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About Harrison press-journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1902)
J--- 4 . SISTER'S VENGEANCE By CEORCE MANVILLE FENN CHAPTER XII. (Continued.) Humphrey could not hear all tiiat a aid, but a word fell upon his ear from time to time, and as he pieced these Words together it seemed a if the speak tr were declaiming against tyranny and oppression, aotr-camag -cjHaln-Bif"rj to help him to put an end to the state of, affairs existing, Then came an excited outburst, as the speaker must have turned hi face to- ward the door, for these words came plainly: "The end of it will be that they'll eS' cape, and bring a man-of-war down up on us, and all through his fooling." A murmur arose. "He's gone mad, I tell you all; aud if you like to choose a captain for your selves, choose oue, aud I'll follow him like a man; but it's time something was done if we want to live." Another burst of murmurs rose here. "He's mad, I tell you, or he wouldn't keep him like that. So whats it to be, my lads, a new captaia or the yard arm?" CHAPTER XIII. Tile time glided on, and Humphrey al ways knew when his captor was at sea, for the severity of his imprisonment was then most felt. The lieutenant, Mazzard, was always left in charge of the place but Bart remained behind by the ca- tain'a orders, and at these times Hum phrey was sternly ordered to keep to his prison. Dinny came and went, but, try him bow lie would, Humphrey could get nothing from him for days and days. The tide turned at last. "Well, sor," said Diuny oue morning, "I're been thinking it over a great dale. I don't like desarting the captaia, who has been like a brother to me; but there's Miathresa Greeuheyg, and love's a won derful excuse for a many things." More days passed, and every stroll out side his prison bad to be taken by Hum phrey with Bart as close to liira as his shadow. Dinny kept away again, and the plan to escape might as well have never been ottered. Bart always went well armed with his prisoner, and seemed unusually suspi cious; as if fearing an attempt at escape. Dinny's little widow came no more, and the hours grew so irksome with the con finement consequent upon the captain's absence that Bart longed for his return. ' One morning Bart's manner showed that something had occurred. His sour face wore a smile, and he was evidently greatly relieved of his responsibility as he said to the prisoner: ' "There, you can go out." "Has the captain returned?" Bart delivered himself of a short nod. "Tell him I wish to see him. Hid him come here." "What! the skipper? Ton mean, ask hiss if I may take yos to him, aad he'll see you." "I said. Tell your skipper ts came here!" said Humphrey, drawing himself Bp as if he were oa the quarterdeck. "Tell him I wish to see him st oace." Bart drew a long breath. Then, nail ing grimly, he slowly left the place. The buccaneer, who looked anxious and dispirited, was listening to some com plaint made by his lieutenant, and angry words were passing which made Bart as he heard them hasten his steps, t.nd look sharply from one to the other as he entered. Black Mazzard scowled, his face being' villainous without -. "Well," he said alond, "I've warned your' and he strode out of the old cham ber which formed the captain's quarters. "You two been quarreling 7" said Bart, sharply. "The dog's insolence is worse than ever!" cried the captain, with flashing eyes. "Bart, I don't waat to shed the blood of the man who has been my offi cer, but " "Let someone else bleed him," growled Bait Dick would: Dinny would give anything to do it. We're 'bout tired of him. I should like the job myself." "Silence!" said the captaia, sternly. "Nn, speak; tell me, what has been going oa since I've been away?" "Black Mazzard V The captain nodded. "Half the time he's speat la the south ruins preaching to the men." "Preaching? "Yes, with you for a text. Just ia his oid way; but I've beea too buy with the prisoner. He wants yon!" The buccaneer sprang ts his feet. "He wants me he has seat far ae?" - he Fried, eagerly. "You'll gor "Yes. Perhaps be has sanethlag ts sar answer to aa offer I aide." "A a offer r "Yes, Bart, to joia aa, aad be one of my lieutenants." "Join as, and be your Henteaaat T cried Bart. "Yes, my friend. I like hist far the sake of his old generous ways, tad I like aim (or bis present aaliaeas." "You like him?" "Yes. It is not impossible, la it, that I should like to have a Mead?" "Friend?" "Yesf aald the captaia, steraiy; "sa other friend! Don't stare, nan, and think