Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 1901)
15he Scovirge q/Da.ma.scus v Copyrighted 1§91 by Robert Bonner's Sons. A Story of the East„ By SYLVANUS COBB. JR. CHAPTER XIV. As he spoke the Arab Rave a loud, shrill whistle, at the same time leap ing across the spring and striking the slave in the face. But Sfcubal was not to be overcome so easily by one man. The whistle had alarmed him, and when he saw the fellow leap, he was not wholly unprepared. The blow in the face blinded him fer a moment, but as soon as his eyes served him, he caught his assailant by the throat and hurled him to the ground. "What sort of a man are you?" the slave cried, as he held the rascal down. , “I am a juggler," replied the Arab, holding fast upon Shubal's tunic. ■■ “I^et go my clothing, or I’ll kill you. The slave might have carried out his threat, but before he could make any decided movement to that end he found himself surrounded by a body of armed men. Quick as thought he leaped to his feet, leaving a piece of bis tunic behind him, and made a movement toward his horse; but he was too late to reach the saddle. Half a dozen strong hands were laid upon him, while as many more were busy with the horses of the females. The princess cried aloud for help, and would have leaped from her saddle had she not been held back. "Fair lady.” spoke a rough voice, in a harsh, strange dialect, “you must keep still, and give us as little trouble as possible.” “But you will not harm me, good sirs.” lady. But tell me—who are you?” i am the daughter of Aboul Cassetn, the prime minister of Damascus.” Could Albia have moved quickly enough, she would have prevented her mistress from answering this ques tion, but the story had been told. Ulin innocently thought that the name of her father would strike the marauders with awe, and that they would fear to molest her further, but In this she was somewhat mistaken, as subsequent events proved. ”By my life, comrades,” cried he, who seemed to be the leader of the party, "we have found a rich prize. Hold still, noble lady. We will not harm you. Let us look to this un ruly slave of yours, and then you shall be properly eared for. You might have fallen into worse hands than ours.” When Ulin had collected her senses, so that she could observe and compre hend things about her, she looked to see her real situation. She counted eight of the Arabs, and she had no doubt that they were robbers. Four of them were securing the slave, while the other four were watching the r horses. Shubal was very soon pin ioned, and restored to his feet, after which she and Albia were lifted from their saddles. “Don’t be alarmed,” said the leader, as the princess cried out for mercy. ‘ You shall be restored to your horses very soon. We have horse3 clcse at hand, and when they are brought, you shall be on your way again.” “You will set Shubal free?” “He shall be free soon enough. Rest easy a few moments, lady. One of my men has gone after our animals We left them upon the other side of the wood.” "But why have you taken us from our horses?" asked our heroine, “You will see that anon, fair lady. Ah—here comes my man. Now, my fair damsels, you shall understand the whole matter. These horses of yours are not such ones as I would have you ride. I have some here much better.” “What does he mean?" asked Ulin, speaking in a low tone to her bond maiden. Wait, replied aiuiu, ujiug real her real suspicions. “They may in form us.” Before Ulin could ask another ques tion the Arab leader came forward with two horses, upon which he direct ed his companion to fix the ladies’ sad ■ dies; and when this had been done he ^ turned to the princess, and informed her that she might take her seat again. She would have opposed the move ment. but a strong hand was laid upon her, and, almost before she knew’ it, she was once more upon her saddle. “You will excuse me.” the fellow said, “but as this horse will not carry you quite so easily as your own, I will secure you in your place.” As he spoke he passed a strong cord about Ulin's body, arid fastened it to the girth upon either side. The same thing was done for Albia, and then attention was directed to Shubai, who was seated upon another strange horse, and likewise bound in his place. “What can they mean?” asked the princess, gaining another opportunity to speak to her attendant. “I dare not gue-s,” said Albia. “Do not speak in that way,” urged TTin. “Tell me what you think—I command you." “My dear mistress,” replied the bondmaiden, reluctantly, “their mean ing is evident enough. These horses will follow their masters!” “Ha!—and are we prisoners?” 'ear so. But let us hope for the best. We may not be harmed.” At this juncture the Arabs had mounted their horses, three of them L taking the animals which belonged to ( their prisoners, and at a word from the leader they were on the move. ITin j Instinctively clung to the rein to hold j —1 I..I I ..