there Alice took lessons of the Indian agent’s wife and kept pace with him in his studies. When the agent was removed she went with him to Boise City, but his wife died, and she had to take a place as a servant., and was a kitchen drudge for many months. Then Fleetwtng sent her money, and she returned to the reservation. The revelation of her white blood came when she was an ap plicant for a place in a big tribal cere mony. Then young Husson appeared and told her the story, but offered her only $100 for her father’s property. She refused and investigated, and is now suing for the recovery of the land. When she gets it she is to marry John Fleetwing. Topophone Prevent* Collisions. An instrument named the “topo phone,” has just been invented for the prevention of collisions at sea. The topophone registers even slight sounds far outside the range of the human ear, and by enabling foghorns to be heard at immense distances, will great ly minimise existing risks in thick weather. THE AMERICAN SHE^P MARKED INCREASE IN OUR DOMESTIC FLOCKS. C«n>u» for 1901 Showa ■ (lain Alika In Numbar Owned and lu Avaraga Valua Par Haad Orar tha Splendid Spring of Last Inn In view of the present low price of wool throughout the world, the lowest known for many years, and the great prostration now prevailing in the wool and sheep industry in every country, except the United States, it is interest ing to know how the American sheep farmer fares. He fares best among ail his competitors, very much the best. His industry has not been ruined; far from it. He is infinitely better off than are the sheep and wool producers of the rest of creation. Vastly better off he is than during the disastrous free wool period of 1894-97. and the succeeding two years of a home mar ket over-stocked for foreign wools brought here free of duty. So great was the glut of foreign wool under the Wilson tariff law that it was not until 1900 that our domestic growers began to feel the benefit, of the duty on wool restored by the Dlngley tariff. Even now there is on hand a considerable quantity of the free wool that was rushed in during the closing months of the Wilson law. A year ago the sheep census of The American Protective Tariff league showed some surprising results. Con trasted with the free-woo! period of 1896 the census for 1900 showed a gain of 71.44 per cent in the total number of sheep owned and a gain of 121.59 per cent in average value per head. But this was before the bottom dropped out of the world’s wool markets. Since then tlie great slump in wool values has taken place. Have American flocks decreased, and has their value per head declined along with the sheep of Australia, South America and other wool producing countries? Decidedly not. On the contrary, the sheep census of 1901, just completed by the Ameri can Protective Tariff League, shows: Number of states reporting... 40 Number of reports received... 707 Sheep owned, March, 1901_1,464,781 Sheep owned, March, 1900_1,256,738 Gain for 1901.208,043 Percentage of gain for 1900.16.55 It is found that against an average value of $3.90 per head in March, 1900, the average value for March, 1901, was $4.04, an increase of 14 cents per head, or 3.59 per cent. It would appear that the American sheep raiser has a marked advantage over the flock masters of the rest of the world. First, he has in his favor a protective tariff, which fixes an irre ducible minimum of market value for his fleeces. Unless the foreign grow er sells his wool for nothing, he can not compete with the domestic grower in the American market. The Dingley tariff takes care of that. Second, the average value per head of American sheep is kept up by the enormous de mand for mutton and lambs for food purposes. The American wage earner, when busily employed at high wages' as he has been for three or four years past and now is, consumes from three to thirty times more meat than the other wage earners of the world. He is fond of good mutton and juicy lamb, and he is a tremendous consumer of these meats. In fact, he is the best customer the American butcher has. It is not the rich people, but the wage earners, that keep the butcher shops going. It is no longer possible, as It was in 1896, under Wilson tariff free wool to buy a good sheep for fifty cents. That day has passed, and will come no more as long as the tariff on wool protects the wool grower while the tariff on all lines of production makes times good, wages high and the consuming capacity of 76,000,000 peo ple three to thirty times greater than the consuming capacity of the rest of* the people on earth. Condensed into a form easily read and understood, the sheep census of the American Protective Tariff league for 1901 is as follows: Number. No. of sheep owned In . of March, March. state. reports. 