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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 11, 1902)
By JOHN R. MUSICK, Author '•! "Myiterloui Mr. Howard.” “Th« Dark Stranger,” "Charlie Allendale** Double." Etc. Copyright, 18*7, by Rosier Boilin'• Bon. All rlchta feeerred. CHAPTER VII.—(Continued.) .. ■“Have you traveled far?” asked Clarence. ‘Shipmate, this old hulk is about on her last cruise,” said a feeble, husky voice. "It is Ralston—Glum Ralston!” roared Gid. "Where ye been, Glum? Tell me where ye been!” “I am sick—starving—dying!” the ex-sailor moaned. Clarence hurried him to his house, where a warm supper was hastily pre pared for him. “Have you seen Paul Miller or heard from him since you came upon ns in the pass?” was one of the first questions propounded by Clarence. “Yes,” he answered. “Last I saw o’ him he was on an iceberg sailin’ out t’ sea, and his only fellow-passenger was a polar bear.” * A * • t It will be essential at this point to return to Paul Miller, whom we left on an iceberg floating out to sea. The swelling flood and tossing cakes of ice between the drifting floe and ■shore made it utterly impossible for him to reach land. The sharp growl of the monster above indicated that a crisis was coming, which would de termine the rights of ownership to the mountain of ice. Through all his misfortunes Paul had managed to retain his presence of mind and his rifle. He executed a skillful flank movement, and, scaling a shelf, was several feet above the bear and not over twenty paces away, prepared for an assault. With nerves as steady as if engaging in the most ordinary sport, he leveled his rifle at the side of the monster’s head. When sure of his aim he pulled the trigger. There followed a sharp report and the bear dropped on his haunches, his nose in the air. Paul cocked his rifle and fired a second shot at the beast’s head. It fell on the ice and after a few spas modic kicks lay still. He sent a third into the back of its head, but it was wholly unnecessary, for the other bullets had done the work. With his knife he removed the skin from the animal, and, climbing as high as he dared, hung it upon one of those spires of ice, in the hope some sealing schooner or whaling ship might see it and send a boat to his relief. When night came he lay down on the snow and ice, and, notwith standing his perilous situation, actually slept. He was awakened soon after dawn by the sound of voices near. “What say ye nou?” one seemed to say to another. “I say nowt,” was the answer. “If he be there find him.” “Sure, man, ye canna say as a bear will peel his own skin from his back.” “Weel, there’s a stiffener,” return ed another voice. Paul rose and mechanically laid his hand on the rifle at his side. Only a few hours before he was wishing he had not shot the bear, and that It had destroyed him instead of he shooting it, but now that his life might probably be in danger, it grew suddenly very sweet. He raised his head a trifle higher and listened intently at the voices. “Push alongside and let a lad go ashore,” said another voice. Then he plainly heard the splashing of paddles in the water. He crept along on hand and knees, holding his rifle in one hand and a cocked re volver in the other. Then he raised his head just a little and saw a large canoe in which were half a score of dark-skinned Indians. Surprise and curiosity overcame any fear he might entertain of his visitors, and he arose and gazed about on the sea and shore. The glance filled him with wonder and surprise. The shore was lined with green trees, and afar off he saw a mountain towering so high its peak pierced the light blue clouds. ne saw cmmueys Houses irorn which the pale blue smoke was issu ing, mingling with the atmosphere. It was a brisk little village with men, women and children in it, but what brought peace to his troubled mind and relieved all fear was the little white church, with its spire, on the hillside. "There he is! There he is!” cried a young man in the canoe, pointing at Paul. "Ho, my brother, you ride on a strange boat!” “Who are you?” asked Paul. “The Metlakahtla,’’ was the answer. He tried to think where he had heard the name before, but w'as unable to recollect it. He was asked to come down to their canoe. They tossed a rope to him, which he made fast to one of the great cakes of ice. and slid down to the boat. The tall chief stood up to catch him, and as he dropped into his arms said: “My brother, you are safe. You have had a very dangerous ride.” “It is not so weel. that boot ye ride upon,” put in another Indian, with a strong Scotch accent. The men with the paddles at once propelled the canoe away from the ice floe, and it glided out into the bay, straight for the village of Metlakahtla. The island was given by the United States to a scanty tribe of British American In dians whom an old Scotch missionary had converted from utter savagery Into a civilized and