THE BED CLOUD CHIEF. - S - iJ""f - W"V PHANTOM SHIP - OR The Flying H--H"H--M--t--K--M"f CHAPTER XXII. (Continued.) The Utrecht sailed with n flowing sheet, and wag soon clear ot tho Eng lish Channel; the voyage promised to bo auspicious, favoring gales boro them without accident to within a few hun dred miles of the Cnpe of Good Hope, when, for the first time, they were be calmed. Amine was delighted; In the ovenlngs oho would pace the deck with Philip; then all was silent, except the aplash of the wave as It washed asalnst tho sides of tho vessel all was In re poBo and beauty, as tho bright south ern constellations sparkled over their beads. When tho day dawned, the lookout man at the mast-head reported that he porcolvcd something floating on the fltlll Burfaco of the water, on tho beam of tho vessel. Krantz went up with the glass to examine, and mado it out to be a small boat, probably cut adrift from 4iomo vessel. As there was no appear ance of wind, Philip permitted a boat -to be sent to examine it, and after a long pull tho seamen returned on board, towing tho small boat astern. "There-Is the body cf a man in It." uald tho second mate to Krantz, as he gained the gangway; "but whether ho Jb quite dead or not, I cannot tell." Krantz reported this to Philip, who -was at that timo sitting at breakfast with NAmlne, In tho cabin, nnd then proceeded to the gangway, to where tho body of the man had been already handed up by tho seamen. The aur .goon, who had been summoned, de clared that life was not yet oxtlnct, smd was ordering him to be taken below, for recovery, when to their as tonishment the man turned as he lay, .aat up. and ultimately rose upon nls feet and staggered to a gun, -when, .after a time, ho appeared to be fully recovered. In reply to questions put to him, he said that he was in a vessel which had been upset in a squall, that he had time to cut away the small boat aBtorn, and that all the rest of tho crew had perished. He had hardly made his answer, when Philip, wna Amino, came out of the cabin, and walked up to where the seamen were crowdod round the man; the seamen rotreated bo as to make an opening, -when Philip and Amine, to their as t -tonishment and horror, recognized knolr old acquaintance, the one-eyed -pilot Schrlftcn. "Ho! he! Captain Vanderdccken, I believe glad to see you in command, and you, too, fair lady." Philip turned away with a chill at Ills heart; Amlne's eye flashed aa she Biirvcyed the wasted form of the wretched creature. After a few sec onds sho turned round and followed Philip into tho cabin, where she found him with his faco burled in his hands. & "Courage, Philip, courage!" said Amine; "It was indeed a heavy shock. :and I fear mo forbodea evil; but what then? It is our destiny." "It Is! It ought perhaps to be mine," replied Philip, raising his head; "but you, Amine, why should you be a .partner " "I am your partner, Philip, in lire .and in death. I wquld not die first, Philip, because it would grieve you; but your death will bo the signal for mine, and I will Join you quickly." - "Surely, Amino, you would not .hasten your own?" "Yes! and require but one moment or this little steel to do Its duty." "Nay! Amine, that Is not lawful our religion forbids It." "It may do so, but I cannot tell why. I came Into this world without my own consent; surely I may leave with out asking tho leave of prleats! But lot that pass for tho present; what will .you do with that Schrlften?" "Put him on shoro at tho Cape; I cannot bear the odious wretch's pres- once. Did you not feel tho chill, as bofore, when you approached him?" "I did I knew that ho was there before I saw him; but still I know not -why, I feel as if I would not send him away." "Why not?" v "I believe It Is because I am in clined to brave destiny, not to quail at It. Tho wretch can do no harm." "Yes, he can much; he can render tho ship's company mutinous nnd dis affected; besides, he attempted to de- privo mo of my relic." ' "I almost wish ho had done bo; then must you havo discontinued this wild 6oarch." "Nay, Amine, say not so; It is my luty, nnd I have taken my solemn loath-" "But this Schrlften you cannot well put him ashore at tho Capo, he being a