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I At Swords' Points;
OR.,
A SOLDIER. OF
Dv ST. GEORGE
Copyrlcht, by S'Iiiekt
CIIAl'TI-.n Ml (Contlniif.l.)
Thrco against ono Is nlwayB heavy
odds, even when tho lone Individual Is
built In heroic mold, nnd Paul was not
averse to calling for assistance fiom
such a source.
Ho he strolled up and down, nursing
a cigar and keeping close to the line
of c,irrla2.
A singular thing happened, which
gave 1'aul causo for much speculation
later on.
Glancing down the line, he saw a
woman's head projected suddenly from
the window of a llrat-clnss carriage.
It was so quickly withdrawn, and
somehow ho was under the Impression
that tho sight of him so near at hand
had hecn the cnuue of Its disappear
ance. More than this, Rhlnelandcr was al
most ready to tako his oath that he
had seen something familiar about the
head.
In fact, ho had good cause to believe
the party was no other than the Coun
tess Almoe.
When he walked slowly past the
compartment he found tho shade
drawn down and all dark within, so
that ho could discover no continuation
of his suspicion.
At any rate, It gave him food for
thought.
He really needed something of the
sort to tako his mind away from his
tumbles, which at times thteatened to
overwhelm him.
All aboard again, nnd they were off.
1'aul haw no reabon to regret his lit
tle saunter, since, besides giving him
an opportunity to enjoy n good cigar
la the open air, it had nlso settled his
convictions regarding his fellow trav
elers, ami at the same time opened his
eyes to the possible presence of the
countess.
Several times, fiom tho adjoining
compartment, had como the sound of a
grulf laugh, and there was something
very familiar about Its genial nature,
though Paul could not maunge to jtibt
place it.
He wondered whether these men
meant him 111 or If he had drawn large
ly upon his imagination in thinking ho.
They appeared to have settled down
and were all locked In Morpheus' arms
somehow the nlr seemed to grow
heavier, nnd Paul's resistance of less
avail, until llnally, half way between
V .midnight and dawn, ho crossed the
borderland of sleep.
ciiai'ti:u XIII.
In Durance Vile.
Perhaps half an hour had elapsed,
lien the stout Teuton merchant raised
..is head and with eager eyes surveyed
tho corner whore Paul was sprawled
out asleep.
Convinced that everything was pro
pitious, he gave the foot of the young
er tourist a sudden kick that brought
tho scholar erect at once.
Tho merchant pointed nnd grinned,
whereupon the other arose and np-
proached Paul, who still slept on, ut
terly unconscious of Impending woe.
Thoy seized upon tho American.
Paul struggled desperately alas! he
waB taken at such disadvantage that
ho found himself almost powerless
against these men.
Ono had n kneo upon his chest nnd
was choking him, while the other
gathered his hnnds together and pro
ceeded to tie them In a most Ignomi
nious fashion.
When this had been accomplished
thoy suffered Paul to rise, which ho
did with alacrity, at tho same time
demanding to know what such an in
dignity meant, and threatening them
with all manner of punishment when
their destination was reached.
But all that had no effect, so Paul
lay back in his corner and thought.
Again that laugh In the adjoin
ing compartment.
Like a flash It came to him where ho
had heard that cheery sound before.
It was the English surgeon who had
stood at his back In tho student duel,
and whoso words of genulno sympathy
and good luck ho could distinctly rc
momber. What would not tho big
Ilrlton do to tho protended keepers
oilco ho was let loose among them?
Then Paul considered that the Eng
lishman might fall him might prove
u myth, alter all, so ho eet about to
frco himself from his bonds.
It was hard work, but nt last how
ho breathed a sigh of relief when tho
stretched bonds fell off his wrists.
Freo again, thnnk heaven! nnd ero
ho would allow thoso Ignominious
cords to ho again wrapped nbout hlf
arms ho would die.
Now, to lay hold of tho weapon.
Steady! ono of tho fellowa was eye
ing him in a suspicious manner, and
it would not do to let tho gamo be dis
covered at this stage.
