bradstreet and dun
REPORT ON BUSINESS
Perceptible Lull at Opening of
Year, but General Outlook
Is Auspicious.
4 4 4 4*4444444-* 4* 44 *4444
4 4
4- THE WEEK IN GRAIN. 4
♦ 4
4 New fork. Jan. 11.—Wheat, in- 4
4 eluding flour, exports for the 4
4 t uitt'd States and Canada for 4
♦ the week ending January 6 ag- 4
4 gregated 8.135,145 bushels, against 4
4 2.689,156 last week, and 3.765,036 4
4 this week' last year. For the 37 4
♦ weeks ending January 6 exports 4
4 arc 9.913,334 bushels, against 117,- 4
4 738,695 bushels in the correspond- 4
4 mg period last year. 4
4 Corn exports for the week are 4
4 1,766,684 bushels, against 1,151,151 4
4 bushels last week, and 1,846,038 4
4 bushels in 1909. For the 27 weeks 4
4 ending January 6 corn exports 4
4 are 10 463,647 bushels, against 11,- 4
♦ 190,520 bushels iast year. 4
4 4
4444444*444444444444444444
New York. Jan. 11—Bradstreet’s Sat
urday said:
1 The year opens with a perceptible
lull in trad*, though with optimism as
the underlying element in all lines. Se
vere cold weather and heavy snow,
si t or min storms have checked
transportation and retarded country
trade, although more or less immediate
benefit to retail trade in cities has ac
crued from the stimulus given to de
mand for seasonable goods by weather
conditions and the beginning of clear
anee sales of winter goods.
Wholesale lines have been generally
qui-t owing to the fact that salesmen
as y.-t ar. not fully in their fields of
a tivlty. Jobbing records are checked
fm the same reason. Collections are
rather slower and classed generally as
only fair. due. no doubt, to interrup
tions to tin movements of mails and of
farm products to market.
The continuous advances in prices of
' "inn gi ».'Uf mxeaBilaiuu in mail
er price of the raw material are not be
ing accepted on all lines, and some
what similar reports come from various
lines of dress goods dealers, while a
g- u *ral trade conference on shoe prices
is set down for next week at Boston.
Railroads, too, are reported to be hold
ing back some orders for material and
equipment ponding a clearer view of
the attitude of the national administra
tion regarding forthcoming railway leg
islation. The general commodity price
situation is also a subject of discussion,
particularly as to its bearing on the
vug- situation. For the first time the
iron and steel markets are relatively
Quiet, but sentiment as regards 1910 is
very optimistic. A large volume of or
d r- was booked in the last two months
of 1909 and prospects favor an excep
tionally heavy consumption this year.
Business failures in the United
States for the week ending with Jan
uary f an 27G. against 257 last week,
239 in the lilo week of 1909. 435 in 1908.
23; > in 1907 and 286 in 1906.
Business failures in Canada for the
w k nurd 'red 33. compared with 23
for last week and 41 in the same week
la-1 >•• ;;r.
B c. Dun & Co.’s Trade Review to
da> says:
Not in a half decade has a year
opened with the business outlook so
generally auspicious as the year 1910.
Some of the perplexing issues which
contributed fo t’ne crisis of 1907 still re
main unfilled, while the question of
high prices has become more active, but
it would S' cm as if business confidence
was not going to permit these things to
interi< r< with the further progress of
industry and commerce.
TWO EXECUTIONS ARE
DISAVOWED BY MADRIZ
V New Nicaraguan President
Says Zelaya’s Bloody Act,
Was Unjustified.
■’■.’Kshingion, Jan. 11.-President Ma
li;;:. of Nicaragua, in a message re
ceived at the state department late
yesterday, declared that the resentment
shown by the government and people
of tile United States because of the ex
ecution of Groce and Cannon, Ameri
can citizens, was justified.
The telegram was received by the
state department through Admiral
Kimball at the navy department. It
staled that Madriz had asked Admiral
Kimball to inform the United States
government that after a personal study
of the chvumstances attending the
exe ution of Groce and Cannon he pro
foundly lamented the violent act which
cost those men their lives.