company's officer; you might send him homo if you found a ship there home ward bound; still, were I you, I would let destiny work. -Ho Is woven In with ouro, that Is certain. Courage, Philip, and let him remain." "Perhaps you are right, Amine; I May retard, but cannot escape, what ever may bo my intended fato." "Let him remain, then and let him do his worst. Treat him with kindness who knows what wo may gain from .him?" - "True, true, Amine; ho has been my enomy without cause. Who can toll? perhaps ho may become my friend." "And If not, you have done your rfuty," ' Tho Utrecht arrived at the Cape, watered and proceeded on her voyage, find, after two months of difficult nav igation, cast anchor off Qambroon. During this time Amino had been un- - '5" - '.H... - Dutchman. 44 ceasing in ber attempts to gain the good-will of Schrlften. Sho had often conversed with him on deck, nnd had done him every kindness, nnd had overcome that fear which his near ap proach had generally occasioned. Schrlftcn grndunlly appeared mindful of this kindness, and at last to be pleased with Amlno's company. To Philip he was at times civil nnd courte ous, but not always; to Amine ho was always deferent. His languago wns mystical sho could not prevent his chuckling laugh, his occasional "Ho! he!" from breaking forth. But when they anchored at Gamhroon, ho was on such terms with her that he would occasionally como Into tho cabin; and, although he would not sit down, would talk to Amine for n few minuter, nnd then depart. The Utrecht sailed from Gambroon,, touched at Ceylon and proceeded on her voyago in the Eastern seas. The ship was not far from tho Andaman Isles, when Krantz, who had watched the barometer, came in early one morn ing and called Philip. 'Wo havo every poBpect of n ty phoon, sir," said Kruntz; "tho glass and tho weather are both threaten ing." "Then we must mako all Bnug. Sen.l down top-gallant yards and small sails directly. We will strike top-gallant masts. I will be out in a minute." Philip hastened on deck. Tho sea was smooth, but already the moaning of the wind gave notice of tho ap proaching storm. The vacuum in the air was about to bo filled up, and the convulsion would be terrible; a white hazo gathered fast, thicker nnd thick er; tho men were turned up, every thing ot weight was sent below, and the guns wore secured. Now came a blast ot wind which careened tho ship, passed over, and In a minute sho righted as before; then another nnd another, fiercer and fiercer still. Tho sea, although smooth, at last appeared white as a sheet with foam, as the typhoon swept along in Its Impetuous career; it burst upon the vessel, which bowed down to her gunwalo and there remained; in a quarter ot an hour the hurricane had passed over and, the ves sel was relloved; but the sea had risen, and the wind wag strong. In another hour the blast again came, moro wild, more furious than at first; the waves were dashed Into their faces, torrents of rain descended, tho fchip was thrown on her beam ends and thus remained till the wild blast had passed away, to sweep destruction far beyond them, leaving behind It a tumultuous, angry sea. "It Is nearly over, I believe, Blr," said Krantz. "It Is clearing up a llttlo to windward." "Wo have had tho worst of It, I be lieve," said Philip. "No; there Is worse to come," said a low voloo noar to Philip. It was Schrlften who spoke. "A vessol to windward scudding be fore the gale!" cried Krantz. Philip looked to windward, and in the spot where the horizon was clearest ho saw a vessel under topsails and foresail standing right down. "She Is a large vessel; bring me my glass." Tho telescope- was brought from tho cabin, but beforo Philip could ueo it a haze had again gathered up to wind ward, and the vessel was not to bo been. "Thick again," observed Philip, as he shut In his telescope. "Wo must look out for that vessel, that she doe3 not run too cloge to us." "Sho has seen us, no doubt, sir," said Krantz. After a few minutes tho typhoon again raged, and the atmosphere was a murky gloom. It seemed as If some heavy fog had bcon hurled along by tho furious wind; nothing was to he distinguished except the white foam of the sea, and that