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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1900)
2?1 I Se:fe:fesesss&seSfe$: ur W rrrA Ttrrnr Wjto WUKU ft i Talc of the Blue and the Gray. m Ml flKE WERNER. M Copyrleht, IKM, by Robert Houncr'n Son. yi 1939333333 33333333353333?' CHAPTER IX. (Continued.) "So you have renchud this point of success!" Maxwell continued, in his dry way. "Vcs, my dear Will, It doesn't always answer to run one's head against a wall: this tlmo tlio masonry remained llrm. You have tangible proof of It, since your prog ress is Impeded. You wcrp raging tip and down liko a caged Hon." "Do you want to mock me even In this terrible situation?" cried Roland, impetuously. "You do not know how 1 was disarmed or what It Is to meet with baso treachery In tho house where one seeks happiness and love." "Didn't I warn you against this Edward, though I knew him only from your description? Ho was traveling when I called on tho Harrisons with you luckily! Hnd I had tho honor f his personal acquaintance, tho whole plan would have been Impossi ble. I pass hero for the eminently re spectable Doctor Wackwood and, as that worthy man, have been received with the utmost courtesy. Were It known that Instead of medicine 1 was engaged In tho Iron business ut pres ent, the courtesy would probably end jiromptly-on both sides! I shall shoot -this noble Mr. Harrison with the ut most composure' If he takes It Into his head to enter the conldor. Be sides, Ralph Is mounting guard at the -outaldo door, to which fortunately a second' key was found, and will glvo us a sign If danger is approaching." "nut, at least, tell me how It was possible for you to accomplish nil, tills in a single half hour, tor you cannot have been here longer. You went to the outposts?" "Where Lieutenant Davis had again created an entirely unnecessary alarm. There Is no appearance of fever. Two . " " t . THE FILE HAD WORKED UNWEARIEDLY casea of sunstroke.wblch were not even severe, and will probably terminate favorably. I've had tho men removed to tho hospital and sent a report to the colonel. Davis' Introduction ob tained for mo tho loan of a suit of civilian's clothes from the, owner of the adjoining plantation, and, as I wanted to profit by the beautiful af ternoon and my leave of absence, I 'rode to Springfield." Tho accompaniment to this story, told'ln tho most matter-of-fact tone, was tli'e low, harsh grating of the file, which tho speaker was diligently us ing. Tho whole affair was thorough ly characteristic of John Maxwell. Any one elso would have done every thing In his power to keep his friend from such a venture, and, when all failed, would at least have been anx ious and troubled about him, John did neither. He considered tho form er useless tho latter superfluous: but, without waiting another word, ho rodo ytftrolgn 'into,' tho Jaws pft clangor af ter 'his man and considered it tho simplest apd moat natural, thing In tho "world. William stood close by tho window, brcathlossly watching the work of lib eration, as woll as tho dim light of tho room permitted. He-could do noth ing to help. "Have you talked with Florence?" he asked. "Does she know" your plan? Sho Is now alone at her father's death bed alono jvlth tho scoundrel who betrayed mo!" "Hardly, for I havo forblddon him to enter the sick chamber: and be sides, ho has a visitor tho magistrate from tho city, who. was summonod hero for the wedding. They aro in a hurry, it must bo admitted. Mr. Har rison wished, under any clrcura-' stapecs, to become a Benedict to day." "Tho magistrate? So ho has really come? I Bhould like to wring his neck!" "You will please refrain from that," said Maxwell, reprovingly. "Mr. Thompson Is a good friend of mine, whom I hold in great esteem. It was ho who originated tho peerless Idea or considering mo Doctor Blackwood. I won't have hlu neck wrung on an ccount. and It would bo vory lm- radical on your pact. A justice is . 