iff 'i.yt-
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A
LINCOLN, NEB , SATURDAY, OCT. 1L, 1890.
VOL. II.
NO. 17.
1 fill s
-a j fi
42"
K
s
i
i
"I
Notice to Subscribers.
EXPIRATIONS.
As the easiest and cheapest means of noti
fying subscribers of tbe date of their expira
tions we will mark this notice with a blue or
red pencii.on the date at which their subscrip
tion expires. We will send the paper two
weeks after expiration. If not renewed by
that time it will be discontinued-
Written for The Alliance by J. Burkows.
, THE FARMER'S DEMAND FOR
CHEAP MONEY.
Interest the Great Accumulator.
Money is the controlling factor in
production. Being exchangeable for
xll other kinds of capital, it necessarily
emb'races arid comprehends all other
kinds. Rent being simply payment for
Money in another form, and wages de
pending upon the price of produced
products, and this price depending
upon the volume of money, it will be
seen that money is really not only the
ontrolling factor in production, but
that the limitations of its volume must
enable those who control it to exact for
its nse any amount under the starvation
line at which production would cease.
Let us also observe that the question
which is of mo3t importance to us is not
as to the absolute accumulative power
ef interest, but its relative accumula
ting power. If all produced wealth is
divided between the three factors, rent,
wages and interest; and it is shown that
interest reserves an undue proportion,
it will necessarily follow that the other
factors do not receive their rightful
share. Kent being pay for the use of
capital in other forms than money, it
will only be necessary for us to consider
interest j in its relation to labor, elimi
nating the factor of rent; or to consider
rent and interest interconvertible terms,
Meaning the same thing. There are
nly two uses to "which the product of
labor can be applied the payment of
the yearly rent or tnterest on the capi
tal employed, and the payment of labor.
It is proper Also to consider that this
teeing a question of proportions, it can
not be affected by any expedients which
do not change proportions. If the accu
Maulating power of money is such that
it takes fer itself all the results of labor
except a bare subsistence for the labor
r, it is evident that any combination
to increase production or to lessen the
expense of it can only result in a larger
income to money. It is for this reason
probably that with all our prodigious
strides in production, and with all our
ombinations to increase it and lessen
its cost, it is only the controllers of
aoney capital who (scem to be advanc
ing ana accumulating. lhis arises
from the fact that interest, under our
restrictive financial system, is absolute
ly pervasive; that every interest and
very kind of labor pays tribute to it.
Under our present system immunity
from debt gives no immunity from
interest. As an element of cost, and
consequently of price, interest is com
puted in every part of the manufactur
ers' plant, on his investments of money
in material, on that part of money he
expends in wages, on the money held
idle in unsold stocks, and the last pur
chaser pays it in the price.
In the case of the importer interest
begins with the first payment for foreign
goods. It is computed on the amount
expended in ocean freights, on the
duties paid, cost of warehousing, etc.
When the goods are sold to the jobber
the interest continues, expanded by the
sum of the importer's profit. The re
tailer adds interest on every part of the
investment, and the consumer pays all
when he buys the goods.
We give below an illustration of the
accumulation of wealth with rent or in
terest at 7 per cent, and labor at one
dollar per day, taken from Kellogg on
Labor and Capital; page 84.
Suppose John and Richard to be poor
boys, each ten years old, who expect to
be'bound out at the proper age to learn
the carpenter's trade. But a rich uncle
bequeaths to John . a house worth ten
thousand dollars. It is worth so much,
because it will rent for seven hundred
dollars a year over and above taxes,
insurance and repairs. John's guar
dian is a lawyer, and will collect the
rent and loan it out for him at seven
per cent per annum, getting his fees
from those who borrow the money.
