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About Harrison press-journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 1902)
t STAIRS OF SAND !! A TALE OF A MYSTERY ST ERNEST DE LANCEY PIERSON CTSOB or "the SEcmrr or the marionettes," "a dangeeous quest," etc. Copyngim HOI, Bt STREET A SMITH CHAPTER XXI. For some minutes Job Hendricks felt too weak to rise from the Boor, where he had flung hiicself down over the trap. But soon the nense that his safety was only temporary forced him to thiuk of his position, anil drew his attention to the talking that was going on in the room below. Still lying there, he peered down through a crack into the room, and, as the lamp was lit again, he could see the two men he judged to be department olfi cers doing their best to revive the un conscious Ellison. "I may an well not wait until he is able to explain matters," Mid Job to himself, "for then he will be tble to direct them, and snow how I managed to get out of the ambush. I only hope that this time Ellison's agent will remain unconscious for half an hour more." He rose unsteadily to his feet, and. fter stretching himself, looked about him. The place in which he found himself, as viewed in the faint light of a small jndow set high up in the wall, w as lin ed with rubbish. It must have been the hospital for all the old furniture of the establishment, and was crowded with leg less chairs, broken barrels, and a pil-- of musty lumber that filled the air with a strange, earthy smell. It would not be safe for him to linger there any longer. Below in the street the police probably surrounded the building. He must look for his way to freedom in other directions. He left the dismal place, aud, passing through a door, found himself in a long, bare hall, faintly Ulumiued by a gas light flickering at the further end. As he en tered this corridor he saw the shadow of what seemed to be a man reflected on the further wall. Was this possibiy some one set to guard the escapes? Job turn ed back, and then saw to the right of him a spiral staircase of irou, leading to the upper regions. Surely in that di rection his course lay, for he knew that by this time all the approaches to the building below must be guarded. The reflection of the figure on the wall at the end of the ball puzzled him, for It wag the shadow of a man. and yet it did not move. He was out of sight and maintained a silent attitude. Job was in a position to take everything for grant ed, and had no desire to go and investi gate. He was pleased that he had not been discovered and that this silent sen try was either asleep or had not heard him. Slowly he mounted the stairs, still keeping his eyes on that silhouette that was outlined blackly on the wall. "Ah, if I only had not been deprived of a weapon," he muttered, as with cau tion he mounted the stairs, thankful at least that the bogy on the wall had not shown any signs of life. The stairs led him into another hill, much tike that be had just left, and on each side of it ran long partitions, inter sected here and there with doors. He tried one of these, only to hear a grum bling voice asking what he wanted. He started away. As he paused to listen, he heard snores resounding from various parts of the place. Evidently most of the lodgers had retired for the night. Others who had "work," would probably not appear until daybreak. Would it be possible, he thought, to secrete himself in one of the unoccupied TOO 35, LZ23 make his way out of the building? Thn he figured that by this time the police would be acquainted with the manner of hit escape, and having invested the build ing on all aides below, would proceed to "investigate the inmates one by one, as they had done on many a similar occa sion, 'fj, he was not secure in this pre cious "hotel" s all, and the only safety for him lay in getting away as far as possible from the neighborhood. Going to the end of the hall where the window stood open, he peered down on the street. It was too high to risk a leap, tad, even if such a thing could be accomplished Id safety, he would only fall Into the bands of the men who were lying in wait for him. "Ah, if my work were only done, I'd go back with them gladly," he muttered, s he turned away with a sigh. "But there is more that I have to do, and un til then the police and I, I hope, will re main strangers." Near the window through which be bad been peering wax an open door, and .without knowing exactly-why, be enter ed. The room was empty, but along one side ran a shelf, on which were rsnged various rusty candlesticks containing pieces of candle, evidently for the use of the "guests." Job helped himself to the largest piece of candle he could And and appropriated some of the matches. "May need 'em," be mattered. "This enterprise may carry me into many dark places." As be came out of