of the past, Mary Dell died, aad Abel Dell still lives Commodore Jsak, seek ing to Uke vengeance nnoa these who eat that young life short" "Look here." said Bart, whs gaaped as he listened to bis companion's wild ut terances; "are yon going saadf "No, Bart; I sm as saae at you." "But. you said " "What I choose ta ssy, aaan. Let sm believe aU that If t Hke. Do yea sap pas I do not want same shield sgainst the etlaga ( 017 awa thoughts? I canst ta Ulna all that and It shall be aa. Yea ball tarn It too. I ass Osdsro Jaak. aad K I wish this ssaa U be say friend, . aad ha araseats. It aha be tar rMaarc7 was begiaalag ta feel the K-J of returning strength la Ma veina, t l It ferpagbt with It his aid Indeaea- , : aC aatrit aad the asewwrr that he -1 Ibva trateai to rata. U Kttle eai r 1 at Ich Bart Iftat auraiag aa iwOant 1 a 3 and iwarared Has fcr fcte , .aicji r lartrr it A smile played about his lip as a tep drew nearer. The buccaneer entered the cliamber. He Htood gaziu down at the handsome, manly figure of his prisoner. '1'heu a frown puckered his brow, aud he !aid, quietly: "Asleep -,' "So," said Humphrey; "n fellow. I was only ihinkinz.' my good The buccaneer frowned a little more heavily a he listened to hi prisoner' jeool, careless words, aud felt the coutcuip- 1 nous tone in which be as addressed, "You e,ut for me," he said, harshly, and Lis voice' sounded coarse and rough. "Well," said Humphrey, with hisul -nt contempt, "how many ships have you plundered how many throats have you cut this voyage?" The buccaneer's eyes seemed to flash as be took a step forward, and made an angry gesture. Hut he cheeked himself 011 the instant, and. with a faint smile, replied : "Captain Armstrong is disposed to be merry. Why have you sent for me?" "Merry!" said Humphrey, still ignor ing the question; "one need be, shut up iu thin tomb. Well, you are back again?" "Yes, 1 am back again," said the buc caneer, smoothing bis brow, and declin ing to be angry with his prisoner for his insulting way. "It is tint the pecking of a prisoned bird," be said to himself. . "And not been caught and baneed yet? I was in hope that I had seen the la-rt of you." "1 hare heard tell before of prisoners reriling their captors," said the bucca neer, quietly. "Kerile! Well, is it not your portion?" "For treating you with the considera tion due to a gentleman?" said the buc caneer, whose features grew more cairn and win se eyes brightened as if from satisfaction at finding the prisoner so cool and daring, and in how little account he was- beid. "I have given orders that the prisoner should be treated well. Is there anything more I can do?" The harsh, grating voice had grown soft, deep, rich and mellow, while the dark, flashing eyes seemed to have be come dreamy as they rested upon the prisoner's handsome, defiant face. "Yes," said Humphrey, bitterly; "give me my liberty." The b.tccaneer nhook his head. "Curse you! No; you profess to serve me--to treat me well and you keep me here barred up like some wild beast whom you have caged." "Barred caged!" said the buccaneer, raising his eyebrows. "You have free dom to wander where you will." "Bah! freedom!" cried Humphrey springing up. "Curse you! why dou't 1 strangle you where you stand?" At that moment there was a rustliug among the leaves outside the window, and Humphrey burst into a mocking laugh. "How braver he cried. "The oucca neer captain comes to see hi unarmed P'.isocei, and his guards watt ou'sidc the doorway, while another party stop by the window, ready to spring in." The luccaneer's face turned of a deep. dull red the glow of annoyance, as he stride to the window and exclaimed fiercely: 'Why are you here? Go!" -I;r 'Go, Bart," said the buccaneer, more qu'eily. "Captain Armstrong wili not injure me." There was a heavy rustling sound among the leaves and the buccati"er made as if to go to the great enrtnir.; but he checked himself, turned, inl said, smilirg sadly: "Captain Armstrong will believe me when 1 tell him that there in no jne out there. Come, sir. yon have sent for me You have thought well upon iV I said. All this has been so much angry petu lance, and you are ready to take me by the hate" to become my friend. No, an; hear me You do not think of wnt ymr Uf.; here may be." "That of a pirate a murderer!" cried Humphrey, scornfully. "No," said the buccaneer, flushing once more. "I am rich. All that can be some thing of the past. This land is mine, and here we can raise up a new nation, for my followers are devoted to tue. Come! are we to be friends?" "Friends!" cried