1900. 1901 Arizona . 1 37,500 32.500 Arkansas . 2 265 5*>0 California .. .. 7 27.015 30.170 Colorado. 9 70.624 70 030 Cnnecticut. 3 35 ’ 97 J?*ho. . S 133,160 m.rioo Illinois . 0 500 501 Indlnna. 59 8,351 7 616 Indian Ter .... 2 94 155 . 8 268 1,029 Kansas . 8 3,813 4 307 Kentucky .55 1,712 1 641 Louisiana . 1 10 ’ p; Maryland . 6 156 301 Michigan . 49 4,309 4 10" Minnesota. 4 616 ’935 Mississippi .. .. 1 2,000 2 1i)0 Missouri . 711 4,033 5'046 Montana .S3 481,520 530 010 Nebraska . 12 5,815 6 M0 Nevada. 1 7,000 7.000 New Mexico _ 9 32,400 62 710 New York . 17 1,054 1 279 North Carolina .. 28 1,22'. 1 051 North Dakota .. 20 31,236 3" 747 Oh*® . 39 21.929 25! 735 Oklahoma . 5 4.950 6 760 Oregon . 32 25,159 2s|9t7 Pennsylvania 4 882 974 South Carolina . 1 31 71 South Dakota_ 17 29,533 37 378 Tennessee . 1 172 * 98 Texas .*25 58.587 69.069 Utah . 15 99,925 115 725 Vermont . 4 625 655 Virginia. 5 135 360 Washington _ 14 24.027 32 715 West Virginia . 53 3,785 3J51 Wisconsin . 4 238 ’*>71 Wyoming . 28 129,102 154,505 Totals .707 1.256,738 1.464J81 Number of states reporting. 40 Number of reports received.707 Number. Value. Sheep owned in March, 1901... 1,464.781 $4.04 Sheep ow ned in March, 1900.. .1,256,738 3.90 Gain for March. 19itl. 208,043 $0 14 percentage of gain for 1901.. 0.16.55 0.0359 Commercial Isolation. In an article deprecating the grow ing conviction in the south that the same kind of protection which has built up the manufactures and wealth of the world would be also good for that section of our country, the New fork Times warns them that they ‘in so doing lose sight of the fact that the logical result of protection would be commercial isolation." Logic Is defined as the science of the distinction o£ true from false rea soning. If the result of the Dtngley tariff has effected the commercial Iso lation of this country the logical result of developing the manufactures and wealth of the south might be Its com mercial isolation. But the article In question is headed “increasing Exports from the south,” but the increase as shown has occurred since the Dlngley tariff went Into effect, and we all have been assured that if we don't buy we can’t sell. The fact Is there Is no logic In, about, nor anywhere near the assertion that protection leads to commercial isolation. The editor of the Times has apparently mistaken Mr. Gladstone’s advice that we grow more cheap cot ton and wheat for logic. SOUND AND SENSIBLE. Philadelphia Manufacturing Club Strongly Opposed to Tariff Revision. The significance of the action of the Manufacturers’ Club of Philadelphia on the subject of tariff revision anil reciprocity, taken in connection with the statement of President Search of the National Association of Manufac turers, given in another column, can not but suggest itself to every mind. It means that the Philadelphia organi zation, the largest ami most influential of its kind in the United States, is un alterably opposed to tariff tinkering in any and all forms, whether by out right alteration of the schedules or by a scheme of special trade treaties which calls for a reduction of duties on competitive products. At a largely attended meeting of the Manufacturers’ club of Philadelphia, held on the even ing of June 17, 1901, the following resolutions, previously adopted by the board of directors, were by a unani mous vote ratified by the club as a whole: Whereas, The great and acknowledged pi asperity which this country enjoys today is directly traceable to the Protective system under which our revenues are raised and our industries have been developed and the condi tions created which have given us a com manding position in the world's trade; and Whereas, This country by popular vote has many times and very recently recorded it self in favor of the Protective principle, so that this is no longer a mooted question; and Whereas, Such imperfections as are insep arable from any TarifT law are more appar ent than real, inasmuch as any Tariff sched ule which may seem to be excessive or un necessary becomes Inoperative when the ne cessity for Protection censes, thus automatic ally removing the burden; and Whereas, The disastrous experience caused by the