Biaeflelds, Nicaragua, Jan. S.—Gen
eral Pedro Andreas Fornas Diaz, who
started out Thursday for Managua in
order to treat for peace with President
Madriz. met with a tragic end Thurs
day night on Greytown bar. The canoe
In ’ widt h he was attempting to make
a landing was caught by a gigantic
v. :n c and broke amidships and Diaz
disappeared from view in the sea.
The \ iivane which ended the life of
U"]ierai Diaz was in keeping with his
■ uoer. He was a personal friend of
, _ Pii sident Madriz and was of the be
** lie! that he could persuade him to
give tva.v to General Estrada, as head
ol' i ho republic.
The death of Diaz removes from Nic
aragua a .- pirit whose intrepidity was
boundless His career was one replete
wall stirring incidents, and his pride
tli.it of an old Spanish grandee multi
plied. When his departure from Blue
tied!:- for Managua severed his relations
with G' revolution, his loss in the
ranks of 1 tie provisional was deeply
f -It.
PENNSYLVANIA HAS
RITTER COLD SPELL
piifsiurg, Pa.. Jan. 11.—Western
>• niisylvania is experiencing today the
t *lti- -t weather since 1889. Throughout
As mstror.g county it is especially cold,
tlr m< !• ;ry having dropped to 20 be
lt a- zero ;it Buffalo Mills. Pa., and 17
lu. lew jit Worthington, Pa.
!;: Pittsburg 8 above was recorded,
but the temperature is rising briskly.
HAKU1SBURG. S. D.—The Epworth
1« ague of this place has elected the fol
lnwiiig « flicers for the coming year:
pr. sidcnt. Merle Wardwell; vice presi
T'earl Wardwell, Ethel Palmer,
(Anri' Wolf Laura Stoneback; secre
te r t:< usurer. Leah Stoneback.
1. m-'ALO—Three men were killed and
xv11( f:-,g at fully burned in an explosion
a: a *ji * which destroyed the plant of the
3: iif..a- vi-fial company here last night.
* SlOl'X FALLS, S. D.—John Erick
B,,n. of Lyman county, has been indict
ed hi: a charge of stealing and killing
.— i ion the Lower Brule reservation.
CARDINAL SATOLLI
DEAD AFTER LONG
BATTLE FOR LIFE
High Church Dignitary antj
Former Apostolic Delegate
Is Summoned.
Rome-, .Tail. 11.—Francisco Oi Paola
Satolli, bishop o? Frascati, arch-priest
of the Date ran Arch-Basilica anil pre
fect of the congregation of studies, died
today. Death followed an illness that
began last June with an, attack of
nephritis and atrophy of the right lung,
and was complicated recently with
blood poisoning.
Cardinal Satolli was of Italian birth,
and was born at Marsclamo July 21,
1829. Ills family was a noble one and
of ancient lineage. lie was created a
cardinal in 1895.
Hope for the ultimate recovery of the
cardinal was abandoned several days
ago, and the end lias been expected
hourly. Soon after death tlie the body
was placed in state in the chapel of the
Dateran palace.
The pope was greatly grieved when
the announcement of the cardinal's
death was made to him, and recalled
that it was the convincing argument of
Satolli which influenced him to accept
the papacy at the last conclave.
First Delegate to America.
Almost to the hour of his deatli the
cardinal discussed with tlie few who
were permitted to see him, the affairs
of the church in the United States, in
which country lie had a profound inter
est, following his visits, which Included
his mission as first apostolic delegate
from the Vatican in the United States
in the fail of 1892.
He remembered well the details of
his stay there, and recently related how.
before his appointment as apostolic
delegate, he had been instructed by
Pope Deo to interrogate the American
bishops concerning the advisability of
creating an apostolic delegation at
Washington. All opposed such a move
witn tne exception ot Areiibisnop ire
land.
To a freed from America the dying
man said:
“Remember me te President Taft, and
tell him that I hope the day will come
when tile United States and Italy will
be allied, Italy then being a republic.”