Humphrey, scornful ly "a new nation your people devoted why, man, I sent for you to warn you!" "You to warn me?' "Yes. One of your followers is plot ting against you. He has been address ing your men; and if you don't take care you will be elevated over your people in a way more lofty than pleasant to the king of a new nation." "I understand your sneers, sir," said the buccaneer, quietly; and there was more sadness than anger in his tone. "They are unworthy of the brave man who has warned me of a coming danger, and they are from your lips, sir, not from the heart of the grave adversary I have vowed to make my friend." Humphrey winced, for the calm, re proachful tone ronsed him, and be stood there frowning as the buccaneer went aa. "As to the plotting against me, I am al ways prepared for that A man in uiy position makes many enemies. Bvea you have yours. "Yes yon," cried Humphrey. "No; I sm friend. There, I thank yea far your warning. It is a proof, though yea do not know It, thst the gsp between as grows leas. Some day, Captain Arm strong, you will take my band. We shall be friends." Humphrey remained silent as the buc caneer left the chsmber, and, oace more alone, the prisoner asked himself If this wss true that he had really bidden, fare well .to civilization forever, and this was to be his home, this strsnge compound of savage fierceness and gentle friendliness bla companion ta the end? CHAPTEH Xir. Humphrey Armstrong walked oa blind' ly farther aad further Into the forest, for he was moved more deeply tbaa ever he had been staved before. The presence af this asaa waa baleful to hiss, aad yet he aaeaui la psssiss aa lalaeace rhat waa tiaacaMn: aad his soft, deep toaea a Ma aan aww ne waa away. Niaai tttvaawr ha ariai, "what aa end to an officer's career the lieutenaut of a w reached pirate king! New nation! Bah! what madness!" He sat down with bis head resting up on his band, gazing back along the nar row path, when, to his horror, just com ing into view, he saw the figure of the buccaneer appoaehing, with head bent and arms crossed over his chest, evident ly deep in thought. Humphrey started up and backed away round a curve before turning, aud walkud swiftly along the path, locking eagerly lor a track by which be could avoid an other eu'-uiiuter, when for the first time he became aware of the fact that he was i lithe way leading to an old temple whic h had be u formed into a uiaiKoletim, and, unless be should be able to find another path, bound for the ancient structure. "Jle riuj73hii the" "door way a"iiltO'ifcetJ balk. All was silent and dim as be stooped and entered, stepping cautiously on, nnd tln-n, as so"n as well sheltered, turning to gaze back. Just then the buccaneer cam? into sight aud walked slowly to ward the old temple. There was no time for further hesitation. He must either boldly n;'! the buccaneer or hide, lie chose the latter course, stepping cautiously into one of the recesses behind a Kitting figure, where be could stand in complete darkness aud wait till the buc caneer bad gone. The latter entered the next moment, and Humphrey felt half mad with him self at his spy-like conduct, for as he saw dimly the figure enter, be heard n low, piteous moan, and saw bim throw himself upon his knees beside a draped cull'm, his hands clasped, and bis frame bending with emotion, as in a broken voice be prayed aloud. His words were incoherent, and but few of the utterances reached the listen ing man's ears, as he bit his lips with an ger, and then listened with wonder at what seemed a strange revelation of char acter. Oh, give me strength!" be murmured. 'I swore revenge on all for the wrongs for the death loved strength to fight down this weakness to be self for strength for strength to live revenge death." The last word of these agonized utter ances was still quivering upon the air as If it had been torn from the speaker's breast, when the dimly seen doorway was suddenly darkened and there was a quick movement. Humphrey Armstrong's position was one which enabled him, faint a was the light, to see everything the draped cof fin, the kneeling figure bent over it, and a great crouctung form stealing sottly behind, as if gathering for a spring. There was the dull gleam of steel up lifted by the figure bending over the buc caneer. Assassination, without doubt. The moment of peril had come, lightly as it bad been treated, and. stirred to the beart by the treachery and horror of the deed intended. Humphrey sprang from his place of concealment, struck the buccaneer's assailant full in the chest, and