As tho man rose from his Bent and
drew hack tho traveling rug, the Am
erican struck him with all his force,
nt tho Bamo tlmo springing to his feet.
Ho reached now for tho llrearm.
Tho situation took a sudden turn,
however, from tho plan of campaign
which ho had laid out, for just at this
Interesting moment thoro came seveial
Bhrill pipings from tho motor ahead,
thou a crash, and a tremendous up
heaval that botokoned a serious acci
dent on tho road; and, of course, Paul
found no Immediate use for his llttlo
porauader.
, A smash-up on tho railway Is seri
THE R.HINE.
RATHBORNE
A. Sutrn, New York.
ous enough nt any time, but It seems
to possess an added horror when one
Is so situated that the freedom of limbs
Is dented.
llhlnelander felt the carriage vio
lently upheave, then toss to the right
and left as If In the grasp of a hurri
cane. All manner of horrible sounds burst
upon his cars, very nearly deafening
him.
Then cumn a tremendous crash, fol
lowcu by a shock.
When ho crawled out from the
wreck he found quite enough to en
gage his attention In rescuing those
loss fortunate than himself from tho
wreck'.
Ono good turn this accident did Paul
ho was free from the unwelcome at
tentions of the men who had watched
him so closely, and who had been tak
ing drastic measures to get him Into
their power, at the time the smash oc
curred. Just then Paul heard a voice from
close by, a voice thnt calmly begged
assistance, a voice that showed no
trace of fear or alarm.
He knew It belonged to the English
man, and with all speed ho made
for tho spot, eager to render Sir Noel
what help he could.
No doubt tho other was surprised to
hear an English voice address him,
but under tho conditions he did not
ask any explanation until his limbs
had been extricated from their pre
dicament. "Any serious damage, Sir Noel?"
asked Paul, seeing the other make a
cursory examination.
"Thank heaven, 1 hnvo come out
better even that I might have expect
ed. A beastly piece of business, Isn't
It? Hut you .ecm to know me wo
have met bomewhero. I am glad to
shake your hand and thank you for tho
help you gave."
As ho did so, he leaned forward, en
deavoring to see Paul's face.
"f am Paul Hhinelander we met
under peculiar conditions at Heidel
berg," Paul said, quietly.
The big Briton squeezed his hand
some more.
"By Jove! You cut out borne bravo
work for us thirteen stitches, my boy,
It took to cover that fellow's check. A
rare mark he'll carry for life. Glad
to meet you again, doubly glad to bo
under obligations. But I may bo the
only doctor at hand. Sec you later,
my boy."
Ho bun led off to where a lire was
burning, and In which quarter they
were carrying tho Injured as fast as
lescucil from the wreck.
Just then a shriek from feminine
lungs somewhere in the distance re
minded Paul of what he had seen.
Was the Countess Almee on the
train, as he had some reason to be
lieve? He hurried to tho carriage
where ho remembered having seen her,
but when he looked tho nest was
empty.
A man with a lantern rendered him
some assistance, since by the aid of
tho light he discovered certnln articles
In tho snug nest so recently occupied
by a lady as served to provo her Iden
tity. Then his suspicions were not over
drawn, nnd she had been the genius
whoso hnnd manipulated the strings
by which he had been trapped.
Tho accident had, unfortunately,
taken place at a lonely pait of tho
road nnd this assistance could hardly
como before dawn.
Curiosity caused Paul to draw closer
to the fire and survey tho groups near
by.
Ho was searching for tho countess,
and though tho women wcro hardly In
a condition to appear presentable, still
Paul believed ho could have recognized
tho adventuress In any guise.
To his surprlso ho failed to discover
her! Then he turned to mako inquir
ies of Sir Noel, and in this way dis
cover the truth; but beforo ho reach
ed the doctor, tho femalo assistant,
who was Hitting about like an angel
of mercy, binding up wounds and car
rying water to parched lips, camo be
tween his eyes, nnd tho blnzlng fire,
and Paul was stunned to discover In
this tender-hearted sister of charity
tho woman ho had looked upon as a
cold-blooded adventuress, Countess
Almeo.