—C— herself steady, but her horse noticed not the guiding of her hand. The lead er of the party rode in advance; then followed two more of the gang; then came two females; and behind them followed the others, with the slaves under charge. Through the wood they rode at an easy pace, and when they had gained the open plain beyond they struck into a swift gallop. Ulln had discovered tr her satisfaction that the strange horse paid no attention to the rein, so she only sought to keep an easy seat. She was weak with fear and alarm, and all sorts of dreadful pictures arose to her imagination as she sped on. She could not speak with Albia. for the clattering of hoofs drowned her voice. What did it mean? Where would it end? On they sped, straight over the plain —on, on, on—without halting or turn ing—on through the darkness of the night—on, league after league—until the gray streaks of morning appeared in the eastern horizon. Another wood was before them, and when it was reached, the party stopped. Not far distant, where a clump of noble palms reared aloft their plaited foliage, a crystal spring burst forth from the green earth, and the Arabs held their panting horses back from the tempting beverage. “Now, lady, you may find repose.” said the leader, as he came and lifted Ulin from her seat. “We shall re main here a few hours. I will be with you again presently.” He turned and handed Albia to the ground, and then went to where his followers were taking care of Shubal. "Albia, what will they do with us?" eried the princess, clasping her hands in terror. But the bondmaiden could not an swer. If she held suspicions, she dared not speak them. "O, I wish I had not taken this false step! It Is a punishment for my sin!" "Hush, dear mistress. It is our fate. It Is no punishment. Wait until we know what this Arab means to do with us.” "What can he mean?" It must be something dreadful. Why has he taken us away so far? O, Albia, r am frightened.” "No, no, sweet lady. Have a hope. They will not kill us." “Ah.” murmured the princess, with folded hands, “there may be a fate from tvhich death would be a happy escape!” The bondmaiden shuddered, and from her thoughts at that moment she could frame no reply which she dared to speak aloud. CHAPTER XV. The Arab’s Purpose. As Ulin sat upon the greensward, with her back against a palm tree, and one hand resting upon Albia's arm, she could take a clear view of her captors. The sun was'just tinging the distant mountain tops with its golden light, and the li»st shadow of the night had gone. The Arabs had watered the horses and left them where they could crop the green grass, and were now gathered together, listening to the words of their chief. They were rough, dark looking men, these Arabs. Their clothing was sparse and poor, and their skin swart and dirty; but their weapons were bright and keen and their horses in most perfect condition, both as to health and cleanliness. A little while they conversed together, and then one of them brought forth the bundle which had been taken from Shubal. It was opened by the leader, and the ar ticles of clothing which it contained were spread out upon the ground. Folded up in a silken scarf was found a purse, from which fell a score or more of broad gold pieces; whereupon the marauders gave utterance to vari ous exclamations of satisfaction. “They are robbers,” said Ulin. as she saw them dividing the gold. “Certainly,” responded Albia. "I have suspected that from the first.” “Can they belong to Julian’s band?” “Why should you ask such a ques tion, my mistress? You know that Julian would never have such men about him." As she spoke, the Arab leader came towards them, and after gazing upon them for a few moments, he said, ad dressing the princess: “I hope you find yourself none the worse, for this little deviation from your original course; for, let me as sure you, the meeting has afforded me much pleasure. Does the princess Ulin know who is speaking to her?” “No. sir,” replied Ulin. “Then she shall know into whose protecting hand she has had the for tune of falling. I am A1 Abbas. Does the name sound familiar?’” “No, sir.” “It is familiar enough to me,” said Albia. "Ah, pretty one—and what know you of it?" “I have heard the name, sir, when speech has been made touching a cer tain Arab robber, whose deeds had caused him to be feared by honest travelers.” The rascal seemed pleased with this remark, and smiliugly returned: ''You have hit the truth, my fair damsel. I am the robber, A1 Abbae; and I am a terror to those who fear to lose their money. But, my dear lady.” he continued, turning to the princess, “you cannot have any such ' fears. We hav« found soma U tla money belonging to you. and I taka the liberty of asking you if you hava i any Jewels about you.” Ha approached nearer as he spoke, ; and held out his hand. I'lln knew not how to refuse, and she furthermore saw that refusal would be useless; so she drew forth from her bosom a cas ket of chamois skin, bound with bands of gold, and handed it over. The rob ber