The ecclesiastic’s will is dated June
25 last, and leaves all of his estate to
a relative. This will protect the pur
pose of tiie will in accordance with the
laws of Italy, but private instructions
were left for the heir, requesting that
the property be divided among several
ecclesiastical and benevolent institu
tions. The cardinal's wish was that as
all he possessed bad come from the
church, it should return to the church
with his flemise.
4 4
4 GIRLS DECLINE LONGER 4
4 TO USE AWFUL NAMES 4
4 BESTOWED BY PARENTS 4
4 4
♦ Mexico. Mo., Jar. 11. -Nothing 4
4 Tuttle and Something Tuttle arc 4
4 now Trix and Kitty Tuttle, re- 4
4 spectively. They have changed ■ 4
4 their names. The young women 4
4 are daughters of T. T. Tuttle, a 4
4 retired farmer. 4
4 Tuttle's first child, a girl, was 4
4 born in 1881, which was a dry 4
4 year. In order to commemorate 4
4 the year he named her “Eight- 4
4 one." She is now the wife of 4
4 Rufus Jackson. 4
4 The second child, a boy, 4
4 brought about a disagreement ♦
4 between Tuttle and his wife as 4
4 to a name, so they compromised 4
4 by calling him It Tuttle. The 4
4 third child, a girl, was named 4
4 Nothing and the strange names 4
4 were carried out in tlie naming 4
4 of the youngest. She became 4
4 Something. ♦
4 4
NIGHT RIDER TRUST
WILL BE PROSECUTED
Burley Tobacco Society Under
the Ban of Uncle Sam for
Its Deeds.
Cincinnati, Ohio. Jan. 11.— United
States secret service men. who have
been investigating the Burley Tobacco
society, asserted today that suit for
the dissolution of the society on the
ground that it operates in violation of
the Sherman law will be begun in the
United States district court here in a
few days.
The secret service men have been
operating from this city, under the
direction of H. M. Hoagland, since Oc
tober. The government agents declare
that several hundred witnesses will
be brought from Kentucky to testify
regarding the operations of the society
in the Burley districts.
Witnesses who claim they were com
pelled to f'.ee from Kentucky will be
summoned from Missouri.
BOY KILLS CROOKS IN
ACT OF BLOWING SAFE
Left to Watch Postoffiee, He
Shoots Men Who Try to
Rob It.
Tallahassee, Fla.. Jan. 11—In a 1 "ag
gie early today with two safe blowers.
Paul Pauls. 17 years otd. who was left
to watch the postoffiee building, shot
and killed them both In the basement
of the building.
The boy was only slightly Injured.
The cracksmen, both of whom were
white, have not been identified.
CHARLES CITY, IA—Otto Hoger
has been arrested on a charge of rub
bing the Milwaukee station of $50.
WATF.RWORKS*FOR WHITE LAKE
White Lake. P [).. Jan. 11.—The city
council is planning the construction of
a municipal system of waterworks and
will erect a tank, with a capacity of
about S5.000 gallons at a height of
about 80 feet, which, it is believed, will
be high enough to give the necessary
pressure in tile mains and furnish first
class tire projection.
WEBSTER CITY. IA.—R. rt Koltz.
who was deposed by Governor Carrol!
front the pharmacy commission, Is be
ing talked of ax a possible candidate
for governor.
MORGAN HAS JUST
BEGUN CAMPAIGN
TO MERGE BANKS
New York. Jan. 11.—Morgan’s gob
bling up of trust companies anil banks
lias little more than begun, according
to financial authorities here. His ab
sorption of one great money house or
another meets with no opposition from
the Rockefeller interests, which leads
to the rumor that there is an under
standing that may eventually lead to
the National City hank's participating
In the money combine.
The combination of the Guaranty,
Morton and Fifth avenue concerns is
regarded as only a forerunner to a big
ger merger. The financiers connected
with the absorption of the Morton and
Fifth Avenue trust companies by the
Guaranty Trust company were in con
ference today over the final details of
the plan.
The National City in It, Too.