Tho sight of tho countess in the role
of charity gavo Paul a queer sensation
ho hnd seen her rope In tho dupes In
Paris, men with titles and fortunes
fnlllng Into her net galore, but this
wns a new featuro which he had never
dreamed could exist In her nature.
It only went to show that she was
a woman after nil, with a tender heart
boneath tho exterior perhaps, had
fortune been moro kindly In surround
ing her with luxury alio might have
been a blessing rather than a curse to
mankind.
At any rate Paul found himself con
doning her faults and feeling moro
charitably disposed toward her.
Sho had seen and recognized him,
nnd Instantly camo to his side.
"Tho doctor told mo you were un
hurt," sho said, and ho know then
that his safety had been upon her
mind while sho worked,
"I regret to tell you that ono of your
friends has vanished and tho other has
a broken leg possibly you huvo found
him yonder," ho remurked.
She did not blush at all, but simply
laughed.
"Yes, I havo attended to him. Ho
groans horribly and has not tho nervo
of a child. No doubt you condemn mo
for using mich heroic measures to
accomplish my purposo, but I am a be
liever In the adnge that the end Justi
fies the meano, You know that which
may ruin me should It come out, nnd I
am Hitrely nt liberty to defend my
self. Besides 1 had other reasons for
my actions."
Paul knew what she mennt, nnd his
old feeling of repulsion came back.
Such determination appalled him
was It possible to escape from tho
clutches of this wonderful woman
once she set her mind upon his cap
ture? A less stubborn man might havo
yielded to what he was pleased to call
tho Inevitable, hut Paul was saved
from this fate by tho memory of a
face.
Though Hildegnrde might be lost to
him forever, ho could not forget the
charm or that modest blush which sig
naled the condition of her heait to
ward him.
By that memory he wns ready to
hteer his craft, whether tllro disaster
or the favotlng winds of fortune over
took him.
"My visit to Berlin," ho said, "Is ono
of pure defense, but in clearing tho
Innocent It will bo necessary to place
the blame Just where It belongs. You
understand what that means, nor
mally Is no placn for you, Countess,
and If you nro as wise as 1 take you
to bo you will pass over the border
without much delay."
She looked at him strangely.
"I am unable to quite fathom tho
motive that Inlluences you to wnm
me. 1 had Imagined that you hated
me," she wild, slowly.
"Not that. Countess; not that. I
only regvettiMl that 1 was unable to re
turn the unfortunate regard you ex
pressed for me. A man enn not force
his henrt to act that Is, beyond his
control."
"Then, In spite of my work, you say
you huvo not despised me, Paul?" with
a vein of eagerness In her voice.
"I am afraid I was beginning to
when suffering tho Indignities your
agents chose to heap upon me; but ns
r saw you ministering to these poor
suffering wretches all that passed
away. I would not havo harm come to
you, Countess."
"Then turn back to Heidelberg."
"I have too much at btako to do that.
Come what will I shall go to Berlin."
"There is war in sight."
"I know It, and perhaps I may bo
given nn opportunity to see some ac
tion. In my present frame of mind
nothing would suit mo better."
She looked troubled.
"Surely you would not take up arms
against my beloved France?"
"You forget that German blood flow
ed In the veins of my forefathers.
And, In truth, 1 am utterly Indifferent
as to tho causo that takes me to the
field, since It Is only the excitement of
battle that I desire."
"You grieve mo very much, Mon
sieur. 1 would see you fighting for the
lilies of Franco with the keenest of
pleasure. Perhaps a commission "
"Do not mention It. Remember,
Countess, I havo given you nmplo
warning of my Intentions once I reach
tho capital. If you aro wlso you will
vanish Immediately. At any rate, I
shall not hold myself In blame should
something unpleasant happen to show
you tho Interior of a gloomy German
fortress."
"Have no fenr. I am well able to
look out for myself. Pcrhnps I Ikivo
Influential fi lends closer to tho throne
than you may Biispect."
She waB called nwny ot this junc
ture by Sir Noel, who had need of her
valuable assistance In binding up a
wounded arm.