John likes Richard, and learns his trade
with him, and earns his living by his la
boi as Richard does. John instructs
his lawyer to purchase another house,
whenever the rent of the one accumu
lates enough to buy a second equal to
the first. If the interest be regularly
collected and loaned at seven per cent,
and the interest be collected half yearly,
it will equal the principal in ten years
and one month; when his lawyer can
buv for John a second house.so that when
he is twenty years and one month old, he
will be the owner of two houses, ihese
two houses rented for ten years and
one month more, will buy for John two
houses more; so that at the age of thirty
vearrr-d two months he will own four
nouses: at forty years and three months
he will own eight houses: at fifty years
and four months, sixteen houses: at six
ty years and five months, thirty-two
houses: at seventy years and six months,
sixty-four houses; and at eighty years
and 'seven months of age, he will own
one hundred and twenty-eight houses,
each of which is rented at seven nun
dred dollars a year; and all of them to
gether are bringing in a clear yearly in
come of eighty-nine thousand six hun
dred dollars. Now what has John, or
his uncle or his guardian done, that the
public should be obliged to give to
. John one hundred arid twenty-seven
houses for seventy years use of one
house? These one hundred and twenty
seven houses are all legally his; and our
laws maintain that John has as equita
ble a right to them as if he had bought
the lots and built the houses by his own
labor. Yet, if we aUow labor to be
worth a dollar a day, it would take the
entire earnings of sixty men for over
seventy years to pay for the one hun
dred and twenty seven houses, which
the use of one of the houses has in sev
enty years legally acquired John, with
out the performance of any labor on his
Part- ,
We give some additional illustrations
of different rates of rent and interest:
Suppose seven per cent to be a fixed
rate of interest, and V. to be a farmer
who, at the age of twenty-one, inherits
five farms, worth ten thousand dollars
each. He wishes to cultivate one him'
self, and to sell or rent the remaining
four. A., B., C. and D. are farmers
without property, and are obliged to
hire their farms, i hey cannot expect
. to rent them his for less than the
interest on the money for which they
would sell. Suppose tne"se men to rent
V.'s four farms at seven hundred dol
lars a year each; and V. to collect his
rent yearly, and lend the money to oth
ers at seven per cent, and yearly to col
lect and reloan this interest, lhe rent
and accruing interest upon the rent, in
ten years and three months, would en
able V. to buy four additional farms.
worth ten thousand dollars apiece,
which he could rent to four more ten
ants. Following this up for seven pe
riods of ten years and three months we
hnd tha"t in seventy-one years and nine
months V. would become the possessor
of five hundred and twelve farms, worth
ten thousand dollars each, and bringing
in a yearly income of seven hundred
dollars apiece. Five hundred and eight
of these farms would be added to V .'s
wealth by the labor of his tenants, not
to mention the improvement made on
their original value by the labor; and
V. would have had besides, the entire
produce of the one farm reserved for
his own cultivation.
We will now see what would be the
result to V. and his tenants from the
simple change of the rate of interest
from seven to one per cent, ouppose
V. as before, to inherit five farms, each
worth ten thousand dollars, one of
which he cultivates himself. If he
should sell the remaining four for ten
thousand dollars each, he could lend the
money at one per cent, that is for four
hundred dollars; but he rents the farms
to A., B., C. and D. at one per cent on
their value, and thus receives the same
income. If V. should loan this yearly
rent of one hundred dollars on each
farm, yearly collecting and reloaning
the interest, nearly seventy years would
elapse before the rent paid him by A.,
B., C. and D., and its accruing interest,
would buy four more farms of equal
value with those rented; whereas, in a
bout the same period, at seven per cent.
the rent and it3 accruing interest would
buy -five hundred and eight farms.
Whether the interest were at one or
seven per cent.V. would equally receive
the products of his labor on the farm
that he kept for his own use; but at sev
en per cent, he would gain by the labor
am dv tne laoor
of his tenants live mil
hons and eighty
thousand dollars worth 01 land: wnue
at one per cent he would gain by their
labor hut four thousand dnllar s worth.
The interest on money at seven per
cent is as oppressive as the same rate
per cent, on land. Suppose V. instead
of renting his four farms, should sell
them for $10,000 each, and loan the
money at the legal rate of seven per
cent, collecting and reloaniner the in
terest yearly. In ten years and three
months, the principal and interest would
amount to $80,000: in twenty years and
six months, co $160,000: in thirty years
and nine months, to $320,000: in fifty-
one years and three months, to $1,280,
000: in sixty-one years and six months,
to $2,560,000. and in seventv-one vears
and nine months,-to $5,120,000. Multi
ply $10,000 by five hundred and twelve,
the number of farms, and it will give
the same sum. If V. should sell the
four farms for $40,000, and lend the
money on bond and mortgage at seven
per cent, orequirwer as usual double the
value in land as security, he would have
mortgages covering over $10,240,000
worth of landed estate;, and the people
occupying this land would be hard at
work to pay him the interest: thus rap
dly concentrating wealth in his hands,
nsieau 01 uin using 11 10 supply ineir
A. 1 - C 1 ' i- . 1 . 1
own wants.