It was learned definitely that, while
Morgan & Co. were at the head of the
enterprise, the First National bank and
the National City bank interests were
also more or less closely affiliated with
the scheme. The National City Is a
Standard Oil concern.
The Guaranty company stands forth
in point of aggrgato resources among
the trust companies of the United
States. The Morton ranks 12th and
the Fifth Avenue 49th. When the mer
ger is finally effected, the combination
will show total resources which proba
bly will make it rank first or second
In the list of the country’s trust com
panies. It undoubtedly will take first
position if the Bankers' Trust company
becomes a party to the deal, which is
admitted to be within the easy possi
bilir.es of the near future.
The Morgan interests and the Na
tional City Bank people are working in
entire sympathy in these matters. J.
P. Morgan, jr.. recently became a di
rector of the National City bank, and
it is known that the Morgan interests
have materially enlarged their holdings
UJ ' lt> Utility rv.
Is Only the Beginning.
It is believed that the mergers are
only tlie beginning of a larger move
ment and that the Mercantile Trust
company and the Equitable Trust com
pany eventually will be taken into some
sort of a powerful alliance. It was
hinted today that the Morgan interests
bid actively for the Vanderbilt holdings
of the Union Trust company stock
which passed 10 days ago into the pos
session of Speyer & Co.
The Morgan interests are believed to
be virtually in absolute control of the
National Bank of Commerce by reason
of the stock owned by various members
of the Morgan house and the large
holdings in the hands of the Equitable
Life and the Mutual Life Insurance
companies. The National Bank of
Commerce is one of the three largest
banks in Wall street, and because of
its remarkable charter, which is so
drawn as to free its shareholders from
the double liability clause applied to
other national banks, its stock lias a
unique value.
MORGAN IN CONTROL
OF UNTOLD WEALTH
New York. Jan. 8.—Following is a list
of trust companies which J. Pierpont Mor
gan either owns outright or controls
through his inlluence:
Equitable Life .$ 472,339.508
Equitable Trust Co. 03.821.500
Mercantile Trust Co. 08.474,700
Guaranty Trust Co. 170,0009)00
National Bank of Commerce... 226.549,096
First National Bank . 339,621,689
Phase National Bank . 107.2S5.710
Mechanics’ National Bank .... 51,364,368
National Copper Ban!: . 40,307,764
Liberty National Bank . 24,705.014
Bankers’ Trust Co. 53,926.900
Astor Trust Co. 15,209,900
New York Life . 494.108.SO7
National City (Standard Oil)
control) . 280,447,971
Fifth Avenue Trust Co. 66,145,300
Standard Trust Co. 18,450.100
Railroad and industrial corporations of
which - organ either owns a large share
of the securities or dictates the policies:
Southern Railway .J 466.609,877
Pere Marquette Railw'ay . 96,348,000
Cincinnati, Hamilton & Day
ton . 82,369.000
Chicago Great Western . 104,766.015
International Harvester Co. ... 120,000,000
International Merchant Marine 180,265,361
U. S. Steel Corporation. 1,497,001,GOo
Erie Railway . 414,256,417
Pullman Co. 100,000,000
General Electric . 80,101,600
American Telephone and West
ern Union . 516,073,200
United Dry Goods Co. 200,000.000
Public Service Corporation,
New Jersey . 66,500,000
Interborough Rapid Transit ... 169,192,000
Hudson-Manhattan Co. 57.374,00(?
Brooklyn Rapid Transit . 126,000.(«>
MINISTER IS GUILTY
OF ABDUCTING A GIRL
Steals Her for “White Slave"
Purposes and Jury Makes
Shorty Work of Case.
Ottawa. Kan. .Ian. 11.—Rev W. M.
Ktuckey, the ex-minister or Williams
burg, who had been on trial hero
charged oti two counts with abducting
I.orena Sutherland, his IG-year-old
parishioner, was found guilty by a jury
today. The case probably will be ap
pealed.
Stuckey was found guilty on both
charges, those of abducting the girl for
his own immoral purposes and for ab
ducting her for "white slave" purposes.