'iV Ot HONOR. an extremely Important character. For Instance, he Is absolutely necessary at your wedding." "My wedding?" repeated William, In amazement. "What do you mean?" "Why, 1 think the best plan will be to wind up the business on the spot. You wnnt to marry under any circum stances. The bride, tho magistrate and the witnesses are all here, so 1 don't see whnt Is to prevent you ex cept this confounded Iron grating, which 1 shall finally cut through. If Florence Is your wife, you can take her with you to some place of secur ity, then your amiable cousin can keep house here as he chooses. He can't wholly ruin the plantation or carry off the buildings; and, as soon as the war Is over, you can assert your wife's claim." "Dut, John, have you gone daft? Such a plan in the house where Ed ward rules and will summon all tho servants to his aid the Instant we ap pear. He did mi Just now, at the tlmo of my arrest." "Pshaw, the 'servants! They are only negroes, and not one will lift his hand against us as soon as wo nay jjve are officers In the L'nlon army. The fellows nre constantly coming In throngs to seek protection with us. You we:e not known to them, or else (hey were afraid of Captain Wilson and Harrison. The servants are not to be feared. I'll undertake to deal with the justice and his companion. So no one Is left except your lclovcd fu tiiio relative and ho must bo made harmless." "You mean that we are to attack him In his room?" "No; that Is too uncertain, and will ciee an unney-esssry stir In the house, i have a better plan. As boon as you aro at liberty, Ralph shall announce, apparently Jn great trepidation, that his young mistress lias suddenly disappeared. He has looked for her In vain. Of course, she; can be only In ono place.' Harrison will rush here as fast as possible to frustrate the attempt at liberation, and we shall have him In our hands. Then ho can occupy the place which ho so kindly selected for yotf and you can use hla marriage contract the simplest exchange possible." "Hut that Isa partial deception," re plied William- "Am I secretly, craft ily, to steal a right which was prom ised me openly in the presonce of nil tjho world? Am I to urge Florence to a marriage In this terrible hour' which robs her of a father " "Stop, Will! My patience Is being exhausted!" Maxwell angrily Inter rupted. "Don't bother mo again with your (Jerman slowness and stupidity or I'll leave you behind bot3 and bars. One can't lead good- fortune straight to your arms. You must rirst Inspect it on all sides subject it to a critical examination to ascertain whether ,it is thoroughly ideal and free from earthly dross: and meanwhile the light, airy thing flutters out of your hands. In short, do you want to mar ry Florenco or not?" "Of course I do. But" , "Very woll, then, tho mnlter Is set tled. Leave tho rest to me. True, It's abominable to expect a best man lirst to drag tho bridegroom from be hind ao many Iron bnrs, but you must havo some unusual circumstance con nected with it. One thingmorc: Of course you have, no wnapons." "Should I havo been captured other wise? I certainly would not have sur rendered with arms In my hands." "I anticipated that and concealed two pistols about mo. There, now I've finished. Try your strength and see If you can tear out tho grating." Tho file had worked uuwcarlcdly all tho tlmo, had cut through tho larger portion of the grating and loosened the roBt, but the Iron still hold. William tugged and shook ,ln vain, ami thero was no moro time to loso. But tho consciousness of danger lent tho young man unnatural strength. After 11 fow unsuccessful eirorts 110 again seized the grating nnd. with a last, vlolont struggle, wrenched it from 1U fustenlngs. Tho opening wn made; and, after a few anxious moments, Ro land had forced his way through, and wns standing In the corridor bcsldu his friend. "Hero!" said tho latter, laconically, handing him n revolver and grasping n second pistol himself. "Now I'll in struct Ralph." William uttered n slab of relief when he found himself free and felt the weapon In his hand. "I thank you, John!" he cried en thusiastically after his retreating friend. "You aro right. Wo two will rule the whole household." "Yea, that 1b Just to your tasto!" returned Maxwell, tartly. "This time we really must run our heads ngnlnBt the wall, and If It happens to stand ilrmer than wo expect,' It will coat ub our lives. You havo arranged ront ters bo that we have no choice. Dut keep quirt! Harrison may como at any moment: the fighting will begin, and you will play the principal rolo again." CHAPTER X. Meanwhile the Justice and his clerk were seated at n well-spread table in the dining-room, which nlso looked