But with interest at one percent, $40,
000 leaned for seventy years would ac
cumulate but $40,000 more; whereae. at
seven per cent it would accumulate $5,
080,000. This difference in interest of
$5,040,000 would be added to V.'s wealth
rom the earnings of others, while V.'s
accumulation of money-or increase of
ands would not add either a dollar to
the quantity of money, or an acre to
the quantity of land. It would only
have monopolized it for V.'s beneht
t would have caused the people to owe
$5,080,000, and make them $5,040,000
poorer than if interest had been at one
per cent. The contracts between V
and his tenants being made in conform
ity with the standard at seven per cent,
they must pay him the $5,040,000, or de-
raud him of what is legally his due;
and if he voluntarily takes less than this
for them, it is an act of charity. Seven
per cent is not the standard for V. only;
it is a public standard that favors other
capitalists equally in the various
branches or business, and imposes upon
the producing classes generally obliga
tions similar to those imposed upon V.'s
tenants
To give some idea to what extent the
power, of interest operates, it can only
be necessary to say, that all the money
ent on bonds and mortgages by indivi
duals, by insurance and trust companies;
all the money lent for United btates.
state, county, city, railroad, canal and
other bonds, made to raise vmoney for
public improvements, whether these 1m
provements be made by corporations,
by states or by individuals; also the
money lent by banks, brokers and indi
viduals on promissory notes all these
loans are operating with a like central
izing . power against the producers and
in favor of the money-lenders. This
power also establishes a like rate per
cent rent to be paid for the use of all
property, real and personal. The rent
of houses and lots in cities, and of farms
in the country, must conform to this
t? 'S! J0U7KmUL0ilflrt0
merchandise tnat are on hand in the
nation, and that are in process of being
produced ana manuractured, are gov
erned in their value by money, and are
under tribute to its centralizincr power.
It is an unavoidable power, because it
is instituted, upheld and enforced by the
national laws, and is the basis upon
which all market values are founded.
T 1
j&ememoer, mac money nas no ac
cummulating power apart from labor,
that interest is paid from annual pro
ducuon. Hut there is no conceivable
production by labor that would not be
exceeded and dwarfed by interest at 6
or 7 per cent. Interest at even two per
cent per annum would inevitably op
press the producers.
It is stated, and generally accepted as
ma fl,at tho total ntfTPt. heanncr
" " " I
j.i ., tt.a.j "
aeot in me uuu ouue ;muuu
itau,uw,uuu,uuu. J.ne annual interest ou
this sum" at 6 per cent amounts to
$1,800,000,000. This is undeniably a
, . rr . . t t.
iact. J.ne immensity oi it can omy ue
, , . , . .
shown by comparison. We have taken
from the official reports of the treasury
department the following figures as to
the production
rT r np nrnp pk iimiiihii i
i. j i
for the year 1887, and have carried out
this value in dollars at prices named.
It will be seen that the total value of
these products are more than $087,000,-1
000 short of paying the : interest on the
acknowledged dent oi ourpeopie. w e
say total value.
T)W.t.frnm this valiiP.
the cost of production and the subsist
ence of producers, and how much
would be left to lighten the burden of
interest.
Wool. 269,000,000 lbs,
& 15c 40,350,000.00.
Cotton, 3,43(,173 391 "
Pig Iron. 6.417,148 ton
" 7c 24r), 742.067 37."
" 16 38,502,888 00.
50 106.982,000.00.
" 60c 273,797.400.00.
" 20c 291,232.200.00
K u. bars sutfSJu
Wheat, 456.329.000 bu.
Corn. 1,456.161.000 bu.
Petrol'm 1,166,483,074 gals
" 10c 118,648307.40.
' ' f 1,112,206,862.77.
No man can intelligently investigate
this subject without becoming convinc-
ed that the total net production ot tne
- . . - . . m .1 I
cuuuuv tu-uay uui ucuaj 11,0
est debt.
Can anyone doubt that it is interest,
under our unjust monetary system,
which is the cause of the increase of
poverty amidst increasing wealth?
"I Feel like Licking Every Old and Mid
dle aged Man I Meet.
This speech was uttered by a young
man who has always oeen consiaereu
a "model" voune man ia the commu
nity where he lives. He is sober and
innnstrinns also economical: and such
an expression, falling from his lips with
such earnestness, naturaliy led us to in-
quire why? "W hy," said he, "see what
they have done tor us, tneir cnnaren.
Thev have voted us into slavery, and
not only us, but our children also, -tne
old "pewter Heads" have been voting
and voting, lo these many years, and
what is the resnlt? Any one can see
the result in the present state of affairs,
when we work sixteen hours a day for
merely enough to keep soul and body
x. 4 I- 1 1 n-r.rA I
logeiner, auu wucu we aic yioyu ujuu 1
by all the frauds the ingenuity 01 the
devil and his aids can originate. And
it is all men's fault that have been doing
ua nf,n fn tho noct tVii-rf-c- vpra otiii
, think thev deserve their children's
L.0c - : fnrthvhave Wasted their twos
erity and made their lives wretched, all
1 1 .uj 7 .;v1tt .nmlno
wav of voting.
What answer could 1 maKe to this?