not tho distance ot halt a cable's length, whore It was lost In one dark-gray -mist. Tho storm staysail, yielding to tho force ot the wind, was rent into strips, and flogged and cracked with a noise even louder than the galo. Tho. furlotw blast again blew over, and the mist cleared up a little. "Ship on the weather beam close aboard ot us!" cried ono ot the men. Krantz and Philip sprang upon the gunwale, and beheld tho large ship bearing right down upon them, not three cables' length distant, "Helm up! Sho does not see us, and she will bo aboard ot us!' cried Philip. "Helm up, I say; hard up, quick!" The helm was put up, as the men, perceiving their Imminent danger, climbed upon tho guns to look If the vessel altered her course; but no down she camo, and the headsalls ot tho Utrecht having been carried away, to their horror they perceived that she would not answer her helm and pay oft as they required, "Ship ahoy!" cried Krantz, on tho gunwale, waving his hat. It was use lessdown she came, with tho waters foaming under her bows, and was now within pistol shot ot tho Utrecht. "Ship ahoy!" roared all the sailors, with a shout that must have been heard; It was not attended to; down came the vessel upon them, and now her cut-wnter was wlthtn ten yards of tho Utrecht. The men of tho Utrecht, who expected that their vessel would be severed in half by the concussion, climbed upon the weather guuwale, all BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT. ready to catch at tho ropes of tho other vessel and cilmb on bonrd ot hor. Amine, who had been surprised at tho noise on deck, had come out and had taken Philip by tho arm. "Trust to me the shock " Bald Philip. He said no more; tho cut water of the stranger touched their sides; ono general cry was raised by the sailors of tho Utrecht they sprang to catch at the rigging ot the other vessel's bowsprit, which was now point ed between their masts. They caught at nothing nothing there wns no shock no concussion of tho two ves selsthe stranger npponred to cleave through them; her hull pnBsed along in silence; no cracking of timbers; no falling of masts; the forcyard passed through their malnsnll, yet tho ennvaa was uurent; the whole vessel appeared to cut through the Utrecht, yet left no trnco of Injury not fast, but slowly, as if she wero really sawing through her by the heaving and tossing of tho sea with her sharp prow. The Btrang er'a forcchalns had passed their gun wale before Philip could recover him self. "Amine!" cried he, at last; "tho Phantom ship! My father!" Tho seamen of the Utrecht, moro astounded by the marvelous result than by their former danger, throw them selves down upon deck; somo hastened below, some prayed; others wero dumb with astonishment and fear. Amino appeared moro calm than any, not ex cepting Philip; she surveyed the vossol as It slowly forced Its way through; sho beheld the seamen on board hor coolly leaning over her gunwale, as If deriding tho destruction that thoy had occasioned; sho looked for Vander dccken himself, nnd on tho poop nt tho vessel, with his trumpet under hta arm, she beheld tho Imago ot her Philip tho name hardy, strong build, the Bnmo features, about the same age apparently; thcro could bo no doubt It was the doomed Vanderdecken. "See, Philip," said she; "soo your father!" "Even so. Morclful heaven! it is It Is!" and Philip, overpowered by his feelings, sank upon the deck. The veaaol had now passed over the Utrecht; the form of tho older Vander decken was seen to walk aft and look ovor the taffrall; Amine perceived it to start and turn away suddenly; she looked down and saw Schrlften shak ing hlB fist In defiance at the super natural being! Again tho Phantom ship flew to leeward before the gale, and was soon lost In tho mist; but before that Amino had turned and perceived the situation of Philip. No ono but herself and Schrlften appeared able to act or move. Sho caught the pilot's eye, beckoned to him, and with his assistance Philip was led into tht cabin. (To be continued.) Supplying Stationery by ttia Ton. The supply department of tho postal service la an Immenso business In itself. Over six tons of stationery, blanks, bookn, twine, scales, etc., aro