The penalty is from one to five years
on each count.
The Jury considered the case but 30
minutes. When the verdict was read,
Stuckey appeared very nervous. The
minister's wife, who had stood by her
husband rhroughout the ordeal, sobbed
audibly today when the verdict was
read and later when Stuckev was taken
back to jail. Their two children were
also in tears. Sentence was deferred
pending consideration of the matter of
appeal.
Rev. Stuckey, besides being pastor of
a church at Williamsburg, was also
editor of a newspaper. I.orena Suther
land was a member of his congrega
tion anil as well worked on his news
paper. They were arrested at Wauke
gan. III., where they were found living
together last summer. They had also
lived in Chicago.
FREIGHTER IS FLOATED.
Havre, Jan. 11.—The Hamburg-Amcr
ican line freight steamer Furst Bis
marck, from Havana December 21 for
Hamburg, which went ashore during a
fog near Octeville, a mile southwest of
Cherbourg, on Thursday, was floated
today.
HARVARD MAN DIES.
, Cambridge. Mass., Jan. 11.—Professor
James Barr Ames, dean of the Har
vard law school, and formerly chair
man of the athletic committee o. the
university, died today.
^JHE WILD GEESE
^d^BY Stanley J.Weyman.
(Copyright, 1909, by Stanley J. Weyman.)
CHAPTER XIX—(Continued.)
At the end of two hours he roused
himself. He was very cold, and that
only could be mended by such exercise
as iho size of the prison permitted. He
set himself to walk briskly up and
down. When he had taken a few turns,
however, he paused with Ids eyes on
the table. The candles'.' They would
servo him the longer If he burned but
one at a time. Ho extinguished three.
The deed? He might burn It and so
put the temptation, which he was too
wise to despise, out of reach. But he
had noticed In one corner a few half
charred fragments of wood, damp In
deed, but such as might be kindled by
coaxing. Ho would preserve the deed
for the purpose of kindling the wood;
and the tire, as his only luxury, he
would postpone until he needed It more
sorely. In the end the table and the
chairs—or all but one should eke out
his fuel; and ho would sleep. But not
yet.
Ho had no desire to die, and with
warmth he knew that he could put up
for a long time with the lack of food.
Every hour during which ho had the
against privation Increased his chances;
It was Impossible to say what might
not happen with time. Uncle Ullck was
due to return in a week—and Bale. Or
his jailers might relent. Nay, they
must relent for their own sukes, If he
bore a stout heart and held out; for
until the deed was signed they dared
not let him perish.
That was a good thought. They
could put him on the rack, but they
dared not push the torment so far as
to endanger his life. He must tighten
his belt, he must eke out his fuel, he
must bear equally the pangs of appe
tite: after all, In comparison with the
perils and privations through which he
had passed on the cruel plains of east
ern Europe, and among a barbarous
people, this was a small thing.
Or it would have been a small thing
If that sadness of the heart which had
held him motionless so long had not
still bowed his head upon his breast.
A small thing a few hours, a few days
even of hunger and cold and physical
privation—no more! But when it was
overpast and he had suffered and was
tree, to what could he look forward?
rWliat prospect stretched beyond, save
one gray, dull and sunless, a homeless
middle age, an old age without solace?
He was wounded in the house of his
.friend and felt not the pain only, but
the sorrow. In a little while he would
remember that, if he had not to take,
tie hud still to give; if he had not to
enjoy, he had still to do. Already
shadowy plans rose before him.
with what agitation, he dwelt on this.
How would she look? How would she
bear herself? How would she meet his
eye? Would she shun his gaze, or
would she face It without flinching,
with a steady color and smiling Up? It
the latter were the ease, would It he
the same when hours and days of fast
ing had hollowed his cheeks, and given
to Ills eves the glare which he had
seen In many a wretched peasant's eyes
in tnose distant lands? Would she
still he able to view Ills sufferings
without a qualm, and turn firm In her
cruel purpose, from the dumb plead
ing of his hunger?
"God forbid!” he cried. "Ah! God
forbid!"