It is all true, too true. Some of these
old men see, now that it is too late,
their fatal mistake, and try to excuse
themselves by saying they were deceiv
ed. or that they didn't know, &c. &c
What right had they to cast a ballot if
they didn't knowwnattney were voting
for? What right have they to plead ig
norance as the cause of this folly? I
tell you, old Captain Trevellick hits
them exactly when he says they never
read anything but their party newpa
per and played high nve. 1 he ola men
that have had the management of this
nation in their power,, and relegated it
to Lawyers, Bankers and Wall Street,
have a terrible charge to answer to.
You have voted your children and your
children.s children into slavery worse
than black slavery ever was. You have
been too idle and too careless to look
after your own or your children's inter
ests, much less the nation's, i; or what
ever is good for the nation is good for
the citizen. Well, you have made the
citizens of this nation bankrupt slaves
to monopolistic greed, slaves to taxa
tion, slaves to the money power. You
have shaken thair faith in their govern-
ment, in their fellow men, and in many
cases in their God, for they think if
there was a just God, He never would
have permited you to live to accomplish
so much meanness by your imbecility.
Not understanding the scriptures they
reason that way. Why don't they un
derstand the scriptures? they must
utmost lucj uiuau
work, work, work. They have no time
4- J.Iw, 1 ,4 y-f w sv snot
to pav a minister: and thev as a rule
LLJ A Call . UlI 1.1 1 1 UL, LlinLUIl V. OiUU UU 111UUUV
don't preach without pay; and the most
of them are so poor, (having had voting
fathers also.) they cannot give their
time without pay. The "way up minis
ter" who preaches to suit the monopo
list, and does not therefore need to
preach the gospel can "draw" a big
salary, but as a rule, the "Preacher"
who preaches the gospel of Christ is ib
the same to it with the rest of us, and
has had a voting father, and grandfather
too, perhaps, jnow this is a terrible
state of affairs, but there might be some
amends made, even at this late day.
Old men, rouse! shake off your imbe
cility, your party predjudice, your old
isms, whatever they are, and cast one
vote for your children this fall, make
one effort to save them from lasting
ruin. You have made them .victims,
now come and help rescue them from
the terrible fate awaiting them and turn
your children's curses into blessings.
feeward, .Neb. 15. J.
FROM BURT COUNTY.
TEKAMAH. "Ner.. &firt,. 22 1890
Editor Alliance: The Silver Creek
Center Farmers' Alliance was organized
may oru, iouu, witn is cnarter mem
bers, and by earnest work it has steadily
gained ever since. At one meeting twelve
new luemueis we its lmuaieu, ana now
as this is the elosina of the quarter we
are proud Jo say that there are still more
applying fbr membership. The Alliance
wort h met with great success in Burt
r;" ir:Wi ,J
ciiw;uuvu. xiiu xLiiiaiiuo uii9 lurty
members, and all are laboring with en-
ergy for the good of the order.
lhe independent ticket will certainly
carry in this Silver Creek precinct. The
primary neid by the independent people
some time ago had a 'hundred present,
which is the largest gathering of the
kind in this precinct for years. The re-
pumwaus nau inree ac tneir primaries,
wno ior years nave had hftv to sixtv.
Tl J . , ... . " J -
xue uemocracs nave iaued to cet an v.
vuc uui iu uieir primaries.
4. A A. I - C J
VVM. TACHLOCK,
Sec. Alliance No. 1704.
ARE YOU A MAJORITY OR NOT?
, y
Do You Want to Be'Counted?
Editouof Alliance.- The campaign
has Deffun. l he PO ltlCiaos are auuai-
. . . l ,J :
inf? to acar memories auu um, msww
(.nnnftf.teH w5th the old parties.-
Th trvini? to arouse the old preiu-
dices, decrying our new movement and
promising most liberally the deliverance
that we need. : Now comes xne test oi
j v;n
OUT WI3UOU1 ailU OUl 1UI LJtlun3.
the maS3 Gf farmers and laborers hold
to this new way or will many turn back
at the call of the politicians and editors
i wnu n iH.Li.Hr are uuiv yuiiuuiauo u
embryo ) ? We industrialists must stand
bv thi3 new movement. ,- lhe politicians
tell -us in their platforms and in their
addresses and ' articles that now they
believe that the mass of the farmers
want legislative assistance, and that
now they .believe that they need it. It
was a minority wmen uauiuieu ucimc,
they say, out now it is me majority;
and their partv loves the farmer and
means to do him lusticc. just eiect.
them, say they, and the aid shall come.
StoD and thinf:, you who purpose
votinff with the old parties. Our votes
have not neen counted. jno one Knows
just how many we are. Are we a ma
ioritv of the Republican party in this
State? or of the uemocratic party 7 or
of the Prohibition party! We believe
so, but nobody has counted us. Sup
pose we should divide; and vote with
the old parties. When the count shall
be made who can ten wnicn is a reiorm
ballot and which is an old party ballot?
