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, 1906)
CCopjn*i‘, 1it>. bj J.P. JUppiosott Oo.) CHAPTER VII.—Continued. She turned upon him quickly. “Was it an accident, Mr. Jastrow?’’ “How could It be anything else?” he inquired, mildly. “I don’t know. But there was an explosion; I heard it. Surely Uncle Somerville wouldn't—” The secretary shook his hpad. “No; I think you may exonerate Mr. Darrah, personally; in fact I am quite sure you may.” “But someone planned it. You knew it was going to happen—you were out here watching for it.” “Was I?" The secretary’s smile was a mere baring of the teeth. His blood was the sycophantic lymph which flows in the veins of those who do murder at a great man’s nod. “It is horribly unfair, ’ she went on. “I understand the sheriff is here. Couldn't he have prevented this?” Jastrow's reply was an evasion. “Oh, it's all legal enough. That bare place up there is a placer claim. Sup posing the owners found it necessary to put in a few sticks of dynamite to loosen the frozen ground. It is Mr. Winton's misfortune if his railroad happens to be in the way, don't you think?” “But it was planned beforehand, and you knew of it,” she insisted. Her eyes were flashing, and the secretary’s desire for possession warmed into something like admiration. “Did I?” “Yes. you did.” “It would be impolite to contradict you." “It is more impolite not to answer my question. Couldn’t the sheriff have prevented it?” “Supposing he didn't want to pre vent it? Supposing he brought the men who did it over on his train Iasi, night?” “Then I say again it is horribly un fair." The secretary's rejoinder was a platitude: “Everything is fair in love or war.” “But this is neither.” she retorted. “Think not?” he said, coolly. “Wait and you'll see. And a word in your ear. Miss Carteret: you are one of us, you know, and you mustn’t be dis loyal. I know what you did yesterday after you read those telegrams.” Virginia’s face became suddenly wooden. Until that moment it had not occurred to her that Jastrow’s mo tive in showing her the two telegrams might have been carefully calculated. Though she would have disavowed it emphatically. Miss Carteret was an aristocrat of the aristocrats; and the conviction that the secretary had de liberately gone about to establish a confidential relation filled her with cold anger. “I have never given you the right 3to speak to me that way, Mr. Jas strow,” she said, with the faintest pos sible emphasis on the courtesy prefix: and with that she turned from him to focus her field glass on the con struction camp below. At the Utah stronghold all was ac tivity of the fiercest. Winton had raced back with his news of the catas trophe. and the camp was alive with men clustering like bees and swarm ing upon the flat cars of the material train to be taken to the front. While she looked, studiously ignor ing the man behind her, Virginia saw the big octopod engine come clamor ing up the grade, shoving the flats be fore it, losing itself quickly in the doubling of the gulch loop to reappear presently on the scene of the disaster. ,ln a twinkling the men were off and tit work, and the frosty morning air rang with the battle shout of labor triumphant—or meaning to be. Virginia’s color rose and the brown eyes filled swiftly. One part of her ideal—her masculine ideal—was cour age of the sort that rises the higher for reverses. So the prompt counter stroke filled her with joy, and at the moment Winton was as near gaining a partisan as the Rajah was to losing one. But at the heart-thrilling instant she remembered the cold-eyed secre tary, and, lest he should spy upon her emotion as he had upon her sympathy, she turned quickly and took refuge in the car. In the open compartment of the Rosemary the waiter was laying the plates for the early breakfast, and Bessie and the Reverenu \\ illiam were at the window, watching the stirring industry battle now in full swing on the opposite slope. Virginia joined them. “Isn’t it a shame!" she said. “Of course. I want our side to win; but it seems such a pity that we can’t fight fairly.” The flaxen-haired cousin looked her entire lack of understanding, and Cal vert said: “Isn’t what a shame?’ thereby eliciting a crisp explanation from Virgini in which she set well founded suspicion in the light of fact touching the cause of the landsl.de. The Reverend Billy shook his head. It was his metier to deprecate vio lence, and he did it. “Such things may be within the law —of business; but they will surely breed bad blood and lead to reprisals. *1 hope—” The interruption was the Rajah in his proper person, bustling out fierce ly to a conference with his myrmi dons. By tacit consent the three at the window fell silent. There was battle and murder and sudden death in the Rajah’s eye. The event for which they waited did not linger. There was a hasty muster ing of armed men under the windows of the Rosemary, and they heard Sheriff Deckert’s low voiced instruc tions to his posse. “Take it slow and easy, boys, and don’t get rattled. It’s the majesty of the law against a mob, and the Micks won’t fight when it comes to a show down. Keep in line with the car as long as you can. There ain’t going to be a shot fired from up yonder so long, as there’s a chance of hitting tae car instead of you. Now, then; guns to the front! steady!” The Reverend Billy rose, and the veins in his forehead stood out like whip cords. "What are you going to do?” said j Virginia. She was standing, too, and j her hand, trembling a little, was cn his arm. The clerical meekness in the ath lete’s reply was conspicuous by its ab- i sence. "I'm going to give Winton a tip if it's the last thing I ever do. They'll rush him like a rat in a corner! ” She shook her head and pointed eastward to the mouth of the lateral j gulch. Under cover of a clump of fir scrub a man in a wiae-flapped hat and i leather breeches was climbing swift- j ly to the level of the new line, cau- ! tiously waving a handkerchief as a ! peace token. “Tha't is the man who arrested Mr. Winton yesterday. This time he is going to fight on the other side. He'll carry the warning.” “Think so?" said Calvert. “I am sure of it. Open the window, please. I want to see better.” As yet there was no sign of prepara tion on the embankment. For the moment the arms of the track force were laid aside, and every man was I plying pick or shovel as if his life de pended on the amount of earth he ' could add to the re-forming dump in a given number of minutes. Winton was in the thick of the pick and-shovel melee, urging it on, when Biggin ran up. “Hi!” he shouted. “Fixin' to take J another play-day in Carbonate? ! Lookee down yonder!” Winton looked and came alive to j “COME DOWN:'' HE BELLOWED. the possibilities in the turning of a i leaf. “Guns!” be yelled; ana at the word of command the tools were flung aside, and the track force, over 200 j strong, became an army, not with banners, but well-weaponed withal. Winton snapped out his orders like a martinet major of drill squads. “Mulcahy, take half the men and go up the grade till you can rake those fellows without hitting the car. Branagan, you take the other half and go down along till you can cross-fire with Mulcahy. Aim low. both of you; and the man who fires before he gets the word front me will break his neck at a rope's end. Fall in!” “By Jove!” said Adams. "Are you going to resist? That spells felony, doesn’t it?” Winton pointed to the waiting octo pod. “I’m going to order the 215 down out of the way; you may go with her if you like.” “I guess not!” quoth the technolo gian, calmly lighting a fresh cigar ette. And then to the water boy, who was acting quartermaster, “Give me a rifle and a cartridge belt. Chunky, and I’ll stay here with the boss” “And where do I come in?” said Biggin, reproachfully. “You'll stay out, it your head's level. You’ve done enough now to send you to Canyon City, if anybody cares to take it up. Heavens and earth, man! Do you forget that you are a sworn officer of the law?” “I ain't a-forgettin' nothing,” said Peter, cheerfully, casting himself flat behind a heap of earth on the dump edge and sighting one section of his hip battery over the breastwork. Winton pounced upon him, gasping. “Here, you fire-eater! you mustn’t shoot!” he protested. “It’s only a long bluff, and I’m going to raise the limit so those fellows can’t come in. There are Ladies in that car!” “You play your bluffin’ hand and lemme alone,” said the ex-cowboy. “I’m jest goin’ to have a little fun with old Bart Deckert while the sun’s a-shin in\” It was at this moment, while the sheriff's poase was picking its way gingerly over the loose rock and earth he ignored Peter Biggin as a person who could Vi ,-argued with at leisure and turned his attention to Winton. "Come down!” he bellowed. Winton laughed. The tide had turned, and