they rolled over together on the tem ple fioord. Quick, lads, help!" shouted the man whom Humphrey had seized, and two compauions rushed in for a general melee to ensue at terrible disadvantage, for the assailants were armed with knives and those they assailed defenseless as to weapons. Humphrey knew this to his cost in the quick struggle which ensued. He bad writhed round as he struggled with the would-be murderer, and contrived to get uppermost, when a keen sense of pain passing throiieh one of bis arms, made him loosen his hold for a moment, rud the next he was dashed back. He sprang up, though, to seize bis as sailant, stung by the pain into a fit of sav age rage, when, as be clasjied an enemy. be found that it was not his first antago nist, but a lesser man, with whom he closed fiercely just as the fellow was Btriving to get out of the doorway-a pur pose he effected, dragging Humphrey with bim. The passage was darker than the inner temple, where hoarse panting aud the sounds of contention were Ktill going on. oaths, curses and commands uttered in a savage voice to "Give it bim nw!" Now strike, you fool! "Curse him, he's like an eel!" and the like came confus edly through the doorway, as, smarting ith pain and grinding bis teeth with rage, Humphrey struggled on in the pas sage, savagely uetermiueu to retain tuis one a prisoner, as be fought to get the mastery of the knife. How it all occurred was more than he could afterward clearly arrange in his own mind; what be could recall was that the pain weakened him, and the man with whom be struggled wrenched his left arm free, snatched the knife he held from bis right band, and would have plunged it into Humphrey's breast had not the latter struck bim a sharp blow upward in the face so vigorously that the knife fell tinkling on the ground, and the struggle was resumed upon more equal terms. It was a matter of less than, a min ute, during which Humphrey fought Wss for life than to master bis assailant and keep him a prisoner. They bad been down twice, tripping over the stone strewn pavement, and once Humphrey had been forced against the wall, but by a sudden spring be bad driven his oppo nent backward, and they were strug gling in the middle of the opening, when a wild shriek rank out from the inner temple a cry which seemed to curdle the young officer's blood and this was fol lowed by a rush of someone escaping. His retreat wss only witnessed by one, for the struggle was continued on the floor. The two adversaries, locked in a tight embrace, strove to resch their feet, and. psnting and weak, Humphrey had aearly succeeded in so doing, when his foe forced bim backward, and be fell to cling to the ragged stonework. For ss be waa driven back the flooring seemed to crumble sway beaeath bis feet; there wss s terrible Jerk, snd be found himself bssging by ais bands, his enemy clinging to bim still, snd the weight upon his muscles seeming as if it would tear them apsrt. in the hurry and excitement Humphrey eould hsrdly comprehend bis position for the moment. The aext be understood it toa aril, for the atone which had given way Ml with a hideous, echoing noise, which came from a terrible dlstsnce below. Almost In total darkness, bis bands cramped Into the interval between two Busses of broken stone waiea formed oart of tbe debris of the roof above. haagiag over a hideous gulf at tbe fall stretch of bla arms, aad wita bis saver sarrs hands tied tokwllka la garb aad areas as ha at rare ta daaraer ap him to the tear abaee. atrevt to grip Humphrey with bis knees snd climb up. some fragment uf stone rushed down, ; to frill far Ij. ... ,i;;i, spinning aud echo iug with a repetition of sounds that rob j bed biut uf sm ii strength as remuined : to bim, and a dreamy s. million came on i apace. I "It is the end," thought Humphrey, for I his fingers tf'.i us if I hey were yielding, and in another minute he knew that be must fall, when the grip noun him in creased, nnd the man who clung uttered a hoarse yell for help. "Quick!" be shrieked. "I'm letting go!" I But at that Instant sometiiinis dirk seemed to come between him n:id the gleaming wet stone away above him in the roof, and then there was quite an av.i- i lauche of sncal) stones gliding by. "(1 6 be cuhfinu! d 1 WISE AND UNWISE COACHINC. Puperiortty of the l'.nnlih Method Over the Auiericun. The EnglisbiuuD perhaps uti.ler Stauds belter tUati the American that In endeavoring to get the best post-i-ble work out of men In athletic fain hig, fare must be taken Hot to muke them nervous. The English "foruli" talks