out upon tho garden. Edward could not send the gentlemen, who had tak en the long ride In vnln, back to tho city Immediately: so he had Invited them to dinner. Mr. Thompson could not find words enough to express his regret and sympathy for tho sorrow overhanging tho household, but ho saw no reason why ho should not havo it comfortablo meal on that ncount. Ho thought It perfectly natural thut Edward should excttso himself and re main In tho drawing-room. No one could feel offended with tho grief stricken nephew, but ho himself dlB eubsed all tho more eagerly tho good thlngB set before him, and was ably supported by his clerk. The old gentleman only regretted Doctor Blackwood's absence, and ad mired the m'Iifo of duty which would not permit him even to nppear at din ner. He was just giving his factotum a discourse concerning mis tnsun gulsucd physician, at the same tlmo helping himself to a largo piece of roast meat, ills factotum listened, most dutifully and took a still larger tllce, when tho subject of tho con? vernation suddenly entered. "Ah, thero you are, Doctor Black wood!" cried tho Judge. "Sit down. Unfortunately you have como a little late. We havo had the roast serv ed." Tho doctor bowed In tho most charming manner, and signed to the servant, who hnd Just brought in the dishes, to leave tho room. "Thank you. I am very Borry to dis turb you, but there Is a business mat-' tcr to be settled, which admits-of no delay." "A business nlTalr? Is thero a will to bo made?" "No, on the contrary, the matter concerns a wedding." Mr. Thompson dropped ' his knife and fork and stared at tho speaker in tho utmost astonishment. "Tho ceremony Is put off. Mr. Har rison told mo himself thnt ho wns compelled to defer it for the present." "Certainly, and he will probably do so altogether; but another person has taken bis place Mr. William Roland," "What? What did you call him?" "William Roland. Tho circumstances havo entirely' chnnged, and unfortu nately I have not tlmo to explain them to you In detail. But, in tho name of the betrothed couple, I beg of you to perform the wedding ceremony , at once." Tho magistrate leaned bnck in his cinir, assuming n dignified attitude and a solemn, official manner. (To be continued.) CATS CAN SWIM. An Olil Fisherman' Story In Illaitrotlon of That Fact. "Can cats swim?" was asked of an old fisherman. "Why, ce'rtalnly," waa the reply, "and that reminds mo of a cat I once tried to drown thnt swam ashore. Surely there must have been hundreds or thousands of people who have drowned cats In tho same way, but nevertheless this wns nn experi ence of my own. We had a cat that we wanted to get rid, of, and as humane a way as any to kill it was by drowning. 80 I pnt a couple of brtcks in tho bot tom6f an old grain sack and put in the cat, nndted.tJti.lMKup carefully, nnd sectirelyVBd ; walked "down, to the end otawharM'fifoodrth'erp and swungno oag. wu,ine caiana,xne bricks in lrdtiml'likVa sling until I could give- it u good momentum "and then lot it go, and slung it out to fall an'dlslnk In the water," I should pay twenty feet nwny, I supposed, oi course, that, thai wns the! laBt'.of the cat, but the next morning the first thing 1 saw wheriT went out ot the house was the, cat' sitting on the", ver anda. I Btipposo the bag had a weak Bpot In It somewhere, the'brlcks were heavy and shrtrp-cornored, nnd swing ing the bag round that way started it more, nnirUio cat was desperate; nnd with tho bag that way It scratched and tore Its wny out and got to the wharf nnd clawed Its way up and canie nshore. Can a cat iiwlrn? Why, sure!" Mechanical Argument, v Judge And wh'it did the prisoner say when you told him that you would havo him arrested? Complainant Ho answered mccl'anlcally, yur honor. Judge Explain. Complainant Ho hlt'uio on tho bond with a hummer. Stray Stories. It Is Imposslto thr.t an ill-natured man rr.ti hnvo a pibllc spirit; for how sliouM he love ton thousand men whq hns sefer loved one. BKOIIIIOITEMIKi .1 (. Ono $hp extraordinary features of the battlo of Farquhar'a Farm In the Anglo-Boer war was tho uso of a cup tlve balloon attached to un armored train. This balloon was utilized as a sort of movable conning tower, and during the engagement nn ofllecr took observations of tho enemy's position and movements and signaled the same to his forces