this room he thought he heard the sound of steps below and tbe echoes of muffled voices. "They most have got on my trail," be uttered. "Well, the only thing to do is to try and reach tbe roof; perhaps It may communicate with some other building. If not-well, I shall be caoght." As he approached the stair again tbe sound of the voices below became loader, and. from the fragments of conversation that drifted np to him, he Jedged that the police were making an examination of the r so ass on the lower floor. "It will take 'em seme time to se that," was the thoegkt that was rnnning through his mind, "and la the meantime who knows bat I may be able to show Ike a dee a pair of heeler Be had reached the stain again, and, raetteaafy, that ho might not awake the siaeeoM, ascended them slowly. Whoever it was laveetigatiag the lew sr rosea, he dli not take any precaution to maCe hi voice, and fragments of rfcit was aaM satisflod Jo that the po X wan hi the MMteg. He had now reached the upper floor, which, from the silence that prevailed, he judged to le unoccupied. There waa a small iron ladder leading to the roof, and. without a moment's hesitation, he climbed this, aud, opening the trap, clos ed it behind him. aud found himself oa the toof. It was only through this trap that they could possibly find him, go he thought if he could only weight down the trap, thej would have no easy task in readmit him. At the same time, if he found nc way of escape from the roof, his enemies had only to wait, and he must eventually fall into their bands. He closed the trap carefully, and, see ing a pile of old lumber near at hand, by degrees brought the boards over in his strong arms and piled them on top. When he found there was nothing else of a weighty nature that herould pile over the door, he wiped his forehead of its perspiration and sat down on the pile of boards to consider the situation. looked at in any light, his position seemed to be desperate, for the place was guarded below, and the house was full of policemen. He rose and walked to the further end of the roof, and then saw below him a low building that look ed as if it were a factory of some sort. Then he wandered to the front of the building, aud, looking down, thought he could see a policeman walking back and forth, aud, beyond, others. So he re turned to the contemplation of the little factory. If be could only reach that roof, it would not be hard to get to the street. But it lay far below him, and to jump would be impossible. Just then, as he was walking about, feeling very uneasy, he tripped over a rope fastened to one of the chimneys, and which at some time must have been employed in the work of painting the building. It was only a short piece, but he took it up tenderly, undid the knots and then found that it was still of too short a length to be of any service to him. Hope in hand, he drew near the brink of the roof and peered down into the depths. The roof of the factory, or whatever it was, lay far below, but he saw a small projection jutting out from the building on which he was standing, about half way down. Ah. if the rope had only been double iu length! Then a thought occurred to him whereby he might make this little rope do double service. Fastening it to a hook, where a light ning rod had formerly been, he threw the noose end over the wall, where it dan gled in space. Under the knot he had tied about the hook he placed a candle and lit it. His intention was that by the time he had reached the lower projecting ledge, the candle would have burned its way through the rope, it would drop into his hands and then he would be able to use it again to reach the roof of the fac tory. Having arranged this, Job scram bled over the edge of the parapet, and, climbing to the rope, launched himself into space. He knew that it was possi ble that the candle might burn the -ope through before he reached the ridge of safety, but it was necessary that he should take the risk. In his swinging de scent he could not help but look upward at the flaring candle, the progress of which was to decide his fate, for life or death. An old rope like that must con sume rapidly. Would it ever last until he had reached the ledge? Ktit his movements had been so precipi tate that he finally swung over on to the ledge and rested there, before the rope finally swept out with a trail of fire, the one end of which he still held. At the same time he heard a rumbling noise above his head which showed that tbe trap door had been forced open, and that the police must now be upon the roof. They must soon see the candle, which in that calm and placid night was proba bly still burning, and they would know where to look for tbe man who was at tempting to escape. The ledge to which Job clung was be fore a great iron door probably used to admit goods into tbe