God-fearing people. When the canoe touched the shore Paul sav' an elderly white man in the throng. He was dressed in the garb of civilization, and his long, white hair and beard gave him a patriarchal ap pearance. His face was grave and kind. “My son, a kind Providence has won derfully preserved you. We will go to church to return thanks for your great deliverance, and then we will hear your story. After songs and prayers Paul was taken to the home of the patriarch, where he fared sumptuously, after which he narrated his strange adven tures to the good old missionary. “So you are another, my son, who has come to dig gold from the earth in the frozen north.” Then, taking the arm of the youth, he led him from the house, and, pointing to that great old. mountain, which, grim and gray, tow ered into the skies, and with his eyes wildly dilating, said: “In mockery, at the grim gateway of Alaska, towers that mountain of gold upon which no white man dares lay his finger. Paul gazed at him in amazement, and began to wonder if he had not got among a race of madmen. “How was the gold discovered?” he asked. “It’s not discovered save by the In dians and perhaps one other than yourself. But come in and I will tell you what other white man than your self knows of the island and the moun tain of gold.” When they were seated in the cozy parsonage the old missionary proceed ed to tell Paul the story, but they were interrupted by the arrival of some Indians with a prisoner. The story told by Father Duncan we have heard before from the lips of Clum Ralston. No sooner did Father Dun can see the captive *han he said: “It is one of the two sailors who did away with the poor captain.” When Paul saw the prisoner he ex claimed: “Great Heaven! It is one of the men who captured the old hermit in the cavern!” CHAPTER VIII. Laura's Departure. While the many stirring events were transpiring in Alaska, poor Laura Bush was living a life of doubt, min gled with hope and despair, at Fresno, California. Not a line had she re ceived from Paul since the letter came that he was robbed and wounded. Was he dead or was he still alive, struggling to regain what he had lost? It began to be whispered ovei the town that Laura Bush was losing her reason. Theodore Lackland was shocked and grieved at the thought, for in his selfish way he loved her madly. He would have given worlds to possess this matchless beauty, who had wholly captivated his soul. At this time a most remarkable event transpired—an event that was more a surprise to Laura than any one else. A bachelor uncle living in Wyo ming died and left her twelve thou sand dollars—all he possessed. ‘‘This will enable me to procure an outfit and go in search of Paul," said Laura to Mrs. Miller. The widow en folded her in her arms and begged her to abandon such a mad design. In vain she wept, prayed and plead with her. Laura was so impressed with the conviction that she must go. She had her way. Buying her outfit and securing the service of a faithful, trusty man who had worked for her father, she prepared for the journey. She had made her last trip to San Francisco and returned late one day, a short time before her 4eparture. On reaching Fresno she started from the depot to walk home. It was so late the sun had set, and the shadows of evening began to creep over the land scape. She heard footsteps at her side and Lackland’s voice said: “Miss Bush, I have heard a rumor that you are going to start for Alas ka.” “I shall." He walked on in silence for a mo ment, while his pale face wore a pen sive, sad expression, and his eyes were upon the ground. His determination to conquer made him selfish and scheming. At last he said: “Laura, you do not understand me. I am a true friend to you; you may not believe it, but I am. That other time my passion was hot. I was wrong, perhaps, in denouncing the man you loved, but surely you will forgive me.” She answered that she was taught she must forgive in order to be for given. As a drowning man clutches at a straw, he grasped at something in her words, and was encouraged to nrlrl • “Laura, if you would let me sympa thize with you in this loss, I would freely mingle my tears with yours. Oh, if you would only let me be a brother—more than a brother-’’ "Silence, Mr. Lackland,” she quickly interrupted. “I will hear no more from you. Here I am at home; good night.” * She darted into the house, quickly closing the door after her and leaving him standing out in the cold, dark street. For a moment he stood gazing upon the door which had closed upon the being he loved, and then turned slowly about, his thin, white lips com pressed, and his fingers closed firmly as if he had the lockjaw. As he boarded the midnight train for San Francisco he murmured, half audibly: "Something desperate must be done. I shall now play my last trump card.” Meanwhile Laura w.as completing arrangements for an early departure. Ben Holton, her father’s