he knew it. "Let me return the invitation. Come up, and you may read your warrants to us all day.” The crisis was past. Deckeft with drew his men, and at Winton’s signal the track layers came in and the earth began to fly again. Virginia sighed her relief, and Bes sie plucked VP courage to go to the window, which she had deserted in the moment of impending battle. "Oh-h-h! I wish Uncle Somerville would take us away!” she gasped. “Can't you peusuade him, Virginia?” “I’ll try,” said Virginia, gravely, foreseeing future tragic situations too terrifying to be witnessed. "Breakfast is served ” announced the waiter as calmly as if the morning meal were the only matter of conse quence in a world of happenings. They gathered about the table, a silent trio made presently a quartette by the advent of Mrs.. Carteret, who, from having her stateroom on the peaceful side of the Rosemary, had neither seen nor heard anything of the warlike episode with which the day had begun. Having weighty mt'ters to discuss with Sheriff Deckert, Mr. Darrah was late, so late that when he came in Vir ginia was the only one of the quartette who remained at table. She stayed to pour his coffee and to bespeak peace, knowing full well that the time was unpropitious, but believing that the crisis was its own best excuse. (TO BE CONTINUED.) What Willie Asked. “ ‘And he rent his garments and went upon his way,’ ” quoted the teach er. “Now, which little boy or girl can tell me where he was going?” The little wise boy lifted his hand. “You may answer, Willie.” “Why, if he rented his garments, ha must have been going to a masquerade ball.”—Judge. The women of Chili maintain a high average of beauty. They are well fea tured and have beautiful complexion* dam formed oy the landslide, that the window went up in the Rosemary and Win ton saw Virginia. Without mean ing to, she gave him his battle-word. While she looked on he would fight to win. and that without violence. “We are a dozen Winchesters to your one, Mr. Deckert, and we shall resist force with force. Order your men back or there will be trouble.” Winton stood out on the edge of the cutting, a solitary figure where a few minutes before the earth had been flying from a hundred shovels. The sheriff's reply was an order, but not for retreat. “He's one of the men we want; cover him!” he commanded: and Vir ginia caught her breath. Was she to see him shot down before her eyes? Happily the tragedy was only poten tial. Unless the public occasion ap peals strongly to the sympathies or the passions, a picked-up sheriff's posse is not likely to have very good metal in it. Winton was covered by three or four of the guns, pointed awk wardly, ana Peter Biggin Jaughed. “Don’t be no ways nervous,” he said in an aside to Winton. “Them profes sional venlry chumps couldn't hit the side o’ Pacific Peak.” Winton held his ground, waiting the turn of events and looking on, not without interest, while the sheriff tried to drive h*s men up a bare slooe commanded by 200 rifles to right and left. The attempt wa: a humiliating failure. Being something less than soldiers trained to do or die, the depu ties hung back to a man. hugging the backgrounding shelter of the Rose mary as if they were shackled to the private car by invisible chains. Virginia, standing at the open win dow and trembling with excitement, could not forbear a smile. It was too much for the sheriff, the added straw, and his exhortation to his foot-posse burst into caustic profanity. Where upon Mr. Peter Biggin rose up in his place, took careless aim, and sent a bullet to plow a little furrow in the ice and frozen snow within an inch of ueckert’s heels. “Ex-cuse me, Bart,” he drawled, “but no cuss words don't go in this here highly moril show. They pains us extreme.” Under ordinary circumstances the sheriff would have replied to Mr. Big gin’s salutation in kind. As it was, THE LADY AND THE GOBLET By HENRY A. HERING "Mr. Septimus Toft, sir,” the letter ran. “The tecs are on the scent. If you want any further information meet me at the Blue Lion Inn at 9:30 to morrow evening. J. Driver.” It was 9:45 the next evening when Septimus Toft entered the inn. "J. Driver” was a dark-haired man, with a bold, clean-shaven chin. His voice was deep and emphatic, and his eye was piercing. “Now to business,” said Mr. Driver. "You know my name and I know yours. That’s where we’re equal. You're in a beastly hole and I