establishment. He found a book to which he could fasten the end of his rope, sadly charred by fire, and again launched himself into space. It seemed to him that it waa hours before he reached the end of the rope, aud he could hear the angry voices on the top of the roof. Of course, as soon as tbey found tbe candle, they must find, too, where he had gone. He bad come to tbe end of the cable, and as there was nothing else to do, let himself drop, where, be did not know, for it was very dark. He struck some thing hard the roof of the factory and then rolled down until stopped by a curv ing gutter. He looked with a shudder down into tbe street, which, though not far below, was of a sufficient distance to have killed him had he fallen. (To be eontinoed.i Not Completely Filled. "Isn't this awful?" asked the common-looking man on tbe crowded street car. "Ian't tbl awful? Why. there are already 105 people oa this car." "It is awful," agreed the person ad dressed, who waa a street railway mag nate. "It is awful! There ought to be at least twenty more In here. I'll take that conductor's number and have blm on the carpet to-morrow." Baltimore American. In tbe Far West. "What do yon do with a man that steal a horse out here?" asked tbe tourist oa the coach. "String him up," blurted Amber Pete, la forcible tones. "And a man that Meals aa auto mo bile r "Give him a purse for ridding tba ooantry of a nuisance." AS TO PUBLIC SPEAKING Few Great Speetbc Come Without Previous Stud. Some wonder has been expressed at the practice David B. H1U has late ly adopted of reading his speeches to his audience, though it is said thai he reads with such a show of off baud speaking that those lu the crowd who can hear him but cannot see him Jo uot discover auy differeuee. Mr. Hill is a practiced public speaker, aud ran unquestionably do his subject jus tice without the use of manuscript. If necessity arises he Is eiulueutly satis factory as at; extemporaneous speak ?r. These be formative times, bow over, -and- he !--probably auinjus io ieep his record straight, aud to b ible to produce the proof against mis representations. Some kinds of speeches are uot much hurt in effect by being read by the ipeaker. OLhers depend altogether on the style of delivery. Seuator Bever idge, of Indiana, would not be a suc cess as; a speech reader. Deliveries that depend more on flights of phrase jlogy aud graceful emphasis than deep leliberatloti must be unburdened 1J manuscript. Heading Speevheg is Kitting to be quite the fashiou. Guv. Nash read his speech as temporary chairman of the Republican State convention from ypewrltteii pages, and Gen. Grosvenor, the permanent chairman, also read his speech. Ex-Senator Hill Is a busy mail, and probably had not the time to commit his speech to memory. Ex-President Cleveland has plenty of time, and prob- ibly had his Tildeii Club remarks "pat." Of one thing the admiring public may ret assured: Very few, if any, )t the great speeches come spolita eonsly from the speaker without pre vious reflection and preparation, uot iiily as to the sentiment and general ine of thought, but as to the language employed. Even Ingersoll's great jpeech placing Rlalue In nomination Kir President in this city in INTO, whlcn seemed an Immediate brilliant Inspira tion rather than a study, was rehears ed in bed to the sneaker's anxious brother before the convention met The brother went to Robert's room early lu the morning to ..pur him to preparation. "How will thl.s do?" ask ed Robert, as lie raised himself from the pillows, Theu that great speech was delivered for the first time, and to mly oue man. Cincinnati Enquirer. Lady or Tiger. An unsolved mystery is that connect ed with the late Frank H. Stockton's story of "The I.ady or the Tiger." At the end of the tale the hero is left in the arena, about to open one of two doors; behind the first la a tiger, and behind the second a girl who loves the hero. Another girl, who also loves him, aud who knows the secret of the doors, signals him which one to open. At this point the story ends, and Mr. Stockton never confided to any oue bis opinion at the hero's fate. "I'm sure I should like to tell you," he said to an interviewer, "but I can't, because I really don't know myself." The story set everytiody guessing, nd one day, at a reception, when it was a topic of debate, Mr. Stockton told Rudyard Kipling that be thought if going to India. "I'm glad of It," said Kipling, euthu- liastlcally. "and I'll tell you what we'll lo with you! We'll lure you into tbe Jungle, aud have you seized and bound. We'll have you turned on your back, md get one of our biggest elephants to stand over you with bis foot poised ibove your head. Then I'll say. In my jst insinuating tons 'Coins nnr Stockton, which waa It, the iudy or lb tiger T" At oue time Mr. Stockton was the tuest of honor at a dinner given in Washington by a member of President Harrison's cabinet. When tbe dessert was served it proved to be two large plates of ice cream, one an orange ice a tbe mold of a tiger, tbe other of va nilla, in tbe form of a woman. Tbe plates were set lu front of tbe hostess, ind she turned to ber guest with a pre maturely triumphant air. "Which kind do you prefer, , Mr. itockton?" she asked. "A little of both, of you please!" A Tailor's Cunning. "You've nisde a mistake In my bill," aid a young man, excitedly yesterday to tbe proprietor of a prominent tailor ing bouse. 