mailed every day from tho department at Washington. Facing-slips put around letters and packages numbered G50,000,000 last year; blanks, over 90,000,000; lead pencils, 200,000; pens, 13,700 gross; sealing wax, over flvo tons. Tho wrapping paper cost an much aa the president's salary. Do splto rigid economy, $90,000 worth of twino was called for. Paper by tho ton, blanks by tho thousand, Ink by tho barrel till figures grow weak and un satisfying. The division of supplies occupies a building formerly used aa a skating rink. Ono room contains supplies of every blank used In every postoffice In tho country, nnother room Is filled with wrapplng-papor and twine, another grent room has thou sands of the 217 different articles ot stationery for first and second-class offices. Cinderella of Ancient Egypt. "Cinderella" Is not entirely the product of fiction. Princess Rhodopts ot Egypt was the first Cinderella. She was bathing In the Nllo, and a bird, which Strabo calls an eagle, flying past, picked up one of her slippers, or sandals, flew away with it, and dropped it on the lap ot Prlnco Psara metlcuB, who was holding a court of Justice in Memphis. He was so struck by tho dainty manufacture and small slzo of tho sandal that, being then In search of a bride, ho at once vowed' that he would only wed the maiden whose foot fitted tho sandal. There were two elder daughters of the first marriage who greatly envied her good fortune and hero wo have all tho ea sontlals of tho story. Turned Dotrn. "I came to ask you or your daugh ter," said the young man who haa noth ing but what he expects to earn, "but I can't express myself." "Express yourself." sneered tho plutocratic parent. "You don't even need to go by freight. Walking Is expeditious enough In this caso. Don't forget your hat.1' Detroit Free Press. An Kiplanatlon, "I would be thought moro of," Mr. Dismal Dawson explained, "If people only understood my nature more bet ter. I am that kind of a guy that never gives up when ho has once started to do aomethln'. That's the reason I've always boen nfratd to start In at anything." Indianapolis Journal, Not Volunteer, "Do you go to school, my little man?" asked the smiling visitor. "No," drawled the hopeful, "I'm sent." Tho Rival. France Is burdoiicd with 400,000 pub lic officials, costing the state (15,000, 000 franca a year. WINNING C01UNM. "I bo marry npw forty year ap.' have nlco lect' family- thirteen, boy an' girl. Dat's an onlucky number you say? Well, I don' know 'bout dat. Nono dem be dlo yet nn' all do well. Do four girl h'all bo marry good man nn' do nine boy mek h'out for dam self. Ono dem n uotnlro, 'nodor a pries', ono bo member Pnrllnmont, 'nodcr ho work h'on do Government h'at Quebec, two dem, Jacques an' On Isime, kip bceg 'otel h'on Boatou, otic 'nvo gol' mine at Klondak, an' w'cu ho como for soo me laV wlntnlro ho bring hces pocket Jus' full dem nug get; two more 'avo good farm near St. Marie, Denuce, an do yotinges' hi llvo here wit' me. Dat not so bad luck, I tlnk, m'sleu. "I bo tol' you how I como to marry mn fommo? No! Illon! Ma fenimo be do daughter ul' bonhommo Glngrns. Ho was do mos' reeth man on dose part den, wit' bceg farm an' tnebbo five, four fousan' dollar h'ln do bank, llees fllle, Corlnne. Jus' two year younger dan me, an' we use' see h'cach odor at church an' dance an' nil dem place I got for Ink modi, dat loot Corlnno wit' her black h'eyo an' red cheek an' nlco, leet' rutin' wals'. P'raps you not fink dat now. m'sleu. hut I tol' you sho wns de mos' hello girl ns you flu' any place h'ln tie whol' worl'. "I was tmart young man den my Bo'f, an' ahe come for lak me too. So we 'grce for got marry, but lira', she any, I muV ask Pore Glngras. 1 not lak dat part, me. Ho not h'ondor stnn' dat Jus' for wo love h'cach oder. we mus' bo marry. Ho not tlnk I be recch 'nough for marry hecs llllc. Well, I gone ono day for ak him dat I wnnt for marry Coiinno. M'sleu, dat ol' Glngrns, ho Jus' danco wit' mad whan I splk 'bout dat. '"Wat's dat? You want mnrry ma flllc? How you mak for keop wlfo? You sak for my Corlnne? I know what you fink. You fink you got my money w'en I bo die. Baptcme! No! You got not' Ing. You not marry her.' "I tol' him dat I splk Corlnne al ready, an' aho say yes, ahe marry mo, an' I say, I go for marry her anyway, sure. Wlf dat ho h'order mo h'out hec3 malson, an' say if h'over ho catch mo with Corlnno ho have mek me arres' an' flno. "'Doucemcnt!' I r.ny; 'not so fas'. Wat for you not lak mo for aon-tn-law?' " 'You got not' Ing,' he Bay. 