took It, and opened It; and as hia eyes rested upon the sparkling Jewels— pearl, diamond, emerald, topas and opal—he gave utterance to an ex clamation of delight. “By my life, lady, you came well provided. I will take care of these gems for you. They will be much safer in my custody." "I understand you," said the prin cess, as she saw the fellow close the "asket and place it in his own bosom. "You mean to keep those Jewels, as you do the gold which you have found." "You are shrewd at guessing, lady." "I think I have good grounds for my opinion, sir. Take them if you want them; and in return I only ask that you let us go free. You are welcome to all that you have if you will give us our liberty.” l ou win rest ncrore you go. *T do not wish to rest long.” “Nor would 1 have you. But for the present you had better lie down upon this soft grass, and find some slight repose. 1 will call you when we move.” And as he thus spoke, he turn ed away and Joined his companions. "Will they let us go?” murmured Ulin, letting her head fall upon her companion's shoulder. “I hope so, my mistress. But come —we cannot learn their intent until they please t.o tell us: and in the mean time you had better seek some rest. You are tired and worn. Bay your head upon my lap—so. And we will hope for the best.” Albia drew the bead of her mistress gently down, and in a little while the weary princess was asleep. And the bondmalden did not long remain upon the watch. Her own lids were heavy, and very soon her senses were locked in slumber. A1 Abbas moved noiselessly to the spot where the worn maidens slept, and presently others of his band Join ed him. “By the blood of Cush," muttered the robber chief, “they are beautiful enough! The lady Ulin is the fairest maiden I ever saw.” “They are both of them far too beau tiful to be roaming at large,” said an other of the gang. “They are worth more than jewels,” added a third. “You are right,” responded the lead er. “This princess would sell for a diadem, beyond the Syrian desert. But let them sleep, and when they are rested we will call them. If we would turn the prize into gold, we must not suffer it to fade from neg lect.” After this the robbers sat down to their morning’s meal; and when they had done eating some of them went to sleep upon the grass. At the expiration of two hours Ulin awoke with a sharp cry. and caught her companion convulsively by the arm, and cried: “O!—and it was only a dream. How frightful it was.” “Only a dream, dear mistress. We are safe and well.” “Thank heaven!” A1 Abbas, as soon as he saw that the girls were awake, gave a shrill whistle, such as he had sounded on a previous occasion, and in an instant his men were upon their feet. The horses, also, noticed the signal, for they lifted their heads and moved up together, as though ready to serve their masters. (To be continued.) The Nigeria Region. Nigeria is an important region In Africa and comprises the whole of the British sphere (with the exception of the colony and the Protectorate of Lagos), within the lines of demarca tion arranged by the Anglo-German agreements of 1885, 1886 and 1898, and the Anglo-French agreements of 1889. 1890, and 1898. The region covers be tween 400,000 and 500,000 square miles, and its population is variously esti mated at from 25,000.000 to 40.000,000, but in the absence of any census, no reliance can be placed on such esti mates. It is certain, however, that a great number of towns in Nigeria con tain considerable population. For ad ministrative purposes Nigeria is tem porarily divided into two governments. Northern Nigeria and Southern Ni geria, but in the absence of any data it is impossible to say which section has the largest population. Brigadier General Sir F. J. D. Lugard, K. C. M G., C. B., D. S. O. is the high commis sioner for Northern Nigeria—Montreal Herald and Star. How Kuakln I.rurned Obedience. John Ruskin, who wrote so many famous books, said the first lesson he learned was to be obedient. “'One evening,” he says, ‘‘when I was yet in my nurse’s arms, 1 wanted to touch the tea-urn, which was boiling mer rily. It was an early taste for bronzes, I suppose, but I was resolute about it. My mother bade me keep my fingers back. I insisted on putting them for ward. My nurse would have taken me away from the urn, but my mother said: ‘Let him touch it. nurse.’ So I touched it. and that was my first les son in the meaning of the word lib el '-,m I got. and the last that for some time I asked.” Truth, not eloquence, is to be sougnt, —>A. Kempis. OPPOSED TO REVISION j SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN EX- | PRESS THEIR OPINIONS. rh« I>«lu*lona of “TurlfT St**forinem" and III*Informed I'olltirlani Ably l>Iu«irl«d and tli«* Truth llt«rljr Mat Forlh Peo ple Oppoaed to Tarl'T Hevision. On** of the most comprehensive and conclusive arguments supplied In re sponse to the American Economist's requests for expressions on the subject of tariff revision is that contained in the subjoined letter of Congressman Burkett of Nebraska. There is, for example, a world of sound sense in this statement: “The Dingley bill may not be per fect in its workings in every particu lar, bin would the little that we could hope to better it warrant the risk of the undertaking, especially when we take into consideration the fact that the machinery of commerce and indus try are all adjusted to it?” Congressman Burkett’s letter in full follows: In response to your letter of recent date asking my opinion of a general revision of the tariff law in the fifty seventh congress, permit me to say I do not find any demand in the Middle West for tariff revision. In fact, I should say it is not desired. The peo ple are prosperous, and in m.v judg ment they do not forget with what promptness their prosperity- followed the enactment of the Dingley bill, in this. 1 would differ with the eminent statesman from Ohio, General Gros venor, in his letter of June 1, a copy of which is before me. and wherein he said: “The great danger to the future wel fare of the American people lies in the shortness of their memory." The "people" have not forgotten, nor will they ever forget, the disasters in business during the unfortunate period of free trade in this country. The agitation for revision of the tar iff laws is neither the voice noi the mind of "the people.” It does not sv-und like "the people"; it does not iook like "the people"; it does not come through proper channels to be recognized as of "the people." I have failed to find any expression of “the people" whatsoever, either in election returns or elsewhere, indicating their dissatisfaction with the present condi tions. Agitators may always be found. Those who believe in free trade would no doubt like to see the advocates of the "American System" in a clash among themselves as to detail. Per sons interested in certain ways no doubt may pretend to believe a revi sion of the tariff desirable; but neither the voice of the agitator, nor of the free trader, nor the interested one should be mistaken for the voice ol “the people.” Some may attempt to name particu lar faults in our present tarifT laws but the chances are that they are not in sympathy with the general policy of protection. It can he said without doubt that nr legislation could be enacted that would suit everybody and every individual’s interest. The welfare of the whole American people is the criterion by which the American congress should be guided. The farmer in the West, the planter in the South, the manufac turer in the East and the wool grower in the Northwest and the laboring man all over the country are prosperous at present and in my judgment ask no change. The Dingley bill may not be perfect in its workings in every particular, but would the little that we could hope to better it warrant the risk of the un dertaking. especially when we take in to consideration the fact that the ma chinery of commerce and industry are all adjusted to it? Besides, reciprocity is a wisely devised and constructed safety valve to guard against any pos sible danger of too high tension of the tarifT law itself in any particular. A tariff law is the commercial policy of the nation. It is the governor, so to speak, on the commercial and indus trial machinery of the nation, and if we would take it off to mend it the machinery would either run away with itself or stop on a dead center. Any threat of tinkering with the law would create such fear in business centers and among the people inter ested as to do much harm, even if the only excuse therefor should prove to bo the familiar philosophy that the bark is often worse than the bite. Yours truly, E. J. BURKETT, M. C„ First Dist. of Nebraska. Lincoln, Neb., July 24, 1901. WILL NOT SUCCEED. The free trade agitators who are Mixious to precipitate a tariff contest at the next session of congress are trying to make It appear that the wool manufacturers will urge a reduction in the tariff on wool, regardless of the ef fect of such action upon the wool growers of this country. That, however, is denied by an east ern commercial newspaper, which Haims to know the sentiment of the „"1 manufacturers. It says that the attitude of the manufacturers toward the wool growers is the same today :hat it has been during the past sev enty-five years. While it is true that the tariff on wool has operated against the manufacturers of woolens, because it has shut tAem out of the world's market to a certain extent and de prived them of the chance to make greater profits by purchasing cheaper raw materials, vet the manufacturers have always been willing that the °heep industry should he protected, be cause they know that without the com petition afforded by American wool they would be at the mercy of the for eign wool growers and would have to • - I - .. pay whatever price might be demand- ! ed. It lias been proved by frequent trials that sheep raising is not profit able in this country without the help