WW III! I'M II I f. I I W I in.iit I 1UUI ULlO H-lV
candidate or the old line votes
elected mm? jan vou aisprove rs u it
is claimed that you are not a majority
of the old party? The majority rules
the party. The candidate is in honor
bound to serve the wisnes 01 tne major
ity of those who elect him. Suppose he
claims to owe his election to the bank
! ers, railroads, business" men and those
who sympathize with them, tie win
look out for their interests, of course,
rather than for you, when aay conflict
of interests arises. Your candidate will
generally be a lawyer, editor or business
man, you usually disdain a farmer,
one of your own number. Your law-
av' svmpathize more with capital than
ver. editor or ousiness man win gener-
with labor. If he can without taking a
downrieht bribe receive favors and aid
from the capitalists he will be strongly
tern Dted' to. do so. He will only want
an. excuse to favor the banfcs, railroads,
etc.: and that excuse will be ready to
hand that vou are not a majoity of
his constituents. You will have elected
a new man but he will be of the old
starem. You can pocket your wrath
andsav to yourselves MS-o-l-d a-g-a-i n.
. . . , . 1 H 1
a.nu tne same ining wm uaptsu yci
after vear so lone as your votes cannot
be distincniiahed from the rest. Has it
not been so for ten years or more?-
11 t. n. .nn,,ontot;iraiiTniii nsH
aWav the old platforms so that we have
Ui nnthtnrr9 ahott.h.t-
fi Transportation Board? Will notour
I u
ent platform? Can any platform be
so constructed as that those office hold
ers who study the art of "how not to do
it" cannot explain it away, to their own
satisfaction at least
We need a separate platform and
staadard-bearer from among ourselves.
We want candidates of the people and
for the people. We want a separate
count. We want men who know who
elected them. . They may be a little
slow at first, but they will learn; and
they wlU dare and they will DO.
, pi . a., dlackheb,
Sec'y Peoria Alliance.
ONE OF MR. BOYD'S LETTERS
AND THE REPLY.
James E. Boyd,
Omaha.
30th Sept., 1890.
Mr.
Benkleman, Neb.
Dear Sir: We are anxious to hare
a thorough organization in every State
and believe that if the demociats do
their duty to the party this year their I
efforts will be crowned wim success.
Anything you can do for us or any in
formation vou flrive us of the political
situation in your neighborhood will be
dulv amreciated bv
Very truly yours,
James E. Boyd.
Benkleman, Neb., Sept, 29, 1890.
My Dear Sir:
Replying to the within beg to inform
1 c,
uui.year iu f-'
mv precinct and that this
b ln i noi !be Tdemocratic
.. There is a Power(s) in this
I tit i V ULCO X LL All V uu. uuutw
I v ' -
year
there
vote there
county, but not for the democrats.
xours, etc
An Object Lesson.
A number of ladies in a town whose
name is not given, although the story is
vouched for, were engaged in assisting
the managers of a county fair. They
decorated the Floral Hall tastefully,
and had a miniature log cabin erecetd
where a pioneer husband and wife
should dispense hospitality in old time
pioneer style. They had been assured
that no liquor saloon would be permit
ted on the grounds, but when the fair
opened a saloon opened, too. The
ladies took counsel privately and, be
hold, the log cabin changed appearance
the husband posed as a drunken sot,
and dilapidation and all the requsite
accompaniments of a drunkard's home
appeared! on the scene.
Over the door
was hung a notice, "This was caused by
licensing a saloon on the fair grounds."
Protest was made against this repre
sentation of the saloon business, but,
like the saloon, , it seemed to have come
without any one being responsible, and
80 ther stood side by side. And why
Pxyv,u
ui uui izlului ies, lai uia auu mills are
exhibited with pride at our fairs, and
why should we not, also, exhibit the
results of the distiller's business? This
inspiration ought not to be lost. A
business worth perpetuating ought to
be exhibited in all its stages, for the
study of the intelligent visitors of our
fairs, v , .- -.
We invite all our readers to carefnlly
study Labor and Capital, by Edward
Kellogg. Price 20cts. For sale at this
office. .
MISCONCEPTION.
This la a spray the bid clans to.
Making it blossom with pfanrt
Er the high tre-top she Bprnngto -Fit
for her nest and ber treasure.
Oh, what a hop beyond measure
Was the poor spray ,8 which the flying
feet hung tos
80 to be singled out, built in and sung to I
II. '.- '
This is a heart the Queen leant oa.
Thrilled in a minute erratic, -Ere
the true bosom she bent on.
Meet for love's regal dalmatic.
