MY FBJENI) THE “CAP" HAVE been per suaded to take a much needed rest this summer, to permit me to recu perate after a win ter and spring of unusual activity and success. Con sequently I have temporarily with drawn from society; and thereby hangs a tale, in which my friend, Captain Rosenbaum, figures to some extent. Pleasure is to me the chief object of existence; therefore, I have ever striv en to enjoy myself, and be present where hilarity reigned—to have " a good time” at every possible oppor tunity. You cannot wonder, then, that 1 felt It was my duty to move In good so ciety. Yet I have been at some pains so to arrange my affairs and social re lations as to be able to uttend most of tho better class of private entertain ments given In Chicago during the past, two or three winters. It not only gave me no small enjoyment, but it also as sisted me materially In my business. Ic was a matter of considerable diffi culty to secure an Invitation to the Lawrence reception, but I managed It —no matter how and It was at this reception that I made the acquaintance of Captain Rosenbaum. I had strolled into Doctor Lawrence's library, In a wing at the rear of tho mansion, on Michigan avenue, to get out of the hot and crowded parlors, and, In the dim light, was leaning against the window-casing. Idly tap _ ... . l. .... u.ltk mar it fa a'hpfl ~ yntgtf vii suv fi*-rl 1 noticed at the top of the window* sash a hit of metal gleaming In the serai-darkness. I touched It, and found that It was part of a burglar alarm, moving when the window was opened upon another bit of metal, and by con tact completing an electric circuit of some sort. I am something of an electrician, and my interest and curiosity were at once aroused. A brilliant Idea suddenly flashed In my brain. I unscrewed the upper bit of metal with my knife, t.nd, after twisting off the wire which led from It Into the woodwork, was ex amining it when I heard a light step at the door. Olanclng around, I found standing by the table a tall, dark-skinned man In an evening dress, with black mustache and Imperial, and long rather curly black hair—in all suggesting at once the popular Idea of his satanic majesty. By one of those impulses which over come us at times, I slipped the bit of metal into my pocket and turned to ward the stranger, whom from his dress and manner I assumed to be one of the guests at the reception. “I hope I don't Intrude," he said, politely. "Oh, no," I hastened to reply; “I am glad some one else can enjoy the cool ness here.” "I think I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance,” the stranger said, smiling; "as guests of this bouse, I ' A*., I TURNED QUICKLY, trust we neerl no formal introduction —my name is Captain Rosenbaum.” ‘‘And I am William Vance; very much at your service, sir," I returned, decidedly pleased with ray new friend's voice and manner. “I am Indeed glad to make your acquaintance, Captain Rosenbaum." I found the captain n very agreeable fallnnr' a iront n n ri>finbmont and culture, jMillshed and well InformoJ, a ready conversationalist, though de cidedly reserved as to hlmaclf, tad a smoker of excellent cigars. We dls w.vu'd trnoks, yachting, horses, the presidential nominations, the tariff, etc., and the captain ahone aa a man of wide reading and depth of thought along many Hoes. I could learn nothing, however, of his own occupation he waa especially reticent on that point. The captain cas ualty let slip that he had been In New York until recently; his husluesa had taken him there on two hours' warn ing; and had brought hint back aa sud denly; he could not tell how aoou his present business would be disposed of, or where he would go next "I am an uncertain fellow he said, laughing, "and never hnow my plana Iwe weeks In advance. Indeed, my plana are largely made for me. and I go and come usually at the bidding of ether*.'* White we ware talking Doctor Law reave entered, and I did nut tee the capiadn again that evening, for, while I presently returned to the parlor, the captain remain* ! chatting with hla boat. gl waa decidedly III at twee, for t a l taat pl*oe ml burglar alarm tn my posh el. and could And no opportunity tn put ft hatch I wan fully anaro that my hasty aetlnn might bn mtsennatrued by one nhn did not ba»« gw, and I waa aaatnua lent the captain had wssn ate tahe It down, th«u«h aat tn tha aaont romuts way had etthar d we referred In the aubpmt It waa w hnatwene nf bin. though. In hay warn, and I deemed myeetf In go way hound tn consult hint about go ■trivial an affair. Besides, I was In- ' dined to think he had not seen ms take the piece of metal. It subsequent- j ly appeared, however, that he