'You paurre Jus' lak one beggar. Dat's do ralson I not lak you.' "'Blen, m'sleu!' I say. 'I got my leet farm. How moch money I mus' have, too an' you lot Corlnne marry me?' "Y'en you have four hund' dollar h'ln de bank I let you havo Corlnne, HE WANT FOR BUY MA FARM, an' you not mus' como hero till dat tarn.' " 'Cost blen,' I say. 'I go got dat four hund' dollar, an I como back den for Corlnne.' "I splk lak I feel sure I mek dat money h'ln froo, four monf, but I not bo feol near so brave as I try for mek h'out. Four hund' dollar! Dafs a lot of monoy for poor habitant to mek. You see, m'slou, It's lak dls. Wo grow h'nll wo want for h'eat, plan, lee patac an' grain. Wo havo tree h'on our farm for keep good lire h'ln de wintalro tarn. Les moutons grow wool for mek warm clothes. No man go 'ungry or col'. Wo grow do tabac Can adlen for smoke. Mais, m'sleu, we not be ee vcr moch money. "I fink- for long tam how I go for mek dat four hund' dollar. S'poso I work ma farm an' save h'all I can, It tek me long tam 'foro I bo. h'able for marry Corlnno, an' I not feel lak wait for long tam, "I havo cousin h'on Quebec smart man, same lak steel trap an' I go for see him. I tell him 'bout w'at bonhomme Glngras say, nn' ask him w'at bo fink I mus' do. He study for while an den he Jomp h'up. '"Ma fol,' he flay. 'I got do ver' t'ing. I know how you feex dat h'ol' man. I fink I 'ear dat dey fin' sonii gol' not vcr' far frpra your farm.' " 'Oul, I sayr 'dey fin' somo nt Plerro Boulanger place, 'bout free mllofrora me.' , ' " 'Dafa good! Dafs all correc'! I go for veeslt your farm h'ln 'bout two week. You not let h'on dat. you bo know mo h'at all.' "'He tell mo h'all w'at ho mok, an' In 'bout two week he come an' brlug 'nodcr man wlf him. Doy havo loot ammer, an' go h'all 'bout my place. Dey chip h'off piece rock here, an' piece rock doro, but dey havo oder piece h'ln de pocket, dey brlnjr wit' will! mm iPMUmA SHIP? HB HHHHHL dem. Den dey go h'on do house bon hommo Glngra. "Ho'a Var 'bout dat doy vcc3lt ma farm, an' he fed curious for know w'at for dpy do dat. He h'ln vile dem for stay nn' tok supper h'at hces placo, for try fin' h'out. At firs' doy not bo tell moch. Dat mek do bonhommo more curloua as before. After a while dey tell him tlcy'a auro doro bo gol' h'on ma farm. Dey tell him dat h'ln conH'oncc, for ho bo hones' man. Dey go for try buy h'all tho right for mine h'on ma farm. Dey Bay ho mus' not bo tol' mo dat, an' dey buy dem cheap. Don dey show him somo dat rock doy ho bring wlf dem, nn' say dat be specimen quartz from ma farm. Doy lot him kip ono dem piece. He ask how moch dry think h'nll dem right bo wort. Dry say dey bo worf moch, but p'raps doy buy do whole f Ing for fousan' dollar, for I bo h'lgnorant man an' not know do vnlue. "Won doy lot" for homo, of bon hommo Glngrns laugh at dem for tool man. Ho fink ho hco way for mek somo money, an' nnx' day ho start queek for Quobce, wlf hces leof bit quartz. Ho get dat nnalysc an' tin' gol' h'ln h'lt. "After ho get back homo ho romo for sco mo an' want for buy ma farm. " 'Jacques! how moch you tok for your farm?' ho say. "'Illon! M'sleu Glngrns!' I say. 'I not bo wapt for sell ma farm. Dat b'long to h'our famllee for long tarn now.' "Ho try nn' try, for I flell, but I know h'nll 'bout w'at he mek, an' I not sell h'nt nil. Den ho say he fink mebho doro be h'lron h'on ma farm, an' ho want for buy do right tor mine. I say he try for mek me Joko, an' dat I never rco h'nny h'lron dere. Ho h'offer me ono hund' dollar. I say no. He h'offer mo two hund', den free hund'. I let him go 'head till ho h'offer flvo bund', don I sny: " 'M'sleu! I tell you w'at I do. You bo glvo me Corlnno an' two hund' dollar, I let you havo h'all dom right. Mebho,' I say, 'dere bo h'lron dore, I don' know, an' mebho dore bo gol' mine.' "Ho prick h'up hees car w'on I Bay dat an' he say ho glvo one hund' dollar