faithful do mestic, was the only person she en gaged to go with her. A party was forming at Seattle, and thither she went with all her supplies. Mrs. Mil ler accompanied her that far. Here they found another brave wom an—Kate Willis—ready to brave the dangers of the Klondyke. She was forty years of age, large, strong, and had determined to go to Juneau or Dawson City to start a laundry. The vessel pushed off, and Mrs. Mil ler stood on the dock waving her handkerchief at the brave girl until distance mingled her form with the others, and then burst Into tears. Theodore Lackland was a deep schemer, and when he separated from Laura Kean he had by no means aban doned hope of winning her. While on his way to San Francisco he wag continually saying: “So she is going herself to search for her lover! Is Paul dead—really dead? May it not be only a mistake after all? He is missing, that is sure, but the young fellow has more lives than a cat. 1 wlah to Heaven I knew that he was-” He started, and, shuddering, began to think how degen erated he had grown. Then he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, while the great train, like a flying vulcan, rushed on in the darkness until the city of Oakland was reached. He went aboard the ferry, and was transferred to San Francisco, and, leaping into a carriage, was driven to a certain hotel, where he secured a room. It was nearly daylight by this time, but notwithstanding he had slept none during the night, he summoned a mes senger, wrote a note, and, sealing it, dispatched the boy. Two hours had passed, and the sun was shining through the window, when there came a light tap at his door, and he opened it. Before him stood a smooth-shaved man with hair that was once sandy, but so bleached with gray it was a roan. His nose and eyes were promi nent, and his face narrow, cheeks red and steel-gray eyes twinkled with something deep and devilish. The newcomer was a peculiarly nervous man who had a strange habit of cran ing his neck and bowing his head like an eccentric burlesque comedian. After assuring himself he was not being watched, he closed the door soft ly and in a voice that was softness it self asked: “You sent for me,” and craned his neck like a choked rooster trying to swallow a morse) too large for its throat. "Yes, Capt. Fairweather, I want to talk with you. When does another ship sail for Juneau?” The captain, who was well up in marine intelligence, said: "There is the ‘President’ sails from Seattle in three weeks, and the ‘Occi dent’ leaves here a few days sooner.” "Will they both arrive about the same time?” “Yes, the ‘Occident’ a little ahead of the ‘President,’ as she is the fastest boat.” “That is just as I want it. Now, captain, you secured men for me be fore to do some work in tie Klon dyke-” Again the captain craned his neck, choked and bowed, then cautiously glanced about the room to see if he was observed before answering: “They got in trouble there.” “How do you know?” “Morris wrote that Belcher was shot and in the hands of the miners, who might lynch him,” and Capt. Fair weather placed his hands about his neck, as if the very thought gave him pain. “Has he given away anything?” asked Lackland, with some little un easiness. "No. He will die before he does that.” “Very well. Fairweather, have you heard of the fate 'of this young fel low who is causing so much trouble?” “No.” “The girl says he lives.” "Bah!” “Well, the impression is so strong that she has determined to set out for Alaska to And him, and sails in the ‘President’ for Seattle.” “It will be a fool’s journey, I know full well; he can’t be alive.” "Well, I have made up my mind to go to Alaska myself.” (To be continued.) UNIQUE ACTION OF THE TIDE Reversible Waterfall at St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. We have reversible vests, revers ible windmills, and all sorts of rever sibles nowadays, but St. John, in New Brunswick, Canada, has the only re versible waterfall in the world. In the morning there is a fall downstream of 15 feet, but in the afternoon the water runs upstream and falls over the other way. This phenomenon is caused by the strength of the wonder ful tides of the Bay of Fundy, which meet and overcome the water from a river 450 miles long, which empties into the harbor of St. John through a narrow gorge less than 600 feet wide. There is a suspension bridge over the gorge where this dally marvel occurs, and hundreds of people go to see it. At half-tide the water is smooth over the dam and vessels go up and down in safety. The tides of the bay of Fundy are the heaviest in the world. If you are ever in New Brunswick and it’s time for the tide to come in you want to make for the bluffs if you are not fond of the water. Vessels come into St. John harbor and when the tide goes out the water runs clear out from under them and they settle down upon the gravel bot tom of the slips. Wagons are then driven alongside