did see me take It, and bis actions were strong- j ly influenced by the Ideas this trifling * Incident suggested to him. As It happened, I found no oppor tunity to approach the window again, and I went home with the bit of metal still in my pocket. That night an attempt was made to rob Doctor Lawrence’s house, the burg lars entering by the very window from which I had removed the burglar alarm. They did not succeed In secur ing any plunder, being frightened away before any valuables were found. Now this attempted burglary was similar to several others which had j taken place at some of the finest reel- | dences In the city. In each case follow- | lng only a day or two after a reception ! or a ball similar to that at Doctor Law- 1 rence's house. As It happened, In every similar Instance but one, I had been a guest at the entertainment, and 1 had almost begun to fear lest the peor^.* who had Invited me should rc garlrl<1liig Lin*. "There is a reason for most every thing,” said a Cumberland man, when he was asked how in the world they came to have such a crooked line be tween two towns in his county. "There's a reason for this crooked line. You see, some of our towns established in pioneer times, when land was abund ant and people were few, bad a big ter ritory, which was afterward sliced off to make new towns. It was so In tho case you mention and when the cut off was made people along the line of division were of different minds as to which town they wanted to be in. 80 the legislature drew a straight line be tween the two parts and then provldod that persons dwelling on lands adjoin ing either side of this line might be In one town or the other as they should decide within ninety days after pass ing the act. Borne went one way and some the other and the line was all skewed up to accommodate them."— Lewiston (Me.) Journal. Ha Knew Har. Mrs. McBanger—My husband did not like that tea you sent us last. Grocer; (politely)—Did you like It, marm? Mrs. M< banger— Yes, I liked it. Grocer (to clerk)—James, send Mrs. McBangeif another pound of the same tea she had last. Anything else, marm?— Chips. Cheap. KUicott Squeer—1 notice that the now restaurant managers are going to put in Boston girls as "lady waiters." Ellmore—Yes; they believe it will save *1_ . U . SV# I/.A «.wl /.Lu.iaL, .. power. Unpleasant. A coroner's Jury lu Maine reported that "Deceased came to bis death by excessive drinking, producing apo plexy in the minds of the Jury."—-Buf falo News. BITS OF KNOWLEDGE. Coal Is dearer in South Africa thau in any other part of the world. It la cheupeat In China. About 600,000 trees are annually planted by Swedish school children, under the guidance of their teachers. lu the public schools of Germany the bright pupils are separated from the stupid ones. Medical men do the sort lug. Alt umbrella covered with a trans parent material baa beeu Invented In tiugland, enabling the holder to see wbeie he la going when he holds It before hie face. lu the manufacture of halves tht division of labor bas been carried to such nn eateot that one knife is ban died by seventy different artisans from ibr Moment the blade IS (urged until the instrument Is gnlshed and ready for ths At t* In about tweoty-twe seconds n drug of blood goes the round of the body lu about every two minute* the entire btm*d in (he body mahe* th round ihi >! Slid bent. It Will Imisk su s fold quisle, •r tbsu any thing else. It I* always reliable. Try It. People cheerfully pay 26 rent* for » 6-cent cake of soap, if it is well advertised. If the Ilalty Is Cutting Teem. S« aura and sm tbst uld and well.triad remedy, Mug. Wissistw's gooTUUd Stsvr fur C'hUdran loathing - There are now over 600 horseless car riages In use In Paris. -a/.—.y w—. a- . > ./ The I atllra. 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You waste time and [ [/ money when yon take anything | | i to purify the blood except ) Ayer’s Sarsaparilla. | B Bridges You Over.", • I tfle% •LUC f Ax” bridges a man oyer 1 jht place when his pocket- §| ean. A 5-cent piece of || will last about as long as ff ece of other good tobaccos. 8 ig of getting double value for a r is a great help. Try it and . 8 □ 19 Years' I Accumulated Science and Skill I Th* inim th. put Umw' R Huifaii CtM, vWn the Immm S; OJfSh hiey«in am m*eb, am budding *uch autchW auchtaM* Hxtey K k, hMAUM iu> If ye am they tuve pfdtMd by iverytifewny tad fc*v« » unwl m Dm* Mv—gAtooM hi the hwto KinUttc ipM. J* J* J* H «■ wa I 1 — Mfiig—I aImm* 1—qtmdAmuturn —umh4>—w—■ STANDARD OF THE WQRLg I •jxs r^r^,raxi^r‘.,£3tria.c»{‘.-‘.-Tjr=r2 I POPE MFO. CO.. Hutiord, Conn. § •*M*- —1 *—y.Tu^at V*r' t^nT^PAi “ v **• “* **“*"“*1' | £;