'That can't be," asserted the tailor. mildly. 2V. "Oh, but It's so," exclaimed the youth in a flurry. "Look here! Ten iollars too much charged on this bill." The proprietor compared tbe bill with his books. 'You're right, Mr. Blank," be admit ted. "I'll take $10 off, and bew much lid you say you wanted to pay on ac count?" Tbe young man grew red, coughed, ind finally produced a five-dollar note. "That works every time," confided tbe tailor to an interested bystander, ifterthecustoiner had departed. "Notn- Ing brings n man here In such a hurry is to overcharge him on bis bill. When a customer gets a little back ward and dodges tbe place, I send him i bill overcharging blm. He come n a rush to have tbe mistake correct Mi and a little diplomacy does tbe rest lest of all, It doesn't hurt bis feelings, is would a visit from a collector." Bed Rock of tbe Karth. Granite Is tbe lowest rock In the mrtb's crust. It Is tbe bed rock of the (vorld and shows no evidence of animal tt vegetable life. It Is tbe parent rock. from which all the rocks have bees ther directly or Indirectly derived. Increase of Election District, fj Tba number of election district tola rear w increased from 1,687 to LMS. DIED FOR ANOTHER. UNPARALLELED SELF-SACRIFICE OF THREE SONS. They Voluntarily Submitted to Be Devoured bjr a Pack of Hungry Wolve in Order to Have Their Old Father from a Similar Kate. Wbau Scaevola, in tbe days of ancient Home, to show bis coutempt for a ty rant's power, thrust bis right band into a fire and held it there until it was consumed, be gave an example, of sub lime courage and daring which poets and orators have sluce Immortalized. But tbe story Is only a legend. Infinitely greater than the legendary deed of Scaevola, because of the sacri fice, was the action of three young men lu Russia, according to a story which has come from the fur northern govern ment of Archangel, along the borders of the White sea, who voluntarily faced death in its most awful form aud knowingly embraced it that tbey might by the sacrifice ofnbeuiselves save tbe father whom they each loved and rev erenced. The names of these heroic young men are not revealed, but their devotion Is worthy a place at tbe bead of tbe highest deeds of self-sacrifice. The young men aud their father set out to make a Journey by sleigh from Archangel to a village 150 miles dis tant ulong tbe shores of the White sea. Tbey bad taken a supply of ammuni tion so as to be provided against an at tack by wolves, with which the region is overrun. Unfortunately a storm so dampened tbe powder that It was use less, and before their stock could be renewed tbe dreadful wolves to the number of 200 appeared. Knowing that if they remained together tbey would all perish, the sons determined upon a aesperate scheme through which it was hoped one or more of tbe party might escape. Tbe scheme was for one of them to leave tbe conveyance and give fight to the wolves, thereby delaying the latter in their pursuit of the sleigh. Wben be fell, as undoubtedly be would, tbe wolves would stop to devour blm and probably to fight among them selves, for injured wolves, especially wben stained with blood, are frequent ly eaten by their stronger comrades. The delay would give tbe occupants of tbe sleigh a possible chance of escape. But if tbe wolves again grew hot in tbe trail another of tbe brothers was to make a sacrifice of himself, and so on until tbe father remained. To determine who would be the first victim the sons drew lota and tbe choice fell upon the youngest Grasp ing bis knife aud with an affectionate adieu to bis father and brothers, he waited until tbe leaders of tbe wolves were at tbe back of tbe sleigh and be could almost feel their hot breath as tbeir red, hungry tongues shot out in rage and tbelr baleful eye shone in savage ferocity. Aud then with a com mitting prayer to Heaven be Jumped to tbe ground, sbeathlng bis knife in the first brute that reached blm. Again and again tbe bloody knife was raised aud as often found a fleshy scabbard until overpowered by numbers be was dragged to tbe ground and torn to piece. For tbe occupants of tbe sleigh, which was speeding along as fast as tbe pow erful horses could draw It, it seemed but a few minutes before the cries