of a protective tariff, and for that rea son the manufacturers have refrained from serving their own immediate in terests by advocating a reduction in the tariff on the raw material. The free traders are exerting every effort to array the protected industries against one another, but they will not succeed in their attempt to induce the wool manufacturers to antagonize the sheep raisers —Cleveland Leader. HOW IT WOULD WORK. The Ohio Democrats have declared for tariff reform and for placing all trust products on the free list. Right on the heels of this declaration comes ! a sweeping reduction by the American | woolen trust of prices of woolen cloths, and the large number of woolen man ufacturers outside the trust are con siderably agitated at this procedure, it thus appears that a trust, may reduce prices as well as advance prices. But it still remains a trust for all that, and. according to the Babcock plan and the Ohio Democratic plan and the ! plan of the tariff revisionanee gener ally. the tariff must be repealed on all imports competing with domestic trust products. An application of this won derful theory in the case of the Woolen trust would doubtless work some hard ship on that corporation, for the tariff j on wool would still stand, as nobody I claims that wool growing Is ruonopo i 11 zed by a trust, and the cloth makers of England who use low priced free wool would take immediate possession ! of the big American market. Such would be the result unless, as i might easily happen, the domestic [ Woolen trust, finding that the repeal of the tariff had swept every non-trust woolen mill out of existence, and find ing the domestic field thus cleared of ' ull troublesome competition, should do as the salt companies of the 1’nlted 1 States and Europe are doing—form an International trust that would control | production, prices and wages. Of • course, we should see half a million ! people now working in nontrust woolen mills thrown out of employment and i half a billion of capital Invested in buildings and machinery rendered val j ueless. But the domestic free trader and trust smasher wouldn’t let that worry him. What he wants is to kill the tariff, no matter who or what else is killed. HOW THEY ENVY HIM. ill ! • TARIFF AND THE STEEL TRUST. Discussion of Hon. J. W. Babcock's idea of removing the tariff from a! products of the steel trust has brought out some interesting facts about tht steel trade, it has been shown that bif as the big trust is, it by no meant controls the steel trade in this coun try, there being many establishments some of them employing a large nuni [ her of men, which have no connectioi with the trust, it seems to be goner ally admitted that the removal of th< tariff on steel products would not in jure the big trust to any marked ex tent, but it is claimed that it would necessitate an immediate reduction ol wages in all steel establishments noi in the trust. This claim, which is be ing made by those who ought to know whereof they speak, is causing man) who were at fi^t inclined to favor Mr Babcock's idea to entertain doubts o! ; its wisdom, and if it be substantiater ! by unprejudiced investigation, which f I number of members of the house ar< quietly making, the bill for the repea of the tariff on steel products will noi be supported by a corporal's guard 01 Republicans in either branch of con gress at the coming session. Desirabk as many consider it to curb the powei of the big trusts, the Republican ma jority in congress is not going to b< stampeded Into the support of any thing of that sort without carefull) considering it from every point ol view, and they will certainly not allow any legislation to get through that will reduce the wages of American workingmen.—Baraboo (VVis.) Repub lic. Tariff Rt*forni BomIi. “Tariff reform was never more ur gently needed than now. when the pro duction of the country so far exceeds its power of consumption that foreign markets are a prime condition of its continued prosperity." This is the lan guage of the Ohio Democratic plat form, and it is calculated to make one •smile. We have just closed the books of a fiscal year, and they show that we have sold more of our commodities in foreign markets than in any other year in our whole national existence. Then, where is the suggestion based upon wisdom, that we should reform the tariff in order to increase our for eign trade? It is more satisfactory than it ever has been; therefore, what is wrong?—Knoxville (Tenn.) Tribune. Not at All. Certainly the argument that the re moval of the tariff is the way to sup press the trust is decidedly untenable and a greater menace to the United States than any trust can be.