Oh, what a fancy ecstatic
Was the poor heart's, ere the wanderer
went on
Love to bo saved for it, proffered to,
spent on! '
' Browning..
A TERRIBLE RIDE.
BEGAN life
one of the
railways of
states as
"cleaner" in
on
big
the
a
an
engine-shed.
I had been em
ployed in the
shed at Louis
ville lor about
fifteen or sixteen
months when I went on my first trip
us a fireman.
It was very near being by last.
1 firmly believe all the years ol
Hying about in an express since 1
was made an engineer have not tak
tn as much out of me as that single
turn of an hour and a half. It oc
curred in this way:
One evening the superintendent at
Louisville received a wire from Wes-
on a station about seventy miles
down the line to send an engine to
replace one which had broken down.
1 le came to the shed and selected the
Jen. Grant, one of the finest locomo
uves on the road. Then he sent
word to the engineer and fireman to
ome on duty and start on their
journey at 7 o'clock.
The driver, lien JN orris, was tnere
in good time, and busied himself
with his oil-can. But Jim West, the
Ureraan, did not turn up punctually,
At ast when it as near the hour
or starting, he came into the shed.
. 1
nna ir anm of. hia h nnHfihnt, PVPB
- 1
v'" f.w-v ' .
!itim nnar.pji ii v w.'i.l t shnwpii rtifl
Showed me he
xvas the worse for drink. 1 Poor fel-
Kriwt"T kne w" t he cause of this: a nd
irom the bottom of my heart I pitied
him. The week before he had lost
his ' little daughter Kate, and to
irown his grief he had taken to
liquor. "1
I knew he was utterly incapable of
jvoing on duty, and I also knew that
it he was discovered in this state it
would mean instant dismissal.
There was only one thing for it
H not her fireman must be found im
mediately. If the matter was refer
red to the superintendent it would be
all up with mv mend Jim. from
that moment I made up my mind to
take his place myself.
I gave him in charge of one of my
mates, who promised to take him
home quietly. I thought that in a
hours he would have slept off th
effects of the liquor, and I left word
to have him come on by the night
train to Weston. I had to explain
matt rs to the engineer, but he made
r.o objections to nfy plan. It struck
me at the time that lie took the mat
ter very coolly; in fact, he seemed
perfectly indifferent as to who went
with him.
Time was up. I took my place in
1 he cab. Norris set to work at once
nnd we moved slowly out of the shed.
We were off!
While in the station I took care to
keep bending down, as if examining
the hre, so that 1 should not be rec
ognized. But once clear of the town
1 stood upright and looked around.
It was a glorious summer evening,
We skimmed rapidly past meadows
1 stood upright and looked around.
ana cornneias ana tnenaasneaaiong
the bridge over the river. I began
t 1 j 1 t 1 .1 1
to think I would enjoy the run im
mensely.
I next turned my attention to the
engine. As 1 ran my eve oVer the
Khining machinery , I felt gratified
lo think that its neat order was
lneflv owing to my care. I was
proud of the Grant and wondered if
the time would ever come when I
should have charge of it myself.
I was so elated that I thought my,
companion ought to be more lively.
Ben seemed to think of nothing but
his work. He stood with his hand
on the throttle, and his eyes steadily
fixed upon the track ahead. I made
one orkwo remarks, but he scarce
ly answered me. While I was won
dering at his silence he suddenly ap
peared to arouse himself. He glan
ced at the steam-gauge, muttered
something which I did not under
stand, then bent down and examin
ed the fire-box.
"More coal! he cried in a voice
which almost startled me.
I complied without a word. In-
ftead of throwing in the coal reck
lessly,- which I knew would only
leaden the fire, I piled it up careful
ly around the sides. Very soon the
speed of the engine increased.- "We
wereraCtling along at a grand ra te.
I examined the gauge and saw that
the hand pointed to 195. I could
not see the necessity for this rapid
traveling. t
My companion s attention was
aarain fixed upon the road before
him. Presently he turned toward
me and exclaimad excitedly:
"Who savs that the Grant is not
the fastest engine on the road?'
'Moxlv declared that the President
was faster." I replied
"Then helipd! 1 1 ied Norris. "The
shall see. we
?-ii.-! S
i thoiihthis manner very strange,
to say the least of it. But I knew
h ways and naid nothing. He was.
flways .considered rather eccentric.!
Jle-sMr'8, he was easily excited and
--iild not bear to be contradicted,
till there was not a driver on the
liiie better acquainted with his bus
iuf'ss. And, by the way, I have forpjotten
t o say a word as to his appearance.
Well, then, he was a big, powerful
leliow, with a broad, red face, and a
bushy beard. It was hard "to deal
with such a man. If he once put his
loot down there was no getting him
to budge until his humor changed.