aren’t. That's where the difference comes in.” “I don’t understand.” said Mr. Toft. “In fact I haven’t the faintest idea what jou are alluding to.” "Well,” said J. Driver, with a dig in the ribs that made Mr. Toft jump. "What about government contracts?” “What about them?” asked Mr. Toft, shrinking from hi3 familiarity. “What about them?’’ echoed the other. “What about work you never did, for which you’ve got false re ceipts? What about contracts executed with inferior stufT? What about com missions to officials, tips to men, and plunder all ’round?” Mr. Toft paled at this catalogue of his business achievements. "Now,” said J. Driver, “I’ve come for the loan of a key and one of your visitin’ cards.” “A key?” said Mr. Toft, relieved, thougn much surprised. “The key of the plate chest of the Fellmongers’ company.” Mr. Toft raised his eyebrows. "Hand me the key.” “1 can’t.” “You can’t!” said Mr. Driver, rising. “At present the admiralty only sus pect. To-morrow they’ll know, and you'll know, too, Septimus Toft, when you get five years without the option of a fine.” Mr. Toft scarcely heard him. He was thinking over the pros and cons of the situation as rapidly as his nervous sys tem would allow. He was treasurer of the Fellmongers’ company, and he alone had the key of the plate safe J ■ The Man Obeyed v/ith the Promptitude of a Soldier. Mr. Toft hesitated no longer. From one end of his watch chain he detached a gold key, which he handed covertly to Driver. “Now' your visitin' card.” Mr. Toft produced one, and handed it over. "Now. Toft, my boy, don’t worry. You’ll have that key back by Friday, and all your spoons’ll be in the box.” With this Mr. Driver rose and stalked out of the room. After a mod est interval Mr. Toft followed. At nine a. m. on the following morn ing the bell of the Fellmongers’ com pany pealed vigorously. The porter hurried to answer it and found a lady on the doorstep. She was neatly dressed and war strikingly handsome. She might be 25 years old. "Is this the Fellmongers' hall?” she asked. “It is, miss.” “I want to know if you will be good enough to allow me to copy a painting you have on your walls? I do not know if it is necessary to have any written permission, or where to apply for it.” “The hall is open to the public un der my supervision,” said the porter, pomi»usly. “Come inside, please.” “Thank you," replied the lady. “The painting I want is the one near est to the door of the plate room.’ "Then it’s a good bit away from it, miss. The plate room is off the ban queting ’all, and they are all windows on that side. The pictures are oppo site," said the porter. "Dear me,” said the lady. “How very stupidly I have been informed. Please show me the room." The porter led the way, and threw open the door with pardonable pride. "I’ll tell you what, Maria," said Mr. Jeckeil, some hours later, to his wife, “if she’s a hartist I ought to be presi dent ot the Royal Academy. I never saw such drawin’ in my life. She can’t get his face right nohow. She must be what the papers call an himpres sionist. She spoke twice about the plate room, so I’ve wheeled my chair into the ’all to keep my eye on her. I'll go back now and see what she’s up to.” While Mr. Jeckeil was on his way to his chair there came another peal from the <frent entrance bell. A man in a •derby hat and carrying a hand-bag was outside. "Mr. Toft has sent me for the Nelson goblet,” he said. The porter was surprised. "Got a note?” he asked. “The guvn’r gave me this,” said the man, handing a card, “and the key.” “Come along,” said the porter, shortly. Barely had they entered the plate room when the artist ran from behind her easel into the outer hall. "Mrs. Jeckeil! Mrs. Jeckeil!" she called out J The porter's wife appeared. “A man has gone into the plate roon with your husband. I’m sure he is a thief. Warn Mr. Jeckell to get full au thority before he does what this man wants." The wife rushed across to the plate room and in a minute a storm of voices proceeded therefrom. Finally the three emerged, two hot and flur ried, and the stranger, looking cool and determined, carrying a bag in one hand and a gold cup in the other. The artist was in front of the door. When she saw the man with the bag and cup she gave a little gasp of sur prise, and a wave of color overspread her face. The man seemed equally astonished. “You!" he said at last. “They’re both thieves,” whispered Mrs. Jeckell to her husband. “They’re