—New Castle (Pa.) News. TO REACH THE POLE A WRITER SUGGESTS A SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED STEAMER. K*|ilorlng I'nrtln Have Alnay* Tnrncri Hack on Acrnuot of the I.aoh of Kimk)—Food Factor Determine* the Working Out of Polar Problem. The prime, imperative need for sue [ cessful Arctic work is a specially con structed steamer, ice protected and of high engine power, so that she can go anywhere and undertake anything. Every steamer in the St. John's fleat has drawbacks, and once the explorer had at his command just such a steam er as is needed, fast, strong and of small coal consumption. 200 or 300 miles of distance to the pole would be gained, and the base of supplies and operations carried so much nearer the front. Peary's way to reach the pole, which he fully set forth in his Ameri can geographical paper January 12, IK97. which the society's committee ap proved and on the lines of which hia present expedition Is conducted, has both common sense and experience in Its favor. Had the Windward, in Aug ust. 1898, reached her destination a* Sherrard Osborne fiord, there’s no tell ing that Peary might not that very winter and the next spring have pushed on to the goal. On* element of the polar problem, and one often lost sight of. is the necessity of return, for no one wishes to remain there, and there's nothing beyond to go to or for. Therefore the traveler munt stop whenever his food for men and dogs is reduced to the limit point. In this fact, in the reduction of the known distance to the minimum, lies the es sential merit and the certainty of Peary's methods. It was always re membered that no explorer ever stopped going north because he could go no further. Markham of the Brit ish expedition had to turn to save the lives of his scurvy-stricken comrades. Lockwood and Brainard had beaten th» Englishman's farthest and placed their country's flag In the van, seeing a great, gray mountain still beyond; while Captain Cagni. at his hitherto unsurpassed eighty-six degrees thirty nine minutes and forty-four seconds, last April reported the travel steadily improving as he advanced northward. Every one of these courageous and able men reached his limit and turned about simply by the Inexorable neces sity of subsistence homeward. As Ad miral Melville, veteran of many ardu ous Arctic campaigns, says; “If one could stop at a hotel every night any body could go to the pole.” And so. as the army is said to move on its belly, does the food factor determine the working out of the whole polar problem. And here is where the great est change of all has been effected. Modern methods have made food pre servation a simple and certain matter, and there is no longer a shadow of ex cuse for a defective Arctic dietary. Money will buy food—all that is wanted and Just what is wanted; it will build and man steamers such as experience proves are needed and ef fective. Add to these American pluck and common sense, and is there any reasonable doubt remaining of “How to reach the pole?"—H. L. Bridgman in Leslie's Weekly. New York's highest court has estab lished an admirable precedent in its affirmation of judgment in the suit brought by Miss Abigail Roberson of Rochester against a flour milling com pany which, without the young wom an’s permission or consent, made use of her picture in advertising their product. Miss Roberson held that her privacy had been invaded. The lower court set aside a demurrer to this com plaint. and in this it is sustained by the Appellate division. Justice Rum sey’s opinion in the case is of uncom mon value, as it establishes several new legal principles. It holds that one's features or limbs are personal property, and that the court is bound to protect one's rights to them. In regard to profits, it maintains that, even if the person has no intention of making her face or form valuable, the same right still exists. Justice Rum sey also differs from the contention of the defense that the court takes no cognizance of mental anguish as a ground for a suit to recover damages, and holds that in this as in other ways a person has a right to legal protec tion. Any decision of this sort that tends to strengthen the rights of the individual to personal privacy is a wel come one. and I hope that Justice Rumsey's opinion will effectually put a stop to a practice which for some years has been all too prevalent. KU'ctroplatiug Wood. Doors anil other wooden articles art now actually electroplated with copper or other metals. They are first treated in such a way as to make them water proof, and to prevent from warping and shrinkage, by filling the pores with a proper varnish. They are then bound with strips of metal and covered with a metallic leaf that will take the electroplate. The articles are then put into the electroplating vat. and one pole of the current is attached to the binding metal strips, and the other to the electroylte used. So “bronzed" doors are made of wood. Woven Mohnlr*. There are Lyons woven mohairs that look like silky etamlne, a new mer cerized English fabric called liberty serge, a new crepe de chine figured in quaint oriental designs, and a novel weavo of French taffeta, called inous seliue de tafTeta, which is remarkably light, fine and beautiful, both in tex ture and coloring.