And he prayed that, rather than have
that last proof of hardness of heart,
he might not see her at all. Yet, so
weak are men—to see her come, to see
how she bore herself, was now tho one
hope that had power to lighten the
time, and keep at bay the attacks of
hunger! He had fasted 24 hours.
The thought possessed him to an ex
traordinary extent. Would she come?
Or, having lured him Into his enemies'
power would she leave him to bo treat
ed as thev chose, while she lay warm
and safe in the house which his Inter
ference had saved for her?
Oh! cruel!
Then the very barbarity of an action
so unwomanly suggested that, viewed
from her side, It must wear another
shape. What was the girl gaining? Re
venge, yes; yet. If they kept faith with
him, and the deed signed, let him go
free, she had not even revenge. For the
rest, she lost by the deed. All that her
grandfather had meant for her passed
by It to her brother. To lend herself
to stripping herself was not the part
of a seltlsh woman. Even In her false
ness there was something magnani
mous,
He was still staring dreamily at the
table when a shadow falling on the
table roused him. He lifted Ills eyes
to the nearest loophole, through which
tho setting sun had been darting Its
rays a moment before. Morty O.Reirne
bending almost double—for outside, the
arrow slit was not more than two feet
from the ground—was jieering in.
“Ye’ll not have changed your quar
ters, Colonel," ho said, In a. tone of rail
lery, which was assumed perhaps to
hide a real feeling of shame. "Sure,
you’re there. Colonel, safe enough?”
"Yes, I am here," Colonel John an
swered austerely. He did not leave his
sent at the tabic.
"Anti as much at home as a mole In
a hill," Morty continued. “And like
that same blessed little fellow In black
velvet that I take my hat off to, with
lashings of time for thinking.”
"So much," Colonel John answered,
“I Shall No Give Way Either Today or Tomorrow."
His had been a mad fancy, a foolish
fancy, a fancy of which—for how many
years rolled between him and the girl,
and how many things done, suffered—
seen—he should have known the out
come. But it had mastered him slow
ly, not so much against his will as
without his knowledge; until he had
awakened one day to And himself pos
sessed of a madness, the more power
ful because he was no longer young.
By and by, for a certainty, the man’s
sense of duty, the principles that had
ruled him so long, would assert them
selves. He would go back to the Bal
tic lancfs, the barren, snow-bitten lands
of his prime, a grayer, older, more
somber—but not an unhappy man.
Something of this he told himself as
he paced up and down the gloomy
chamber, while the flame of the candle
crept steadily downward. It must be
midnight; it must be 2, it must be 2 in
the morning. The loopholes, when he
stood between them and the candle,
were growing *gray; the birds were be
ginning to chirp. Presently the sun
would rise, and through *the narrow
windows he would see Its beams flash
ing on the distant water. But the win
dows looked northwest and many
hours would pass before the ray would
strike into the dungeon.
The candle was beginning to burn
low and it seemed a pity to light an
other w ith the daylight peering in. But
if he did not he would lack the means
to light his fire. And he was eager to
do without the fire as long as possible,
lie was cold now, but he would be
colder by and by and his need of the
Are would be greater.
From that the time wore wearilv on
to the breakfast hour. The sun was
high now; the birds were singing
sweetly in the rough brakes and bram
bles about the Tower: far away on the
shining lake, of which only the farther
(i»d lay within his sight, three men
were fishing from a boat. He watched
them; now and again lie caught the
tiny splash as they flung the bait far
out. So watching, with no thought or
expectation of it, he fell asleep and
slept for five or six hours the sleep of
which excitement had cheated him
through the night. In warmth, morn
ing and evening, night and day dif
fered little in that sunken room. Still
the air in it profited a little by the
high sun; and he awoke, not onlv less
weary, but warmer. But alas! he
awoke also hungry.
He stood up and stretched himself,
find seeing that two-thirds of the sec
ond candle had burned away while he
slept, he was thankful that he had lit
it. He tried to put away the visions of
hot bacon, cold round and sweet brown
bread that rose before him. He won
dered how far the plot would be car
ried, and thus mind got tin* better of
body, and he forgot his appetite in a
thought more engrossing.