and cargo is trans ferred direct. It is an odd spectacle to see schooners sitting up high and dry, with no water near them, look ing as though the only way for them to get to sea would be to fly. Some writer has remarked that water make: an astonishing, difference in the ap pearance of a river, and it certainly does make a big change in the looks of the St. John water front. ACCEPTING THE ISSUE DEMOCRATS ARE ASKED TO DE FINE IT CLEARLY. They Have No Trust Remedy to Pro pose Outside of the Worthless and Destructive One of Smashing Protec tion In Order to Smash the Com bines. The Boston Herald recently began an editorial with the following words: “It may be claimed as an open ques tion as to whether the Republican par ty really accepts the trust issue as be fore the American people in the elec tion contests of the present year.” Now the Boston Herald is one of our very contemporaries, having the ability to analyze and expose nonsense when it so desires, and to state its con clusions—the sentence quoted to the contrary notwithstanding—in clear and vigorous American, and so in or der to start the subject, as they say in debating societies, we respectfully ask our contemporary to state what is the “trust issue?” We ask in good faith, for we do not know. Now we hope that our contemporary will not be flippant and evade the question with the remark that the trust Issue is “the removal of the pro tective duties under which trusts thrive,” because it knows as well as we do that the tariff has nothing to do with trusts. Many Democrats do not know that, but the Boston Herald does because it is an able journal. It de sires the removal of protective duties, and, like many other political journals sometimes condescends to play upon popular prejudice to promote what it deems a beneflclent end. But in a heart-to-heart talk it would disdain such foolishness and we ask It to state the real trust issue—confessing that we cannot ourselves do it—because we are sure that if the thing can be done anywhere it is in the office of the Bos ton Herald. Now, to help matters along, we will ourselves be as definite as we can by saying that by “the trusts” we all mean the consolidation of industries, financial and commercial enterprises which is going on through out the world, in free trade and pro tested countries alike, and upon the high seas, out of the reach of any tariff. Any movement in opposition to this consolidation must be either to prevent or break up these consolida tions or to regulate and control them. If it is proposed to "smash the trusts,” how does the Herald propose to pro ceed? If it is proposed not to pre vent or abolish, but to regulate, what are the things now being done by trusts which should be prevented, and how, under the national and state con stitutions, can it be done? We do not care to hear about the "publicity” remedy. Doubtless we must have light to see our work, but the work will still remain to be done. An “issue” would be raised by a proposal that Congress shall enact a constitutional law which shall abolish or restrain the trusts without injuring general business. Any one can propose such a law. Have the Democrats pro posed any? If so, there may be an “issue” which we do not know of. If it is not believed that under the constitution congress can pass any ef fective law an issue could be raised by proposing a constitutional amend ment. The Republicans have done that and every Democrat voted against it and defeated it. It must therefore be assumed that the Democrats op pose giving congress unquestioned au thority. If that be the case, the only national issue which can be made is in respect to some law either forbidding consolidation or prohibiting consoli dated management from doing certain things. Will the Herald kindly in form us what the Democratic party proposes and the Republicans oppose, so that we may understand what the trust issue is?—San Francisco Chron icle. Export Prices. Let us take up this export price question calmly, fairly and honestly, with a sincere purpose to get at the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Let us ascertain if foreign prices of American goods are lower than the domestic, and if so how much lower and what proportion of our exports are sold at a lower price abroad than at home; what the reasons are for this practice, and how it affects the American consumer and the American wage-earner employed in the manufacture of the goods ex ported. In the first place there need be no dispute over the contention that goods are sold abroad at a lower price than at home. That is, some goods—about 1 per cent of our exports of manufac tures, which are less than 3 per cent of our total output. So that this great Democratic free trade bugaboo con sists of less than three one-hundredths of one per cent of our total manufac tures. It is shown clearly as follows: Total annual value of manufactures . $ 15,000,000,000 Exports of manufac tures . 