an I tok Corlnno. After wo talk for while he say he let me marry Corlnne and glvo me ono hund' dollar an' cow. "Bonhomme Ulngras was h'ln beog hurry int I marry quecck, for ho be 'frald dem two men como back. Well, m'sleu. I marry my leet' Cor lnno. nn' dey'B not be como back yot for buy dem right from Pero Glngras." New York Sun. HE ADDS PI TO HIS LUNCH. Suburbanite' Struggle with the KetllrM Paper Parcel. Tho man in the suburbs had his lunch neatly tied In a squaro yo.llow paper parcel which did not look Ita function. Ho started from the house in orderly precision, but had barely turned the corner when he stubbed his too and dropped tho. unsuspicious bun dle to the sidewalk, splitting the yel low pnpor and depositing sandwiches and cake on tho ground. Then tho train whistle sounded its warning note and In despnlr tho tortured suburban ite crammed cako and bread promis cuously Into his pockets and started on a run for the stntlon. Ho caught the last platform of tho last car and hurriedly sank Into a scat. When tho conductor asked for hl3 ticket he man aged to extract the small pastobord without showing tho contcnta ot one pocket, but tugging deep in tho othor for his handkerchief to wipe his heat ed brow, out flew crummy bread and stringy hnm nnd cake that looked as If the frosting had beon nibbled by mice. Tho passengers smiled. They could not havo been human and done otherwise. But the man made no al lowances for uncontrollable risibilities. Ho glared at the offending men and women, savagely thrust back tho bread and battered cako Into his pocket and enveloped his burning countenance In the cooling pages of the morning pa per. But there was a look of flint In his eye that Bpoko tho finish of the hime-concoctcd luncheon. TABLET FOB WINNIE DAVIS. Seruml Memorial to lie RaUitl In Itlrhmontl. Besides the artistic monument to be erected in tho cemetery in Richmond by which tho women of the south pro poso to commemorate the virtues of tho "daughter of tho confederacy" a second beautiful tablet in memory ot Miss Winnie Davis Is to be placed on one of the walls of St. Paul's Protest ant Episcopal church In Richmond, Va,, and Is thn gift of Ambrose A. MaglnnU, a prominent and wealthy citizen of New Orleans, who has al ways been a warm friend of the Davlj family. The modollng of tho tablet in plaster haa Just been completed by George J. Zolney In his New York studio. The tnblet, which Is five feet long and thrco foet wide, fs" at once to bo cast In bronze by tho Henry Bon nard Compnny. Tho vestrymen of St, Paul's church and Mrs. Davis, acting for Mr. MaglnnU, have ft,.-mally ac cepted tho work. Sirs. Davis considers the portrait of nor daughter a faithful lllconejs and Is highly pleated with th3 sculptor's artistic conception. Tho de sign shown a bas-relief encircled with palms, tho center of a decorated niche A cherub's head Is placed In tympan um and tho baco bears the momorlal Inscription, The Crltlo'4 Dilemma. Editor Didn't I toll jou to roa t that play that Fltzslugger, tho pugil ist, Is starring In? Critic Yea, a r, but Edl'-ir But what? Critic Mr. Fltzslugger requested me to praise it. OPPORTUNITIES IN CHINA. Vait Flelit for American Trade That II Ntlll Allium Untouched. At tho present tttno American com merce In China should ho moro than that ot tho Bhopkccplng kind, Thcro nro now opportunities for vast specula tions and strong syndicates. This la tho period of concessions, of organiz ing for oponlng up tho rcsourcos ot tliat largo empire. This is more than soiling behind tho counter. And here Americans nro llablo to loso a magnificent opportuni ty. Along with tho Incroaa oil political Influence of European countries havo come Increased com mercial privileges. Our political In terests nnd our commercial men hava disliked the Chlnesu ho much that thoy havo failed to solzo oven to soo tho new openings In China nt tho moat oppnrluno hour. Ilussla has secured both railroad and mining concessions In Manchuria. Germany has Boctirod tho same In Shantung. England had secured mining concessions In Shanai, and other privileges In central China. Both Krnnro nnd England havo secured privileges In southern China. Amor lea whoro Is she? Two great