of the wolves again tilled their ears, and soon tbe leaders of the now thoroughly maddened pack were up to tbe sleigh. Lots were hastily drawn and the second sou, knife in band, jumped out and faced tbe Infuriated beasts. He did not die unavenged. For a lit tle later, as tbe pack again took tbe trail and came In sight there was not over half a hundred of tham. As tbe leaders again came up to tbe slelgb tbe remaining son, after implor ing bis father to drive to the utmost, and If necessary to turn two of tbe horse back toward tbe pack and ride tbe otber to some possible place of safety, jumped out of tbe conveyance and faced the animals with bis knife. Only Imagination can picture that scene, for the third son perished aa the otber two. But the father was not again pursued by tbe wolves. Tbe de lay saved bis life, and he reached a settlement In safety, to tell tbe horri ble story of bin escape and of the sub lime deaths of his heroic children. WEE08 THAT POISON MEN. Animal Can Kat Them Wltfcaat ta Hllahtcat Injurious Effect Ont of weed study Is certain to come remarkable Information, for tba poison ous plants are tbe most strangely con stituted ind given to astounding varia tions. For Instance, the ooromon poke berry presents a spectacle of contradlc 1$ tory Qualities. Birds eat the berries, which to men are poisonous. Cattle may eut the leaves when green and fresh, but if perchance tbey should eat a wilted leaf It would poison them. Tbe roots are deadly poison, yet tbe shoots which grow up six Inches high in the spring are an excellent food for man tbe rival of asparagus and equally healthful. Science has at last paused to Inquire why this should be so, and some day tbe chemical action which can make a deadly poison by wilting a leaf when the fresh one Is harmless will be discovered. Similarly It bos been observed of American false hellebore or Itch weed that the seeds are poisonous to chick ens, and that tbe leaves and roots are poisonous to men and horses, but that sheep and elk, which chew the cud, seem to relish tbe plant. In all the poi son, when in tbe system, acts alike, paralysing the heart and spinal cord. The poisonous element of corncockle bus not yet been explained, but its curi ous action has already been observed. When extracted it mixes freely with water, froths like soup and, though odorless, will when inhaled produce violent sneezing. Caper spurge, tbe common gopher plant or spring wort. Is curious In that the mere handling of it will poison to the extent of producing pimples and often gangrene. It Is a thing that cattle can eat without barm, and goats eat freely, but the milk of tbe latter will then be deadly pulsion. In men a moderate dose will produce UNPARALLELED SELF-SACRIFICE. general collapse and death in a few hours. Tbe poision of the sneeze weed develops mostly In the showy yellow flowers and Is violent Tbe young plants are comparatively harmless and even In the mature ones the poison varies greatly some having scarcely any at all. In tbe case of this plant and tbe woolly and stemless loco weed some ef fort has been made to find out where they get tbelr deadly poisons. That of the loco weed Is a most subtle thing. The poison of tbe woolly loco produces strange hallucinations In Its victims. It affects tbe eyesight and silently reaches one after another of the vital functions, killing tbe victim in two years time. Some animals after eating it refuse every other kind of food and seek only this. Tbey endure a lingering period of emaciation, characterized by sunken eyeballs, lusterless hair and feeble movements, and eventually die of star vation. So mystic an element gather ed from tbe earth and the air naturally causes wonder and the desire to know what such things may be and wby tbey are, Ainulee'a Magazine. Bashful Elijah. There Isabel we Noah well Woo'd by a bashful feller, For Theodora of this belle Adored but dared not Ella. At last one Eve upon tbe porch In Ernest tones he pleaded, He'd give up Paul to win her heart Her love was Saul he needed. "I wish that Ida heart to give," Unto herself she Seth "If I'hebe Levi am a flirt His 81 will close in death." He'd Caesar Randal little while As Titus be was Abel Front his big Guy a tender Luke Beamed Dora tresses sable. No sooner Adelaide his arm About her waist so clever. Than up she Rose Andrew sway She wouldn't have it never! In vain did he for Mercy Sue This foolish swsin Elijah. "Oh, Hugo 'Ira hall," she jeeted. "I never could Abljah!" He ne'er came Mary time again And never after seen 'er And he's grown Grace since that sad day While she's grown Evelina. Eugene Field. Work Without Reasoning. The death of Archbishop Corrtgan Is bringing forth many stories of his kind ness, his charity and bis broad view of living. Tbe following Is a story told Illustrative of tbe latter point, says the