pleasantly to his men, anil In toe course of an afternoon ou the river they get a fairly gool Idea of the re quired stroke. The American, accoid lug to John Corbin. the author of "An American at Oxford," is likely to be brasque, if not violent He says: When I tried for tbe freshuuiu crew la America, I was put, with seven oth er unfortunates, into a huge clinker barge, la charge of tbe sophomore cox swain. On the first day I was told to mind tbe angle on my oar. Tbe third day the coxswain wrought himself Into a fury, and awore at me for not keeping the proper angle. When I glanced out at my blade he yelled: "Kep your eyes in tbe boat!" again with an oath. This upset me so that I forgot there after to keep a flat back at the tiuihli of the stroke. When we touched tbe float be jumped out, looked at my back, brought bis boot against It sliarji ly, and told me there was no use in trying to row unless I could hold a fiat back and swing my body between my knees. That night I sat on a dictionary with my feet against tbe foot-board, ami tried these Injunctions until my back seemed torn Into fillets; but It would not come flat I never went down to the river again, and It was two years before I summoned, courage to try au other sport. ANNUAL SLAUGHTER On American Kailroads Exceeds Num ber of Casualties in Two Wars. Ia tbe first three months of tbe year 813 persons were killed and U,Ui wounded by railroad collisions and ac cidents of all kinds. Of this total W passengers only were killed aud 820 injured; all tbe rest were railroad em ployes. This large crop of deaths and wounds was tbe fruit of 1.220 collisions and 8;iS derailments. These figures are inaUe public by tbe Interstate Commerce Commission. Tbey cover only a quar ter of a year. Multiplied by four, we get these us the probable totals for the full year: Killed, 3,202; wounded, o'J,- 8.S2. That Is to suy, a larger number of per sons are killed every year on our rail roads tbnn were killed In the war with Great Britain from 1812 to 1815 and tbe w ar with Mexico from 15-10 to 1KIS added together, and five times as many are wounded us were wounded In both those historic conflicts, Yet if these figures for 1W2 are not exceeded they will be a marked Improvement over thoe for 1'JOO, In wblcb year 7J55 per sons were killed aud 00.320 wound.! on United States railroads, which ex ceeded tbe combined totals of the Union soldiers killed and wounded In the ter rific battles of AutieUm, Gettysburg and tbe Wilderness. Surely peace bath ber sacrifices no less shocking than war. Is It not pos sible to make railroad operation less de structive of human life and limb? New x"ork World. Enthusiasm oT a Dylmr HcHentiM. The first penguin we met says I'rof. . E. Borcbcrevlnk, tbe Antarctic ex- nlorer. In Leslie's Monthly, arrived on the Hth of Octols-r, 1899. at Cape Adair. In South Victoria Land, thus long before tbe Ice bod broken up. I killed blra at the request of my zoolo gist, who was dying at the time. The man knew that bis death was ouly a question of bours, but he had looked forward to tbe arrival af the birds, and tbe news of this first arrival excited bltn. He begged us to kill and dissect the bird before him, although he him self was to follow the bird Into tbe mystery of death half an hour after wards, and he knew It He showed the utmost Interest In tbe operation, and dictated scientific notes as be watched It till within fifteen minutes of bis dis solution. Dsmbtfal. "No," aald the capitalist. "1 shall not Invent 10 yoar InTentlon. I very seri ously questloa Its practicability and its I in porta ne." 'For what reason?" "Because 00 one bas come forward wltb a claim that you stole it from him." Washington Star. Koel Soarr) in Mexico. One of tbe grestesft drawbacks Is Mexico la tbe scarcity of fuel. Hones are placed In tbe probable dlsoovsry of oil lu paying quantities. A Nataral Accompaniment. Oaths were constantly beard In aa clety In London 100 yoara ago. With tha Introduction af golf tbey ore agaia becoming fashionable. Whan two cata pall off a Orat after tari they aoratca a wlcn. The performance was over anil the proprietor of the dog and pony show requested the audience to remain a few moments while be said a few words: "Now, boys, you have all seen what u,y dogs can do. Will you be surprised iviieu I tell you thai some of J'our dog til n iio thtr-aatne-tliinir? Saw; then,--ir am coming here again In sU mouths. If any of you can, by that time, train a dj,) to stand on its bead, play dead or dance, I will give bim fifty dollars for the dog. "I took