below. Both train and balloon on this occuMon wcro tinder SWORD TRICK That Atoiilhcd un Amerlnui Visitor to ' ' n Store In Madrid. New York Tribune: or nil tho cities I have visited In Europe," said R. A StiiiBon, ot Boston, at the Fifth Avenue hotel, "I found Mndrld ono of the most Interesting. It has a number, of out of the way features that appeal to one. . For Instance take the Rnstyo, which Is n street. In ono of tho lower sections of tho city wholly given over to the purchaso and sale of seconu hand articles. I twed to spend a good deal of tlmo thero. There are two I think threo equestrian statues In Ma drid that depict u horse that has slnco become obsolete. It Is tho horse ot the middle ages, that carried not only tho rider clad In armor, but armor on the horso as well. With tho giving up of the use of armor, thin particular horse's mission In life came to nn end, and ho disappeared from off tho sur face of tho earth, and tho only mem ory of blm left Is In nn occasional equestrian statuo dr picture of thaj. date. Whllo I was In Madrid 1" tried to purchaso one of, tho famoiiB Toledo blades. The old-fmihloncu two-nanu sword wns what I wanted to got, one of those that wre' built to cut through armor and which fulfilled their mis sion completely, as many a bloody bat tlefield In ye'anclent days bore testi mony. I had to glvo it up on account of the expense They cost from flBO up, but while I was looking for ono a shopkeeper showed mo ft most scien tific trick. His storo was very lofty, running up two or three stories, und ho waB descanting on tho beauties ot this particular Bword, when, lu order to prove the perfect temper of the metal, he drove the point Into the floor and bent tho blade until hilt and point met. Ho then suddenly released the hilt and tho six feet of gleaming sword sprang up Into tho air llko' n thing nllve. Up and up It wont, al most to the lofty celling -Itself, when It lost Its Impetus and began to de scent hilt flrBt. It returned almost to tho (place whence it stnrted, the shop keeper catching It by ,tho hilt with practiced euso and returning It to Its, case. 1 wo crazy to try it myself, hut the owner refused to allow m ns ho thought I would probably not only wreck the Btoro but perhaps InJu'ro my self as ,wcll. He told mo that if L wanted to learn the, trick I had better practice It In u largo ppen lot, nnd that a suit of armor wouldn't be n bad thing to wear untU I got the hang ot It." iwj.. . A Story About Wllbrforc. Before he became a bishop he had been archdeacon of Surrey, and his old archdeaconry became a part of his Inter bishopric of Winchester. At a meeting of the clergy' at' 'Clapham 'his chaplain told him thut nn old Dr. , who had been many years in tho dio cese, was vt-xed at having been forgot ten. "Yes," said the bishop, "I have not the smallest, recollection of him, but I will make it nil right, and will go out and spoak to htm. Which is he?" He was pointed out, and tho bishop made hla way to hlm.r"My dear Dr. , I have not had a moment for a real conversation with you. I need not ask W you aro after all these years. Do you still ride your gray mare?" "Ycb, my lord; how good of you to remember her," etc. The chap lain, who was within earshot, said when he again came near the bishop: "Then yoir did remember Dr. , after all?" "Not a bit of it," said the' bishop. "I saw tho gray hairs on his cont, find ijchanced tho sex." Kcgan Paul's Memoirs. The Iluttnr Sho Wuntrd. New Wife I wish to get some but lor, please. Dealer Roll butter ma'am? Now Wife No! We wish to eat It on biscuits. Chicago Nows. t . IN THE ' 'CLOUDS lire, but tho daring aeronaut escaped uninjured. Tho success with which the balloon detachment of tho en gineer corpB has been operating dur ing the war seems to point to tho fact that the balloon will certainly- be u fixture) In warfare or tho rutin e, unless, of course, tho world grows tired of all the bloodshed that Is now taking place and nsks for another and mom elTfr tlve Hague peace conference. ' RECKLESS DARINQ. Wf tb Cuban In I'UIiIok for tun Mnn llMliiK Shark. Memphis Scimitar: Mr. O. C. Koin eny, uu American who has spent much ot his llfu In Culm, wns at the Fran sloll. In talking about tho Cubans he had much to say of tho resklcss dar ing ot sonic of the native fishermen. "Ono of tho Instances of the nerve of