400,000,000 Value of exports at low er prices abroad. 4,000,000 To this extent it is claimed and con ceded that our manufacturers resort to the practice of cutting foreign prices—a practice resorted to at times by the manufacturers of every coun try regardless of high tariff, low tariff or no tariffs. It is resorted to. in dif ferent parts of the same country and every manufacturer or merchant or seller of goods of any description will at times resort to a reduction in price to get rid of certain merchandise for certain reasons. The reasons are many and should be most carefully analyzed. This will be done in a series of articles and every possible phase of the question will be thoroughly examined. It Is our desire and pur pose to place before the voters of the United States the one per cent of truth and the 99 per cent of falsehood concerning export prices. Times fer Tariff Changes. The New York TlmeB, commenting on the reasons given by the American Economist for opposing tariff revision, says: "And so It goes. Any time is suit able to Increase the tariff. There is none suitable to reduce It or to cor rect Its absurdities and wrongs.” A reversal of the above would fit the Democratic attitude any time In the last hundred years. As a matter of fact the statement as quoted Is not true of the Republicans. They reduc ed the tariff in 1867, in 1883, and In details at other times. Indeed, from 1867 onward all the tendencies were toward reduction. Even the much maligned McKinley act of 1890 did some reducing, while Other things were advanced because experience had shown that the reductions of 1883 had been injurious to the country. The Dingley act was forced upon the country by the Democrats, for it was the necessary follower of the Wil son-Qorman act, as necessary as re construction after a disastrous con flagration. Nebraska and Her Senators. Senator Dietrich of Nebraska, in a long interview, submits evidence to show that the relations between the Republican state committee and the two senators, instead of being cool and strained, as has been reported, were entirely cordial ar.d co-opera tive. He explains and defends the irrigation bill, and claims that he was in hearty accord with the sentiment of his state while willing to act in any practicable way for the benefit of Cuba that the president and a major ity of senators could agree upon. Scientific Kite Fiylng. What Went With It. Yes, the tariff did "go:” With it went the prosperity of the American people. Panicky and hard times came upon the country. Factories were Closed. Farmers fell into debt and dis tress. Exchange and money became dear. Sheep and wool were ruinously depreciated. Business of all kinds be came paralyzed. The poor suffered in body and spirit. The government was obliged to borrow money of foreign peoples, at a high rate of interest; and this, too, in times of profound peace! What an Impeachment of so-called "Democratic principles!” — Napa (Cal.) Reflector. Dangerous as Ever. The people should remember that Democratic tariff views, if carried into practice, will be Just as dangerous now if not more so than in 1893. Let busi ness men, workingmen and everybody else remember the Democratic tariff campaign of 1892 and the hard times that began in 1893 as a result of Dem ocratic success and which did not end until the Republicans were successful in 1896, when they re-enacted the pro tective tariff law, which to-day is giv ing us the great blessings of prosper ity which we all enjoy.—Schenectady Union. Keeping Up With the Times. “We stand by the historic policy of the Republican party,” declares the Iowa Republican platform of this year, “in giving protection to home indus tries." At the same time, declares this platform, “we favor such changes in the tariff from time to time as be comes advisable through the progress of our industries and their changing relations to the commerce of the world.” The platform is consistent. The Republican party of the country will be wise in accepting its counsel. •—Sioux City Journal. Chaotic Harmony. Cleveland wants tariff reform; Bry an wants free silver; neither recog nizes the wish of the other. Cleveland voted against Bryan, and the latter would vote against the former if he had the chance. This is Democracy for the present. Chaotic harmony, if you please.—Norwalk (Ohio) Reflec tor. ' Cannot Be True. The American people can't stand prosperity. They have had so much of it since 1890 that they are aching for a dose of adversity just to see how it feels to be hard up.