notice that you were partial larly pleased with the little dog that played tbe part of a policeman. Klgli teen months ago I bought him from a little boy. I paid seventy-five dollars for bim, but now five hundred dollars coul.l not buy him. Your dog may bo as easy to train as he was; try it. "Here are some lillie pamphlets tell ing you how to care for and traiu dogs; they are ouly five cents apiece; who'll buy?" . The boys of Belltown raised a great bout when Tom Howen stepped for vard and handed the man a nickel. Tom's dog bad the reputation of being be nearest to a good-for-nothing In :own; but Tom loved bim and believed in him when no one else did. He ac knowlelged that tbe animal was do hlrd dog, although Its mother had been a famous setter; neither was he a watch dog; aud be was mortally afraid of cats a fault which, all boys know, places a dog away down below par. Tom's brother Ned owned a magnifi cent maltcse, which answered to the musical name of iluziau. If Tip pos sessed a pet aversion, it certainly was this same Muzlau. When the table scraps were scraped out Into an old pan, be stood afar off until the mighty Muzlah ate all the choice bits and ad ,he plainer fare that be could bold. Then If there were any left he would be permitted to slink up aud car ry the remaining bits behind tbe wood pile. When Tom went home from tbe show he called Tip, and the two repair ed to tbe hayloft, where tbe dog was duly informed of what was in store for him. A rusty red tall wagged acqui escence and the training of Tip was begun. Tom made a secret bargain with bis mother, consequently tbe price of a new pair of pants was lu his pocket ueit morning. As Tom an 1 Ned start- i ed for school, Ned w as not long In dis I covering a good-sized patch ou the seat of Tom's trousers. "I suy, Tom! what's up? How came you with those old breeches on? Didn't father get ycu any new ones?" Tom shook his head, ran his band back over the patched part of bis ap parel, and said, "Ob, that's all right! I can't see It, you know." When Tom reached the playground, he was made the butt of much good-uatarei fun. However, the thought of what his purse contained and Its purpose com forted bim. Thereafter, for weeks. Tip was fed on freh meat In the hayloft, while. outside, Muzlah whined pitifully. No one knew excepting Tom and Tip what went on In that hayloft The mother had a pretty good Idea; but, you know, mothers never give you away. Tom wore patched clothes to school all winter, and was always on the look out for small Jobs, whereby he might earn a nickel, or, perchance, a dime. Tbe butcher down on the corner got all of Tom's earnings, and Tip waxel fat on the best the butcher bad. At last spring came, aud with It the dog and pony show. With beating heart Tom took Tip around to the tent specified for candidates How relieved be was when be found that tbe trial was to be made before no one but the kind faced professor himself! Tip went through tbe ordeal right braveiy, and waa lockel up wltb a porterhouse i steak, while Tom went In to witness tha afternoon performance. After It waa over tbe proprietor an nounced that be bad bought one Hell town dog from Master Thomas Bowen. who would come forward and show wbat tbe dog could do and then receive bin fifty dollars. What an excitement there was among the boys, as Tom took a seat I 00 the p'stform and began playing n lively tune on a French harp. Tbe red urtalns parted and In rushed Tip. Af r a gesture from Tom, be raise I bim elf on bla bind legs and began to dunce. That waa all; but he did It well. I How the crowd cheered as Tom pock eted tba fifty dollars. Then ba went hind the curtalna wltb Tip to bid '111 a long farewell. Tba Flora of Alaska. Aai siding to report of tba apetlal gcut ( tba Depart mant of Agricol I ti ro la rharga of AJaofca torattlftUoat, TIT IKJitSO TUK DANCK. 1 a tr'.veler may go from one end of th Yukon to tbe other lu summer without seeing snow. On tbe other baud, vege tation, large forests, and wild raspber ries, red currants, huckleberries and crauberries will be found m profusion. Iu places the grass grows as high as a man's head. There are several places along the coast, at tbe Sitka and Kenal experiment stations, and at many joints in the interior, where practically all of the cereals of the temperate zone, moKt of the vegetables, and ft consider able variety of cultivated flowers hav bueu grown v. 1th much success f.r sev eral years. Fine spring wheat hal been raised at Fitka for three yean past. At Kiimpurt, sixty-five degreel north latitude, winter rye