theso fishermen." ald Mr. Kcmony, "Is Illustrated In the manner In which they fish for sharks. Sharks' teeth aro valuable, and It Is to obtain these teeth that tho Cuban takes such don pcrato chnnces. It Is thrilling to see a shark hunt. A spot Is chosen along the reefs whore it Is shallow, and where the sharks usually congregate, and the fisherman throws a big hunk of beef Into the thick ot them. In stantly there is a niBU and a fight among tho great-fish for tho meat, and while they are battling tho daring fish erman jumps Into the wnter with a long, keen ktllfo and sinks tho blade into the hoart ot tho noarest shark. ! The others rush toward him when they perceive him, but tho sight ot the dead shark turns their attention from the mnn nnd they prbcocd to rend the carcass of the fish. Tho llshorman closely watches his cha'neo arid klllB them ono by one In their cannibal greed. Ho Is ofton attacked, but by nimbly Jumping to one side when the shark turns over he mnnagos to cscapo and plunges the knife into tho shark's vitals. Twenty-flvo or thirty of these man-eaters aro often killed In a few minutes by ono man. The heads aro all cut off and boiled, which process loosons tho teeth and they nre easily extracted. Tho teeth havo serrated edges, nro perfectly wl.e. resembling porcelain, nnd are In snvoral rows. The upper nnd lower rows mesh Into .each other like tho teeth of a sow, and when the shark bites anything In two, a mnn's thigh, for Instance, It Is prac tically sawed off and not torn or mashed. Thero nro. of courso, many othor ways employed to kill the sharks, such as shooting and bnrpoon Irig, lint tho Cuban finds the method described the most efficacious, even though It Is" "the most dangerous." Curlnu Weildlnic King. Among tho curiositlca of wedding rlngB It Is on. record that in tho early days in England rings were made or; ruBiicn. 1 eiuupn 1110 nium liiiiuud ma terial used for rings required In nn' emergency is the case ot ono bclug hurriedly made by cutting it out of tho linger of a glove, and another cut out of a visiting card. Many cases are on record of rings mnde of brass and iron being used, as also curtain rings and doorkeys being pressed Into sorvlco at weddings. The Quakers and Swiss Protestants do not uso rings at their marriage ceremonies. The IrlBh peo ple havo a strong objection to any but gold rings. In St. Klldn wedding rings nre mode of worsted. 'The women of tho Upper Byanzl, on the Kongo, wear their wedding rings around their necks. These rlngB aro made of tlilck brass rods, which are made Into great rings and strongly welded togothor. The more weatthy the husband the heavier tho ring; In some cases they weigh thirty pounds. Loulsvlllo Dis patch. Tho Proper Method. Jack You know when Mabel reject ed mo last week I told you my troubles and you promlsod to help mo. Well, sho accepted mo last night. Am I to thank you for Interceding for me? Cousin Bcllo Not-oxactly, dear boy. 1 simply Intimated to Mabel that I'was after you myself, Tho City of Mushroom. Moro mushrooms nro raised In tho vi cinity of Paris than In any othor place In tho world. :xi' - -ya- - , BRET HARTE'S ARRIVAL; A l'litol Unit Nfiarly Rpnllml 'III Flra Drink lu th lold Hlgglng. "I entered tho barroom. It wn crowded with miners and traders, and n fow smartly dressed professional looking men. Hero ngaln my vanity led me Into nxtrnvngauco. I could not bear to address the Important, whlto-shlrt-sloevcd and diamond-pinned Imr koeper as n moro boyish suppliant for Information. I wns silly enough to do main! a drink und laid down, nlnsl nn other quarter. I bad asked my ques tion, tho barkcepor had handed mo tho decanter, and I hnd poured out tho atufT with ns much caso and grown-up confidence ns I ould assume, when 11 singular Incident occurred. As It had some bearing upon my fortune, I may relate It hero. Tho celling of tho sa loon was supported by a half-dozen wooden columns about 18 Inches squnre, stnndtng In a lino pnrnllol with tho counter of the bar nnd about two feot from It. The front of tho bar wns crowded with customers, when sudden ly, to my uBtonUhmcnt,' thoy, one and all, put down their glasscs'nnd hurrlod ly backed Into the spaces between tlie columns. At the same moment a shot wan fired from the street' through the largo open doors that stood at tight angles with