We were now coming close upon
Waterford station, and had already
done about five-and-twenty miles of
the journey. Ben'seyes were still up
on the track. It was all clear ahead,
yet I expected to see him close the
throttle am slow down while passing
through the station.
Bat I was mistaken. With a roar
and a rush we dashed right through,
nnd the next minute we were tearing
along a level stretch on the other
side.
"More coal!" Not only the words
themselves, but the manner in which
j hey were uttered caused me serious
alarm. I bej?an to suspect, that
something was wrong. Still, if I hes
itated it might only aggravate him,
so I flung in a small quantity.
"(10 on go onr
5 What was 1 to do? I didn t dare
to refuse. The wild look in Norris'
eyes frightened me, and I went on
shoveling in the fuel. 1 glanced at
the gauge. Great heavens! it mark
ed 230! This pressure of steam,
where no cars were attached to the
engine, meant a fearful rate of speed.
The engineer s mnnner was strange
ly altered. Instead of being silent
and morose be was now excited and
talkative.
"That's it!" he cried, and I could
barely catcb the words from the
roaring of the engine. "Now we're
traveling! Ha!T-ha! The Pessident
faster than the Grant? Not likely!
I'll catch up to Wr yet, see if I
don't!"
Shall I ever forget thiuse terrible
words! They actually sb.;med to
paralyze me. As I stood "there,
clinging for support to tne side. or
the cab, an awful truth Hashed
through my mind, lhe engineer
was maaj auu, worse bum, uh wub
1 a i 1 xi iii r j a
unaertneaeiusion umi tue rresiaem.
Mr m. ' . h :
WH8 OH 1U Irani. llll IUIB IU8U.IIO
.j . 1 1 u .1- : j
iu uib ukuu lie uein nuueu lu n-jr
the peed of the two engines.
My first impulse, when. I had part
ly recovered from the shock, was to
spring forward and grasp the re
versing rod. But a moment s re
flection showed me that this might
instantly seal my doom. Norris
would have grappled with me, and
if it came to a .struggle 1 was lost.
He would fling me headlong Irom
the engine.
Then another thought occurred to
me. ilea ven lorgive me: out 1 must
strike him from behind in order to
save my life. I 'ooked around for a
weapon. As I did so be seemed to
guess what l was at, and turning
round thrust his hand into his breast.
The next moment he held a revolver
toward me, while his blazing eyes
threatened instant death ifldidnot
desist.
Alter that I gave myself up for lost.
Unless providence interposed on my
behalf a horrible end awaited me.
Up tct this I had felt the heat oppres
sive, but now l shivered. My hands
were cold and clammv. A band of
iron seemed to encircle my head.
On we tore, the engine swaying tear
fully. Every moment I expected to
to be blown to atoms by the burst
ing of the boiler. Norris never ceased
about the race with the
President. And yet. though he was
bo absorbed in his work, he kept his
eye on me the whole time.
Then it was that an idea Hashed
nci OSS me. A lamt hope sprang up in
my mind. I must overcome him by
uJU ,u. tuu.-u.u.
cunning; it was the only chance.
4 I advanced to examine the md
lca-
tor; and, though my heart sank
when I saw the hand quivering at
250, I made it appear as if I were
delighted.
"Good," I cried, "we ll - beat her
yetl But we want more coal.
I made toward the tender, placed
ray left hand upon a lump of coal
and struck it across the back with
the sharp edge of the shovel. The
blow left a gash from which the blood
flowed freely. I ga ve a cry and Nor
ris instantly turned round
I held up my right hand that he
might see the blood dripping from
it. Then I stood with my back to
ward him a.nd pretended to bind up
the wound. But I only wrapped a
handkerchief round it, and quick as
lightning drew out my pocket-book.
1 tore awav the leaves which were
written on, and placing the book up
on mv knee scrawled these words
across the first page:
"Driver mad. wire, grease rails."
v Then.holdingit in my injured hand,
I thrust it under my jacket and re
turned to the engineer's side.
Wre were now rapidly approaching
Weston, but I knew that Norris did
not intend to stop. ,And I was right.
He blew a long whistle, as if to start
I'? the officials, and the engine shot
t brcugh the station like a rocket. ,
But I had managed to drop my
f-ocketbook at the side of he track.
T did not dare to look back or make
the slightest sign to the Weston of
f cials. If Iliad don so I certainly
rould have got a bullet through me.
S till I fancied I had caught a glimpse
f f a man hurrying forward to where
t'jr book had fallen.