actin’ in collision. I’ll shout for the perlice while you keep ’em.” And she ran from the room. ‘You are in danger,” said the artist rapidly in French. “Put the cup in your pocket. Give me the bag and knock the porter down." The man obeyed with the prompti tude of a soldier. Leaving Mr. Jeckell prostrate on the floor they hurried from the hall. At the street door was Mrs. Jeckell wildly beckoning to a dis tant policeman. “You go down there,” said the artist. "Good-by.” She ran off in the opposite direction, still holding the bag, and dived down a side street. The nest gathering of the Burglars’ club proved the most important in its history. It vas held at Marmaduke Percy s rooms, his grace of Dorchester, the president of the year, being in the chair. The secretary read the minutes, and concluded: “The business of the eve ning is the payment of an entrance fee —the Nelson goblet of the Fellmongers' company—by Robert Legendre Craven, fourth baron Horton, a cadet member of the club/' Lord Horton entered, bowed, and amid generai applause placed on the table a richly chased goblet of pure gold. “My lords and gentlemen,” he said, “I thank you. In accordance with the usual custom of your club I will explain how I have been able to fulfill my appointed duty. I received an intimation that the Nel son goblet of the Fellmongers’ com pany was my entrance fee, and at once took steps to procure it. A list of the company showed me the treasurer and plate-keeper was a Mr. Toft. The di rectory informed me that he was a steamship owner and a contractor to the admiralty. Inquiry there told me that he was under suspicion of bribery and corruption. I played on this little', weakness of his, and, if I am not mis taken, I frightened him into the paths of virtue for the rest of his days. In return, he lent me the key of the plate safe of his company. In broad day light I preceded for my booty. To my surprise I found that I was expected. An agent had been placed on the spot to warn the custodian of the building of my intention. An alarm was raised by the agent. This agent was a lady who did not know that she was be traying an old friend. A minute later we were face to face. Instantly she pierced through my disguise, and by her presence of mind alone did I es cape. “My next step was to trace the lady. I did not know she was in England, but being here I concluded that the foreign othce would have her address. I waa not mistaken. I found my friend. “The fame of your c'ub had reached me, ana the novelty of its membership appealed to me. I felt that its risks would give a pleasing zest to civilian life; but I did not count on recent de velopments. Gentlemen, you have done me the honor to elect me as a member of your club. I have paid my subscription, and now I beg to tender my resignation.' “No! No!” resounded an all sides. “Wait,” smiled Horton. “Two years ago this same lady I have mentioned saved my life in Russia. I asked her to marry me, and she refused, because, absurdly enough, she thought it would spoil my career. We did not meet again till yesterday. A week ago I was offered the post of British resident at Kabul. It was a post after my own heart, tut single-handed I should have failed in it. With this lady as my wife anything would be possible. Yester day I begged her to reconsider her de cision, and to help me in my career, r am proud to say that she consented. We arc to be married to-morrow. Be cause bachelors alone are eligible as members of your club I am forced to tender my resignation. Gentlemen, good evening.” Thus did Lord Horton leave the Burglars' club for married life, happi ness, aDd his brilliant after- career. (Copyright, 1906. by Joseph B. Bowles.) OCEAN GIANT HAS MANY USES. Blubber Not the Only Valuable Thing Taken from Whale. We are only just beginning to rec ognize the great value to mankind of the whale. Prof. Muller, who has spent several years on and near the Canadian coast, has found a means of extracting the milk of the whale, and analysis of this shows it to be quite as nutritious as ordinary cow's milk. It contains, at the same time, addi tional valuable medicinal properties somewhat similar to those contained in cod liver oil and it is distinctly pleasant to taste. The professor has also had various inner skins of the whale scientifically tanned by a new process, with the result that he can supply an excellent leather in a single piece, measuring 