—Heppner (Ore.) Gazette. N Women Lawyers In Italy. It Is interesting to know that six women have taken degrees in law in Italy during the last two years. They are not allowed to practice, but it is said the feeling on the subject is growing so strong that this legal dis ability will be removed in the not dis tant future. Moth Traps Fall—Spraying Succeeds. Prof. E, Dwight Sanderson, in S letter to Secretary Goodman of Mis souri, says: On August 5, about 9 p. m., I let out a Codling Moth in my sitting room. It flew to a large Rochester lamp as I let It out with in four or live feet of the lamp, clr cled around the lamp once and flew to another part of the room. It did hot return to the lamp that evening. Now a Cutworm moth, or any moth which is attracted to lights, as every one has ob srved, will not only be at tracted by a light, but will come back to it again and again. On August 7 I let out twelve moths, fifty or sixty feet from the Haseltine trap light as on August 5, three plum trees inter vening between the point and the light. I found but one Codling Moth in the pan the next morning, and that one I observed to fly to the llgljt within a couple of minutes after it was released. On another evening I let out a half dozen moths about fifty feet from a light and failed to catch any. These experiments prove to my mind quite definitely that Codling Moths are only attracted to light at a distance of ten to twenty feet, that then attracted to it only when sud denly released and unused to the light, as those which I note flew to thq.light at once were not subsequent ly attracted to it. Therefore, I am decidedly of the opinion that such trap lights would fail to catch any considerable number of Codling Moths unless placed so close together in an orchard as to make it entirely too ex pensive. I am more convinced of the futility of the use of these lights by spraying experiments conducted by me this season in which 90 per cent of the whole season's crop, and 96 per cent of the picked fruit was per fect fruit. Surely trap lights can not give such results. Pecan Tree Fraud*. We do not know that any reader ot the Farmers’ Review Is Interested In the planting of Pecan trees, but as sume that some may be. It seems that there are Just as great frauds being perpetrated In the sale of these trees as in the sale of other trees. A Louisiana grower sends out a warn ing letter saying that there are many agents that are selling all kinds ot things for pecan trees, taking advan tage ot the popular Interest in this kind of fruit. He says that one claim of these peddlers is that they have a certain fertilizer that will so stimu late the growth of the trees that It will come into bearing at four years of age and bear barrels of fruit at eight years. Mr. James, the grower referred to, says that pecan trees come Into bearing at eight or nine years of age, and are never profitable before 13 years of age. Wild pecan trees of no particular value have also been extensively sold to unsuspecting buyers. Great is the disappointment of the growers when, after years of labor, they find their trees bearing nuts of no particular value. The fol lowing advice by Mr. James Is good: Persons wishing to plant pecan groves should write to the directors of the various experiment stations and find out who are the honest dealers In pecan trees.—Farmers’ Review. Cuban Vegetables in Chicago Markets. The appearance of Cuban vegeta bles in Chicago market perhaps marks the beginning of a considerable trade In vegetables raised on that Island. Hitherto we have looked upon the Antilles as producers of fruits for our markets as well as of sugar and tobacco. This year there have appeared also onions, to matoes, potatoes and squashes. With' good transportation facilities this trade may become considerable. The Island of Cuba has Immense advan tages in the way of climate that place her ahead of anything on our main land, at certain seasons of the year. It may be that sometime these Is lands will become the great winter garden of the United States—the hot bed also in which are to be started the plants that are later to develop in northern gardens. In fact, under scientific treatment, the amount of produce that could be raised on these tropical Islands is almost beyond computation. Planting on the Forest Reserves. The Secretary of the Interior has granted to the Department of Agri culture the privilege of establishing nurseries and planting on the two forest reserves recently established by President Roosevelt in the sand hill region of Nebraska. Surveys are now being mads of both reserves, and nursery sites will be chosen and put in readiness for planting by the end of the summer. The most active work will be on the Dismal River Re serve, where all preparations for nursery planting will be completed by September, and during the fall a large collection of forest-tree seeds will be made. The principal species used at first will be Jack Pine, West ern Yellow Pine, White Fir and Colo rado Blue Spruce. The Nebraska reserves were the first of this kind, and these are so well thought of that active efforts are now being made in Kansas and Cali fornia to have similar reserves estab lished. What’s in a Name) Mr. Tank of Cleveland is making prohibition speeches, but Mr. Water man runs a distillery in Kentucky. '