A remarkable woman!
Yes. Paul was compelled to ac
knowledge that ho had never mot nor
heard of her equal. Ho hoped he
would never seo tho Countess again;
but fate willed otherwise, aB future
events would provo.
His next concern was to reach Ber
lin. (To bo continued.)
MEMBERS OF SACRED COLLEGE.
Italian Hnvo Majority In Selecting a
New l'ope.
Tho sacred collego enters on the
new year so nearly complete as to
mark a new record. The plenum t
seventy, and there aro now elxty-alx
red hats, with heads under them, it
ono may so express It, which leaves
llttlo or no margin, as It is a tradi
tion to lcavo tho number ot tho princes
of tho church Incomplete. At the be
ginning of 1900 thero woro only flfty
slx; during tho year two hnvo died,
and twelve havo been created. During
tho twenty-four years of Leo XI II. 'a
pontificate no fewer than 137 cardinals
havo died. Recently tho sacred college
was bo reduced as to havo only Any
one mombers, and was ro-enforced by
only ono consistory by tho creation ot
twelvo cardinals, who substantially
modified that Institution, and who will
hnvo a notabla Influence on tho elec
tion of a new pope, says the Pall Mall
Gazette.
Tho proportion ot foreign and Italian
princes of tho church, which until re
cent years had been kept about equal,
la now, however, much altered, the
Italians being In the majority. In fact,
tho sacred collego Is at present com
posed of forty Italians and twenty
six ot other nations; of thoso seven
aro French, six Am;tro-Hungarlan, ono
Portuguese, ono Belgian, ono Ameri
can, ono English, ono Irish, etc. Given
that tho slxty-slx cardinals nil enter
tho conclavo, tho Italians would nt
onco bo In tho majority In favor of
their own countrymen, n majority of
ono only being necessary to mako tho
election valid. But agreement Is nec
essary, and this Is tho saving clauBo In
favor of tho minority, which can mako
tholr weight folt throuuh tho disagreements-
of the others.
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H1S5CCLC6TE MsGAnM
Miss McGnnn, who Is tho stepdaugh
ter of a wealthy Phlladclphlan, met
V. Kulp, a Pittsburg druggist, and
Inrry E. McCune, a Brnddock, Pa.,
Icntlst, at Hot Springs, Ark. Both
toll in love with her nnd ugrocd to
natch coins to scttlo who was to re
rcat from tho Held. Druggist Kulp
von. but gracefully gavo In when he
ound Miss McGann had a slight pref
Grandson of
Algernon Snrtorls, who has entered
i innchlueshop to work at tho bench In
irdcr to prepare himself for a course
u electrical engineering, Is tho grand
hlld of Gen. Grant and tho eldest son
if Mrs. Nellie Grant Snrtorls. Young
lartorls 1b now In his twenty-fourth
rear and ono of tho most promising of
.ho descendants of tho grent American
toldlor nnd President. Ho was born
n Washington nnd studied for n few
rears In the Columbia University Law
School. At tho outbreak of tho Spanish
vnr he at onco offered his services ns n
tolunteer, although untrained in mlll
uiry art. lie Is an earnest, strong
roung man nnd has numerous friends.
fcn Interesting contingency hangs on
his success In tho profession he has
let about learning. It Is nothing loss
than tho hand of Miss Edith Davldgc,
daughter of tho Iato W. C. Davldgo of
IVnsblngton. If Mr. Sartorls makes a
incceas of his studies Miss Davldgo,
vho has been conditionally engaged to
ilm, will become his wife.
Coatly Chronometer.
Scattered throughout tho various
lepartments nt Washington aro hun
Ireds of clocks nnd chronometers,
(vhlch cost tho government annually
thousands of dollars. Tho chronome
ters aro tho most expenslvo clocks In
existence, and they aro to bo found
m board every warship of tho United
States. Thcso timepieces cost ?400
inch. Tho ones most consulted nro
thoso In tho marblo room of tho sen-
DISTINGUISHED
Tho most versatile woman In Europo
Is without doubt Marguerite Durand,
the owner and editor In chief of La
Fronde. Besides being an nblo writer
the Is eloquent on tho locturo platform
tnd an accomplished actress.