tho front of tho, counter nnd the columns. The bullet raked and splintered the moldings of the counter front, but with no other damage. The shot was returned from tjio upper end of tho bar, and then, for tho first tlmtj. I became nworo thnt two men with leveled revolvers were shooting nt each othor through pie BSloon. Tho by slanders In range worouUy protected by the wooden columns; tho barkeopor had ducked bolow tho counter nt tho first shut. Six shots wore oxchnnged by the duelists, but ns far as I could neo nobody was hurt. A mirror was smashed, nnd my glass had part nt its rim carried cleanly nway by thothlrd shot, nnd Its contents spilled. I had remained standing near tho counter. und 1 prosumo I may havo been pro tected by tho columns; but the whole thing passed so quickly and 1 was so utterly absorbed In Its dramatic novel ty that 1 cannot recnll having tho slightest sensation of physical fear. Indeed, t had been much moro fright ened in positions of less peril. My only concern, nnd thlB wns paramount, wns .that I might betray by any wonP or movoment my youthfnlncss, aston ishment, or unfamtllnrlty with such an experience. I think that any Bhy, vnln schoolboy will understand this, and would nrobablv feel as I did. So strong waB this feeling thnt whilo' thn sting of gunpowder was atlll in my nos trils 1 moved toward tho bar. and tak ing up my brpken glass, said to the barkeeper, perhaps somewhat slowly and dimdently: 'Will you please 1111 me another glass? It's not ay fault If this was broken.' The barkeeper. rising flushed and excited- from bohlnrt the bar, looked At me .with a queer smllo, and then passed tho decanter and u fresh glass. I hoard a laugh and an oath behind me, hnd my cheeks flushed aB I took n, slnglo gulp of tho Hery spirit and, hurried away,"f Youth's Companion. -, ., FACTS ABOUT SARDINES. Tho Greater 1'urt of Till Country' Conuroptlou Now Packed Here. Formerly tho sardines consumed 'in tnls country were all Imported from Franco; now nbout threo-quartors of the sardines eaten in the United States aro put up here, the chief center ot the sardlno Industry In tho United States being tho eastern coast ot Maine, though Borne sardines are now put up on the coast of California. The pack ing of sardlnea In this country was bo gun about thlrty-flvo years ago. Thousands of people now find employ ment in one part and another of tho work in catching fish, in making cans and in canning and packing and mar keting and so on. Sardines are put up In greater varloty than formorly, there being nowadays sardines packed. In tomato tfauce, sardrrTes in mustard, spiced sardines, and bo on; but tho great bulk of sardines,1 both, imported, nnd domestic, uW Btlll put nip "in1 oil. Sardlncs'nro put up also In a greater variety of packages than formerly, there being, for oxamplo, various sizes and shapes .of oval?Uns,.and soma. French sardlties are imported irigtaBB', but ns the great bulk of sardines aro still put up In oil, so the great bulk ot thorn are still put up In the ..familiar flat boxes, thogreat majority of thesq being of tiiaifWjJknpwn aB halves and quart'eafavthe) greater numbeo; oNtbeseA-belngln-QuarttrfM Bardlao aro paired 400-tins tna-ase and ,tbej consumption, of sardines in this coun try Is roughly oat I mated at frm a mil lion anit"1 n halt to two million cases anniiaRy,,'Like'' canned goft'ds of overyj description sardines aro cheaper now than they formerly were, and Ameri can" sajrdlnes .aro ,now exported, 1trom this country to' the West Indies and to South mcrlca. New Vemloa. j "Sir, how Is It you advertise all th beer a follow can drink" for 'five cent! and then stop me on one glass attefVS hrtve paid my.money" Indignantly deJ manded Hungry Willie. "I advertised! al tho beer, you can drink, for flvei cents, dldu't I?" asked thq. bartender. "You dld.'slr," replied Wlljle.', "Welly that's. oIL tho. heor you cnn''rlnk. for five cents in this place, See?" Bait!-, moro News. ' ' ' An AlMbYblric Topic " (, Dick Miss King Is so rosorved 'and has' bo llttlp to say that I can't keej conversation, with hor from lagging? Jaok (hor former hdau) Mention, pearlB, nnd you will haye nothing to do but listen nnd buy, Jewelers'! Wontrlv ' II wm t 1 ., I IN f aSA&twtws'" iU.Mw.W-f lmTvT -v i. : . 1 iiiiiirritiini.l.Mni1Nrt .. . ' ' "' -"-'--. - w- p.;.i.dfc&)Ntt