The suspense was terrible. Even if
ihev noticed the pocket-book, they
I. light -not be able to understand'
r liat was written inside; for it may
!e imagined that under the circum
Int faster we
-'-tauctv the scrawl was barely legible
1 had made up mr mind what to
xpeet. The next station was lied
i''ork, but fiiteen miles farther on I
vas sure the track wouM be clear as
tar as this place, but on. e past it w
uiight encounter an up train at any
moment.
If the Weston people discovered
my message they would wire at ono
to Bed Fork, ami there would b
time enough for the officials at that .
station to grease a portion of the
rails before we came on the scene.
Should this bo done on any partof an
incline the wheels would slip on the
track and the engine soon come to a
standstill. It was with a thrill of joy
I remembered that there was such a
piece of road just outside Bed Fork
ttation.
But if it turned out otherwise, and
we passed the place without leing t
topped, I resolved to lose no time in
grappling with the engineer. Coma
what might, I would spring upon
,him and try to wrench the revolver
from his hand. The case would thea
be desperate; and it was as well to
die in a fight for life as to wait pa
tiently and be mangled in a collision.
When I arranged all this in my
mind I endeavored to resign myself
to late. I could do 110 more at pres
ent. But the agonies 1 suffered dur
ing that short run from Weston to
lied Fork I can never describe. The
terrible strain of suspense, the wild
rush, the swaying irom side to side,
made me feel sick and faint. 1 clung
on without daring to look on either
hand; if I had done so I think I could
not have withstood the temptation
to fling myself from the engine.
It was getting dusk. I was dimly
conscious of hedges, telegra ph poles,
and bridges skimming past me like
ho many flashes'. The hoarse shouts
of the madman made my blood run
cold. He seemed to be working himself
into a regular frenzy.
Bed Fork one mile ahead!
One minute more would decide th
question o" life or death.
1 drew my breath hard; I trembled
like a child. We had reached tha in
cline. The ngine went at it with a
'dash. I glanced out to see if any
Iriendly figures were on the track.
Not a soul was in sight! I groaned
nnd almost fell on the floor of the
t ab. The surrounding objects seem
ed to fade from my view, and in their
Dlace rose up a picture of the old
lioiM. away in England. I saw th
little cottpge; I looked into mr
mother's face-
"Oh, thank God!" ,
Never before nor loirce did such a
cry of joy escape me, for at that mo
ment 1 felt the wheels of the engine
slip.
Gradually the furious npeed declin
ed. Norris dashed about the cab
Ktorniing and swearing. Very soon
we were almost at a standstill. The
next second I had jumped to th
lround.
Onlvjustin time. The madman
had turned savagely upon me, I sup-
o-e suspecting that I had some
thing to do with the stoppage. I
r- aw his purpose and ducked my head
as a bullet from a revolver whizzed
over it. Then I ran for dear Hie
down the track.
When I was out of range I sat
upon the bank, completely over
fome. The reaction was too much
for me, and I believe for a minute or
two I was quite unconscious. But
before I became insensible I heard
mother report from the pistol. I
knew what had happened.
I was aroused by a confused hum
of voices. Upon opening my eyes I
f-aw lour men standing around me.'
1 got up at once and hurried back to
the engine.
There stood the Grant upon th
t rack with full speed up, the wheels
revolving with frightful rapidity;
but without making the least head
way. One of my companions sprang on
board and shut off steam. Then ho
t ame to the Bide, looked down, and
exclaimed:
"I say, boys, Norris has put a bul
let through his brainl"
I knew it. Chatter.
Fatal Struggle with a Tlgar.
Details are given in the Indian pa
pers of the painful death of Mr. How
ard, of the Norfolk regiment, from
injuries received in a struggle with a
t iger. Mr. Howard was out shoot
ing near Malapuram, on the west
coast, when he suddenly came upon
u tiger. He fired and wounded th
animal, which fled into the jun
gle. Mr. Howard an hour later cam
uross the tiger in the open. Th
anirral charged at him, and Mr.
Howard in firing missed. Two na- 1
fives ran away. Though a third re
mained and was successful in shoot
ing the tiger, he did not succeed in
time to prevent it from seizing and
inflicting serious injuries on Mr.
Howard. From these he was ijt first
expected to recover, but he died sud
denly, to the great regret of his regi
ment, one morning shortly after his
exciting struggle.London News.
Killed and Ato Her Now Hue
. band.
From the London Hawk.
An extraordinary story of canni
balism comes from Zanzibar. A lov
match had been made between a
couple of young Swahilis, and on th
day following that of the marriage
t he bridegroom's friends called to of
f ;v the customary congratulations.
Viiey experienced some difficulty in
fretting into the hut and at last
i'rced an entrance, when they found
(hat the bride of a day had killed
ht r beloved lord, had already had
feast off his body, and was pre
paring the remainder for future use.
I
t
few 1
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