300 feet long by 3% feet broad. Such dimensions have never been possible before. The flesh has been subjected to a treatment which makes it quite edi ble, and the mammoth skeleton is ground to bone powder, making a splendid fertilizer, while the gristle and cartilage are converted Into glue. Wheat in Western Canada A Good Crop of Excellent Quality Has Been Raised This Year. The grain crops estimates from the Canadian West make a range of from 87,000,000 to 115,000,000 bushels, and an accurate statement will be some where between these figures—prob ably not far from 90,000,000 bushels. This year a larger acreage was sown, estimated at an increase of from 18 to 20 per cent., and had the average yield of last year been maintained, the aggregate would assuredly have gone considerably beyond the 100,000, 000 bushel mark. The exceptionally large influx of settlers was responsible, to a considerable extent for much of the increased area. and. there can be no doubt, is also responsible for a part of the decreased average yield. The first crop raised by the new set tler—often unacquainted with the conditions of western agriculture—is not usually prolific, and 1905-06 placed a very large number of amateur farm ers behind the stilts of the plow; but they will learn, and learn fast, and with another season or two will help to raise the average instead of de pressing it. Of the estimates to hand, that of the Northwest Grain Dealers’ asso ciation is the lowest; Wheat. 87,203, 000 bushels; oats, 75,725,800 bushels, and barley, 16,980,600 bushels. The Winnipeg Free Press sent out five special correspondents, who returned 1904. Manitoba .39,162,458 36.2S9.279 U.OT.MD Saskatchewan .15,944,73') 10,756,350 598.336 Alberta . 786,075 5.609,496 1,608,211 55,893.263 52.665,125 13,384,547 1905. Manitoba .55.761,416 43,484.023 14,064,025 Saskatchewan .26.107,286 19.213,055 893.396 Alberta . 2,297,524 9,514,180 1,773.914 84.166.226 74,211,260 16,731.335 This year, the lowest returns, as we have stated, are estimated at: Wheat, 87,203,000 bushels; oats, 75,725.600, and barley at 16,980,600 bushels, which is very satisfactory, if not absolutely satisfying. To better appreciate this fact, ail that is necessary to do is to go back 25 years in the history of Western Canada. At that time the agricultural product of the whole country was confined to Manitoba, and consisted of 1,000,000 bushels of wheat, on an acreage of 51,300 and 1.270,268 bushels of oats. The entire crop was at that time required for local purposes, and the export trade was an unknown quantity. To-day, allowing nearly 20,000,000 bushels of wheat for local consumption and seed ing, there will be about 70,000,000 bushels for export, which at 70 cents per bushel will bring in outside money to the extent of nearly $50,000,000. The barley and oats exported are good for an additional $25,000,000, and Wheat and Oat 'arms, Elbow Valli after 20 days with a somewhat better report and gave reasons for the faith that was in them. They had traveled all through the spring wheat district;' had driven 1,400 miles through the grain country, besides traveling thou sands of miles by rail; and they had visited 93 localities and knew where of they spoke. They reported: Wheat, 90,250,000 bushels, on 4,750,000 acres, with an average yield of 19 bushels per acre. The western division of the Bank of Commerce also investi gated with the following result: Alberta. Yield. Acres, per acre. Bushels. Wheat . 141,421 20 • 2,828,420 Barley . 75.67S 30 2.270,340 Oats . 822,923 40 12,910.920 540,022 1S.O15.6S0 Saskatchewan. Wheat .1,331.649 22 2S.296.27S Barley . 41.273 3o 1.238,190 Oats . 542.4.63 40 21.699,320 1,915.403 52.233,768 Manitoba. Wheat .3.141.537 19 59.6S9.203 Barley . 474.242 30 14.227.260 Oats .1,155,961 40 46.238.440 4,771,740 120,154.903 Total. Bushels. Wheat .91,813.300 Oats .60.S54.660 Barley .17,735,790 All of which goes to show that a wheat crop of nearly if not fully 90, 000,000 bushels may be safely counted >y, Twelve Miles West of Calgary. the combined amounts, together with that received from dairying and oth er sources, are bound to make finan cial conditions very easy in the Cana dian West until the next harvest ma tures. In the iast week of August a tour of inspection was made along the line of railway n the wheat area by the Northwest Grain Dealers’ association and a number of American grain ex perts. What they saw convinced them