Would she come? Every 24 hours,
her letter said, a person would visit
him. Would she be the person? It
was wonderful with what Uiterest, nay,
with the same severe look, “that I am
loth to think ill of any. Are you alone,
Mr. O’Beirne?“
“Faith, and who’d there be with me?”
Morty answered In true Irish fashion.
'I cannot say. I ask only, are you
alone?”
“Then I am. and that's the truth,”
Morty replied, peering inquisitively into
the corners of the gloomy chamber.
'More by token l wish you no worse
than just to be doing as you’re bid—
and faith, it's but what’s right!—and
go your way. ’Tis a cold, damp, un
chancy place you've chosen, Colonel,”
he continued, with a grin; “like nothing
in the wide world so much as that
same molehill. Well, glory be, it can’t
be said I’m one for talking; but, If
you're asking my advice, you’ll be wiser
acting first than last, and full than
empty!”
"I’m not of that opinion, sir,’’ Colonel
John replied, looking at him with the
same stern eyes.
“Then I’m thinking you’re not as
hungry as I'd be! And not the least
taste in life to stay my stomach for 24
hours!”
“It has happened to me before,” Col
onel John answered.
“You’re not for signing then?’’
“I am not.”
“Don't be sav ing that. Colonel!” Mor
ty rejoined. “It's not yet awhile, you’re
meaning?”
“Neither now nor ever,” Colonel John
answered,. I quote from yourself, sir.
As well say it first as last, and full as
empty!”
“Sure and ye’ll be thinking better of
it by and by, Colonel.”
“No."
“Ah, you will,” Morty retorted, in
that tone which to a mind made up is
worse than a blister. "Sure, ye’ll not
be so hard hearted Colonel, as to re
fuse* a lady! It's not Kerry-born you
are. and say the word ‘no’ that easy!”
“Do not deceive yourself, sir,” Col
onel John answered severely, and with
a darker look. “I shall not give way
either today or tomorrow.”
“Nor tin* next day?”
“Nor the next day.”
“Not if the lady asks you herself?
Come, Colonel.”
Colonel John rose sharply from his
seat; such patience, as a famished man
has. < ome to an end.
‘‘Sir.” he said, "if this Is all you have
to say to me I have your message, and
I prefer to be alone."
Morty grinned at him a moment,
then with an Irish shrug he gave way.
"As you will," he said.
He withdrew' himself suddenly and
the sunset light darted Into the room
through the narrow window, dbnning
the candle’s rays. The colonel heard
him laugh as he strode away across the
platfrorm and down the hill. A mo
ment and the sounds ceased. He was
gone. The colonel was alone.
Until this time tomorrow. Twenty
four hours. Yes, he must tighten his
belt.
Morty, poking his head this way and
that, purring Into the chamber as In*
had peered yesterday, wished he could
see Colonel John's face. But Colonel
John, bending resolutely over the hand
ful of embers that glowed In an angle
of the room, showed only his back.
Even that Morty could not see plainly;
for the last of the caudles had burned
out, and In the chamber, dark in com
parison with the open air, the crouch
ing figure was no more than a shape
less mass obscuring the glow of the
fuel.
Morty shaded his eyes and peered
more closely. He was not a sensitive
person, and he was obeying orders. But
he was not quite comfortable.
"And that's your last word?" he said
lowly. "Come, colonel dear, ye'll say
something more to that.”
"That's my last word today." Colonel
John answered as slowly, and without
turning Ills head.
"Honor bright? Won't ye think bet
ter of It before 1 go?"
”1 will not."
Morty paused, to tell the truth, In ex
treme exasperation. He had no groat
liking for tho part ho was playing; but
why couldn’t the man bo reasonable?
"You're sure of It, colonel?" he said.
Colonel John did not answer.
"And I'm to tell her so?" Morty con
cluded.
Colonel John rose sharply, as If at
last the other tried him too far. “Yes,"
he said, "tell her that Or,” lowering
his voice and his hand, "do not tell her,
as you please. That Is my last word,
sir. Let me be."