Her histrionic tnlent waB shown to
Klvantago during her recent season In
Berlin, when sho supported Coqnelln
tho older In his now plays. Tho kalsor
:onipllmcnted her In a nlco wny when
ittor witnessing a performance ho told
Coquclln that If ho (tho kaiser) wcro
is good an actor as the great French
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erence for Dentist McCune. Sho wan
married to McCune at Cincinnati.
When tho bride's stepfather, after tha
marriage, demanded to know some
thing of the standing of her husband,
Druggist Kulp again showed his gal
lantry by helping to look up McCuno's
relations nnd business standing In
Brnddock and Pittsburg. Mrs. Medina
Is said to be only 1G year.) old.
General Grant
ato and In tho speaker's lobby of the
house. Hundreds of peoplo dally cor
rect their watches by them.
A U'rlt of Oimtor.
An Illinois man wrote Bob Wright,
of Dodgo City, tho other day, com
plaining that Wright had fenced up In
his big pasture a quarter section be
longing to the Illinois man, says tho
Wichita Eagle. Wright replied: "Dear
Sir: I did not know I' was using your
land. I Insist thnt you rcmovo It
from my pasture at once."
FRENCH WOMAN
comedian ho would wnnt nothing bet
ter than to havo Mile. Durand in tho
leading femalo role.
In nil tho largo cities of Franco Mar
guerite Durand has pleaded tho causo
of woman with signal success. Slnco
her agitation many doors have been
opened to tho services of woman both
In commerce nnd in tho professions.
It was duo to tho Indefatigable en
ergy of Mile. Durand thnt La Frondo,
tho only successful nowspapcr In tho
world, owned, edited and printed by
women only, was founded In Decem
ber, 1897. Tho first day's Issuo exceed
ed 200,000 copies. Slnco then It has
becomo a popular dally. Scoffers havo
Btopped their sarcasm and It Is regu
larly quoted by tho press of Paris.
Mile. Durand Is a handsomo woman,
full of llfo nnd enorgy, usually the
conter of attraction at social gather
lugs.
Hotel Center of tha World.
An Idea ot tho abundanco of hotel
accommodations In New York may bo
had from tho statement of tho presi
dent ot tho Hotel Men's Association
thero that New York has becomo tho
greatest hotel center In tho world. It
has moro hotels than London, Paris
and Berlin combined. Thero aro
twlco as many hotels In New York to
day as thoro were a year ago, and
they aro being put up by tho dozen,
by tho score, by tho hundred, and thoy
aro reckoned tho best Investment thero
Is going.
Metlftl for tlin Navy.
According to n rough estimate pro
pared by tho Navy Department, 7.G0C
medals will ho required for tho ofllcers
and men of the nuvy and mnrlno corpi
who participated In tho engagements
tn and adjacent to tho West Indies dur
ing tho war with Spain,
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CHINA'S CREDIT BAD.
PEOPLE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN
THE GOVERNMENT.
Nitllvn Journal comment on tlin Dlf
forpnrn llrtivrou It Oitii Country
ami llio Wntorn Nation l,'o nt it
National llolil.
The Shea Pao, a Chinese Journal,
laments the fact that the Chinese peo
ple ato nut as ready as people In tho
West to lend money to tho govern
ment. Ill China tho rulers look upon
(he empire as a fniully to bo adminis
tered for their private advantage In
Western lands tho people aro the king
dom nnd the rulers act according to
that principle.
For example, If u wealthy land owner
wishes to bonow money and applies to
his children and servants they aro nil
willing to help him according to their
ability, for they know the laud owner
has property enough to make repay
ment sure. Now, the emperor Is tho
father and mother of his people. Why
-an not he, on tho same principle,
borrow money from his people? It
must be because they do not trust him.