New York Times: Last winter be delivered a series of addresses oa soclsllsm, setting forth uot only bis views on that subject but also bis Ideas of the art of living. One Sunday morning after one of these ad drasaes be was approached by one of his auditors, who asked to speak with blm a moment Tba archbishop stopped to listen. "It asems to me," began the person, "that yon take quite a cheerful out look upon Ufa. The misery and mis fortuoe of tbl world don't trouble you. Hiding yourself In religion, you don't sea tba masses of worklngmen who, tired of waiting for tba bappiaess oi the world to come, knock at your door and ask for a little in this oue." "Ah, yea, my friend, I do," sighed the archbishop. "I have felt and seen all that, but after all I find that the only way for the most of us to render life supportable la to work without reasoning." DRAGQINQ FOR FLOUNDERS. Bow the Met Is Constructed sad Handled. The scheme of our fishermen waa ta scrape the bottom at a slow pace. Tbe net was a good sixty feet In length, a sort of twine fence that rose to a height of thirty feet or so at tbe middle part and tapered ta six or seven feet at the ends, which were each bound with a stout piece of wood and bridled on to the drag line that led to the sloops. On these drag lines were short wood een slats, of about tbe stoutness of fence palings, placed from six to eight feet apart Twisting and twirling and ever moving forward, the slats were calculated to create a panic among any flounders that might be outlying aud scare them toward the center of the line of advance. The flounder la a slow swimmer, and It Is a sedately moving arrangenuvit. Indeed, that docs not overtake blm. He is not only a slow fish, but also oue of placid ways, and when overtaken by the advancing Hue of netting. It is bis habit to seek a quiet spot. The quick est spots that be can flud In a burrled search are the inviting pockets that open out left aud right on tbe net These pockets were sufficiently wide and hospitable to enwrap a wine cask at the entrance, but at the tuner end, so rapidly do tney taper, it would take no Infantile arm to wedge lu a work lugman's dinner pall. Tbe crew of a flounder sloop are two lu number; sometimes it is two grown men, sometimes a man and a well grown boy. In this case, Charlie, tbe Minna's skipper, waa a fair-headed fel low of 20 or 28, compact muscular and active. Tbe boy, August, 10 years of age. was a short and stock boy, rather slow to grasp an Idea, but a safe exec utive once he understood what It was that his captain ordered. During this dragging operation, says James B. Connolly, In Seribner's, with the vessel sailing always across and sometimes almost Into the wind, the crews take th'ngs comfortably. Every thing was workiug nicely by 8 o'clock, and then our two skippers bad an easy time of it to watch each other and sell tbeir parallel courses; and, with drag ging lines taut and with the net In the right place, with everything working properiy, it became tbe boy's business to boll tbe coffee for breakfast. Thorough Paced Economy. A young man living on Walnut Hills Is a close worker In money matters, that hi, be stays close to tbe shore with his expenditures. He had the good luck to marry a girl whose parents are quite wealthy, and Is at present living with hi wife In one of bis father-in-law's bouses. One day not long since, while discus sing affairs with a friend, tbe latter asked: "Did the old gentleman give yoa that bouse?" "Wetl-er-no, not exactly," waa tba an swer. "He offered It to ma, but I wouldn't accept It' "How's thatr asked the friend. "Well," answered the man who had made tbe lucky matrimonial venture. "You see, tbe bouse really belongs to me. I'm living In It, rent free, and I'U get It wben tbe old man dies. If I ac cept It now I'd have to pay the taxes." Cincinnati Enquirer. Me Followed IMfwction. Murphy being sick aud alone In bis cabin, Hogan volunteered to take care of him. The patient had been getting very little sleep, so tbe doctor left some powders and told Hogan to give Mur phy one about bed time. About 7 o'clock lb the evening Ho gan went out for a few mlnutea and wben be returned Murphy was fast asleep. He slept soundly until 10 o'clock, when Hogan went to tbe bed side, shook tbe steeping man vigor ously and sbouted: "Wa-ake up here, Moorphy, till OI give yei these powdhers f mn-ake ya leep!"-Colorado Springe Gazette. Too Cautious. "I have tbe greatest confidence la Dr. Slocum as a physician," said one of tb doctor's patients. "He never glvea aa opinion till be bas watted and weighed a case and looked st It from every side," "Um-tu!" ssld I lie skeptical friend. "That's all right if yon don't carry It too far. Ther bava bean times, yoa know, wben he's been so cautious that bis diagnosis baa come near getting mlrad us with tba ooat-morttsa,"