But It was not his last word. For as
Morty turned to go, the colonel heard
him speak—In a lower and a different
tone. At the same moment, or his eyes
deceived him—a shadow that was not
Morty O’Beirne’s fell for one second on
the splayed wall Inside the window. It
was gone as soon as seen; but Colonel
John had seen It, and he sprang to tho
window.
"Fiavia!" he cried. "Fiavia!"
He paused to listen, his hand on the
wall on either side of the opening. Hla
face, which had been pinched and hag
gard a moffient before, was now flushed
by the sunset. Then "Fiavia!” he re
peated, keen appeal In his voice. "Fla
vin!"
She did not answer. She was gone.
And perhaps it was as well. He lis
tened for a long time, but in vain; and
he told himself again that It was as
well. Why, after all, appeal to her?
How could It nvail him? Slowly he
went back to his chair and sut down in
the old attitude over the embers. But
his lie Quivered.
CHAPTER XX.
AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.
A little before sunset on that same
day two men stood beside the entrance
at Morristown. They were staring at
a third, who, seated nonchalantly upon
the horseblock, slapped his boot with
his riding switch and made as poor a
show of hiding his amusement as they
of masking their disgust. The man who
slapped his leg and shaped his lips to
a silent whistle was Major Payton, of
the —th. The men who looked at him
and cursed the unlucky star which had
brought him thither were Luke Asgil
and the McMurrough.
"Faith and I should have thought,”
Asgil said, with a clouded face, "that
my presence here, major, and I, a Jus
tice—"
"True for you,” Payton said with a
grin.
“Should have been onough by It
self, and the least taste more than
enough to prove the absurdity of the
Castle’s story."
“True for you. again," Payton re
plied. “And ain’t I saying that but for
your presence here, and a friend of
court that I'll not name. It’s not your
humble servant this gentleman would
be entertaining"—he turned to the Mc
Murrough—“but half a company and a
sergeant’s guard!"
“I'm allowing It.”
"You've no cause to do other."
“Nary a bit I'm denying It,” Asg’.U
replied more amicably, and as far as
he could, he cleared his face. "It’s not
that you’re not welcome. Not at all,
major! Sure, and I’ll answer for It,
my friend the McMurrough Is glad
to welcome any English gentleman,
much more one of your reputation."
“Truth, and I am," the McMurrough
assented. But he had not Asglll's self
control, and his sulky tone belied his
words.
"Still—I come at an awkward time,
perhaps?" Payton answered, looking
with a grin from one to the other.
Partly to tease Asglll, whom he did
not love the more because he owed
him money, and partly to see the rus
tic beauty whom, rumor had it, As
glll was courting In the wilds, he had
volunteered to do with three or four
troopers otherwise a half company
would have been sent to do. That
he could at the same time put his
creditor under an obligation and an
noy him, had not been the least part
of the temptation, while no one at
Trales believed the story sent down
from Dublin.
“Eh! An awkward time, perhaps,” he
repeated, looking at the McMurrough.
“Sorr;. I’m sure, but—”
“I’d '>ave entertained you better, I’m
thinking." James McMurrough said. "If
I’d known you were coming before you
came."
(Continued Next Week.)
I "=71
POOR BOY.
Tommy—{the preacher's son)—I have
j to be just as good after Christmas as be
i fore.
Jimmy (the butcher’s boy)—Why?
Tommy—Because my father always
' gets ten or twelve pairs of slippers at
I Christmas, and he has to tlnd some use
1 '‘or them.
The governor of the German colony
of Togo has ordered cats to be kept in
all the schools, hospitals, prisons and
other public buildings where natives
congregate. The order, according to
the African Mail, is contained in a de
cree dealing with the danger of the In
troduction of plague in Togo from the
British gold coast. Dr. Koch, the bac
teriologist, has reported the successful
experiments made with cats for the
eradication of rats In plague Infected
and plague menaced harbors of China.
In Hong-Kong orders have been issued
providing for the maintenance of on*
cat In every house.