agitation for Tariff revision prior to and during 1894 is still fresh iu our minds; therefore, be it Resolved, Thnt the Manufacturers’ Club of Philadelphia deprecates any attempt to re vive Tariff legislation as a menace to our con tinued prosperity; and Resolved, That should the alteration of any part of the Tariff schedules seein necessary in the judgment of the Industrial Commis sion now investigating the subject, the same should be taken out of politics and be made the subject of careful revision by a non partisan Tariff commission; and Resolved, That In adhering to the prin ciple of reciprocity as originally formulated in the Republican platform of 1900, to-wit: "We favor the associated policy of reciproc ity so directed as to open our markets on favorable terms for what we do not ourselves produce, in return for free foreign markets," and as expressed in existing laws operating through the Tariff, which provide for con cession on articles not produced by ourselves In exchange for like concessions on our do mestic products, having in view the preserva tion of the Integrity of our home markets, we have a valuable means for the expansion of our world trade without injury to our indus tries. The whole question of tariff and reciprocity is contained in these reso lutions. In them the attitude of the great body of industrial leaders throughout the United States is, we believe, accurately defined. There shall be no tariff tinkering on the dis honest plea that the trust evil may be thereby remedied, or for any other reason now apparent. There shall be no experiments In the line of foreign trade expansion which take from any domestic industry the measure of pro tection guaranteed by the tariff law as it now stands; no displacement of American labor, no decrease of em ployment and wages through the In creased admission of foreign made goods competing with goods of like character now being successfully pro duced In this country. Sound Repub lican doctrine, sound protection, sound patriotism, sound practical, business common-sense! A “Warning.” The Protection organ, the Economist, If it has any discreet friends, will stop its call ing Representative Iinbcoek a traitor because he has expressed the opinion thnt it would be well to reduce certain duties. The delib erations of the National Association of Man ufacturers and its resolution should be a warning to that element not to be arbitrary in affairs which concern the Republican party rather than the Economist.—Indianapolis “Journal.” Perhaps a careful reading of the statement of President Search as to what the National Association of Manufacturers did and did not do on the subject of tariff revision might suggest to the Journal that the •'warn ing” in question applies not so much to the friends as to the enemies of protection. They Mean Hu.lne... In 1894 we were producing 128,000 tons of pig iron per week. Now w? are producing and using over 300,000 tons per week. Protection and pig iron are great friends, and both mean business, and the farmer is just as much interested as the manufacturer and laborer. Greatest Consuming Nation. The population of the world is about 1.600.000. 000; of the United States. 77.000. 000, or about one-twentieth. Yet we consume about one-third of the whole world’s products. Why? Be cause we do forty-nine fiftieths ‘if our own work, make big money and live like lords. Rowland's Supply of “Store Cattle.” The rearing and selling of store cat tle Is one of the most important and lucrative departments of Irish stock breeding. says the English Live 8tock Journal. "The trouble and expense of raising young cattle" have little to do with It Though we always advise breeding In preference to buying It must be recognized that In parts of England and Scotland the system of farming and other circumstances ren der It more convenient to buy than to breed store cattle. The expense is probably as great to buy the stores as to breed, them—at any rate, the farmer who buys and feeds a large number of stores Is, as a rule, a capitalist, and the plan suits him best. The agricul turists of Canada and the United States would certainly like very well to oust Ireland from this profitable market The extensive pasture lands of Ireland enable the farmers of Great Britain, and especially those of Scot land, “to forego, to a great extent, the trouble and expense of raising young stock.” The frames of the store cat tle exported from Ireland are built up out of the Irish grass lands, the ani