that not only was the crop a good average one, but the quality of the grain grown was admittedly of the best quality, and more than one of the visitors stated that although the yield might have been larger, the quality could hardly have been im proved. Speaking on this point. Mr. J. P. Whalley. the well-known wheat man of Minneapolis, said: “The quality of the crop is excel lent, and I think the average will be Xo. 1 Northern. I was up with the grain men two years ago, and I am very much struck with the improve ment that has taken place in these two years. The growth is certainly marvelous: there is not a better coun try in the world than the Canadian Northwest.” The past few years, in which agri culture has been carried on to any great extent, have brought the prob _jg "A: A Still Better Outfit Seven Miles Wes-: of Morden. upon. This is less than was looked for by some enthusiastic western peo ple, who maintained that increased acreage necessarily meant an in creased aggregate. Still, 90,000,000 bushels of wheat is 6.000,000 better than what was looked upon last year as a good crop, and we do not think Western Canada has much cause to feel down in the mouth because the acme of its anticipations on the wheat crop may not have been realized. Taking one year with another, that country has demonstrated that it can be depended upon as a great wheat growing territory, and has to be reck oned with in the markets of the world. The yield in oats has been in creased this year by nearly 1,500,000 bushels, the aggregate estimate being 75,725.600, with the average at 41.2 bushels to the acre. The estimated crop of barley is placed at 16,980,600 bushels, which is a slight increase over the total of last year. Of flax the estimate given is 690,184 bushels, which is a material increase upon last year’s figures. Following are the figures in detail for wheat, oats, and barley in West ern Canada for the three years last past: 1903. Wheat. Oats. Barley. Manitoba .40.H8.87S 23,035,774 8,707.252 Saskatchewan .15.121.015 9.164.007 665,393 Alberta . 1,118,180 5.187.511 1.077,274 66,356,073 47,387,292 10.450,119 lem of transportation very prominent ly to the front, and there is a railway development in Manitoba. Saskatche wan, Alberta and British Columbia, Such as has never been seen anywhere. There are at present over 6,000 miles of railway in operation in that country, and a conservative calculation of the lines now in course of construction places the extent at 5,000 additional miles: a large portion of which will be completed during the present year. This means the opening up of a con siderably increased agricultural area, and there is every reason to believe that in a very few years the agricul tural wealth of the country will be developed -.o such an extent that in stead of “A Hundred Million Bushel Crop" it will not be out of place t.o refer to the crop as "500,000.000 bush els of wheat for export.” This may look like drawing the long bow at the present time, but, in the light of what has been done by Western Canada in the pas1: five or ten years, there is no limit that can be placed upon what may be done in the five or ten years immediately in front of that lusty young giant of the West. An Odious Comparison. "Doesn’t Scrubbly look cheap beside that magnificent, well-dressed wife of his?” “I should say so! He looks like a bar-tender's shirt-stud beside the Koh i-noor.”—Judge. France Revives Lace Industry. France is reviving some of her hand made lace industries with much suc cess. In 1903, the French legislature provided for girls being instructed in making hand-made laces in the schools and for more advanced courses in the chief lace centers, and the results are now showing themselves; 135,000 are said to be engaged in. lace-making, but this is nothing compared to the num-1 her employed in old times. Hand made lace in our day will never oust machine-made lace, but there is room Iron Industry in Sweden. Extensive projects for the establish ment of iron works on the west coast of Sweden are now under considera tion, but it is alleged that such works, in order to be successful, must not bo dependent on the home markets, but be in a position to manufacture cheap ly and compete with other produce in the markets of the world. This, it is admitted, is of more importance to the new ir.dustry than either an ex port duty on iron or heavy customs duties on foreign produce introduced