smvti lu ih autumn came out In the spring in per fect condition, though the temperaturt fell to seventy degrees below zero in th winter; the grain matured by Aug. 1. Barley sown In Hay was ripe by th middle of August. Oats and potatoes thrive In many places. Cattle are kep at every considerable settlement, except at Nome. The Alaska Commercial Com pany has for many years kept cattle sheep, and Angora goats at Kokalk, they requiring but little food or shelter, except In an occasional storm during tbe winter. JEWS WHO WEAR PIGTAILS. Hebraic Colony In Chino Who Hav Forgotten Eico Their Hitnal. It la not generally known that teera is a colony of Jews in China Jews who wear pigtails, bear Chinese names and speak the Chinese language ex clusively and who have forgotten tha God of their fathers and neglected their ancient ritual of worship until It has been entirely lost to them. But there la such a colony, and lu people have puzzled oriental scbolara fof many years. Itecently It bas been established thai tbey entered Chlua-or, rather, their progenitors did -about the year 31'J A, I)., In tbe reign of the Emperor Miugta 1L, und roruu-d a colony about 700 miles from Shanghai, on the Uoaugho, or Yellow river. At oue time these Jews were a power in the land. Their city grew in pop ulation until Its inhabitants numbered about 5,000 Jews alone, and tbey be came so weulthy that they were abla to loan money to the tfmperor, who so esteemed them that he built for them a synagogue. Two of them, whose names have been lost In the pass.ng years, wore especially honored by tb emperor. One he made the treasurer of a great province and the other was a general in tbe Imperial army. In tbe golden days of Judaism In China they prospered, and when tbeht magnificent temple wus destroyed bj fire tbey rebuilt It In greater magulfi cencc. In a laud where there are many fine temples theirs was oue of tbe most splendid. It waa 350 feet long aud 150 feet wide. To-duy their temple ts a mass of ruins. Stone by stone, almost, It has been torn down by those whose tare It should have been to preserve It The story, even among tbe heathen. Is thai tbey forgot tbe worship of their Ood nnd He forgot them. Tbey grew poor er and poorer with the advsnc.ng yearn during which they failed to keep the Subbuth of their religion and were fin ally forced to sell all they had for food Mud cloth Dig. Stoue by stone, almost, their temple was demolished, to be sold to builders or other temples aud bouses; their sacred books were dis posed of for what money tbey would bring; tbey bad 110 place for worship, and gradually their religious rites were forgotten and even their language so neglected that It has now become a mere memory and tbey themselves a people lost among the hea.hen of the Orient. Tbey are ouly a handful now, China men In all tbut outwardly marks one of that nation, says the New York Trib une, except that every one bears tbe facial characteristics of tbe Jews. There is a trace of their old rellglos left, but so very little and so garbled and mixed wltb the religion of the Und that only experts can detect it Pciuc VAt M Mjj. Young Man Had an Ksccllent Cnann to Mujr a lloit. A handsome bachelor of Baltimore, well known in social and educational circles, acknowledges the truth of the followiug story; lis was driving with a very pretty and attractive young women, when on tbe outskirts of the city they met a lad of alout 12 years leading by a chain a singularly ugly but finely bred bull terrier. Tbe pretty girl went Into raptures over the dog, and her escort determined tbe animal shot' Id be hers. "Ssy, sonny," be called, "what will you take for your dog?" "Nawthlng," replied tbe lad. "Nonsense," crlsd Mr. Blank, "here's $3 for bim." "No, I won't This here dog ain't fat sale." "Ten," aald Mr. Blank, and then, growing desperate, "fifteen, twenty." But tbe owner still refused. All tbe time tbe conversation waa going on tbe youtb, although talking to the man In the buggy, kept his eyes fixed ou the other occupant of Ilia vehicle, aud at last be said, gravely; I "I don't want yer money, but If you'll just give that lady there a klsa you may have the dog." Mr. Blank was speechless. He stared at the boy an Instant and then put tbe whip to bla borne, starting bim of at a lun. Tbe atory goes that a mile waa gone er without a word being spoke when aa the borw's rapid gait became: lower aa It turned dowu t-ountrj lane tha pretty girl turned a?ar a. lightly and aald. shyly: "Ohl Mr Blank, why don't yon buy that daar 1-BoitliOfO laB. ' '-. A M iff Vt,