railroad linos ono between Peking nnd Han kow; the other between Tientsin and Chlnklnng could havo bcon built by Americans; but notwithstanding this special opportunity European nntionn have pressed forward to socuro these privileges for their own people Though these great concessions may go to others, thore tuny Btlll bo an op portunity for Amorican materials to bo used In connection therewith. This will depend on tho amount ot support which tho United States government and American merchants give to the "open door" policy, which thus far haa boen advocated by tho British govern ment alone. Already many ot '0a most cnorgollo supporters of British Interests abroad have turned from the "opon door" nollcy to tho policy or special "spheres of Influence." 8TORIES OF RATS. Will Illte Off n Leg to Kaeape from a Trap. Georgo Purcell tells tho Pittaburg Nows somo Btorlcs about mining coal that aro interesting. Purcell Bays a rat, when caught In a trap, will out oil a limb to escape. He ono day caught a rat with a blacksmith's pincers. He had only tlnio to fix the plncora on tho rat's tall, but with sufficient grip to hold tho rat for n time. Ho intended taking the rat to a feed-box In the barn, whero Us fighting qualities could bo tested by a terrlor. Tho rat, hang ing by Its tall, turned around to froo Itself from tho pincers. Finding that the pincers wero harder than Its tooth It turned Its attention to its own tall. It cut with Its teeth a ring around tho tall, and then mado a Jump. Tho ukln peeled oft tho tall, leaving tho tall covering In tho grip of Purcell and tho pincers. It Is needless to say that the rat escupod. Miners bcllevo that rata leavo ft falling mlno. M. W. Kerrigan met u hotde of rats one day when ho wns entering a mlno. He attempted to kill them with n stick, but a3 fast as ho knocked ono out another took his place. Ho was accompanied by a dog, and tho dog wan so badly bitten by tho , rnts that he sought shelter behind Kor rlgan. Seeing that tho dog was badly Injured by tho attack of the rats Ker rigan took hJm outsldo the mlno to havo his injuries nttcndod to. Kerri gan then returned to the workings, but was surprised to find that tho entry In which ho had met tho rata had fallen in during his absonce. Tammany Hall. "Tammany Ring" wns formed in tho city of New York so far back as 178 ns a great Democratic organization. Itn founder was William Moonoy, an upholsterer residing in tho city. Tho Tammany anniversary became n popu lar holiday. The Ideal patrons were Columbus and Tammany, the latter, who gives his name to the society, be ing a legendary Indian chief, once lord of tho island of Manhattan, and now a kind of patron saint of America. Tho president rejoices In the title of "grand sacham." The "Tammany Hntt" is an offset moro Intensely Dem ocratic, and represents the "Democrat ic Republican general commltteo ot 5,000, who seek to govern New York and 80lect all candidates for office. There are district committees, over whom Is set a captain known as tho "local boss;" he is responsible for tho vote of his district, There are 1,100 of these bosses to correspond with tho 1,100 districts. As a rule the bosses are "liquor dealers" with a cllontele of followers whom thoy "awing." Tho boss Is paid for his services, and has money to distribute. It Is alwayB-oa3y from tho reports of these 1,100 bos3c; to say how the vote of the city wllj go in municipal elections. Darlujr Repair Work. Dai Ing repairs Inside a water main wero recently made at the water works In Kansas City, Mo. Tho thrcadu of the valve seat in a 30-Inch main had become broken, and In order to make the repairs without removing tho valvo It was necessary for someone to go Into tho pipe. To leave the main closed for tho day meant to leavo part ot tho city without protection from fire. A machinist, Charles Lunstbdt, volun teered to do the work. He eutered the main through a 24-Inch pipe ami put in a new seat In about threo hours. It was a cold Job, ns tho temperature cf tho water had bcon running about 30 to 38 degrees, but hot irons wore placed Inside tho plpo to remove tho chill as much as possible Air was let Into tho pipe through a pit around the valve. Baltimore News. m