mals being fattened and “finished” in Great Britain. “This Interesting In stance,” It Is stated, “of a territorial division of labor, within the sphere of agriculture, between different coun tries, affords evidence, for one thing, of the fine bone-producing qualities of the great limestone plains of Ireland. At the same time so great an expan sion of the export trade In store cattle as has now taken place Involves an exhausting drain on a great natural re source of the country.” On the same subject Live Stock Journal (of Chicago) says: As there has been no case of pleuro pneumonia In the 800,000 Canadian cat tle landed and slaughtered at British ports since 1896 the English and Scot tish farmers are again protesting against the continuance of the em bargo of Canadian live cattle as stores (feeders). Ireland supplied Great Britain/427,891 store cattle last year, and half as many fat cattle. Of the bulls used in Ireland for breeding there were, according to the official returns, 8,406 Shorthorns, 329 Hereford3, 764 Aberdeen-Angus, 116 Red Polled, 376 Kerry, 103 Dexters, 66 Channel Islands, and 4,126 cross-bred and other bulls. The total is 14.286. of which 13,836 were bred in Ireland and 450 were im ported. Great Britain has Increased her pas ture lands from 12,000,000 acres in 1870 to 16,000,000 acres in 1900. That is. more than half of the 32,000,000 acres of farm land is in pasture. This in dicates the extent of live stock breed ing and feeding among British farmers on their high-priced lands much higher than any American farms. As the competition of cheap grain from for eign countries Increases, live stock of the improved breeds Increase and with it the inevitable increase in pasture lands as the highest source of agri cultural prosperity. So, too, will our eastern and southern states And in creased prosperity as they Increase and improve their live stock, especially on their high-priced lands. Slop or Dry re»(l for Swine. At the Indiana Experiment station several tests were made to determine whether slop or dry feed were most profitable and to determine in what proportion to solid food water should exist In the feed. The figures reported also bring out the fact that pigs weighing 60 pounds, fed dry feed, con sumed on an average of 2.35 pounds of water dally, and that this amount increased nearly constantly until these same pigs weighing 218 pounds con sumed 11.07 pounds per day. It is also shown that pigs fed water In their food as a slop, when weighing about 60 pounds consumed either 2.42, 4.25 or 5.79 pounds of water per day, while these same pigs weighing 213 to 222 pounds consumed either 8.17, 14 or 18 pounds of water per day. Undoubtedly much of this water was consumed un necessarily and certainly one lot was given much more water with its grain than was required. There was no ma terial difference in the appearance of the pigs in either lot, so far as quality is concerned, and so far as this one experiment goes, the use of about two times the weight of water to grain in dicates a satisfactory proportion. In view of the fac: that the pigs fed dry grain made slightly the best gains, it would appear that there is really no gain in feeding the pigs a slop instead of a dry grain excepting as a feeder may regard it a matter of convenience. Horticultural enervations. In the growing of small berries, ir rigation is destined to play an im portant part, even in the states of good rain-fall. In the semi-arid states ir rigation for fruit-growing is an ac cepted necessity, but up to the present time it has been thought to be quite un necessary for fruit growers In the Blast to consider irrigation. Perhaps one of the most successful of irrigation ex periments was conducted at the Wis consin station, where the yield of strawberries was Immensely Increased as well as their quality. ... There is one point in favor of ir rigated berries that should not be over looked, and that is the certainty of a crop in very dry years when most ber ries prove a failure The irrigated berries, being as abundant as usual, yet bring a higher price than usual on account of the scarcity. The New Jer sey station reports that in one year their berries sold at wholesale at 10 cents per quart, and the scarcity of berries was not as great as it had been during some other years. Unless you can be patient, unless you can be satisfied to reap your reward after your work is done, the same as in any other business, our advice to you is let breeding of poultry alone.