All foreign countries have national
.lebts, which they owe to their own
people chiefly and only to other coun
tries In a smaller degiee. Tho govern
ments' have no dllllculty In floating
loans, which are at onco covered by
their own people, who havo such con
fidence In their governments' that thoy
lend money freely. There is mutual
rust and love between upper and lower
iasws. Even If tho time for repay
ment Is bunudreds of years off they
Jo not ml ml. for they know they will
t;et their Interest as long as the king
Join lasts.
How different It Is In China. Tho
people will not lend their money to tho
state, and no promise will move them.
Tho curious thing Is that tho bigger
.ho national debt of these foreign coun
tries the mora prosperous Is tho coun
try. Thus, Japan Is an instance In
point. This Is because tho money was
borrowed for the benefit of the people,
that railways, etc., might be built. In
asmuch an much money has been
loaned to Japan by other states those
iro unwilling to Injure her by going
to war with her. Now, Turkey la load
ed with debt and seems an exception
to the rule above enumerated. But sho
iTiily proves tho rule. Why Is sho so
poor? Becniirfo sho borrowed money
md wasted It. Sho did not uso It to
build public works, which would bring
In vast profits. If China borrows for
tight ui,e3 a nntlonnl dobt need bo no
hindrance to her prosperity; nay, It
may bo an Indispensable help on tho
path ot proarcss.
IMPULSIVE CHARITY.
Largo Mini, mill AcKrmftHn, Hot
Ho
Could On u (looil Art.
Ho was a largo man with a largo
mustucho and nn nggre3slvo way. It
wns Now Year's eve, and ho was
monopolizing nt least one-third ot tho
bar In a Sl::tli avenue drinking place.
Over In ono corner thoro was a feeble
gas stove, which a man was ombraclng
In a futllo effort to get warm. Ills
tlin) woio blue with tho cold, and whllo
ho rubbed his bunds his oyes wander
ed from ono to tho other of tho hag
gard dishes on tho freo lunch counter.
There wero a great many men In tho
place. Suddenly tho big man went Into
ictlon. From each of tho many men
ho demanded a dollar. No one stopped
'.o reason why. Ho was n largo man
md his way wns aggressive. When
30 had received his toll from thorn all
30 thrust his hand In his own pocket,
took tho first bill his fingers touched
It was a ten nnd, crumpling it In
with tho others, approached tho man
that was embracing tho feeble stove.
"Get out o' hero," ho demanded, catch
ing him by tho shoulders and shoving
him toward tho door, "and tako this
with you," thrusting tho crumpled up
bills Into tho man's pocket. Thero was
a look ot contentment on tho faces ot
tho many men. Sometimes It seems
plcasuntcst to contribute to tho charity
that does not reason why. Now York
Post.
Surely Till I.lo Wim 1'orglven.
Ono wild night In October, 1801, the
fishing smack, Highland Mary was
running beforo a galo rucIi as seldom
thunders against tho Welsh const, oven
with tho Irish Sea, white with fury.
Sklppor McEwan, with cot tooth, had
lost hope, and, grim and silent, was
holding to the shattered llgging as tho
boat floundered shoreward. Near him
his son Hugh, clung to a bnttered rail,
and tho ono hand, named McAlll3tor,
also had rondo himself secure McAl
lister nnd the skipper each had a life
belt. In tho dark tho fathor called to
tho son:
"You'vo got a belt, Hughle?"
"O, aye," replied tho lad, cheerily.
'Wo can't last another five minutes,
Inds," Eald tho nklppcr. "Look out for
yourselves, lads, and God bo wl' you."
Then a great vnvo rose under them
flinging tho smack upon tho reefs. All
thrco men headed for tho rocks. Aided
by tho belt tho skipper landed first,
followed In a moment by McAllister.
But It was daylight when tho body
ot Hugh McEwan camo ashore. And it
had no belt round It.
"J'lBaro" Out of Vollttcs.
Gaston Calmetto. who was elected
ns managing director of tho Paris
Figaro after a four-hour mooting of
tho paper's shareholders, says tho
Droyfus nffair la dead and burled, and
thero will bo scarcely any spaco do
voted to politics In tho Figaro hero
after. Our doubts nro traitors ,and mako
us loso tho good wo oft might win by
fearing to attempt.
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